I love the atmosphere and fresh/ seasonal food offerings at Seasons 52. I always seem to leave there feeling light and not too stuffed. However, I believe the prices for the portion size guests receive are too high.
I am also torn because the service is excellent. I didn't know until my recent visit to Seasons 52 Altamonte Springs how well you are treated when it is your birthday or anniversary. I received a rose for my birthday, complimentary champagne and a photo of myself and my dinner companion. Now I will have a keepsake from my great dinner! Our server was not only friendly and attentive, but also made sure our dishes were prepared without items that would trigger my food allergies.
Speaking of that, the Gluten-Free Flatbreads are very delicious. We had the Chicken Pesto Flatbread and really enjoyed it the flavors. We also had the Warm Beet Salad, made with golden beets, goat cheese and pistachios. It was sweet and healthy, and the Chive Oil made this dish.
Our entrees were also delicious, but not the best I have had. For example, the Chilean Sea Bass, accompanied by black rice and a delicious soy sauce, was cooked perfectly. It was moist and delicious. However, it was a small portion size for its $31 price tag. The Southern Shrimp & Grits was also very tasty - we loved the sauce that goes with this dish. Again, this dish should be a value - not the $19.50 that Seasons 52 is charging. I have had better Shrimp & Grits - most recently at The Smiling Bison -Sanford. The Carmelized Sea Scallops were very yummy and worth every penny. We also loved the accompanying butternut squash risotto.
We were too full for dessert on this visit, but we love all the mini desserts here! Let us know if you agree with our review in the comments section below.
Also see:
Seasons 52's Summer Menu
Top Reasons to Visit the Smiling Bison - Sanford
The Smiling Bison's food, drinks, service and atmosphere make me, well, smile. We had a fun, relaxing time on a recent visit to the Orlando eatery's new Sanford location, and would recommend the top notch food to anyone.
The appetizers, or "bar snacks", were inventive and delicious. You must order the Chorizo Scotch Egg. It was unlike any scotch egg I have had, with a light, crispy exterior, paired with a delicious sauce and avocado puree. The Rye "Corn Dog", with rye-battered house-made beer brat, pickles and coriander mustard, is also tops on our list. I could eat the full-flavored brat by itself, but really loved the corn breading as well.
My favorite entree was the Shrimp & Grits, a different take on the classic dish than I have ever seen. The delicious, local Bradley's stone ground grits were topped with Gulf Shrimp, corn, okra, tomato and tasso ham. The dish featured a nice, light sauce that brought all the flavors together. At first I was concerned about the $17 price tag, but let me tell you, this Shrimp & Grits is definitely worth that. Smiling Bison also serves a "Spaghetti and Meatballs" unlike any I have had. The dish doesn't use a tomato-based sauce; instead it is cheesy, with tomatoes sprinkled throughout. The quality of the house-made noodles and delicious cheesy flavor hooked us. Of course, we loved the bison, pork and ricotta meatballs too.
We are very impressed with the local sourcing at The Smiling Bison, and the fact that all the
meats are cured and prepared in-house. We also loved the atmosphere - which has been significantly modernized and upscaled from the former Italian-style eatery. Since it was an Italian restaurant, The Smiling Bison is utilizing the pizza oven, with several deep dish offerings, and more to come.
We also had wonderful dessert - Banana Cream Puffs with chocolate and rum sauce - and cocktails - including the yummy Gargleblaster - with dinner. Special thanks to co-owner Ron Thomas for his hospitality, and for Sous Chef Jessie for taking great care of us at the chef's table!
See also:
Corner Cafe a Hidden Gem in Sanford
