In this episode of “Restaurants on the Radar,” host Brendan O’Connor shows you his favorite hot spots for picture-perfect plates.

Go on a scavenger hunt for a secret cookie spot and head to Lake Nona for an innovative twist on an eye-catching dish. Here are this weeks restaurants in Orlando that will make you feel like you’re eating a work of art.

Orlando restaurants featured in this episode:  

Phat Ash Bakes

• 📍Mills 50
• Website: phatashbakes.com
• Phat Ash Bakes Facebook Page
• Phat Ash Bakes Instagram

The first stop is a sweet secret. Tucked behind a grilled cheese restaurant in the Mills 50 District you’ll find Phat Ash Bakes. The speakeasy serves up small-batch cookies from scratch. Owner Ashley D’Acunto crafts some of the craziest and most eye-catching cookie combinations in the city. We recommend the “Sunday Funday” or the “Blingin’ Big Boy” for those who love a solid peanut butter and chocolate combination.

Phat Ash Bakes does mostly online orders but they do have walk-up hours every Friday from 2 pm-7 pm. The cookie shop in Orlando also offers limited classes where you can craft your own flavor combos. Make sure you follow Phat Ash on social media to find more information.

Bac’an

• 📍Lake Nona
• Website:lakenonawavehotel.com/restaurants-lake-nona/bacan
• Bac’an Facebook Page

Located inside the highly innovative Wave hotel in Lake Nona is the Bac’an restaurant. The dishes served here are truly a feast for your eyes and your stomach. Chef Guilaume Robin checks all the boxes with his transcontinental menu.

Watch as Brendan learns how to make a few of the vibrant dishes on the menu including the grilled octopus with smoked feta cheese, and chimichurri finished with a sprinkle of black olive dust. In true innovative and artistic fashion, the dishes are brought to the table by “Rosie the Robot.”

Ice & Bites

• 📍 Neighborhood: University Blvd
• Website: icenbitesorlando.wixsite.com/iceandbites
• Ice & Bites Facebook Page

Another sweet stop in the UCF area is Ice & Bites. Known for its beautiful presentation and soju-based cocktails, the cafe in Orlando offers unique items you can’t find anywhere else in the city.

Brendan gets a quick lesson on how to concoct the “Midnight Dream” soju-based cocktail topped with a fluffy cloud of cotton candy. The treats are just as eye-catching. The Chicken Taiyaki is a tower of crispy fried chicken inside a fish-shaped waffle cone. The entire menu at Ice & Bites Cafe is definitely worthy of your Instagram feed.

Salt and the Cellar

• 📍 Neighborhood: Kissimmee
• Website:  saltandthecellar.com

Located in the main level of the ette hotel in Orlando, Salt and the Cellar by Akira Back is all about presentation. Complete with a salt sommelier and a lush herb garden on site, the restaurant in Kissimmee provides an unforgettable experience.

The cocktail program is also a little outside the box. The dry bar serves alcohol-free concoctions. Mixologist Dilon Tomisend shows Brendan how to make the “Out of the Woods” drink, complete with a little mound of dirt. Then head to the kitchen to see how Michelin Star Chef Alex Mayfield invents all his beautiful plates.

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