Went for Magical Dining this month because it had a great menu. Pulled up to the Rosen Hotel and walked passed about 5 other restaurants that were filled with people ( it was a Friday). We walked into Everglades and were THE ONLY people in there (again Friday night 7pm). We were not impressed with the food nor with the service especially since there was nobody else for them to wait on.. It was definitely overpriced and just decent. I would not recommend this place or go back again, unless I was stuck at that hotel and didn't have a car to drive me anywhere in Orlando that was better.... Don't go!!
(2)
Bob T.
came here for magical dining month last year. it was terrrible.
(1)
Dave B.
An incredibly bad resturant. The service was terrible, the seafood was overcooked and bland, and it was outrageously expensive. Even the aquariums were disappointing.
(1)
Essential S.
Hard to pick a rating. I had the bacon-wrapped venison, and it was magnificent. It lay happily on a bed of truffle mashed potatoes, and was surmounted by some nicely salty sauteed spinach. All prepared correctly and it went well together, especially when slathered with tasty sauce. Half my companions opted for the Thai noodle curry/seafood soup. They seemed a bit intimidated by the piles of shells and sea-bugs, tossed together haphazardly. Opinions were mixed. But my greatest complaint is about the service, which was remarkably inattentive. We sat for ages between our interactions. I suspect that the automatic 20% gratuity for our party of 6 had something to do with it.
(3)
MM P.
Worst meal I've had in a very long time. Scallops were dry half frozen and tasted like liquid smoke. Goat cheese salad was frozen, yes frozen. I travel a lot and even for hotel food this was over priced and not fresh.
(1)
Styarria G.
Considering it was a Saturday night I was quite surprised to see the place so empty. After experiencing good service and great food, I'm even more surprised. We were seated and given an assortment of bread with tapenade. While looking over the menu we were pleasantly surprised by a scallop in cream sauce amuse-bouche (amuse-bouche is a sampling of an item offered by the chef that is free of charge and not on the menu). Our server was knowledgeable of their wine selection and we chose a bottle of Moscato d'Asti for the table. For a starter I went with the lobster bisque; best lobster bisque I've ever tasted! It's not loaded with chunks of lobster, as it's an extremely creamy consistency, but the flavor is amazing; this is a must try if you visit. I rounded out my meal with the butternut squash ravioli entree. By this time to go boxes were necessary and dessert was out of the question. They do however have an array of desserts, that they bring over to your table on display, for selection. The ambiance is quiet and relaxed, and it's a nice restaurant for a romantic dinner. The decor has a Florida everglade feel with a large underwater mural on one wall, an over sized alligator (or maybe it's a croc), and a wall fish tank.
(4)
Joy S.
My daughter and I had a wonderful steak dinner and dessert. The wait staff was attentive and food was amazing. Worth the money. $33 is an average dinner.
(5)
Michael S.
We've stayed at this hotel at least a dozen times but tonight first ventured into this Everglades themed restaurant. It was an Exceptional experience. Service was exemplary. We feasted on excellent gator chowder, lobster bisque, George Barley salad, and delicious mixed grill of venison, quail and wild boar sausage. We also enjoyed the Thai seafood curry which was mild and to our taste. Very tasty. So Everglades ! Surprisingly good! Just make a reservation and try it out. Highly recommended!
(5)
Steve A.
I'v been to Everglades many tmes, but generally it's for special events. Vine and Dine events are held five times a year, and offer a five course meal with wine pairings. They attract a dedicated local crowd. Chef Fred turns out some interesting dishes, and the service staff is extremely friendly.
(3)
Paul L.
We were at the Everglades for the Vine and Dine event on Friday. Several times a year, apparently, Rosen Centre Hotel puts on these food and wine pairing dinners. This is a clever way to generate business in what would otherwise be a quiet evening, in the dining room of a hotel that relies more on business travelers during the week. The event also offers free valet, and a very special room rate of $89 for those who prefer not to handle the aftermath of a 5-course dinner with wine behind the wheel - again a win-win, since the hotel will be quiet on any given Friday night other than during the peak of tourist season. But even though the press release in January stated "The cost of each Vine & Dine dinner is $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity..." This particular one, featuring Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman and wines from Landmark and Justin, was priced at $75 instead. We arrived to be checked in outside of the dining room. We were given our tab and shown the way into the reception area outside the dining room. The waiter came and brought us our poison, and settled the tab. In case you're wondering, obligatory gratuity is 20%; I won't begrudge them that, since a dinner like this with good service could easily warrant even more, but I felt that they could have been more upfront with disclosure, AND call it something other than a "Large party tip" - especially when it's for a party of two. Justin wines dominated the evening, accounting for 4 out of the 5. Their sauvignon blanc was pleasant enough, but pales compared to any given offering from Marlborough, or even some of the better American ones. Wait staff with bottles comes and tops you up should you need it;. Be careful - while this is the only time you get any "extra", pace yourself and know your limit: there are 4 more wines coming, 3 of them that are about 4 ounces each, and the dessert wine, maybe 1.5 oz. No point getting tipsy early and not being able to taste the food. I think, though, that some pretzels and/or nuts might be a good snack to offer at this one-hour reception time. With the first course starting well after 8:30, some folks (the ladies, especially) might all too quickly feel the effect of 6-8 oz. of wine; as I'm sure you know, an unprotected stomach wall absorbs the alcohol like a sponge. The chef and the guest speaker each gave a little speech, with a neat slide show on a TV screen as a backdrop. Then it's time for the the first course - a very interesting salad comprising barley, kamut, and black quinoa among other things, with some field greens on the side. It was a nice first course that had a lot going on, but I was hoping that the dressing would have made it stand out more. And either black quinoa is supposed to be smaller than sesame, or else they kind of fell apart in the mixing - I didn't really notice its presence other than as little black specks (not sure, as I've not had the black variety before, and it's a first time for me to sample kamut). The salad was paired with a Justin Chardonnay that was not overly oaky. It drank more like a Chablis - nice. Next came the smoked salmon, which is now bathed in a shitake-infused broth, with a sprig of enoki on top (original menu was not as specific, so, who knows, maybe Chef Fred really only finalized this during the week). This is paired with the Landmark 2009 Grand Detour Pinot Noir ('09?). The salmon was a good portion and it was of exquisite taste; despite my initial reservations, the bite afforded by the tea-smoked flavor made fish-with-a-red work BEAUTIFULLY. This stood heads n shoulders above other courses, and was by far both my favorite course and favorite pairing of the evening. No wine with the palate-cleansing sorbet, which I considered perhaps a touch too sweet. Then came the piece de resistance: grilled venison in a fruity setting. This is paired with the Justin Savant (not sure if it's 2008 or 2009, since the menu said 2008, but the unopened bottle in the dining room said 2009). My venison was OK, but for some reason, my wife's piece was more flavorful, with more umami taste. I'm a little averse to "sweet" things other than during the dessert course; so the fruity approach did little for me. Still, it was nicely prepared and presented. Dessert was served with the last wine course, a sweet "port-style" wine made by Justin with cabernet sauvignon grapes, called Obtuse. Like the Savant and the pinot noir, it's not an inexpensive wine. It paired particularly well with some of the chocolate components that made up the dessert combo. The slice of candied orange really stood out too. French-pressed coffee was offered with dessert. All in all, a pleasant experience. I'm sure we'll be back one way or another. The evening was made more special by meeting fellow Yelper Ricky L. Ricky writes some awesome reviews, we're "friends" in the Yelp community, but we've never met. I'm looking forward to reading HIS review!
(4)
Scott D.
I had the ribeye. The steak was not bad, but not what you would expect in this price range. Too much fat for a $35 ribeye (and yes I know this steak is normally not a lean cut of meat). Most of the reviews I read said you can do better at other restaurants and I agree. The service was really good, but the menu and quality of food left much to be desired considering the price.
(2)
Keelan P.
Great food. Snapper great. Swordfish over heirlooms Gator chowder awesome. Decor could use some update though,
We chose Everglades as the place to celebrate our anniversary. We've been here a few times before and haven't been let down. Of course it helped that I had a $25 certificate from Restaurant.com ! Everglades is located in the Rosen Centre Hotel right in the heart of tourist central- International Drive. I love the huge mural featuring Florida wildlife (OK, it's a little corny but I'm a sucker for animals) and big saltwater fish tank at the entrance. For apps we split the Florida Rock Shrimp risotto which was divine. For main course I was torn between the Halibut or my old standby, the Buffalo with truffle mashed potatoes. I ended up getting the buffalo which is amazingly tender. The sauce, although good, was a little overpowering. For dessert I had the pecan tuile which was layered with cream and berries. It was delicious. I sampled the flourless chocolate cake which was extremely rich but also very good. I left absolutely stuffed and even had half my entree to take home! The restaurant is always pretty empty so they must survive on hotel guests and conference attendees. Service is good but could be better. At a place like this you don't expect to have an empty wine glass (we did) but the water was kept filled, and food came out promptly and correct so I'm not going to complain. Overall another great experience.
(4)
daniel n.
I ordered the alligator bay chowder and grilled black angus rib eye and both dishes were amazing. Besides great tasty food, the service was awesome.
(4)
Tom B.
Sad to say that I have eaten here before and had wonderful seafood. This trip was a dud. I brought 5 people with me. Yuck. From the watery crab cakes to the Grouper that tasted like tough old Tuna. The drinks that took forever to get (as we found out they weren't using their bar, but rather going to the crowded hotel bar). Aweful. I ended up having someones leftover soggy asparagus to eat. Thank goodness they have a good wine list... overpriced, but the nice chardonnay kept me laughing at how bad everything was. If your in town for great seafood. Go elsewhere
(1)
Michael F.
I am amending my review. Apparently the Snapper that they served at Everglades was not Red Snapper. I received a response from the restaurant (listed below my review) giving details of what their supplier had told them about the fish they were purchasing. Since her response included, here's mine back: Adrienne, Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, your information from your supplier is not exactly accurate. Furthermore, going to the supplier for information like that is like going to the fox and asking him how many chickens are in the henhouse. You're not likely to get an impartial or accurate answer. According Seafood Watch and the Blue Ocean Institute, Chilean Seabass is only sustainably fished from one very small fishery which is not monitored by either of them but by the Marine Stewardship Council. Worldwide, stocks are low. It is a complete and utter falsehood that this fish is now sustainable because it comes from Chile seasonally. Unless you can prove where that specific fish is caught, the likelihood is that it's not sustainably caught, seasonally or otherwise. Furthermore, one of the fishing methods used for catching this fish, bottom trawling, is highly destructive to habitat of this fish, completely decimating it and reducing their ability to reproduce. Lastly, and not insignificantly, this fish is known to have high levels of mercury and PCBs that may pose a risk to children and adults. This fish should not be on any menu, period. Here's some information for you: montereybayaquarium.org/… Swordfish also is acceptable also from very specific fisheries and by certain fishing methodologies (i.e., by harpoon, which I am willing to bet yours is not, and gill nets which there's a decent likelihood yours is not), and again, unless you have very specific confirmed information about where this fish came from, it's best to opt for other species that are not in question. It is also extremely high in mercury being at the top of the food chain as well, and can also pose a health risk to eat it. Here's information about it: montereybayaquarium.org/… I'll give you the Snapper, but you should be more specific about what sort of Snapper it is. My recollection of your menu is that it was not. Again, I appreciate the response and I will amend my review about the Snapper, but I would strongly advise you to take that Swordfish and Chilean Seabass off your menu. Even from a perception standpoint it's a bad idea having them on there, even if by some miracle you're getting them from that narrow sliver of acceptable fisheries.You're also projecting that these are sustainably fished, and quite frankly the chances are that they are not. Just a word to the wise. Thanks again. :end response: I got another response from Adrienne. She says they take this sort of thing very seriously, and I appreciate that. I have upped my review to two stars. You have to appreciate that they're responsive. When I see the new menu, I'll change my review again. Thanks.
(2)
Donna B.
This was my first time eating here. I was with a group during a convention so dinner was on them.....which was a good thing as I don't know if I could afford to eat here on my own. Their dinner special was a 60$ surf and turf. I ended up having the chefs choice with venison, boar sausage and quail and it was listed as Market Price so I don't even know how much it was! But it was very good! The service was excellent! Excellent!! Presentation was perfect. the only thing was the wine taste was different quite a bit in taste from one pouring to the other even tho it was the same label. I wasn't the only one who noticed this but hey....I wasn't paying for it so just drink up and shut up. Everyone like their food. A friend had the alligator bisque or gumbo or whatever and it smelled like bean and bacon soup and there was a lot of it. I had the watermelon and goat cheese salad and it was the perfect size and tasted incredible. Everyone in our party of 20 loved their food but nothing knocked my socks off or inspired me to the point of returning there again just for that dish so that's why I gave it three stars. ( But if I am ever invited there again I will run there as fast as I can!)
(3)
George W.
We were tired after walking the conference center all day, so unfortunately decided to eat at the Everglades in the Rosen Centre Hotel, where we were staying. I have to admit that Dwayne, the most lovely bell-hop, gave me two free drink coupons that served as a further enticement. Service was good. My NY Trip steak was tough, & tasteless, however. Really bad "steak." For $32, a total rip off. My husband had the sea bass with lentils and really enjoyed it. When the bill came, though, he noticed that he was charged $40 for the fish, although the menu said $35. We waited through three attempts to correct the bill & just paid the extra to get out of there. The weird thing is, we were similarly overcharged in the bar,while waiting for our table. Wondering now if the management is purposely dishonest. If you eat or drink at the Rosen Centre, I suggest you check your bill carefully. Better yet, go elsewhere.
(2)
Rich L.
Here for a business dinner in a party of eight on a Tuesday night. Great service, but I felt the food was just average. Nice wine list but overpriced by about 30%. Pleasant ambiance, but the statues hanging from the ceiling are out of place for this type of restaurant (Yeah, I get it...it's a resort hotel near Disney). I started with the Lobster Bisque - very tasty, nice presentation but too thick. For an entree, I had the grouper which was dry and tough but on a nice bed of tomato grits accompanied by green and white asparagus. For dessert, I had the Key Lime Pie. Being in Florida, I had high expectations. Though it was artfully presented, the pie was too sweet and the lime filling wasn't tart enough. So, overall not bad, but for the price I think you can do better.
(2)
N. B.
Like most people, I went here because I had a restaurant.com coupon. I was very pleased with this place. It is in a nice hotel and so is not the most convenient to get to if you are not staying there, but I think it was worth finding it. The decor is nice, some people think it is cheesy but I really love animals and I found it to be fun and set the mood for my Floridian vacay. I got the surf and turf and it was sooooooo good. My boyfriend got whitefish, I think, and his was great too. We got the crab cake appetizers and dessert too, everything tasted perfect and was presented very nicely. It is pricey but we wanted a nice meal out, and with the coupon we got to eat more than we would have for the same money.
(5)
Kristy K.
NEVER EAT HERE Ok..so our first hint should have been when we showed up to our reservation at 8pm on time and their was no hostess at the stand. We waited for about 10 minutes just for the hostess to come seat us. Then when she showed us to our seats she decided to put us at a table that was really close to another couple so we stood there while she slid the tables over so we could sit down. (Mind you this is an upscale restaurant, supposedly, where the average meal is $35 just for an entree, so you would think that the quality of service would be top notch) When ordering our meals each person orders an entrees, i also ordered a salad, my brother a soup, and my parents a mushroom appetizer to share. After waiting about 45 minutes we finally get the salad and soup. After finishing those we still have no mushroom app. After alerting the waiter he tells us he thought my parents ordered a side of mushrooms with their meal and not the mushroom app, so he said she would put that order in right away but comp out the mushrooms because of the miscommunication (damn right you will!). Well we get our entrees before the appetizer makes it out, and with our meal we get the mistakenly ordered side of mushrooms. Me, liking mushrooms, dove in to try it...I almost PUKED. The sauce was putrid, absolutely disgusting...I truly didn't think I was going to be able to swallow it down. Sincerely all the food was way under par....especially for the prices we were paying for them. My brother's buffalo striploin was so veiny he couldn't even cut through it with his knife. After finishing our entrees, Low and Behold out comes our Mushroom appetizer, also known as a crap fest on a plate. The desserts looked good when we saw them on the dessert cart but at that point why the hell tempt fate and we just got out of there as quick as we could. Stopped at Coldstone Ice Cream on the way home just to get something tasty in our stomachs for the night. So like I said NEVER eat at Everglades restaurant.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Meredith B.
Went for Magical Dining this month because it had a great menu. Pulled up to the Rosen Hotel and walked passed about 5 other restaurants that were filled with people ( it was a Friday). We walked into Everglades and were THE ONLY people in there (again Friday night 7pm). We were not impressed with the food nor with the service especially since there was nobody else for them to wait on.. It was definitely overpriced and just decent. I would not recommend this place or go back again, unless I was stuck at that hotel and didn't have a car to drive me anywhere in Orlando that was better.... Don't go!!
(2)Bob T.
came here for magical dining month last year. it was terrrible.
(1)Dave B.
An incredibly bad resturant. The service was terrible, the seafood was overcooked and bland, and it was outrageously expensive. Even the aquariums were disappointing.
(1)Essential S.
Hard to pick a rating. I had the bacon-wrapped venison, and it was magnificent. It lay happily on a bed of truffle mashed potatoes, and was surmounted by some nicely salty sauteed spinach. All prepared correctly and it went well together, especially when slathered with tasty sauce. Half my companions opted for the Thai noodle curry/seafood soup. They seemed a bit intimidated by the piles of shells and sea-bugs, tossed together haphazardly. Opinions were mixed. But my greatest complaint is about the service, which was remarkably inattentive. We sat for ages between our interactions. I suspect that the automatic 20% gratuity for our party of 6 had something to do with it.
(3)MM P.
Worst meal I've had in a very long time. Scallops were dry half frozen and tasted like liquid smoke. Goat cheese salad was frozen, yes frozen. I travel a lot and even for hotel food this was over priced and not fresh.
(1)Styarria G.
Considering it was a Saturday night I was quite surprised to see the place so empty. After experiencing good service and great food, I'm even more surprised. We were seated and given an assortment of bread with tapenade. While looking over the menu we were pleasantly surprised by a scallop in cream sauce amuse-bouche (amuse-bouche is a sampling of an item offered by the chef that is free of charge and not on the menu). Our server was knowledgeable of their wine selection and we chose a bottle of Moscato d'Asti for the table. For a starter I went with the lobster bisque; best lobster bisque I've ever tasted! It's not loaded with chunks of lobster, as it's an extremely creamy consistency, but the flavor is amazing; this is a must try if you visit. I rounded out my meal with the butternut squash ravioli entree. By this time to go boxes were necessary and dessert was out of the question. They do however have an array of desserts, that they bring over to your table on display, for selection. The ambiance is quiet and relaxed, and it's a nice restaurant for a romantic dinner. The decor has a Florida everglade feel with a large underwater mural on one wall, an over sized alligator (or maybe it's a croc), and a wall fish tank.
(4)Joy S.
My daughter and I had a wonderful steak dinner and dessert. The wait staff was attentive and food was amazing. Worth the money. $33 is an average dinner.
(5)Michael S.
We've stayed at this hotel at least a dozen times but tonight first ventured into this Everglades themed restaurant. It was an Exceptional experience. Service was exemplary. We feasted on excellent gator chowder, lobster bisque, George Barley salad, and delicious mixed grill of venison, quail and wild boar sausage. We also enjoyed the Thai seafood curry which was mild and to our taste. Very tasty. So Everglades ! Surprisingly good! Just make a reservation and try it out. Highly recommended!
(5)Steve A.
I'v been to Everglades many tmes, but generally it's for special events. Vine and Dine events are held five times a year, and offer a five course meal with wine pairings. They attract a dedicated local crowd. Chef Fred turns out some interesting dishes, and the service staff is extremely friendly.
(3)Paul L.
We were at the Everglades for the Vine and Dine event on Friday. Several times a year, apparently, Rosen Centre Hotel puts on these food and wine pairing dinners. This is a clever way to generate business in what would otherwise be a quiet evening, in the dining room of a hotel that relies more on business travelers during the week. The event also offers free valet, and a very special room rate of $89 for those who prefer not to handle the aftermath of a 5-course dinner with wine behind the wheel - again a win-win, since the hotel will be quiet on any given Friday night other than during the peak of tourist season. But even though the press release in January stated "The cost of each Vine & Dine dinner is $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity..." This particular one, featuring Master Sommelier Joseph Spellman and wines from Landmark and Justin, was priced at $75 instead. We arrived to be checked in outside of the dining room. We were given our tab and shown the way into the reception area outside the dining room. The waiter came and brought us our poison, and settled the tab. In case you're wondering, obligatory gratuity is 20%; I won't begrudge them that, since a dinner like this with good service could easily warrant even more, but I felt that they could have been more upfront with disclosure, AND call it something other than a "Large party tip" - especially when it's for a party of two. Justin wines dominated the evening, accounting for 4 out of the 5. Their sauvignon blanc was pleasant enough, but pales compared to any given offering from Marlborough, or even some of the better American ones. Wait staff with bottles comes and tops you up should you need it;. Be careful - while this is the only time you get any "extra", pace yourself and know your limit: there are 4 more wines coming, 3 of them that are about 4 ounces each, and the dessert wine, maybe 1.5 oz. No point getting tipsy early and not being able to taste the food. I think, though, that some pretzels and/or nuts might be a good snack to offer at this one-hour reception time. With the first course starting well after 8:30, some folks (the ladies, especially) might all too quickly feel the effect of 6-8 oz. of wine; as I'm sure you know, an unprotected stomach wall absorbs the alcohol like a sponge. The chef and the guest speaker each gave a little speech, with a neat slide show on a TV screen as a backdrop. Then it's time for the the first course - a very interesting salad comprising barley, kamut, and black quinoa among other things, with some field greens on the side. It was a nice first course that had a lot going on, but I was hoping that the dressing would have made it stand out more. And either black quinoa is supposed to be smaller than sesame, or else they kind of fell apart in the mixing - I didn't really notice its presence other than as little black specks (not sure, as I've not had the black variety before, and it's a first time for me to sample kamut). The salad was paired with a Justin Chardonnay that was not overly oaky. It drank more like a Chablis - nice. Next came the smoked salmon, which is now bathed in a shitake-infused broth, with a sprig of enoki on top (original menu was not as specific, so, who knows, maybe Chef Fred really only finalized this during the week). This is paired with the Landmark 2009 Grand Detour Pinot Noir ('09?). The salmon was a good portion and it was of exquisite taste; despite my initial reservations, the bite afforded by the tea-smoked flavor made fish-with-a-red work BEAUTIFULLY. This stood heads n shoulders above other courses, and was by far both my favorite course and favorite pairing of the evening. No wine with the palate-cleansing sorbet, which I considered perhaps a touch too sweet. Then came the piece de resistance: grilled venison in a fruity setting. This is paired with the Justin Savant (not sure if it's 2008 or 2009, since the menu said 2008, but the unopened bottle in the dining room said 2009). My venison was OK, but for some reason, my wife's piece was more flavorful, with more umami taste. I'm a little averse to "sweet" things other than during the dessert course; so the fruity approach did little for me. Still, it was nicely prepared and presented. Dessert was served with the last wine course, a sweet "port-style" wine made by Justin with cabernet sauvignon grapes, called Obtuse. Like the Savant and the pinot noir, it's not an inexpensive wine. It paired particularly well with some of the chocolate components that made up the dessert combo. The slice of candied orange really stood out too. French-pressed coffee was offered with dessert. All in all, a pleasant experience. I'm sure we'll be back one way or another. The evening was made more special by meeting fellow Yelper Ricky L. Ricky writes some awesome reviews, we're "friends" in the Yelp community, but we've never met. I'm looking forward to reading HIS review!
(4)Scott D.
I had the ribeye. The steak was not bad, but not what you would expect in this price range. Too much fat for a $35 ribeye (and yes I know this steak is normally not a lean cut of meat). Most of the reviews I read said you can do better at other restaurants and I agree. The service was really good, but the menu and quality of food left much to be desired considering the price.
(2)Keelan P.
Great food. Snapper great. Swordfish over heirlooms Gator chowder awesome. Decor could use some update though,
(4)Adam G.
I was staying at the hotel, so of course this place was convenient when I didn't have the time or energy to go elsewhere. The place was always dead at the bar, so service was clearly not a problem. Prompt, friendly. Nice décor, blah blah. The 3 cheese burger was fine, though the ciabatta roll for the bun didn't do it for me. It was too crispy, though it did have to be fairly sturdy to hold up everything on the burger or it may have been too soggy. It was just an average burger, nothing great. The fries, average again. My real complaint is something that comes as no surprise to me, but I still find it frustrating and damn near criminal. Ok, yes, you're in a hotel, so you're going to price gouge and take full advantage of the visitors, but $4.75 for a domestic beer is just ridiculous. And, though I don't recall the exact price, it must have been near $9 for liquor. Now, if you're charging me $9 for a gin and tonic or a glass of whiskey, neither of which were top shelf, you better not give me that measured 1.5% ounce pour shit.
(3)Janene H.
We chose Everglades as the place to celebrate our anniversary. We've been here a few times before and haven't been let down. Of course it helped that I had a $25 certificate from Restaurant.com ! Everglades is located in the Rosen Centre Hotel right in the heart of tourist central- International Drive. I love the huge mural featuring Florida wildlife (OK, it's a little corny but I'm a sucker for animals) and big saltwater fish tank at the entrance. For apps we split the Florida Rock Shrimp risotto which was divine. For main course I was torn between the Halibut or my old standby, the Buffalo with truffle mashed potatoes. I ended up getting the buffalo which is amazingly tender. The sauce, although good, was a little overpowering. For dessert I had the pecan tuile which was layered with cream and berries. It was delicious. I sampled the flourless chocolate cake which was extremely rich but also very good. I left absolutely stuffed and even had half my entree to take home! The restaurant is always pretty empty so they must survive on hotel guests and conference attendees. Service is good but could be better. At a place like this you don't expect to have an empty wine glass (we did) but the water was kept filled, and food came out promptly and correct so I'm not going to complain. Overall another great experience.
(4)daniel n.
I ordered the alligator bay chowder and grilled black angus rib eye and both dishes were amazing. Besides great tasty food, the service was awesome.
(4)Tom B.
Sad to say that I have eaten here before and had wonderful seafood. This trip was a dud. I brought 5 people with me. Yuck. From the watery crab cakes to the Grouper that tasted like tough old Tuna. The drinks that took forever to get (as we found out they weren't using their bar, but rather going to the crowded hotel bar). Aweful. I ended up having someones leftover soggy asparagus to eat. Thank goodness they have a good wine list... overpriced, but the nice chardonnay kept me laughing at how bad everything was. If your in town for great seafood. Go elsewhere
(1)Michael F.
I am amending my review. Apparently the Snapper that they served at Everglades was not Red Snapper. I received a response from the restaurant (listed below my review) giving details of what their supplier had told them about the fish they were purchasing. Since her response included, here's mine back: Adrienne, Thanks for the response. Unfortunately, your information from your supplier is not exactly accurate. Furthermore, going to the supplier for information like that is like going to the fox and asking him how many chickens are in the henhouse. You're not likely to get an impartial or accurate answer. According Seafood Watch and the Blue Ocean Institute, Chilean Seabass is only sustainably fished from one very small fishery which is not monitored by either of them but by the Marine Stewardship Council. Worldwide, stocks are low. It is a complete and utter falsehood that this fish is now sustainable because it comes from Chile seasonally. Unless you can prove where that specific fish is caught, the likelihood is that it's not sustainably caught, seasonally or otherwise. Furthermore, one of the fishing methods used for catching this fish, bottom trawling, is highly destructive to habitat of this fish, completely decimating it and reducing their ability to reproduce. Lastly, and not insignificantly, this fish is known to have high levels of mercury and PCBs that may pose a risk to children and adults. This fish should not be on any menu, period. Here's some information for you: montereybayaquarium.org/… Swordfish also is acceptable also from very specific fisheries and by certain fishing methodologies (i.e., by harpoon, which I am willing to bet yours is not, and gill nets which there's a decent likelihood yours is not), and again, unless you have very specific confirmed information about where this fish came from, it's best to opt for other species that are not in question. It is also extremely high in mercury being at the top of the food chain as well, and can also pose a health risk to eat it. Here's information about it: montereybayaquarium.org/… I'll give you the Snapper, but you should be more specific about what sort of Snapper it is. My recollection of your menu is that it was not. Again, I appreciate the response and I will amend my review about the Snapper, but I would strongly advise you to take that Swordfish and Chilean Seabass off your menu. Even from a perception standpoint it's a bad idea having them on there, even if by some miracle you're getting them from that narrow sliver of acceptable fisheries.You're also projecting that these are sustainably fished, and quite frankly the chances are that they are not. Just a word to the wise. Thanks again. :end response: I got another response from Adrienne. She says they take this sort of thing very seriously, and I appreciate that. I have upped my review to two stars. You have to appreciate that they're responsive. When I see the new menu, I'll change my review again. Thanks.
(2)Donna B.
This was my first time eating here. I was with a group during a convention so dinner was on them.....which was a good thing as I don't know if I could afford to eat here on my own. Their dinner special was a 60$ surf and turf. I ended up having the chefs choice with venison, boar sausage and quail and it was listed as Market Price so I don't even know how much it was! But it was very good! The service was excellent! Excellent!! Presentation was perfect. the only thing was the wine taste was different quite a bit in taste from one pouring to the other even tho it was the same label. I wasn't the only one who noticed this but hey....I wasn't paying for it so just drink up and shut up. Everyone like their food. A friend had the alligator bisque or gumbo or whatever and it smelled like bean and bacon soup and there was a lot of it. I had the watermelon and goat cheese salad and it was the perfect size and tasted incredible. Everyone in our party of 20 loved their food but nothing knocked my socks off or inspired me to the point of returning there again just for that dish so that's why I gave it three stars. ( But if I am ever invited there again I will run there as fast as I can!)
(3)George W.
We were tired after walking the conference center all day, so unfortunately decided to eat at the Everglades in the Rosen Centre Hotel, where we were staying. I have to admit that Dwayne, the most lovely bell-hop, gave me two free drink coupons that served as a further enticement. Service was good. My NY Trip steak was tough, & tasteless, however. Really bad "steak." For $32, a total rip off. My husband had the sea bass with lentils and really enjoyed it. When the bill came, though, he noticed that he was charged $40 for the fish, although the menu said $35. We waited through three attempts to correct the bill & just paid the extra to get out of there. The weird thing is, we were similarly overcharged in the bar,while waiting for our table. Wondering now if the management is purposely dishonest. If you eat or drink at the Rosen Centre, I suggest you check your bill carefully. Better yet, go elsewhere.
(2)Rich L.
Here for a business dinner in a party of eight on a Tuesday night. Great service, but I felt the food was just average. Nice wine list but overpriced by about 30%. Pleasant ambiance, but the statues hanging from the ceiling are out of place for this type of restaurant (Yeah, I get it...it's a resort hotel near Disney). I started with the Lobster Bisque - very tasty, nice presentation but too thick. For an entree, I had the grouper which was dry and tough but on a nice bed of tomato grits accompanied by green and white asparagus. For dessert, I had the Key Lime Pie. Being in Florida, I had high expectations. Though it was artfully presented, the pie was too sweet and the lime filling wasn't tart enough. So, overall not bad, but for the price I think you can do better.
(2)N. B.
Like most people, I went here because I had a restaurant.com coupon. I was very pleased with this place. It is in a nice hotel and so is not the most convenient to get to if you are not staying there, but I think it was worth finding it. The decor is nice, some people think it is cheesy but I really love animals and I found it to be fun and set the mood for my Floridian vacay. I got the surf and turf and it was sooooooo good. My boyfriend got whitefish, I think, and his was great too. We got the crab cake appetizers and dessert too, everything tasted perfect and was presented very nicely. It is pricey but we wanted a nice meal out, and with the coupon we got to eat more than we would have for the same money.
(5)Kristy K.
NEVER EAT HERE Ok..so our first hint should have been when we showed up to our reservation at 8pm on time and their was no hostess at the stand. We waited for about 10 minutes just for the hostess to come seat us. Then when she showed us to our seats she decided to put us at a table that was really close to another couple so we stood there while she slid the tables over so we could sit down. (Mind you this is an upscale restaurant, supposedly, where the average meal is $35 just for an entree, so you would think that the quality of service would be top notch) When ordering our meals each person orders an entrees, i also ordered a salad, my brother a soup, and my parents a mushroom appetizer to share. After waiting about 45 minutes we finally get the salad and soup. After finishing those we still have no mushroom app. After alerting the waiter he tells us he thought my parents ordered a side of mushrooms with their meal and not the mushroom app, so he said she would put that order in right away but comp out the mushrooms because of the miscommunication (damn right you will!). Well we get our entrees before the appetizer makes it out, and with our meal we get the mistakenly ordered side of mushrooms. Me, liking mushrooms, dove in to try it...I almost PUKED. The sauce was putrid, absolutely disgusting...I truly didn't think I was going to be able to swallow it down. Sincerely all the food was way under par....especially for the prices we were paying for them. My brother's buffalo striploin was so veiny he couldn't even cut through it with his knife. After finishing our entrees, Low and Behold out comes our Mushroom appetizer, also known as a crap fest on a plate. The desserts looked good when we saw them on the dessert cart but at that point why the hell tempt fate and we just got out of there as quick as we could. Stopped at Coldstone Ice Cream on the way home just to get something tasty in our stomachs for the night. So like I said NEVER eat at Everglades restaurant.
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