Leave it to me to wait until I move away from Orlando to discover one of the city’s best restaurants.
Last night, after a day of Jazzercising, my mom, sister and I drove to the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek to have dinner at deep blu seafood grille.
A few months ago, I received a press invite to enjoy dinner at the new restaurant and jumped at the chance to check out the upscale seafood grill once I did a little research of my own and saw that the restaurant got rave reviews from various online outlets and the menu looked incredible.
The restaurant itself is located inside the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, an impressive, absolutely gorgeous hotel located in the Disney-area of Orlando.
When we walked into the restaurant my mom, sister and I all commented on how classy and breathtaking the décor appeared.
It was upscale but still felt warm and inviting. I’m so glad we arrived when it was still daylight outside because the place seemed to glow and our table had beautiful views of the hotel grounds.
We were seated immediately and welcomed by our knowledgeable and friendly waiter, Francisco. After taking our drink orders, we were given an amuse-bouche from the chef that was so innovative and delicious. Check it out:
We were told to remove the “infuser” from the top of the salmon and mango and squeeze the sauce over the bite which was so fun. We all agreed that if our meals tasted even half as good as that little sample, we were in for a treat.
When Francisco delivered our drinks, my mom, sister and I all fell in love with a cocktail called the mango-delicious.
The drink included Cruzan mango rum, mango and passion fruit puree and fresh Florida orange juice topped with sparkling wine. So refreshing!
At the urging of Francisco, we decided to split the crab cake appetizer when he assured us that it was nearly all crab meat. I am so, so picky with crab cakes and hate it when they’re packed with breading, so I had high hopes for the crab cake that Francisco talked up so much.
He didn’t mislead us. It was hands-down the best crab cake I’ve ever had. It was overflowing with crab and seasoned perfectly. No wonder this is the dish that won the restaurant several awards! To me, the best chefs keep seafood simple and use limited ingredients to highlight fish or shellfish in a way that takes it to another level. Incredible!
We also shared three raw oysters that came with a trio of sauces, including a red wine, mango and cocktail sauce.
This shellfish-lovin’ girl was in heaven! I haven’t had raw oysters in a while because I am a little weary of the texture (as a child I apparently loved them!) but I’m glad I gave raw oysters another shot last night because the oysters, when paired with the sauces, were great.
As we were finishing up our appetizers, freshly baked bread with eggplant butter and roasted garlic butter was delivered to our table.
I’m such a sucker for doughy bread with butter and this bread was on point. I wanted to eat the whole loaf but knew I had to save room for my main meal.
For my entrée, I ordered the ivory salmon, a white-fleshed king salmon with succulent green beans and carrots.
Prior to last night, I never knew there was such a thing as a white salmon, but I’m glad I tried it because it was out of this world. Francisco explained that when you order fish or steak at Deep Blu, you get to pick and choose how you’d like it prepared and what sauce you’d like to accompany the fish or meat from a variety of choices. I ended up having my ivory salmon “cedar baked” which allowed the fish to take on some of the flavor from the cedar plank. I chose lemon butter as my sauce and it was out of this world.
I must also give a shout out to my mom’s pan seared wild Alaskan halibut, served with malted black bean sauté, mango confetti and greens.
I loved her dinner!
My mom, sister and I also shared a side of bue crab macaroni and cheese.
Look at all the crab!
I think the mac and cheese put me over the edge, because I was so, so full after eating all of that creamy, cheesy pasta. I couldn’t stop because it was too good!
Before we were done for the evening, the chef surprised our table with a dessert sampler platter that included three mini crème brulees, a chocolate mousse torte and a key lime tart with mango caviar.
Mango caviar!? Yep! The yellow balls on top of the key lime tart absolutely exploded with mango flavor. I’ve never seen anything like it!
My favorite dessert of the evening was the crème brulee which also appears to be their most popular dessert, as I saw several guests nearby order it as well.
Our dinner at Deep Blu was truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. From the ambiance of the restaurant to the incredibly warm and friendly staff and the melt-in-your-mouth fresh and flavorful food, I was in heaven!
My mom, sister and I left raving about our experience and I cannot wait to come back with Ryan for an anniversary or something special. It was the perfect end to such a fun mother/daughter weekend!
Thank you so much to Deep Blu for such a memorable night!
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what a classy restaurant! i love all the decor. and ohhh my, that mac ‘n cheese looks to die for. love your new dress too! 😉
Wow! That looks SO delicious! SO.FREAKING.DELICIOUS!
I am seriously considering hopping on a plane to Orlando and going straight there!
I’m the same way about crab cakes! Next time you ever pass through Baltimore I have some great recommendations for crab cake restaurants! I hate filler and love it when the meat falls apart… that one you got looks so yummy (so does the whole meal!). So glad you had a fun time this weekend and I agree with Ashley, LOVE the dress!
I have loved reading about this fun weekend for the three of you! That must have been a perfect mini-vacation. 🙂
Wow looks awesome! The atmosphere makes all the difference!
That food looks amazing! Is your pink dress from a cut above boutique? I’ve been thinking about ordering it ever since I saw the boutique on your post this weekend. It is super cute!
Ohhhh man…that dessert platter! I’d be in heaven 🙂 I completely agree with you on crabcakes, too…I hate it when they’re filled with breading, so I can only imagine how incredible that one was!
Love the disposable pipet on top of the amuse bouche:) I had no idea anyone would think to use them in that way but cool idea.
Looks phenomenal!!
Love it!! I love visiting new, creative restaurants. Glad you guys had such an incredible time!!
Oh that looks like a classy, great place! And that food sounds SOO yummy!
Eggplant butter?! Say WHAT?
oh wow! All that food looks pretty amazing! Glad you had a great time!
That place looks great! If I ever end up on the other side of the country in Florida, I will try to remember to check it out… I love me some good seafood!
I’m drooling over your review! I knew it would be amazing once I saw the bread!
so yum! and great hotel! we stayed there when we ran the Disney half in January!
Looks amazing! I’d settle for just the bread! lol And love the new dress! 🙂
that meal sounds incredible! what a fun weekend with your mom and sis 🙂
That restaurant looks great! The “infuser” is such an interesting concept, Iv’e never seen anything similar before.
I am absolutely in love the the decor and the beautiful presentaion of the foo! It all looks so gorgeous and delicious too of course! 🙂 I’m blad you and your family had fun!
Oh myyy I was going to comment about how I’d love to try that little appetizer and fresh bread! But then all this fish and oyster started to pop up, and they’re all my fave foods. What a great time with your mom and sis!
Wow, that restaurant looks incredible! Definitely the perfect way to end the weekend!
I love mango caviar! We actually call it Boba at Red Mango (FroYo), but I get it every time I get FroYo, even if the flavors don’t mesh. LOL
oh. em. gee. that dinner experience looks incredible! what a wonderful night to share with your mom and sister!
Wow that crab mac & cheese looks to die for…and that’s not a phrase I throw around lightly. 🙂
Wow! What an incredible restaurant! All of that food looks fantastic! Such a nice picture of you, your mom and you sister!
Wow, all of that looks delicious! I want that crab cake… and that mango cocktail… ok and the mac & cheese too! Yummmm.
OH my god that mac and cheese!!! Looks like you had such a fun girls night!
Wow, looks amazing! That’s one of the bad things about living in Chicago– not a lot of fresh seafood!!
They have those juice balls at the fro-yo place by my house. I love the flavor they add. Had to get over the whole popping them in my mouth thing… but once I did I’m addicted!
I will be going to Florida soon and that will be on my must list!! I saw on FoodNetwork where a chef took a cherry tomato and mozzarella and skewered them on one of the infusers that was filled with evoo and balsamic. Then you would put it in your mouth and squeezed the infuser into your mouth as you bite off the tomato and motz!
We have tried deep blu a few times and love it. You have to ask for Chef Cory to visit your table next time you dine there. Chef Cory is cute and will make any specialty that you may want.
Food and Service are well worth the price. A pleasant surprise for a Hotel restaurant in Orlando.
Dinner looks amazing! is that your new dress?
Love the new dress! Did you try the Crabcake? I heard this is really good.
My boyfriend is too cheap to take me somewhere this nice. He probably wouldn’t even tip the waiter!
Omg that restaurant is beautiful!! I’d love to spend an afternoon there!
Are those mango caviar balls like the things they have for toppings at Menchie’s and other fro yo places??? Have you seen those before? They look like the same thing, but I could be wrong 🙂
I have not been to a restaurant this good in orlando yet. And the fact that it is in the Brand new Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek and not a stand alone is even more amazing. I have been to so many hotel restaurants and paid top dollar only to be disappointed. The fresh seafood, crab cakes, and the genius, creative and cute Chef Cory is amazing. He comes up with different specials every night and the menu is always changing to make sure the freshest seafood is served. Love it!!!!
ahh I want that drink!