Disclaimer: this post is in partnership with Hilton Bonnet Creek. We were provided a complimentary meal to review during our stay. All thoughts are our own.
Recently we booked a little staycation at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek (make sure to read more about this unbelievable resort in our review here.) One evening we had the chance to enjoy date night at the signature restaurant at the resort: La Luce. This modern restaurant was created by a famous Napa Valley chef and features Italian dishes, Mediterranean-inspired drinks, and a Trattoria-style wine program. Currently La Luce is ranked as the #2 restaurant in all of Orlando by TripAdvisor and we couldn’t wait to experience it.
About La Luce
Currently open 5 days a week (Closed Monday & Tuesday)
Open for dinner (6pm to 10pm)
Created by famed Napa Valley chef and restauranteur Donna Scala
Has won several press mentions and awards from Orlando Sentinel, Wine Spectator and more
Fun fact: La Luce means “the light”
La Luce is currently following strict safety and social distancing protocols
A view from the front of the restaurant. The bar is a great place for drinks too.
The Atmosphere
La Luce has a clean and modern look with touches of Tuscan style. While white table cloths and leather seats felt upscale it also had a relaxed resort vibe. Keeping with the name the restaurant was lit by a variety of interesting lights and featured subtle pops of patterns and interesting textures. One thing that was cool to learn is about the founders love for art. There were some installations throughout the restaurant including art done in chalk completely by hand! Close to the bar you can also find a huge library style wall housing all of the wine choices. The restaurant looks out onto the resort pool area and it is good to note there are some outdoor tables for those wishing to enjoy the fresh air. We snagged a quiet table with a poolside view and found our seat comfortable, quiet, and perfect for a romantic date night.
Welcome to La Luce.
The back room had a cool chalkboard wall and stripes.
Here is a peek at some art and unique lighting.
The “library wall” of wine.
The Menu
The menu at La Luce combines traditional Italian family recipes with California innovation. Dishes are made with fresh local ingredients and include options such as salads, pasta, pizza, meats, and desserts. Currently the menu is available digitally. (Click here to check it out.) Each night there is also a specials menu to keep things fresh as well.
La Luce is constantly keeping it fresh with nightly specials.
Currently digital menus are available.
We were impressed with the drink options including these new gin cocktails!
The Drinks
La Luce features a large wine list and cocktails too. During our visit we learned that there was a brand new addition of gin based cocktails to try as well.
La Luce features a Trattoria-style wine menu with a crazy amount of options. (You can check out the latest menu here.) And while Julie did enjoy a great glass of red with dinner we also wanted to try a couple signature cocktails as well. The drink menu includes sigtnature options like Sangria, martinis, and spritzers, as well as a fully stocked bar with whatever you could want. We decided to try the Festa Estiva a fresh cantaloupe concoction as well as Fleur de Lis from the new gin menu. Both craft drinks were fresh and flavorful and we would certainly order again!
The Festa Esteva cocktail.
The Fleur de Lis cocktail.
The Food
Our server Nella suggested some great dishes to sample the vast menu. While we skipped pizza (since we had some the night before) we tried quite a few other items:
BREAD SERVICE complimentary
Foccacia and house bread with dipping oil
Way better than standard bread the focaccia was fresh and fluffy and perfect with the oil (Nella made sure to bring us a bit extra to enjoy with our soup too!)
ANTIPASTI: ZUPPA del GIORNO $10
Roasted Pepper and Tomato, Mozzarella de Buffalo
As soon as we saw the specials that night this soup caught our eye. It was a unique blend of fresh tomatoes with a but ok kick with the red pepper. Very satisfying and not over filling.
INSALATE: BARBABIETOLE $16
Roasted Beets, Green Beans, Fennel, Avocado, Roquefort Vinaigrette
Julie loves beets and this salad was right up her alley. Not just a toppings-on-lettuce type of salad this was colorful bits of veggies blended together in a fresh vinaigrette.
ANTIPASTI: OLIVE FRITTE $14
Fried Spanish Olives, Marcona Almonds
We didn’t order these but Nella wanted us to try this signature item. The fried olives had that salty/nutty taste with the crunchy texture and they were so unique to try. Loved the almonds too. There were a ton too (dare we say almost too many for just two to share!)
PRIMI: PAPPARDELLE FANTASIA $30
Spicy Shrimp, Cherry Tomato, Garlic, Saffron, Pinot Grigio
This pasta course features handmade noodles in a delicious sauce with a handful of large shrimp. The flavor was so good Andrew used more bread to soak up the rest of the sauce.
PRIMI: RISOTTO del GIORNO $36
4 oz. Seared Black Perppercorn Crusted Filet Mignon, Melted Leeks, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Reggiano
Another special that evening was this high quality filet. The peppercorn crust added flavor without being too peppery and the risotto was creamy and delicious with a veggies mixed in.
SECONDI: GRILLED BERKSHIRE PORK CHOP $42
Tuscan Farro, Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale, Aged Balsamic
We were told this was one of the famous dishes on the menu, while we don’t normally order a pork chop out we were really glad we did. This was the most upgraded one we have had, perfectly grilled with a balsamic glaze. Julie really loved the addition of the butternut squash too.
DESSERT: BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING $10
with House-Made Toffee
We were also told to try this signature dessert. The presentation was great and the flavor so rich and decadent. The addition of toffee to dip in the pudding was fun too.
(Being an Italian place we had to try the Espresso Martini too. This one was very good and authentic with two shots of espresso and not super sweet.)
The Service
Our service at Hilton Bonnet Creek in general is always superb so we weren’t surprised to have great service at La Luce. But can we just say Nella blew us away! We found out that the La Luce team is more like a tight knit family with most having been there for close to a decade. The service team is passionate and loves what they do and it shows in their work. Our entire meal was smooth and perfectly taken care of. Nella was knowledgeable about all the menu items and happy to help us craft the perfect tasting journey. Thank you to Nella and the whole team for a great experience that night!
We truly enjoyed our entire experience.
Plus check out our view from our table of the pool area.
Final Thoughts
We were so glad to finally be able to try La Luce. We had heard that is was highly rated but to be honest we don’t usually prioritize Italian restaurants. Man have we been missing out, La Luce completely surpassed our expectations with the variety and quality of dishes. The food was so flavorful and unexpected. The drink menu so extensive. The staff was Excellent! The ambiance was perfect for a romantic night out. And while this was convenient to be staying on site at the resort we would certainly come back just for a meal. We feel so lucky to know this award winning establishment is down the road for us to visit again soon! Thank you again to the whole team for a memorable night out!
MAGICAL DINING PROMOTION
Are you going to be in Orlando between now and Halloween? Make sure to check out Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining promotion. This special time of year features a list of restaurants in the area offering a special three-course menu for $35 (not including tax or tip). Diners receive a choice of appetizer, main, and dessert for such a great value. La Luce is on the list this year with an amazing menu to try. (Click the image to enlarge.) So even more reason to head over to La Luce ASAP.
