Dining at The Ritz‑Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes: on‑site restaurants and bars
The Ritz‑Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes offers multiple on‑site dining options ranging from the Michelin‑recognized steak & seafood menu at Knife & Spoon and farm‑to‑table Southern cooking at Highball & Harvest to poolside bites at Bleu Pool Bar, a coffeehouse (First Drop) and a healthy spa café (Vitale). Most venues accept reservations for dinner (Knife & Spoon and Highball & Harvest), and hours vary by outlet—check with the hotel or the restaurant when planning.
In this guide
- Signature fine dining — Knife & Spoon
- Farm‑to‑table and Southern fare — Highball & Harvest
- Casual poolside eating — Bleu Pool Bar
- Coffee, snacks and quick bites — First Drop
- Healthy options after spa or workout — Vitale, Spa Café
- Pub dining and golf clubhouse — Fairways Pub
- Special events and farm dinners — Whisper Creek Farm
- Practical tips for dining at the resort
Signature fine dining — Knife & Spoon
Knife & Spoon is the resort’s signature steak and seafood restaurant, known for a New American approach that highlights dry‑aged steaks and seafood‑forward dishes. It operates in the evening with both Dining Room and Bar/Lounge service.
Dress code is listed as Smart Casual and reservations are recommended; the restaurant provides valet parking validation for diners. For reservations the resort lists Knife & Spoon’s phone separately.
- Cuisine: New American steakhouse & seafood
- Typical hours: Bar/Lounge and Dining Room open in the evening (verify current hours when booking)
- Dress code: Smart Casual
- Reservation phone: +1 407-206-2400 (per resort listing)
| Service | Typical hours |
|---|---|
| Bar & Lounge | Evening (check current hours) |
| Dining Room | Evening (check current hours) |
Farm‑to‑table and Southern fare — Highball & Harvest
Highball & Harvest serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with farm‑to‑table Southern American dishes that use ingredients from local farms and the resort’s organic garden. The restaurant is open daily and is presented as a casual dining option on property.
Because it covers three meals, Highball & Harvest is useful for families and groups; reservations for dinner are available and recommended during busy periods.
- Cuisine: Farm‑to‑table Southern American
- Open: Breakfast, lunch and dinner (listed as open every day)
- Dress code: Casual
- Reservation phone: +1 407-393-4422 (per resort listing)
| Meal | Typical offering |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Breakfast menu with Southern influences |
| Lunch | Lighter and plated lunch dishes |
| Dinner | Full farm‑to‑table evening menu |
Casual poolside eating — Bleu Pool Bar
Bleu Pool Bar serves casual al‑fresco fare—burgers, salads, seafood—and tropically inspired frozen drinks for daytime pool service. It's intended for pool guests and daytime dining.
The bar operates during daytime hours; it’s a good stop between pools, spa or golf. Poolside cabanas and daybeds are available elsewhere on property for private lounging, though those are separate from regular pool seating.
- Cuisine: American/Caribbean/Poolside fare
- Hours listed: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (daytime pool hours)
- Good for: Quick lunches, frozen cocktails and family pool meals
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Poolside service | Casual al‑fresco menu |
| Typical hours | Daytime (mid‑day to early evening) |
| Attire | Beach/resort casual |
Coffee, snacks and quick bites — First Drop
First Drop is the lobby‑level coffee house serving locally roasted coffee, handcrafted drinks, smoothies, pastries, sandwiches and snacks—useful for grab‑and‑go mornings or a late afternoon pick‑me‑up.
Hours extend early into the morning and into the evening on weekends; it’s a convenient stop before theme‑park days or tee times.
- Offerings: Coffee, pastries, sandwiches, smoothies
- Hours: Mon–Thu & Sun 6:00 AM–6:00 PM; Fri–Sat 6:00 AM–8:00 PM (per resort listing)
- Setting: Lobby‑level café for casual seating and takeaway
| Item | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Coffee & pastries | All morning hours |
| Sandwiches & snacks | All day |
Healthy options after spa or workout — Vitale, Spa Café
Vitale is the spa café located at The Ritz‑Carlton Spa, offering smoothies, power drinks, hearty salads and a selection of bottled waters. It’s designed as a lighter option after treatments or exercise.
Vitale’s hours differ between weekdays and weekends and the menu focuses on healthful choices rather than full‑service dining.
- Cuisine: Healthy/Wellness café
- Hours: Weekdays 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; weekends 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (per resort listing)
- Good for: Post‑spa or fitness refuel, smoothies and salads
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Weekdays | 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Weekends | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Pub dining and golf clubhouse — Fairways Pub
Fairways Pub sits at the resort’s golf clubhouse and offers clubhouse fare, craft microbrews and draught beer with views over the 18th hole. It is convenient for golfers and anyone wanting a casual evening by the course.
Hours and service levels can change based on rounds and business needs; the clubhouse lists Full Service, Lite Bites and Bar Only windows through the day.
- Cuisine: American clubhouse fare
- Typical day split: Full Service mid‑day, Lite Bites late afternoon, Bar Only into early evening
- Good for: Post‑round meals, casual dinners, watching golf
| Service window | Resort listing times |
|---|---|
| Full Service | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| Lite Bites | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Bar Only | 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (subject to change) |
Special events and farm dinners — Whisper Creek Farm
Whisper Creek Farm is the resort’s on‑site 7,000‑sq‑ft fruit and vegetable garden with an adjoining outdoor event space used for seasonal dinners, farm‑to‑table experiences and private events. The venue supports communal or plated meals for larger groups.
Menus here are seasonal and designed around produce from the garden; availability and capacity for chef’s‑table or family‑style dinners depend on event scheduling and should be booked with the resort’s events team.
- Venue: 7,000 sq ft garden + 11,000 sq ft event space
- Seating formats: Communal tables, Chef’s Table, plated dinners for events
- Capacity notes: Whisper Creek can host plated dinners or receptions for several hundred (confirm current capacity with events)
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Communal Tables | Seating for family‑style seasonal menus |
| Chef’s Table | Small private seating (example: up to 12 at the Chef’s Table) |
| Large events | Plated dinners/receptions (contact events team for current capacities) |
Practical tips for dining at the resort
The resort lists seven primary dining venues on its dining page; additional on‑site restaurants and 11 total on‑property eating options are cited across sources. Not all menus or hours are posted in one place—confirm current hours and reservation policies directly with the hotel or the restaurant.
The property charges a mandatory daily resort fee that can cover certain services; parking is valet‑only. If you have dietary restrictions ask staff—vegetarian and vegan options are available across outlets.
- Reservations: Recommended for Knife & Spoon and for dinner at Highball & Harvest during busy periods
- Family dining: Most restaurants welcome children; adults‑only rules apply in spa pool and certain adult spaces
- Dietary needs: Vegetarian and vegan options are offered across venues—notify staff when ordering
| Useful contacts | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hotel/BookResorts agents (24/7) | +1 (888) 605-1350 |
| Knife & Spoon reservations | +1 407-206-2400 |
| Highball & Harvest reservations | +1 407-393-4422 |
