Santiago’s Bodega

Went here for HH after work. I have to been to brunch which is amazing and had dinner a couple times prob around a year ago… today I was totally unimpressed– service was good but the food wasn’t too great. We had some HH apps which were spinach dip (oily not good), lamb gyro (good), prime rib sliders (again not good) and then opted for a few regular menu bites of Roman meatballs (very garlicky but good), bruschetta (good), crab legs (overlooked), crab cake (good)…the sangria today was not too great, wine was a better option for sure. It seems the HH food menu changes daily and it wasn’t good at all just stick to regular menu. ½ off glasses of wine are the way to go. I probably won’t be back unless it’s brunch, disappointing for sure.&

I haven been to a tapas place in a long time let alone in Orlando but this was a great experience beginning to end. Some coworkers suggested the prosciutto wrapped dates and the flaming cheese and those were definitely on point. The lamb lollipos were nicely spiced good portion. Ive never had the raw meat tapa but the fresh herbs and seasoning made it a great combo with the cracker. The brussel sprouts dish was not forgettable because the table liked it and we finished it I just cant remember it well right now. To drink I had the chili infused margarita and another one of there specialty cocktails. Both were on point and reasonably priced. We finished the night with some cronuts. Our server was honest pleasant and checked on us often.

Santiago’s is a great place to go with friends to try a bunch of small plates! The atmosphere is relaxing and classy. We had a large group and they were able to seat us quickly on a Friday without a reservation.
The servers did seem a little stressed, which is understandable with a large group like ours, but they definitely let their feelings show on their faces. However, they were attentive and all the orders were correct.
We ordered the beef carpaccio which is kind of a dip that came with crispy bread for scooping. It was good, but not my favorite small plate. But the patatas bravas are a must! The spicy creamy sauce on the potatoes is tasty! We also had the brussels sprouts, they tasted good but I wish they had been cooked a little longer. My favorite of the night was the beef short ribs. They were perfectly tender and the Asian flavoring with the slaw made it just right. Delicious!
To drink, I had the Grapefruit Shandy and it was super good! A rather bigger drink that was strong and delicious!
I’ve heard great things about brunch and definitely want to try it out so I will be back :)

This place has a great ambiance! It’s almost candle lit type of lighting with different color woods and red accents. It really sets the mood!
We were greeted when we walked in and taken to a booth against the wall, which we loved because got to sit together. Our server, Matthew, was amazing! His knowledge of the menu was extensive and he gave us great explanations and recommendations.
We ordered the beef carpaccio, tuna ceviche, beef tenderloin, and shrimp w chorizo.
We loved everything except the shrimp with chorizo… it was lacking– the chorizo tasted more like andoille sausage and we didn’t like that it was served on a skewer, I think it would’ve tasted better cooked together al ajillo.
Definitely try the tuna ceviche, it’s so original– large chunks, mango and avocado– unreal!
The beef tenderloin was amazing with the melted cheese on it… it had a great charred flavor which was balanced out perfectly with the blue cheese butter! Out of this world!
We can’t wait to go back to try brunch!
If you want a romantic place for a date night, this is definitely the spot!

What a great spot to have dinner and drinks. I stumbled upon this a few weeks ago and stopped in for drinks. I loved the ambiance is the restaurant. The bartender was nice and it felt right.
The second time was intentional! My cousins were in town and I wanted to take them to a nice spot. I remembered stopping here a few weeks sooner so I made reservations not even knowing what food they had because the last time here we just had drinks.
Well as we kept seeing more and more wonderful tapas on the menu to order we just kept ordering more, one better than the the last. We were served by Gavin and he just added to the awesome evening.
I wish we lived a little closer because this would be a regular for us. Great service great food great vibe!

After having yummy dinner someplace else, decided to look for another place for dessert. Awesome desserts! Crepes, tres leches, bread pudding and must have a café mocha! Must haves!

I finally got to visit Happy Hour here on a rare day, that I got out early from work. We arrived during happy hour. I thought this would be a good first go at this place, ya know, sample a bit of all the goods. Although we didn’t have a reservation, there was not problem seating us. We even had our selection of where we wanted to sit… on a Friday night even! It was really nice out tonight so we sat outside. They have high top and low top options. Seating outside is for around 50. We ordered both tapas and specials of the day.
Tapas — Beef empanadas, beef skewers, lettuce wraps. The beef wraps were crispy, delicious with melty cheese. Although there was some grease (duh, it’s fried), it wasn’t like it was saturated. The beef skewers were a perfect medium. There were 2 large pieces on each skewer. There were 2 of them. The lettuce wraps were yum also, but as lettuce wraps go… they were lettuce wraps. The crab cake was delish! Not dry, plenty of crab, and a tasty sauce. Good size too, about the size of the palm of your hand.
Since those were so good, I had to order the muscles… and they were ‘strong’ on flavor (see what I did there?) The were no less than a dozen to 15 of those babies swimming in luscious garlic butter with pieces of chorizo… oh so good. What would have made this perfect would have been some bread to soak up some of that heaven juiciness of garlic sauce.
Since I was sitting outside right outside the restaurant, I was able to see the inside. Very rich looking colors of red, burnt orange, browns, maroons. I saw some table with overstuffed bench seating and high top tables also. Very nice artwork. Seemed like it would be a nice romantic meal inside… swoon. Someday.
When we left, we noticed that valet had set up. We were in one their spots, so as soon as we left, the spot was ‘coned’. So there is valet available.
Can’t wait to go again. I think I hear those muscles calling me.

This was our first time dining here, and especially considering how busy Valentine’s Day typically is for nicer restaurants, the service was fantastic. We had the Beef Carpaccio, Saganaki, Patatas Bravas and Petite Rack of Lamb for dinner. For dessert, we sampled the Triple Chocolate Mousse and Passion Fruit Panna Cotta from the daily specials menu and the house donuts from the standard dessert menu.
To start with the bad, there was none of it. The worst things I can say are unfair because they are based on comparisons to more traditional versions of the Saganaki and Patatas Bravas. Their take on each is unique and good in their own right, but don’t expect the Saganaki from Greek Corner or the Patatas Bravas from Ceviche here. The Saganaki was very good and flambé’d, but the cheese of choice doesn’t have the saltiness of traditional Saganaki. We realized too late that this would have been largely made up for by the side of caper berries that we thought only garnished the plate. The Patatas Bravas were not as decadent as we’re used to from Ceviche, but they had a good, more subtle flavor and an unexpected spiciness… a few too many capers for my taste, however.
The Beef Carpaccio was also different from any we’ve had but in this case also bettered by the use of cilantro. We hadn’t had it that way before, and it was delicious.
The best of all dinner items was the Petite Rack of Lamb. It was cooked to perfection and had an amazing crust. I wish I could order an entire rack, but this is a tapas restaurant. I will order this at every future visit!
For dessert, the Panna Cotta was smooth and tart… my wife’s favorite. The Triple Mousse, a combination of Amaretto dark chocolate, Crème de Menthe milk chocolate and Godiva liqueur white chocolate mousses, was decadent and delicious. The house donuts were delivered on the house (good karma I guess? :)) and were topped with a housemade fresh whipped cream and a swipe of what tasted like a blackberry or currant jam on the bottom of the plate. These were amazing as well.
All in all, I would have liked to give this 4.5 stars for food and 5 for service. Marks this high are rarely expected for any good restaurant on a lovers’ holiday, so this is a testament I believe to good management.
Don’t miss the Petite Rack of Lamb!

My third visit to Santiago’s Bodega has confirmed that it’s underwhelming.
The Good: Service and Atmosphere.
Highly focused on the dining atmosphere, Santiago’s Bodega really wants you to feel important. Red furniture and romantic art make this place perfect for a date. Service is also fairly attentive. It’s nice to know you aren’t forgotten about.
The Bad: The food needs a bit of work.
— The Croquettes were tasty: The flaw is that they’re lukewarm on the inside and piping hot around the edges.
— The Patatas Bravas had so many capers that it was difficult not to get a mouthful of brine.
— The Bacon Wrapped Mushrooms were simple: the flaw is that the mushrooms are too big for the toothpicks. The issue with this is that (in a dim restaurant) if I would have eaten them whole, I could have stabbed myself in the mouth with a nearly invisible toothpick. If the mushrooms are so big that they completely cover a toothpick, why not put them on a skewer instead?
— The Braised Short Ribs were flavored with garlic. So much garlic that you can’t really taste much else. I love garlic (so that was fine with me), but my significant other wasn’t so pleased.
— The Saganaki was delicious. Thank you for that.
Conclusion:
Santiago’s Bodega relies too heavily on their atmosphere and not enough on their food. For the price, a little more care could definitely be put in to increase the quality of their tapas. I’ll be coming back, but mostly because there aren’t many great dining choices in Orlando and Santiago’s Bodega is less than a mile from my house.

I’m pretty stingy on the 5 stars but I have now been going to this place regularly for multiple years and it is always good. Besides quality food coming out of the kitchen, Santiago’s has a good happy hour that regulars really appreciate to keep our budgets on this planet!

El mejor lugar para venir a ligar jajjajaja la cena deliciosa las bebidas muy ricas el lugar muy seguro, buen también te y lo mejor que cierran a las 2 am y que no necesitas reservación :)

5 stars for being open at 1am new years eve when no one else was… with happy hour to boot! Half off a good craft beer was the right way to bring in 2016.
Empanadas were decent. I’d like to return for a brunch I’ve heard is awesome.

Had a great experience at Santiago’s Bodega tonight. I love tapas and this place kept it going even for our large group of more than 10 people… they were on it all night with great service.
I really like that you could order sangria by the pitcher. They have both white and red sangria mixed with fruit, wine, triple sec, and brandy. The sangria is extremely refreshing and not too sweet.
I really appreciated that our servers kept bringing us drinks and also refilling our water glasses because some of the tapas is a little salty.
The beef short ribs were really delicious and the risotto with lump crabmeat was quite amazing.
Our group ordered the charcuterie and also a cheese tray, both were gorgeous and ample with slices of meat and cheese. I tried the «patatas bravas» potato wedges that are topped with Parmesan cheese, they were not my favorite but they were still okay. Enjoyed this place and the rustic bodega charm.

I often get surprised when I realize I haven’t reviewed a place I really like but I guess here it makes sense since I hadn’t been here in over a year. Why!!! I LOVE Santiagos! Shame on me.
This place is great, their tapas are tasty, their sangria is delicious, they have a good beer selection, the atmosphere is nice. All in all its a winner for me.
Specifics — I don’t love all their food — some things I really want to like and they just don’t hit the mark for me. However, to their credit, the food is top quality and has good flavor so I think this is a personal preference issue as opposed to a restaurant one. I also don’t eat pork/​beef so I am more limited in my options. That being said — they DO have a large selection of vegetarian options and favorites on my last trip were the burrata and fried potatoes. Yum! I’m dying to come for brunch and actually eat — we did come for my birthday 1.5 years ago but I spent my time between the floor of the bathroom and the seat of my car (hangovers suck) so I didn’t get to eat but was told it was amazing.
I love their red sangria and was told recently pitchers are not a good value — so I recommend buying glasses (which they fill past halfway) as opposed to splitting a pitcher.
Service is usually great. We had a fun blonde chick last time and she was really chill. When she got off work she transferred us and the new guy was meh. He barely checked on us but got offended when we went to order at the bar. Previously we have had REALLY fun and attentive service at the bar and also aloof but attentive restaurant service. So I would say the service depends on who you get (yea, yea that’s not news to anyone).
Now that I’ve been back I will make sure to be more frequent in my visits. It’s a great little spot!

One of the best Spanish restaurants in Orlando!
I’ve been to Santiago’s twice now — once for brunch and once for dinner. Each experience was very different but both equally awesome. Santiago’s is nestle away on Virginia Drive near Quantum Leap and The Fresh Market plaza. It’s a nice little location. Quiet. And the restaurant itself is quaint.
Brunch: I must say after brunching at Santiago’s I would quickly chalk this up to being one of the best brunches in the Orlando area. Everything is bottomless. The food. The mimosas. It’s paradise. The food is set up buffet style on tables that snake around the restaurant. And there is so much of it! Normally I would assume when there is this high a quantity of food, the quality is probably lacking. Not so! Everything was amazing! There is a wide variety, so no matter your brunch preference you’ll find something here.
At about $ 40 it’s a little pricey, so I would save this for a brunch splurge. It’s worth the price-​tag, though. And pro tip: If you stick around for multiple meals you can get more of your money’s worth. We arrived around breakfast and stayed through lunch.
Dinner: I dined at Santiago’s for dinner with my mother after attending the ballet at Dr. Phillips. It was a Sunday, mid-​afternoon, so the restaurant was relatively quiet.
I make it a point whenever I’m at an authentic Spanish restaurant to always order their sangria. Nine times out of ten it is good. And Santiago’s was honestly some of the best sangria we’ve had in Orlando. My mother ordered the white and I had the red. Seriously good. If you like sangria, be sure to order a glass when you’re there.
Then there was the food. Most of Santiago’s dishes are served tapas-​style, meaning they are small plates meant for sharing. We ordered four tapas dishes — the cheese plate, the yellowfin tuna ceviche, the beef tenderloin and the mini quesadillas. And I can tell you that every single dish was stellar!
The cheese plate came with three different types of cheeses that our server indicated are changed out seasonally. I’m a sucker for a good cheese plate. And this one was definitely up to my standards. Then there was the ceviche. I LOVE ceviche, but I’m also somewhat picky with it. Again, this dish exceeded my standards. So much flavor! The beef tenderloin was served medium rare — exactly how I like it — with a blue cheese spread. So flavorful. Just amazing. And finally, the quesadillas. So much cheesy goodness with a delightful fruit salsa on top.
Give my experience here I’m quite certain you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Definitely one of my favorite (if not THE favorite) Spanish restaurants in Orlando. I can’t wait to go back to try more plates!

I’ve been wanting to splurge on a good brunch for a while now, and finally decided to go to Santiago’s. And trust me — every dollar is worth it here, even just for the bacon. (Oh my God the bacon.)
When my friends and I arrived, we had a 45 minute wait, so we decided to walk around Fresh Market to get their wine samples (a great pre-​game to all the sangrias and mimosas we were about to have). Once we got called back, we were seated on the beautiful patio area, ordered a round of sangrias, and promptly went for the food.
*Disclaimer* I was so overwhelmed by the all food options that I don’t even remember their names, but with that being said.
Make sure to try the croissant French toast (which I didn’t even know was a thing before this), pasta, bacon, gravy, spinach, pork & lamb (the sauces paired with these two were heavenly), and snow crab.
So basically, try everything. Also, don’t fill your plate right away because when you turn the corner there’s more food. Can’t wait to come back.

2^nd visit here overall. First timer for lunch!
Décor: Sat outside on another sunny beautiful Orlando winter day. If there is an opening outside, take it!
Menu: The lunch menu has 3 ‘boards’ to choose from and each provides a lot of flavor that is unique to each board In addition, there is a sandwich and soup option to partake in if you so wish to do so. Also, if you don’t want the lunch menu, you can opt for anything off the regular menu! Lot’s of options to choose from here!
Allergy Notice: If you are GF or Vegetarian then share this with you waitress who will promptly bring you the GF and Vegetarian menu! Holy Guacamole are there a ton of options!
Food: One word: #Noms!
Item 1: The spicy lentil soup that has curry! Wow, it was just what I was looking for! Nice balance of spicy with savory!
Item 2: The Spanish Board from the lunch menu which contained 3 mini dishes: Yellowfin Tuna Cerviche (Good portion. Flavor was okay), Pincho Skewers (Nice portion and bonus points to the mango chutney that was served with it), and Potatas Bravas (Nothing crazy special. General spicy chipotle sauce but overall was good)
Tl;dr: I would definitely return here for lunch! #OPTIONS

Santiago’s has quickly become my go-​to spot. They have one of the best happy hours (after work and late night) around. Half off drinks, and an ever-​chaning menu of $ 5 apps. Every happy hour dish we’ve tried (must be at least 20 or 30 by now) has been great.
The real winner is the brunch. It is a VERY high quality buffet. They have crab, lamb, roast beef, desserts, and breakfast foods. The best was the croissant french toast! You also get unlimited mimosas. Its $ 40, but if you are a big and eat LOTS, it is SO worth it!

If you’re looking for a brunch spot, look no further!
Actually, Santiago’s is great any time, but their brunch is what truly sets them apart (and gives them 5 stars in my book).
Located on Virginia, it’s a nice location with a decent sized patio to sit out front. The inside is a little dimmer usually, but there is also a front bar area that is more casual.
The dinner menu is upscale and can get somewhat pricey, but all the food I’ve had has been incredible. HOWEVER — the BRUNCH!
I believe it is $ 45 person, but it includes bottomless mimosas and sangria — and a huge buffet of food items including some of the best bacon I’ve ever had, sliced prime rib, crab legs, salmon, and much more. An absolutely incredibly spread of options that will not disappoint even the pickiest eaters. Make sure you get reservations early, though, because it fills up quickly and people tend to stick around (I know I do!).

I was looking for a spot that was open late, and I’ve been wanting to try Santiago’s Bodega for a while now, so I finally found myself there last night. And boy am I glad about that!
I started with a margarita, which I had a hankering for all day, and they only had original/​lime. No biggie. At first I thought it was kind of weak, but I was way wrong on that! The bartender did a great job making it — the tequila wasn’t overpowering but it definitely did its job. I was a little passed ‘buzzed’ after sucking one of those bad boys down. (I know, I’m a lightweight!)
My friend wanted to order the beef carpaccio, which I had no desire to try, but I went along with it anyway. We also ordered the scallops with chorizo and the tenderloin with blue cheese (Gorgonzola?).
The carpaccio came out first and, I cannot lie, it was absolutely delicious! Capers are one of the few foods I will not eat so I moved them off too the side, but the raw filet with the onion and cheese and herbs combined on the garlic crostini was an insanely delicious combination!!! It melted in your mouth and was so flavorful, not at all what I expected for a meat comprised of raw steak.
The scallops in a chorizo cream sauce were also delicious. Three huge scallops were cooked perfectly and were tender and sweet. The chorizo added a nice salty balance to the dish.
About this time I looked at the drink menu (although I shouldn’t have) and realized they had my favorite wine on the menu! This is only the second restaurant I’ve ever found to have it, so I had to order a glass. On their menu it is listed as a Sweet Red — Sangue Di Giuda. Yumm-​o!
Last out was the beef tenderloin with either blue cheese or Gorgonzola — I don’t remember which. The steak was a little over cooked for my taste (it was close to being well done.) but it was still flavorful and delicious.
Oh, yeah, that wasn’t it. We were presented with a dessert menu and my friend and I kept looking at each other and saying no, yet somehow a slice of their season dessert (pumpkin pie) was ordered. Weird how that happened… The pie was incredible. You could tell it wasn’t made from canned pumpkin and it was light and airy and flavorful and even the crust was fantastic. I could probably eat an entire pie of that deliciousness; it was so good!
The place was cute, the music was great in the background, the bartender was nice and funny, the food was incredible, and it’s open until 2am. How could this NOT get 5 stars?!

This review is for brunch. Santiago’s has one of the best brunches in Orlando… if not THE best. I came here 2 weeks ago with a small group of friends. We had 2:30 PM reservations, not realizing that brunch ended at 3. However, once we heard what was available on the brunch spread, we knew that we had to order the brunch (rather than explore the regular menu) and make the most out of the 30 minutes we had. It was like a brunch-​time Supermarket Sweep.
At the first brunch buffet table, I found delicious gumbo, grits and traditional breakfast favorites. Beyond that, a carving station with beef, roasted chicken and DUCK! Then, there was a salad station and dessert station. By that point, my plate overfloweth. But then, I turned to see CRAB LEGS. I wish I had known about them before we got there. I simply didn’t do my homework on this incredible brunch.
When I got back to the table, a woman stopped by our table and apologized that the crab legs weren’t exactly hot since brunch was ending. She told us that she’d bring us fresh, hot crab legs if wanted them. Seriously??? Awesome! When she returned with a platter of hot crab legs with butter, I had a chance to chat with her for a moment. I assumed she was the FOH manager. Turns out, she owns the place. Great leadership there!
Other Highlights: The service was amazing! Brett was our server. He kept us laughing and kept our glasses full. And we were treated to the musical talents of another server, who performed an awe-​inspiring rendition of Happy Birthday to You. Twice. I think the second «birthday girl» lied about her birthday just to watch him perform again.
The price point for this experience is $ 40. Given the high quality of the food, beverages and service, this is definitely worth the price point when you’re looking for a true treat.