There are anniversary dinners that mark another year together, and then there are evenings that remind you exactly why celebrating love still matters. During our anniversary stay at Waldorf Astoria Orlando, my husband Sebastian and I were treated with such warmth and genuine care that the entire weekend felt wrapped in romance. That feeling followed us into Bull & Bear, the resort’s award-winning signature restaurant, where an elegant dinner became one of the most memorable parts of our celebration.
From the moment we arrived, we felt recognized—not simply as guests with a reservation, but as a couple celebrating something meaningful. The attention was personal without ever feeling rehearsed, and the service carried the rare combination of precision and heart. We were treated like gold, yet every thoughtful interaction felt natural.
The dining room has the polished warmth of a private club, with rich details, intimate lighting and beautiful views overlooking the resort’s pool and golf course. It is sophisticated without becoming intimidating, creating the kind of atmosphere where you instinctively slow down, settle into your chair and realize there is nowhere else you need to be.
That leisurely pace is part of the magic. Bull & Bear is renowned for its personalized service and tableside presentations, transforming dinner from a meal into a performance designed specifically for the people seated at the table. Experienced sommeliers are also available to guide guests through wine pairings, adding another layer to an already carefully curated experience. The restaurant has been named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the United States, and its reputation rests as much on hospitality as it does on its cuisine.
The menu reimagines the traditional steakhouse through elevated ingredients, creative presentations and a little culinary theater. Signature beginnings include the famous Pasta Explosion with Pata Negra de Bellota and Parmigiano Reggiano, Wagyu carpaccio with shaved truffles, tuna tartare Niçoise and steak tartare au poivre. Guests can also begin with a tableside Caesar salad for two or the beautifully composed Tomato, made with heirloom cherry tomatoes, burrata, arugula, white balsamic caviar and basil foam.
Naturally, the steaks command attention. The selections include filet mignon, a 15-ounce New York strip, a dry-aged Delmonico and a 16-ounce prime ribeye. Couples looking to share the moment can choose the Chateaubriand for Two or the dramatic 38-ounce, dry-aged Tomahawk for Two. The Bull & Bear Carving Board turns dinner into a feast with tomahawk steak, the restaurant’s celebrated fried chicken, Maine lobster tail and two sides.
Yet Bull & Bear reaches well beyond the classic steakhouse experience. The menu also features pan-seared sea bass with wild mushrooms, squash, Champagne beurre blanc and caviar; Colorado lamb with a pepita crust and Bull & Bear mole; a double-cut Spanish Iberico pork chop; and scampi prepared with Key West shrimp, diver scallop, agnolotti and guajillo scampi butter. Even the sides feel indulgent, from lobster macaroni and cheese and creamed corn to a lavish baked potato crowned with caviar, Jamón Ibérico de Bellota and gold leaf.
Dessert deserves its own celebration. Curated by Executive Pastry Chef Franck Riffaud, the offerings include the restaurant’s signature Lemon, crème brûlée flambé with hidden dark chocolate crème, a Valrhona Chocolate Bar and the Ring of Yuzu, layered with yuzu mousse, strawberry ganache, basil sponge and crisp meringue. For guests who want the evening to end with a flourish, the Vanilla Experience folds a personally selected Peruvian vanilla bean into house-churned ice cream, while La Fraise features strawberry shortcake and liquid-nitrogen strawberry ice cream prepared tableside. There is even a milk-chocolate hazelnut crunch cake served with a Bull & Bear espresso martini, a finale worthy of lingering over.
But what Sebastian and I will remember most is how Bull & Bear made us feel. Luxury can be found in beautiful surroundings and exquisite food, but true hospitality lives in the details: the warm welcome, the unhurried attention and the feeling that the people caring for you understand why the evening matters.
After 18 years of marriage, our anniversary was not simply about looking back. It was about pausing long enough to appreciate the life we continue to build together. Waldorf Astoria Orlando made our entire stay feel special, and Bull & Bear gave us the kind of dinner that becomes part of a couple’s story. For one elegant evening, we were not merely celebrating at Bull & Bear. We were celebrated, and that made all the difference.
If You Go:
Bull & Bear is located inside Waldorf Astoria Orlando at 14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane in Orlando. The restaurant is open daily from 6 to 10 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended, and sophisticated attire is required. For reservations and more information, visit https://www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/dining/bull-and-bear/ or call 407-597-5413.
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