Seasons 52 - Good as it used to be?

I love Darden restaurants. I like that it is a company that was started in Central Florida. When I was in school for hospitality management, several of our instructors were consultants with them. I have had drinks with their former CEO/Founder, Joe Lee, many times. I remember China Coast on Highway 50 in Pines Hills fondly and wish it was a concept that stuck. I guess you can say; I am a fan.

I remember going to Seasons 52 on Sand Lake Road for the first time in 2003 and falling in love with it. Over the years I have made many wonderful memories of wine and food with good friends and family.

But in recent years, for me, it has grown to become much like Darden’s other concepts…”general”. By that, I mean I used to think everything was fantastic. I couldn’t wait for the new season menus or the new wine selections. The servers loved talking about the food and they genuinely seemed to like their job. The staff always remembered us and the food never disappointed. I learned about many wines due to the servers telling us about what they had and liked at the tasting before the restaurant opened for the day.

Now it is just the opposite. It’s like walking into any other place. Servers running stressed, the hostess have a glossy eyed look of confusion; the food is hit or miss. The new menus have one or two new seasonal items. The wine list has been condensed as to not overwhelm or confuse the guest. They even did away with the Reserve List.

That being said, yes, I still go back, longing for the early 2000’s Seasons 52. When we were the first and only, Seasons 52. I guess it was a honeymoon period. When everyone was so excited to invent and try new things, and of course, spend money.

We stopped by recently because I had received an email about the new winter menu. I was really happy to see the Venison Chop with truffle mashed potatoes on the menu. We actually sat at a table in the dining room, I stopped doing that for awhile and would only sit at bar booths. The server mentioned he had seen us in before but didn’t ask our name or introduces himself; I guess he was in a hurry.

We ordered the Shrimp Flatbread, mainly because we like it and they don’t have anything new and fun to try.

 We had the Tom Eddy “Elodian” wine, one of George Miliotes, the sommelier’s selections. It was really good, we had never heard of it and it opened very nicely with dinner. I had the Venison Chop with truffle mashed potatoes and my husband had the lamb. Oddly, it came with truffle mashed potatoes as well. Everything arrived hot and correct. The food was well seasoned, but it was lacking some of the magic it used to have. I couldn’t even smell truffle in the truffle mash. The lamb and venison was delicious and tender. All in all, it was very good. I enjoyed the atmosphere and lighting in the dining room. It was before Christmas, so people were celebrating and relaxed.

I am still a fan. And with everything said and done, I will always love Seasons 52. I would recommend it to anyone. But I still miss and wish for the old magic it used to have.