Seito Sushi, Baldwin Park

I also popped into Seito Sushi while I was in BP. I've been to the one in WP so I didn't feel I needed an extra trip here to assuage my curiosity. I ordered a yellow tail roll. The yellowtail was good but at $6.25 I believe it was a little thin (about the width of your thumb). It took a little longer than expected as well. The place was typical neo-japanese. Nice. Clean. About half full. The hostess seemed a little uppity (but I think she just has that high school Lolita confidence that will fade after her first child - in a year).

I would recommend a little graciousness and urgency. You're just one of dozens of similiarly suited sushi spots in the area. You're no Nobu.

Chi Pan Asian, Baldwin Park

I tried Chi Pan Asian in Baldwin Park yesterday. I had the Kan Shaw Beef for $8.25. It was stir fried flank steak in a spicy brown sauce with julianned onions, scallion, and celery. It came with a mixed salad that was covered with a balsamic and that orange japanese salad dressing mix (best course) and rice. It was fine (not over cooked). The place was fine. The service was fine. Nothing remarkable. Typical emulative neo-asian experience. The decor was loungy modern. The bare table was clean. It was about 1/3 full.

I would only suggest what I propbably suggest to all restaurants - hide the kitchen/bathroom/staging areas. No one wants to see them. They ruin the design of the interior. They are generally odious.

You get there by taking 50 to Bennett Rd (The Roxy) and making a turn onto Broad St. It's behind Jack's Steakhouse.

Club Crawl - Brix & Bliss

Brix 9-12am: The rain may have helped keep Brix populated last night. The place was about 1/2 full (big improvement over last week). The staff also seemed to explode in size. The blond was absent but the brunette was there in a great skirt that showed off her ample breasts and suprisingly firm ass. There were two guy bartenders who were cool. Another slender, hot brunette who seemed a little uneasy being flirty. A boozy brunette with boobs bobbling out of her dress. A southern asian girl who may have been a trainee. A non-descript brunette. The staff was very comfortable with each other and the patrons (probably friends outside work). It gave it a summer camp type coziness. Shots were flowing. Staff was mingling. They even included the kitchen staff (never done). The DJ didn't show, but, the music they played was good and contemporay club. The crowd was preppy and attractive (for Orlando). The place didn't lose people until 11-11:30. Perfect for pre-partying.

Bliss 12-2am: Some of the same people from Brix. Started turning sausagy about 1 am. The $10 cover is so Orlando uncool. But, if it keeps the wrong people out I guess it must be done. The bartenders at the bar I chose were this unusual Eastern-European brunette who I find sexy (just wish the finger print on her hamstring didn't break my fantasy of her availablity) and a platinum blond American. Curiously, I paid $7 and $10 for the same drink. I won't say which charged which but one got a nice tip and one got air. It was about half full as usual. Most were dressed nicely.

Roccos, Winter Park

Illustrative of my thesis that you need to go high end Italian is Roccos. I didn't even want italian after the Positano disappointment, but, they overcame me antipathy. Tucked into an armpit of space of 17-92, is a well appointed restaurant with a courtyard and a bar with potential. While it wasn't quite hopping, I was told it can. Maybe the rain kept it from realizing its potential. I started with Funghi Ripieni alla Jo Jo for $9. It's mushroom caps (4 mediums) filled with sausage, red pepper, shallots, and mascarpone cheese. I enjoyed it very much. It had a savory character. The entree was Vitello ai Carciofi at $24. The veal was milky and nice cooked (about 3 pieces). The artichokes seemed canned as they always do (vineagery) and were quatered (about one artichoke for the plate). The sauce was a veal reduction (thick) of capers and white wine. It came with pan roasted potatos (about 5 wedges). They served a slice of lemon with a large caper as a garnish. The crowd was respectable. The seating was about half capacity. The host and hostess were attentive. The wait staff was as well. The linen and cutlery were clean. They provided a basket of warm foccacio with garlic infused olive oil. Refills on soda were complimentary. I can't wait to go back and try the wild boar.

My only advice is one that I could give almost every restaurant in this area - move. It's amazing what shitty hovels some really fine retauranteurs accept in this town. The font for their logo is also a little pedestrian for such a sophisticated restaurant.

Caffe Positano, Lake Mary - Closed

Ordered the Ravioli Bel Paese and a slice on Wednesday. I usually just get the pizza here and it's good when fresh (thin). This time I got some leftovers cut small at a weird angle (like the guy couldn't give a shit). Which leads me into my tirade. Never go to these mid-priced trattorias. Italians all think they can cook and very few can. The ingredients are always cheap and they pay no attention to detail. Either go high end Italian or do Fazoli's. Take this meal. The pizza is priced well here at $1.95 but listed at $1.75 (typical Italian move). It was average. But, the $10 Ravioli was overcooked, served in a child's bowl (too cheap to wash?), and covered in soggy broccoli and leftover chicken spam (it was like fast food grilled chicken - that stuff has to be molded chicken goop). The topping was just plopped on the ravioli without a care. Get it out Vinny! It was also supposed to have peppers (which is good cause I hate them) but didn't. It had too many sun dried tomatos (yes you can have too many). It came with a mixed salad that was a tad more sophisticated than your typical steak house abortion. It came with a pot of jism that they said was italian dressing but looked like grey french dressing. I went with oil and vinegar. The vinegar came in a re-used oil bottle - of course. The service was good except for the grinning imbelice that served the food. Note to grinning imbeciles - stop, it makes us think you deflowered the meal. Which maybe you did because I had to muddy your toilet half way through the meal (although I'm placing the blame on the previous night's Winn Dixie turkey). Another waitress actually picked up the slack and checked me out. Very cool. The decor is typical Italian two star worthy. The ambience was ruined by your typical daego commotion in the kitchen. Imbecilic macho men screaming inanities at each other in an attempt to create self-esteem. All in all this meal was like the people that produce it - peasant fare. Overpriced peasant fare.

El Potro, Oveido

Lunch on Tu. Ordered Plate Number 3 which is 2 tacos and a quesadilla for $5.19. Only could choose from shredded chicken and ground beef. I chose the chicken. It was pretty full of real chicken meat and came with shredded cheese, lettuce and grilled tomato and peppers. Fine. The quesadilla was overloaded with some kind of gringo cheese. It tasted like a grilled cheese sandwich. The chips and salsa were fresh. The decor - typical thrift shop Mexican. The service was fine, but, at 3pm I was the only customer. The one sin was that they didn't take AMEX. Unforgiveable. Charge me 2% extra if you must.

Cafe Panuzzos, Oveido

Just stopped in for a snack on Tu. Ordered a 6' Supremo for $6. They served it open faced. It was unremarkable. The place was unremarkable.

Club Crawl - Wine Room, Brix, Wall Street, Independent

Friday July 19, 2008

9-10pm: Wine Bar on Park Avenue in Winter Park was about 1/4 full. It had a mix of ages. The average attractiveness rating was about a 5. The selection of wine was rather weak. They were pimping Mike Ditka and Nick Faldo wines! I don't care if they rate a 100. It says alot about what kind of hayseeds they are catering to. They have a cute little blond behind the bar and some sweet cashiers.

10-11pm: Brix on E. Central Downtowm. Nothing like the old place. The menu is Applebees with fondue. The place was dead. Maybe 15 people. The DJ was spinning nice 80's smashes with dance beats. The bar tenders were hottish. One peroxide number with a athletic bod and a tramp stamp. One big breasted brunette with a light brown streak in her hair that screams trouble (fun, crazy trouble). The crowd was young and acceptable.

11-11:10pm: Wall Street Downtown. Waste of $6. Looked crowded. Awful crowd and about 1/4 full.

11:10-1:30am: Independent on Orange Downtown. No cover! I love this spot. It always delivers. I'm usually the preppiest guy there. They only pass judgement passively. It's good to know you can take down the whole emo coalition if you needed to. The music and videos are great. The people are down to earth and a little strange. The competition is weak. The drinks are cheap. It's as close to the East Village as you can find in Florida. The place was full and everybody was having fun. Some had so much fun that they tired themselves out and had to yawn and take water breaks. The only negative is that I still stink of smoke and they serve drinks that give you a hangover.

Orchid Thai, Winter Park

I had Chicken Dumplings and Green Curry Chicken at this Thai restaurant on Park Avenue in Winter Park last night. It was an open-topped steamed dumpling. I think they used dark meat in the dumpling. I'm not sure if they are trying to make use of all the parts of the bird or think the gaminess is a pleasureable taste sensation, but, I think it made them taste rancid. It came with a soy dipping sauce. It cost $6. The chicken curry was good. You can order two sizes (I think for one or two persons). I received the smaller portion for $14. It was enough for dinner. The chicken was nice and white. The vegetables (carrots, zucchini, squash, red peppers, green peppers) were sliced, quartered into chunks and the skins were carved for affect. They were not overcooked. The sauce was nice. Kafir leaves, lime and curry. The white rice was prepared properly. Soda's were $2 (re-fills).

The waitress was nice. Execution was fast. The decor was acceptable (loungy). The room and table settings were clean. The value was good. The place was about half full.

My only suggestion would be for them to communicate their service a little more emphatically. The sign on the window is subtle and doesn't say that it is a restaurant. If you passed by quickly you would probably miss it or not immediately seperate it from the clothing and furniture stores that surround it.