Went out on a limb and tried Orange Crate Cafe. One look at the menu and i knew 8 had to try this place. Everything looked amazing as well as being very reasonably priced.Pulling up to the restaurant i noticed that they had a decent sized outdoor seating area, great for the more pleasant days, and a place to bring your pooch. The inside reminded me of the old Florida Cracker style. It was a little confusing if i needed to take a seat to order or go to the counter to order.I ordered the grilled buffalo chicken salad with olives and pepperoncini, with an unsweetened tea. The total came to $14.98, pretty reasonable for the area. The chicken by itself was juicy and very flavorful. It was fantastic! I'll definitely be coming back here, and soon!Dietary restrictions: I loved the fact the had a lot of grilled options.
J T.
Delicious home cooked meals served here. Great atmosphere and outstanding service. We will definitely return.
Carrie S.
Husband wanted chicken and waffles so we walked over here because the photos about 1 year ago shows that item. To our disappointment these are from the previous owner and no longer served here. Maybe bring it back? We still had a very good meal here. Chicken salad sandwich with soup is perfect amount of food and I loved the taste of that chicken salad. Husband got the chicken strips instead with medium spicy. He loved it and finished the entire plate. The staff was very friendly and came over to check on us several times. Great service.
Jason Taylor
Decided to try out Orange Crate Café. We’d been to the predecessor as well (Fat Mike’s Hot Chicken), and some remnants still remain with the interior decor. We walked in the side entrance and thought it was still counter service. Instead, we received a friendly greeting and asked to sit wherever we liked.Our server, Sarah, came over with menus and took our drink order. Soft drinks are single serve bottles, but refills for iced tea and water. We looked over the variety of options, from salads and wraps to entrees and kids meals. The menu has a lot of options as a “home cooked meal” type of place, but lacks the cohesion that a simpler, pared down menu could provide.Ordered the fried mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. They came out hot and crispy with 5 in an order with a warm marinara sauce for dipping.For the meal, kids asked for the fried chicken tenders with okra, and the grilled cheese with French fries. They each ate most of the meal with the younger taking home some leftover tenders for later. The server noticed the grilled cheese was maybe a tad over toasted, but that’s they way the kiddo actually like it.Wife ordered the shrimp tacos that was topped with pineapple salsa, lettuce, and tomato and a side of sweet potato fries. Liked that the taco shell was toasted. Shrimp were nicely seasoned and plump.I ordered the fried catfish plate with okra, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Catfish was nicely breaded but needed some salt. Coleslaw was roughly chopped, and while I may prefer shredded or finely diced slaw, it provided a nice creamy (non-fried) side dish. Asked for a side of remoulade as well, but it was a very unique sauce. More like a hot sauce than a remoulade.Overall, food was good and just about everyone finished their plate. Price (before tip) for a family of 4 was $56. When we try a place for the first time, we order more than we might usually (appetizer or dessert, for example). So we could trim it down a bit if needed. They have rotating daily special entrees and desserts (blackberry cobbler tonight). Several regulars were inside when we were there too. Servers were friendly and attentive, even covering outside diners too. We will definitely come back again soon.
Eric K.
We hadn't visited this location in its previous incarnations, but we finally went with some friends who recommended the new Orange Crate Cafe. We all shared the Buffalo Shrimp starter, which had big shrimp drenched in deliciously spicy (but not too spicy) sauce. I ordered the Buffalo Bleu Chicken Sub as my entree. I didn't order a side ($3 extra) because I didn't want to spend the additional money and we were going to order dessert anyway. The sub ended up being really big on super fresh baked bread. It was all fantastic and mouth-watering. We saved room for dessert because our friends recommended the cobblers, even though we don't normally order dessert out. I thought we were each getting our own, so my partner ordered the blueberry one and I ordered the peach. They were HUGE. OMG. Naturally, I ate it all, though, and we sampled one another's. The peach ended up being my favorite, although both were amazing (and should be for $7). The service was great. The atmosphere indoors felt a little too casual/quick service for a sit-down restaurant. I would have liked to have a bit more separation between the dining room and the registers/counter to make it more of an experience. We'd return, though, and try their outdoor seating, too.
Kristen M.
As soon as I heard the Christian music playing, I instantly wanted to love this place. While the service was great and personal, I just didn't find the food to be that special. The best items by far were the sweet potato fries and the green beans. The fries were perfectly cooked with a light crunchy finish with a soft interior. They had a slightly sweet taste. A special sauce would have rounded these out to perfection. The green beans were like my Mom's with onion and bacon. The shrimp tacos relied on a spicy boom boom sauce for flavor. While fresh, the flour tortilla with lettuce, tomato and canned pineapple with blackened shrimp was tasteless. The boom boom sauce came from a bottle. I'm hoping for original food profiles and prep when dining out, not items that came from cans or bottles without being enhanced. Despite being busy, the service was very attentive and friendly. Gluten-free and Low FODMAP options are very limited. Salads may be your best bet. Bottled sodas available, but no fountain beverages. There are so many strong dining options in Winter Garden that this unfortunately won't be floating to the top.
Kevin M.
I want this place to succeed but the competition is stiff so you must be special and the food was really just average. That said ...Service was perfect. Fast, friendly, attentive and even a bit funny. Indoor/outdoor dining options. It was clean and comfortable. The menu even had kid options.My tuna melt was made perfectly. Well toasted with fresh lettuce and tomatoes. I did enjoy it. Black beans were about as bland as they come. Straight from the can? Cole slaw was good. It was chunky which I rather enjoyed but I would prefer a little sweeter. There is no soda fountain so drinks are from a bottle except tea which my sweet tea was perfectly sweet.Unfortunately I don't think I'll be back. Winter Garden has better options.
Mary Munera
Had a shrimp po' boy today. I was surprised by the excellent quality! It was the best I've ever had at any restaurant (and I love to dine out)! The shrimp were large with a very clean flavor, the baguette fresh and the sauce tasty, with a kick! I received prompt service with a smile. The venue has both dine-in tables and to-go options -which worked out well as I was on my lunch break. I will definitely be back!Vegetarian options: Salad optionsKid-friendliness: Family friendly environmentParking: Plenty of spill-over parking spots from the main lot.
Sharon Susie Scott
Food is fantastic! Server was very friendly, knowledgeable and quick with refills. The have indoor and outdoor seating, both are clean, well planned.Will definitely be going back more often.
Lisa H.
Cutest little restaurant with fantastic service. Food is delicious and I am beyond thrilled there are so many lo carb options. They will sub veg for rice and potatoes and this made my day! Thank you! The owner's homemade fried cheese sticks are worth the cheat! So delicious. We have had fish, chicken, and beef- all well seasoned and cooked. Kid's grilled cheese at the table next to us looked delicious also! Great location, ample parking. Comfort food. Friendly attentive staff. Well done!
Cute little cafe! The food was really good and the service was great. Super friendly!
Jonathan Edwards
Had a chance to stop in today and had a great experience! The staff was welcoming with smiles on their faces. I got the daily special (chicken salad sandwich) and it left me filled with the desire to come back and try more! Definitely try the dessert! ? Seating is limited on the inside but well worth the wait! Outdoor seating is also available for those cooler days/evenings. See ya soon!
Marc S.
First time visiting Orange Crate Cafe in downtown winter garden. We ordered the following for appetizers. Mozzarella Sticks and fried green tomatoes. They were both very crispy and fresh. For the fried green tomatoes wish they would serve the "boom boom" sauce to add to the flavors of the fried green tomatoes to give them a little kickWe also ordered the Philly steaks. They were well seasoned, bread was soft. Lacking in presentation. Also, no side was provided for the 9.99 cost. They should just add French fries and make it out to a 12.99. They provided the side due to we ordered two appetizers.They do not have fountain drinks. They also have no alcohol. Thomas was an excellent waiter. Overall, I'm not dying to go back, but, would try something different on their menu next time we are in the area.
Richard
Edited Review: Had a chance to go back to Orange Crate Cafe, their fried green tomatoes are nothing short of spectacular, as are their other fried appetizers. Not sure what went sideways with their attempt at Nashville Hot Chicken but I'm stoked to find a place that does really good fried green tomatoes.Original Review:They are selling chicken fingers drenched in Frank's Red Hot and selling it as Nashville Hot Chicken....Nashville Hot Chicken should never use Frank's Red Hot, also the tenders are incredibly soggy. I think it would be best if they dropped the Fat Mike's stuff from the menu.
Randall Peterson
Loved the meal. Went here for the first time to try it and the menu was perfect for our family. The fried green tomatoes were excellent. The Shrimp tacos were great and the rest of the food was perfect. We finished the meal with a Blackberry Cobler and it was the perect desert. Will definately go back.
Went out on a limb and tried Orange Crate Cafe. One look at the menu and i knew 8 had to try this place. Everything looked amazing as well as being very reasonably priced.Pulling up to the restaurant i noticed that they had a decent sized outdoor seating area, great for the more pleasant days, and a place to bring your pooch. The inside reminded me of the old Florida Cracker style. It was a little confusing if i needed to take a seat to order or go to the counter to order.I ordered the grilled buffalo chicken salad with olives and pepperoncini, with an unsweetened tea. The total came to $14.98, pretty reasonable for the area. The chicken by itself was juicy and very flavorful. It was fantastic! I'll definitely be coming back here, and soon!Dietary restrictions: I loved the fact the had a lot of grilled options.
Delicious home cooked meals served here. Great atmosphere and outstanding service. We will definitely return.
Husband wanted chicken and waffles so we walked over here because the photos about 1 year ago shows that item. To our disappointment these are from the previous owner and no longer served here. Maybe bring it back? We still had a very good meal here. Chicken salad sandwich with soup is perfect amount of food and I loved the taste of that chicken salad. Husband got the chicken strips instead with medium spicy. He loved it and finished the entire plate. The staff was very friendly and came over to check on us several times. Great service.
Decided to try out Orange Crate Café. We’d been to the predecessor as well (Fat Mike’s Hot Chicken), and some remnants still remain with the interior decor. We walked in the side entrance and thought it was still counter service. Instead, we received a friendly greeting and asked to sit wherever we liked.Our server, Sarah, came over with menus and took our drink order. Soft drinks are single serve bottles, but refills for iced tea and water. We looked over the variety of options, from salads and wraps to entrees and kids meals. The menu has a lot of options as a “home cooked meal” type of place, but lacks the cohesion that a simpler, pared down menu could provide.Ordered the fried mozzarella sticks as an appetizer. They came out hot and crispy with 5 in an order with a warm marinara sauce for dipping.For the meal, kids asked for the fried chicken tenders with okra, and the grilled cheese with French fries. They each ate most of the meal with the younger taking home some leftover tenders for later. The server noticed the grilled cheese was maybe a tad over toasted, but that’s they way the kiddo actually like it.Wife ordered the shrimp tacos that was topped with pineapple salsa, lettuce, and tomato and a side of sweet potato fries. Liked that the taco shell was toasted. Shrimp were nicely seasoned and plump.I ordered the fried catfish plate with okra, coleslaw, and hush puppies. Catfish was nicely breaded but needed some salt. Coleslaw was roughly chopped, and while I may prefer shredded or finely diced slaw, it provided a nice creamy (non-fried) side dish. Asked for a side of remoulade as well, but it was a very unique sauce. More like a hot sauce than a remoulade.Overall, food was good and just about everyone finished their plate. Price (before tip) for a family of 4 was $56. When we try a place for the first time, we order more than we might usually (appetizer or dessert, for example). So we could trim it down a bit if needed. They have rotating daily special entrees and desserts (blackberry cobbler tonight). Several regulars were inside when we were there too. Servers were friendly and attentive, even covering outside diners too. We will definitely come back again soon.
We hadn't visited this location in its previous incarnations, but we finally went with some friends who recommended the new Orange Crate Cafe. We all shared the Buffalo Shrimp starter, which had big shrimp drenched in deliciously spicy (but not too spicy) sauce. I ordered the Buffalo Bleu Chicken Sub as my entree. I didn't order a side ($3 extra) because I didn't want to spend the additional money and we were going to order dessert anyway. The sub ended up being really big on super fresh baked bread. It was all fantastic and mouth-watering. We saved room for dessert because our friends recommended the cobblers, even though we don't normally order dessert out. I thought we were each getting our own, so my partner ordered the blueberry one and I ordered the peach. They were HUGE. OMG. Naturally, I ate it all, though, and we sampled one another's. The peach ended up being my favorite, although both were amazing (and should be for $7). The service was great. The atmosphere indoors felt a little too casual/quick service for a sit-down restaurant. I would have liked to have a bit more separation between the dining room and the registers/counter to make it more of an experience. We'd return, though, and try their outdoor seating, too.
As soon as I heard the Christian music playing, I instantly wanted to love this place. While the service was great and personal, I just didn't find the food to be that special. The best items by far were the sweet potato fries and the green beans. The fries were perfectly cooked with a light crunchy finish with a soft interior. They had a slightly sweet taste. A special sauce would have rounded these out to perfection. The green beans were like my Mom's with onion and bacon. The shrimp tacos relied on a spicy boom boom sauce for flavor. While fresh, the flour tortilla with lettuce, tomato and canned pineapple with blackened shrimp was tasteless. The boom boom sauce came from a bottle. I'm hoping for original food profiles and prep when dining out, not items that came from cans or bottles without being enhanced. Despite being busy, the service was very attentive and friendly. Gluten-free and Low FODMAP options are very limited. Salads may be your best bet. Bottled sodas available, but no fountain beverages. There are so many strong dining options in Winter Garden that this unfortunately won't be floating to the top.
I want this place to succeed but the competition is stiff so you must be special and the food was really just average. That said ...Service was perfect. Fast, friendly, attentive and even a bit funny. Indoor/outdoor dining options. It was clean and comfortable. The menu even had kid options.My tuna melt was made perfectly. Well toasted with fresh lettuce and tomatoes. I did enjoy it. Black beans were about as bland as they come. Straight from the can? Cole slaw was good. It was chunky which I rather enjoyed but I would prefer a little sweeter. There is no soda fountain so drinks are from a bottle except tea which my sweet tea was perfectly sweet.Unfortunately I don't think I'll be back. Winter Garden has better options.
Had a shrimp po' boy today. I was surprised by the excellent quality! It was the best I've ever had at any restaurant (and I love to dine out)! The shrimp were large with a very clean flavor, the baguette fresh and the sauce tasty, with a kick! I received prompt service with a smile. The venue has both dine-in tables and to-go options -which worked out well as I was on my lunch break. I will definitely be back!Vegetarian options: Salad optionsKid-friendliness: Family friendly environmentParking: Plenty of spill-over parking spots from the main lot.
Food is fantastic! Server was very friendly, knowledgeable and quick with refills. The have indoor and outdoor seating, both are clean, well planned.Will definitely be going back more often.
Cutest little restaurant with fantastic service. Food is delicious and I am beyond thrilled there are so many lo carb options. They will sub veg for rice and potatoes and this made my day! Thank you! The owner's homemade fried cheese sticks are worth the cheat! So delicious. We have had fish, chicken, and beef- all well seasoned and cooked. Kid's grilled cheese at the table next to us looked delicious also! Great location, ample parking. Comfort food. Friendly attentive staff. Well done!
Restaurantji Recommends
Cute little cafe! The food was really good and the service was great. Super friendly!
Had a chance to stop in today and had a great experience! The staff was welcoming with smiles on their faces. I got the daily special (chicken salad sandwich) and it left me filled with the desire to come back and try more! Definitely try the dessert! ? Seating is limited on the inside but well worth the wait! Outdoor seating is also available for those cooler days/evenings. See ya soon!
First time visiting Orange Crate Cafe in downtown winter garden. We ordered the following for appetizers. Mozzarella Sticks and fried green tomatoes. They were both very crispy and fresh. For the fried green tomatoes wish they would serve the "boom boom" sauce to add to the flavors of the fried green tomatoes to give them a little kickWe also ordered the Philly steaks. They were well seasoned, bread was soft. Lacking in presentation. Also, no side was provided for the 9.99 cost. They should just add French fries and make it out to a 12.99. They provided the side due to we ordered two appetizers.They do not have fountain drinks. They also have no alcohol. Thomas was an excellent waiter. Overall, I'm not dying to go back, but, would try something different on their menu next time we are in the area.
Edited Review: Had a chance to go back to Orange Crate Cafe, their fried green tomatoes are nothing short of spectacular, as are their other fried appetizers. Not sure what went sideways with their attempt at Nashville Hot Chicken but I'm stoked to find a place that does really good fried green tomatoes.Original Review:They are selling chicken fingers drenched in Frank's Red Hot and selling it as Nashville Hot Chicken....Nashville Hot Chicken should never use Frank's Red Hot, also the tenders are incredibly soggy. I think it would be best if they dropped the Fat Mike's stuff from the menu.
Loved the meal. Went here for the first time to try it and the menu was perfect for our family. The fried green tomatoes were excellent. The Shrimp tacos were great and the rest of the food was perfect. We finished the meal with a Blackberry Cobler and it was the perect desert. Will definately go back.