Aurora at the Celeste - Orlando FL

By Melanie Courcy | June 7, 2022

It's Bite30 month! Actually, it should be called Bite33... Let me explain Bite30, for those of you that may not have heard of it. During the month of June (and first 10 days of July), some of Orlando's best local restaurants offer a special prix fixe menu (i.e. a multiple course meal at a fixed price which is set at $33 this year). This program provides the opportunity to explore multiple dishes at participating restaurants for a discounted price. We plan to visit several restaurants on the Bite30 list this month. For this week's New Restaurant Tuesday, we chose Aurora at the Celeste near UCF. They certainly did not disappoint!

The Digs

Aurora at the Celeste is located inside The Celeste Hotel. The restaurant itself is easy to find, as it's just beyond the main entrance of the hotel. One of the first things I noticed were the lights hanging from the ceiling, like lightning bugs flying through the sky. The decor is simple and relaxing. It is well laid out with plenty of space between the tables and has plenty of natural light (at least during the day) since there are two walls of windows. I can only imagine that it has a romantic flair at night with all the floating lights. There is also an outdoor seating area where a fountain can be enjoyed just beyond the grassy area.

The Service

We were immediately seated, as one would expect for a 5:15 reservation on a Tuesday. We were promptly served water and drink orders were taken. We did not wait long for the drinks to arrive, nor did we wait long for the food after we ordered it. Since we had several courses, plates were removed for each course in a timely manner and new silverware was provided for each course. Our waitress was friendly and helpful with any questions we had.

The Tastebud Delights

This is where it gets good! There are four appetizers, four entrees, and four desserts to choose from on the Bite30 menu, along with a couple of specialty drinks. Of course, you can always order from the regular menu, if you prefer, which offers many more options. They did have a non-meat option under each section of the Bite30 menu, so it seems they tried to cover several bases there.

My husband and I each got to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert - that's 6 items we each got to try!! I must say, they all were amazing.

I know, you want all the deets! So, here they are - I ordered Duck Confit Emanadas, Chicken Osso Bucco, and Croissant Beignets. My husband had Paella Arrancini, Creole Newberg, and Key Lime Pie. I also indulged in a Tito's Watermelon Mule, and my husband ordered the SpaceDust IPA from the happy hour menu.

Tito's Watermelon Mule was the first item to be presented in a traditional copper mug with ice. The drink was refreshing and went down very smooth (almost too smooth). Though, I could have done will a little less ice and a bit more drink!

The Duck Confit Empanadas were served with a jerk slaw and sweet Thai chili aioli. The empanadas themselves were crispy on the outside (which you all know I like) and the duck was tender on the inside. The aioli gave it just the right amount of sweet and was a nice added flavor to the duck.

Paella Arrancini were served in ball form containing shrimp, chorizo, and vadouvan carrot puree. Vadouvan is a French version of Indian curry powder (according to Wikipedia - yes, I had to look it up). This was paired with slices of crispy pancetta. These were interesting, as I was not exactly sure what to expect. The outside was crispy and the inside was creamy. I detected a hint of curry in the flavoring, but it was not overpowering. The texture and flavor combinations made this appetizer enjoyable to eat.

The Chicken Osso Bucco was served with Pork Belly Mac & Cheese, Apple Glazed Brussel Sprouts, and Smoked Tomato Gazpacho. This dish packed quite the flavor punch! The mac and cheese was creamy and the tomato gazpacho added a light flavor to what could have been (but wasn't) a very heavy dish. The brussel sprouts had a hint of sweet, and were cooked to perfection with just the right crunch. The chicken was very tender and flavorful. Overall, this dish is excellent, and stood the test of time!

Some dishes just aren't as good the next day, but these leftovers were just as tasty on day two. I usually don't like reheated mac and cheese because it tends to be dry, but this mac and cheese was just as creamy after the reheat, and made for a very enjoyable lunch. Which leads me to my next point - the portions were generous enough for me to bring some home!

Creole Newberg is a puff pastry vol au vent filled with shrimp, alligator, and bison andouille covered in a sherry cream. It was served with asparagus and a crispy frog leg. Yes, I had to look this one up too. A puff pastry vol au vent is a layered ring shaped pastry that forms a cup so that it may be filled with a variety of ingredients.

The variety of meats in this dish created a flavorful meal that was enhanced by the sherry cream, which we found to be quite rich. I was most excited to try the puff pastry, but it did not have the flaky and crispy texture one would expect from a puff pastry. Instead, it was slightly chewy. The frog leg was tender and had a soft flavor. Overall, I thought the dish was very good, but a lighter sauce and flakier pastry could make it even better.

On to the best part - dessert!

I had the Croissant Beignets which were everything I was hoping they would be. They were served with coffee diplomat cream and were covered in cinnamon sugar. They were crispy on the outside, yet soft and chewy on the inside. Just the right texture!! The cream provided a bit of smoothness to the overall flavor. In fact, once the beignets were finished, I ate the rest of the cream with a spoon and had to resist licking the cup!

My husband's key lime pie was very satisfying. It was not too tart and had just the right amount of sweet with a thick graham cracker crust layer that complemented the flavor. The pie was served with fresh raspberries, even though the menu indicated a raspberry coulis (aka raspberry sauce). A refreshing end to an excellent meal.

The Takeaway

Aurora at the Celeste touts itself on their website as capturing attention via 'colorful flavors, stunning ambiance, and refined service with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced food'. If a flavor can be colorful, Chef Mike Trudnak certainly found a way to embody that in his offerings. The ambiance was accomplished using creative lighting, attractive colors, and comfortable seating. The service was on point. The food tasted fresh and I am so happy we were able to try multiple dishes to get the full impact of the delicious offerings at this establishment. Especially since the regular prices at this upper end establishment would have made it prohibitive to try so many dishes if it weren't for Bite30.

I not only recommend you try Aurora at the Celeste, but take full advantage of the Bite30 program this month. For a full list of restaurants, check out https://bite30.com/.

The Restaurant Info

Address: 4105 Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32826

Phone: 689-205-0100

Website: https://thecelestehotel.com/restaurant