Corazón by Baires Delivers Upscale Dining on International Drive (Review)

Hi everyone!

Corazón by Baires is the newest dining destination on Orlando’s International Drive, not far from the theme parks and other attractions in the area (including The Orlando Eye and Madame Tussaud’s at ICON Park). The restaurant opened its doors in October, sharing the space of Mango’s Tropical Café and offering Latin-inspired dishes.

We were invited to Corazón by Baires and have a review to share. The restaurant paid for most of the meal, we paid for the remainder plus tip.

The entry to Corazón by Baires has the feel of a speakeasy, with a heart on the ground and a floral motif on the doors.

The lobby downstairs – ‘La Biblioteca de Corazón’ – is cozy. We asked to arrive near opening, so it wasn’t busy yet (but it did become busy as our meal progressed). Candles and books are the main focus of this room.

One of the highlights of Corazón by Baires is the atmosphere. The restaurant is beautifully decorated. We had a view of this gorgeous chandelier, and the decor on the wall also included hearts and books (a combination of both). The restaurant is dark, and it was not noisy on this evening as we arrived early. While Mango’s does not appear to have live entertainment anymore, I have heard it can be noisy in the restaurant during hours it is open (the two are very much attached without a full wall).

The hearts on the wall are created from books. The restaurant has an Instagram account where you can see how gorgeous it is, but they also make the restaurant feel like a nightclub where you need to dress up. It wasn’t like that during our visit. Some guests dressed nice, others dressed less so – but I think nice pants and a collared shirt work well here.

The first item we were brought was the bread. This would have been the least interesting item we received as the bread didn’t taste freshly baked. For a higher-priced restaurant, I would expect it to be better.

Here is a look at one page of the menu, you can find the entire menu at the Corazón by Baires website. There is a nice selection of items to choose from. The prices at Corazón by Baires are generally in line with fine dining in the Orlando area, especially in hotel restaurants and the theme parks.

We tried two cocktails, with one being the Caresse d’Or. This offered an impressive start to our meal. The drink menu features cocktails with interesting names, like Boundless Lust and Bond of Seduction.

Our cocktails were good, and there is a bar in the center of the room for those just looking to have a drink. The bar was busy by the time we left. After this, we ordered a bottle of red wine.

My appetizer was the Meatballs Reggiano, with American Wagyu meatballs, tomato and fennel sauce, stracciatella cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano. This was a nice dish, with the meatballs on the firmer side.

Jeff ordered the Lobster Bisque Corazón, with Maine lobster meat and cremè fraîche. There was a generous amount of lobster in the dish, which was a highlight of the meal.

We decided to go with the 40 oz Beef Tomahawk for our entree, based on the recommendation.

The dish is carved tableside (as per the menu), but it also is served flaming.

This was quite the sight next to our table, as our server presented the Tomahawk.

The steak not only presented well, but was delicious and tender. This was one of the nicer steaks we’ve had recently, perfectly cooked with so much flavor.

We also ordered a side of vegetables (sides are ordered separately). The vegetables include broccolini, asparagus, tomatoes and onion. It was a decent portion size to go with the steak. Other sides that can be ordered include mashed potatoes and coconut lime rice.

The server cut the steak at the table.

The other item that can be ordered tableside is the Fettuccini a la Ruota. The pasta is tossed tableside in a Parmigiano wheel and includes truffle dust.

Fire can be seen in the wheel.

Jeff said yes to fresh Parmesan on top (which was a bit of overkill). The pasta was quite nice though, also firmer.

The Three Layer Chocolate Cake was moist and beautifully presented. The cake has Hershey’s fudge and homemade Chantilly.

Jeff ordered The Fosters, with bananas brûlée, cinnamon caramel, cookie dust, ice cream and rum flambe. This was quite nice as well, certainly a dessert we would order again.

We had a very nice, relaxed meal at Corazón by Baires. The food we tried was very good to exceptional, depending on the item. The two cocktails we had were tasty. Seating was comfortable. The restaurant does currently have a Happy Hour a couple of days per week, check that out on their website. I would recommend going to Corazón by Baires during non-Mango’s hours to allow for a quieter experience (if that is what you are looking for).

 

Thank you to Corazón by Baires, all views are ours.