Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails — Restaurant in Orlando

What a great night and experience! My friend recommended we try this place as she was here a few weeks back. Lamp and Shade has a fantastic vibe (it was an old lamp store) and based on my friend's comment that this place is always packed, I would agree.

We came on a Saturday night and were on an Open Table waitlist for a reservation. At 4pm. I received a text from Open Table stating there was an opening at 7:30. I tried to book it, but received a message stating their "server" could not connect and to try later". I was never able to confirm the reservation. The Lamp and Shade website stated no reservations available. (Like I said above, this place is popular!) We went anyway and decided to wait for a table while having a drink. The hostess was so nice and accommodating when I explained the Open Table issue that she was able to get us a table within 30 minutes. Kudos to Lamp and Shade.

We had the most amazing waiter, Alvin! He was so much fun and entertaining while explaining some of his favorites on the menu and answering all of our questions. He came back regularly but also knew when to give us space. Five stars for him alone. The items we selected were fantastic. Alvin said the Caesar Salad Bites were a "staple" and patrons come back specifically for them. The dish comes with 5 bite size delectable, toasted brioche bread squares with a delicious Caesar salad mixture on top. You need to start off with this item! it is that good and quite unique. Amazing flavor for a small bite. We added the Hasselback Potatoes (finger potatoes sliced with herb aioli, truffle oil, and parmesan). Be sure to dip them in the sauce underneath to get the flavorful experience of this item. We also selected the Curry Mussels and there were a lot of them in the order. The green coconut curry was just the right amount of zing that danced on your taste buds. Use the charred bread that comes with it to dip into the curry sauce. Heaven!

The drinks we had consisted of the Bee's Knees (gin, honey and lemon) which was delicious but rather a small portion for $13) and the El Diablo (tequila, creme de cassis, lime and fever tree ginger also for $13). Both were very good.

The last thing I wanted to point out is the automatic 20 percent tip they put on the bill. Alvin noted this required tip when he provided us the bill. (The bill comes in an old book, and you can write comments in the book if you so choose. Really cool!) I added an additional tip for his service and thanked him for pointing this out. I was not so lucky at the bar when we arrived. Once I received a text that our table was ready, I requested the check and immediately put a 25 percent tip on the receipt. It wasn't until the next morning when I checked that bill that I realized I paid over $13 in a tip for two drinks due to the 20% add-on! My recommendation to management - please have ALL your staff be consistent in pointing this out. I appreciated Alvin's attention to this detail. Although this mishap at the bar did not diminish my overall 5-star review, it sure did not make me happy once I checked the bill the...

From the moment we stepped into Lamp & Shade Craft Chicken and Cocktails for our friend's birthday brunch celebration, we knew we were in for a special afternoon. The restaurant's ambience strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated and welcoming, with abundant natural light streaming through the windows and thoughtful decor that creates a bright, inviting atmosphere perfect for special occasions.

What truly elevated our dining experience was our exceptional server, Emma. In a world where genuine hospitality can sometimes feel rare, Emma stood out as a true professional who clearly takes pride in her work. Her deep knowledge of the menu was impressive, but it was her patience and attentiveness that really made our afternoon memorable. Despite being a larger, potentially challenging group, she handled our various questions and requests with grace and warmth.

Emma took the time to walk us through each menu item, offering detailed descriptions and making personalized recommendations based on our preferences. Her suggestions were spot-on, demonstrating not just her familiarity with the menu, but her ability to understand and cater to different tastes. This level of personalized service made everyone in our party feel valued and comfortable.

The restaurant itself is a gem, but it's staff members like Emma who transform a simple brunch out into an unforgettable experience. Her ability to anticipate our needs while maintaining a perfect balance of attentiveness without hovering showcased the high standards of service at Lamp & Shade.

The combination of beautiful ambience, excellent service, and Emma's exceptional hospitality has ensured that Lamp & Shade will become our new go-to spot for special occasions. It's rare to find a restaurant that excels in both atmosphere and service, but Lamp & Shade has mastered both.

We're already planning our next visit, and we'll definitely be hoping to be seated in Emma's section again. For anyone looking for a memorable dining experience with impeccable service, Lamp & Shade Craft Chicken and Cocktails is an...

This is a great place to visit if you are a small party. The food and drinks are great, and the restaurant is pretty. However, I STRONGLY advise you do not make large party reservations here.

I booked a party of 15 for my birthday over a month in advance. A little closer towards the date, I emailed them and changed the headcount to 19. I was told the tables would be a little separated due to the bigger party, which was totally fine. In my head, that sounds like it would be the two big high tops with space between for the server to pass through. I thought wrong…we got there and the tables were literally on opposite sides of the restaurant. Not to mention, a single high top had no way of comfortably seating 15 people alone, so this totally would have been the outcome regardless of the party size increase.

It ended up only being 17 people in my party, and we tried working with the manager and server to have them moved closer together. They moved them, but still extremely far apart for one party. The most frustrating part was that there was a party of 25 booked right next to us on a bunch of couches and lounge chairs. The server said if that party wasn’t there, they could probably shift the couches and have our tables pushed together.

What is a small restaurant doing booking two giant parties on the same night? It’s not that large of a space, so I’m a little confused as to why they thought that would work. Not to mention, the other party was preying on our tables so they could use them after we paid our bills and left.

Me and my friends are all positive and energetic, so we made the most of it. If I had my parents or older family members there, this wouldn’t have worked at all. I have no regrets because my birthday was spent around people I love, but they really should have declined my request to make a reservation of that size.

Again, it’s a great restaurant. But they need to either buy different furniture to arrange and chuck the couches, or learn to say no to big parties. There’s just no way...