We accidentally ended up at Ovation Bistro thanks to our GPS choosing chaos... and honestly, I hope it continues to mislead me like this forever. The second we walked in, the smell hit me like, "Cancel your goals. You live here now." Smoky, delicious, slightly illegal levels of good. We were greeted and seated by a super nice guy who said, "Patrick will be right with you." Two minutes later... Patrick shows up. Five minutes later... Patrick brings drinks. Ten minutes later... Patrick brings food. At some point I leaned over to Ross and whispered, "Where is the original guy?? Did Patrick eat him??" Nope. SAME MAN. Sir is host, server, possibly chef, and I'm 90% sure he rotated the earth slightly to speed up our service. Patrick sold me on the Prime Rib sandwich like a seasoned car salesman and I folded immediately. Ross got the loaded smokehouse sandwich because he likes to pretend he makes responsible decisions. The food came out fast and looking disrespectfully good. I blacked out somewhere between bite one and "I should stop." I did not stop. I have no regrets. My diet has filed a missing persons report. And let's circle back to Patrick--this man has the energy of three employees, a double espresso, and unresolved childhood dreams. I want whatever he's having. I would follow him into battle... or at least back for dessert. As The Terminator once said, "I'll be back." Mostly because I found out Patrick works Wednesday-Saturday... and apparently those are now my "nutritional delusion" days. Would 100% trust my GPS to ruin my plans again. read more

Ovation Bistro & Bar - Bars Near Me - Winter Haven, Florida

Food: excellent! Had the grilled chicken sandwich which was great. Burger, same. Fries. STUPENDOUS! I don't know what they put on them, but they were great. Ambience: we ate outside as we had our pups. Nice space. Service: pretty good considering. Our waitress was alone. ALONE. I'm not blaming her for slow service, but management for not providing her with enough back up. Please give her help. Otherwise this would have been a solid 5. read more

Ovation Bistro & Bar - Chicken sandwich with fries. - Bars Near Me - Winter Haven, Florida

Well tonight's dinner didn't turn out so good. The steak I ordered as medium turned out to be rare. The sour cream for the baked potato was truly sour so it ruined the potato. So much for tonight's meal. read more

Ovation Bistro & Bar - Ribeye steak too raw. - Bars Near Me - Winter Haven, Florida

It's a quiet restaurant/ full bar. They have appetizers for happy hour and the drinks are really good. The food is good. Mike, the bartender is really funny and nice. They have tables for groups and families. Dress is casual to dressy, your choice. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming. They have a few tvs in bar area. Happy hour daily what is special menu for food choices. Atmosphere is welcoming and relaxing. read more

Go out of your way to come here!!! This was our third time here (first two times because of Spartan and Legoland). This place is so good, we adjusted our departure time and route just to eat here again! The service is perfect and everything thing we've had to eat has been top notch. Steak wedge salad, ribs, brisket sandwich are all amazing. And don't forget to load up on the sides. Mac n cheese with the crust, baked beans in a sweet sauce, and Brussels done right. Read no further, just go! read more

Patrick was our host snd server and boy did he do a great jib! this guy was amazing! service and food is phenomena! Just like Arnold "We will be back!" read more

Ovation Bistro & Bar - Bars Near Me - Winter Haven, Florida

Food is very mid. Service has always been slow. Drink refills are hit or miss. Wanted to love this place. Multiple locations, gave it many chances since it is Vet-owned. When something sucks, it is what it is. read more

The service was impeccable, attentive without being intrusive. Our waiter Lucas was amazing. Offered suggestions! Drinks and appetizers came, drinks perfect from the bar, appetizers hot from the kitchen, we had shrimp explosion, a little spicy, great starter. Warm bread and soft butter arrived. Salads came. Meal followed, had Wilbur's tribute, 2 4 oz tenderloins perfectly cooked and seasoned, hubby had ribs also perfect. Dessert was really not necessary but curiosity got the best of me. And it also did not disappoint Bistro Brownie sundae. Take the time check it out, you will not be disappointed read more

I honestly think they boil their prime rib. Service on the bar side was excellent. Ambiance was good.

Amanda is an excellent server!! The food was great! Ovation is a wonderful restaurant to visit with family and friends!

We Love Ovation, especially b/c of Patrick! He makes our visits extra special! Aside from that, we LOVE the salad dressing and the artisan salad! The meats are delicious as well! But honestly, Patrick is THE best part! read more

August 11th, Cypress Gardens, Winterhaven Fl. We had the prime rib, perfectly cooked, hubby had sweet and tangy Salmon, again perfectly cooked and seasoned. The waitress was very kind, helpful and a joy. My only complaint about this location is the amount of cobwebs, dust on all the borders on the walls. The ceiling fan, which I'm happy to say. Was not running. The amount of dust on it was horrible. I recommend your establishment always. The food, service and great atmosphere,,but I would appreciate maybe a deep cleaning. read more

The food was absolutely superb, a little ways of a trip, but definitely worth it. We had lamb chops and French onion soup. Hubby had potato skins and baby back ribs. Wish they were closer to Poinciana, but I probably will return. Service was so on point too BTW! 5 star all the way!!! Also a nice little romantic getaway! read more

We would like to commend you on your skill in hiring your staff such as Dayia. Dayia was not only personable and highly attentive but made helpful suggestions to our group. She made our evening pleasant with her speedy and efficient service. We will surely recommend this restaurant for its good food and its delightful waitress! The table of six "not so easy to please" people! read more

Erin was our server. We sat outside on the "patio" which is in the strip mall parking lot because it was cold inside. It took a while for service once we sat, once we ordered drinks and apps, once we ordered entrees, and once we got the check. Were they short-staffed? I don't know. Margaritas were so-so. bbq flat bread was good. My Caesar salad was bland. I ordered a chicken and ribs combo. While ribs fell off the bone, the chicken was dry. Garlic mashed potatoes were okay. Medium well lamb chops were cooked well. Overall not what we expected in terms of service, ambiance or food quality based on other reviews. read more

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Rude AF Husband and I traveling all day. Found this place 20 minutes before it closed. Ran in and ask if we could get an order to go understanding people want to go home on time. Dude was rude and went to kitchen - never came back with answer. Allergic to success and money. If you close in 20 minutes what is the issue? Glad we found "Out and About " 10 minutes away great people and service there NOT here. read more

We went to the Ovation Bistro looking for a steak ,potato,and salad. We were not disappointed! The menu said meat was boldly seasoned so I asked them to put little on ours due to wanting a limit on salt. It came out delicious. The salad was fresh and the medium baked potato had butter and sour cream already applied. Our server was attentive and friendly. We also enjoyed the house Merlo.. just right for the table. read more

Patrick was a great waiter and he was spot on with all his recommendations! We started with the smoked wings medium, they were small compared to our buffalo wings but, they were excellent. I had the chicken and brisket which Patrick had said the brisket was excellent especially today and he wasn't wrong. Both were moist and no knife needed. Wife had the brisket sandwich and said it was excellent and so was the baked potato, my mom and sister split a full rack of ribs and they were fall off the bone. If we lived in the area we would come often! read more

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Convenient location in the store plaza area. Lots of parking for Friday night. It was busy. We went about 7 PM. The server was great and attentive. The menu had a big variety. We got the shrimp appetizer sauce with nice and spicy. The shrimps were large. I have the sirloin steak With garlic mash. My other side was a Caesar salad, which actually took the highlight of the menu. Nothing crazy but I enjoyed it. They had a decent wine selection. I got an Italian Pinot Noir that was enjoyable. The dessert menu was delicious. I had a pineapple upside down cake super simple lots of other classic dessert items on the menu. The spa is good for a first date or large group. I would definitely come back again. read more

Been here 3 times. The staff is okay. Sometimes they'll seat you promptly or may skip you. The ambiance is average. They have a full bar. Their drink specials are decent. But their food is usually not prepared as requested. Each time, others and myself have had issues. Imagine sitting at a table and 3 other tables are complaining about their food. From mold to uncooked food. This location struggles, whether it's busy or not. read more

From the outside, not sure what to expect as in the middle of a strip mall. Inside, the decor was nice. We had a great waitress that explained things well. The food was really good. I had brisket and ribs combo that was really tasty. We had a bowl of tomato basil soup that was also good. read more

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Wonderful food and atmosphere! Thank you Israel "Izzy" and Ashley for a wonderful experience! Can't wait to return!

I don't know what's going on with this place but you got the last dollar I will spend there. We drive 68 miles once to twice a week to eat here but not again. We drove up Sunday 9-21-25 set in the bar ordered drinks, got are drinks, then ordered dinner wife got a house salad, most of the lettuce was rotten, I got a Cesar salad , made with the same rotten lettuce that my wife got, I told the waitress that I ordered a Cesar salad she said I know , we are out of a lot of things including romaine lettuce, your 2 blocks away from Walmart they sale romaine lettuce! I canceled the salad order the ribs and brisket with extra brisket,what a joke when your paying this kind of money for extra brisket you need to take the fat off of it there was more fat then meat , ribs were dried out and brunt the waitresses don't give a dam and the cooks don't give a dam ,the food coming out of the kitchen has been going down lately but it has hit a all time low when I showed the waitress all the fat she just said I'm sorry but the kitchen staff don't care how food comes out. Owners you have problems here, I HAVE WATCHED THIS PLACE GO TO HELL I've only been eating here for about 19 months we drive from lake Placid but will not be making the drive anymore. read more

We were there on 11/17/25 and service was great. The shrimp appetizer was the best we ever had. Wife had the salmon and loved it. I had the full slab of baby back ribs, half was great but the other half was a crispy critter. We had a gift card for $25 which they failed to take off the bill. I called the manager who promised to get back to me. Its now 3 days and counting. read more

Everything went well! A nice restaurant in Winter Haven , about 30 minutes from Warner University in Lake Wales. I had their "Special Prime Rib", which was very good. Moderately priced menu, decent selection. Nice atmosphere, good service. I would return.. read more

This was the first place we ate at when we relocated to Lake Wales FL the service was superb of course moving from Miami 4 years ago I'm still adjusting to the Hospitality of everyone, not just this location it's the way of life in Polk County. read more

We searched for a nice restaurant on our way to Disney World from Port Charlotte and found Ovation. It was a Very Good Choice! First and foremost, Patrick. Or as we call him, The Man Patrick! We arrived shortly after opening, and he was about the only one serving and making cocktails, and he may have been greeting and seating some too. Anyway, he was doing all this while providing excellent service. Husband had the berry mojito and I had James peach cocktail. Both delicious. Husband had the Lamb shank, and he loved it. I had the potato skins with brisket. Very good. Son in law had a huge burger and daughter had the nachos with the brisket which they also had high praise for. The place was clean but I would say it is ready for a refresh and I think it would be really great Thank you for the hospitality Patrick we'll be back. read more

Great wings and fries. Good lunch specials to! Huge selection of deserts I had cheese cake it was amazing!

This place was exceptional! There is not a ton of places in this neck of the woods and I had to stay here overnight for work so I took a chance on this restaurant and boy was I lucky I stopped by. I sat at the bar and the server was super friendly Service was awesome. I ordered the salmon which started with the garden salad and came with a side and I chose to do the loaded baked potato. Wow!!! read more

Ovation Bistro & Bar - SPICY SWEET SALMON - Bars Near Me - Winter Haven, Florida

The food was delicious, prices are a little high, but like to be able to get a good steak close to our home!

First, the food was amazing. Perfect. Delicious. Flavorful. We went for lunch and the host greeted and seated us. We chose the hightop booths in the bar area, very happy we did so. Patrick took care of us, we ordered beers and reviewed the extensive menu. When he brought the beers (local brews), we reviewed our selections and followed a recommendation. Added the Lobster Bisque and it was worth it! Tremendous lobster flavor throughout. I had the lunch sirloin and wife had the BluCheese Wedge. Both were perfectly presented and full of flavor. Amazing sirloin for under $13. Nice crust on it, made to perfection. The Wedge was excellent, with a balsamic drizzle that at first makes you question the flavor combination but, upon first bite, makes you believe. Their "flat fries" deserve a mention: somewhere between a french fry and a potato chip, they have a barbecue flavor that goes well with the steak. Crispy and chewy at the same time, so much better than the usual "steak fries" that clutter so many other restaurants' presentations. I am not a fry fan, but these made me sit up and take notice. Highly recommend trying them. Bottom line: give Ovation a try - we went for lunch on a Friday when the crowds were thinner, they do get hugely busy for dinners on weekends. read more

Ovation Bistro & Bar - a man sitting at the bar - Bars Near Me - Winter Haven, Florida

Wonderful food!!! First time here - we sat out on the patio on a beautiful evening. They had a great musician playing oldies we loved. We all enjoyed the Margherita Flatbread, salads with dinner, three of us had the salmon which was top notch and my husband had the Imperial Tilapia lightly blackened Tilapia , topped with a huge U-10 scallop, 2 large shrimps, crab stuffing and lemon butter which he raved about. Definitely recommend and will be back. The waitress was attentive and the place had lots of patrons which proves how good this gem in Davenport is. read more

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Oh my & oh I really appreciated and enjoyed my birthday dinner there. Explosive flavor in your mouth would be mayjah for U as was 4 me. Broke da mouth read more

As steakhouses go this Ovation location will definitely give you what you expect. The staff was great, the food was equally delicious. I had the ribeye with a parmesan crumble crust and a loaded sweet potato, my wife ordered the lamb chops which she was kind enough to let me have a bite (don't worry I shared with her too). We also had the pretzel bread with beer cheese (which is good enough to return for alone) and the Brussels sprouts. No complaints! Why the 4 stars and not 5? The negatives; The patio tables are hard to keep clean and it shows. I pulled my fork from the napkin with a cooked gain of rice stuck in between the prongs. All in all; they took good care of us and addressed the minor issues quickly and efficiently with pleasant service. Food was all fantastic. Don't be afraid of the patio just make sure that the tables are cleaned. Definitely going back! read more

Everything went well! The food was delicious. I had the Chicken Ovation with sweet potato and broccoli; based on our server, Izzy's, recommendation. I was surprised how flavorsome my meal was. The Chicken Alfredo was tasty. The sauce was well made and the chicken was not at all dry. The server was attentive but also gave us the time we needed to visit. Ovations Bistro is an unassuming restaurant, a hidden gem! We will absolutely return. read more

Awesome lunch spot! We sat at a high top table in the bar. We were greeted right away by Patrick who was an excellent server with a fun personality. He explained the lunch specials on a separate menu and a Primetime Menu which highlights different items from their regular menu. For an appetizer, we enjoyed Explosive Shrimp, 8 large fried shrimp served with a spicy Boom Boom sauce over a bed of lettuce. Really tasty and perfect app. For our lunch choices we had Pork and Brisket Tacos, Steak Wedge Salad, Brisket Sandwich and a cup of Broccoli Cheddar soup. We all enjoyed our meals as you can see for yourself! We also had 2 for one Chardonnay, Merlot and Bud Light. We highly recommend Ovation! Clean restaurant and very clean restrooms. read more

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Went there for my wife's birthday. Excellent service people. They are very friendly. Drinks are good. Food is fantastic. I'll be back soon. Thank you. read more

Tried calling 6 times but no one ever answered. It was a Sunday afternoon. Review is based on service.

Atmosphere - Basic. Full disclosure, due to Covid, I will only dine at a restaurant that has outside seating. Although, I briefly walked inside to request a seating on the patio, I really did not take any notice of the inside. The restaurant is located in a strip mall and the patio is located in the front of the restaurant. As a result the view is that of the parking lot. There are about 5 four tops on the patio. Service - very good. Our server was pleasant and attentive. Food - Very good. The menu is fairly limited and lunch and dinner items are combined together. I ordered the brisket sandwich with a side of Mac N Cheese. Both were very good. The brisket was tender and flavorful. The roll was fresh. The Mac N Cheese was creamy and it was topped with some crust that added to the flavor. Overall Value - very good. The prices are reasonable and I would definitely return if/when in the area. read more

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Trying to find a place with outdoor seating in the area to meet friends and this place had good reviews so we tried it. We nabbed one of the shady tables outside when they first opened and were quickly greeted by our server. Drink orders came quickly. The menu has a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrees. We were there for lunch so we focused on sandwiches. I chose the BBQ Chicken Club with a side of fries. All my companions ordered the brisket sandwich. Food came in a timely manner and presentation was good. The sandwich was tasty, but the big chunks of chicken were hard to eat. It would have been much easier if they had been pounded thinner. The fries were nice and crispy and hot. Service was decent and sitting outside was nice except that cushions on those metal chairs would have been much better. read more

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