Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe, Sanford

I stopped here today because I had business in the area. I had the pork loin with potato salad and sauerkraut (which they let me switch to the cucumber salad) for $12.60. The loin was more like honey baked ham. Three slices and cloud of dull. The potato salad was stewed in a sugary vinegar - gross. The cucumber salad was sliced too thick. I think the waitress said it was watered down ranch dressing. Now lets get this straight. I'm part German and I accept that German cuisine is near the bottom of the barrel, but, they can't even get it to be authentic grool. The clientele is always the ugliest in the county. The setting is ugly. No thought is given to aesthetic concerns. They let people blow smoke in you face. The prices are high for their lunch counter quality fare. The wait staff was courteous, but, not exactly effusive with the advice or attentive. I would say it was beyond explanation why this is the number 1 restaurant in old town, but I've learned not to underestimate the stupidity of locals.

I would advise them to drop prices by 20% or improve quality and execution. Do something with your atrocious patio area. You have walls spliting the view and horrible furniture.

Patisserie, Lake Mary - Closed

Today I tried the newly opened Patisserie in the Marriott shopping center on 46A. It used to be an ice cream place. I had a tuna salad on a baguette for $5.60 (the only lunch option). The baguette was good (not terribly crusty though). The tuna was good (not fishy or over mayoed). It had a little lettuce and tomato on it. Not much more to say about this place. The "patisserie" selection was small (some muffins, cookies, and tart-like things). It has about 5 tables. It was clean. The staff was nice (but of that cloying "we just opened and are too eager too please" variety). There were 6 other people in there.

I would only suggest that they widen the variety (the quality of the pastry also appeared to be more toward German standards than French) and down play their affiliation with Shan. First of all nothing says bad pastry like Asia. Secondly, Shan has low quality food at high quality prices. They probably need more signage too.

Wine Down, Lake Mary - Closed

Tuesday I tried this restaurant in the shopping center near the Marriott -46A (where Urban Flats was). It's an interesting (and by interesting I mean pretentious) concept in wine bars. They make therir own wine from purchased grapes. No other wines are offered. While it is becoming less surprising to have a seperation from grower and vintner, it seems like every egoist that couldn't cook thinks that he can extract magic from a grape. You'll have to let me know how this part of the experience executes. For every Sine Quo Non there are ten ham fisted failures. I'll stick to the food.

I had the lobster tacos for $12.99 (the most expensive lunch offering). The lobster was tender (shockingly so for something that was likely frozen and Australian). They gave you about a tail and a half of a pound and a quater lobster. It was fried in a tempura batter (not greasy). Jicama, red peppers and some kind of white sauce were included in the taco (2 soft shelled wheat tortillas). It came with a avocado aioli that was tasty but a bit extraneous because it was already "sauced". It also came with a field green salad (for some reason undressed) that was exactly the same as the appetizer salad that preceeded and came with it. I was pleased over all with the offering. The place is long and narrow and decorated with French advertisement posters and wine bottle wall paper. There is a glassed off (but door less) back room. The bar is on the left. The place was filled with mostly women of the Real Estate looking variety. There were two people on the wait staff (on the verge of being under staffed). The table ware was clean. The staff was friendly but not professionally bred. The room was clean.

I would only suggest some more signage. It must have been there for weeks and I only noticed it because Spice was closed down and empty. I also hate plus $2 sodas. It's 2 cents of syrup. And good luck with wine monopoly thing. It worked for Steve Jobs.

Gyosai, Sanford - Closed

Today I tried the newly opened Gyosai from Tokyo by Japanese on 46. I had the Sushi Bento Box for $9.95. It consisted of a 4 piece California Roll that was a little vinegary. A 4 piece Chef Roll (tempura something bits). A piece of salmon, white tuna, tuna, shrimp and snapper. The fish were all good (the tuna was fading) and the rice was not soft, vinegary nor cold. It also came with a rather gooey interiored, vegetable spring roll , an iceberg lettuce salad with japanese dressing and a pinch of seaweed salad. The place had nothing on the walls (looked like a stir fry Asian take out) and a Japanese stone reflection garden in the front. It seemed to have only 3 employees (service was not fast for the 10 or so customers). I think it has promise. I think the quality here will be better here than in the Chinese run Samurai. I hope they're Japanese run if they say "...by Japanese". However, Samurai will leave you fuller. I think the loser in the Lake Mary/Sanford sushi wars must be Yokohama and Fuji. Gyosai will probably have the better quality and Samurai the better quantity appeal. I don't include Amura because it is too full of itself. Chains that act like boutique restaurants - for shame.

I recommend that they "pretty-up" the place and get some more staff. I have every confidence that they will. Then I'lll really get picky.

Roma, Apopka

On Tuesday I was taken to Roma Ristorante Italiano on 441 in Apopka. I had the Lasagna with salad for $9.50. The salad was a typically uninspired iceberg, onion circle and tomato wedge (all cold from there imprisonment in the refrigerator) insult. The house dressing was an alright Italian dressing. Can't believe I'm talking about salad. We're talking about salad!? The Lasagna was edible. The portion was average. It had no accoutrements. It was served in a metal (are we dogs?) bowl. The bread was pre-packaged and sliced something. The place was dull with low ceilings. It could have been a coffe shop or an old women's home. The server was pleasant. The food was delivered promptly. It was clean. It was about 1/3rd full. It's everything a road side Italian restaurant in the middle of Apopka Florida would be. At least they weren't loud and rude. But, the meal should have cost about half of what they charge.

Pei Wei, Baldwin Park

I'm not sure a chain (especially a PF Chang associate) should be rated, but here it goes. On Friday night I stopped in at this restaurant on 50 (near The Roxy) after an unsatisfying encounter at Pho 77 Vietnamese Noodle Shop on 17-92 (only took MC and Visa - I boycott non Amex supporters - and the Spring Roll was supposed to have pork and shrimp but only had tasteless shrimp). I had the Dan Dan Noodles for $6.95. It was noodles in a spicy red sauce (flew all over the place when you ate it with chop sticks) with ground chicken, zuchini, nuts, and garlic. I'm not a noodle bowl guy, but, I liked it. What I liked even better is not having to tip. You order at the counter and get your own beverage and they bring the bowl to you and you bus it. You get in and out fast and a $7 meal stays a $7 meal. The place was clean and well decorated for a chain. The staff (who you hardly interact with was not noticeably unpleasant). The place was full. And no, I was not hungry an hour later. I recommend this place for a quick, no-nonsense asian fix.

I would recommend a few more menu offerings, especially appetizers that don't cost as much as the entrees. We see your web of avarice. It doesn't endear you to those who would do more than sample your establishment.