My nail place is right across the street, and I kept thinking I’d drop in one day after I got my nails did, but it was always far too early. I knew it would have to be a non-manicure day. After a long week, I treated myself.
The Parking: The center the restaurant is located in can get busy. There are a couple of dedicated parking spots for Coro, which were already secured by the time I arrived. There are a few generic parking spots available. As busy as it gets, unless there’s a market in the lot, I’ve always managed to find parking.
The Atmosphere: I expected a very uppity, fine dining experience. I found the space and staff very inviting, relaxed, and welcoming. The restaurant’s layout is intriguing. Walking in, there is a host stand next to a little 3-seat bar, where I sat. For a small space, there were plenty of tables, almost all of which had a view of the open kitchen concept.
The kitchen had the operation down pat. With a few folks prepping, others cooking on the stove and oven, and another adding the final touches. It was like watching a beautiful, thrilling dance. And the staff was so attentive and helpful. Basically, I had an impromptu sample set experience based on their recommendations.
The Meal: I started with a glass of wine. Just a glass. I didn’t see options for cocktails, just mocktails. Otherwise, I’d have tried one. One of the lovely staff, I believe his name was David, the wine guy, chose a great, refreshing, crisp white. I mentioned I’m a cab girl, and he gave me a Sirah to try, which was delicious. I just needed to start with something lighter. And it was the right move. As soon as I ordered, I saw there was a seasonal wine flight list, so of course I got that too. He set me up with a Sattlerhof, 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, a 2024 Chateau Vannieres Bandol Rose, and a 2019 Barlow Barrouge Red. I only know this cause I took a pic, I’m not a wine expert, but I enjoyed them all.
On the food side, because I needed it with all the wine. I wanted to try almost everything. Even though the restaurant vibe is not as fancy prancy, the prices and the dishes for sure are. Be warned, it’s pricy and has smaller portions. Based on the staff’s recommendations, I opted for two from the ever-evolving raw, 1 from the always-creating warm, and of course, ended with one sweet(ish) dish off the menu. All that had me just a tad bit on the uncomfortable side of full.
They started me off with a first bite, which was surprising. Surprising because it was so simple. What seemed like leftovers that could have easily been tossed, they created into something insanely flavorful. Quite literally bits of toasted breadcrumbs. With some type of foam sauce. I was blown away. And then I had my first of the raw dishes, the red snapper & royal red shrimp with aguachile and plantain chips. If you like ceviche, this is a Mexican-style dish that is very similar. It was spicy and bright, with a sweetness from the shrimp and plantain, which also added a nice little crisp crunch. I may need to learn how to make this. I could have had a whole big batch of it.
Next up was the highly recommended aged beef, koshihikari, kohlrabi with nori. I won’t lie, as much of a foodie as I am, beef tartar has always scared me. I’ve never had it before. Although a bit nervous, having rice and nori to make hand rolls made it so much more approachable. Basically, sushi. One small thing I do have to call out is that there was a lil dead fly on my greens. I get with produce, it can happen. I was just a bit surprised and bummed seeing how attentive they were in the kitchen. Aside from that mishap, this dish was so delicious. Got me over my raw beef fear.
For the warm dish, I went with the tilefish, which came with fregola and charred tomato. I’ve never had tilefish, many firsts during this meal, and I was happy with it. The flavor was how I like my fish, more mild and buttery. It was firm, which gave it a meaty bite with a delicious crispy skin. Fregola, another food I haven’t had, is very similar to couscous in shape, texture, and taste. It paired well with the fish. The charred tomatotes were a risk with my acid reflux, but the tomato, fregola, olive oil blend was so simply delicious. Reminded me of a beautiful, fresh meal that could be had in Italy.
And finally… Dessert. A few options caught my eye. To narrow it down, I took one last recommendation and went for the strawberry crostata with cream cheese ice cream. A deconstructed pie à la mode is what this reminded me of. A very simple dish. I could have made this myself, but I would never have had the creativity to do so. The cream cheese flavor was subtle and creamy. I’m an ice cream gal, so I enjoyed it. Can’t really go wrong there. Would have enjoyed much more. Otherwise, it was a bowl of strawberries with some shortcrust pastry broken up. A simple, light end to a delicious meal. Oh, but not done yet! There was a last bite. The end of the meal was actually a tiny piece of decadent pound cake with the perfect whipped cream. A bowl of that whipped cream would have been appreciated along with the strawberries.
I was beyond pleased and full after this meal. My wallet was set back a pretty penny as well. Definitely a special occasion, or brighten up your day after a crappy week kind of meal. I would love to have this as a regular rotation spot if I could afford it. With a few folks, splitting a few dishes would be fiscally more responsible. If I’m lucky, I’ll end up here again!
Rating: 9.4/10
Address: 3022 Corrine Street, Orlando, FL 32803
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