Bruno Faria
Google
This was one of the best culinary experiences I’ve had in Orlando, but sadly it was overshadowed by the worst service I’ve ever received at a fine dining restaurant.
The good:
The ambiance is warm, inviting, and elegant, with beautiful décor and great music. I was there with my parents (who I hadn’t seen in a long time) and my fiancé, who had raved about this place. The food exceeded expectations: we started with steak tartare and pastrami, both exploding with flavor and crafted with true artistry. For mains, I had the short rib, my dad and fiancé had the pappardelle (served tableside), and my mother ordered the filet with broccolini. Every dish was perfectly seasoned, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. Dessert was baklava, a heavenly finish. Drinks were also excellent. Truly, the food and overall environment deserve nothing but praise.
The bad:
Unfortunately, our server, Kseniia, completely ruined the experience. Every other staff member—including the manager, assistant manager, food runner, tableside chef, and other servers—were smiling, professional, and kind. She, however, greeted us without a smile, spoke so quietly we constantly had to ask her to repeat herself, and made every interaction awkward and uncomfortable. She seemed uninterested in being there, interrupting conversations to refill already-full glasses and even bringing extra bottles of sparkling and still water without asking—adding unnecessary charges to our bill.
She often made us feel rushed, standing silently over us until we ordered, offering no recommendations or specials, and giving the impression that we were inconveniencing her. At times, she looked at me with open disdain. My father, who is very warm and charismatic, even tried to lighten the mood, but she remained cold and dismissive.
The final straw came when she dropped the check on the table without a word, then returned a few minutes later, opened it in front of us, and fumbled through it as if impatient for us to pay and leave—something I’d expect at a casual chain restaurant, not a fine dining establishment. She didn’t even thank us at the end; another server had to close out the bill, and his friendliness in those brief moments was better than her service the entire night.
We spent over $500 and left feeling disrespected and upset, despite the outstanding food. It was embarrassing to watch my parents—who traveled far and deserved a special evening—be treated this way. I rarely write reviews, but this bothered me enough to lose sleep over.
Final thoughts:
The food, drinks, and ambiance are absolutely worth coming back for, but the service we received from this particular server was unacceptable. She needs serious retraining, as her demeanor would be questionable even in a casual setting, let alone fine dining. To make matters worse, gratuity was included—likely explaining why she made no effort, since the tip was guaranteed.
I would absolutely return to this restaurant for the food and experience, but I would go out of my way to ensure I’m not seated in her section again
