What are five things I should know about Packard’s Steakhouse?
Packard's Steakhouse is Innisbrook's fine dining restaurant, and it overlooks the resort's signature Copperhead golf course. Before you arrive at the traditional American steakhouse, there a few things you should know:
1. Its hours vary. Packard's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You won't have any trouble dining here first thing in the morning or meeting for lunch after a game of golf, but the restaurant reserves the right to close last minute for dinner based on occupancy, reservations on the books and the time of year. Even if you do have a reservation, it's best to call ahead that week and confirm it will be open for dinner.
2. There's a special wine list. The steakhouse takes a different approach to the traditional wine list. There's a reserve wine list, which features the big names and vintage bottles you'd expect to see, and then there's Xperience, a boutique wine list. Xperience is divided into two lists — $25 and $45 bottles. All of these bottles come from small, boutique wineries that only make 100 cases or less of the selections on the list.
3. It's family-friendly. Despite its fine-dining label, Packard's is a family-friendly restaurant, and kids will have no problem finding something to eat off the menu here. If you're planning to bring your children to dinner, let the reservations agent know ahead of time so he can be sure your table will be set with a kid's menu.
4. Sit at the bar. If you want the menu of Packard's without all the fine-dining fuss, our Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest finding a seat at the bar, ordering a brew, watching the game on one of the TVs and enjoying a great meal. The bar at Packard's Steakhouse is set just off the entrance to the restaurant, with access to the main dining room. It serves the same breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as the main dining area, but seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
5. Try the Wine and Dine evenings. The Tampa restaurant hosts Wine and Dine Evenings throughout the year, as a way to introduce you to its food and its wine list. The $89 dinner for two includes a three-course meal and bottle of wine, and is typically available Sundays through Thursdays from 6 p.m.
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On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Does the menu at Packard’s Steakhouse have seasonal dishes?
The menu at Packard’s Steakhouse changes twice a year to reflect the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmers in Florida. Forbes Travel Guide editors noticed the seasonal change most strikingly in vegetables and fruits in the menu’s sides, salads and appetizers. The lunch menu at Packard’s features a “fresh catch” of the day sandwich that is made with the chef’s market catch of the day. The dinner menu will offer the fresh fish, too, though it will be prepared much differently and come à la carte with any sides and appetizers you select. The fresh fish option is the only dish on the menu that changes daily, so be sure to ask what the option is before deciding on your meal for the night. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What is the food presentation like at Packard’s Steakhouse?
The food presentation at Packard’s Steakhouse at the Innisbrook Resort is simple and traditional, with the focus on the food. Everything on the menu can be ordered à la carte, and that’s how the food is presented. Your steak will come served alone on a plate — keeping the focus solely on the cut of meat — and your sides will arrive at the table in their own cast-iron dishes. Appetizers are presented to the table for sharing, and we suggest you choose a few appetizers and sides to share among the group, instead of one per person. Forbes Travel Guide editors enjoyed the simplicity of the way the food is presented at the Florida restaurant. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Are there any signature desserts at Packard’s Steakhouse?
Of all the delectable desserts served at Packard’s Steakhouse in the Innisbrook Resort, the housemade ice creams and sorbets are the signatures. The pastry team at Innisbrook Resort led by Leo Hueppi mixes up fresh, housemade ice creams and sorbets featuring fine ingredients sourced locally and from around the world. Typically served in a vanilla-laced waffle cup, the frozen confections include cookies and cream, peanut butter cup, pralines and cream, Madagascar vanilla bean, Jamocha fudge brownie, and orange, pineapple and mandarin sorbet. The dessert options change every four to six months based on what’s fresh, so the ice cream flavors might also change to accommodate some of Florida’s freshest fruits. If you’re not in the mood for ice cream, Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest you try the key lime cheesecake or chocolate molten cake — two of the restaurant’s most popular desserts. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the desserts like at Packard’s Steakhouse?
Executive pastry chef Leo Hueppi uses local ingredients to create the desserts at Packard’s Steakhouse in the Innisbrook Resort. Placing an emphasis on the seasonality of Florida’s fruit offerings, the dessert menu changes based on what’s fresh and in season, but you’ll always find a tempting array of housemade ice creams and sorbets on the menu. Recent dessert offerings at Packard’s Steakhouse included a molten chocolate cake with Madagascar vanilla ice cream, apple tarte tatin, hazelnut praline cheesecake and key lime cheesecake in a signature almond and graham cracker crust. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest you dig into the key lime cheesecake or indulge in the jamocha fudge brownie ice cream. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What is the cheese course like at Packard’s Steakhouse?
The cheese course at Packard’s Steakhouse is one of the restaurant’s best-kept secrets. You won’t find it on the menu at the Florida restaurant at the Innisbrook Resort, but after you finish your main meal, your server will enlighten you on the cheese offerings, as well as your dessert options. The cheese course changes every month, but it typically features three cheeses and is suitable for two to four people. On a recent visit, Forbes Travel Guide editors indulged in a cheese course that was a combination of Manchego, smoked gouda and brie cheeses. Ask your server about pairing your cheese course with an after-dinner drink or dessert wine. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What vegetarian and vegan dishes does Packard’s Steakhouse offer?
The menu at Packard’s Steakhouse emphasizes meat and seafood dishes, which can make it a little challenging for vegetarians and vegans However, the chef André Halston and his chefs at the Florida restaurant can create a vegetarian meal upon request. At first glance, the only vegetarian dishes on the menu are the salads and pastas. Let your server know that you’re vegetarian and they’ll check with the kitchen to see what other vegetarian options can be created. Vegans might have a harder time dining at Packard’s Steakhouse, but with the elimination and substitution of sauces from the pasta and salad dressings, plus some creative cooking in the kitchen, it’s possible for vegans to enjoy a good meal at Packard’s among friends. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Does Packard’s Steakhouse offer special menus for food allergies?
Food allergies won’t keep you from enjoying a meal at Packard’s Steakhouse, although the Florida restaurant at Innisbrook Resort doesn’t have any special menus for food allergies. But chef André Halston and his cooks are happy to make adjustments to any menu item to accommodate your food allergies or intolerances. Forbs Travel Guide editors suggest mentioning your special dining needs when you make your reservation at Packard’s. Let your server know as soon as you can about any allergies you have so they can alert the kitchen. They’ll also provide you with some off-menu options from the kitchen that can be created just for you. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What is the menu like at Packard’s Steakhouse?
Packard’s Steakhouse has menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For breakfast, you’ll find a menu filled with traditional items like omelets, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, steak and eggs, and fresh fruit. Lunch is casual affair at the Florida restaurant at the Innisbrook Resort, and it’s also when you’ll see many golfers grabbing a bite after their game. The lunch menu is stacked with favorites like a Chicken Cordon Brie sandwich, corned beef on rye, a classic club sandwich, burgers and the fresh catch of the day sandwich — Forbes Travel Guide editors suggest the tasty grouper sandwich).
Dinner at Packard’s is a more formal affair, and it’s what the Florida restaurant is really known for. Typical of a traditional steakhouse, the dinner menu at Packard’s is filled with appetizers sized for sharing, such as a shrimp cocktail, seafood platters, oysters and calamari. Salads mostly serve as the second course, and the entrées are where the greatest indulgences begin. The menu features five different cuts — New York strip, filet mignon, Delmonico, veal chop, porterhouse — and each is prepared to your liking with a sauce or rub of your choice. The steaks are served à la carte, so you’ll also choose from a variety of sides to accompany your meal. For those not in the mood for steak, Packard’s also offers a fresh catch of the day, lobster tail, chicken and pastas. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
Who is the chef at Packard’s Steakhouse and what is his background?
Chef André Halston serves as the executive chef at Packard’s Steakhouse and for the entire Innisbrook Resort. It was under his guidance and direction that Packard’s Steakhouse was opened to guests, and he also created the concept for the Market Salamander Grille, the resort’s healthy and organic dining option. Halston was executive chef with the Champps and Capitol Grille restaurant chains, and both Restaurant Business and Chef Magazine have named him Chef of the Year. Halston’s other distinctions include serving as a guest chef on NBC, working as a personal chef to former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev during his U.S. tour, and cooking for Queen Elizabeth II. -
On June 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What is the food philosophy of the chef at Packard’s Steakhouse?
Chef André Halston created the menu at Packard’s Steakhouse as a fine dining option for guests at Innisbrook Resort. However, the restaurant still has the casual comfort of a traditional American steakhouse. All the steaks on the menu come from grain-fed animals that aren’t fed any artificial ingredients or hormones. Halston wanted to create a place for Innisbrook Resort guests to spend special occasions and treat themselves during their visit. He also offers locals a place to come and enjoy a traditional steakhouse at the Florida resort. Halston prides his menu selections on always being fresh and hand-selected — from the aged steak to the fish — and believes that good food leads to memorable experiences.
