As a pregnant picky eater, I kind of dreaded going to Pharmacy. I got annoyed with hip pain as we walked around trying to find the place. (I'm one of those "I don't get it!" people when it comes to the secrecy about the location.) I whined that no menu online made it hard for me to pick what to eat ahead of time (a picky eater's standard.) I shed a tear when I looked at the drink list, not just the adventurous cocktails but also the mouth-watering beer list. And I pouted at the food being more advanced than I care for.
The reason I went? My chef husband was uber excited. And I have to say, I was very pleased! It was awesome to see how happy my husband and our friends were with their meals. Foie gras, bone marrow, clams, pork, fried chicken, paella... and a pizza for me. Oh, and we all LOVED the fries. The homemade ketchup was to die for! Knowing I was the stick in the mud, I could see the appeal for guests. For a smaller, changing menu they did have a lot of options, from simple to complex. And the service was A+ remarkable. Our server was attentive but appropriately, and gave great suggestions. He also brought me a large glass of water (the usual ones are small) commenting he had sisters so he knows what it's like! I thought that was very sweet.
If/when we go back, it will of course be for my husband, but this is a place I don't mind tagging along. Although I hope it's after October so I get indulge in some alcohol!
Great place with the mystique it deserves!! Cool elevator entrance that must be searched for with only 2 tells for finding. Went on a recommendation and was not disappointed at all!!
Food was phenomenal!! Started with the bone marrow with ox tail jam...slap your mom before you have it because you sure will want to afterwards!!! For dinner me and my buddy had the steak frites. I am somewhat of a steak frites connoisseur, so my expectations were a tad high, but overall they were very well prepared and scrumptious!
The drinks...when you read "gas" in the description, take that as truth of a strong drink...but delicious!! The drinks all together were amazing.
Overall, was a great place with great food, drink, atmosphere and people. A return customer I shall be!!!
This place is really the cat's meow. I would safely give it 4.5 stars. I came up from Miami for a small vacation and was staying outside of my usual Winter Park area, on I-drive. Needless to say I don't like staying on I-Drive, because it is far from all the restaurants and bars I like to go to, however, we were doing 3 days at Disney parks and decided it would be good middle ground.
In searching for some non-chain, gastro-pub style restaurants in the area we came across Pharmacy. The reviews were good and it was open late, so it was a win. We had a little trouble finding it at first, because of it's speak easy, hidden (elevator doorway) style, but enjoyed the hunt. We were met by a really friendly host, who sat us right away!
I do have to say, I really enjoy going to a restaurant where the waiters and staff are really excited about what they do there. Our waiter was pretty damn awesome, thorough and knowledgeable. His recommendations were also SPOT ON.
I had the Wagyu Burger and it was quite possibly one of the best burgers I've ever had. I can see where people that are inexperienced with QUALITY GRASS FED MEAT and above average burgers would dislike it. The burger tastes expensive. There is a huge difference between good grass fed meat and crap. From the taste to the texture. This burger really did it for me. The fries were also really damn good. Even the pickles were amazing and I hate pickles. Â My boyfriend had the pork chop, which I tried even though I am not a fan of them and it was really PERFECT. Â I pretty much tried everything at the table and nothing was disappointing in the least.
The cocktails are really really different and well crafted, albeit slight expensive. However, you get what you pay for and I had no problem paying for any of it.
This place is not for everyone. I have said it before and I will say it again a developed and mature palette is necessary. If you don't fall under that category you are better off going to a chain restaurant.
I could really give this restaurant a 3.5 starts but I could not mark the rating a 4 because it didn't deserve the extra half stat in my opinion. Â Pharmacy is quite novel but the execution isn't quite as good as it should be. Â First the decor..outstanding. That was a plus. Â The service was good. Â The drinks...what I think Pharmacy should be showcasing were rather lack luster. Â The drink menu was limited and not very creative based on the prices charged. Â The food was mixed. Â My meal (the bolognese) was outstanding the fondue and fries were excellent but the steak, based on two patrons with me, was awful. Â They claimed it was prime and it was nowhere near prime. Â The meat was so bad that never of them could finish it....so my recommendation is to stay away form the steak and order probably anything else on the menu.
Would I go back? Â Probably not except for the bolognese.
This place and service is theme-y and average at best. Waitress was too pushy with the gluten free menu and insisted on spending time going over each and every item on the "gluten free" menu advising which items were gluten free...
Water glasses are too small, making any private conversation impossible with the waitress having to refill them every 5 minutes.
The burger was well seasoned but too tough, the gluten free bun was excellent. French fries were a real disappointment and the spicy mayo tasted like regular mayo.
Overpriced for sure, $12 cocktails? GTFO.
We were in Orlando for a couple nights for a conference and were looking for a restaurant that was outside of Disney but not too far. Â We stayed at the Swan near Epcot and it was $40 cab ride to the restaurant.
We waited about 20 minutes for a table (they do not take reservations). Â We had a half bottle of wine and I liked how all of the wines were $10 per glass, $19 per half bottle, and ? for a whole bottle. Â Then we enjoyed the marrow and rock shrimp appetizer, had the paella and pork chop for mains, and finished with the blueberry buckle for dessert. Â All the food was fantastic and I thought everything was well priced with nice size portions. Â Service was great! Â My only complaint was that it was a bit loud. Â
In a sea of chain restaurants it was great to find a unique spot that focuses on locally sourced seasonal food.
A+ atmosphere, food and service. Speakeasy but still simply decorated, with just enough classic items, like the elevator floor indicator and scale at the host station, to set you in the times without the feeling that nothing has been replaced in 80 years. Our waiter was friendly and well-informed. He was more than up to the task of making tailored recommendations, and the sommelier recommended a petite sirah that was excellent.
I had the double cut pork chop, which was cooked great to medium-rare and brined just right. The greens were definitely fresh, and our waiter mentioned that they are delivered every afternoon, often with roots and still alive until the dish is prepared. My wife had the sausage pizza, which was incredible. No sauce, crispy thin crust, spicy crumbled Italian sausage and served on a baking sheet. Next time, I will be sure to try another pizza. We were in a party of four, seated at a table for six, and our friends had the steak tips and paella, which they both liked.
The appetizers were not as strong as the entrees. The fries were cooked well but not that exciting, and the sauces didn't add much. We also had the beef marrow. I thought it was good but the feeling was less than universal. Marrow has a soft texture that is not terribly popular and a somewhat salty/fatty taste. I can't really recommend trying it unless you're with someone who is really into it already.
For dessert, we also shared the blueberry buckle, bourbon sundae and lemon tart. The blueberry buckle was best of the three, but the others were good too.
Cocktails were interesting and very good, but not quite up to the billing. I enjoyed the Feed the Pigeons, which is based on a white whiskey and a pear liquor. A friend in our party had the Woodford Reserve-based drink, and the key lime didn't work well with it, which is a shame as that is both his and my favorite bourbon. My wife had the punch, which is strong, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The last drink was grapefruit-based and had mixed reviews. I would say it was my second favorite on the table, while others tasted some medicinal tones.
We really wanted to LOVE The Pharmacy as it was recommended by friends and we had heard the buzz about the place.
The food was good and they had an interesting menu with local/farm to table options. The pizzas looked great. We had the Wagyu Burger which was good but not great, the rock shrimp which was really good (get some bread to soak up the extra garlic broth) and the caesar salad which was very good.
We did have less than stellar service starting with calling ahead about an hour asking if we could make a reservation or call-ahead. They said it was no problem and they had a lot of tables open and Wednesday were not that busy. We got there about 45 mins later and was told they had a 45 min wait while more than 1/2 the tables in the room were 2-tops sitting at 4/6 person tables.. wtf!!
After we saw the Pharmacist at the bar for a couple rounds while we waited, the manager did go out of his way to get us sat at the other end of a 2-top which was nice. Then they were having issues with their POS system and our food orders never went through.. which was great to find out about 30 mins after the fact.
Try to go outside of the post work day rush to avoid the Cougars, awkward team work dinners, and single crowd working their game.
You will probably have to ask some around that area where the hell it is.. look for the elevator door..
So, let me preface this with the fact that I adore the concept and had months of hype before my first meal here. And please know 3 stars is a good rating... it's legit A-OK!
I will begin with what I loved.
I went on a Thursday evening so maybe it was more of a party crowd. We arrived pretty early and only had to wait for a table for about 10 minutes, that was nice.
Everything is made in house. Yes, everything down to the ketchup and mayo. I don't even like mayo and their citrus mayo (I guess more of an aioli) was delicious on the fresh cut fries. Yes, Gremolata hand cut French fries - they are served in a bucket, yes, a bucket. We were worried only two of us would not finish them but I am pretty sure we almost turned the bucket over and had the crumbs fall in our mouth. Great flavors and cooked perfectly.
We could not decide on our main dishes so we ordered two and shared them both. We got the local egg tagliatelle bolognese and Cassoulet which was duck confit, sausage & pork shoulder. Both were FULL of flavor and cooked to perfection.
The pasta is hand rolled each morning and you could literally taste the freshness, so good. The duck was cooked perfect as well, not greasy, just perfect. My favorite was the pork shoulder, it literally melted in my mouth. And the carrots that were cooked in, also melted with a burst of all the flavors - it was delicious.
I was full but I couldn't help but order an old time hot fudge sundae! It was the perfect size to cap off my meal and it was delicious.
Hats off to the chef's, delicious creations for sure!
Now, for the things that threw me a little.
Loved the idea of not having signage and finding the place on your own. Yes, it's an elevator door that you have to hit the button to enter, however, once you open the door, you are immediately inside the place and it's not a big place. Also, if you have to wait for a table, there really is no waiting area. The bar is tiny and you don't want to disturb the people who are dining there by ordering a drink over their arms. For such an intimate, exclusive place, it would be nice to have a waiting area and not feel like you are in the way.
I do like the idea of the long tables and sharing with strangers as it's a great way to meet new people but if you are there for an intimate dinner, it's a bit more difficult. Definitely call to see if you can get a reservation if you are wanting a more private table.
The acoustics are very weird so maybe I was there when other loud people were there but man was it clamorous. So that threw me a little since it has more of an intimate feel but then you are overwhelmed with everyone else in the place. You never forget the size of the place if that makes sense to you.
Our server was a nice young lady but she wasn't really all in. She was very hands off which was good in that she was not interrupting but at the same time, I feel like she could have been a bit more attentive. Our waters were never empty which was a good thing. Our drinks did take a while each time around which we totally understood but each time we ordered (which I think we had three drinks) mine was always delivered before my dining companion and he got the excuse that each one of his drinks he ordered were "more complex and took a while to make" which we didn't really need to hear each time. Ya know? We get it. It's a fancy cocktail...
Also, for the cocktails, nothing blew me away. All of them were okay. I may return and sit at the bar just to experience the crafting and chat with details about the drinks, maybe I would get a better understanding of the process and truly enjoy the cocktail.
Overall it was a nice experience and I had a great meal but I have a feeling it will improve over time.
We heard a lot about this place and we're pretty excited to try it out. Â First off, its a cool/stealth place, the elevator entrance hidden away is very unique. Â The staff were extremely friendly.
The food on the other hand, not so great, two of us ordered the Paella, we both at the same time looked at each other and thought it was very dry and did not have much flavor at all. Â We had asked the server if it came with a decent amount of seafood prior and she said "absolutely!". Â We got 1 shrimp, 2 clams and a piece of "tile" fish over a small bed of rice.
My wife decided to get the "Wagyu" burger, it looked really good when it was brought out but she looked at me and said "taste this", so i did, and again, completely bland, no flavor at all.
We also had the "Rock Shrimp" appetizer, while this app was tasty the shrimp were tiny and covered in a sauce and you had to peel each one, pretty messy.
At the end of dinner my wife wanted a coke. Â We ordered from the waitress and it took about 10 minutes, she stopped by the table a couple of times and said "your coke is still being made, it will be ready in a few minutes". Â She brought the coke out and again, my wife said taste this.. so i did... it was completely flat, no fizz, tasted like someone left a can of coke open all day long then served it over ice.
All in all like i said the place has a cool vibe to it, it's EXTREMELY noisy but we didn't mind that too much, they don't take reservations so be prepared to wait an hour or more to be seated, the bar area is very small so chances you will have to leave and come back are very high if you go on a busy night, we visited on a Friday evening.
Unfortunately as much as we wanted to like this new "gem" in Dr. Phillips it bombed out for us, we would not recommend and probably would not go back. Â For our burger and Paella our tab was close to $90.00 so it's fairly pricey as well.
Decided trying out Pharmacy since I saw a few friends talking about it online.  Hidden away among  other shops and higher end restaurants in Dr. Phillips, you think for a moment you are getting on an elevator to go down a floor and then it opens right into the restaurant.  Not the most brilliant of "speakeasy" hideaways, but A for effort.
I made the mistake of going on a Friday night around 6:30 and it was packed. Â Its a very small space with maybe 15 tables total and the bar is small. Â We were told it was a 60 minute wait for a table so we tried to crowd around the bar to get a drink.
Once inside we realized this was no speakeasy. It was a Cougar Den! Â Dr. Phillips finest cougars and their dates/husbands/sugar daddy's were out in full force. We are in our 30's and were the youngest by far. Â Perhaps the crowd gets younger as the night goes on.
We looked at the limited cocktail menu and were a little disappointed by the selection and since we had been spoiled at Hanson's Shoe Repair with our bartenders making us anything and everything under the sun, we felt that this place was just too crowded for that type of attention and care. Â I ordered a drink that had huckleberry vodka, scotch and cherry liquor. Instead of watching my bartender tend to my drink, I watched him pull out a small bottle of clear alcohol and pour it into a glass for me and give it to me. No garnish, nothing. Â Don't get me wrong, the drink was good and strong, but for $12 I expected a little something more than a pre-made drink. Â What was I tipping them for? Â All the while sipping on my concoction that could have been mixed a month ago for all I know, I was in the way of all the servers who went to the bar to ring in items on an iPad. Â Not the most convenient of places in such a small space. My friend and I grew tired of the cougar crowds and left before we were called to eat. Â I would like to come back when it is not so busy and see if the food an overcome the lackluster cocktails.
Hidden Elevator Entrance? Check.
Alcohol? Check.
Homemade Sodas? Check
Awesome Food & Service? Check. Check.
For my first speakeasy experience, I'd have to say this was the cat's meow! Finding the entrance may be a little difficult at first, but it's part of the experience. Park near Regions Bank and look for the ritzy elevator door and you've got it. It's on the 10th Floor. ;)
I came here with my parents and my boyfriend. My parents didn't quite understand the concept ("No sign? What if people get frustrated and go somewhere else to eat?"), but they enjoyed themselves nevertheless. My mom asked our maitre'd to surprise her with a drink and he came out with one of the strongest and tastiest cocktails I've had. I didn't catch the name unfortunately, but if it's the standard, I give them an A+. Their sodas are all homemade, so you might get something similar to Coke or Pepsi, but you can definitely tell it's a little unique. No refills. :P
The food here is cooked only when you order, so that means you should order ASAP because it'll take some time for the food to come out (up to thirty minutes for some dishes). I loved that because it means that food doesn't sit under hot lamps and everything you eat is literally right off the stove.
For appetizers, we ordered the Rock Shrimp and the Our Sausage pizza. They were both tasty, and though the pizza was supposed to have ghost chili oil on it, it wasn't unpleasant and had a faint kick. My only complaint is how oily everything seemed to be -- the oil literally dripped off the pizza when I picked it up.
For the main course, we ordered the Cowart Ranch Ribeye "Steak Frites", the Roasted Whole Seely's Arc Thyme Chicken, and the Cowart Ranch Wagyu Burger. My dad loved his steak -- the flavor was amazing; and the chicken definitely gave us all surprise when it came out -- we weren't expecting a whole chicken. lol. The Wagyu Burger was almost sinful, it was so tasty. Juicy, thick, and cooked to perfection; it was so good, I almost gave up eating meat for the rest of the week since I didn't think anything could compare. lol. Not to mention their amazing fries. I consider myself a fry connoisseur and their fries topped every fry I've ever had. Seriously. o_o
Though we were stuffed by the end of it, we still had to try out their desserts. We decided to share the Texas Lemon Tart and the Old Time Hot Fudge Sundae. Both were super tasty, and true to the speakeasy spirit, I definitely tasted a hint of alcohol (cognac?) in the sundae.
Service was great; our water glasses were never empty and they were always checking in on us.
I loved the elevator door, I'd probably press the button all day if I worked there. It was broken when we first came in (someone had tried to shove their way in, and literally broke the door), but it was fixed by the time we left.
I'll definitely be back for more.
I was excited to try this place when I saw the entrance was just an elevator door. I was with a group of 7 friends and we were told it was an hour and a half wait, which I expected on a Saturday night especially with the size of the restaurant. There was also a party of 25 that night on one side of the restaurant, so we were told we were going to be seated at another larger table once the current party seated there left. The party did not end up leaving until 2 hours later and we waited a total of 3 hours. That wasn't the restaurant's fault and the employees apologized. However when we finally sat down (one would think the service would be impeccable after the wait), the server brought us water glasses and never filled them. She later came around and said "let me bring you more water," not even realizing she never filled them in the first place. Another employee (I think the manager) ended up filling the glasses.
The same server also did not bring one of our friend's cocktails and later came by with it saying "oh this was leftover at the bar, it's on the house" again not realizing she never brought the drink.
On the up side, I got the caesar salad and the Bolognese which was delicious. The food also came out very quickly.
Overall, the food was great (not sure if it was worth the 3 hour wait), but the service was terrible. The server was not attentive and not organized to say the least. Also, they do not take reservations.
They definitely need more staff, but they might be a violating the fire code.
Came back again last night for a date with a friend who's a major foodie. Have to rate it a 5 this time! We had:
- Foie Gras... perfect this time. Just the right temperature and the portions were balanced. And the balsamic grapes weren't quite as over-saturated (bloated with balsamic) this time, so the flavors were spot on.
- Bone Marrow. About as decadent as the foie. An exciting indulgence. Best part of the plate was the oxtail, which was flavorful, complex and moist.
- Clams. Could drink the broth alone. The clams are not the star of this dish. The broth with the sourdough bread is soooo delicious.
- Fries. Again, great house-made ketchup and aioli. HUGE portion.
Our server was very attentive and thoughtful. She gave excellent recommendations and was sweet/thoughtful.
Also, the ambiance was absolutely perfect. It's intimate without being stuffy... perfect for a date or for a special night with friends.
Will definitely be back!
I want to keep this place a secret so it does not get too busy but dang, I also am forced as a Yelper to share my find! Â I discovered this gem via word of mouth. Â As far as I know, they don't advertise but they do have a facebook page as well as a web site (but you will have to find them on your own... just like finding the front door!) Â I was so intrigued to find this place once someone said it was a secret, that it took me about 15 min of searching to actually find it once I was in the area. Â If you read a few more of the reviews, I am sure you will figure it out... but I wont tell. Â
Once you do find it and walk in, you are greeted by J.R.... one of the best hosts in the business. Â We were not there for dinner but to just have a drink before heading to another place for dinner so we just sat at the bar. Â Its like you stepped into a different era...a 1920 speakeasy of days gone past. Â The music, the decor... everything was thought out and impressed us. Â
We were greeted at the bar by Dominick and soon discovered the fizzes... other wise known at adult soda pop. Â I tried the manhattan one and my partner had a different one... i cant remember what it was but they were fantastic! Â Served in hand capped soda bottles and lead crystal glassware. Â
Our conversation with J.R. continued and we soon met Tyler and Chef Loren. Â What a great bunch of people who got together to create this place. Â It was a labor of love and it shows. Â Soon our bellies were ready for food and we did not want to leave so J.R. recommended the Garlicky Cape Canaveral Rock Shrimp. Â Wholly mother of god... we were blown away with the flavor and succulence of these shrimp. Â We had ordered a pound of shrimp to share and they were gone in 10 min. Â If you do order these, be prepaired to suck your fingers clean. Â Once the shrimp were gone, there was all this garlic juice in the bottom of the bowl and we said to ourselves...'if we only had some bread to sop it all up with!"... just then, Chef Loren came out of the kitchen, saw what was left and said... 'let me get you some bread!" Â She totally read our minds! Â I would have licked the bowl if I was not in public.
As the evening continued, we drank more, ate more (we also had the fondue - yummo!) and soon realized we had been there enjoying ourselfs for almost 2 hours. Â We totally missed our dinner reservation but did not care. Â Hanging out here was one of the best nights my partner and I have ever had.
Atmosphere  10
Food 10
Service 10
It is very rare that I give all 10s for any place but they deserved it. I truly recommend checking out The Pharmacy! Â We plan to go back again and enjoy dinner and some more wonderful cocktails! Â Say hi to everyone for us and tell them Chris and Joe sent ya!
Enjoy!
Whaaaat!! Elevator for a hidden entrance?! Sold!
I'm a huge fan of speakeasies and this one is at the top of the list in its own category. Combining the old times with new and pairing it with elegant menu options just sets this place apart from it all.
Entrance is next to the Big Fin restaurant, in a small hallway. The elevator should say you're on the 10th level, obviously not the case. The experience itself is already over the top. I could have cared less what they served but not to my surprise, the menu was just as spectacular as the experience. I'm definitely coming back again with an empty stomach. I just want to try the whole menu.
Slight warning, they make their own soda so don't expect the same taste as a glass of pepsi.
Pretty cool place! small so get there early! Â Also pretty hard to find unless you know what you are looking for. Â Enter in the old school elevator and get transformed back in time!
Love all the different drink concoctions! everything we tried was very tasty!
We had a bunch of appetizers, pretty much everything on the list... bone marrow, rock shrimp, fondue.
I'd say (i know this sounds crazy) my favorite part was their 100 yr sour dough toast they serve with the apps. it literally could be the best bread i have ever taken.
if you have 2 people get the chicken dish!!
Our server was either spread really thin, or just slow. We had to keep asking other staff members for things due to the long span of time between when our waitress returned. really the only gripe i can think of. we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Love this place. I've been here a few times and have had a good experience every time. Other than being an extremely cool place to check out, the service is very good and the food has been excellent. I've had the pizza, burger, clams, meatball soup, rock shrimp, the fries and the steak... and all were outstanding. Definitely worth checking out!
Review Source:This place is the BEST hidden gem in Orlando right now!
We dined on a Friday night and only waited about 20 minutes, had an amazing drink at the bar, was sat at a comfortable table and had the BEST service from Leah!
The staff is nice and so inviting. They explain the whole menu and concept so you really enjoy the experience.
I can't stop dreaming about the rock shrimp, french fries and homemade pasta! Next time, we will try the Roasted Chicken and claims.
This is MUST try if you're in the Dr. Philips area!
Don't miss the secret elevator door ;)
I had been eager to try the Pharmacy based on all of the extraordinarily favorable Yelp reviews that I had read, so it was with great pleasure that I ventured out this past Thursday to visit Restaurant Row's newest addition.
Others have commented on the Speakeasy theme of the restaurant, which is quaint but not really on point. Â A hidden entry is certainly fun, but without the risk of a raid, there really cannot be a speakeasy feel. Â That is not to criticize, but to share my thoughts on the Speakeasy fad.
On to the restaurant.  We were greeted by a very pleasant maître d' who promptly seated us at a table near the bar and chatted with us about The Pharmacy's success.  We learned that it is open from 5 until 1 every night except Sunday and that from 7 o'clock onward (5 o'clock on the weekends) the joint is hopping.  Good to know for future planning and also good to know that the kitchen stays open until at least 11 each night (and always until closing on the weekend).
The interior is a relatively small L-shaped room.  Tables line both arms of the L with a bar sharing half of the left side of the room.  Décor is a fusion of deco accents with simple wooden tables.  The room works and I found it pleasing to the eye (although my high school aged son would have preferred either windows).
Our server (all of the servers we could observe, actually) was a delight. Â They know the menu -- a heavy emphasis on locally grown, organic and sustainable ingredients -- very well. Â We were quickly offered menus and asked if we wanted drinks. Â Both my son and I ordered sodas (all of which are made on the premises) and then explored the menu.
Regarding the sodas, they were very good -- flavorful but lacking the chemical burn of a brand name soda. Â I also believe the sodas may have cost the Pharmacy a fifth star. Â At no time was I cautioned that there were no free refills on the sodas. Â As a result, a substantial portion of my bill was for soda at $3 per glass, and they were small glasses at that. Â I am not suggesting that the sodas were over priced, but when soda is not given as a free refill, the servers should be instructed to advise the table accordingly.
The menu is both interesting and limited. Â I would have liked more selections from which to choose, especially since I do not eat meat and I am not partial to shellfish. Â Still, I was happy to order a Caesar salad and a Blanco pizza. Â My son ordered the Margharita Pizza.
My salad was good. Â Fresh ingredients, a light dressing and excellent, buttery croutons. Â I did not really recognize it as a Caesar salad as the greens were not Romaine as far as I could tell and the dressing was not familiar. Â Still I enjoyed it very much. After all, what's in a name?
The pizzas were excellent. Â Cooked in what must be a large high temperature wood burning oven, the crusts were perfect -- charred but not burned to a crisp. Â My son enjoyed his pizza -- cheese, tomoto a basil -- and he fought through the entire pizza despite have just come from having his braces tightened. Â
My pizza was a revelation -- a white pizza with baby corn, baby rock and garlic. Â I don't think I have ever had a pizza that I have enjoyed more. Â I will order it again, and again and again, until my wife or my doctor tells me that I have to stop.
The Pharmacy is a winner on Restaurant Row and worth checking out. Â I hope that in time they will expand the menu, and they should find a way to control soda costs (Maybe raise the price and make it an all one can drink model), but those are small complaints. Â The Pharmacy is going to be around for a long time.
This place is pretty neat. I love the idea of it- it's a restaurant that is suppose to have a "speakeasy" vibe to it. They don't advertise, and there is no sign at the door. And... the door is an elevator door! You need to know where you're going in order to find it.
The drinks that I had were pretty stiff like how I like it- I had the Pharmacy Manhattan, which consisted of whiskey, vermouth, bitters and a couple of other things. It's pricey though, $12 per cocktail. It comes in a small bottle which they then pour out into a glass for you. I don't think that's as fun as watching them make the actual drink in front of you (like the Courtesy downtown)
I had a couple slices of pizza, which came on an upside down baking sheet instead of a plate. Cool idea. The pizza was pretty good.
The server was very attentive. We never ever had an empty glass of water at our table of 8.
The only downside about this place is that it was pretty busy and the noise level was pretty loud. It was a Thursday night around 8PM and every table was full in the section that we were sitting.
I'll go here again. But only on a special occasion. I don't enjoy spending $12 on a cocktail that I don't get to see it being made.
Wow...
This is now one of my favorite places to go! I've read about this place on Yelp! a couple of months back, and just haven't gotten a chance to go. I regret that I didn't go earlier, and now I have to make up for lost time!!!!
Service - The service was impeccable. As soon as we walked through those magical elevator doors, no one was at the podium. The bartender soon noticed that the host was not there. He left the bar, and immediately greeted and seated us! As soon as we were seated, our server came to say hello and presented us with menus. Told us a little about the history of the place, what they are all about, and talked about their specials for the day. (Everything is SO fresh).
While we are looking through our menus, the host came up to us and apologized that he wasn't able to greet us and hoped that we enjoyed our meal. (BROWNIE POINTS!)
Drinks - When I want to go out to drink, Speakeasy's are my place of choice. The folks at Pharmacy definitely know what they are doing. While they have a great drink menu! I let my server know simply that I was looking for something Citrus, Ginger, with no preference of liquor. The server immediately provided me with a suggestion, and when he returned, I had tasted one of the best drinks that I've had!
Food - NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM. So good. We had their Fondue as an appetizer, their whole chicken as an entree, and their blueberry cake and basil ice cream yogurt. SO GOOD. Everything is SO fresh, you can literally taste the freshness when you put a piece of food in your mouth. As always, dessert is my favorite (and the most important) meal of the day. I cannot describe to you how good it was. Fresh Blueberries and Basil Ice Cream made in restaurant... What is not to love?
One of my new favorite "go-to" places. For directions, be sure to read "Jennifer C's" review below. She does a great job on describing how to find this hidden gem!
So some say it's all about location. Well if that's true - this place will go out of business. And that's what I love about it. It's based in a newer entertainment strip mall of sorts off Sand Lake almost to the intersection of Apopka-Vineland. The closest big restaurant is Flemming's Steakhouse. There's not a lot of parking in the area - so I'm hoping the complex fixes that. We were there on a weeknight and I can't imagine what that place is like on a weekend!!
Look on the building for the numbers 8060...walk through there. There is an elevator on your right - DON'T GO THERE. Keep walking straight and on your left will be another elevator door.
Push the green button and you're there! INSIDER TIP: Don't tell the people that you are with anything. You be the expert and just follow these instructions and you will look like a rock star and your guests will be amazed and confused. It's awesome.
The bar is the clear attention-getter. I couldn't stop starring at it, and felt bad for the people sitting there thinking I was looking at them. There are so many pretty bottles of alcohol and tiny little homemade bottles to look at. Even the glasses we saw come out of the bar were beautiful. We couldn't stop looking towards the bar. The rest of the place is decorated in a sort of dark industrial look with mirrors around - which I found helpful for spying on the food others were eating.
This is also not a place for children. Â I didn't see one child while I was there. Â They do not have a kids menu. Â Kind of nice for a change of pace.
The drink menu is intense. Â There's a lot to read and it all sounds amazing. Â So much of what they make is homemade, so you just want to try everything!
I opted for the "Pharmacy Inaugural Fish House Punch." Â Â Sugar, Lemon Juice, Dark Rum, Chognac, Apple Brandy
My husband enjoy the Gin & Tonic with homemade tonic. Â He also had a "Pharmacy Manhattan" and enjoyed both a lot. Â The drinks were strong and tasty. Â All the drinks are $12, except the punch which was $4. Â And it was STRONG!
The menu here isn't big. But it's obviously well thought-out and puts attention on locally grown food that is all homemade. The portions are hefty.
I started with french fries and soup. Â See what i did there? I figured I would eat a bit lighter so I could have dessert.
The soup was warm on this cold Florida evening, and it was delicious. Â The meatballs were juicy and the soup had so much flavoring. Â I had never thought of putting meatballs in, what is basically, chicken noodle soup. Â MIND BLOWN.
The french fries were enough to feed about four people. Â I pretty much ate them all.
My husband ordered the clams and a very fancy entree, the Cassoulet. Â It was this crazy baked mixture of Duck Confit, Sausage, Pork Shoulder, Navy Beans and bread crumbs.
All of the food was quality. Â You could tell that time and effort went into the dishes. Â The waitstaff was really knowledgeable about all of the food and ingredients. Â Since we ordered basically 3 appetizers and one entree, we basically said they could bring it all out at the same time. Â But the chef suggested that's not a good idea. Â They don't use heat lamps and really it would be better for the quality to just send the food out as it was ready. Â Fine with me!! And I'm happy that they do it that way.
Of course, I was saving myself for dessert. Â They had three different dessert options: Â Hot Fudge Sundae, Texas Lemon Tart and Creme Brulee.
I wanted to go with the sundae, and let me tell you what... Â Not only was it the best one I've had in a LONG time, it transported me back to my childhood.
I love that it came in a metal cup. Â That just reminds me so much of all the old fashioned soda shops. Â Now, let's talk about what's inside.
I asked for light whip creme. Â Mistake #1.
I made my husband eat the cherry. Â Mistake #2.
See, I don't really like whip cream and I hate cherry's. Â But after he ate it, the manager came over raving about the cherry's and how they are the original maraschino cherries...which are darker and not as "fake sweet" like the red ones everyone is used to. Â I should have tried it!!!!
As far as the whip cream, it's homemade and tastes nothing like the whipped cream I'm used to. I could have eaten a whole bowl of it. The ice cream was homemade as well and was a very creamy, very vanilla ice cream that really tasted like ice cream.
But the real winner of this entire dish was the hot fudge. Â I pretty much licked all of the chocolate off the dish when I was finished. Â I, of course, had to ask about the chocolate. Â I was told it's made on site and is a combination of semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate. Â It was heavenly.
Overall, one of my favorite dining experiences in Orlando. Â Everything about it was great and I just love the whole theme and idea.
For more information including pictures: <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmrsjennifercook.com%2F2013%2F03%2F28%2Fsecret-fun-at-the-pharmacy%2F&s=7e4c425ebd59163646b4085085a9d0359d9ead9d3b6f3df007b177bad7ff8e27" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://mrsjennifercook.c…</a>
So cool! My friend and i decided to check this place out and we had a good experience. It is a lil tricky to find but it is fun and I think  it adds to the experience of the concept The Pharmacy has adopted.
The place has a great atmosphere and a really cool eclectic decor, relatively small, only about 10 tables and I'm not sure if they even take reservation so keep that in mind and be prepared to wait. Â
We had to wait about 30 mins for a table so we hung out at the bar and got some pretty good drinks. The drink menu was pretty good and there were lots of cocktails that sounded great, def can't wait and try more!
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The food was also pretty darn good, we got some foie grass with preserved grapes and it was pretty tasty, the foie gras was really nice, smooth and creamy, great way to start the night! Next we had bone marrow with oxtail and fig marmalade and it was pretty good. The oxtail with the fig really went great with the marrow and crostini.
Next we ordered the clams and they were great! Really fresh and tasty and plenty of them on the order.
The last dish we had was the duck, pork shoulder and sausage cassoulet, it was a rustic yet delicious dish, I really enjoy all components in this dish. The duck was roasted perfectly, the pork was super tender and the white sausage was awesome! I believed they were potatoes and of course white beans in there too.  I think this was my favorite dish of the night, although we both getting pretty full at this point but I still was able to enjoy the dish very much  so that tells me it was pretty good.
The service was good and the food came fairly quick for the exception of the caussoulete. All in all I really enjoyed my first visit here and i plan to comeback ASAP. So far food and drinks were good, if anything changes on my next visits  I will update my review accordingly but sofar they are a solid 4 starts for me!
Very cool place. Excellent service staff. Â Had the soup, the fries and the Thyme Chicken. Â Would recommend all the above, it was delicious and all had a different and unique twist. Â Drinks were also very unique and packed quite a punch. Â Dessert was sooooooo good, too! Â Will return for sure.
Review Source:Won't belabor the points made by the other reviewers, other than to note the menu selection is small but superb--where else in Orlando can you find Rock Shrimp, bone marrow, and fois gras on the same menu? All are very tasty. Not to mention the unique cocktails, a fizzy scotch and huckleberry vodka mix for example. This place does not disappoint (so long as you can find it, that is).
Review Source:What a wonderful food experience. Both my companion and I are from out of town. Â We got lost and tried to call 411 for directions, but if you call and ask the operator for The Pharmacy, they will laugh at you. Â So I remembered it was next and owned by The Table. Â The Pharmacy answered the phone and gave me great directions to get there.
We were seated immediately and we each ordered a cocktail. Â Be warned (and the drink menu will warn you) that they are not supersweet and a little strong (I didn't notice). Â The lack of sweetness through my companion off, but she was brought a simple syrup to add to her drink. Â For her it didn't make a difference, it just wasn't sweet enough. But if you like sweet drinks, this is an option. Â For what it is worth, I would have drank hers too, if I wasn't driving.
For starters, I ordered the meatball soup. Â It was very simple and yet very flavorful. The meatballs were good, but unnecessary. Â The broth was so complex, so meaty, so wonderful, that I could've just ate that and been happy. Â (It's true, it was filling, so I could have just ate that and a dessert.) Â My companion ordered the rock shrimp. Â It was served with the shell on, so it made for messy eating. Â I don't eat sea food, so I can't really comment. Â The server suggested bread to dip in the shrimpy butter sauce, which was kind and my companion seemed to enjoy. Â We also shared the bone marrow and oxtail/fig jelly on toast. Â This was delicous, but something I would not have ordered if it had not been for my companion. Â I don't like scooping the marrow out of the bone.
For dinner, my companion had the steak and fries. Â Honestly, it was huge and she finished it all, except for a piece of fat. Â I had the casaroulet which had duck and sausage, Â I was so full from the appetizers that I could not finish it. Â I probably ate about 1/2 or maybe less. Â It was delicious though.
For dessert, we shared the lemon tart and creme brulee.  Both were excellent.  The meringue on the tart was light and piled high, the lemon filling was a perfect blend between sour and sweet, but the bottom crust was  a little chewy.  The creme brulee was both light and dense.  Of course the pleasure of breaking through the burnt sugar topping is always a favorite.  The custard was just so right, that I am not sure how to describe it.
My companion is a bigger eater than I, and so I think that I would have liked the restaurant if we had NOT gotten the 3rd appetizer and the main course. Â Go in with a plan to share and a plan to return so you can try more the next time you go. Â Also? the service was not hurried, but right on time. Â Since the water glasses are low, they come back often to check on you. Â It was a nice night.
Sssshhhh! Do you want to join a super special secret club that is hidden in plain view? Inside you will have the chance to eat some really amazing, locally focused farm to table food and experience some equally wonderful thoughtfully handcrafted cocktails? You can't get in unless you know the trick of how to find it and what to do once you get there? Of course you do! And so did we. That is why we found our way to The Pharmacy last night.
The very clever and talented purveyors of this modern day speak easy Tyler Brassil and Loren Falsone own the just as creative restaurant concept next door called The Table. Each space has it's own unique twist on making dining out a delicious adventure. And yes it is totally fun to be in on the secret.The exclusivity factor that comes from having an unmarked entrance to The Pharmacy ends at the sliding elevator door because once you step inside the staff couldn't be nicer or more welcoming.
Inside the space is relatively small with a cool bar area that is really quite stunning in it's simplicity with a soft robins egg blue backsplash surround glowing behind the neatly aligned rows of glassware and bottles. Antiqued accent mirrors throughout the room help give the illusion of space in a really subtle way. The ceiling is high enough though that sound really bounces around making for a pretty loud and lively vibe. It wasn't until I went to the restroom near the end of the night that I realized that they have some really great period music playing in the background. I kind of wish the sound level was just a bit lower so that I could have enjoyed the additional ambiance of the music. If I had any other complaint at all it was that the slate floor made for a rocky chair experience and the planked wooden table was uneven sloping outward so I repeatedly had to make a grab for my tableware as is slid toward the edge. Once I was too slow and my knife hit the floor. But a server scooped it up as quickly as it had fallen and was back in a flash with a replacement.
Enough about the space - let me talk food and drink. We each tried one of their signature cocktails. Marty opted for the Kings Mark which is one of their Fizzes - a drink that is traditionally finished with some form of carbonation or as they call it - gas. It was a mix of Huckleberry Vodka, Scotch, Maraschino liqueur and gas. It is delivered  in an old fashioned pop bottle which is opened and poured table side. The amount in the bottle allowed for an ample second serving. I chose the Brandy Crusta which was a mix of Apple Brandy, Rum, Lactart, Tart & Sour mix and simple syrup served in a lowball glass. Lactart I discovered through the wonders of my Google machine, is natural flavoring that is made from lactic acid that was commonly used during prohibition to help improve the flavor and reduce the yeastiness in low alcohol beer. This was a lovely cocktail, smooth and well balanced with good clean ice.
For our meal we started with the caesar salad. This portion was more than enough for two people. The dressing was nice and light yet flavorful and the croutons were tender on the inside but wonderfully crunchy on the outside. For our entree we opted to try the roasted Seeley's Arc Thyme Chicken. It was served over roasted fingerling potatoes, onions, garlic with a pan sauce. Let me tell you this was an ample sized bird and we will be eating the leftovers for a few days. You have to wait a little longer for this menu item but it is worth the wait. Marty said it was the best roasted chicken he has ever had in a restaurant. I'll leave it there.
For dessert we ended with the Texas lemon tart. This was a buttery tart shell, filled with a perfectly balanced lemon curd, topped with a mountain of  meringue and served on a compote of fresh strawberries. O.M.G.
We can't wait to go back and try other things on the menu. Hope to see you there. So find your way to Via Dellagio Way. Park near the Regions bank. Walk through the arch into the breezeway underneath the number 8060 and push the green elevator button on your left. Open sez-a-me. I think we need a secret handshake.
Random thoughts that occurred to me while at the Pharmacy:
This elevator door is waaay more realistic than I imagined it would be.
THIS swanky place is in the middle of suburbia feel complex? no way...
Staff in 20s outfits, flapper fringe and all= nice touch
Really welcoming host, didn't even judge how underdressed we are (side bar- we were being spontaneous tourists, otherwise we would have dressed up!)
Super nice waitress.
I like their emphasis on local foods and liquor.
Their decision to make all infusions in house is balsy- the taste I expected from my negroni isn't quite there, but hey, I'll forgive them.
Delicious foie gras but small
Yum cheese fondue+really good crostini
short and effective wine list (note to self: order the petite syrah again!)
Next time Im in town, will certainly return.
Found The Pharmacy on Yelp the other day and decided to try it out with my wife on a date night. Â Went there around 10pm on a Saturday after a movie. Â
Like everyone has said, the place is a little hidden and you wouldn't know it was the entrance unless you have been told. Â A journey back to the prohibition era where the only place to get liquor was at a speakeasy. Â The hidden bar in the back alley and at first glance the entrance looks like an ordinary elevator door. Â Very cool.
Not a very big place, but a great place to hang out. Â You get a cocktail and a food menu. Â The waitress was very helpful explaining everything on the menu. Â The concept of the menu is to local ingredients. Â
The drinks were pricey at $12 a cocktail, but don't worry they are really strong and you will probably only need one. Â I had one that was made out of this smokey tequila type liquor. Â When you take sips, it feels like you are sitting at a camp fire and you are tasting the smoke. Â A very cool sensation that I have never had in a drink.
We ordered the foie gras and the sausage pizza. Â I love Foie gras and since it is very rare to find these days I get it anytime it is on a menu. Â It was served with two pieces of toasted bread and some type of fruit. Â The foie gras was creamy and melted like butter. Â The pizza was topped with sausage, scallions and a spicy oil that gave it a nice heat element.
Overall I loved this place. Â We will definitely be back.
This trend of reviving the "speakeasy" atmosphere, both in bars, and restaurants, is really bringing about some amazing places to eat and drink. Â I saw the one review posted by Steve A. here, and it piqued my curiosity. Â It is exactly as I thought it would be, and turned out to be a really fun and tasty experience for us. Â
We had little trouble finding the entrance, thanks to those that have paved the way to help in that area. Â You hit the button on the fake elevator, and the door pops open to reveal the restaurant, and you are in. Â We went on a week night, and it was a little disheartening to find ourselves being the only ones in there. Â Arriving at 7:00 PM, and leaving around 9:00 PM, no others really wandered in. Â I'm sure all of that will change soon, as once word gets around, this place is sure to see tons of business. Â
This unique atmosphere really let us enjoy the place to its full extent. Â We chatted up the bartender all night, and the owners and chefs came out to talk to us about the food, drinks, and all about how they planned to theme the place as a sort of speakeasy bar/restaurant. Â The drinks were all made using different local liquors, a total departure from the name brand stuff. Â While we were there, they were making the fizz drinks, which they make there, carbonate, and put into small glass bottles. Â I had two different ones, both delicious, and both unique to most anything I find at other bars. Â My wife had two other cocktails, a gin and tonic, and a "punch," both of which were awesome as well.
As for the food, we sampled the rock shrimp, a cheese fondue, and a sausage pizza with ghost chili. Â All were amazing. Â The rock shrimp are hard to find around here, as the chef let us know they had trouble even securing what they had for this week. Â The pizza was not overly spicy, just the right amount of kick, and all the ingredients on there were super fresh. Â
Overall, we will definitely be back, as we have to work our way down the drink menu and try some new things. Â They did share with us that the menu will be evolving, to feature what is in season during the different times of year.
This unique hideaway boasts incredible cocktails, libations and appetizers! I had the Neapolitan pizza and the Garlickly Cape Canaveral Shrimp and it couldn't have been any better. The staff is enjoyable and the atmosphere just make this place a new favorite on my list. Great for parties!!! I will definitely be having my next birthday celebration here!
Review Source:The Pharmacy is a secret. It's a restaurant with no sign, and so far no website or published phone number. In fact, the whole point is that it's hard to find out about, and hard to find... just like the 1920's speakeasy it's patterned after.
It's the latest concept from Tyler Brassil, Loren Falsone and Dominick Tardugno, the people behind The Table, an 18-seat table that serves a different, locally sourced meal each night. In fact, The Pharmacy is right next to The Table, but it's well hidden. Finding it is half the fun, but I'll let you in on the secret if you really want to know: down the passage to the south of The Table is a fake elevator. The tip-off is that it says you're on floor 10! It also has a 1920's style arrow pointer above it that suggests you're in a high rise. Push the button and step back into the 1920's.
Well, sort of. There are theming issues. The room is more industrial than 1920's, and beside the cool backlighting of bottles on the bar, the tables look more like they're from a barbecue joint, and the 1920's lighting fixtures are more appropriate to a department store than a speakeasy. The music is right on, though.
As is the drink menu. House-made bitters and an emphasis on liquors popular in the era create what is perhaps Orlando's most interesting list of libations. There are also a limited selection of wines by the glass, and beers.
If you've been to The Table you know that the food is special, and the same philosophy has been applied here: local sourcing of fresh ingredients. There are flatbreads, a kobe burger and Caesar salad, plus other small plates. We tried the fondue, which had a nice tangy cheese base and a strong dose of wine. The grilled, crusty bread served with it was excellent. We also had the garlic rock shrimp, which were (predictably) a mess to eat, but quite delicious.
It will be interesting to see how The Pharmacy does. For a brand new restaurant, they had a fair amount of business, especially considering the lack of sign, phone and website. On the other hand, it's almost impossible to find out about it, and the name may be the biggest liability. It doesn't scream "speakeasy," and searching for "pharmacy" online is not likely to turn up a restaurant.
On the other hand, imagine how much fun it will be stepping up to an old elevator with your date and watching his or her expression as you push the button and the doors open into the 1920s!
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