We spent a lot of time researching this menu. Mr. Rosen wanted to go in a direction that included wild game. So we basically had a test kitchen going while developing the menu.

     The Buffalo, like most of the game offerings on the menu, is farm-raised and therefore does not have a strong "gamey" flavor. Pan-seared and served with a ragout of mushrooms and zinfandel, the Buffalo Tenderloin is like an extra-large, succulent beef filet. Venison Pepper Steak gets special treatment with a port wine demi-glace and tourné vegetables.

       And how does the exotic fare go over with diners? Our guest love it. The Venison and Buffalo are the number one and two on the menu. We get nothing but good feedback on the game offerings. I attribute this to many things. A more savvy clientele who is tired of seeing the same menu, and the explosion of quality farm-raised game available in this country help, as do a repeat clientele who come to the Everglades specifically to have the game offerings.

     “Our local guests are very important to us,” Reynoso said. “These are the guests who have been dining in Everglades since we opened, who come in on a regular basis and are an extension of our family. It is very important that they realize just how special they are and that they enjoy every dinner they spend with us.”

And there are advantages to being located in the hotel. Unlike many freestanding restaurants that do not have a pastry chef aboard, the Everglades takes advantage of the Rosen Centre's extensive kitchen staff to create luscious desserts. The Pecan Tuille is a must-have, featuring a nutty caramel cookie over-filled with a sweet mascarpone cheese mixture and surrounded by fresh berries and chocolate sauce. Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse, Tiramisu, and Key Lime Pie are also standouts.

       There are many reasons to visit the Everglades Restaurant in the Rosen Centre Hotel. A dedication to excellence, exotic menu offerings, a beautiful restaurant. Tucked into a hotel on International Drive, it's well worth venturing into the wilderness to experience the Everglades.