Harlow Grove Restaurant & Lounge now open

The Winter Garden dining scene is continuing to expand and a new restaurant has just been added to the menu. 

Harlow Grove Restaurant & Lounge is located at 186 S. Main St., Winter Garden, bringing a unique dining experience to the community Mondays through Sundays. 

Brought to Winter Garden by Knallhart Management Group, owners of The Whole Enchilada Fresh Mexican Grill & Rooftop Bar, Harrell’s Hot Dogs + Cold Cones, and more, Harlow Grove is “something different,” General Manager Dustin Huckins said. 

The two-story restaurant offers three different atmospheres, house-made dishes, handcrafted cocktails and locally-sourced produce. 

The downstairs area is the lounge, where guests can enjoy a casual atmosphere that’s cocktail-driven. The bar sits 20 people, and additional tables and booths also are available. 

The second floor is the dining area, which offers an elevated dining ambiance and a 10-person bar.

“And then you step out into the outside terrace, and it’s beautiful,” Huckins said. “It’s botanical, like a garden. Everything is separated with planters and we have large leafy greens, overshadowed by a 100-year-old oak tree that we have trellis up with lights. It’s so beautiful.” 

Huckins said he is incredibly proud of the outcome the restaurant achieved during its opening nights and the feedback received. 

“Our most gracious compliment we received on opening day was that it seems like we’ve been here for months, not just a couple of days,” Huckins said. “It makes me proud (of) the amount of work we put in to try to make this as seamless as possible and give an experience that we are proud to provide the community.” 

The restaurant wants guests to stay for as long as they want, focusing on offering the best experience rather than making the most amount of money possible. 

The hashtag #StayAwhile, seen on the restaurant’s napkins, embodies that concept. 

“If you go to Disney or Universal, everything there is a lot more ‘turn-and-burn,’ ‘get-‘em-in, get-‘em-out,’” Huckins said. “We’re targeting for a more casual atmosphere. … Somewhere you can come in and relax and spend a good amount of time at our bars and enjoy good cocktails.”

Executive Chef Phillip Lowd has worked at prestigious luxury resorts and Michelin-starred restaurants across the country, bringing years of knowledge to create a menu for Harlow Grove fitting its late-night, chic-modern jungle theme. 

The menu offers a wide range of dishes, from its three-beef blend burger to pan-seared scallops, lobster grilled cheese, steak frites, tuna tartare and more. 

Courtesy Photo

“We’re trying to cater to all the various pallets that we have here in Central Florida because of how widely diverse it is,” Huckins said. “We’re trying to make it a place that everyone could come to on a regular basis, not just necessarily for your date night or special occasion.” 

Huckins said a menu must-try is the steak frites, which is made using Prime New York Strip, paired with house-cut French fries that are cut to order every day. 

The French dip sandwich is a must-try as well. 

“It’s underrated,” Huckins said. “It’s absolutely incredible and it’s a massive sandwich. It’s a bang for your buck.” 

Cocktails are on his must-try list as well. 

“The HG Espresso Martini is incredible,” he said. “We do ours with pistachio and almond orgeat, and we actually use fresh espresso with pistachio dusting over the top. Everybody raves about it and says it’s the best Espresso Martini they’ve ever had.” 

While the restaurant does not offer brunch at the moment, brunch reservations now are available starting Saturday, April 25. 

As general manager, Huckins has enjoyed the entire process, from interviewing more than 500 candidates to seeing new faces on the dining-room floor. 

“We have an incredible team here,” he said. “We’re very proud. …We strive to do our best and provide every guest the best experience they can have in Winter Garden.”