Enzo’s on the Lake

We went here because they were voted «most romantic» in the Orlando Sentinel Foodies. I can imagine that may be true if you are seated in the more formal dining room. We wore jeans, and were directed to the more casual dining room. It appeared they were seating people according to their attire. One star deducted.
Wait staff was fine, but a little too busy chatting with each other. No issues with talking to your coworker, but if you’re standing 5 feet away from me with my appetizer in your hand, maybe drop off my food before you have a lengthy conversation.
Ordered the antipasto, decent, spaghetti carbonara, delish, and the white chocolate crème brûlée, yum.
Food was good, environment, meh.

My boyfriend and I have been dying to give Enzo’s a try since we moved to Casselberry. The roadside-​view itself is tempting, if only because you never can get a great glimpse of the restaurant itself when driving by! We finally made reservations for dinner last night, and unfortunately, our experience drove us to write our first Unilocal review. While the architecture exuded the small-​Italian home feel you look for in a quaint, classic Italian restaurant, the all-​white walls were begging for an accent, and the paintings on the wall were just plain creepy. Aesthetics aside, we all know it’s about the food! We were very disappointed in our dishes. I ordered the Papardelle because I was told it was made in-​house. The pasta was served cool and overdone, and while the idea of being served with arugula and mushrooms sounded appealing, the finished product was not. My boyfriend ordered the Short Ribs because we were told that came with the most robust red sauce they offered. What he actually received was overcooked ribs in a sauce that tasted like crushed tomatoes from a can! This dish was also served cold, and it lacked any spice or real flavor. We are both from New York and were really hoping this might be our ‘it’ Italian spot, but the food was so subpar and prices completely unjustified. I tried to save the evening with some dessert — bad move. The white chocolate crème brûlée tasted like a thin pudding pack in a bowl with accosting bitter, burnt sugar atop. The best thing about the meal was the complimentary bread and Italian cookies. :/​This was a big miss for us!

Very good food and excellent service. Ate here recently for the first time in years (I always forget about Enzo’s as an option for some reason). Had the carpaccio, short rib, girlfriend has the fettuccini w/​lobster and shrimp. Her fettuccini was undercooked (not al denti), but despite that everything was very good. Service was excellent. View and atmosphere also very good. Wine list was good as well. A little pricey, but not out of line with what I’d expect. There were a few hiccups like some very dirty wine glasses/​dishes that kept them from getting 5 stars in my book, although these were all addressed quickly.
But I will definitely be back, I consider this a special occasions type restaurant and is well worth it.

Enzo’s is a beautiful restaurant on the lake but that’s about as good as it gets. I had the special of grilled Hawaiian drum fish with puttanesca over top, cheddar cheese risotto and two slices of grilled zucchini — not bad but 34.50? My wife had spaghetti in a white wine clam sauce that tasted like it was made mainly with chicken broth, we sent it back– terrible. The drinks were just as pricey, 8.25 each for an espresso and limoncello. I would not go back. It seemed like an American idea of what a classy Italian restaurant should be without the friendliness or quality cuisine.

Stopped as as we were passing by. Place is a little dated but everyone was very friendly. Service was very good and fast. Good was also very good. Overall I would say it is a very good choice. My only gripe is that the portions are kind of small. We ordered appetizers, soup and meal but left hungry. For the quality of food you get the prices is on, but paired with the portion you get its a little on the expensive side. Overall a good choice.

After spending a beautiful day photographing one of my client’s wedding at Enzo’s I was incredibly impressed with how scenic it is. It’s definitely a hidden gem for couples wishing to be married in a site where they can spend the whole day– bride’s get dressed in a beautiful Italian style room with a lovely marble and wood fireplace that has a door leading right out to the courtyard. The door even has mirrored glass, so we could all peak out at what was going on outside. The garden has several pathways that lead to the dock that are landscaped well in an Italian style– with tall cypresses, shaped hedges and flowers that had been planted recently for Spring. There are also lots of live oak trees on the site, and of course the lake– which has a medium sized dock on it large enough to fit seating for a wedding ceremony and transform into a dance floor after the reception.
The food is Italian family style plated elegantly, and the cocktails were perfect for a black tie atmosphere. The waiters and matron were very kind, and went out of their way to even help me as a wedding vendor.
As a photographer I especially loved how intimate the space was without feeling crowded, and it made my day much easier to not have to travel to multiple locations for the bride & groom getting ready, ceremony and reception. The building has a very charming feel to it since it is older construction, with archways and terra cotta tile floors that felt very authentic, without feeling kitschy. I recommend Enzo’s for couples who want an intimate, Italian villa style wedding who appreciate being outdoors, lakes, historic trees and the atmosphere of a family restaurant.

With every visit, Enzo’s exceeds the previous visit. Last evening we took a friend who recently moved to Florida and we had such a great evening. The sun was just setting over the lake as we arrived. We had a table for four with a lakeview. Appetizers were bruschetta and carpaccio. I told my husband I will one day go to Enzo’s and have multiple orders of the carpaccio as my entrée, it is simply divine. For dinner there was a filet done to perfection, the shrimp Fiorentina, and a pasta dish with seafood. Desserts all around were specialty coffees, a cannoli with a white chocolate gelato and fresh fruit and tiramisu and chocolate soufflé. All of us left very happily full. As for romantic and special occasion places to dine Enzo’s tops the charts for our family and friends. Enzo’s will always be first choice for us. Joanne and her staff are simply the best!

First thing first, it’s expensive. It’s not outback. It’s not applebees. It’s not even Seasons 52. It’s Del Friscos, Eddie V’s, or Capital Grill. Lots of people complain about the price, but it’s top shelf. Know that going in. $ 120-​$ 150 for dinner for 2, and that’s if you don’t drop some cash on a killer bottle of wine.
The food is fantastic. I’ve done Berns, Del Friscos, Eddie Vs, Charlies, 3 Forks, Capital Grill, and many other super premium food joints and Enzos is on par. It’s not my favorite out of the bunch, but it’s solid. I wasn’t disappointed.
Atmosphere is quaint and cozy. It’s an old house scene. It’s got lots of character.
I liked it. The wife liked it. We’ll go back.

I normally do not venture that far north east of downtown Orlando. However, this was a suggested a restaurant that I really needed to try! The food and service were amazing. A wide range of daily and standard menu items. A true Italian restaurant with a wonderful few of the lake for sunset. An excellent romantic dinner location.

Have been meaning to try this place for a while. We went just before Christmas and we were not disappointed.
Food, ambiance and service was very good and the cost was totally acceptable.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Orlando. Beautiful setting (intimate, quiet, and romantic), knowledgeable service staff, and… the food… well, it’s incredible. Major impress-​her (or him!) material.

Food is good to fair; Servers nice but service leaves much to be desired. Forgot to bring 3 drink orders, water, an appetizer and a substitute vegetable. Apologized without improvement. Took 90 minutes for our entrees to be served despite having had appetizers in bar before being seated and ordering dinner as soon as we were seated. Salad and entrée dishes sitting in front of us a very long time, even after we stacked them. Might try it again to see if it was just an off night and to check out the lakeside setting before dark.

Very good taste. Small portions. High prices. Very nice place to eat in. Better at sunset to see the lake, otherwise just a nice restaurant without a view.
Was very noisy due to a large business Christmas party.
Apps are good but small for price. 2 pieces of bruschetta and 3 slices of tomato with mozzarella and a tiny Basel leaf for the caprese. Both 12.95 each.
Dinner was black grouper, mussels and clams in a spicy tomato sauce. I asked if it was Fra Diavlo and the waiter said yes. It’s was a very thin almost watery tomato sauce with no spice. 2 tiny mussels and 2 tiny clams. 36.95.
I wanted to check this out and I did. Won’t be back. Much better value out there for the same taste in Longwood.

Ok, be honest here! I give this place 4 stars for view and authenticity. Taste wise; all the food was good. But that’s just it, good not great. For the cost just expected something more grand I guess. Staff was great very nice kind waitress. A little loud at times during our meal; lots of «regulars».

Fabulous meal. Great food and service. Eating dinner the way it was meant in Italy.
Started out not knowing what to order, but with our waiters assistance it was hands down one of the next Italian meals I have ever had, from appetizers to dessert.
Dropped about $ 150 for dinner for two with drinks. Not bad walking out full and satisfied.

SUPERB service. Food was to die for. Everything was made in house and thoughtfully put together. Highly recommend!

I happened upon this restaurant while out and about and am ashamed of myself for not knowing of it sooner.
As a chef for many years, it is rare to find a restaurant that can elevate a meal to an experience. The experience starts with trying to choose what to order from a well conceived menu of classic old world Italian items. It follows with excellent service (our Server was Brandon and I highly recommend requesting him) that is thoughtful and professional. It continues with outstanding food quality and preparation. We ordered the Caprese, Wahoo (fish special), the Farfalle and the Beef Tenderloin Panini. I couldn’t choose which was the best because they were all incredible. Last, but most certainly not the least, is the setting. Nestled on Lake Fairy for over 30 years, they have the most beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding the restaurant. They are breathtaking to say the least. It’s easy to see why so many weddings and events take place here.
Pricing for lunch was on point, but the dinner menu is on the high end. It is clearly worth the price of the experience, however.
CB highly recommends it!

I had trouble finding anything special about Enzo’s in Longwood. It seemed like basic Italian style food that I could get at Olive Garden with prices substantially higher.
Carpaccio di Manzo $ 11.95: that was our starter. I’ve never had it before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It is extremely thin sliced beef. It is cooked very rare. I didn’t really like it. I think the bruschetta would have been a better choice.
Ravioli $ 22.95: My girlfriend ordered the ravioli. It was stuffed with chicken, spinach, and cheese. Those were decent and well portioned.
Filetto Formaggio $ 34: I was extremely disappointed in this entrée. The menu didn’t say but I think it was a 5 – 6 oz steak with toppings. I didn’t feel like the toppings added to the steak. In addition, they garnished it with a minuscule amount of potatoes. I have no problem paying $ 30+ for a steak, but this was not worth it.
What really irked me was the subpar service. Our waitress really wasn’t attentive. She seemed to be scatter brained. Maybe it was a bad night for her, I can’t know. I know I had wanted to try this place for a while and now I know I won’t be returning.
A bright spot in all this was the scenery. If you do go, I suggest taking a stroll out back by the lake (very pretty), if the prices weren’t so high, Id say you could dump your food in it.

Staff was amazing. Food was top notch. Had the special duck. Hubby enjoyed it. Moist and tasty. I had the filet formage. They gave me an extra serving of broccoli, at my request, because the five pieces of potato and one broccoli weren’t sufficient for me. Considering the amazing bottle of wine we also paid for, my veggie request was free. also we requested our table be moved due to a large party, ladies probably like me celebrating a birthday, coming in by our first table.

Came here for my girlfriend’s birthday and I have to say that overall the experience was pretty good.
The house appetizer was very delightful. A combination of cannellini beans (on steroids), broccolini, roasted peppers, shaved parmesan with salami, roasted egg plant, and I think that was it. It was surprising good considering it’s simplicity. What blew us away was the dressing on the vegetables. It was by no means over powering, and yet so tasteful.
For my entrée I ordered the short rib over pappardelle pasta … oh my. The ribs were so tender, so incredibly flavored that it just blew me away. And over the pasta, it was an awesome combination.
My girlfriend ordered the special, a NY sirloin strip with an espresso rub and some other very yummy flavors! It came paired with some roasted potatoes.
But entrees were exquisite!
The dessert was the «house cake» for the birthday girl and it was well made. Nothing fabulous, but good. And at least the cappuccinos were made as they are meant to be. It was high quality coffee and very good.
The ambiance was a bit odd. Beautiful setting before the sun sets since it is situated on a lake … the name is true … and very beautiful scenery. Inside the restaurant, well, it is nice, but I have to say the artwork on the walls was a bit odd. I would have envisioned some Italian art representing Venice, Pisa, Milan … but not so. Oh well.
Overall a bit pricey so it won’t be a place to hit up often but for a special occasion, it is worth it!!!