Taste tropics at Strong Water Tavern
Strong Water Tavern goes beyond the bevy of spirits available with a tapas-style menu made up of popular dishes from a few Caribbean countries (and Colombia).
This rum bar and lounge is inside the Loews Sapphire Falls Resort in Universal Orlando.
What I would try a second time
Papa Rellena ($8) is an easy favorite — there’s just nothing offensive by this popular dish. Bite through the fried mashed potato ball and diners will find tomatoey ground beef. Strong Water’s version comes with a sugary sweet jalapeno-pineapple jam and a more smoky and piquant chipotle mustard to dunk the potato in.
What I didn’t like
The watery curry goat ($12) disappointed with its mild flavor. The menu listed scotch bonnet as one of these ingredients, but there was no trace of this hot pepper in the dish.
What I would put on Instagram
Strong Water is a beautiful restaurant with a wall of rum, rum cask lids hanging from the ceiling and views of the waterfall and lagoon from the patio. Pair up any of these backdrops with a cocktail or dish and you’ll have a picturesque photo.
Other eats
Although it’s not my family’s arroz con pollo, I enjoyed the tavern’s take on the comfort food. The mix of bell pepper, onion, peas, pulled chicken and sausage had a sharp vinegar-citrus flavor to it.
The warm, gooey salted caramel, toffee and fig bread pudding ($6) was worth the calories, especially when paired with rum raisin ice cream.
How I was treated
Despite a packed restaurant, our server was attentive to our needs and willing to make suggestions. A manager checked in on us at the end of our meal as well.
My next visit
I would like to make my way through the rest of the countries listed in Strong Water’s menu, with sopes inspired by Mexico, salted cod fish cakes from the Bahamas, beef steak empanadas from Colombia and burger sliders from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Oh, and I can’t forget a ceviche or two.
For bar-hoppers
Rum fans will thoroughly enjoy Strong Water, which offers rums from all over the world. Order up a flight or tasting for a sip around the world.
If you don’t want to fill your glass with spirits, a moderate wine list is available along with a mostly macro-beer lineup.
For those with special diets
Strong Water’s menu lists only one vegetarian dish and one vegan dish.