Fine Dining Restaurants near Sanford, FL

“I would recommend this place to anyone. I am looking forward to going back.“

“This has been one of our favorite restaurants for years and the experience was no different this time. The service and food was spot on. Did not realize it was the last day of magical dining and the place was packed on a Tuesday evening. That did not change the great service or food. This is one of the most consistent restaurants around.“

“My wife and I are definitely foodies. We have been to some of the best restaurants in town, and the Lake Mary Social has been on our list to try for over a year. We finally got to try it about a month ago, and unfortunately, I believe we hit on an off night. To their credit, however, the management reached out to me and my wife (almost immediately after hearing about our concerns) in an attempt to make things right. This is the mark of excellent leadership. I applaud the owners and management for their outstanding customer service. It is clear that they have a passion for what they do and for the customers who dine at their restaurant. In their attempt to make things right, we were invited back for a meal with the intention of showing us what The Lake Mary Social is supposed to be. They succeeded. The atmosphere was fantastic and the service was excellent. Overall, the character of the restaurant is very well executed. They have done a lot of positive things with the space. As soon as you walk through the door, you are transported to a 1920’s style, fine-dining establishment that is a far cry from the old and seemingly run-down shopping center in which it is located. They have truly elevated themselves above their surroundings and do a phenomenal job of allowing their patrons to escape and lose themselves in what I would describe as a “bubble of class.” My wife and I started with a yellowfin tuna tartare that was so incredibly balanced in all five palatable flavors it seamlessly blended the sweet, salty, bitter, umami, and even a punch of sour from the occasional hint of diced kiwi. For the entrees, my wife had the prime filet mignon which was cooked to perfection. I sampled it and could literally cut it with a butter knife. The seasoning was superbly sparse— not overpowering the natural flavor of the prime beef but rather enhancing it. The dish was finished with a mix of flawlessly executed, al dente, roasted vegetables. Each bite had just the right amount of crunch, and when paired every so often with the juices from the steak, creates a perfect palatal experience. I had the chicken cordon bleu. The chicken was moist, flavorful, and balanced incredibly well with the smokiness of the ham and the savoriness of the bleu cheese. The chicken sat upon a generous, but not overpowering bed of pommes puree. The unifying force behind this dish was the clearly scratch-made béchamel sauce. This sauce was the creamy, savory link that brought the aforementioned flavors into exquisite unity. Dessert was a strawberry basil panna cotta and a banana pudding. My wife had the panna cotta and I had the pudding. Each of us believed that our selection was the best of the two, but the truth is that they were both excellent choices. I do think; however, that I have to give a leg-up to the panna cotta. It checked all the panna cotta boxes: texture, flavor, and balance. It was light and fluffy yet firm, fruity and minty yet not too sweet, and overall wonderfully refreshing. Our meal at The Lake Mary Social was delectable from start to finish. Based on this meal, I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a fine-dining experience in the Central Florida area.“