Salt & the Cellar by Akira Back

Perola was simply the best! She was kind, thoughtful in her recommendations, and simply a pleasure to be served by. We are visiting the area and had no idea that this gem was going to give us above and beyond what we expected! The food was literally the best! The drink presentation (we got the Taurus and moon child) and were BLOWN AWAY! As people who are skeptical about raw fish: GET THE TUNA PIZZA! No serious, this was the best appetizer ever. For our main courses we got the steak and salmon and were absolutely blown away again! Then dessert was fully of vibrant fresh flavors and incredible notes of rich chocolate. We cannot recommend this place anymore and if/when you make your reservation: ASK FOR THE LOVELY PEROLA! She made this date night one for the books and even gave us ideas for our next vacation 🥰

My wife and I chose this restaurant to celebrate our 33rd wedding anniversary, and we couldn’t have picked a better place. From the moment we walked in, we were in awe — the atmosphere, the food, and especially the service were all exceptional. Paul and Gabriela took incredible care of us throughout the evening. We let Paul select our dishes, and every recommendation was spot-on. We started with the Akira Back Tuna Pizza — absolutely delicious — followed by the Spinach Oshitashi Salad, which was equally impressive. The Chef’s Sushi Rolls were spectacular. To complement the meal, we enjoyed an Old Fashioned, an Aperol Spritz, and a beautiful bottle of Stellar wine from Napa Valley. Thank you, Paul, for your wonderful recommendations and for making our anniversary dinner unforgettable. We’ll definitely be back!

Everything was 5 STARS. The food was EXCELLENT!! The manager and staff was amazing. Jose', Jorge, Marcel took EXCELLENT care of us. Best meals I've had in a long time. The ETTE Hotel was also top notch!

Literally, one of my favorite places in Orlando well Kissimmee to go everything here is always perfect from the service to the food to the pricing. I literally recommend this place to all my friends that come in town and they always love it. Come in tonight for dinner for my best friend’s birthday and I’m super excited to be here again.

Perola was absolutely wonderful — very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. Her service was warm, friendly, and professional. The food was amazing — full of flavor and beautifully presented. Overall, a fantastic experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!

AMAZING experience! By far one of the best restaurants in Town. Atmosphere 10, Drinks 10, Food 10, and service was 10! Our server Perola did a great job and very knowledgeable and attentive. If you live in Orlando/Kissimmee area or visiting, GO! I promise it won’t disappoint.

Carlos was our server and he was attentive and friendly. The sea bass was amazing. The waygu tacos were good. The bass sushi was amazing as well. Beef Wellington was really good.

This might be my new favorite restaurant in CFL! The atmosphere is beautiful and very welcoming but the real stars are the food AND the service. For food we started with the Chef’s Roll (sooo beautiful and yummy) and the Akira Back Tuna Pizza (a 10/10 must order!! The truffle was delicious!). For mains we ordered the Jidori Chicken (the chicken was perfectly cooked, the mashed potato was well seasoned and incredibly smooth & I’ll be dreaming garlic maple soy for MONTHS, it was the real star of the dish) & the Toban Filet Mignon (perfectly cooked as well. We replaced the mushrooms for mushed potatoes). For dessert we went with the AB Cigar & AB Chocolate in a Cup. Both were delicious but I preferred the taste and experience of the cigar. The food made me fall in love with the restaurant but the hospitality is why we will be returning. Naomi was such a sweet hostess and Paul was the best server. He has great energy and always checked on us. Even the male server explaining the meals & the female server pouring our water (unfortunately we didn’t catch either of their names) were amazing! Don’t hesitate to come here!

Had a great experience at this restaurant inside the Ette boutique hotel. Restaurant is beautifully decorated. They are in Asian fusion restaurant specializing in sushi. They have many specialty cocktails ranging in price from $22-$36 dollars. We enjoyed the “moon child “ and the “tell me you love me”. They weren’t very strong, so I switched to an old fashioned and that was good. The presentation of the Caesar salad was gorgeous and the taste was amazing. The wagyu tacos were absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor. The tuna pizza was a culinary delight! The wagyu steak as well as the wagyu fried rice were both phenomenal!! Must try!!! There are so many more items to try so I’ll be back. I recommend and be sure to make a reservation Side note: they charge an automatic 20% gratuity

I went during MAgical Dining and had a great 3 course meal. I had the tuna pizza for appetizer and it was very appetizing. The waygu meatballs looked good too so I added that appetizer. When it comes to presenting the dish like a show they are experts. My filet mignon came to the table and the waiter took the cloth off the top like opening up a curtain and lots of steam came streaming out and pouring the broth on it also highlighted the hot rapidly boiling dish. The meat was as expected tender and very tasty with the mushrooms and garlic butter. I finished the mel with AB chocolate in a cup dessert. The layers were very good especially getting to the warm nutella. The table next to me had the Into The Woods cocktail and that was a good show. After pouring a liquid on it (little trees amd plants outside the tube) lots of the smoky gas came streaming out. Waitress said they used dry ice. See attached video.Quite pricey but what a show. Go to this restaurant for the great food and presentation of it.

Food great, drinks great, atmosphere outta this world and ultra chill (also very intimate), and the service was spot on! My girl and I were very impressed with everything and we plan to go back again! Highly recommend if you homage the money to spend on your meal! We had more than the pics posted, I just wanted to eat so I forgot about taking pics of everything else! 😅

Husband and I couldn’t have picked a better place to celebrate our anniversary! It was our first time, and definitely not our last. Our server, Perola, was superb, along with the other server assistants! They were very attentive, friendly, and made great food recommendations. Next… the food, wow wow wow, delicious and unique flavors. We ordered the truffle tuna pizza (an explosion of complex flavors in your mouth!), the sashimi pieces (melt in your mouth freshness), and the Chilean sea bass (well balanced flavors). The dessert (which we never usually order) was a chocolate layered brownie (I can’t remember the name). It was so deliciously rich and moist. I can’t wait to come back to this restaurant again for another palate adventure!

The atmosphere was amazing, the service was excellent, and the food was beyond delicious. They treated me very well for my birthday dinner. Gino and naomi were the highlights of my night

Wow came in for a quick drink and dessert and ended up staying for like two hours! The service was amazing Naomi, Jorge, calan, and Jose 11/10 so sweeet great experience I felt so welcomed!

Incredible experience! Such a unique proposal. The food, ambiance and service exceeded our expectations. It’s har to find places with this level on attention to detail in the Orlando area. Special thanks to Paul, for making our dinning experience super special. He did a great job walking us through the menu, sharing the history about the restaurant and overall making us feel so well taken care of.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had!!! The service and ambiance were outstanding as well. The tuna pizza is out of this world and my steak didn’t even require a knife. We will definitely be back!!

We found this place by mistake! We were on vacation and it was too late for dinner, so we just found the closest place to our hotel. From the moment we arrived, we loved the atmosphere, the very friendly and professional service, the place is beautiful and cozy, everything extremely clean. I want to thank our waiter Paul, who prioritized the food for our baby since it was a little late for her. The food was excellent, everything was well cooked, and had a perfect flavor. We loved the experience. We'll be back soon!

The atmosphere was warm and inviting with a contemporary vibe. Service from Ragscwas top notch. The food was way above expectations. Then to top it off Gabriel with his wine knowledge was extraordinaire. He topped the evening off, he was fun and passionate about the products. It was delightful to have someone who enjoyed what they were doing. Way to go!!! We will be back

I celebrated my birthday at this restaurant and had a wonderful experience. Perola was my server, and she was fantastic, making my birthday truly special.

Actaully not possible to have a better fine dining experience in my opinion. Everything was perfect: atmosphere, service, presentation, flavors, menu. This was the second time I've been her for a business meal and first time i dined outside on the patio. Splendid! Highly recommended.

Dining at Salt & the Cellar by Akira Back was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we walked in, the service was impeccable—special shoutout to Perola and Gino, who made the entire experience feel personal, warm, and seamless. Their attentiveness, knowledge of the menu, and genuine hospitality elevated the night to something unforgettable. The food? Absolute artistry. Chef Theo is a culinary magician—every dish was a masterclass in flavor and presentation. The ribeye with five different salts (a beautiful nod to the restaurant’s name) was a highlight, but honestly, everything was phenomenal—from the extravagant cocktails to the decadent desserts. If you’re looking for an elevated, romantic, and luxurious dining experience in Orlando, this is the spot. Salt & the Cellar delivers on every level. Can’t wait to come back!

My friends took me to celebrate my birthday. Everything we ordered were amazing. The presentation and the taste. Expensive but worth the experience.

Beautiful restaurant with a great atmosphere, service and food. Wendy and Naomi were knowledgeable and offered great recommendations! This is a must go to if you are in the Orlando area!

Salt and the cellar is one of the best restaurants I’ve been in Orlando. Everything we order was delicious, great quality food and our server, Paul, went above and beyond to make our experience there very memorable . I will definitely recommend this restaurant with my eyes closed.

We had the most incredible dining experience at Salt & the Cellar! From the moment we arrived, everything was impeccable. Our server, Paul, was absolutely wonderful—attentive, kind, and so lovely throughout the evening. He truly elevated our experience with his warm personality and flawless service. The food and cocktails were simply stunning—each dish was beautifully presented and packed with incredible flavors. You can tell the chefs take great pride in creating a one-of-a-kind culinary experience. A huge thank you to the team for going above and beyond to help us pull off a surprise for our mom’s birthday. Everything went perfectly, and it made the celebration so special. We couldn’t have asked for a better evening. If you’re looking for exceptional food, drinks, and service, Salt & the Cellar is a must-visit. Highly recommended!

We are visiting from Ohio and we love finding great places to eat. This restaurant is a rare find in this area. It is a gem and we are so glad we found it! Great food and great service. Shout out to Paul for taking care of us! We will be back again for sure.

Our server Kaylin was wonderful! The tuna pizza changed my life. The drinks were a dinner show! This place is totally tops and we will be back

One of the most thoughtful and memorable dining experiences I’ve had anywhere in the world. The vegan food is outstanding—everything we tried, from the burger to the avocado toast and fried tofu, was flavorful and artfully prepared. I don’t drink alcohol, but I ordered two mocktails, and they were exceptional—an experience in taste, presentation, and creativity. Just order one and you’ll understand. Don’t miss the vegan desserts either—they’re just as inspired. Also, do yourself a favor and dress well. This place is best enjoyed in semiformal or smart casual—it elevates the whole experience. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates food crafted with care and imagination.

It was a delicious dinner. We discovered them via Magical Dining 2025 and will be back to try more! Pearl was a great waitress!

Jose provided absolutely amazing service at the bar! His recommendations were spot-on, and he was so attentive and welcoming the entire time. He truly goes above and beyond to make you feel taken care of, all with a genuine smile. Bartenders like Jose are the reason you can’t wait to come back. Thank you for such a great experience! 😊

Four nights at Ette, and the ONLY regret is that we only got three dinners at Salt & the Cellar (we arrived too late on our first evening). What kept us returning night after night is nothing short of three of the most memorable meals we've ever enjoyed. Each evening brought some new culinary delight (my nine year old son ordered unagi three nights in a row, and each night's presentation was new and different and picture-perfect)! My husband and I will look forward with glad anticipation to a return visit. The menu, curated by Chef Akira Back, is most certainly made to shine by the talents of Chef Theo Goupil- he is a stunning talent, to be sure, and he is such a nice guy as well! Equal to the memorable cuisine: the staff who prepares and serves these dishes. We attribute our memorable evenings equally to the talents of Paul, of Perola, of Ginger, and of all others whose charm and knowledge made for such enjoyable experiences. The bar staff, too, cannot be overlooked- the guys behind the bar are absolute magicians. We have NEVER been as impressed with drinks! They are artists, one and all. Jose' , et al, are as skillful at a mocktail as with a fully- fueled drinks order. Amazing. We are so grateful for the memories- thanks to all, and until we mee again, Sam and David

I had an incredible dining experience here, and I have to give a huge shout-out to Chef Diego for delivering such memorable flavors. We ordered the trio— a delicious crab cake, tender scallops, and crispy coconut shrimp. Every bite felt thoughtful and balanced, and the presentation was spot-on. To finish, the passion fruit tart was a standout. Light, refreshing, and just the right amount of tangy sweetness—honestly one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time. From the service to the food, everything was top-notch. Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for quality dishes crafted with real skill and care. I’ll definitely be coming back!

First thing we have to get out the way the fact that the location of this hotel is extremely weird. Seems like it’s stuck in a random spot behind a random building on a random street less than 15 minutes from Disney when you step inside this hotel you feel like you’re in a completely different place. I have to say it was absolutely beautiful inside. We were so shocked. We were literally late for our reservation just walking around the lobby. However, the host was extremely accommodating and found us another table within a few minutes. Beautiful restaurant, excellent food, and exceptional service. Special thanks to the host and Calin for the hospitality and to ginger for taking such great care of us. Everything was amazing but she made the evening feel truly unforgettable.

Salt & The Cellar exceeded our expectations, which are very high since we enjoy dining. The personalized service was exceptional. The hostess (Naomi) made our reservation the day before and then checked on us at the end of our dinner to ensure we enjoyed our evening. Our waitress Perola was outstanding! She explained the menu, made wonderful recommendations based on our palettes, and was respectful to allow us to take our time and truly enjoy our dining experience. Even the servers who brought out our dishes and filled our waters — everyone made us feel at home and welcomed. The culinary creations were unique and outstanding. Thank you to the chefs and service staff for making our birthday dinner so special. We will definitely be back!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Paul, our waiter at Salt & The Cellar, provided exceptional service from start to finish. He was attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect throughout our meal. His recommendations were spot on, and he truly enhanced the overall dining experience. The food was absolutely delicious—beautifully presented, full of flavor, and clearly prepared with care. Every bite exceeded expectations. Between the outstanding service and the incredible cuisine, this was an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend dining here and asking for Paul!

My wife and I went for our 5th anniversary. The food overall was excellent - the Chilean sea bass was so juicy; our Caesar salad, kimchi Brussels sprouts, and togarashi fries along with sauces & dressings had fantastic flavor; Into The Woods was an experience and a great drink all in one. My NY Strip had the right temp and great salt pairings. But there were some odd missteps. The NY strip still had hard, unrendered fat cap that wasn’t trimmed off. I thought Into The Woods with its platter of mist, mushrooms, and moss was such a beautiful addition to the ambience…then a waiter took it away within ~90 seconds of presentation. Why not leave it for us to enjoy? More importantly, I ordered a glass of wine that was poured away from the table. It was great, but it’s standard to show the label before and during the pour, much more so at an upscale restaurant like this. It’s how you know you weren’t given a lesser wine. Finally, I would never ask for an anniversary gift from a restaurant but this is the first time we went out to anniversary dinner and did not receive more than a brief congratulations. We didn’t order dessert, but there was no effort to offer something beyond a few words. As for atmosphere, it was a little loud for our taste and made it hard to converse with each other. And don’t worry about the “elegant attire” dress code - the couple we sat next to was wearing athleisure, a baseball hat, and and Christmas-y sweater. The restaurant itself was elegant and had a nice Spanish bodega vibe to it. I really enjoyed Salt & The Cellar’s food, but there was a lack of attention to detail that took away from that.

Edited 2025: Food has lost its balance and our server at our latest visit spent all her time at the tables with cameras and spotlights on them. Very disappointing, won’t be back. The secondary servers were fantastic, but our courses were poorly timed and our server forgot our drink order. Tofu entree was flavorless and cold. 2024: The service here was absolutely fantastic. This hotel is definitely a multi sensory experience because the entire place smells absolutely amazing. All of the food is fantastic. I had the tuna pizza, the cod, and the mochi. I also had the lemon curd dessert. My partner had the steak and the salad. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. Our server Skye was also SO nice. This whole experience was delightful. I’d definitely come back to try the regular menu outside of magical dining. Definitely get the tuna app and the curd dessert.

Overrated and Disappointing – Avoid This Place I rarely leave negative reviews, but this experience was unbelievable: 1. Long Wait Times: We waited 25 minutes for our reserved table, then another 15–20 minutes before anyone even greeted us—no water, no introduction, nothing (I have no words). The lady host didn’t even offer water as waiter a mere 2 meters from increasingly becoming restless, absolutely no people skills, emotional intelligence or clue! 2. Poor Service: After being told we’d be “looked after,” one we were sat by the manager I think no one after that checked on us as issues piled up. 3. Food Quality: • Tacos: The fried tacos were very fried flavor-heavy and forward, overpowering the filling (so much so you can’t tell it hats in the taco). The tacos itself is the size of a small dumpling! • Spinach dish: Barely one bite was had more show rather than substance here. • Pizza: Only redeeming quality was the sauce. When chefs use micro green always question, again no substance just visual appeal with this dish. 4. Drinks Delay: An iced tea took 25–30 minutes to arrive, my friend was patient but this is unacceptable. 5. Main Course: Took 1 hour and 35 minutes! By this time it was very late and I had the Sea bass which was decent, but the mash was starchy and poorly seasoned. It needed a potato ricer to create the right consistency to pair with the meaty fish. 6. Ambiance: Children running around tables while staff did nothing! This restaurant feels like it’s riding on hype rather than delivering quality. Service and kitchen communication are broken, and management seems overwhelmed. As with most of these establishments they are riding on a chefs name located in a fancy hotel but when you look at what you get it’s not worth the money or effort. Bottom line: Overrated, chaotic, mismanaged and disappointing. Avoid at all costs. #Unbelievable #Overrated #badservice #microportions

We dined at Salt & The Cellar last night to celebrate my husband’s birthday and Christmas, and unfortunately the experience fell far short of expectations. I noted the birthday on the reservation and reiterated it again when the restaurant called an hour before to reconfirm. Having spent many years in hospitality myself, I understand how meaningful these details are. While both the host and server said “happy birthday,” that was the extent of the acknowledgment. No candle, no celebratory touch, no moment that made the evening feel special. Service started off attentive but quickly declined. We waited 25 minutes for our one cocktail and one mocktail. When I finally mentioned it, our server assured us they were on the way and hurried to the bar. Within five minutes, the drinks suddenly appeared. Our table was directly next to the bar, and throughout the wait I watched four bartenders polishing glasses and on their phones, a clear indication there were no tickets. It was obvious the drinks had simply been forgotten. Food pacing was also extremely off. Two pieces of bread (which should have been warm) arrived at the same time as our drinks and our grilled eggplant. The eggplant was excellent and genuinely memorable and one of only two highlights of the night. After that, we waited another 35 minutes for our entrées. My husband’s beef Wellington was the star of the show and the second highlight of the evening. It was beautifully executed and delicious. My sea bass, while cooked perfectly, lacked flavor. The mushrooms were overwhelmingly citrus-forward, completely masking what should have been an earthy, rich component of the dish. The wagyu fried rice was crispy and well-cooked but the presentation was disappointing. Instead of a wow moment with sliced wagyu on top, the beef was chopped into small brown bits that could have been any cut. The most frustrating service miss came when our empty drink glasses were cleared during dinner and no offer was made for another beverage. It was my husband’s birthday. It was Christmas. Not even a simple “Can I get you another drink or something different?” That lack of table awareness was glaring. We ultimately declined dessert because we were so disappointed. Even then, in my experience, you still make an effort with a candle in something to mark a birthday. That never happened. To add insult to injury, a 20% gratuity was automatically added for a table of two. For a $350 dinner, we should have been raving the entire ride home. Instead, we spent the hour-long drive back discussing how disappointing the experience was. The food had some moments of excellence, but service, pacing, and basic hospitality fundamentals were consistently missed. Unfortunately, we will not be returning.

“A disappointing experience on my birthday.” I visited Salt & the Cellar by Akira Back today to celebrate my birthday. Overall, the customer service was not bad, but there was one important detail that completely affected the experience: I was not offered any dessert or special acknowledgment for my birthday, even after mentioning it. At an exclusive restaurant, you expect at least a simple gesture on a special occasion. For a place with premium prices, it was disappointing that this detail was overlooked. The ambiance is beautiful, but the lack of consideration made the experience fall short of what I expected. I would not recommend it for special celebrations. (All I for was a “happy birthday” on a piece of paper).