Social Profile: 
✔️Breakfast ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
… View more
Osteria Ester is the sixth concept from Good Salt Restaurant Group, joining celebrated local destinations The Osprey, Reyes Mezcaleria, The Monroe, Sparrow, and Seito Sushi Baldwin Park. Under the culinary direction of Chef Michael Cooper—known to many for his work at The Osprey—the restaurant pays homage to the comforting classics and communal spirit of Italian-American dining. “Growing up in New Jersey, Sunday dinners and the neighborhood red-sauce joints were everything,” says Cooper. “Osteria Ester is my love letter to that feeling — the food, the family, the energy. It’s about simple dishes made with care and shared with the people you love. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 5-10pm. Brunch Saturday-Sunday 11am-3pm coming in March!
Address and Contact Information
Address: 629 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: (407) 203-3577
Website: https://www.osteriaester.com/
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Osteria Ester – Italian-American Restaurant in Orlando
Osteria Ester brings warm Italian-American hospitality to Thornton Park with handmade pastas, hearth-baked focaccia, Italian wines, and classic cocktails.
Osteria Ester (@osteria_ester) · Orlando, FL – Instagram
Thornton Park, Downtown Orlando Italian-American restaurant. Opening Hours: Tues-Sat 5pm-10pm. Family of @goodsalt_rg. Let us make your event unforgettable.
Osteria Ester Review – Orlando – Lemon Hearted
A new Italian restaurant in Orlando has opened from the Good Salt Group. Osteria Ester is located in the former Soco space in Thornton Park.
Last Updates
Reviews
Jay Noble
First visit to this new Good Salt Group creation and as expected it is wonderful, like each of their creations.
My wife and I quietly celebrated our Wedding Anniversary on this visit. From the moment we stepped in the door the place feels very inviting and the aromas are enticing from the kitchen! We were seated with a view into the kitchen and greeted by our waitress Janelle who gave us wonderful suggestions and helped us narrow things down to a manageable list for appetizers and dinner. Started with the Burrata and Truffle Arancini along with the House made Focaccia.
Burrata was extremely on point, made onsite and it truly tasted so special, such a hearty portion that worked beautifully with the tomato’s and Balsamic. The Truffle Arancini arrived with three servings on top of a luxurious white crème, full of flavor and just a hint of spice, very much a highlight app. The Risotto was perfectly prepared and I can honestly say this will be on my plate again in future visits! As we moved into dinner my wife chose the Ester Salad with grilled shrimp and I had to get the main feature, Lasagna Rotolo. The salad was fresh, with a wonderful dressing, and the shrimp were large and seasoned perfectly, a very tasty and fresh salad according to my wife. The Lasagna is unique in a really great way. I’ve had many lasagna meals and this one changes the game! Rolled in rounds (5) with a 24 hour Ragu that is remarkable! Excellent spice level and an enjoyable meal to actually navigate the cutting process and building the perfect bite ensuring to include the whipped ricotta, it’s great! We finished with the Butterscotch Budino, please don’t miss that one – in a word decadent! | also want to call out the bar for stocking Peroni 0.0 Alcohol Free, don’t see it much yet when I’m dining and it’s a personal favorite beverage. All in all, the pictures should tell the story of a beautifully crafted and outstanding evening at dinner.
Thanks to Janelle and Danny, perfect!
… moreMy wife and I quietly celebrated our Wedding Anniversary on this visit. From the moment we stepped in the door the place feels very inviting and the aromas are enticing from the kitchen! We were seated with a view into the kitchen and greeted by our waitress Janelle who gave us wonderful suggestions and helped us narrow things down to a manageable list for appetizers and dinner. Started with the Burrata and Truffle Arancini along with the House made Focaccia.
Burrata was extremely on point, made onsite and it truly tasted so special, such a hearty portion that worked beautifully with the tomato’s and Balsamic. The Truffle Arancini arrived with three servings on top of a luxurious white crème, full of flavor and just a hint of spice, very much a highlight app. The Risotto was perfectly prepared and I can honestly say this will be on my plate again in future visits! As we moved into dinner my wife chose the Ester Salad with grilled shrimp and I had to get the main feature, Lasagna Rotolo. The salad was fresh, with a wonderful dressing, and the shrimp were large and seasoned perfectly, a very tasty and fresh salad according to my wife. The Lasagna is unique in a really great way. I’ve had many lasagna meals and this one changes the game! Rolled in rounds (5) with a 24 hour Ragu that is remarkable! Excellent spice level and an enjoyable meal to actually navigate the cutting process and building the perfect bite ensuring to include the whipped ricotta, it’s great! We finished with the Butterscotch Budino, please don’t miss that one – in a word decadent! | also want to call out the bar for stocking Peroni 0.0 Alcohol Free, don’t see it much yet when I’m dining and it’s a personal favorite beverage. All in all, the pictures should tell the story of a beautifully crafted and outstanding evening at dinner.
Thanks to Janelle and Danny, perfect!
Dana
We had an amazing experience tonight! Our waitress Paige was fantastic. She was so kind, attentive, and really helpful when walking us through the menu.
Everything we tried was delicious, and we definitely went a little overboard ordering for just the two of us. We started with the focaccia and meatballs, and for our main dishes we split the lasagna rotolo, gnocchi sardo, and the hearth roasted half chicken.
Every dish was packed with flavor. The meatballs were honestly some of the best I’ve had. I wish I would have asked for some Parmesan for the meatballs, but it didn’t take away from the dish. The chicken was thick, juicy, and cooked perfectly. The Marsala sauce with it was excellent! The gnocchi was creamy and super filling, and the lasagna portion was huge, which makes for good leftovers!
We were so full we grabbed the house made tiramisu to go. Overall, such a great meal and we’ll absolutely be back!
… moreEverything we tried was delicious, and we definitely went a little overboard ordering for just the two of us. We started with the focaccia and meatballs, and for our main dishes we split the lasagna rotolo, gnocchi sardo, and the hearth roasted half chicken.
Every dish was packed with flavor. The meatballs were honestly some of the best I’ve had. I wish I would have asked for some Parmesan for the meatballs, but it didn’t take away from the dish. The chicken was thick, juicy, and cooked perfectly. The Marsala sauce with it was excellent! The gnocchi was creamy and super filling, and the lasagna portion was huge, which makes for good leftovers!
We were so full we grabbed the house made tiramisu to go. Overall, such a great meal and we’ll absolutely be back!
Chris Peralta
I can’t say enough good things about this place! We visited during the soft opening. The food is amazing!! Everything tasted homemade and had so much flavor. We ordered the foccacia bread, mozzarella sticks and the lasagna (it was shaped like pinwheels, like cinnamon sticks — very unique presentation!). All the drinks we ordered were great as well. The staff were all very friendly and helpful — especially Manny at the bar, who was able to get a table for my wife and I during the bustling soft opening week!! Definitely recommend!!
… moreDiamante Suarez
Great restaurant, and one we were really excited to try for my fiancé and I’s 10 year dating anniversary.
I’ll start with a few things that I wish would’ve been better. I made the reservation well in advance and noted that we were celebrating our 10 year anniversary, which felt like a big milestone for us. I’ve been to other restaurants where mentioning something like this resulted in a more intentional, elevated experience, so I was a little disappointed that this detail didn’t seem to be acknowledged.
I also specifically requested a booth in the reservation notes, hoping for something a bit more private given the occasion. We were initially seated at a table in the middle of the dining room. I asked about the round booth near the host stand and was told it wasn’t available, though I’m not entirely sure why. The restaurant closes at 10, our res was for 9 and no one sat there during our entire visit. We ended up in a half-booth situation and were told there would be a party nearby, which was totally fine. I just wish the seating had aligned a bit better with the advance notice we gave.
That said, Maddie was a fabulous server and we hit it off right away. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients, cocktails, and wine, and was so friendly throughout the night. She was friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure we were having a nice time. She seems super passionate about the food and the story of how Osteria Ester came to be. Do yourselves the favor of asking for her when you come in! Danny also stopped by to introduce himself as the manager, and we had a great conversation about other restaurants in the Good Salt group and drinks, which was a nice touch. Danny is super hands on, we saw him circling the restaurant and running food while we were there.
The focaccia was my favorite bite of the night, and my fiancé loved his Negroni. My cocktail, the Sorrento with a View was fine, but I’d probably opt for wine next time. The salad was fresh, definitely an interesting twist on the cesar salad. I really enjoyed my chicken parm, and the Italian-made pasta was a standout. It didn’t leave me feeling heavy, which I really appreciated. The tiramisu, however, left a bit to be desired. It felt on the drier side, and I’ve definitely had better. As a native New Yorker, I know the concept is meant to feel like NJ style Italian and a love letter to the owner or chef’s (I can’t remember at this point) grandmother, so I was hoping for more there. That said, it was the end of the night, so I get it.
Overall, it’s a gorgeous space with a great vibe. There were a few misses, what new restaurant doesn’t have them, but enough positives that we’d come back and give it another try.
… moreI’ll start with a few things that I wish would’ve been better. I made the reservation well in advance and noted that we were celebrating our 10 year anniversary, which felt like a big milestone for us. I’ve been to other restaurants where mentioning something like this resulted in a more intentional, elevated experience, so I was a little disappointed that this detail didn’t seem to be acknowledged.
I also specifically requested a booth in the reservation notes, hoping for something a bit more private given the occasion. We were initially seated at a table in the middle of the dining room. I asked about the round booth near the host stand and was told it wasn’t available, though I’m not entirely sure why. The restaurant closes at 10, our res was for 9 and no one sat there during our entire visit. We ended up in a half-booth situation and were told there would be a party nearby, which was totally fine. I just wish the seating had aligned a bit better with the advance notice we gave.
That said, Maddie was a fabulous server and we hit it off right away. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, ingredients, cocktails, and wine, and was so friendly throughout the night. She was friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure we were having a nice time. She seems super passionate about the food and the story of how Osteria Ester came to be. Do yourselves the favor of asking for her when you come in! Danny also stopped by to introduce himself as the manager, and we had a great conversation about other restaurants in the Good Salt group and drinks, which was a nice touch. Danny is super hands on, we saw him circling the restaurant and running food while we were there.
The focaccia was my favorite bite of the night, and my fiancé loved his Negroni. My cocktail, the Sorrento with a View was fine, but I’d probably opt for wine next time. The salad was fresh, definitely an interesting twist on the cesar salad. I really enjoyed my chicken parm, and the Italian-made pasta was a standout. It didn’t leave me feeling heavy, which I really appreciated. The tiramisu, however, left a bit to be desired. It felt on the drier side, and I’ve definitely had better. As a native New Yorker, I know the concept is meant to feel like NJ style Italian and a love letter to the owner or chef’s (I can’t remember at this point) grandmother, so I was hoping for more there. That said, it was the end of the night, so I get it.
Overall, it’s a gorgeous space with a great vibe. There were a few misses, what new restaurant doesn’t have them, but enough positives that we’d come back and give it another try.
Sebastian Tavera
From the moment I stepped into the building I was greeted by their staff. I Was impressed on how nice the ambiance and decor is inside. It’s an Italian restaurant. Maddy was the lady making sure we had an amazing time, she explained the concept of the menu, recommended some amazing cocktails and of course food, and made sure we had a great experience through the whole dinner. Tried quite a few items on the menu. let’s start with the pesce crudo, yellow tail was fresh mix the w/ the right flavors to make it a perfect flavor bite. The mint and red orange gave a good mix of flavors. The Crostinis texture and flavor were 10/10! We order the bistec allá fiorentina medium raw and it came out exactly how it’s supposed. Crusty flavory on the outside and pink and juicy inside, a 10/10 as well. One of may favorites was the Carpaccio, so flavory with fried cappers that just adds more texture into the bite 10/10. In general I didn’t try anything I didn’t like, everything was great. Perfect place to bring family, a date or someone special for a good dinner and cocktails. Prices are very affordable, I was impressed!
… moreBrydan Rockwell
Absolutely beautiful restaurant! The decor is warm, rich, and welcoming. Gabriel, our server, was the epitome of attentive service. And, the food, the food!!! We had a pepperoni dish (compliments of the house) that was delectable. After that we order the in-house fresh Foccacia and the Classic Caesar. Both of these were top of their class. Following that, we ordered Paccheri Alla Vodka, and Gnocchi Sardo. The Gnocchi Sardo had a more subtle rich flavor that built with every bite and the Paccheri Alla Vodka was “wow!” from first taste (it gave me my own Anton Ego from Ratatouille flashback). We added a side of Meatballs (3) to our main which were a very solid add on. We finished with the Gelato Trio of which each flavor was distict and delicious. Would highly reccomend Osteria Ester with my personal favorite being the Paccheri Alla Vodka and the crutons from the Caesar salad were a surprise standout!
… moreKasi Zaeri
Osteria Ester is the perfect addition to the neighborhood. From the minute we walked in, we were treated incredibly and the service was top notch. One of the mangers, Amanda, stopped by to give us some much needed recommendations and tell us more about the space. The restaurant is warm and cozy, with pictures of grandmother Ester on the dining wall, which made this feel like we were eating in someone’s home. Everything we tried was great but my favorites were the baked clams, the beef carpaccio, and the lasagna. We also ordered a veal Marsala off the specials menu which was my boyfriend’s favorite dish of the night. Can’t wait to go back!
… moreEric Ardito
We went to Osteria Ester for Valentine’s Day and I’m genuinely considering writing them into my will.
First of all, the Caesar salad. I do not eat lettuce. I do not believe in lettuce. I view lettuce as decorative filler meant to occupy space on a plate. And yet this salad arrived like it had a personal vendetta against my skepticism. One bite in and I was gripping the edge of the table. It was crisp, perfectly dressed, garlicky, bright, balanced in a way that felt engineered by scientists. I’m not exaggerating when I say I teared up. Over lettuce. I had to pause and reevaluate my entire personality
The truffle rice balls were criminally good. Shatteringly crisp on the outside, warm and creamy inside, with just enough truffle to feel luxurious without being overwhelming. They were the kind of appetizer that makes the table go silent except for approving nods.
The paccheri alla vodka was incredible. Rich, glossy, deeply comforting but still elegant. It didn’t sit heavy; it just coated every bite in silky, slightly spicy perfection. You know a pasta is doing its job when you start planning how to order it again before you’re halfway through.
The red beet agnolotti with Maine lobster was unexpectedly subtle. Despite the name, it wasn’t some neon magenta situation. It was refined, balanced, and beautifully composed. The lobster and roasted leek filling was delicate and savory, not showy, just incredibly well executed. It felt like something that didn’t need to yell to be impressive.
Then dessert arrived and somehow raised the bar again. The tiramisu was cloudlike, perfectly soaked, not overly sweet, and dangerously easy to demolish. The olive oil cake was tender and fragrant with just the right brightness. Both felt like desserts made by someone who actually cares about how a meal ends.
And then the bathroom.
The bathroom. I was not prepared. It is not merely functional. It is beautiful. Thoughtful. Designed. The kind of restroom where you walk in and instinctively whisper “wow.” I spent more time in there than necessary simply appreciating the aesthetic. It felt like a luxury intermission in the middle of an already over-the-top experience
Every single bite was outstanding. There were no weak links. Valentine’s Day can sometimes feel chaotic and rushed, but this felt polished, intentional, and almost suspiciously good. I walked in expecting a nice dinner. I left emotionally attached to a Caesar salad and deeply impressed by a restroom.
Five stars. Possibly a spiritual out of body experience.
… moreFirst of all, the Caesar salad. I do not eat lettuce. I do not believe in lettuce. I view lettuce as decorative filler meant to occupy space on a plate. And yet this salad arrived like it had a personal vendetta against my skepticism. One bite in and I was gripping the edge of the table. It was crisp, perfectly dressed, garlicky, bright, balanced in a way that felt engineered by scientists. I’m not exaggerating when I say I teared up. Over lettuce. I had to pause and reevaluate my entire personality
The truffle rice balls were criminally good. Shatteringly crisp on the outside, warm and creamy inside, with just enough truffle to feel luxurious without being overwhelming. They were the kind of appetizer that makes the table go silent except for approving nods.
The paccheri alla vodka was incredible. Rich, glossy, deeply comforting but still elegant. It didn’t sit heavy; it just coated every bite in silky, slightly spicy perfection. You know a pasta is doing its job when you start planning how to order it again before you’re halfway through.
The red beet agnolotti with Maine lobster was unexpectedly subtle. Despite the name, it wasn’t some neon magenta situation. It was refined, balanced, and beautifully composed. The lobster and roasted leek filling was delicate and savory, not showy, just incredibly well executed. It felt like something that didn’t need to yell to be impressive.
Then dessert arrived and somehow raised the bar again. The tiramisu was cloudlike, perfectly soaked, not overly sweet, and dangerously easy to demolish. The olive oil cake was tender and fragrant with just the right brightness. Both felt like desserts made by someone who actually cares about how a meal ends.
And then the bathroom.
The bathroom. I was not prepared. It is not merely functional. It is beautiful. Thoughtful. Designed. The kind of restroom where you walk in and instinctively whisper “wow.” I spent more time in there than necessary simply appreciating the aesthetic. It felt like a luxury intermission in the middle of an already over-the-top experience
Every single bite was outstanding. There were no weak links. Valentine’s Day can sometimes feel chaotic and rushed, but this felt polished, intentional, and almost suspiciously good. I walked in expecting a nice dinner. I left emotionally attached to a Caesar salad and deeply impressed by a restroom.
Five stars. Possibly a spiritual out of body experience.
Ryan Robbins
The food and atmosphere were both excellent. The food was clearly fresh and handmade pastas as advertised. Cocktails were good. My only critique was the service was so-so and likely more of a new restaurant growing pains. Everyone was very friendly but server was hard to find and seemed to have a chopper up section that kept her from being accessible. Probably would have had another round of drinks and a dessert if it wasnt for the extended gaps in visitations to us or our area.
All in all, a very good experience and we will be going back. Betting service gets better in time.
… moreAll in all, a very good experience and we will be going back. Betting service gets better in time.
Al W
We enjoyed the atmosphere and menu items. Everything was good but the pasta dishes were not outstanding. The chicken parm was okay. The lasagna was unique. Focaccia, tiramisu, and cacio e Pepe martini are good and recommended to try. The restaurant itself is a nice meeting place and enjoyable. We had higher hopes for this place in regard to flavors and main dishes.
… more