If you follow me for my unbiased reviews, you likely already know I’m not someone who runs to the high-end resort restaurants in Orlando, but as a Richard Blais fan, I definitely had Four Flamingos on my foodie radar. I waited to hear some reviews come in from friends that went as paying guests, not as hosted guests, and waited for a special occasion to make my move. Here are all my thoughts as I dined with some of my family as a party of ten on a Thursday evening.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Four Flamingos is located at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. When you arrive, go through the main entrance gate. If you tell them you have dinner reservations, they should direct you to either valet or park in self-parking lot number five. Both parking options are complimentary. If you opt for the parking lot (which we did), get your card from the machine at the entrance gate, bring it with you, and present it to the hostess.

Park as close to the property sidewalk as you can for the least amount of walking. Signs point you in the right direction to the restaurant entrance, and the path is wheelchair accessible.

THE VIBE:

The restaurant has a very casual Florida vibe. I never dined at Hemingway’s, which used to be in this space, but it’s not an overly stuffy setting. There is ample outdoor seating, which, of course, was quite warm at this time of year, but once the sun sets, it’s pretty manageable and didn’t detract from the experience. We were in an enclosed screen porch with a fan overhead, surrounded by the lush landscaping surrounding the Grand Cypress pool. The only dress code they have applies to men, and while I saw some women a little more dressed up, there were plenty of jeans and nice tops, so don’t feel the need to doll yourself up if you don't feel like it.

THE BREAD:

To start strong, the bread was a big winner at the table. A loaf of Coconut Media Noche topped with Sea Salt Butter was a warm and satisfying way to start the meal, although we all joked that we could mimic this at home with Hawaiian rolls. Still, absolutely tasty.

THE DRINKS:

The price points on alcoholic beverages here are high; there is no getting around that. My Roseberry Bomb cocktail alone was $19, and was gone in a few sips, but it delivered a source of entertainment for everyone to watch as you pop the cocktail's bubble with a sprig of Rosemary.

It was definitely on the sweeter side, but that was to be expected with Strawberry-Infused Ketel One Vodka*, St. Germain, Citrus, Rosemary. Was it worth $19? Absolutely not, but I get it, theme park adjacent pricing paired with a big name chef, make for an easy win to get high margins off alcoholic beverages.

I did take a sip of my husband's old-fashioned, and it was excellent.

THE FOOD:

What I ordered -

• Ribeye Pinchos 20 Day, Dry-Aged Beef, Yacht Sauce $23

• Pork Belly Kumquat & Sour Orange $16

• Lobster Bucatini Jalapeno, Lemon Butter $40

Of the two “snacks” I ordered, I preferred the pork belly. It had a nice crispy skin on top and offered a variety of complimentary flavors with a bit of heat at the end of each bite, whereas the Ribeye Pinchos were literally bite-size pieces that, while they had a nice char and flavor, were a little tough. Dry-aged beef always comes with a larger price tag due to the process, but it should also be tender, easier to sink your teeth into, and I didn’t find that in this dish.

The lobster bucatini was a hearty portion that I didn’t even finish; I let the others dive their forks to finish it. I would have potentially preferred larger pieces of lobster, but all-in-all it was a good dish. The butter sauce does gather at the bottom, so those last few bites will feel a bit greasy.

What others ordered -

Swordfish Prime Rib "Neptune's Cut" 16 oz, Black Lime, Black Pepper, Garlic $68 - This was my mother’s entree and after one bite I realized it was better than my pasta but also double the price. The swordfish was delicate and had a melt-in-your mouth consistency. Everyone wanted a bite, and thanks to the size, that was no problem. The satchel of lemon was a nice and convenient way to add flavor.

Bacon-wrapped Filet Boniato Mash, Truffle Demi $54 - Two people in our party ordered and they were split on their reviews. One said it didn’t have much flavor, and the other said it was ok and the bacon helped with the flavor and they really liked the vegetables that accompanied it. Also, one of the steaks was not cooked to the desired temperature. It should be noted neither person raved about this $54 steak.

Florida Seafood “Moqueca” Coconut Steamed Rice $39 - I didn’t try this dish but I was told it had a good flavor and the dish was very generous with the scallops. Easily shareable for two people.

Oxtail & Foie Gras Empanada Mango Salsa $14 - Nice crust and flavor on these empanadas.

OTHER ITEMS:

Beet & Tangerine Salad Hibiscus Dressing $16

Tuna Tostada Passion Fruit Yolk $23

Ice Cold Oysters & Pearls Pineapple & Ahi Amarillo $24

Hearts of Palm Caesar Salad $14 (not pictured - but this was a popular dish)

THE DESSERTS:

I wish I had more images to show you, but all patience for photos disappears when desserts hit the table. The desserts were definite crowd-pleasers, with the two favorites being the Coconut Rum Trifle and the Chocolate Banana Marquis.

The Key Lime was good and had more of a meringue consistency than your standard piece of Key Lime Pie, which I liked. It was a really nice tart, light bite.

I was most excited about the Cuban Espresso Panna Cotta, but the consistency was not smooth enough for me. I dipped the biscotti in it, waiting for an effortless heap of creamy panna cotta to fall into place on it, but that didn’t happen. Also, this was a table full of Cubans, so I think we were longing for a more potent espresso flavor, so I wouldn’t recommend this one.

The Chocolate Banana Marquis was pretty near perfection for me, and don’t hesitate when you see that there is raspberry sauce included; it balances out all the sweetness with a beautiful tart punch.

Coconut Rum Trifle | 12 Mascarpone Mousse, Mount Gay Rum Butter Cake, Pineapple Compote

Chocolate Banana Marquis (GF) | 12 Chocolate Sphere, Vanilla Bean & Banana Ganache, Raspberry Sauce 

Key Lime Pie | 12 A Florida Classic with Fresh Whip and Meringue Chip 

Cuban Espresso Panna Cotta | 12 Salted Caramel, Butterscotch Biscotti

Should you go?

I always keep in mind the people for whom a meal like this is a splurge. If you frequently and without hesitation drop money at expensive restaurants, my opinion probably won’t matter to you. But if you, like me, tend only to do that for a special occasion, then you want as much knowledge before you go as possible.

This meal was not that unlike my dinner at AVA Mediterraegean, in terms of price point. However, here you get more food for nearly the same amount (depending on how you order). I think the atmosphere is more welcoming at Four Flamingos, warm, casual, and calm. 

If you order smart and strategically, with a plan of action ahead of time, that will help you get the best taste for your dollar and keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the price. For instance, I ordered four items for $98 (before tip), so instead of going for one high ticket item and a drink, I could try more thanks to using the snacks and salads portion of the menu. That is what most of our party did, leaving everyone full. If you can go with friends or family (willing to share tastes), that’s a great way to decide if this menu has enough to offer you for a repeat visit.

For me, based on my dishes, I’d give it 7 out of 10.

SERVICE NOTE:

Shout out to our server David who did not once roll his eyes at me while I ran around our table taking pictures.

There is an 18% service charge automatically applied to your bill. For the Four Flamingos full menu, click here.

I was not hosted at this restaurant, my meal was paid for personally, and I have never been invited or asked to dine here by the restaurant.