Cask & Larder — Restaurant in Orlando

TL:DR -- The serivice was very very slow and ok at best. The food was completely lacking of flavor.

This place had all the makings to be a good restaurant. The atmosphere is really nice and the menu has a lot of great sounding options ("sounding" being the keyword here.) My wife and I were sat immediately but from that point on the experience was mostly not very good. The time between the hostess seating us and server to greet us was about 11 minutes. The restaurant wasn't even half full and ot looked to be staffed well enough that 11 minutes to be greated was a bit frustrating. The Our server seemed nice but seemed like she really did not want to be there. From what we observed in the 11 minute wait to be greated no one seemed like they wanted to be there and all moved at slow depressed pass. After our server took our drink and food order, our drinks (an iced tea and a water) never came until we asked for them again, which was after our food had arrived. I also asked for the spicy ketchup our server recommended but that never came so I had to ask for that again. All of the food was sub par gruel....barely edible. First we had the conch hushpuppies. The flavor was just alright but the texture was that of a rubbery deflated ball. Hushpuppies should be rich dense crispy balls. The hushpuppies we were served were far from that. We also ordered grits with a bacon marmalade. The grits seemed a little undercooked and the bacon marmalade was sadly disgusting. We had to scrap it off. The fried chicken sandwich was the most bland chicken sandwich I've ever had. The breading was soft and seemed more like a baked sandwich not fried. Dousing the chicken sandwich in hot sauce was the only reason it was edible. The brisket sandwich was not terrible but not great. Just like the chicken sandwich it was very bland even with the coleslaw and crispy jalapenos on it. The crispy jalapenos had a weird taste to them so I had to remove those. The brisket was a little dry. I asked for bbq sauce so to add a little flavor and moisture back to the brisket but I was told they dont have any kind of bbq sauce. All in all this was one of the most disappointing airport food experiences I've ever had. The fried were really good though so...

If you’re an MCO traveler, here’s a TLDR; Subpar experience with underwhelming options and poor produce quality. If you’re trying to eat relatively healthy, avoid the sad salads and just grab a pre-packaged to-go salad instead. The barbecue might be worth trying, but it’s at the expense of the service, which is laced with apathy and inattention, which is not conducive when you’re needing to leave to catch your flight.

Longer post is for management or someone who might care:

Hailing from Orlando, I have positive impressions of Cask&Larder, and was genuinely happy for them seeing their establishments in MCO.

I decided to treat myself today waiting for my flight, hoping for some nourishing sustenance from not eating much all day, so I went with the Southern Gatherer Salad with chicken. It wasn’t particularly aesthetically pleasing, but I dug in hoping to be pleasantly surprised, ending up terribly disappointed.

The chicken was good and decently portioned, and flaked away perfectly. The greens were a little sad looking, underdressed in some areas, overdressed in others. But the real disappointment was the avocado, which was underripe and felt like rubber.

When I kindly asked the server if there might be edible avocado slices, indicating the ones on my dish were all underripe, she replied with a stoic, “Yeah, they’re all like that.” And I was like, “Why are you serving them then?” And she shrugged and walked off.

The service was also disappointing. I wasn’t checked on after the avocado inquiry, and ended up waiting 40 minutes for my next interaction to ask for my check. I actually got up and went to the bathroom before cashing out because I was waiting around without any sign of server life or care, but desperately had to use the bathroom. Luckily they had charging stations where I was seated, so my wait time only sucked the life out of me, sparing my phone battery.

I should have known better than to have expectations at an airport dining experience, but I was terribly let down. I would have been better off getting a ready-to-eat salad from a fast service shop with a questionably...

⭐️ 5‑Star Airport Gem & A Guest You’ll Never Forget!

First off, Cask & Larder is a beautifully refreshing option tucked amidst Terminal C at MCO—far from your typical grab-and-go food. With James Beard–nominated chefs behind it, this Southern comfort eatery and brewhouse offers “farm‑to‑terminal” cuisine in a warm, inviting atmosphere ☀️🍽️ .

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🍔 The Bacon Cheeseburger: Pure Bliss!

Let’s talk about that burger. The Bacon Cheeseburger is nothing short of spectacular—juicy, perfectly seasoned beef stacked with smoky bacon and melty cheese. Every bite felt like a moment on a gourmet foodie journey, making me almost miss my flight because I refused to rush this masterpiece 🤤🥓🧀.

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🌟 Al: The Heart & Soul of Your Visit

What truly elevated the experience was Al, your fabulous waiter. His upbeat, magnetic personality made your time there feel special. His service was: • Warm & Welcoming – you felt immediately at ease. • Positively Energizing – his personal flair was irresistibly joyous. • Memorably Engaging – he made the meal feel like catching up with an old friend.

He wasn’t just serving food—he was lifting spirits ✨. If you’re at Gate C230, absolutely ask for Al—he’ll make the wait for your flight something to look forward to.

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👏 Echoing the Praise

Other travelers raved about the atmosphere and service:

“Great service, one of the more enjoyable airport bar experiences I’ve had.” 

And the restaurant itself is celebrated for blowing away expectations:

“It’s completely out of place, nearly absurd, to find food this good in an airport.”  

Your experience perfectly mirrors these glowing impressions.

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📌 Final Takeaway

If your travels take you through Orlando International, make a point to stop at Gate C230 and treat yourself to the Bacon Cheeseburger at Cask & Larder. And above all, ask for Al—his welcoming charm is contagious and adds a personal touch that turns a simple meal into a highlight of your trip 😊✈️.

Bon appétit and...