I've been going to Aurora for a few years now, primarily for their Happy Hour. It's one of the few decent happy hours in all of Oviedo, as crazy as that is. They have a few nice craft beers on tap and the most amazing hummus platter ever. So many places give you a tiny dollop of hummus, a few crackers and if you're lucky a few cut up carrots. Not here, you get a giant amount of hummus - you get house made lavash - and you get beautiful baby medium sized carrots and all of that is only $8 on happy hour. The hummus is very flavorful with a tiny kick and the lavash is super crunchy with an amazing seasoning on it that reminds me of "everything bagel seasoning". You'll see two different pictures - these were taken a year or more apart but you can see things have barely changed. You always get the amazing crackers and carrots and a huge amount of hummus. They also have a few great wines by the glass on happy hour, some yummy sliders, and now a pepperoni pizza that looks awesome but I haven't tried yet. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Hummus Platter - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Dined here for the first time with a group of about 12 in the private room. I gotta admit, service was slow, especially when we were checking out and it was a company dinner so there was only 1 credit card to run which took about 30 mins. Other than that, the food was great. I sampled a few items of the apps that people ordered. From what I can remember, the truffle fries really stood out. For my entree, I got the chopped elk medium cooked. It was fantastic. Very delicious and almost tasted like a really beefy meatloaf. Not gamey at all. The sauce drizzled on it was so savory. I wished there were more mashed potatoes underneath because those were amazing too. It was also a very big portion. Definitely recommend. Would come back again and try something else or even order that again. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - BACON WRAPPED ELK "CHOPPED STEAK" (GF) HOUSE SEASONED GROUND ELK | SMOKED NUESKE BACON WILD MUSHROOM | CARAMELIZED ONION | BOURBON SAUCE - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

While driving past the Celeste Hotel recently, I noticed an unusual amount of activity and decided to stop in to see what was going on. I had read about the hotel's restaurant, Aurora, before and thought it would be a good opportunity to check it out while investigating the commotion. It turns out the hotel was hosting the Florida Forensic League Varsity State Tournament, which created a lively and energetic atmosphere throughout the property. We grabbed seats at the bar around 5 p.m., which felt like the perfect time to start with a Ketel One martini with blue cheese olives. The martini was solid, though the blue cheese olives were a bit muted in flavor. From the bar bites menu we tried the pepperoni flatbread and the meatballs. The flatbread had a nicely executed crust -- very crisp with an almost wonton-like texture. While it looked fantastic, the flavor didn't quite match the visual appeal. Still good, just not a standout. The meatballs were unfortunately the weakest of the dishes. They were quite dry and tasted as though they may have been reheated more than once. The marinara sauce, however, was flavorful and helped salvage the dish. I actually found the best combination was breaking up the meatball, adding extra marinara and crushed red pepper flakes, and spooning it onto the flatbread -- which made for a surprisingly good bite. The space itself is very inviting with open views of the pool and lobby area, and the bar makes for a great place to relax and people-watch. If you're stopping in for drinks, this is definitely the spot to sit. Cocktails lean toward hotel pricing -- the martini was $21 -- though the beers we had afterward were more reasonable at about $8. Overall, a pleasant first visit. Aurora has a welcoming atmosphere and seems like a great place to meet friends for drinks or a casual bite. I'll be back to explore more of their full menu in the near future. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Pep Flatbread and Meatballs - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I went back to Aurora and requested my friend meet me there for dinner since she lives in Oviedo. She did not realize this restaurant existed in the Celeste but immediately fell in love with the ambiance and then later, the food and drinks! I was again greeted by Andrea, the Manager. She remembered me and led me to my table as my guest had already arrived. We had a nice chat, and I introduced her to my friend, Beverly. I asked if Ethan (who was my waiter last time) would be our server tonight. She said they had two Ethans and one left after his graduation from UCF. I met "Ethan 2.0" and although he was not the original Ethan, he was just as attentive, fun and gave my friend and I the perfect amount of space between cocktails, appetizer and dinner so we could visit properly. (Matthew M., if you are still the Business Manager, you and Andrea sure know how to hire the best personnel!!) We started off with cocktails. I recommended the Aquarius to my friend as it was my favorite last time from the Zodiac Specialty cocktail menu. I asked Ethan if Brittney was the bartender tonight and she was! Her drinks were made perfectly (as usual), and my friend was impressed with the presentation as well as the mixture of nectarine vodka, elderflower, lime and cranberry juice and simple syrup. I stopped by the bar on our way out to say Hi to Brittney and to compliment her on her mixology craft. For the appetizer, I recommended the Jackfruit "Tostachos" based on my last visit. They were just as good this time around. For dinner, my friend had the Pan-seared French Cut Chicken served on velvety mashed potatoes (with the skins!) with green beans and carrots. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. I ordered the Faroe Island Salmon, which was served on the best risotto I've ever had! (It contained a mixture of parmesan and mushrooms.) The meal was accompanied by green beans, carrots and broccoli. The salmon was cooked perfectly. We each shared a little of our meals so we could experience the taste of both. Amazing!! Kudos to the chef. Final shout out to Anthony who valeted our cars. He was engaging and prompt. Valet parking is free when dining at Aurora. You get a text sent to your phone and when you are ready to retrieve your car, you just click on the link to let the valet know you are coming. Just another fine touch at Aurora. Five stars all-around!! read more

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I've been to Aurora at the Celeste 4 times over the past 4 years and have always had great experiences. This weekend we went for Bite 30. I had the Mexican Arancini as my appetizer which was delicious and a good sized portion. The Grilled Beef Filet Medallions were perfectly good and I loved the carrot puree. Since my partner doesn't eat dessert I got to try both the Lemon & Wild Berry Cake and the Flourless Chocolate Torte. The cake was moist and dense and the chocolate torte was rich and fudgey. The torte was my favorite. Service was great and the pacing of the meal was perfect. Nothing felt rushed and we enjoyed our experience. Not pictured, but my partner loves the seafood Chowder and appreciates the chunks of seafood in it. The ambiance is beautiful. Great natural light during the day. Beautiful lighting inside and I love the space and zodiac theme! read more

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We went back again, for dinner this time. Such a fun place for a nice meal when visiting UCF. We started with the jackfruit tostachos and they were very unique. Then we had the crispy barramundi, filet mignon, and winter salad with chicken. All were really good. The service was attentive and helpful. Definitely recommend. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Came in for dinner for our anniversary. We were greeted by a very friendly host who also gave us a card from the restaurant. We also arrived and the valet was super friendly and told us parking was free with validation at the restaurant. We started with the pesto arancini which came out hot and cooked very well. I wish there was more pesto flavor, but they were delicious either way. My husband had the kangaroo and it was like a country fried steak. He really enjoyed it and found it full of lots of flavor. I had the scallops with the corn mash. It was a great balance of flavor with the seasoning on the scallops and the corn. We both really enjoyed our food and the server was very friendly. It was also great to see all of the staff helping to run food and checking on the tables around the restaurant. It seemed like it was a great team environment. We did have the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. It was small, which was perfect, since it was so rich. I could only take a bite or two since I was also full. The decor was all space themed and very unique. Great dining at a reasonable price point! read more

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Amazing. I haven't been to a creative place like Aurora in awhile. I went for magical dining and it just happened to be during a game at UCF. Given the circumstances and how busy it was I still felt that service was good.I wanted to try the whole menu so I went for duck Nachos, kangaroo Katsu, and the pistachio cake. Everything was delicious. I wasn't sure if I would like kangaroo but it was really good. It almost tasted like veal. My friend got the Argentinean shrimp, ribs, and the supernova dessert. All were good as well. read more

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Aurora has been on my list to try for quite awhile now. When I saw it was part of Magical Dining Month, I knew it was time to make that move. First off, the staff here are really friendly, from the valet parking all the way up to management, they make you feel like a valued guest. The kangaroo was the main draw for me, but my favorite dish turned out to be the curry goat empanadas. The empanadas were large, perfectly cooked, and not too heavy on the curry. and I really appreciated that since I'm picky about yellow curry. The sauce that came with them was a perfect complement. I also recommend the duck nachos. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about duck and cheese, but they went together very well. I'd get them again. The kangaroo was definitely different. It reminded me of a breaded veal cutlet. That's the best comparison I can make. It had an oddly sweet flavor that had me thinking it was the meat, but it turned out to be the breading. Once I removed some of it, I was able to detect the real flavor of the kangaroo. It took me a few bites to wrap my head around it, but it was decent. The thought of it was more exciting than the actual taste. For dessert I got the coconut milk rice pudding. It was fine, nothing remarkable. The supernova, on the other hand was delicious and presented in an entertaining way. In the end, the kangaroo brought me to the restaurant, but the empanadas will bring me back. read more

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Went hen they participated in the Bite30, where you picked 3 courses from a fixed menu. The food was fantastic, portions were satisfying and the service was phenomenal. Def want to go back. read more

One if the best restaurant in Orlando. Aurora is just an amazing experience in terms of the quality of food ,the amount , the service in a great ambiance!! The size of the dishes are almost a 2 person service and the prices are pre covid.Is a jewel in the middle of UCF. Enjoy the magical dinning that for $40 you will eat plenty and take some home.. Uno de los mejores restaurantes de Orlando. Aurora es una experiencia increíble en cuanto a la calidad de la comida, la cantidad y el servicio, ¡en un ambiente genial! Los platos son de tamaño casi para dos personas y los precios eran de antes del COVID. Es una joya en el corazón de la UCF. Disfruta de una cena mágica: por $40 comerás en abundancia y te llevarás algo a casa. read more

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I came here for their bite 30. Ended up ordering the duck nachos kangaroo kat and blueberry bread pudding. My friend got the curry goat empanadas and I'm glad she did because I really didn't like my duck nachos. It seemed like there was essence of duck on it. The kangaroo was interesting. Definitely something I wanted to try and can knock it off my bucket list. The bread pudding was the star of the night though. There was the perfect amount of fruit to go with the bread. It was so big though. I ended up having to bring it home and finish it later. Which my husband was happy about. The service who was friendly we did run out of water and he didn't bring us a refill. I didn't ask either though, but normally they refill the sheraf when it gets empty. It's a cute little restaurant and has a photo moment before you walk in. I would come back for the curry goat empanadas and dessert. read more

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The girls and I came for brunch. The parking was confusing, but the valet attendant was friendly and helpful. The food was good. I ordered The Local. It was nice and fresh. We each shared our dishes so I was able to sample other goodies such as the Tikka Masala Cauliflower, Celeste Burger, Jackfruit Tostachos, and Shrimp & Grits. They were all good and big portions. The coffee was Julius Meinl and it tasted so clean. I had 2 cups as the server kept us topped off. I was wired for the rest of the day! read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Julius Meinl coffee! So clean. - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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The food was good. I came with 4 other GDO since we hadn't seen each other in awhile. We all shared! We ordered a salad, burger, shrimp and grits, fruit tacos and chicken. We had plenty and leftovers for sure. The service was good but it took a long time for the food to come out. The restaurant is clean with a fresh look and decor....spacey! We had a great time. We took our time and they didn't mind we were to there long. I've been another time for a date with my husband. It's a nice place to try at least once. It's located in the UCF Main Campus. read more

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I visit Aurora for the bite 30. I am glad I did because it was perfect! All the staff of the hotel and restaurant was very nice. They seat my girlfriend and I quick. We ordered the curry goat empanadas and duck nachos as appetizers. They were amazing. We also tried the kangaroo tonkatsu and the salmon with risotto. I was so delicious. I don't think I feel an special flavor of the kangaroo, but it was definitely well marinated. For desserts we had were amazing too. It was a chocolate cake. Since it was my girlfriend's birthday they decorated the dessert and also they gave us champagne as courtesy. This was a wonderful experience!! read more

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With a 6:30pm reservation we were told when we arrived on time that our table was not ready yet We patiently waited in the hotel lobby where the hotel fragrance was an absolutely offensive intense assault on my sinuses. It was soupy with the smell and it was also triggering to my asthma. Thankfully there was an option to wait outside. We were seated at 7pm Once we were sat, the hostess was lovely and Kiah made it all right again!! She was delightful and attentive and kind Our meal was fantastic and we chose from the Bite30 menu I had the seafood chowder which was soooooo good!! Generous amounts of seafood in a thick soup - I could've eaten 10 servings We also had the duck nachos which were also delicious. But the cheese was a little on the Velveeta side (sorry to sound offensive) I had the salmon over risotto for my main, and Justin had the kangaroo katsu. They were both delicious. I left nothing on my plate. It was so satisfying. Justin said his kangaroo was super, although a lot was going on on the plate that was distracting. But he still loved it. The bread pudding was ridiculously fantastic as was the pistachio cake All in all, the evening was wonderful, and the entire staff was kind and accommodating read more

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There's really not much dining near the hotel to speak of so we thought we'd try a hotel restaurant, which is not usually great. This one pleasantly surprised us. The service was excellent. It's quiet, well decorated, and I felt pretty relaxed in the ambiance. I got cashew curry branzino and it was excellent. Perfectly cooked and the flavors were perfect. I could have used more spice, but the coconut curry wasn't bad at all. My wife had salmon over mushroom rissotto and it was also very good. The bar served good drinks though I found there whiskey and tequila selections lacking. I'd give 4 stars if part way through we didn't have to listen to what sounded like bad karaoke from the attached bar. It was good enough we went back for breakfast in the morning and it again, did not disappoint. If state g at the Celeste, or on UCF, recommend you give them a chance. read more

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What a fantastic experience at Aurora At The Celeste located inside the Celeste Hotel on UCF campus. I visited with 2 friends before a concert, and called about a week prior to our visit because reservations were full for our desired time. I spoke with a manager and she was kind and helpful. We decided to make our reservation for a later time and hoped that we could be accommodated if possible. We had a drink at the bar, which is not actually attached to the restaurant, but inside the hotel lobby. Upon arrival, I met with the hostess and the manager happened to be there, and she remembered me! She said they would be able to seat us right away. It happened to be Magical Dining Month, so we all took advantage of the menus, sharing everything. The portions were HUGE, and the food was so delicious. A couple of the standouts were the enormous portion of shrimp cocktail appetizer, the duck nachos, and the heirloom cauliflower dinner. Honestly, everything was beautifully plated, fresh, and delicious. The service was top notch, and the ambiance was great. I especially loved the star details on the plates. read more

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Came here for dinner with a girlfriend for Magical Dining. Their $40 prefix menu included a plethora of appetizers, entrees and desserts to choose from. I was shocked to see kangaroo loin on the menu so I asked our waitress to give me more details about this exotic dish. She gave us a generalized "it's good, lots of people order it" answer but it wasn't enough to convince me to get it. From what I remember, the kangaroo loin is breaded and cooked like a steak. I was worried that if I ordered it, I wouldn't be able to finish it to take it home and still unsure of how to reheat it. What if it had that gamey taste, what if it stinks up my kitchen if I reheat in the microwave? So I played safe and went with the bison back ribs. My friend ordered ordered the same. We both enjoyed the ribs but they were huge portions. Ended up taking them home. The shrimp cocktail and duck nachos appetizers were delicious... and once again, huge portions. We boxed those up as well. And for dessert, she got the light and airy pistachio cake. I went with the more heavy dense blueberry bread pudding. Both desserts were fabulous. We were so full from our appetizers and main course, we couldn't eat another bite. We also boxed our desserts as well. The magical dining menu here at Aurora is worth it. $40 for appetizer, main course and dessert. You cant beat that plus their portions are pretty generous. Maybe it's just us two tiny tots with big eyes and small bellies. Who knows? But I will tell you this, come here soon before Magical Dining ends on September 30. Aurora is located at the Celeste hotel near UCF. Beautiful and intimate atmosphere. You will enjoy it! read more

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Aurora is a wonderful place to go for a special night out. They also do a really nice buffet for holidays I have been dying to try. Great ambiance! It's inside the Celeste hotel on UCF property and is one of the nicer spots in the area. Ive visited a few times and have dined off their regular menu or special menu for bite 30 or magical dining. All were fantastic! Ive also gone for happy hour drinks at the bar and had friendly service who kept the espresso martinis coming read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Filet medallions - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I've been to the Aurora at the Celeste multiple times and for the most part I truly enjoy being here. The best part is their ability to see large crowds for events like book clubs or gatherings with 15 to 20 people. The food is tasty and good, albeit, I do think the menu could use an upgrade as it's very limited options and they don't ever change. I give four stars instead of five because it's takes an extraordinarily long time to cash out. The servers are conscientious and nice and friendly. read more

I had been wanting to visit Aurora for quite some time, and I finally had the chance. Actually, two chances in just six days: a business dinner and a business lunch. On both occasions, we were a group of more than ten people, and both times the service was exceptional. One of the servers, whose name I unfortunately don't remember, was absolutely incredible. She anticipated our needs, kept our water glasses full without us asking, and offered thoughtful suggestions and smart questions. I dare say Aurora might have the best server in all of Orlando! Everything we ordered was fantastic (check out the photos!), but what impressed me the most was the freshness of the ingredients (the house salad and the side veggies, for example) and the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and seasoning. I highly recommend the lamb shank and the ribeye entrées. After years of trying many restaurants, I feel confident saying that when a chef is truly talented, you can taste it -- and their chef is genuinely outstanding. The only minor note I would add (and this comes from someone without much of a sweet tooth) is that the Supernova dessert was quite sweet, but that's exactly what many dessert lovers go for, so maybe take this comment with a grain of salt (no pun intended). No doubt 5 stars. read more

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We are back here again after three years for the magical dining experiment and every single time we come here it Truly amazing. I love this hotel. It always smells beautiful. Cocktails are always amazing. I server was very knowledgeable about the menu items. This year I was able to try the bison baby back ribs. They were so huge and so delicious. In regards to the appetizers there's so many vegetarian options. That's so exciting. The arancini had amazing balsamic caviar balls on top of them and I think by far my favorite was a jackfruit over the Tostones. I wasn't truly a fan of the cauliflower so hopefully there can be a better vegetarian entrée option moving forward, but I love coming here. read more

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Wow. What an experience. We visited this past week solely for magical dining and wow were we impressed. What a wide variety of different menu options and for magical dining the portions did not disappoint. The restaurant itself was small but so elegant and beautifully decorated. The staff was beyond friendly. Our server was Ashley and she was so kind, patient and attentive. I'm actually shocked at what an amazing gem this place is considering it's on a college campus. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Orlando~I absolutely vacillated between three and four stars. This is more of the correct rating... Food~2/5 stars Service~10/5 stars So here's my pros and cons list because, honestly, we really wanted to love their food and we just didn't. The atmosphere of this restaurant is beautiful and we even got to watch a wedding take place for our entertainment! Right off the bat, the valet guys were VERY sweet! Opened the door for me even. No one does that anymore! They were giving us food selection ideas. They were awesome. We went to the hotel bar to chill before our res. The bartender was friendly as well. We opted for the happy hour old-fashioned and it was too overly sweet. I couldn't finish mine. HUBBY drank his. lol We also ordered old-fashioneds with dinner and asked our waiter to tell the bartender to calm down the simple syrup. I will say that the next old-fashioneds were perfect. We were seated at a high top, and Ethan was our waiter for the evening! He was FABULOUS at his job. Very attentive and on point with anything we might have wanted. One tip I would give to the restaurant...WARN folks that the sparkling water is $10!! He asked us whether we wanted still water or sparkling and of course I opt for sparkling because I love the bubbles. NO WORD about cost. We assumed it was just like still water, because no one bothered to tell us. (This would not be Ethan's fault.) We perused the menu and decided that we might like to try Magical Dining. First time this season that we have taken advantage of the MD menus. Hubby decided to do the up charge for the supernova dessert, and I decided to try the seafood chowder. Ethan suggested that we split the bowl in half and share. **If I had only eaten the seafood chowder, this review would've been a five star review! That seafood chowder was the hit of the evening!** Appetizers~ Duck Nachos~3/5 stars. They were ok, but not something to write home about. Chips were crisp and the cheese was tasty, plenty of duck meat. No originality of flavors. Parmesan Pesto Arancini~2/5 stars~No flavor whatsoever besides the marinara sauce they were sitting in. Entrees~ Bison Ribs~2/5 stars. This entree came with truffle potato wedges and veggies. Veggies and potatoes were delicious and savory. The bison ribs, although meaty, were extremely tough and chewy. My husband did not enjoy them, although he did eat them because he was VERY hungry! We waited all day, to eat, for this date night! He gave me a bite and I actually had to spit it out into my napkin, because they were so tough, I could not chew them. Also, beware to the consumer... there were tiny pieces of bone that had chipped off, onto the meaty part of the ribs, and my husband almost broke his tooth on the chipped pieces. I have a picture for reference. The portion size was huge and that was a plus. In fact, both of our entrées were huge as far as portion size goes. Southern fried kangaroo~2/5 stars. This meal came with smashed Yukon potatoes, corn succotash, the most delicious country gravy I've tasted in a long time, and veggies. For this entrée, the hit was the gravy, the corn succotash, and the potatoes. Mixing the corn succotash with the potatoes and the gravy made me feel like I was back home in my mom's kitchen! Now... to the kangaroo... I'm not sure what it was marinated in, but it tasted very sweet and like it had a cinnamon spice to it. Absolutely not what I was expecting and not really edible. I don't usually eat sweet meat. I am more of a savory type of meat eater. Unfortunately, I took it home and threw it out the next morning. It was really a shame because the piece of meat was huge, as you will see in the pictures. Dessert~ Supernova~4/5 stars. A little heavy for the end of the evening, but really fun to watch the hostess pour the caramel sauce over the chocolate dome! Taste was delicious! Pistachio cake~4/5 stars. Light and fluffy. The perfect dessert for the end of the evening. We usually never order dessert so this was a treat for us. Overall, our waiter was phenomenal, we tipped accordingly, over 20%. Presentation was beautiful, but our food just didn't live up to the hype I've seen on my Foodie Forum Page. read more

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While in Orlando on business, I had the privilege of staying at the Celeste Hotel. Because I didn't have to work until the afternoon, I had time to take advantage of the breakfast at the Aurora restaurant. The food and service did not disappoint. I found the breakfast to be one of the tastiest I've had in a long time! (Best bacon ever!) read more

Aurora At The Celeste - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I have to start out this review with an issue with the management of events at the restaurant. Upon arriving at Aurora restaurant at the Celeste Hotel on UCF property, where we wanted to try out the Bite30 2025 menu as it was the last night, we saw there was a problem because there was a large group in the restaurant apparently having a wine tasting with a host on a microphone, and no one to check us in at the host stand. When I went over to the bar and asked a bartender what was going on, he said that the restaurant was closed for a private group. In our discussion, where I said we had reservations for 6:30 that night, he said that a lot of people were sitting in the bar area because the same thing happened to them and they decided to eat in the bar rather than wait for the private group to leave. I was getting worried that we wouldn't be able to eat here tonight when we specifically came for the special menu and my father's birthday (we were a group of six). Finally, there was a manager at the host stand and she said that the group was supposed to have left at 6 but are running long. She estimated another half hour before they could turn the restaurant and seat people. We were not happy about this, and I have to say, while the staff was apologetic, I don't think they understood that we (including all the other guests) had not been proactively communicated to about this issue. The only accommodation was that they offered to seat us in their private dining room but acknowledged that we would still hear the private event because they were using a microphone. I saw some parties take them up on this but we decided to wait. When the manager came by our group again while we were still standing in the lobby waiting, my father mentioned it was his birthday and she offered to get him a drink, then look at our group and said she would get us all a complimentary drink. We took her up on it. I just wish something would have been done proactively to begin with. Finally, we were seated around 7 pm, and then everything went smoothly (rant over). Our server was great, the food arrived quickly and we had a good time. The portions here are very generous, even more so for the Bite30 menu where the appetizers are really for the table versus one person. The Duck Nachos were especially huge. I got the Arancini and they were yummy. I especially liked the balsamic pearls that popped in my mouth when taking a bite. Others had the Seafood Chowder which was creamy and delicious. For my entree, I had the Salmon, which was very good, although my favorite thing on the plate was the mushroom risotto -- so good! My family mostly got the filet on top of a potato croquette and they loved it. For dessert, I had the Pistachio cake, which was perfect after my meal. All in all, the food really saved the day after the seating SNAFU. And I appreciated the gluten free and other dietary options available on the menu. read more

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Aurora was on the bite30 list so I decided to try them out. I am so happy I did. After graduating from UCF, I never thought I would visit for a hotel restaurant. Aurora is in a cute hotel corner with a modern view. The good options were different from other restaurants in the area. They offer menu items like kangaroo and alligator. I love the fact that they offered vegan menu items which for me is huge because I prefer the meatless options. Our waiter was great as well. He was attentive and had no problems explaining or recommending his favorites that quickly became our favorites. Would eat here again. The only problem would be the wait time. We arrived when the restaurant was empty and we still had to wait about 30 minutes before being seated. There is a bar or front so it made it easy to pass time, but other than that, this was a great dinner option. read more

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Came here a few months ago for magical dining. The interior ambiance is beautiful -- though sadly we didn't really get to enjoy it because we were seated towards the entrance of the restaurant, where it felt more like a hallway to the restaurant instead of already being inside. Nevertheless, the people who were sitting under the pretty lights looked like they were enjoying their dinner! Service was friendly, though slow at times. More than once, we wondered if the kitchen lost our food order. However, when the food did come out, it was delicious. I got the ahi tuna bites (magical dining menu) and the grilled filet medallions. No notes on either! They were both delightful and well-portioned. Overall, I'm not sure if I would return, but I would recommend it to anyone who finds themself in this area! read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Ahi tuna bites - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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A return to this restaurant for Bite 30 to try the kangaroo dish. Ambiance and service were on spot. The waitress even did her best to accommodate some very restricted dietary restrictions I had. The reviews for the portions of the food were correct. Appetizer choice was the nachos. Or in my case, everything but the nachos. It was still a huge portion that was packed to go to save space for the entree! The duck confit was very tasty. Next up was the kangaroo katsu. The meat was tender and tasty. It reminded me of venison. For dessert, the pistachio cake was delicious as it was light and fluffy. A great night celebrating a birthd read more

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Loved having brunch here! Can't wait to come back and try their dinner. I ordered the Avocado toast and it was amazing! Will definitely be coming back. Service was a little slow but they were very accommodating read more

@bite30orlando is going on now until 7/13 and now is the time to indulge! This experience of 3 courses for $38 truly enhanced girls night out We started out with the duck nachos that were simply phenomenal smothered with yummy queso. We were impressed that the duck meat was so tender. We also tried the Jackfruit Tostachos which were loaded and so filing for a vegan dish. The Curry Goat Empanadas blew our minds with the authentic West Indian curry flavor and the peas inside was such a nice touch. The goat meat was juicy and they got my Trinidadian stamp of approval! It paired really well with the cooling dill cucumber sauce. We were all in sync as the Salmon entree was out unanimous decision the server Derwood was so accommodating in helping two of us avoid food allergies and sub out the risotto for creamy homemade mashed potatoes. We couldn't stop ourselves from eating halfway knowing the dessert was coming next! For dessert we got the Blueberry Bread pudding-warm and sweet with a nice tartness from the berries. Then the coolest vegan option of Coconut milk rice pudding, super thick with a refreshing burst of flavor from the popping boba. And finally the star of our show: SUPERNOVA She was glowing and inside she hides ice cream, berries, and nuts which melt over a hot brownie after she melts. This was so gooey and all the flavors are decadent as they marry in your mouth. She was worth every cent of that $10 upgrade believe us girlies!! We were thoroughly satisfied and will recommend this spot to everyone. read more

The service was great and the food was good too. I got the espresso martini with tequila and it was so nice! It's also conveniently near UCF which is great. Overall would recommend. Nice and quiet place. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Crispy brussels sprouts and oysters - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

My Valentine's Dinner was a mixed bag at Aurora. The restaurant is beautiful, with loving seating and theming tying the ambiance together. Our evening was guided by a prix fixe menu, but we started with a rose and champagne before being led to our table, a very nice touch. My wife ordered a Pulsar, a strawberry vodka drink was quite tasty but also quite pricey at $18. Our Bread Service and Cheese Board was next and was both of our favorite part of the meal. The bread and herb butter was delicious and the honey with the cheese board was fresh and tasty! Our soups were next. I ordered the Charred tomato and enjoyed it, but wasn't blown away by the flavor. I sampled my wife's Lobster Bisque and we were both hoping it would be thicker and bit more flavorful. We only had a bite or two. For Entree, I had an Asiago stuffed Gnocchi with Chicken and my wife, the Filet and Lobster. The Gnocchi was expectedly heavy, alongside the mushroom sauce and accompanying vegetables that served to break up the plate in color and taste. The cheese did overwhelm the dish a bit for me, and I usually and all for cheese in my gnocchi or pasta/potato dishes. The Filet and Lobster was a bit worse. The Filet was unevenly cooked. Some pieces a medium well, and others closer to the desired medium rare, it was a bit odd to see on the same plate. The Lobster however was overcooked all around and tough to get through, both with a knife and chewing. Even drowning it in butter couldn't save it. The portions were massive so we had plenty to take home. For Dessert, we had one of each option off the prix fixe menu. The Flourless chocolate cake was served with a Rasberry ice cream and whipped cream and although delicious, definitely was richer than we expected. I gravitated much more to the ice cream than the cake. The coconut milk rice pudding was refreshing, with sweet boba like balls dotting the dessert, but again, nothing truly spectacular on terms of taste. With Tax and tip, our bill was just shy of $250. Our service was a bit lackluster for being one of only 7 seated tables at the time. It felt like the staff was more focused on the upcoming 7 o clock seating than actually seeing if we needed anything. Overall, for the price, service and food quality, I feel like I've had better meals and better holiday experiences elsewhere. I'd be willing to give their regular menu a try again one day. read more

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Went to Aurora for dinner! It is located inside The Celeste Hotel. We didn't have a reservation but we were promptly seated. We started off with bread and it was fresh and delicious! It came with an herb butter and a sweet cream butter. We also ordered the mussels that were served Rockefeller style. Delicious. I had the Caesar salad as my main course and it was a large portion and tasty. The chicken sandwich and seafood chowder were also ordered. The comment about the chicken sandwich was it was a bit salty. The staff and our server were all really nice. I'd dine here again when in Orlando! read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Mussels Rockefeller - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I LOVED this place! It's tucked away on UCF campus. They have free valet and the parking wasn't bad. I had my zodiac cocktail, an Aries. It was AMAZING! Literally the perfect drink for me! Sweet with coconut. Loved it. I did Magical Dining. I ordered the duck nachos, bison ribs, and blueberry bread pudding. I also added pix of my friends food, steak and cauliflower dishes, also the tostados and ball appetizer from magical dining menu. The nachos were soooooo good!! I was blown away by the flavors and the chips tasted homemade. The tostados were good but just a bit too much bbq for me. The ribs fell off the bone and the fries that came with them were great. The pistachio cake was nice and moist. It was more cream than cake though. I'm not sure what the rice balls were called but then we fold and went well with the nachos. The bread pudding was to die for!!! There was so much food that I had to take some of the ribs and pudding home. They were even better the next day. It you've been wanting to try this place, do it! I would suggest to dress up a tad bit. The staff were nice and friendly. We had Ethan as our waiter. He was funny and kept us entertained. He checked on us all night and made sure we were good. The location is super cute. Stars is their theme and it just looks so great. The art, the checkbooks, the spaceship.. great place. Definitely recommend. read more

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Came here for magical dining and tried multiple items. The oxtail empanadas are amazing, the filet medallions were cooked perfectly and very tender. The supernova desert was a top tier desert so good and the chocolate caramel drizzle is so amazing. Loved the space theme of the reastaurant. The service was good we did wait a little longer than anticipated for our food but it was not too bad. read more

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I can't believe more people don't know about Aurora, especially with their incredible $16 bottomless mimosa deal! The service was quick, and the employees were extremely friendly. They even adjusted the temperature in the restaurant to my liking, which was a nice touch. The food was fantastic. I started with the oxtail quiche, which was delicious, though I wish there was a bit more oxtail. The shrimp and grits were so, so good. My friend had the banana French toast, which she found surprisingly great, despite not usually having a sweet tooth. The portions were amazing too. One quick note: if you decide to move to the bar, your bottomless mimosa doesn't transfer over. Overall, an excellent brunch experience at Aurora! read more

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I came with a group to kick off Magical Dining season. The interplanetary theme of the hotel and restaurant is out of this world. Their attention to detail earns them a gold star. The restaurant and bar area are lively, and we were seated immediately at check-in for our reservation. Our friendly server greeted us quickly and took our orders promptly as well. We all opted for the Magical Dining menu, which is a limited time, prix fixe three course menu for $40. The server helped with a few gf questions, and I felt confident he was well versed in food allergies. Our drinks came out at the speed of light. I chose the duck confit as an app, which was not what I was expecting but was very happy with it. Three breaded balls with risotto and duck confit filling. The crispy baramundi was light white fish, which was seared perfectly. The curry and cashews were a great match for this fish, along with the risotto and asparagus. Last but not least was the coconut milk pudding. It was mildly sweet and a very interesting texture. As I dug a little deeper, I discovered the tropical salsa at the bottom of the cup. It was sweet with a pineapple flavor and delicious! I really appreciate the amount of gluten free options on the regular and Magical Dining menu. We had a great experience all together! The food portions were generous, the service was stellar, and the ambiance was over the moon. read more

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