The Fifth opened this past May of 2012 – in the heart of Downtown Orlando on Orange Avenue – by the proprietors of The V Group – Vintage Lounge, Vixen Bar and NV Art Bar. “The Fifth” is located at 112 S. Orange Avenue adjacent to Vintage Lounge. I was recently invited to a media preview of their items and have to say I was thoroughly impressed.
Right when you walk through the door, you could feel practically transported to a city like Miami or downtown Manhattan: sleek, modern designs, glowing dynamic lights, and beautiful white rock encapsulate the restaurant. The setting is upscale yet relaxed. The staff are all unpretentious and warm to guests. At the front is a retail space with liquor and various goodies stocked for customers on the go. The real star of the place, however, is the food.
Led by Chef Dean Holland from Le Cordon Bleu, The Fifth features a menu of familiar, yet creative favorites from gourmet burgers to mac and cheese and I can see the items being popular for the busy Downtown professional’s lunch hour, dinner date or late-night food craving.
During my lunch visit, I tried some of their V potato chips as well as the signature V Chopped Steak burger. The V potato chips were dusted with white truffle and sea salt, crispy and delightful and altogether prepared very well. I noshed on them all throughout lunch. The V Chopped Steak burger was also expertly prepared with very high quality grade beef, cooked perfectly to my desired medium, and topped with caramelized onions, tomato, arugula, and an alioli sauce. The burger probably ranks up among the best I’ve had in Orlando. The prices are a bit higher here than others, but the ingredients and flavors warrant the premium.
The V Potato Chips with sea salt
The V Chopped Steak Burger with caramelized onions, tomato, arugula, ale-oli sauce
Mini chicken sliders drizzled with a Maple Bacon Aioli
At the front is a retail space with liquor and various goodies stocked for customers on the go.
