Knife & Spoon

We came to Michelin-starred Knife & Spoon during our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Helmed by celebrated chef John Tesar, the restaurant focuses on premium seafood and steaks with a modern American approach, offering a refined dining experience that lives up to its reputation.

We started with a dozen fresh oysters, which were clean, briny, and wonderfully refreshing. The mussels were equally enjoyable, cooked in a rich, flavourful broth that was perfect for soaking up with the warm bread. One of the standout seafood dishes was the diver scallops, beautifully seared with a caramelised crust while remaining sweet and tender inside.

The whole local fish was another highlight. Perfectly cooked with moist, flaky flesh and a wonderfully crisp skin, it showcased the kitchen’s ability to let quality ingredients shine. The crab rice was packed with flavour and a comforting addition to the meal.

For meat lovers, the lamb loin was expertly cooked to a beautiful medium-rare, tender and juicy with excellent flavour. We also shared the impressive dry-aged ribeye, which delivered the rich beefy depth and charred crust that steak enthusiasts would appreciate.

While the pricing is certainly on the higher side, that is expected for a Michelin-starred restaurant of this calibre. The attentive service, elegant presentation, and consistently well-executed dishes made for a memorable dining experience. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and would happily return when looking for a special dinner in Orlando.

We spent Valentine’s Day at Knife & Spoon and had the most beautiful evening with my husband and my daughter. The service was honestly on another level. Every single person we interacted with was kind, attentive, and just genuinely amazing. You can feel when a team truly cares, and they absolutely do.

The food? So incredibly delicious. Everything we tried was outstanding. You can taste the quality in every bite. We didn’t get to try as many dishes as we wanted, which just means we’ll be coming back very soon.

Such a special experience. Highly recommend. Five stars without question.

I had dinner with a colleague during a conference we attended.
Despite having a reservation, we had to wait another 10 minutes to be seated. The seating area is pretty large.
The service was great and attentive.
The food was excellent.

The overall dining experience was pleasant. The service was attentive and professional, and the meal flowed smoothly from start to finish. However, while the presentation and atmosphere were refined, some dishes lacked balance and depth of flavor. The mushroom dish was overly salty, parts of the grilled fish had a slightly bitter taste, and the salad had a grainy texture — it was unclear whether it came from fine salt or actual sand. Overall, while the experience was enjoyable, the flavors and execution still fall short of Michelin-level refinement.

This is good option in Orlando. The ambiance is elegant but quiet. The food is good quality, but nothing imaginative. The bread service is a nice touch. I am surprised by the Michelin Star. There is nothing here that you can’t get at a lot of other places.