The Drake Kitchen + Bar

That time of the year. Magical Dining Month. The Drake did something very hard this year and made my top six list of good MDM menus. Very unique menu design that made me want to come here immediately. They put real effort into it, and I want The Drake to be celebrated for that. Too many restaurants are just lazy when it comes to MDM. So the location is great. Just off of the Lake Eola block, excellent parking options real closeby. And the ambiance inside was very nice and comforting, too. Huge windows, random plant sprigs everywhere, warm lighting with an exposed filament lightbulb aesthetic. And on this particular night, there was a really amazing live singer whose playlist was really impressive. The service was also amazing. We had a really nice server who tended to us very well all evening. And most importantly, we were not rushed. I know restaurants make you put in your whole MDM order immediately, so they can rush you through your discounted meal and turn your table ASAP, but we had time to kill before our Judson's show, and the server let us do just that. No pressure at all. Very appreciated. Now for the food. Here we go. Apps Chicharron De Pulpo (eggplant caviar, aji amarillo, green chickpea soubise). Wow, so good! A nice crispy, delicate breading on the outside, the most tender octopus you'll ever have on the inside, and paired very well with the slightly smoky eggplant and the deliciously pungent aji amarillo. A really great app. Heritage Pork Riblets (gochujang honey, togarashi). Also good. They aren't riblets, they're full on ribs. Cooked well, seasoned with a nice little zip from the togarashi and a nice little funk from the kimchi the ribs sit atop. Another nice app. Big fan. Mains Colorado Lamb Picanha (bone marrow peas, fingerling potatoes, chimichurri). This is what lost that fifth star. They obviously have two piles of lamb in the kitchen, and we got the lamb from the MDM pile. Hammered, overcooked, unrendered fat everywhere, sinew everywhere, just a disgrace of a main. I was very disappointed here. Confit Duck Leg (cured tender duck leg, fungi jon mushrooms risotto, pomegranate gastrique). Luckily we split all of our dishes 50/50. This duck was a dream. Very tender duck with a nice crisp skin. It and the fresh, veggie-forward mushroom risotto it sat atop were accented well with that sweet and fruity gastrique. So yum. Desserts Hazelnut + Chocolate Bombe (hazelnut mousse, dark chocolate, sea salt). Wow, the flavors here were great! Dark chocolate, sweet and hazelnutty mousse, and a real strong pop of salt that made this a really nice dessert. I never do this, but after seeing how small and sad the panna cotta looked at someone else's table, and because my girlfriend never gets the amount of desserts she wants when we're out and about, we sprung for the upgraded Pavlova De Maiz (corn husk, corn custard, brown butter ice-cream) +$8 And thank goodness we did. Very corny custard that accentuated the natural sweetness of corn, a slightly nutty amazing ice cream, and then that meringue was probably the best I've ever had. Crispy, soft inside, an excellent texture addition to all the other flavors on the plate. Just wow. Overall, this was a great MDM meal. The menu design was exceptional, the flavors presented were all strong and scrumptious, and I'd come back here for real one day.

Our server was Monica and she was great! The atmosphere was lovely, and we opted to sit outside during the evenings but it wasn’t ridden with bugs, plus there were hands that kept a cool breeze going. There was also live music which was such a treat. We came during magical dining and there were an array of options! Food was very tasty so we would certainly come back! I also love that they offer a daily happy hour!

The food was unique and absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere was so inviting and welcoming. Our waiter, Monica, was truly top-notch—attentive and friendly, truly made our experience even better!

Eric was fantastic! Great recommendations. Food was stunning, kudos to the chef!

Fantastic food and was so happy to hear that everything on the menu could be altered to be gluten free. Some of the best food I have ever eaten. Our waiter was absolutely fantastic and may wonderful recommendations for us. The atmosphere is gorgeous. We will definitely return.

Cam L Our waiter was absolutely wonderful! He was extremely knowledgeable about wines and took the time to explain the different options and make great recommendations based on our preferences. He was attentive, professional, and made the entire dining experience even more enjoyable. Excellent service and truly impressive wine knowledge! We love The Drake❤️❤️❤️

Surprisingly interesting menu, great food and fun wine list. Sydney was awesome!