Chatham's Place Restaurant — Restaurant in Dr. Phillips

Chatham's Place - Dr. Phillips Boulevard, Orlando - 5 stars

"Absence of plunder - This is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, conciliation, and of good sense."- Bastiat

True fine dining, as it originated in the 1940's, is completely a lost art these days. The 10-course meal from days of yore is gone. Tuxedos, Pince Nez, cigarette holders, Spatz, and house boys are a thing of the past. Heck, even the Big Boy wears Jordan slides to dinner no matter the occasion. However, if you want a throwback to an excellent dining experience, Chatham's Place is the Primus Inter Pares.

Chef Tony Lopez is a culinary genius who combines complex flavors and layering to allow a palate-pleasing trip down sustenance lane. - As Bob Rose tickles the ivory as I ate, plate after plate of amazing dishes were placed in front of me served by white-tuxedoed men. I did not see a single female employee in the place. There is even a Maitre D' to seat you. This place exudes class.

I started off with a Whistle Pig Old Fashioned to drink, masterfully blended by the bartender. The first course was Foie Gras in a Grand Mariner reduction. While the sauce was just a tad sweet for me, the Foie was cooked perfectly. Then they bring fresh-baked bread, which has a unique quality of having feta cheese baked in the center of the bread. This is so packed with fun flavors it's hard to move on to the other courses. The intermezzo is mango and fresh basil, which is so tart and fresh that your palate is cleansed for the main course. For the main course, I ordered the Tomahawk steak, a bone-in ribeye, with spinach and asparagus for my sides. The steak comes in a white truffle oil and porcini mushroom demi-glacé. What is really exciting is the steak looks ready to cut; however, the chef has hand cut your meat into bite-sized morsels of delectable ecstasy. The spinach was sautéed to perfection, rich and creamy, and the asparagus was grilled to the perfect crunch. Outstanding is all I can say - just outstanding all-around. My server, Louis, went out of his way to make this one of the best meals I have ever had.

If you go here and try to tell me this is not great food or one of the best culinary experiences you have ever had, you will be hung at high noon in front of a Jersey Mike's. Chatham's Place is fantastic. Without reservation, the Big Boy strongly recommends this restaurant as the epitome of...

Second Anniversary Visit: Another wonderful experience! The wine sommelier, Peter Freeman, was a pleasant person to converse with. We talked about Napa Valley and he recommended a private driver for our next trip! He also manufactured our champagne cap into a magnet for us to remember the evening! Joe was our waiter again and he remembered the table we sat at during our first visit! Joe’s memory amazed us again! He spieled all he knew about the food menu! The Spicy Louisiana Chicken, Duck Breast, Pasta and Soufflé were wonderful. My only critique is the Duck Breast was a bit chewy. However, it was great with the peppercorn sauce. I attached more photos and videos of our experience.

First Anniversary Visit: Words cannot describe how lovely our first experience was! One of the best dining experiences we had! The hospitality of every attendant that greeted us was so warm and kind! Joe was our waiter and he was very kind and informative! The establishment is very beautiful, romantic, classic, and welcoming! A wonderful atmosphere brought together by etiquette, fashion, kindness, the pianist’s music, and of course the food!

Appetizers:

1. The Pico de gallo with a crunchy bread was so good! My darling does not like tomatoes but the chefs converted her opinion with this dish!
2. The piece of pasta shown in the image below was full of flavor! We really loved how well the vegetable on top complimented the pasta!
3. The Portobello mushroom soup was a favorite of mine!
4. Cheesy bread was great as well!
5. Sorbet was an interesting palate cleanser!

Main Entrees:

1. The pasta stirred in the 2 year old wheel of cheese was marvelous! It was a cool experience watching the attendant roll out the cheese and mixing it in front of us!
2. The Spicy chicken Louisiana wasn’t spicy and it was a bit dry but the mashed potatoes on the side were delicious!

Dessert: Raspberry Soufflé was sooo good! A wonderful dish to end the night!

We also had a white wine, a red blend, and pinot noir by the glass which were all great! I drank too much so a good gentleman was very kind to bring me a cup of expresso!

We will be...

Chatham’s Place was the perfect spot to celebrate my birthday. From the moment we walked in, Sergio, the maître d, made us feel incredibly welcome, setting the tone for what turned out to be an unforgettable evening. Joe, our server, along with his team, was attentive and gracious, ensuring our glasses were always full and that every detail was just right.

The experience began with a thoughtful touch from the chef—a tomato bruschetta that was absolutely bursting with flavor. Shortly after, they brought out bread that was stuffed with something amazing (I wish I could tell you exactly what it was!) and a coleslaw that was unlike any I’ve ever had—unique and delicious.

We started our meal with a bowl of lobster bisque, which was rich, velvety, and perfectly seasoned. It was the kind of dish that wraps you in warmth with every spoonful.

For the main course, I had the Spicy Chicken Louisiana Creole. The Cajun spices were perfectly balanced, and the extra ghost pepper they provided elevated the dish to another level. My wife had the Chicken a la Bruce, featuring farm-fresh herbs, homemade mozzarella, and a jumbo ricotta cheese ravioli. Both dishes showcased the restaurant’s dedication to freshness and flavor.

Between courses, they served a mango sorbet to cleanse the palate—a delightful and refreshing touch. For dessert, I couldn’t resist the rich chocolate mousse, while my wife had the crème brûlée, its perfect caramelized top giving way to a creamy, decadent custard.

All of this was accompanied by live piano music, which added an intimate and elegant ambiance to the night. Tony, the owner, has truly created something special with Chatham’s Place. Their farm-to-table philosophy shines through in every bite, with many ingredients coming directly from Tony’s own organic farm.

If you’re looking for a dining experience that feels both refined and personal, Chatham’s Place is second to none. It’s more than just a meal—it’s an experience I’ll remember fondly for...