This hidden joy is located in a luxury UCF hotel. Great service and food. Try the super oval desert, life changing

I finally made it over to the Celeste . It's close to my house but I never drive towards UCF. I'm glad I checked it out . The lobby is cute with a space theme and instagram spots . We had the Shepherds Pie and the Pappardelle. I loved mine but it was not hot . Husband raved about the Shepherds Pie which was sweet potatoes over lamb with nice grilled veggies on the side . Very non traditional. The surprise star of the visit was the dessert that I didn't even want. I ordered the rice pudding and husband kept insisting that I wanted the Beignets .We got both . The croissant beignets were so delicious. Crunchy layers , cinnamon coated, delicious icing. Complete home run . My rice pudding was so light and fresh . I loved it . I look forward to trying brunch or one of the epic buffets I've heard about . read more

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Truly enjoyed each meal here. Most especially the Breakfast. Service was great and all the windows really make it an inviting space to kick back and enjoy a meal. My favorite dish was definitely the Fried Green, Egg, and Bacon Wrap. So good I had it twice. Sooooo good! Highly recommend. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Fried Green Tomatoes, w/ Bacon & Egg wrap - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I avoided writing this review for months because I was hoping that my experience was just a Magical Dining fluke, however upon review some of the items I had are still on the regular menu so I figure putting in my two cents to warn people off of them. The summary of this review is that this is the most mediocre "fancy" meal I've had in a very long time--where the plating was well done but the taste was shockingly meh. We tried the following items that were on the Magical Dining menu and I designate with an asterisk* what appears to be still on their posted menus: Duck Confit Empanadas Paella Arancini* Chicken Osso Bucco* Creole Newburg Key Lime Pie Supernova* The empanandas were dry, the arancini were okay-a little on the salty side but the carrot puree provided a nice sweetness, the chicken osso bucco was unexpectedly bland (even the hint of truffle withered away within a couple bites), the creole newburg was also undersalted. The Supernova had so much potential but needed serious reworking. The combination of ingredients (chocolate shell, candied walnut, rum caramel, smashed raspberry vanilla ice cream, brownie) offers sweet on top of sweet on top of sweet with nothing to relieve oneself of the sweet. I could only eat it in small bites and even then, left 2/3 of it unfinished. The two fresh raspberries were carrying the dish and it would've been a massive improvement just to add a few more. Maybe keep the walnuts uncandied? The Supernova is a showstopper to be enjoyed solely through instagram, nothing more. The server who brought it out (not our main waiter) also was in a hurry to do the sauce pour even though I was clearly trying to take a video. So in the end, I didn't even get the content that all my money went towards. When the best thing about a meal is the sauce that came with an appetizer (shoutout to the empanada aioli for doing the most), you know that it is memorable for all the wrong reasons. It's honestly a lovely ambience, especially for a hotel restaurant. I just wish the food could've tasted half as good as it looked. read more

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Went for magical dining and it was the most delicious time ever! The ambience was very aesthetically pleasing and great for pictures. Being able to get an appetizer, entree and dessert it was the perfect way to experience 3 pieces on the menu for the price of one! read more

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Beautiful ambience! Everything in the hotel is brand new and it shows. The restaurant itself is so cute and very well lit. Service is quick and friendly. The food was phenomenal. We did the bite 30 deal and it was well worth it. The scallop dish was tiny but truly amazing. And the mushroom stuffed beef was out of this world tasty. The drinks were pricy but delicious nonetheless. Overall a great deal. read more

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I am officially updating my review and boosting Aurora from four to five stars. I came here for Bite 30. I know it's a pandemic and restaurants are struggling. I know this because most of the Bite 30 menus were entirely uninspired and boring. But Aurora put out a menu that really dropped my jaw. Unique things that blatantly fused different cuisines. Unusual meats that aren't even seen on restaurants' normal menus. A literal flaming dessert. I ranked this menu as my top priority for the Bite 30 event, and it did not disappoint. I will not bore you with too many details, but I will point out the highlights. Apps: Duck Confit Empanadas (Jerk Slaw, Drunken Raisin, Sweet Thai Chili Aioli). Two surprises here: The size of the empanadas were very nice, nice and big. And the sauce was sweet and spicy and not on my empanadas making them soggy. You can dip and quantify your sauce as you please. Very good dish. Love duck. Paella Arrancini (Shrimp, Chorizo, Vadouvan Carrot Puree, Crispy Pancetta). I've seen a lot of arancini in my life, but not ever one made of paella. Very unctuous on the inside, very Spanish. And the earthy carrot puree cut into that unct in a nice way. All flavors were helped by the crispy exterior of the ballz. I was a huge fan. Mains: Chicken Osso Bucco (Pork Belly Truffle Mac & Cheese, Apple Glazed Brussel Sprouts, Smoked Tomato Gazpacho). Fall of the bone chicken in a striking presentation. Very fatty, rich mac. Geniusly plated on the acidic gazpacho to cut through the fat. The sprouts were fine, almost an afterthought. But the dish as a whole was dynamite. Creole Newberg (Puff Pastry Vol Au Vent, Shrimp, Alligator, Bison Andouille, Sherry Cream, Market Veg, Crispy Frog Leg). This one was insane. Beautiful plating. A ton of each of the meat, each cooked perfectly. All of the stuff made the puff pastry juuust soggy enough to make it a great carb for the dish. And the asparagus was cooked well, too. This whole thing, just perfect. And it's a great way for the more vanilla people out there to finally try three unique meats. Desserts: Pineapple Bread Pudding (Flaming Pineapple Rum Sauce, Toasted Coconut, Vanilla Ice Cream). The server came out and set this one on fire for us. I took a video. It was fun. The bread pudding itself was very dense, not very wet. I don't think I have a preference, just giving you a heads up. It was very warm and the ice cream slowly but surely melted during our eating the dish, leaving some amazing final bites. Key Lime Pie (Graham Cracker Dust, Raspberry Coulis, Lime Zest). This one was mine. I love Key lime pie, and I think it's a dessert that has a very low floor and a very high ceiling. This was a pretty good one. The filling wasn't way too sweet, like a lot of them are. And the fact that this is a one-serving pie, instead of a slice, really lets you enjoy a nice crust-to-filling ratio. Huge fan of this. Overall, the effort that this restaurant put into a community event that probably loses them money is very impressive. It is one of my favorite restaurants in town, my favorite restaurant in East Orlando, and I will tell everyone I know to go and eat this good food. read more

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Loved having dinner here! This is our second visit to Aurora and had an exception time. We were able to sit party of 2 on a Friday night with no reservation and no wait! The restaurant is tucked in the corner of the hotel and offers intimate seating and super cool space decor. Everything was very clean and attention to detail was on point. Love music started to play about 7-730pm. Service was amazing from Andrea! We started with the cheese board and our server Andrea was excellent at recommending some cheeses. We were on the fence about the blue cheese and she actually got some from the kitchen for us to taste! Amazing!! The cheese board was excellent and extremely well presented. It just looked great! Ordered the Pisces seasonal cocktail and the Nebula. Andrea said she actually created the Pisces drink and it was delicious. Perfect blend of ingredients and was a really cool color which matched the Pisces sign. Entrees we did the oxtail stroganoff and the salmon. The potions were very generous! The oxtail was braised perfectly and came with udon noodles. Overall the dish was great. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the risotto was amazing!! I think the risotto stole the show! We did dessert with the SuperNova!! This is their signature dessert and WOW was it worth it. They pour hot caramel sauce over a chocolate ball which melts and reveals an ice cream covered brownie. DELICIOUS!!! I would come back just to hangout for drinks and the dessert. I highly recommend to come to check out the hotel and the restaurant. It's super fun to see all the space theming in the hotel and the rooms are so nice too! read more

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Stop by to check out their bite30 menu. There is valet parking which can be stamp at the host inside the resturant. Resturant was really nice and the staff were friendly and attentive. I ordered the potatoe canellini, ny strip which came with fried asparagus and purple potatoes. As for dessert I opt for the key lime pie. I enjoyed everything I ordered. They definitely gave a lot of potatoes. The sauce in the steak went perfect. I think the cook messed up our steak because my friend got medium well and it looks like it was a medium rare. Steak was nicely cut, but it was a big bite so had to cut them. My friend got the banana bread pudding and it was very over powering with the rum sauce. It was like a shot of rum and it was gross. I don't think I would come back since it's pretty far from where I live. read more

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Came here for a bite 30 and happy hour dinner. Bite 30 is a great time to try different restaurants for a relatively modest price. I came right before happy hour was over and had the chance to sample their hummus platter and a nice draft hibiscus lager for discounted prices. The hummus was excellent. For the bite 30 menu, I opted for the baked brie to start. It was not very good. My main entree was the sirloin which I asked for medium rare, I unfortunately got closer to a medium well. The sauce was okay but I am not a fan of sauced steaks. For dessert, I opted for the supernova which was decoratively amazing but taste wise quite mediocre. I would come back for happy hour but bite 30 left me less than impressed. read more

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I thought for sure I'd written a review already... We have been going to Aurora since it opened and have not been disappointed yet! The happy hour? We've been here probably equally for happy hour and other events. But they offer some of the most unique and inventive menus around town. I love the Aurora and so should you!! read more

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I had a phenomenal first experience here especially with our waiter who we were able to connect with and made our experience a lot more exciting. I highly recommend asking for Blue to be your waiter if you ever come, you won't regret him! The hotel offers complimentary valet if you're eating at their restaurant, the guy had an amazing service and attitude. We came during their happy hour 4pm-6pm and the pictures are from July 4th. However, we came again 2 months later and invited our friends because we love our first time so much. The inside of the restaurant wasn't open at 4pm so we sat where the bar tables were. Our waitress was named Cali and it was honestly the worst service I've ever gotten. We never had an introduction and she didn't even bother to ask what we wanted to drink. She took our order and when we got our food, we asked her for ice water. The food came out after about 35 minutes and the wagyu burger was different from expected. First it didn't come with any greens and we had 1/3 of the fries compared to the picture from July 4th, no joke. What got me upset was that we got charged $3 extra each for the added truffle without being informed we were. Doesn't make sense since we barely had fries to be honest, you're better off buying the truffle by itself. The baos is not something I recommend at all, the pork belly was mainly fat. The tuna tartare had a more fishy taste to it this time, they added avocado which was a plus but had smaller and less chips to dip it with. As for the beignets, the dip were different this time and not as good as the first time. It was a chocolate sauce but not dip able due to it being semi-solid. The first time was whipped, pairing the beignets really real. Cali didn't check up on us at all, we had to call on her for service nor did she say goodbye to us. The restaurant had like 2-3 other table filled while we were there. Overall, my expectations went down hill and we came out there very disappointed. This was my first time tipping someone what they deserve when it came to bad service. read more

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Honestly, I was a little hesitant, because I don't trust a lot of restaurants that are tied into hotels. However, this place had some of the best food I've had in the Waterford Lakes - UCF area. I had the shrimp and grits, which was pleasantly surprising. A lot of restaurants don't use real grits. However, Aurora certainly does. Two of the parties at my table, ordered a triple-decker grilled cheese, which looks marketable, and the Wagyu burger definitely hit the spot. The bar had several drinks for us to choose from and some local beers that were also available. After dinner, we went outside in the terrace and we're still able to order from the bar and enjoy the cool fall evening as we Hung out with friends and family. read more

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Came here on a weekday for magical dining. The restaurant itself is located in the Celeste hotel and was pretty easy to find and has complimentary valet. The tables on the outer rim face inward toward the restaurant instead of outward out the window so we turned our chairs towards the outside to have a nicer view which I recommend. The inside of the restaurant is nice but if you're enjoying dinner with a loved one it definitely helps. I started with the duck arancini and it was delicious! The portion was huge and started off the meal well. My girlfriend got the ahi tuna and it was also quite a large portion. I then got the black garlic parpadelle and the flavor of it was fantastic and also portion was huge. There were plenty of shrimp and everything was cooked well. My only mistake was choosing to upgrade to the super nova for dessert as I had seen videos of it online and while it was cool, the caramel sticks to your teeth and if you don't eat it fast enough it congeals quickly. My girlfriend's mousse was delicious and I wish I had gotten that or one of the other lovely dessert options. Service was also quick and easy. A lovely choice for magical dining! read more

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I am a big fan of The Aurora and would recommend this lovely restaurant, located inside the Celeste Hotel, to anyone and everyone. I actually visited the restaurant before staying at the hotel years ago. This year, for the 4th of July, I treated myself to a stay here and dinner (reservations available via OpenTable). Aurora did not disappoint - in fact, there were quite a few patrons here dining before leaving to see fireworks. My Oxtail Empanadas with cilantro crema were triumphant and my filet medallions were cooked to perfection. The Supernova is definitely a dessert to be shared - delicious brownie served with a chocolate globe atop it, broken only by warm caramel to reveal vanilla ice cream and raspberries inside. The servers here are delightful. This, my 3rd visit, and I love the staff here - they are consistently sweethearts. Definitely consider The Aurora for great food and staff served in an attractive restaurant. Both valet and self-parking available here as well. read more

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SO GOOD! We were visiting from out of state and found this place for a late dinner on a Saturday night. I'm shocked we only had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, and waiting was easy because the restaurant is in a beautiful hotel. So often, I feel like fancy expensive restaurants aren't worth the cost, but I had no problem doing the cash for this wonderful meal. We don't drink alcohol, but our waiter suggested a mocktail for me to try- the lunar kiss- which was so good. I even took a picture of the description in the menu so I could attempt to recreate it. There were several mocktail options and they all sounded delicious. As an appetizer, we had the empanadas which were delicious. We were between that and the duck arrancini which I'm sure also would've been great. For our meals we chose the "fried chicken" and the crispy barramundi, and again, both were great. I think my husband and I both enjoyed the fried chicken just a hair more but it was a close call. I'm pretty confident anything we could've ordered would've had the same effect on us. The next time we are in town, we will definitely come back! It seems like the menu changes somewhat often so I'd be interested in trying whatever else they might offer in the future. And I desperately wish I would've saved room for dessert because a table across from us did, and I was jealous! read more

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Finally made it to this gem of a restaurant! First thing is the place is very clean and modern looking with 2 window walls looking into the courtyard. Definitely a classy place to dress up or stay casual. They also have a private room. The wait staff were all friendly and prompt. Even the manager came out to see how we were doing. Their cocktail menu is fantastic. We both got the 21 Questions. Even though it says cognac, it tastes like a tropical fruit drink with mint. Very refreshing, delicious, and strong! No light pours here! We started with the hummus which I forgot to take a pic of. It was amazing. Perhaps the star of the meal. Delicious hummus, slightly chunky, and a little heat. Then drizzled with a quality olive oil. Plenty of warm pitas. And then the bonus was it was topped with roasted whole vegetables. Seriously, you could eat this as a very healthy lunch or even a light dinner. In fact, I may come for lunch just for this! My wife got the beautiful vegetable pave. It's a work of art! Unfortunately she didn't like it. Not that it was bad or anything. She never had pave and gave it a try. It's just not her thing. But the black rice was chewy and nutty. And the grilled asparagus was fantastic. I got the shrimp and grits. It said cajun style but there was just a bit of creole seasoning in it. Barely noticeable. Look at all those shrimp! I actually didn't finish them all which is a crime. They were excellent. Then those grits were super amazing. If all grits were this good I'd eat them every day. Really, best grits I've ever had. This was an excellent entree. We were stuffed and we aren't dessert people but the selection looked very good. We will absolutely be back for the steaks and swordfish in the future. And I hope they rotate the menu to keep us coming back even more! read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Shrimp and grits - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Another great dining experience at Aurora! Food, service and ambiance as all 5 Star! This is my third visit to this restaurant and each time has been really, really great. Keep up the amazing food and service. read more

I really wanted to like this place more than I did. First off, the parking situation left a bad taste in my mouth. They almost forced you to valet which, is fine except who carries cash anymore? So tipping would be an issue. So I self parked and was told I was parking in the wrong lot... (mind you it was empty with roughly 10 cars in it and almost 50-60 open spaces.) The self-parking lots is very far from the lobby and as you approach the door it tells you you need a self-parking slip in your car. That should be visibly displayed as you pull in. "Self parking available, see valet host for slip" or some kind of signage. Maybe I missed it but I was actively looking for it and couldn't find anything. Small detail that really irked me more than it should have. The details inside the hotel are great. Lots of nods to aerospace and technology. The restaurant is odd. It's too open to the lobby and you feel like you're eating in the lobby of a hotel vs an upscale restaurant. Our waitress was phenomenal! I forget her name...but she was on top of everything. We ordered magical dining plus extra appetizers. The tuna tartare was not good. It honestly had an odd after taste. Luckily the wonton chips were perfect. The sliders were decent, would make a great kid's meal truthfully. The truffle fries were okay...good amount of truffle but something was missing and I still can't decide what that is. Our magical dining appetizers came and I got the Caesar. It was good. A bit small but still a decent portion. My entree was the Wagyu steak. It was fine. I wouldn't pay more than $20 for it though considering how small it is. The purple mash or smear or whatever it was just doesn't work with the meal overall. And I wish the mushrooms weren't pickled. The dessert was neat. Great presentation but the cookie Blondie was very hard and until I got to the center not great. The best part of this restaurant is the water. Best water I've ever had. All in all, it was okay. IMO I'd only come for happy hour or a quick drink if someone is staying at the hotel. Otherwise...it's just not what I'd expect to get vs what I'm paying. read more

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Food was amazing! Truffle fries, burger, mahi, and Brussels sprouts were excellent. Everything well-prepared, and allergy omissions accommodated. Service was very outstanding also! read more

We've been here quite a few times since the opening about a year ago and they still deliver on quality and innovative Dishes, Drinks and Desserts. It's the Triple D whammy! Their Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Chips are excellent and were a bargain during happy hour. Their black garlic pappardelle was so flavorful and the pasta itself would probably be good plain with with some butter! Yeah! Recently, we went to the 3 course pre-fixe Thanksgiving Dinner where you choose your courses. Everyone enjoyed their food from the Pork Belly Slider and sweet potato soup appetizers, to the traditional turkey, steak, or pan seared trout dinner, to the crazy white dwarf dessert where the hot caramel melts through the orb to reveal the delicious ice cream perched atop a blondie underneath. GTFO! So bananas! The decor is space themed, the bar is spacious and inviting, and they have wine flights and happy hour specials which are out of this world! Ha! read more

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I've been to Aurora at The Celeste Hotel a few times now and have yet to be disappointed. The staff friendly and helpful, the food super fresh and the location makes you feel like you're far away from city life. This visit out table shared the truffle fries, duck wings, and roasted veggies/hummus. I ordered the wagyu sliders and The Local salad half size. Others ordered Steak & cheese sandwich and Parmesan truffle arancini. My drink of choice 21 Questions...excellent excellent cocktail! No complaints, lips smacking and forks hitting their plates. Everything I had was fresh, flavorful and quickly served. In the past I've had the alligator empanadas, black garlic pappardelle, grilled salmon and warm bread pudding for Magical dining. No doubt I may become a regular at Aurora. Be sure to check out their Valentine's and Easter brunch service. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - 21 Questions - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Always love coming to this restaurant. This is a great option near the UCF area. Food is always fantastic. Staff is very helpful and attentive. In this visit, I tried their skirt beef, a pumpkin risotto, and of course, a martini. Advice to make reservations in advance, especially for Friday and Saturdays evening. I do get busy. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Amazing as always. It's so great to have chef Mike back! The portions are generous, and the happy hour is a steal! Love that you can get a meal with great quality ingredients and wonderful presentation on this side of town. We sat on the side dining room this time, which added a nice intimate ambiance. read more

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My review is for the Aurora dining room only, not the Celester Hotel. Our group of coworkers in Research Park nearby decided to celebrate 3 birthdays at this dining room inside Celester Hotel. I was impressed by the response directly from the Executive Chef when I sent an email booking the table. I stopped early to drop off a cake and met with the hostess Ashley, who arranged our table in their private dining section and delivered a Celester creative handmade birthday card. Our two servers promptly took our orders and served. I heard several good comments from the colleagues sitting close to me. They loved the Steak n Cheese Sandwich, the Celester Burger, especially the patty, the Crab Cake Sandwich and the Shrimp n Grits. I was curious by the name of the Chicken Osso Bucco entree. By textbook, this is either a hearty Italian dish made by braising veal shanks or a cross-cut with bones. I wanted to try it. The pork belly mac n cheese was impressive, and the apple glazed brussel sprouts made it unique. To me, it is a little pricy. But people who stay at Celester Hotel would probably accept it. The servers did a good job serving our cake. If I were them, I would cut all 16 pieces before serving so that all guests would have their cake at the same time, and I would also serve with forks vice spoons. But overall, they did a great job. read more

Amazing food and ambiance. I love the space theme and the elevated menu. We've gone several times for specific menus and brunches and have never been disappointed. read more

Aurora At The Celeste - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I've been eyeing this place since it opened! It's currently a restaurant participating in Bite 30 and now I really have to go! I park valet. I believe it's free since I'm dining in the restaurant. I'm on a girls date night dinner, I get here first so I check our reservation in and then head to the bar that's between the hotel lobby and the Aurora entrance. I get The Aurora drink. Pretty color but the taste was just ok. It was tart I like my drinks a tinge sweeter. My girls arrive, we're seated, our server introduced herself and explained how Bite 30 works and made some menu suggestions. Drinks: -Watermelon Mules (delicious) -Solar Flare Food: -Duck Confit Empanadas -Paella Arrancini -Baked Baby Brie -Chicken Osso Bucco -Grilled New York Strip -Potato Pave -Pineapple Bread Pudding -Croissant Beignets -Key Lime Pie Everything was delicious! I was impressed by the Mac N Cheese that came with the Chicken Osso Bucco! I'm use to southern M&C. It looks like some watered down bs Mac made by a 7 year old but that first bite is robust! Ro-BUSSIN! I didn't know what Osso Bucco was, so I looked it up. I feel like it was missing sauce. The chicken was tender on the inside and kinda dry on the outside. Like it was the first plate ready but they're waiting on the rest of the table's order to be done so it stayed under the heat light a smidge longer. I could see myself as a regular here. I want to try everything on the menu. read more

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Amazing experience that included delicious food that is creative and complex and in my opinion deserving of a Michelin star. The ambiance and service were also fantastic - the chef and chef de cuisine came to each table at one point and was a wonderful touch. Everything we ate felt unique and divine, my favorites were the tuna tartare and the steak roulade, highly recommend dining here. Menu is slated to change soon, which I appreciate when a kitchen is continually creative. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I came here for magical dining with my friend and this did not disappoint. I've always heard amazing reviews and a good culinary experience and my expectations were 100% met . It's a cute quiet ambiance that follows the galaxy theme of the hotel . I got the duck aranchini , oxtails empanadas, filet medallions, chocolate mousse cake and the beignets . Everything was made perfectly and tasted amazing . The presentation was impeccable and you can tell they pay close attention . Service was good as well. I recommend for a date night and will definitely be returning . read more

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I've been to this place at least 3 times, enjoyed it every time and don't know why I didn't leave a review before. We went last night, and the bar area was great before dinner. The wagyu sliders were awesome and the upgrade to truffle fries was so worth it. $10 for a lot of food! Drinks were great and clearly made with care, Garrett was awesome. Then we sat down for magical dining and I was again blown away. Many places try to hide the menu, not here. It was front and center and pushed to order it. Between our table I got to try the oxtail empanadas, duck confit arancini and the fried cheese. If I went again I would really struggle to pick which app to get as everyone was excellent. The cheese has the most options as each of 3 dipping sauces were very different but the oxtail and duck confit could easily have been the stars themselves. Also the bread service is insanely good. For $7 you get 5 pretty big rolls, a solid herbal butter and the absolutely best honey butter I've ever had...it's sort of like spreadable honeycomb and I cannot do it justice, you have to try it. Then came the main course of filet medallions and honestly these were the worst of our whole meal, not because they were bad, just that everything else was excellent and different from normal stuff and these were just very good. Insanely tender. Seriously, I am not knocking them, I'm just highlighting how wonderful all the other things were. Lastly the desserts, as much as I thought the beignet bites (really more churros style) were very good...I would have done with Nutella instead of the Nutella cream...but someone at our table got the upgrade to the melting ball of chocolate and I immediately regretted not doing the same...even though I would never have finished it and left stuffed and brought home half the steak...and a pound of mashed potatoes and two rolls...and a memory of a great time with friends. read more

Came here for Magical dining and so glad I did! To drink, I had to have the galaxy. I do wish it was more purple or pink in color. empress gin with champagne was light and refreshing. Bonus was edible glitter! I started with the parmesan truffle arancini which was out of this world. Excellent flavor! Of course had the salmon which was paired with parmesan risotto on a lemon cream sauce. Can we talk about the spectacular plating? The star of the show was the supernova dessert. Worth the upcharge. Dark chocolate dome, walnut hot rum caramel, smashed raspberry and vanilla ice cream surprise inside on top of a ghirardelli brownie. Presentation was amazing, food was delicious. Wish it was closer! read more

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We went to Aurora for bite30 and it was good! After leaving your car in the valet, it is free if you are dining at Aurora so don't forget to ask your server to get it stamped!, you go toward aurora and there is a wall with roses and a neon spaceship which is a cool place to snap a pic! Inside the restaurant is space themed, where we were sitting there was an astronaut mural, pretty cool! Our server was really nice and she came back to check on us often. For the first course, we ordered: The scallop: please know it is only ONE scallop. It was delicious but keep that in mind, it took us all by surprise. The sauce on it was amazing but we wish we had something to soak up the sauce. Tuna tartare: it was soo good! They had a little "yolk" of passion fruit that went beautifully with the tuna and avocado. It comes with wonton chips. Crock Brisket Potato Croquettes: you get three croquettes and they come with sauce. Inside it has the brisket and cheese, it was very good. For the second course: Roasted Airline Chicken: the mojo sauce was out of this world and the honey carrots were very tasty. My friend kept making a happy dance as she was eating it so you know it was good haha! Mushroom stuffed Beef Romulade: so yummy!!! It came with pickled vegetables which paired well with the beef. It also comes with a peppercorn sauce that ties up everything nicely! Third course: Mango Passion Mousse: for this dessert you have to take your spoon and crack the white chocolate sphere. It was fun to do! The desert itself was flavorful. The mango mouse was on top a passion fruit sauce. I wish it had more of that sauce tho! Croissant beignets: were good as well, the sauce to dip them in had coffee and it was also very tasty The Supernova: we were the most excited about this one. It is a brownie with vanilla ice cream on top and raspberries all inside a chocolate dome. You then pour hot caramel on top of it for the dome to melt onto your ice cream. Unfortunately the caramel was burnt and we could not enjoy it. :( you had to pay $10 dollars on top of the bite30 for it so we were a bit disappointed. Overall it is a nice restaurant and I would come back to have their regular menu. :) read more

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My family and I dined here for Mother's Day and it was a wonderful experience overall. I had heard amazing things about this restaurant and especially about the chef. So when I saw they were hosting Mother's Day Brunch I immediately grabbed a reservation on Open Table and told my husband this is where I wanted to go. We arrived about 2-3 minutes before our reservation time, pretty good since this is located in the Celeste Hotel by UCF and we are on the total opposite side of town. We were greeted inside with a glass of sparkling and the hostess promptly seated us. We were at one of the first tables inside the bar area so we didn't really get to look at the whole restaurant and football was playing right above us which sort of killed the mood a bit. The buffet was in the next room over and it was like something out of a magazine. There was so much bread. It was like a bread shop. There was a make your own salad station. There was a bar with pastas. There were 4 meats being hand carved. There was a breakfast station and a dessert station. There was so much fruit including things like yellow watermelon and pink pineapple. The pièce de résistance was the cheese! Y'all! I have been in cheese shops with less cheese. It was incredible! I could have spent the whole afternoon there with a couple glasses of wine and that cheese! Everything we ate was delicious. I wish I could have sat there a couple more hours so I could get hungry again and go back and eat more. My kid tore into the macaroni and cheese and the breakfast bacon. I agree with him, they were both spectacular, especially that macaroni. My husband loved the lobster mac n cheese, but I don't do seafood so the plain was pretty outstanding for me. The ham, prime rib, and salmon which were served at carving stations were all hits at our table. My mom also noted it was a beautiful eggs benedict. The desserts were incredible as well. My kid had never seen a chocolate fountain before. He asked everyone at the table if he could get them something from the chocolate fountain! My favorite was the banana cake which was served in a flower pot. So cute! We absolutely loved the food! So why 4 stars? Our server DJ, failed to explain that apparently we could have unlimited mimosas. We each had one, but were not informed they were unlimited. I didn't even drink all of mine because it was mostly juice with just a splash of bubbles. Because I didn't really care for my mimosa I ordered iced tea, which we were not informed until the bill showed up that soft drinks like iced tea were not included. Also, my kid was charged for 1 milk he spilled and 1 milk he drank. So, what drink was included for the kid? It was a bit frustrating and I would have said something, but my husband didn't tell me until after we got home because it was Mother' s Day and he didn't want to bum me out. This all could have been fixed by some better server training. I'm honestly not sure our server was a server, but maybe a bar back or something because he wasn't great about removing plates either. Overall, the food was incredible and I would come back here for the food. I think we just got unlucky with our server. read more

Omg.. This place is ******* 7 starts. The food was amazing and so tasting, Chef came to the table to check on the food. Will come back 110%. The only downside was the 2:50 hours for the 3 course menu. read more

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My husband I went for magical dining and the food and service were excellent. My husband's steak initially came out well done when ordered medium rare. Constance ( or Coco she said to call her) immediately had them fire up a new entree and it came out quickly. Overall we would 100% go back and try their regular menu based off of taste and service! read more

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My daughter, her husband, and another I call daughter brought me to the special Mother's Day brunch here today. They always serve breakfast, but I understand the buffet is something they do a few holidays a year. It was amazing, and I'm not even crazy about buffets, even high end ones. The amount of choices was just astounding. And everything was delicious. There are probably too many areas to name here, but to highlight a few, I'd like to start with the cheese station. It was so fun. I don't think I've ever seen that many different kinds of cheese in one place. The portions were small enough to let you try plenty of them. All well labeled. The breakfast station, where they prepared eggs, even delicious Eggs Benedict, was very impressive. There was a carving station, with various meats, including prime rib. The desert area had its own little nook, and, like the rest, it was set up beautifully. Although I did not have any, the salad station had a great setup, creating to-order dinner portion sized salads, in lidded bowls for the ability to shake up, if desired. And, there was so much more! Service was great, with the waitstaff refilling our mimosas on the regular, in addition to their other attentions. I'd love to mention the very few things I'd like to see improved: There was an excellent singer in the buffet area, but we could not hear her in the seating area. Would love to see speakers playing near the tables. Not loud, of course. Also, it would be nice for some, as many already were, portions of food and deserts to be smaller. Most of the deserts were small, and I'm not sure how you could make cakes smaller, but it would have been fun to sample a couple of those. I did not want to take a full piece of cake, so I opted for a couple smaller things. The only other thing I can think of as far as improvements is to lose the chocolate fountain. I know some people love them, but they totally creep me out, not to mention, I saw one child get a marshmallow on a stick, dip it, and proceed to drip it back to her table. Can't blame the kid, as she didn't know it would do that. I just don't get that craze. Overall, what a delicious, fun, great experience! I would do this again, or just visit the restaurant for regular menu order. read more

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The service, food and ambiance were impeccable. We came for magical dining and it was nothing short of amazing. The "fried chicken" entree was seasoned perfect and had the right amount of breading. The oxtail empanadas were juicy and flavorful. I got the beignets were hot and made fresh to order! Amazing food! read more

Aurora At The Celeste - Fried chicken - American Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Bite30 here was simply divine. This was my first visit ever! The ambiance is out of this world... literally! The theming of the restaurant revolves around space/the galaxy and they did a fab job. Menu Items Tried *Wagyu beef sliders (hit the spot and cooked perfectly... paired so well with the crispy fries) *Black garlic fresh pasta (to die for) *Warm bread pudding (with ice cream!!!!) I'm telling you that this is one place you need to add to your list of must-visit places! read more

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An awesome new experience!! I feel like most would be hesitant about a "hotel restaurant" but this place is AMAZING!!! My husband and I went on a Saturday night with a reservation expecting the place to be packed but we were happily surprised to see how it was so light within the restaurant (This Hotel/Restaurant is located on UCF property, and school is out for summer so this could be a reason why). Unfortunately due to what we assume was miscommunication between the host and our server, we were not greeted by a server until 20 minutes after we were brought to our table. But the food absolutely made up for it!! They had a wide array of cocktail choices. Loved that everything was astrological and space themed. Really great food presented well. Absolutely not a cheap meal by any means, but you are 100% paying for top quality! Would have 100% been 5 stars if we didn't have to wait so long for water. Will absolutely be back! read more

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My husband and I ventured to the other side of town to celebrate our anniversary at Aurora, and it did not disappoint! We went specifically for the Bite30 menu, which features three courses for $30 pp. This is an incredible deal at this restaurant specifically since most of their main entrees alone are normally around the $30 range. If you're not familiar with the Bite30 promotion (Orlando's 60 day restaurant week), you can check out bite30.com for the list of participating restaurants and the prix fixe menus they have available through August 1st. Aurora is located inside the Celeste Hotel on UCF's campus, and they have their own free parking lot, so parking was a breeze. You enter through the hotel lobby and immediately see the gorgeous lobby bar & lounge area. All the staff we encountered were very friendly and welcoming! I started with the Galaxy cocktail, which is made with Empress gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, champagne, and edible glitter -- SO FUN! It was delish -- bubbly and not to sweet. Plus, I love the color that comes from the purple Empress gin. For the first course, we opted for the Heirloom Tomato salad and the Parmesan Truffle Arancini. My husband let me try a bite of his arancini and it was phenom! There was definitely no denying the gorgeous plating and presentation of the heirloom tomato dish. At first, I was disappointed by the portion size since it only had a few small tomatoes on the plate, but it was packed with flavor and by the end of the meal, I was thankful that I had such a light starter because I was absolutely stuffed! Yes, my eyes are always bigger than my stomach. For the second course, I went with the Black Garlic Fresh Pasta and the hubs opted for the Char Grilled NY Strip. That pasta was HEAVEN! I am obsessed with fresh homemade pasta, and it was cooked perfectly. I could have bathed in that white wine cream sauce. And the mushrooms... *chef's kiss*. My husband also enjoyed his steak, but we both agreed -- mine was better, haha! We barely had room for dessert, but we didn't let that stop us. We went with the Coconut Milk Rice Pudding and the Warm Bread Pudding. Both were very satisfying, and I appreciate the unique take on the rice pudding dish with, again, a beautiful presentation. I do prefer my rice pudding to be a bit more moist and not as dense as this one was, so I'd probably opt for the key lime pie next time. But all in all, it was a fabulous evening with great service and delicious food -- definitely worth the trip! Don't miss out on the amazing Bite30 deal while it lasts! read more

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