Cafe Tu Tu Tango, Orlando

Café Tu Tu Tango is just a wonderful restaurant with character and atmosphere. I discovered this gem of a place when my husband (then boyfriend) and I stayed at the Doubletree Castle Hotel. Everyone of the staff then recommended this restaurant saying it would be an experience. I had been to Orlando area many times in that past 30 years or so. I still remember my first time there. It was just an awesome time in a restaurant that had character, the right atmosphere and great food and staff. I remember they had artists (of different talents) set up through out the restaurant who were doing their trade among the restaurant patrons. You could get your palm read, have a caricature of yourself drawn, enjoy the different music of the musicians, watch a painter bring to life a blank canvas all while you have drinks and food. Their menu is eclectic. You have appetizer sized portions so you can share and have more than one plate. The more the merrier is quite true. I really like the variety and the many choices of their menu. They had delicious alligator bites, macadamia crusted mahi mahi skewers, tango hummus and their cheese platter is outstanding. Those are just a few of the many choices you can make. Don’t forget they have specialized drinks and desserts. If you want a dessert to share then try the Chocolate dipped cheesecake lollipops or the banana pizza. Not into sharing the dessert they have a dessert called crazy bananas or the almond flan. So many delicious and decadent desserts. This restaurant is truly a place to visit when you visit the Orlando area.

Vibrant, high energy, alive, entertaining, great art work, a stalwart on International Drive for a long time. Café Tu Tu Tango has held the reins and uphold the standards of dining and entertainment in Orlando for a long distinguished time. With its unique Spanish artist’s loft concept of working artists and flamenco dancers, this restaurant has captured many on a quest to take a breather from the theme parks. Not so much anymore… The great décor and amazing artwork still adorn the walls. The fancy flamenco dancer is still performing, but it seems like they stop short at half way into the restaurant. Maybe she did not want to come all the way to the cheap seats. What happened to the cool sofas in between the bar and the open kitchen? It has been replaced by high top tables. What a shame. So what is left, the food. SOPA de LEON CUP Roasted chicken, Spanish chorizo, garbanzo beans and manchego cheese was cold, tasteless, and flavorless. SURF and EARTH Pan seared salmon with avocado-black bean salsa and plantain chips; topped with aji sauce and parmesan-manchego frico was nicely cooked salmon pieces, though served cold, salsa was wholesome, but the plantain chips were cold and rock hard, could have chipped a tooth or broken a wisdom teeth. Left all of the chips on the plate and I love plantain chips. FLAME GRILLED BABY LAMB CHOPS With Greek orzo pasta salad and balsamic glaze was nice medium rare but cold. Good flavors. Balsamic reduction was molten salt. Pasta was mushy. TANGO HUMMUS Traditional blend of chickpeas, tahini, olive olive and lemon. I rather the old presentation, on artist painting boards. That was complimentary. But I understand. This is a larger portion and tasted very well, very flavorful and fresh. ECUADORIAN CEVICHE California corvina and pickled honeydew in soy citrus sauce garnished with popcorn. Nice flavors and textures, stale popcorn, horrible presentation, looks like the dishwasher put this dish together. Disappointed. GRILLED GAUVA BBQ GLAZED RIBS Malta-guava BBQ sauce and pickled vegetables. Ribs were tender with bold BBQ sauce flavor, but no guava. Where is the guava? Vegetables were nice and crisp. MACADAMIA CRUSTED MAHI MAHI SKEWERS Cooked a la plancha; with pineapple-jasmine rice and soy-coconut sauce. Little slivers of tasteless mahi mahi dredged in breading. Where were the macadamia nuts? Rice was hard and uncooked. Did not get Jasmine neither pineapple neither coconut. Ugh. Water served in rocks glass? Hummmm? UGNI BLANC, Tariquet, France. Dry and fruit forward wine compliments seafood well. Could always find a unique wine here. GARNACHA, Las Rocas, Spain. Full bodied and spicey, with a full fruit finish. Service was always playful and joyous. This is to be understood, it is a high energy place with a lot going on. Loud music, loud conversation, loud dancing. But the elements of service should still be adhered to. Whether in an extremely casual restaurant or the finest of finest dining. Not so much here. Water was not refilled. Empty plates were not cleared. Dirty silverware were never removed. Check back on ordered items were too long, the items were already gone. Even though this is a tapas restaurant food auctioning at the table should never be implied or practiced. A smile may go a long way from support team members. Food runners had no clue which table the food was going to much less who ordered it. This was not just our section this was the whole restaurant. It seemed very chaotic and team members seemed very frustrated at each other. There is hope at the end of the flamenco line. I was told that the menu will change during the summer. Will they also change the chefs? They can’t execute this menu. Will they change their service methods or service team? Lots of frustration there. Tourist and locals who frequent International Drive deserves better. At least there is art and flamenco.

not very good. very small portions, and most of the food is over-seasoned

I was in Orlando for a conference and did not want to be stuck in the hotel for another night. I found Cafe Tu Tu Tango on the internet. I then went to the concierge desk to ask if they would recommend Tango and all three standing behind the desk immediately said yes in unison. I gathered up a group of six people and headed to Tango. It was exactly what we needed. Fun atmosphere, good service and good food that we all could share between us. There were smiles all around the table and we all want to go back every night for dinner. The dancers that were there were so good. A great time was had by all!

Good place for a group of friends or family. Food is good small portions to share. Artwork and local acts on weekends. Prices are between $10 to 15 per item. Used to be much better, but it's been going down.

This is a tapas style eatery. Everything is appetizer size portions so it is fun to pick a few and share. The food is good, not great. The drinks are better. The music is a mix of house and techno and other upbeat music. There is art all over the place that is for sale. Also, there are a few areas set up where the artists work in-house. If you can catch one, you can get a good deal on their art.

This is my favorite restauraunt of all time! It seems to have the best of EVERYTHING. When my family first walked in we were looking for a fun and casual night. We were almost overwhelmed by all the activity and energy in this dark little restaraunt. Even in the dark it was very vibrant and colorful! It was also PACKED. However, the service was a pleasant surprise. They were quick and friendly and fun. The menu consists of many different tapas, or small appetizers that you order lots of and the whole table shares. I thought it was different, but it was hard for me to know what to choose. Everything I tasted was really good and unique though. The food was great. But the entertainment, was even better! This place is great for anyone who loves art or dance or just craziness. They periodically has belly dancers who came to the tables and danced alla round! it was funny. Also, artists go there to work. They just sit there and paint and let you watch. There is also music playing. The walls are covered in interesting paintings, decorations, and sculptures. Overall, we had a night to remember and even went back in a different location in Florida. I highly reccomend this to anyone!!

I've only visited once but I remember the experience and the live entertainment. The restaurant offers a nice setting filled with music and dancing at night.