Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant — Restaurant in Alafaya

We had 1:30 PM lunch reservations as we were picking up wine for Thanksgiving as a part of the wine club. We had to change our reservation to 2:00 PM as we were running late, but somehow it did not get ipdated in their system at the restaurant. The hostess at the front desk was less than exuberant or accommodating about our reservation both in her response to us and her attitude and we waited for 10 minutes when she then led us to the bar for our table, much to our reluctance as we’ve never eaten at the bar at Coopers Hawk. Upon being seated we waited for another 15 minutes before anyone came to our table or greeted us. We were finally joined by server Rodjhaun who proceeded to explain at first meeting that “there is a big turnover at the bar today so things are kind of slow back here” whereby he then took our drink orders. We ordered iced teas as we were picking up wine later after lunch and we only wanted to eat. Rodjhaun seemed very perplexed trying to work the bar area as it took him another 10 minutes to bring our iced teas and another 5 minutes to bring us a sugar caddy. We’re already sitting there for 30 minutes without a food order. We noticed other patrons in the bar who were drinking wine who were being served by him right away! We finally order our food, had to ask various other servers walking around for pretzel bread while we were waiting for our meals. Our food arrived and the runners bringing it to us seemed to be confused as to which table to bring our food to as sides were brought out first one at a time finally followed by our entrees. During our meal we never saw our server Rodjhaun again and as our iced teas needed refills, I finally went up to the bar to get them refilled. The bartender was very friendly and accommodating and as Rodjhaun came out of the kitchen and saw me.at the bar getting our refills, I could tell he realized he dropped the ball with us. Did he come over to our table to apologize? No. In fact we never saw him again and our table remained unbussed with our dirty plates on it. We finally had another server as well as the bartender come over after a while to pick up the slack, and they were apologetic and listened to our frustration about the poor service and proceeded to get the manager. When the manager arrived at our table, she also explained the situation at the bar and apologized, but did not offer to do anything for us but wrap up our food and get to go iced teas for us. She brought us the check and there was not one comp or credit taken off of our check, as would be customary at any casual dining or even fast food establishment. We eat at Coopers Hawk Waterford Lakes quite frequently as members of the wine club but have never eaten at the bar, and even though we were reluctant to eat in the bar, as regular patrons of Coopers Hawk, we didn’t think there would be any issues with it. We were wrong! We’ve had better service at a Waffle House!!! We are extremely disappointed in our experience today and our opinion of Coopers Hawk has been soured completely as a result. Restaurants in Waterford Lakes wonder why they go out of business. When they charge as much for the food as Coopers Hawk does but provide poor service, they are moving one step closer to losing business, including ours. There is no excuse why the service at the bar should be so poor compared to the dining room for the money they charge for meals and drinks. We would have had better service at Ale House! They should be ashamed and concerned because this is what closes...

From the moment we stepped into Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant at Waterford Lakes, we knew we were in for something special. But what truly made our visit outstanding was the impeccable service and warm hospitality provided by Dillon, our tasting room attendant. If you’re looking for someone who embodies the perfect blend of knowledge, enthusiasm, and genuine hospitality, Dillon is your guy!

Dillon’s expertise in wines was immediately evident. He guided us through our tasting experience with an incredible level of detail, ensuring that each wine we sampled was perfectly suited to our preferences. He didn’t just pour the wine—he told engaging stories about the origins of each bottle, flavor profiles, and ideal pairings. His passion for wine was contagious, making the entire experience both educational and fun.

What truly set Dillon apart was his attentiveness and ability to personalize the experience. He took the time to ask about our tastes and suggested wines that perfectly matched our palates. Whether we preferred bold reds or crisp whites, he curated a selection that left us thoroughly impressed. His recommendations were spot-on, and he even provided insider tips on food pairings for future visits.

Cooper’s Hawk at Waterford Lakes has a fantastic ambiance, but Dillon made it even better with his charismatic and friendly demeanor. He created a welcoming space where we felt comfortable asking questions and exploring new wines. It wasn’t just about the tasting—it was about the experience, and Dillon ensured we had an unforgettable one.

Throughout our tasting, Dillon checked in frequently, making sure we were enjoying ourselves and adjusting our selections based on our feedback. He even took the time to recommend his favorite menu items from the restaurant, and let’s just say—his taste is impeccable!

If you’re visiting Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Waterford Lakes, do yourself a favor and ask for Dillon in the tasting room! His passion, expertise, and top-tier customer service turned what would have been a great visit into an extraordinary one. We left with a new appreciation for wine, a few bottles to take home, and the certainty that we’ll be back again soon.

Highly recommend this location—and if you’re lucky enough to have Dillon as your guide, you’re in for a 5-star...

Had very early reservations, we arrived 20 minutes before those reservations. The restaurant was full of empty tables (Sunday, late afternoon), and they made us wait 1/2 an hour, while seating everyone who just walked in, ahead of us.

I ordered the $31.99 Trio of Medallions, medium rare. What I was served is shown in my photo below. Roughly 2 bites of what looked and tasted like Sirloin beef tips per 'Medallion'. The name of this is the same as Church Street Station's long gone signature restaurant, Lilly Marlene's restaurant.... it was my favorite dish there, and incredible. So I do have a comparison, and this was pretty pale, for meat cut, portion size, cooking, taste, and... well everything. See it after cutting slivers out of each medallion? THAT is 'medium rare'.

One guest ordered the $27.99 Grouper, see photo below. The entire meal occupied 1/2 of the not overly large plate. She said it was ok.

Another guest ordered a meal that came with a chunk of something blackened and very hard in his mashed potatoes. I should have taken a picture, but he was at the other end of the table and I didn't want to be rude. The response when the waiter was questioned about this 'mystery item' was to call it a piece of potato, rush it back to the kitchen, and bring him more mashed potatoes. I was speechless.

The total bill for 5 people was over $220, with only 1 wine, including tip. The quality of food was below Appleby's standards, at 2-4x the cost. I was stunned by this. Completely stunned.

The service was good. The waiter kept the drinks not only refilled, but brought extras very quickly. He did his best, and we tipped accordingly.

I believe any restaurant can have an off day. But the meat quality - tenderloin? That was cheap chewy sirloin for $31.99, anyone who has eaten at a fine restaurant knows the difference. And portion sizing - you can see by the grouper below and the plate, that fillet was the size of a Burger King fish sandwich fillet for $27.99.

Go to Red Lobster or Smokey Bones in the same shopping center. They are both 1/2 the price, and much better food in every possible way. Unless you are a wine drinker, which I can't address, this was not 'fine dining' by anyone's standards. We will not...