We moved to the area from down south two months ago and we've already been to Propagate Social…read moreHouse and their Shade House no less than 15 times. This is our safe place. Cocktails? Phenom. Service? The bar at Shade House is filled with the BEST ladies. Vibe? It's vibin. If you're looking for a good craft beer, their selection is always changing and focuses on local brews for about $6 a pop. They have a happy hour of cocktails for $6 a pop as well. 10/10 I live here now.

The Shade House, an extension of Propagate Social House is the SPOT in Apopka. During the day, it's…read morean event space for local groups, venue for fun workshops, plant swap event location, outdoor dining space for Propagate, and bar on weekend afternoons. Then at night the space transforms to be a full cocktail bar with food options , live music, and visiting food trucks and a nighttime farmers/creators market once a month. Plus, seasonally, it's a Pumpkin Patch and Christmas Tree Farm! The large deck includes lush plants, picnic tables, cozy Adirondack chairs, and is bookended by a fabulous bar and stage for live music. I cannot say enough good things about this space and its owners. They are part of the push to create community in Apopka through offering engaging quality businesses and venues (these are the people behind the future Hall's on 5th food hall right on the same street!). I have been coming to Propagate since we started building our home and have really enjoyed seeing their business flourish over the past few years. They have a loyal customer in me and I cannot wait to see what's next. I digress, the service at The Shade House is stellar, the cocktails are creative, and the vibe is an extension of Propagates but with some added spice. You guys outdid yourselves on this one.

This is a relatively small restaurant in a strip mall like building. Open the front door to a…read morecharming atmosphere. Quiet despite it being a full house. The staff are friendly and make you feel at home. Literally. Felt like we were visiting family without the arguments. Attentive, friendly, and able to anticipate our needs before we knew we had them. The food is simple and delicious. Flavorful standards and a few unusual surprises thrown. I had Sheppards Pie. I know, feels like a dish you make yourself to empty the refrigerator. Not here. It was so much better than I anticipated. Dessert was a delicious rich chocolate concoction so good that it wiped my memory of its name. I do know it was so rich and delicious, two people should share it.

I really enjoy grabbing a bite and a glass of wine at The Attic Door! It is such a hidden gem in…read moredowntown Winter Garden. It is very eclectic inside and has live music that I have not been disappointed in at all. The people that work there are fantastic and very attentive!

I am a member of a group called Vibrant that we meet every third Thursday of the month for girls…read morenight out on the sidewalk! But last night Pilars was at the Best Fest, in Ocoee. And won the contest of the best drink come on down. We have so much fun down town.

We stopped in while out-in-about at the Winter Garden Music Festival. If you're not looking for…read morethis place you could easily pass it as the entrance is off of an alley connected to Plant Street. There is an elevator that will take you to the second floor and the entrance to Pilars Martini & Loft is right in front of you when you exit. There are also restrooms available and medium sized air-conditioned lobby where you can take calls if Pilars has live music inside. Pilars is an upscale lounge and music club. When we arrived, the live entertainment was setting up for later that evening. It was actually nice having the calm contrast to what was happening in the streets currently. Food here seems fairly high-end; it's Market-to-table so everything is a bit pricy. Appetizers start at $14, one of their most expensive appetizers is Seared Foie Gras ($26). If you're not a big spender, they do have Chicken Wings or BBQ Short Rib Sliders for $14, and a Market Burger for $16. If you're looking for something a little more special, they have Filet Mignon ($86), Lamb Shank ($42), Braised Beef Short Ribs ($46), and Iberico Pork ($76). Most of their specialty drinks will run you between $12-$14. Beers are between $6-$9 and non-alcoholic drinks anywhere between $2.50-$8. We didn't stay too long because we were bopping around checking out different places during the festival, but if you are looking for a great place to take a date or have a nice evening out with friends, listening to great live music and Jazz this is a premier spot in the Winter Garden area.

I was in the area for a Chiropractor appt and jumped on Yelp to find nearby breakfast spots and…read moreBike Life was 4 mins away. I came over it was just one couple dining in eating and I ordered food to go. It is a small coffee and breakfast spot but, they also have a wine bar that opens later in the day . The young lady at the register was so sweet and took her time to explain everything. I decided to order the French toast and added a side of hash browns & bacon . I also ordered the pancake platter which came with 3 pancakes, eggs and I had a choice of bacon or Turkey sausage. I decided on the Turkey sausage. I also ordered a pistachio coffee iced . Everything was good . I enjoyed the ambiance and the food and staff were great. I will return def to have lunch & check out the wine bar.

Delicious breakfast, coffee and services Breakfast Burrito…read morerecommend , chocolate muffins & cozhinas

The only thing keeping this place as a 3 star was our friendly waiter Daniel and the pretzel…read morerolls/cauliflower apps. Everyone else and all the other food we had was worthless. My parents and I all got sick to our stomachs, feeling bogged down, overloaded with grease, and just gross. The chicken salad sandwich was uninspired and boring. The French dip sandwich (I don't remember what name they gave this on the menu) was just okay. That's it, just okay. And worst of all, the pastrami sandwich (55th Street on the menu) was just wrong. Overly buttered bread, sweet and rich cole slaw that was only on half of the sandwich, and honestly good pastrami meat. However, no spicy mustard flavor despite it being on the sandwich, which is disappointing and crucial! The flavor of butter/oil from the bread simply overwhelmed the sandwich, and the sweet/creamy slaw just really threw a wrench in the entire thing. The bistro fries came out lukewarm, and not a flavor that I prefer. Wish I just stuck to the apps. And did I already mention we all got sick? I want to give 1 star, but Daniel and the apps were worth an extra star of their own. We won't go back. It's for wine drinkers and people who enjoyed the original Rusteak (which I didn't care for either). One and done.

Nice place to enjoy with a family and friends Food very…read moregood and perfect temperature Service very attentive Environment nice but a a DJ was a little load for good restaurant Highly recommended to everyone in town

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.

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

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.

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.

"It's not just Wine It's an experience" If you're in downtown Orlando, make sure you check out Wine…read moreand Corks on Church Street. The shop is cozy and welcoming. You can tell the owners put love into every detail including picking their wines locally and internationally. You can stop by any day of the week, load money on a card and taste 16 different wines from a self serving tap. My personal favorites were Rioja, Sangue Di Giuda and the Chardonnay. The Rioja is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, but it also has a fruity character. If you love Cabernet but are also looking for the dominant cherry flavor, this is the perfect wine for you. The Sangue Di Giuda, which means "Blood of Judas", is more of a deep, slightly sparkling and delectably sweet red wine. Chardonnay is my go to when I want a nice glass of wine after work. Although it typically has fruit flavors, it's a dry white wine. It pairs perfectly with seafood or baked chicken. We purchased a bottle of Lumbrusco and we sat and enjoyed the atmosphere and great conversation with the owner. They were right, they made us feel at home. Make sure you check out their website and sign up for their mailing list to be updated about future events.

I've been to many wine stores before, but never have I been so interested to visit one over and…read moreover than this one. Phillip is a wealth of knowledge and I've learned so much more about wine when I leave the store each time. A lot of great selections, majority from Italy at great prices. The ability to taste the wine on a guided tour of the notes makes the experience even more enjoyable. Worth a stop by to check out, great spot close to lake eola.