Orlando residents know the lakefront community of Baldwin Park as a welcome respite from the overcrowded resort scene. In recent years, the neighborhood's Village Center has added an array of notable restaurants that are luring locals and visitors to the quiet, leafy community, 30 minutes north of Disney World and the Orange County Convention Center.
The most recent addition is Lago (Italian for lake), which opened in December in a prime location on the edge of Lake Baldwin and offers several options for private dining.
Lago's airy dining rooms have high ceilings, oversize windows, and an open theater kitchen. Playful decor accents include curvy green-and-aqua booths, a water wall, and colorful paintings from local artists.
The 290-seat restaurant is available for buyouts, while a private lakefront dining room with adjoining terrace seats 45 and includes presentation capabilities. Smaller groups can opt for the 14-seat table in the private wine room, where a black-and-white modernist built-in holds thousands of bottles.
The menu features classic Italian dishes with contemporary twists, like grilled swordfish with chickpea puree, tuna tartar in basil aioli, and a sauteed-lobster-and-brie panini. Prix-fixe banquet menus are also available.
