(THE) STRAND

Our server was friendly and knew the menu well, and the pacing was good even with the place pretty busy. It is a small, cozy spot on Mills, not too loud, though street parking can take a little patience. We tried the fried mushrooms and redfish, both tasted fresh and well prepared, but with the Michelin guide mention and all the buzz I think I expected a bit more. A couple menu items were already sold out, which makes sense with the rotating fresh menu, but it did limit the options. Prices add up quickly, especially if you get drinks, so I would call it a good dinner for a planned night out rather than a casual cheap bite. Overall I enjoyed it and would go back, I would just make a reservation and keep expectations realistic.

Such a great neighborhood spot. Thank you, Tyler, for an awesome time last night

The Strand feels like the kind of place you end up at when the group says “let’s just grab a drink” and suddenly it’s four hours later and everybody’s talking about life choices on the patio. The atmosphere hits a really rare balance — stylish without trying too hard, relaxed without feeling lazy. Good lighting, great music, strong cocktails, and one of the better people-watching spots in Orlando if you sit outside long enough. Food’s legitimately solid too. The menu feels thoughtful without crossing over into that exhausting “chef wants to reinvent civilization through small plates” territory. Everything feels approachable in the best way. There’s also something very Mills-area about The Strand in general. Creative people, date nights, industry folks after work, old friends running into each other by accident — it feels connected to the actual neighborhood instead of floating above it. A lot of places in Orlando are technically nice. The Strand actually has atmosphere. Big difference. 🦩

Went with my boyfriend and a few friends, sat at the bar and for at least 15 mins we sat there with not even a greeting. The bartender looked over at us frequently and attended to other guests. It was so awkward and weird. Felt like she was purposely avoiding us. We couldn’t even be served water? Had the customer service skills of a 3 year old like ewww? This was Friday evening at 8:45pm.

Sat down and wasn’t even spoken to for 30 mins . Left without trying the place . People who got there after us were created within 5-10 mins .

The Strand was SO good! We are visiting from NYC and wish this was local to us. The flavor combinations are amazing but approachable and just the right combination of delicious and filling. Veronica was a terrific server and the whole experience was great. highly recommended

First time. Loved it! The red snapper was amazing and i'm grateful you were able to accommodate my allergies. Great drinks (negroni and a martini) and dessert too (the house made ice cream)! We sat at the bar, but plan to come back with friends for a table.

I’ve been coming here since it opened. The food is outstanding and worth a wait. Service is generally good as well. However, you should disregard the posted hours. I definitely understand not walking in 5 minutes to closing, and I’d never do that. Saturday night they post that they’re open until 10, but that’s actually not the case. Even if you arrive before 9:30, you will not be served. We were turned away at 9:20. Why not post that you’re open until 9:30 and then seat everyone who arrives by that time? Regardless, it’s not up to me, but saying you’re open until 10 when you stop seating people more than 40 minutes before that is misleading.

Was turned away an hour before their posted closing because the kitchen closed early, even though I called before hand to check.

If your kitchen closes 40 minutes before the restaurant, you should make that information available on your website and the hours listed on Google. Also could've mentioned it on the call when we asked for a reservation for that time, and we were told to just walk in.

Best swordfish ever! The tiny beer that I love. Followed by a chocolate olive cake with handmade ice cream ;-)

Everytime I've visited the food is outstanding! Kristin is great and attentive, i highly recommend the clarified white russian

Veronica and staff provided great service. Food was fresh and delicious.

Man! It has been more than a decade since we last ate here, and I’m a little bummed out we waited so long! It’s not cheap, and there aren’t a ton of tables, but it’s got a weird casual meets fine dining energy that is just part of the Orlando way of life. Great food from the small but mighty menu and great service from Cody. We will be back!

This place was actually really disappointing. We went specifically for the ribeye steak and it was THE WORST steam I have EVER had in my life. If you had asked me if the cut was even a Ribeye I would have said no- it was disappointing. The steak was cold and was smothered in a gravy (sorry, but if the meat was a good quality, you don't cover it up). My dad is a professional in this business and taught me well. I gave it two bites and sent it back. It was embarrassing to even have it in my presence. Go to Linda's LaCantina if you really want to order a steak at a restaurant (you will not be disappointed or find wacky gravy covering meat) - do not do it at The Strand. The atmosphere was nice. I like their sister bar (d.b.a.) better (better vibe and cocktails). Overall, the experience was very underwhelming and really disappointing from a food perspective.

Overall really nice spot, a little pricey but would go back.

I had a wonderful dinner at The Strand. I sat at the bar and ordered the redfish, which was cooked perfectly—delicate, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The service was excellent from start to finish: attentive without being overbearing and genuinely welcoming. The sommelier recommended a French Sauvignon Blanc that paired seamlessly with the fish and was absolutely delicious on its own. A thoughtful, well-executed experience all around.

Amazing in every aspect. The food was superb. The service was exactly right. No notes.

Came here for a me date/ tour of mills. The strand is a great spot! Seems like a perfect date night and I will be bringing my husband soon! And if you can get Veronica as your server you are set up for success! She made wonderful suggestions and took her time explaining the things I had narrowed it down to. She treated me like I was her only guest. And the guava pork belly was so good!! (Again tour of mills so this is my 2nd stop and I cant fill up yet).

This absolutely pains me to leave this review. I go to the stand once a week and after the experience tonight you lost me forever. I showed up and was asked to be placed on the waiting list. There’s 2 empty tables she claims there’s reservations. The hostesses friends came in without a reservation and she sat them before us. There was an empty table for 45 minutes she claims there was a reservation for. At 40 minutes I went to check in the status, I stood at the podium for 5 minutes while she talked to her friends she sat before us. She was rude and condensing when I asked for a status update. The food is absolutely wonderful, but rather go to the moderne and be treated with respect and kindness

I had an unexpected girls night here with a friend. We meant to go to the sister bar next door but I’m so glad I ended up here! I’ve seen and heard great things about the Strand and have been meaning to try it. First off, it was busy on a Wednesday night which I can only assume is a good thing. But despite being busy, there were a few open seats at the bar for walk-ins and I was able to snag two seats for my friends and I. It was also not overly loud for how busy it was. It felt very intimate and cozy. We ordered a drink each, split an appetizer, one entree, and a dessert and it came out to about $100 with tip, so not a cheap place but I think it was well worth it. The service was wonderful, prompt, and welcoming. They were out of a few dishes but that’s to be expected when you have a rotating menu and use fresh ingredients. We also were there on the later end of the evening, about 8pm. For an appetizer, we ordered a focaccia toast topped with some mushroom, onion, and ricotta. It was divine. My friend ordered the burger and loved it. It can’t with fries that looked like McD’s fries (which I’m an absolute fan of) but they tasted EVEN BETTER than McDs. We split dessert, olive oil chocolate cake which has a tahini mousse and sesame seeds. The cake was so well balanced. It was rich but not overly sweet and even had some saltiness from the tahini mousse. Overall one of my favorite Orlando dining experiences to date and I can’t wait to return!

After learning about The Strand during Michelin's published reviews of Orlando restaurants, we were very curious to try it out. Consider us forever fans now after having dined there three or four times now The quality and care of the dishes, the service ,and even the new bar that opened up next-door have become some of our favorite places to frequent. While the capacity is limited, especially in the restaurant, it's well worth the wait if you can book a reservation in advance or try to show up when they open and grab a seat at the bar (which I believe may be open seating around 5 PM but not entirely sure about that). The cocktails here and the food offerings vary every time we go, and they always nail the flavor combinations. The textures and presentations of the dishes are almost as if you're in a tasting menu as opposed to à la carte dining if that makes any sense; it feels very exclusive, like you're in a chef's private dining room! And because of the smaller space, the noise levels are usually fairly low, which we always appreciate anywhere we go to eat. We can't wait to go back and highly recommend The Strand for anyone who hasn't tried it out yet. Support local and check it out this weekend. You will love it.