Windermere Grill attempts to tap local diners
Orlando Business Journal - April 21, 2006
by Bob Mervine
Staff Writer
News /Media
Residents in the affluent area have to drive to West Colonial Drive or West Sand Lake Road to find a decent restaurant, Debler says: "And people can only eat so much pizza and Chinese food."
With that in mind, he opened Windermere Grill at 13424 Summerport Village Parkway in March.
However, Debler -- a second-generation restaurateur who brought his family's fine-dining style to the Mexico pavilion at Epcot nearly 25 years ago -- disdained the obvious menu choice. Despite his expertise with Mexican cuisine, the menu at the Windermere Grill is ethnically eclectic.
In fact, the only hint of Mexican cuisine in the restaurant is a junior version of queso fundido, a cheese fondue-style appetizer. In addition, guests may order Asian pot stickers, Thai-style nachos, a barbecue chicken pizza, Windermere burgers and daily fish specials such as artfully prepared perch topped with a crabmeat dressing. Desserts include creme brulee and apple cobbler.
The restaurant is closed on Mondays and open only for dinner the rest of the week, with the exception of Sunday brunch. The brunch costs $19 for adults and $11.50 for children, and features an antipasto bar, egg dishes, seafood, poultry, carved meats and a dessert bar.
Debler says he wants a menu people will want to eat from two or three times a week and never get tired of the food -- an obvious problem in sticking with a single cuisine. While he's attempting to follow the menu style of competitors such as Houston's, he says his prices are a notch or two below those brands, with dinner checks averaging about $25 per person.
The room has a feeling similar to its competitors with cherrywood accents, touches of slate, glass and brass, as well as the work of local artists, mixed with plenty of golf-themed memorabilia reminiscent of the original Sam Snead's restaurant in the MetroWest area.
13424 Summerport Village Parkway
Windermere, Fl. 34786
407-905-2819 �
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