Have you read about the Aardvark – the SoDo District community benefit retail outlet that turned into a correct neighborhood Florida gulf coastal-encouraged gastropub with some of the very best seafood and burgers in Orlando?
Aardvark Beverage’s story goes back more than 30+ years, starting up as a regional convenience shop. In early 2020, new ownership changed to a entire provider restaurant – a genuine gastropub. With the new ownership less than Emmie Olivecrona, arrived new inspiration and a new menu with anything designed in-household and sourced domestically as significantly as feasible – They supply their brioche bread from Douce France Bakery in Winter Back garden and fly in their po boy bread from New Orleans 2 times a 7 days.
Shrimp Scampi
The Aardvark also gives a range of sparkling, champagne , white, & red wine with hand picks from all around the planet. Beer fans rejoice – there is also a rotating lineup of 22 beers on faucet, lots of regionally sourced, and above 200 various beers made available in bottles or cans to appreciate in the restaurant or to get property.
For people brunch fans, there is also a superb Brunch – Saturday, Sunday & Monday -10 am – 4 pm that includes $15 Unlimited Mimosas for each Entree and frozen beverages.
We just lately obtained a likelihood to interview owner Emmie Olivecrona – who smokes all the fish dip and smoked objects in property her self – and received some insight driving The Aardvark.
Ricky Ly of Tasty Chomps: Tell us about your knowledge rising up – What were being some of your most loved reminiscences all-around food growing up?
Emmie Olivecrona: My mom was from Japan so I grew up with some awesome Japanese food & traditions. She believed in constantly applying the freshest ingredients in every little thing she made. I loved supporting her in the kitchen. In addition, remaining a military brat, I acquired to dwell in some amazing nations with incredible food stuff options. Hawaii & Sicily were in all probability my favored nations to reside in. In Sicily, our Landlady had an olive farm that she would just take my brother & I to on the weekends. She experienced a coal fired pizza oven on her farm. She would make us the ideal pizzas! Traveling to my spouse and children in Japan was often a deal with as nicely. Acquiring to eat as a great deal onigiri, natto, soba, & udon ended up my favourite points when checking out them.
MAC AND CHEESE
What do you consider helps make The Aardvark exclusive?
The nostalgia of the community advantage shop turned into a Coastal Encouraged Cafe with complete company eating. It’s unquestionably not what you expect when you stroll inside. The sum of refreshing seafood we have I imagine definitely surprises persons when they see our menu
What impressed you to get into the meals market?
I have been in & out of the cafe business for about 30 decades. In substantial faculty, I labored in quite a few places to eat in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. When I moved to Florida, I worked in lots of different styles of dining places spending my way via faculty. My Japanese Grandmother had a Pub in Yokohama, Japan so perhaps it was normally a component of me to be in this market.
Shrimp and grits
What are some of your favorite classes realized in your a long time in the industry?
You can never ever care also much about the high quality of foodstuff or the amount of provider.
What is some thing you wish folks to know about Aardvark for their initial time eating there?
We make all our sauces & pickles in dwelling and have some of the freshest seafood close to. We have a rotating range of seafood for our Fish Monger’s Exclusive & Anchors Aweigh Sandwich. Our Butcher’s Blade Exclusive rotates with diverse farmhouse meats weekly as very well. Most importantly, persons would not assume the Wine Collection we have these as Groth, Shafer, Orin Swift, & Louis M. Martini. It is not a little something you feel you would discover in an old convenience keep in SoDo.
What is new at The Aardvark?
We appear out with a seasonal menu with the shifting of the seasons, very well, what “seasons” we have in Florida . Some of our new summertime menu products are 50 % Rooster, Burrata Salad, Smoked Gouda Mac, & Steak Frites. Our Fish Monger’s Bounty & Butcher’s Blade are Chef’s Weekly Specials that rotate. A short while ago, our Chef did a Butcher’s Blade with Elk Filet that was out of this world. We may well incorporate it to the following menu roll-out.
Tell us about your favored menu objects suitable now that folks can get at your restaurant?
My favored things are The Kraken & Fish Monger’s Bounty. Our Chef does a weekly special for Octopus & Seasonal Fresh Fish which are always amazing! I do really like our Mahi Reuben & you just cannot at any time go mistaken with our Aardvark Burger.
Major five most well-liked dishes at The Aardvark?
- The Aardvark Burger with our Property produced Garlic Aioli, Gouda, Smoked Bacon, Artisan Romaine on a Brioche Bun
- Grouper Sandwich with our House built Slaw, Cajun Remoulade & Pickles
- Mahi Reuben with our House Sauerkraut, Cajun Remoulade, & Little one Swiss
- Smoked Fish Dip Property Smoked Fish with Chicarróns, Crackers & Residence created Seasonal Pickles
- Southern Benedict (provided for the duration of Brunch) with our Property made Biscuit, Blackened Catfish, Poached Eggs, Fried Heirloom Tomato & a zesty hollandaise sauce
The Aardvark FL
2610 South Fern Creek Ave, Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 894-9999