The Moderne — Restaurant in Orlando

We visited The Moderne a few days ago for the first time, and WOW - we will definitely be going back! This place is amazing, has so many good menu items, and is a perfect new addition to the Mills/50 area of Orlando! A few tips before I talk about what we ordered:

Be prepared to wait! Since it just opened and it’s one of the best restaurants in this area, everyone comes here. It’s PACKED. We were luckily enough to arrive around 6 pm on a weekday and they had 2 tables left for 2 people - both outside along Colonial. It wasn’t a big deal to us, and we took a table, and it honestly was better than inside because you could hear even from outside just how loud the inside was. They had a 2+ hour wait for a table inside!! This place is super lively when a table alongside Colonial is quieter than the restaurant itself, that’s for sure! The service was awesome. Despite being a new restaurant, no order was incorrect, waiters/waitresses were extremely upbeat and kind (even giving their suggestions), and food came out fast!! It is expensive, but the food is REALLY good, and I think it’s worth the price.

Here’s what we ordered: Gyoza, KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), Japanese Poutine, Hot Chicken Sliders, Korean Vodka Pasta, Sticky Asian Ribs, Salmon Hand Roll, and a drink. I don’t remember the drink name but all the drinks on the menu looked incredible, and if the rest of them were as good as mine (might’ve been in the Soft Landings section?) you need to try!!

Our absolute favorite things were the Korean Vodka Pasta, Sticky Asian Ribs, KFC, and Salmon Hand Roll. The pasta wasn’t that spicy, and it had an AMAZING Italian/Korean flavor. Unlike anything I’ve had before. The Sticky Asian Ribs were the best ribs I have ever had - period. My girlfriend doesn’t even like ribs and she loved these! The KFC was some of the best fried chicken we’ve had. Amazing sauce, perfect seasoning, not dry on the inside, and something you’ll just be addicted to (and want to order more). And the Salmon Hand Roll was just exceptional! It’s a perfect bite-sized piece of a fresh salmon sushi roll…but just better! It’s hard to describe but you should definitely get at least one hand roll (pretty small item for 2 people so you can have one at the end as a treat).

Everything else was awesome as well. The only thing we wouldn’t order again was probably the gyoza just because it is the most “normal” thing we got. It’s just like regular gyoza (to be fair, better than most) and I feel other menu items are more unique and worth trying beforehand. The poutine was super unique and a completely different take on fries than anything I’ve had before! And finally, the hot chicken sliders were PERFECT - exactly what you want when you’re looking for a good hot chicken sandwich…but mini!

Our only gripe was there were no desserts (at least not yet). I can only imagine how good The Moderne’s desserts will be if their food is of any comparison. I have been to many restaurants in the Orlando area, and this is up there as one of my new favorites. We will DEFINITELY...

Tucked away in the city, Moderne offers an dining experience that is as much about atmosphere as it is about food. Stepping inside feels like a welcome escape; the interior is a masterclass in moody, Art Deco elegance. With its low lighting, rich textures, and glamorous undertones, the vibe is both refreshingly unique and instantly welcoming the perfect setting for a stylish night out.

The menu is an intriguing mix of Asian-inspired small plates, perfect for sharing. While the food was generally good, it was a journey of peaks and valleys, with no single dish truly blowing me away.

Started with the Anashi cocktail (7/10) with a theme of strong presentation. It arrived looking every bit as chic as the surroundings and had a decent, welcome kick.

The KFC – Korean Fried Chicken (8/10). It lived up to its name, delivering a powerful punch of flavor. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a perfectly balanced sweet, spicy, and savory glaze.

However, the meal had its low points. The Sticky Ribs (6/10) were a bit disappointing. While the flavor profile was okay, the execution was off. The meat was surprisingly tough and chewy, and there was frustratingly little of it on the bone.

The biggest letdown was the Calamari (5/10). Simply put, it was forgettable. The batter lacked seasoning, the squid itself was bland, and it arrived with uninspired dipping sauces that left everything feeling underwhelming and crying out for something anything to elevate it.

We ended with the Smoked Duck (8/10), which was a clear highlight. Served with warm tortillas, fresh cilantro, mushrooms, and a rich hoisin sauce, it was a fantastic build-your-own-bite experience. The duck itself was tender and beautifully smoky, making it a solid and satisfying choice.

The Final Verdict: Moderne is a restaurant I want to love.Its stunning ambiance is an undeniable draw, and there are genuine gems on the menu like the smoked duck and Korean fried chicken. But with a few dishes falling notably flat, the overall culinary experience feels inconsistent. I’d return for cocktails and to enjoy that incredible vibe, but I’d be very selective about my...

The food was really good and our waiter/bartender was very nice and friendly. He even threw in a free shot for the table. But the entire night was soiled by the bouncer. He was tall black man who approached my group as we were waiting for our reservation (took them 30 mins over our reservation to be seated btw). He then made some pretty normal chat with me (the only male out of our group of 4) before walking back to the front door where a bouncer usually is. After 5 minutes he then approached us again to hit on one of the members of our group. He interrupted her conversation to hit on and ask for her number while she was visibly uncomfortable. Completely killed the mood and made everyone, even the strangers sitting near us paused to make sure she wasn't being harassed. After he walked away, he then returned a 3rd time to make sure she had his number right or something??? And was texting her almost immediately. After we finally are seated and towards the end of our short stay, (short due to the discomfort the friend that was hit on was feeling from the whole experience), we were offered free shots from the very kind waiter. One of us needed their shot to be changed out as they are allergic to one of the ingredients. The bouncer then returned and completely killed any momentum we had in our conversation to take the discarded shot and self insert himself into our group shot. Thankfully he walked away as we were waiting for the new shot to be prepared and we got to take it without him. BUT, he then returns, See's we've taken the shot and tries to insert himself into the conversation AGAIN. One of us tried kindly telling him we are okay and it didn't work. I then had to take one of the drinks remaining of a friend to drink with him. He then finally left us alone. Honestly would've been a good experience had we not been bothered by the bouncer constantly through the night just because he wanted to hit on our friend who was visibly uninterested. So if you are a woman, be wary of being harassed by this employee as he isn't afraid to harass you until...