We are often asked about restaurants that are suitable for that special night out, one-off dining experiences with major pizzazz. Orlando certainly isn’t short of them, but there’s now a new offering in this category that is definitely set to wow our visitors.
Corazón by Baires may be a bit of an awkward mouthful as a restaurant name, but you can trust us when we say this is also going to be a mouthful to remember when it comes to the dishes it serves and the style it serves them in.
Just to start with, Corazón is Spanish for “Sweetheart,” and there is a lot that’s sweet about this location. It’s also certainly somewhere you’ll want to take your Significant Other for a special occasion.
The “by Baires” signifies that it is operated by the culinary team from the upscale Baires Grill in Miami, an Argentinean-inspired steakhouse that has seven locations in the ritziest parts of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area and one in New York. That’s an indication of serious dining quality. And now they have one in Orlando.
Located inside the huge Mango’s Tropical Café nightclub just south of the junction of I-Drive and Sand Lake Road – hence in one of the most eye-catching spots in this bustling tourist corridor – but occupying completely its own space as a stand-alone offering, Corazón has its own entryway on the left-hand corner of the building, and that’s where the surprises start.
The elaborate lobby area that you immediately enter – La Biblioteca de Corazón – has the feel partly of an old-world bookshop and partly a subtle escape game, where you need to search for clues to reach the next level. There are no clues, of course; you just go up to the podium and ask for your reservation, but it feels like you’re entering some kind of secret society.
The “secret” is maintained as you are then directed to a pair of sparkly, flower-adorned lifts behind the podium, and this is where it really kicks into high gear. As you ascend to the first floor, the lift doors open and reveal a glittering dining room with a gorgeous central bar area full of art nouveau motifs, offset by two huge chandeliers, both in shimmering gold.
If it was all in black-and-white, it would feel like Rick’s Café Americain from the film Casablanca; as it’s in full, gold-tinted colour, it feels more like the famous Bar Abaco in Mallorca (minus all the fruit!).
There is plenty of greenery, though, including four floor-to-ceiling faux palm trees, amidst a riot of candles, glitz and gold upholstery that combine to provide an atmosphere rich in design and décor, what they call “a chic and inviting ambiance that merges the city’s energetic spirit with a lavish dining experience.” And all that’s before you even get to the menu.
Fittingly, with the Baires tie-up, there are some hugely tempting steaks on offer, including the grand-daddy of them all, a 40oz Beef Tomahawk steak carved tableside (for a princely $110, but more than enough for two!) and a 12oz Chateau Filet for $55. But don’t overlook the fish dishes, either, along with some delectable chicken, pork and short rib options.
Here’s another novelty – a fettucine dish tossed tableside in a giant wheel of parmesan and finished with truffle dust, which is as much a show as a meal, but also utterly delicious The pasta is melt-in-the-mouth good, and the flavours just divine. Elsewhere on the menu, plain old Spaghetti & Meatballs suddenly becomes a spectacular dish under the Baires influence, using wagyu beef for the meatballs, a rich tomato and fennel sauce, and topped with stracciatella cheese.
As you’d expect, the cocktails are equally impressive, including a superb bourbon-rum concoction (Caresse D’Or), a tangy variation on a margarita (Bond of Seduction) and their version of the espresso martini (Insatiable Desire). The wine list is also seductive, with various European vintages rubbing shoulders with excellent South American and Californian choices, plus a good selection available by the glass.
The starters might be one of the hardest choices of all, though, with fully 14 options for either cold or hot appetisers or a salad. We found the Empanadas (a choice of beef or roasted caprese, or one of each) an excellent selection, along with the Calamari Kung Pao, a mass of tender squid in a delicate sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, fried chilis and roasted peanuts.
While we absolutely loved the fettuccine, we thought the Andean Branzino just edged it for a full, rich flavour, with beautifully crispy skin, succulent fish and a super-tasty potato, chick pea and chorizo hash, all set in a mild cauliflower bechamel sauce.
The fettuccini came in at $34 and the branzino $44, so this is not cheap dining by any stretch of the imagination. Cocktails are also around the $20 mark and appetisers range from $12-$29, but the service is suitably top drawer and we were seriously impressed by the buzzy nature of the dining room, a lively but sophisticated ambience.
The latter was aided by an in-house DJ, spinning well-known tunes given a bossa nova twist as well as classic Brazilian jazz to underline the Latin American style. And therein lies Corazón’s essential charm. This is definitely a production out of the South American playbook, but it goes full-on for the refined and cultured approach, with enough sense of fun and style to make every meal here a memorable occasion.
If you’ve already tried the likes of other Latin American restaurants like Texas de Brasil and Fogo da Chao, you’ll have an idea of what to expect. But this goes several steps further and scores big with a more intimate and playful vibe that tastes as good as it looks.
Even better, it is part of something of a rejuvenation of the I-Drive/Sand Lake Road area, with other new developments in the pipeline from this tie-up between Mango’s and Baires, and we can’t wait to see how this progresses in future.
For more info and bookings (highly advisable): www.corazonbybaires.com.
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