Paradiso 37

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

The review below is from AllEars. For some reason I couldn't copy the photos, so follow the link to see them.

We've been to Paradiso 37 a few times and always enjoyed it. Drinks are good (and potent) if a bit pricey - but that's typical for WDW. The deck out back overlooks the water/Saratoga Springs and is a lovely place to relax. In fact the view looks an awful lot like this...

Come to think of it, we've only ever sat outside here - one afternoon enjoying some very good live music.

A Taste of the Americas at Paradiso 37

Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney may no longer be the nighttime hotspot that it was in its heyday when clubs like the Comedy Warehouse and the Adventurers Club entertained guests on a nightly basis, but that does not mean that the area is completely devoid of life. As Disney works to develop and breathe new life into the former club district, there are still locations on the island worth visiting. Raglan Road is one such establishment that has helped provide some new energy and excitement to the area with its combination of food and live entertainment.

While Raglan Road brings a little taste of Ireland to Disney World, another restaurant on Pleasure Island provides guests a similar experience but with a much different feel (and one that is a little closer to home). Located next to some of the now-closed clubs, Paradiso 37 is another step in Disney’s effort to reinvigorate this area of Downtown Disney.

Overview:

Paradiso 37 is a very eclectic restaurant. Rather than highlighting the cuisine of one specific country or region, the restaurant offers diners a far larger scope that encompasses the varied cuisines of two continents. A meal at Paradiso 37 allows guests a taste of North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean. The result is a wide array of dishes and flavors that contrast and compliment each other.

The name of the restaurant itself is significant. The 37 acknowledges the thirty-seven different cuisines highlighted on the menu from countries all across the Americas. The restaurant also presents these cuisines in a unique way. Rather than focusing on the gourmet aspects these various cultures have to offer, the restaurant chooses to emphasize what it calls the “street foods” of the Americas. This is the type of cuisine you would find at stands and carts at markets, festivals, and on the streets in the countries of North, South, and Central America. There is nothing really flashy or elegant about the items on the menu, but it does feature many traditional favorites.

This is a restaurant that offers diners a culinary journey from start to finish, sampling foods from many diverse and different areas; you may choose to start with an appetizer of corn dog bites reminiscent of the streets of New York City then travel to South America with an entrée of Chilean Salmon or Argentinian skirt steak and finish your meal with some traditional Mexican churros.

Paradiso 37 is more than just a restaurant and in many ways is similar to Raglan Road except with a Latin rather than Irish spin. Inside the restaurant you can find two bars, including one with a tequila tower featuring (not surprisingly) thirty-seven different kinds of tequila. Other specialties from the bar include a variety of margaritas and what they claim to be the "world’s coldest draft beer," served at a chilly twenty-nine degrees. In addition, Paradiso 37 features nightly entertainment with a live band performing starting at 6pm until close. It is definitely a restaurant that offers a little something for everyone, not only in terms of its cuisine, but also with its variety of beverages and entertainment.

Atmosphere:

Paradiso 37 is a restaurant that highlights all of the Americas, but it has a distinctly Latin flair. This is evident from the moment you enter with the restaurant’s lively music and vibrant color scheme. The walls throughout the restaurant feature bright red, yellow, orange, green, and blue, giving Paradiso 37 a very vibrant feel.

The colorful interior of the restaurant is a contrast to its rather bland-looking, brown exterior.

Also as you enter, be sure to take notice of the very unique light-fixture, a chandelier featuring martini glasses and bottles of tequila.

Another distinguishing feature of the restaurant is its very open, airy feel. Contributing to this are large windows that let in ample amounts of natural light and offer great views of the water in addition to the restaurant’s high ceilings.

The interior of Paradiso 37 is divided into an upper and lower level. I was surprised to see that they actually had a small elevator for guests travelling in wheelchairs that made the upper level accessible to them. The upper level features tables with brightly colored chairs and booths.

There is also a beautiful mural depicting a vineyard and shelves displaying bottles of wine.

The bar in this section of the restaurant is really a site to behold and is almost like a piece of art in itself, crafted out of melted glass wine bottles.

I found this upper section of the restaurant to have a quieter, more intimate feel compared with the rest of the restaurant.

The lower level is more open and its distinguishing feature is its bar and tequila tower. This part of the restaurant had more of a bar-type feel about it and, although it was not crowded when I was there for lunch, I can imagine this part of the restaurant getting very loud when crowded at dinner, especially when the live entertainment starts.

The restaurant’s décor is fairly simple. Just as the restaurant’s cuisine offers a culinary journey featuring dishes from many different countries, travel plays a large role in the theme of the dining room. In addition to their bright colors, the walls are adorned with vintage travel posters from all across the Americas, ranging from locations in Florida and California to Mexico, South America, and various Caribbean islands.

There are also large passport stamps printed on the walls highlighting some of the countries whose cuisine you are able to sample on the menu.

One of the main draws of Paradiso 37 is the restaurant’s location overlooking the water and the restaurant features ample outdoor seating that takes advantage of the spectacular views. While outdoor seating might not be the most appealing option during the hot, humid days of summer it becomes a very desirable place to dine on balmy Florida nights.

The restaurant also features an outdoor bar for those who do decide to sit outside.

Overall, Paradiso 37 is a restaurant with a very laid-back, relaxing, casual feel that goes along well with the cuisine that the restaurant features. It is the type of restaurant that you would feel comfortable dining at with the entire family, but at the same time would be a nice place for a night out for couples looking to get away from the kids or if you are looking for somewhere to have good food and drinks with some friends and enjoy the entertainment.

It should be noted that if you are planning on dining here with children it is probably best to come for lunch or an earlier dinner as the restaurant becomes louder and more bar-like as it gets later into the night.

The Menu:

Since Paradiso 37 highlights the cuisines of countries from all across North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean, the menu features something for almost everyone. As with the restaurant’s atmosphere, however, the menu does have a heavy Latin influence.

Since the restaurant highlights street foods from the Americas, I felt that the appetizers were definitely the strongest part of the menu and offered some of the most intriguing options.There are some traditional offerings such as Quesadillas ($12.99) with your choice of chicken or steak, P-37 Nachos ($13.99), North American Corn Dogs ($8.50) served with honey dijon mustard dipping sauce, and Chili Con Carne ($7.00).

There are also several more unique appetizers such as the Caribbean Crab and Fish Fritters ($9.50) served with a coconut lime dipping sauce, Chorizo & Beef Skewers ($15.99) accompanied by chimichurri pita bread, marinated mushrooms, and citrus yogurt sauce, Shrimp Ceviche ($9.75) featuring shrimp topped with lime juice, tangy tomato sauce, fresh chilies, cucumber, and avocado, Mac & Cheese Bites ($8.50) served with a jalapeno and cilantro dipping sauce, and Central American Crazy Corn ($8.50), which is fire-roasted corn on the cob topped with a spicy yellow pepper sauce and imported cheeses.

There is also an entire section of the menu dedicated just to Chips & Dips. These items are great for sharing if eating out with a group. There is the Mexican Dipping Trio ($7.99) of chunky guacamole, chili con carne, and spinach queso dips, the Salsa Trio ($7.99) featuring pineapple salsa, tomatillo salsa verde, and fire roasted salsa diablo, the Paradiso 37 Queso ($8.50) featuring imported cheeses flavored with spinach, cilantro, peppers, chiles, and onions, Guacamole (Regular: $4.99, Large: $7.99), and just plain Chips and Salsa ($3.99).

The menu also includes a variety of salads, sandwiches, and burgers. For salads there is the exotic Skewered Shrimp & Jicama Orange Salad ($16.99) featuring three jumbo shrimp with mixed greens and tossed with orange slices, jicama, dried apricots, raisins, toasted almonds, and pumpkin seeds and topped with a prickly pear vinaigrette, or the Grilled Chicken Tortilla Salad ($13.99) featuring mixed greens tossed with roasted corn, diced tomatoes, crispy tortilla chips, and queso fresco in a citrus vinaigrette, as well as a traditional Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad ($13.99).

The sandwich offerings include the Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($14.99) topped with bacon, guacamole, queso fresco, borracho beans, and serrano slaw and the Blackened Mahi Mahi Sliders ($13.99). Even the burgers have an exotic flair including the Bacon and Pineapple Burger ($14.99) topped with smoked gouda, grilled pineapple, honey glazed bacon, borracho beans, and serrano slaw in addition to the Jalapeno Burger ($14.99) topped with cheddar cheese, guacamole, marinated jalapenos, and pico de gallo.

The final section of the menu is what they call Platters of the Americas, featuring a variety of entrees from different parts of North, Central, and South America. Among the offerings are Chicken or Beef Enchiladas ($14.99) accompanied by cilantro rice and black beans, Baja Fish Tacos ($14.99) topped with roasted corn salsa, lime crema, and spicy slaw, Chicken or Beef Burritos ($14.99) with sautéed peppers, squash, red onions, imported cheeses, and sweet chipotle barbeque sauce served with cilantro rice and black beans, Chilean Style Salmon ($20.99) fire-roasted and served with roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetables, Colombian Style Crispy Hen ($19.99) marinated with onions, garlic, lemon, and cilantro, topped with fresh citrus marmalade, and served with grilled corn cakes, Char Broiled Filet ($29.99), Citrus BBQ Pork Ribs ($22.99), and Argentinean Skirt Steak ($23.99) topped with caramelized onions and chimichurri sauce.

Be sure to save some room for dessert as the menu features several tantalizing options including the Paradiso 37 Chocolate Stack ($7.99), which is layers of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse served on a bed of warm caramel sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream, the Churros & Sopapillas Combo ($5.99) served with caramel and chocolate sauces, Mini Ice Cream Cones ($6.99) with vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and cookies & cream ice creams, Tres Leches ($5.99), which is layers of white cake soaked in sweet milks and layered with fresh strawberry mousse and topped with meringue, and Seasonal Fruit Empanadas ($6.99) served with caramel and fresh fruit marmalade dipping sauces.

When I was looking at the menu there was no one entrée that really stood out to me, but there were several appetizers that sounded very interesting. Therefore, I decided just to order a couple of appetizers for my meal. The only question was which appetizers I wanted to order. I decided on the Mac & Cheese Bites and the Caribbean Crab and Fish Fritters.

The Crab and Fish Fritters were smaller in size than I expected, but the overall portion was still substantial. The fritters themselves included not only crabmeat and fish, but also shrimp as well as bell peppers and cilantro. The flavors of the crab, fish, and shrimp blended together perfectly so that no one flavor really stood out in relation to the others. The peppers added just the slightest kick to the fritters and the cilantro was barely noticeable at all. The fritters were fried to a beautiful golden brown, but they were only slightly crispy on the outside and still soft and moist on the inside.

The fritters came served with a coconut-lime dipping sauce which really helped to kick the dish up a notch. The sauce had a slight sweetness that presented a light and refreshing contrast to the heavier fried fritters. While the sauce had a very distinct flavor, I felt that it served to actually enhance the flavor of the fritters rather than overpower them.

The Mac & Cheese Bites were something I had never seen before. I have had baked macaroni and cheese and this was somewhat similar except served in a ball-shape and deep fried. The bites were fried perfectly so that they were crispy on the outside, but when you cut them open the cheese oozed out. The macaroni inside was small elbow pasta cooked al dente while the coating to the bites themselves was standard breadcrumbs. While the bites may not have appeared very big, they were very filling and I was not even able to finish all of them.

My only complaint about the dish was the jalapeno and cilantro dipping sauce that accompanied the bites. I thought that the sauce was far too strong in flavor to be paired with the mac and cheese. When dipping the bites into the sauce, the flavor of the mac and cheese was completely overwhelmed by the taste of cilantro. Personally, I felt that the mac and cheese bites were good enough on their own that they did not even need a dipping sauce.

For dessert I decided on the Churros & Sopapillas Combo. The churros and sopapillas are similar to each other in some ways, but they also have some differences and both actually complimented each other very well. The churros were firmer in texture, almost a little crispy on the outside, while the sopapillas were softer and more moist on the inside.

What really made this dessert were the warm chocolate and caramel dipping sauces. While I tried the churros and sopapillas in both, I actually preferred dipping the churros in the caramel and the sopapillas in the chocolate. I felt that the texture and flavor of the churros combined better with the sweeter caramel while the heavier chocolate sauce proved to be a better compliment to the sopapillas. The churros and sopapillas combined with the dipping sauces to make a heavy dessert and the portion size was large enough that I was not even able to finish the whole thing.

Service:

Paradiso 37 is not owned or operated by Disney and as a result the quality of the service was not quite up to the high standards set by other restaurants across Disney World. It was not all bad, however. My server was actually very efficient and the meal proceeded at a good pace but one in which I did not really feel rushed. What disappointed me about the service, however, was that I felt as though my server basically ignored me throughout the course of my meal. I saw my server when he took my order, brought out my food, cleared the table, and brought out the check, but that was it. I was really surprised that my server never even stopped by my table while I was eating to see if I was enjoying everything. There was really no excuse for this because the restaurant was not very crowded while I was dining there and I noticed that my server only had a couple of other tables that he was waiting on.

Dining on a Budget:

One of the things that impressed me most about Paradiso 37 was the relative affordability of many of the items on the menu. My personal recommendation, and one which could save a lot of money if dining with a group, would be to order several appetizers to share. The Crab and Fish Fritters are $9.50 while the Mac & Cheese Bites and the Corn Dog Bites are each $8.50 and even the P-37 Nachos for $13.99 are a good value. Another affordable appetizer selection to split are the various chips and dips. The Mexican Dipping Trio is just $7.99, the Salsa Trio is the same price, and you can’t go wrong with the Chips and Salsa for $3.99.. Combine a few appetizers with a dessert or two to split and you have a very affordable meal for the entire group.

Even if you would rather have an entrée rather than splitting appetizers, the Paradiso 37 menu features numerous options for those that are dining on a budget. The Enchiladas, Baja Fish Tacos, and Burritos are each $14.99. Likewise, if you are in the mood for a burger, the Jalapeno Burger and Bacon and Pineapple Burger are each $14.99. Even the desserts are very affordable, ranging in price from $5.99 to $7.99. These prices make Paradiso 37 much more affordable than many of the other sit-down dining options found at Downtown Disney.

The Overall Experience:

I had never been to Paradiso 37 before this trip, but I can say that I will definitely be dining there again. One of the great features of the restaurant is that it highlights the cuisines of such a large, diverse, and dynamic area ranging from North, Central, and South America to the Caribbean. The result is a menu that features a lot of different choices and there are still several other items on the menu that I really want to try the next time I go.

There are many dining options at Downtown Disney and Paradiso 37 does not receive the same attention as some of these other establishments, largely due to its location on the now mostly abandoned Pleasure Island. Just because Paradiso 37 may go overlooked does not mean that it is not worth a visit. On the contrary, I felt that the restaurant’s laid-back, relaxed, Latin feel (in terms of both atmosphere and cuisine) offered a nice alternative to the other dining locations I have been to at Downtown Disney. Also, the restaurant’s lack of notoriety may make it a little easier to get a table during the busiest dinner times. With its casual atmosphere, good food, and affordable prices, Paradiso 37 is a great place for a night out with family or friends.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

From theDisney Food Blog. I would agree with this person that the entrees seem a bit much, but we've enjoyed an assortment of appetizers here several times. These look yummy!

Paradiso 37 Drinks, Appetizers, and Dessert

Sep 11th, 2011 by Kim.

Paradiso 37 in Orlando’s Downtown Disney has been one of my favorite tapas and drinks places in Walt Disney World since it opened on Pleasure Island back in 2009 (…back when Pleasure Island was Pleasure Island).

Today, even though Paradiso has lost a few of its neighbors, it’s still going strong (in my opinion) and offering some of my favorite appetizers and margaritas on property.

A few weeks ago, Erin Foster and I stopped into Paradiso (at my urging — I hadn’t been there in WAY too long) for some eats and treats.

Paradiso 37 Entrance

Atmosphere

Once again, I was reminded when walking into Paradiso 37 that this restaurant is all about fun — and all different kinds of fun at that!

The martini-glass-and-tequila-bottle chandelier hanging over the foyer is a good indication that this restaurant means business when it comes to happy hour.

Paradiso 37 Bar Glasses Chandelier

And the floor-to-ceiling tequila bar centerpiece showcases what Paradiso 37 is best known for.

Paradiso 37 Tequila Bottle Bar Focal Point

The decor in the restaurant is comfortable and colorful. While the place could be considered “hip,” it’s not cold or off-putting.

Paradiso 37 Dining Room

And spending a meal out on the deck overlooking the lake is positively delightful.

Outdoor Seating and View

If you’d prefer a quiet meal, go to Paradiso before the nighttime crowd starts coming in. We usually go for an early lunch, which means a more relaxed atmosphere, better lighting for photos, no waits for a table, and fewer zinging hormones to dodge.

Eats

While I have had entrees at Paradiso 37, I find the prices to be a bit high to justify getting them when the appetizers are so good I’d rather order three of those instead of an entree. SO, on this visit, Erin and I stuck to appetizers, drinks, and dessert — the perfect way to visit Paradiso 37 in my opinion.

First up, a specialty margarita for Erin and a Mangled Margarita for me! The Mangled Margarita is comprised of layers of frozen margarita and Sangria! I’m usually not a huge Sangria fan, but pairing it with my favorite drink in the whole world made me forget all of that (literally).

Margarita

Mangled Margarita

Our first appetizer was an old favorite of mine. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have it again. The Central American Crazy Corn is drop. dead. gorgeous. It must be one of the prettiest, most enticing dishes I’ve ever seen in my life.

Central American Crazy Corn

Corn on the cob is fire roasted, then covered in a savory-spicy yellow pepper sauce and smothered in imported cheeses. A regular order gets you six quarter-cobs…and enough cooked melty cheese on the bottom of the griddle to make anyone a very happy cheese-a-holic.

Crazy Corn

Sadly, I couldn’t eat all six pieces as I knew I had more appetizers to move on to, but let me just say that I would happily do six zillion DFB posts about Central American Crazy Corn if I could keep eating it over and over again. This stuff is to die for!

Crazy Corn

OK — I’m pulling my self away from posting more photos of the Crazy Corn because I imagine SOME of you have had your fill… We’ll move on to the Chorizo and Beef Skewers, which were presented beautifully…almost as beautifully as the Central American Crazy Corn.

These “serve 2″ (I should hope so!) and consist of spicy chorizo skewers, marinated beef skewers, chimichurri pita bread, and onions. While most menus note that the dish should include marinated mushrooms, I don’t remember them being there. You can see that our dish had tomatoes.

Regardless, these were wonderful. I very much enjoyed the spicy flavor and oily texture of the chorizo (yes, I said oily, and yes, I said I liked it — chorizo tends to be a bit oily…); and the marinated beef was tender and very flavorful. You don’t always know what you’re going to get when it comes to beef skewers in the World, and to have these be moist and juicy was a huge win.

Chorizo and Beef Skewers

We also ordered the North American Corn Dogs — something I didn’t have on my previous trips to Paradiso 37. If you read my Corn Dog Nuggets post previously, you know that these gave new meaning to “gourmet fair food” for me. These were deeeelicious.

North American Corn Dogs

The dogs were salty, moist, and flavorful; the corn breading was light and sweet — very fresh. I was hooked! I’m still hooked!

Corn Dog Cross Section

We moved on to the Mexican Dipping Trio — a cute little bag of tortilla chips accompanied by three dipping sauces: Guacamole, Spinach Queso Dip, and Chile Con Carne. Once again, I think this is a great value (for Disney World, mind you). It’s only $8 and can easily be an appetizer for two-three people.

Mexican Dipping Trio -- guacamole - spinach queso dip - chile con carne

Finally, we decided to cap off our “meal of appetizers” with a decadent dessert. I’d heard about the Chocolate Stack before, but I’d never tasted it.

Suffice it to say that this is heaven on a plate. I’m not a big fan of ALL-chocolate desserts, but I was bowled over by this one. “Creamy” and “rich” don’t even begin to tell the flavor story here. And even though it’s pretty much all chocolate (see the description on the menu photo), there are different chocolate flavors as well as caramel in this dish.

Menu description of Paradiso Chocolate Stack - click image for larger version

If Erin hadn’t been there, I fear I would have eaten this whole thing by myself. Thanks, Erin…I think..

Paradiso Chocolate Stack

Paradiso Chocolate Stack

Overall

I’ve said it before and now I can say it again with even more certainty — Paradiso 37 is one of the best spots around for a meal of tapas/appetizers, drinks, and dessert.

And don’t get stuck in the “entree mold.” While the entrees here are a bit overpriced in my opinion, I think the appetizers are well worth the cost. Pick a few of the appetizers that look good and order ‘em all to share. Then you get several different tastes, a diversified meal, and you have even more room for dessert!

Don’t forget to visit for lunch if you’d prefer a quieter meal with less wait for a table. Lunch is probably a better time to bring the kiddos as well. Sit outside and let them watch the Characters in Flight balloon rise up high in the sky!

Have you been to Paradiso 37 and indulged in appetizers or dessert? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!