Waldorf Astoria’s Bull & Bear: the BEST New Year’s Eve Date Night in Orlando
New Year’s Eve is the perfect opportunity to pull out all the stops for an unforgettable night. Luckily, the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is home to one of the top 100 restaurants in the United States, as rated by OpenTable: the Bull & Bear Restaurant.
Whether you’re trying to impress a new flame or just want a luxurious night out with your long-term sweetheart, you can’t go wrong at Bull & Bear.
This spot is renowned for trendsetting menu items, creative hand-crafted cocktails, and tableside-prepared dishes – all tied together with top-notch personalized service dedicated to making sure every diner’s experience is unparalleled. Their menu includes signature dishes like Escargot & Gnocchi, a massive 38-ounce, 32-day dry-aged tomahawk ribeye, veal Oscar, and the iconic Lemon dessert.
The Perfect Balance Between Laidback and Upscale
Named after the trendsetting original Bull & Bear Restaurant in New York City, this Waldorf Astoria Orlando location serves hearty portions of traditional fare (no pretentious small portions here) in a warm, club-like setting that will have you feeling like a VIP.
The upscale, modern mid-century décor feels dark, moody, and intimate – the perfect makings for a romantic evening to celebrate the beginning of a new year. From the intricate chandeliers and coffered ceilings to the beveled glass windows, the dining room is a feast for the eyes just as much as the food is a feast for your taste buds. It’s no wonder this hot spot has been showered with awards and accolades for years.
A Delectable Dinner Menu
You’ll want to take your time browsing through Bull & Bear’s menu. No matter what you’re craving, you’re sure to find something surprising and exciting!
Start Off Right
The Bull & Bear’s appetizer menu is full of classics transformed into luxurious indulgences. Start light with the lobster bisque with sherry, or indulge in the corn soup paired with a truffle and robiola cheese sandwich for dipping. Instead of simple deviled eggs, here you can enjoy them paired with truffle.
Satisfy a seafood craving with the chilled Gulf shrimp in a lemon-thyme marinade, served alongside a classic cocktail sauce. Or try the Oyster Rockefeller with Pernod, fresh spinach, and cheese crumb accompaniments.
For an avant-garde on timeless luxury, look no further than the pan-seared foie gras. It’s served with wild berries, toasted brioche, and bourbon caramel. There’s no better way to begin your meal than to start off strong with a twist on a classic.
But for date night, our favorite way to kick off the meal is with the classic Caesar salad for two. It’s prepared tableside, so you and your sweetheart can enjoy the signature Bull & Bear experience while also sharing an iconic dish together. (Aww!)
Enticing Entrees
For your main dish, expect hearty, yet refined fare – particularly seafood. The maple wood-smoked salmon is served alongside a bacon and sweet corn puree, lemon herb beurre blanc, and gourmet pan-roasted mushrooms. Or try the seared sea bass with black Venus risotto, sautéed broccolini, piquillo pepper, Marcona almonds, soubise sauce, and achote tuile.
Not feeling fishy? Consider the pan-roasted Colorado lamb with ras al hanout tagine and jamon serrano, served over jet-black beluga lentils.
Make sure to add accompaniments like asparagus, creamed spinach, Bull & Bear frites, creamed corn, or mac and cheese with your choice of lobster or applewood-smoked bacon to round out your meal. We love that you’ll find the kind of sides you can expect from any self-respecting steakhouse, but all with top-notch preparations.
Bull & Bear Beefsteak Menu
The steak menu is where Bull & Bear really sings – it is a steakhouse, after all!
Go classic with the steak frites: a 6-ounce filet bathed in a cognac peppercorn sauce and a side of signature Bull & Bear frites. Or opt for the beef short rib, a 16-ounce cut braised on the bone in a bath of Syrah wine. They also have a featured Wagyu selection. (Yes, Wagyu!!)
But for a truly unforgettable night, opt for the 38-ounce, 32-day dry-aged tomahawk ribeye for two. It’s the ultimate show-stopping indulgence to impress your date and satisfy your appetite.
You can even choose your own flavor experience to add to your steak selection. Pick from sauces like peppercorn, Bull & Bear signature steak sauce, foyot, truffle red wine, or spicy chimichurri. And make sure you complete your steak dinner with all the necessary accompaniments. Their steak menu has special sides like lobster tail, seared foie gras, jumbo lump crab, and freshly-shaved truffles so you can make it your own.
Decadent Desserts
New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate, and celebrating means dessert!
On Bull & Bear’s dessert menu, you’ll find the same delightful balance between classic American steakhouse favorites and luxurious offerings. Every dessert, even the classic ones, have some kind of twist to delight and entice you.
Take, for example, the crème brulee flambe with a hidden dark chocolate crème surprise. Even the classic peanut butter chocolate cake is dressed up with peanut butter foam and Tahitian vanilla ice cream. The strawberry and white chocolate cheesecake is served with strawberry roll-ups and strawberry marshmallow. Your old favorites never looked so fancy!
In keeping with Bull & Bear’s tradition of tableside preparations, the La Fraise dessert includes a strawberry shortcake, strawberry sauce, and liquid nitrogen strawberry ice cream prepared tableside. This show-stopping dessert is the perfect way to excite and impress your date, and it isn’t just for show! The quick-freeze liquid nitrogen method of ice cream making produces the creamiest ice cream possible.
But by far, the most iconic dessert at Bull & Bear is the Lemon, their signature dessert. Served inside a hollowed-out lemon rind, the rest of the fruit is used to craft a delectable trio of lemon curd, cream, and sorbet. It’s a feast for the eyes and the imagination.
Specialty Cocktails
No New Year’s Eve meal is complete without a celebratory cocktail to toast the new year. Try the Signature Old Fashioned or Manhattan, prepared with house Bull & Bear bitters. For a lovely twist on an iconic classic, try the negroni chilled with a drip coffee ice cube.
Looking for something unique? The Mary Pickford (aka “America’s Sweetheart,” for you silent-movie film buffs) features Diplomatico Aged Blanco, a Luxardo maraschino, house grenadine, lemon, and pineapple juice. For something refreshing, but not too sweet, check out the Southside – gin, vermouth, lime juice, mint, and simple syrup.
Planning Your Perfect Evening
Bull & Bear is a well-loved staple for many people, which means it can be tricky to get a table. Make sure to book your New Year’s reservation well in advance. If you show up on New Year’s Eve asking for a table, you’ll likely be disappointed!
But as long as your plan ahead, you’re sure to have a spectacular time! And, most importantly, make a great impression on your date. *wink*
What’s your favorite way to celebrate New Year’s Eve? Leave a comment below and let us know!
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