5 Star update to include their incredible new food program! (Get the carrots and red cabbage salad…read moreand the pan con tomate STAT.) Quicksand is a natural wine bar that will change the way Orlandoans expect to feel at a bar. Pro-tip: ask the staff for suggestions and settle in! It's no secret that I've become a big fan of natural wine in the past few years, and that is 100% due to Golden Hour - a wine shop in Baldwin Park that I randomly discovered on their first day open. Heather, who brought us Golden Hour, opened Quicksand in late 2024 for those of us wondering why Orlando doesn't have a great wine bar like the ones we've seen in cities around the world for decades. ***Finding the bar: Quicksand is located directly next to Educe Salon (across from Black Bean Deli). It does not have a big sign, but it's the first door you'll see as you walk from the parking lot. ***Parking: Did I mention the large parking lot? There's plenty of parking available there, or on street behind the bar. ***Service style: As you walk in, head to the part of the bar closest to the entrance where you can get recs from their staff and don't have to try to bully your way through folks sitting at the bar to get their attention. ## Did I mention that everything here is intentional? From that simple detail that makes ordering another glass MUCH easier than flagging someone down in the middle of the bar, to the position of the speakers... *** The Food: Chef Leah Cordova has crafted a seasonal menu at Quicksand, currently consisting of sandwiches, small plates, and some heartier dishes. All of them have a focus on quality ingredients with many sourcing their components from local farms or special producers. My faves include: - Pan con tomate: The tomato here is actually a combination of fresh slices of small tomatoes as well as another preparation that adds a wonderful tang. It's truly a special version of this small dish. - Whichever salad they are featuring, but special mention to the carrot and red cabbage salad that has just the perfect amount of fennel! - The white bean dish. I didn't catch the name, but it's a winner! - Cacio e pepe: This is exactly the rich, creamy dish you are dreaming of. - Whichever ice cream they are featuring (Chef Leah also operated Sweet Thyme, her ice-cream project with inventive flavors. Faves include the black pepper and date as well as the carrot cake) ***Ambiance: As you walk in you'll feel enveloped in a warm glow of subtle sconces and feel immediately comfortable. It feels like Quicksand has always been here. It's unstuffy, unfussy, and so inviting it has me researching squatter's rights... The music will sound loud at first, but then you'll realize you don't have to raise your voice at all to talk to people. This is because the speakers have been built into the furniture low and towards the floor. INTENTIONALITY. Besides the volume, the playlist has been painstakingly curated by the team so that you'll enjoy the music, but not quite be able to place the artist. ***The WHY And now, my favorite part. The wall of farmers/winemakers. Someone on staff filled me in to the fact that these are portraits of the various human beings who farm, harvest, and create the wines you can get at the bar. These are actual people, not giant corporations. And that same staff member reminded me that these individual producers are farmers for 11 months and 2 weeks of the year, and wine makers for only 2 weeks. None of these people are household names. None of them are in it for the money. They are in it to produce beautiful wine the way it has been produced since the beginning of wine-making: with minimal intervention, meaning no insane additives that give me headaches; and no mass production. The thing I've come to love about "natural" wine is that it is intensely principled. Quicksand is what happens when *every single link* in the supply chain (Farmer/Producer; Importer; Distributor; and Wine Bar) prioritizes principles over profits. And you can feel it the moment you walk in. This is not a corporate chain, nor will you find multiple locations and franchises. Not only is the wine list filled with some of the most incredible bottles I've had the pleasure of trying (many of which you can't get anywhere else in Florida), but the staff truly believes in the power of creating this special "third space" for a community to gather around good, ethically-sourced wine. I can't wait until they start serving bites alongside the wine! (Someone told me the small menu will consist of cheeses, charcuterie, focaccia, chips, etc.) SALUD!

I was only here for a glass of wine, but they had a cacio y pepe on the menu we had to try. It…read morecame out hot and fresh cooked and was super delicious. It was not too pepper forward (which I prefer). I was excited to try this out of the way wine bar, but was a little disappointed that their extensive list is more bottles and not by the glass. Just putting this out there for awareness since I will plan to come in for some food and be able to pair with a bottle of wine to explore the full experience. The staff was very knowledgeable about all of the different wines and helped to select the best glass for what I was in the mood for that evening. The bar was very clean and there is a lot more space then what you see when you first walk in. It was all very clean and modern looking inside. Looking forward to my next trip in.

Food and service were excellent for our brunch with our friends from out of town. They were able to…read morekindly move us to an outdoor table upon our request, upstairs on the balcony. Which we very much appreciated and would have understood if they were unable to do. Everyone was very friendly and helpful, our server helped us choose between drinks and entrees that we were stuck between. We shared the brunch board which was lovely, the pork belly really stood out. Myself and one other person at our table got the burrata which was absolutely amazing. It was a very generous amount of food, and everything was very fresh and the flavors were so well balanced with sweet and savory elements. I also got the Paloma which I enjoyed. My husband got the sausage gravy, which he liked. He said the flavors were more complex than your usual sausage gravy. My other friend got the French toast which she enjoyed very much. She did ask for extra syrup as she felt it didn't have enough but that's a personal preference of course. All in all we were very happy with our brunch and would come back in the future. I found the selection to be very good. There was something for everyone, and the service stood out.

They have a hummus plate now, which is very good. Don't forget to look at all the different menus…read moreavailable, as they often have additional wine specials not found on the extensive list. Wine Bar George is a lovely spot. I always enjoy trying different wines and especially love their French red wine selection.

I went to Grape and The Grain Wine Bar for Trivia Night with a Meetup group, and it was such a…read morevibe! There were about 16 of us in the group, and when I first arrived, it was pretty packed -- I almost didn't get a seat. Thankfully, everyone was super nice and accommodating, making space so I could sit comfortably and enjoy the night. The atmosphere was relaxed, inviting, and full of good energy. They have comfortable seating and fans on the walls, which helped keep things cool and cozy. It's definitely a great spot to get together after work and wind down with friends, coworkers, or even new people. Trivia Night was a blast! The host kept everyone entertained, engaged, and laughing throughout the evening. It felt very well-organized and had a nice community feel -- I'd absolutely go again for that experience alone. A few things did surprise me, though. Since it's a wine bar, I expected mostly alcoholic drinks, but their Instagram made it seem like they also offered non-alcoholic options. When I asked for a soda, I was told they only serve alcohol -- no soft drinks, no mocktails. So if you're not drinking, plan to bring your own or grab something before you go. Later in the night, I got hungry. Their Instagram also gave me the impression that they served food, but they actually don't -- the food comes from a food truck around the back. When I went to order, the lady running the truck told me, "I'd rather sell out...," which threw me off. I wasn't sure what she meant, but it came across as rude or maybe even personal, which was disappointing since I was ready to buy something. That said, I don't hold that against Grape and The Grain itself. The staff inside were kind and welcoming, the crowd was friendly, and the overall vibe was great. For the atmosphere, comfort, and fun trivia experience, they get a full 5 stars from me. I'll definitely be back -- next time I'll just eat beforehand and bring my own non-alcoholic drink!

Went on a slow night so I was able to really enjoy the outdoor area with my cousin and explore the…read moreplace. They serve wine and beer- for my wine lovers this is perfect. I didn't feel like it was overpriced. Parking here is horrible but that's the area not blaming the bar.

An excellent place with great tapas option. The chef has created a new generation of traditional…read moreplates, with outstanding results ohhh. The cocktails are creative, innovative and an upgrade of the traditional drinks The service by Sophie was great on point and cozy, she know the menu and help giving us recommendations and guidance Well decorated and nice ambience. Modern, cozy, good lighting not too dark not too bright. Good experience!!!

Nicely decored intimate spot. I liked the banquet seating with pillows that made it extra cozy. It…read morewas a slow Monday night with most of the guests at the bar. Came in late night just to check out their $10 Monday martinis. There was limited options to just a plain or dirty vodka or gin martini. No other variations or anything else from their cocktail menu was part of this deal. Blue cheese stuffed olives were a dollar a piece and tasted great but don't think I needed the 3 that was automatically given. They did seem hand stuffed with fresh blue cheese instead of the already made kind so it tasted better than most Having been to a few of their other Good Salt group restaurants, this definitely had their signature touch with all the details and the delicious menu. I like checking out all their locations. Another one of restaurant was a few doors down The server forgot my simple request for ice and lemons in the beginning when ordering just water. She also didn't check on us after dropping off the drinks and had to get someone else nearby for more olive juice when my dirty martini seemed to have missed the dirty part. Getting the check seemed to be a task, no server in sight, and had to grab another employee to ask for it From just ordering waters and martinis, service was quite lacking. I get that it was a slow night but maybe tending to the only table around should have been an easy task and being a little more tentative for the few times a server was needed would have gone a long way

Walked in and sat at the bar, was immediately greeted by Jalen who was very attentive even though…read morehe was clearly busy. He still went above and beyond to make sure I was receiving excellent customer service. I wasn't sure what wine to order but he helped me choose. The pork chops are to die for! 10/10

I love wine so I did the wine tasting at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant. I like that they have…read moresweet, semi-sweet, and variety selections. I opted for the sweet wine because I like more flavor. I tried 8 different wines. They were all good! The bartenders were friendly and knew their wines. They were good at explaining the different flavors and selections. The bar area for wine tasting is first come, first serve, so it was crowded by the time I got there. I suggest getting there early if you want to grab a good spot. They do tastings all day every day so going during the week might be a better option if you want to avoid crowds. I went on a Friday and even though it was crowded, the vibe was nice. This is a great place to chill for a couple of hours and its not expensive. You honestly cant go wrong!!

We had a wonderful experience at Eola Wine. We had not been there in years and will be back in the…read morevery near future. We had 2 of the white flights, the mushroom flatbread and the Brussels sprouts. Everything was delicious and the wines were lovely. Jordan was the bartender and we enjoyed talking to him. He was attentive and helpful. The flatbreads were on a crispy crust which I love and the Brussels sprouts were divine. They were perfectly cooked with wonderful seasoning and a balsamic finish. The vibe is casual but upscale and it's great for a nice night out with friends or a date.

Stopped in for a flight and some cheese and was surprised I didn't even know this existed. How have…read moreI missed it until now? Bathrooms were clean and cute! Server was attentive and helpful. Wine selection was plentiful and the pre-selected flight actually had some cool options I would have never tried but loved My only piece of feedback would be that our Brie wasn't warm enough/didn't stay warm enough to get through. It was like we needed to eat it faster to enjoy the warm spreadable creaminess but we also wanted to sip slow and enjoy our experience. The nuts also didn't do anything for me with the brie, but were nice with my wines!

Smart name with both beer and wine in the name! This cool little hole in the wall behind Washburn…read moreImports on Virginia avenue was a cool little spot. They had a handful of draft beers and another handful of packaged brewskis too. The selections weren't extensive but they were on the crafty side. They did have my favorite beer ever (Weihenstephaner) in a can which was awesome and they even poured it into a branded glass. And like a Mike Tyson opponent in the early 90's, it went down quick! Ahhhhh... What stood out to me was the awesome service. The two ladies behind the bar quickly recognized when I needed another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another, and were quick to offer another libation.

Great furniture finds Bali themed. Turns into a wine/beer bar at night and have live music on…read moreweekends and Sunday nights is comedy. Place was packed Friday night. Food available as well. Bartenders are kind and attentive

I was invited to an event at this wine bar on a Thursday night by some friends. I wasn't sure what…read moreto expect, but I was excited to check out a new place. As I walked into the establishment, it definitely gave off very cozy and comfortable vibes. There were several tables quietly mingling, and dim lighting that made it feel more intimate. I took a seat at a long table with others and we started our tasting. The individual of working was very knowledgeable about the product and super informative about the history of the wine itself. The wine was absolutely delicious and the pours were rather large too. We ended up staying until close playing games and laughing, which made for an amazing night of mingling with some friends. We will definitely be back.

We stumbled upon this no-frills wine bar one day and it did not disappoint. They sell wines by the…read moreglass and the bottle, however we asked if we could create our own tasting and they were able to accommodate. We decided to drink two whites and two reds and the pricing would be half the price of whichever wine you chose since they were not full pours. Then we added a charcuterie board to pair with our wines. The lighting is dim with a romantic/ quaint feel. The workers were attentive and knowledgeable and were willing to help with our selections.

Great meal. Enjoyed the pesto, in particular, but the salmon was excellent…read more The service was flawless and the presentation was exceptional.

Stopped in late on a Sunday afternoon. Place looked very nice from the outside, had a to wait a bit…read morefor a table but there was a MASSIVE baby shower letting out at the same time I got there so that most likely had something to do with it. The interior kinda has a hipster-rustic vibe but with more comfortable chairs. Prices seemed reasonable. Service seemed a bit overwheled but again, I think the massive event letting out had something to do with that. I got a cheese board, truffled fries, fried chicken caviar, and a deviled affogato for dessert. My date for the creste di gallo and the olive oil citrus cake. Everything was was very good, with the standout being the fries; I know that truffle essence flavor isn't for everyone but it worked really well for me in the fry sauce. My dates pasta was also very good, the pesto sauce was zesty and complimented it well. And I really like the olive oil cake with mascarpone, super light and perfectly sweet. The very minor issues were that the fried chicken was pretty deeply fried and way harder than expected, which I don't mind but may not be your thing. Devil's food cake at the bottom of the affogato was also not as sweet as I would have liked. Overall a really enjoyable experience. Would definitely recommend.

We have come here multiple times and Jeff is always working. Jeff is always welcoming and so much…read morefun to banter with. Wine selection is good, and if they don't have something he will recommend based on your preference. It's nice to have this place in the middle of a tourist hub. We enjoy coming to Icon and popping in to see Jeff.

Kind of tucked away in the chaos of icon park and was pretty empty compared to the other places but…read moreactually liked that as it made the atmosphere a bit more chill! As far as food options go there isn't many but both of the flatbreads were good! The wine flights were 2oz each and you can pick your own or go with a preset one!