TL; DR: Oscar's, located on the ground floor of the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, serves an ala carte…read morebreakfast menu and a $45 breakfast buffet. Service is outstanding. The buffet is a decent value for guests who don't want to leave hotel grounds for breakfast. Oscar's isn't destination dining like Bull & Bear -- it's a refuel station. Standouts are crispy waffles, (vanilla?) pancakes, a vegetable dish, smoked salmon, fresh fruit, potatoes, café mocha, coffee, and fresh carrot juice. They should improve depth of flavor in hot dishes, biscuits, gravy, and pastries. They missed the opportunity to showcase local flavors like Latin favorites, authentic-tasting southern classics, key lime treats, and fresh squeezed OJ.
Oscar's fills up fast. Getting there early is ideal for a quieter breakfast with a better choice of tables. Outdoor dining (with a pool view) is available. Noisy families and groups converge between 9am and 11am, putting together rows of tables and filling up on carbs and protein before heading out on their Disney/Universal adventures. Children eat free, and there were quite a few families. Children were well-behaved -- no fingers and faces in the food. Clean restrooms located in the hall across from the restaurant.
Hot Line: waffles and pancakes; made-to-order omelettes, eggs, and crêpes; scrambled eggs; potatoes; sautéed mixed veggies; oatmeal and toppings; small carving board; bacon and sausage; tasteless but fluffy biscuits, and a sad pot of sausage gravy. Pancakes were distinctly better fresh (nice ladies on the line will make fresh pancakes). Magically crisp, delicious waffles tasted perfectly fresh and light even after sitting under the lamp. Pancakes and waffles had distinct delicious flavors (not the same mix?). Light, white crêpes are made to order.
Cold Items: smoked salmon with accoutrements (bagels at bread table); individual smoothies; yogurt; fresh fruit; charcuterie; cheeses; pico de gallo and guac -- but no beans, rice, or tortillas.
Pastry & bread tables: breads, bagels, croissants, milk buns, small apple turnovers, chocolate brioche, donuts, etc. No rich flavors. Not worth the calories. The only bagels Waldorf makes in-house are raisin bagels. Our server toasted my raisin bagel and brought it to our table. It was good. She served cream cheese, packaged butter from France, and strawberry preserves. She also served cute individual containers of hot sauce and ketchup for savory dishes.
Drinks are included in the buffet price: coffee, water, fresh juice, OJ, etc. The buffet had fresh green juice, carrot juice, and watermelon juice. Carrot was best. Coffee stayed piping hot and fresh-tasting in a huge metal carafe that remained on our table. I love that. I don't like flagging down servers for refills. We were offered coffee in to-go cups with the check.
Buffet was fine, service was outstanding. Next trip, I'll try ala carte options.