El Rancho de Anibal, Sanford - Closed

This supposed gem of an Puerto Rican restaurant on Sipe Ave (that was only open on the weekend) has closed. Thought I'd save you the trip.

Bella Vita, Lake Mary - Closed

I ate lunch at this Italian restaurant in Lake Mary (where Mario's used to be) on Saturday. I had the Chicken Parm sandwich for $7. I know you are waiting for the pain to come (mid-price Italian), but, I actually found the sandwich to be among the best, if not the best, I've ever had (and I lived on them in my teens). So how can this be? It starts with the bread. A large, wide, flour dusted, artisinal loaf. Light and slightly crusty. The chicken was real in taste and form (not pounded flat chicken spam) and not drowned in sauce. The sauce was light and fresh. The chicken was not oily or over breaded. The mozzerella was pulled over the chicken like a thin bed sheet. The service was perfect (although it was sadly empty). They have redecorated the place with a rustic (autumn colors) sensibility. It still suffers from a hallway-like floor plan that looks out on the working elements of the restaurant (even the bathroom area is visible from most of the restaurant). They tried to break up the flow with half wall, but you can only do so much with what you're given. They seem to have a wide if not imaginative menu. They keep a fair selection of wine and beer (most on tap). It goes to show you that I'm right about shitty Italian frauds. The prices are the same as Marios, but the food and atmosphere are infinitely better. They said they have an outpost in Deltona too. Tip - slices only at lunch.

I would suggest that they figure out a way to make the open kitchen a curiosity instead of an eyesore. Maybe dress up the kitchen or frame it with some decoration. Same with the other exposed doors on the kitchen side. I would also try and hide (curtains) the rest room area. I might also trade in some of those grand ma, reproduction Italian type signs and decorations for some real Italian point of purchase collectibles. It would give it an edge and make it look less like an American chain's idea of what an Italian restaurant looks like. I would also push the contractor to get me my sign and figure out a way to draw people in (a pusher on the street, a placard, music). I would also contact the sheriff and start towing all the bike riders that steal my customers spaces on the weekend.

* I went back recently and the pizza was atrocious. Not baked long enough and too much flour in the dough. The cheese was also salty and didn't melt well.

Journey's, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch at this highly esteemed restaurant in the Boston Market strip mall in Longwood on Friday. I had the Duck Confit on a bed of rice for $12. The duck meat was good if skinny drum and thigh (must be free range). The skin was not crisped at all. The chef said he was taught to do it this way. I don't eat the skin so it wasn't a problem, but, I've never seen a confit prepared this way. The rice was nutty in taste and texture (though not wild). It was paired with bits of lightly warmed vegetables (asparagus, squash, carrot). It came in a orange citrus sweet and sour sauce that had a little kick. I would advise eating the duck on it's own as the sauce overwhelmed it's flavor. The place surprises me for such a darling of the foodie circle. The menu was about 8 deep (4 salads, a burger, steak sandwich...). Nothing intruiging. Even the special was just a fried fish sandwich. The room at the entrance is always kept as if it is a store room. It makes it seem like they're constantly moving in or out. The place is small. There is nothing spectacular about it asthetically. Yellow walls with pictures of famous edifices (that I guess you would see on a "journey") and a black cieling with track lighting. The service was good and pleasant (2 for 32). The silverware was clean. The bread was fresh (served with tapanade in olive oil). It was fine not amazing. It was about 1/3 full. Mixed clientele.

I would suggest they clean up the space and push the envelope gastronomically. I like the fact that you turned the speakers away from the guests.

Fujiyama Sushi, UCF Area

I had dinner at this Japanese restaurant on University on Saturday. I had the Chicken Teppan for $12.95 and a Yellow Tail Roll for $6. I was engorged by the end. They must have cut up 2 full breasts of chicken for my meal. Add in lots of mushrooms, squash, broccoli and a pile of fried rice. It also came with Miso Soup (flavorful not watery) and a proper salad (mushrooms and carrots not just lettuce). I was forcing it down before I started the roll. It was ok. Lots of fish but it was pretty firm for Yellow Tail. The sushi was rice was a little pastey. The place is erected in your typical Japanese "order from a catalog" style. Vietnamese and Chinese girls stroll around in kimonos. The service was good. The place was clean. It was about 1/4 full (8 of 32). Good value.

Cafe 118 Degrees, Winter Park - Closed

I had lunch number 2 at this raw food movement restaurant on Saturday. I had the beet ravioli for $14 with a Beet Carrot Orange Juice for $5. The "ravioli" was pureed cashews (fake ricotta) seathed in a "fruit roll up" skin of beet. It came in a pear sauce. It was very inventive and slightly tasty. The juice was a little beety for me and these blended juices never age well (they must be consumed immediately - ie 5 minutes). It didn't go well with the ravioli. I think you need a sharp soda or mineral water to counter the veggies and nuts. The place was very clean and modern. It's very white with high cielings. The whole front is glass (a shame it's hidden on a side street with no view). They have pretentious "for sale" art on the walls. Is anyone else sick of multi-revenue streams? I want to feel like I'm eating a meal not attending a multi-level marketing promotion. The service (2) was adequate for the traffic (12 or 40 possible). I was surprised at the contrast in clientele. Although, I have the feeling that most of the men were dragged in their by their hippy, carbon toe print, secretively dieting, vegan, or earth mother table mate. All in all it's more of a novelty than a great restaurant. However, I suggest everyone try this type of cuisine at least once. It's something different. If nothing else you can appreciate the resourcefulness it takes to work with a limited palette. They seem to put alot of care into their meals.

Authentic Cuban Cafe, Winter Park

I ate lunch number 1 at this Cuban restaurant on Saturday. I had the Media Noche for $5.50. It was fine. The place is more of a lunch counter than a restaurant. They have the usual Cuban fare. They have about 6 tables of four inside and two outside. You order the food and they bring it out to you. Nothing fancy but they do what they do well. It was packed so the must get people coming to them (too hard to find by mistake - make the turn away from the train tracks at the middle light on Park). And who can complain about eating lunch with Rollins girls?

Club Crawl - I Drive : Shogun, Friday's Front Row (Closed), Bogart's (Closed), Howl At The Moon, Melting Pot

9pm-10pm: (Bar at) Shogun Restaurant. Came in for some Sake. They only serve that in the restaurant of which the bar is otherwise unaffiliated but fulfills all their drink orders except Sake. This place is really the bar for the attached hotel. Nothing going on. Doubt there ever is.

10pm-10:30pm: Friday's Front Row. Fine sports Bar. No action.

10:30pm-11pm: Bogart's. Nice chain-type mega restaurant/bar. Dead.

11pm-11:30pm: Howl At The Moon. Smoky mess. Big crowd of toothless rednecks. Didn't even go in.

11:30pm-12am: Melting Pot. Dead but to be expected. Knew the night was shot and wanted to cross it off my list.

I think Friday's is now a Kobe and Bogart's is now Brickyard.

Red Bamboo, I Drive - Closed

On Friday night I ate at this Thai restaurant near Family Fun Park. I had the Red Bamboo entree of shrimp on a nest of brocolli in the house sauce for $13.95. I inquired if it was a Thai dish and they said it was the chef's special dish (whatever that meant). The sauce seemed a little more Vietnamese than Thai. I think it had soy sauce, sugar, fish sauce and sirachi. It was tasty. There were about 10 shrimp (24's) and maybe 20 pieces of brocolli. The place was clean and new. They actually spent some money on authentic decor. The service was a bit in your face. Do Asian people come in knowing what they want? Here's a tip. If I'm reading the menu, I'm not ready. Another pet peeve. They were out of one of the two Thai beers they put on the menu. Don't list it if you can't keep it in stock. All in all it deserves better than to be empty on a Friday night.

Christianos, Winter Spings

I had a Caprese Salad at this Italian eatery/wine bar on Saturday. It was a big portion and the ingredients were pretty fresh. It has a nice ambience. The staff is cute and attentive. The place is clean. It's only open for dinner.

Aashirwad, I Drive

I had lunch number 2 at this Northern Indian restaurant off Kirkman this Sunday. It was a buffett for $9.95. It had about 10 items, salad bar, rice desert and Chata something (chickpeas, potato and the green sauce - cold) designated as an appetizer. I tried all 10 entress. The Chicken Tikka Masala was the creamiest I've ever encountered. The basmati rice was fine. The eggplant with lentils was good. As was the black beans, egg in curry sauce, potatos and lentils and Tandoori chicken. The chicken 60- something (amount of spices) was a little gamey. I don't like dark meat or bones. The place was very well decorated. It was full (80% Indians). It was clean. the service was good. It's in the strip mall holding Bill Wong's (overlooking Kirkman).

Taste of Hong Kong, I Drive

I had lunch number 1 at this Dim Sum restaurant on Sunday. Each plate was $2.95. I had 2 Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), 1 Shark Fin Dumpling (pork and Shark Fin), and 1 Chicken Feet. The dumplings were excellent. The chicken feet were confusing. I only found the skin eatable. The sauce was delicious, however. The place is pretty drab and old. The service was good. You can't criticize one of only three Dim Sum options in town.

White Wolf Cafe, Antiques District

I had a snack at this denizen of the antique district (in between Winter Park and Downtown on Orange Avenue) on Friday. I had a Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie for $4.50. It's vanilla and peanut butter ice cream in a peanutty crust covered with chocolate syrup. It was fine. The place double as an "antique" shop so it looks like that. It's clean. The staff is young and presentable. There is a strong gay vibe. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It has your typical American fare and a bar.

Johnson's Diner, Downtown - Closed (Now McKnight's)

I had lunch at this "legendary" soul food establishment on Friday. Don't believe the hype. If it's the best soul food it's because there is no competition. And being the best soul food restaurant is like being the fattest Ethiopian. The place, though in a new complex, looks drab and old. It's decorated with black iconographia (pictures of Ray Charles, African wood figures) and nursing home curtains. The place is full of giggling men arguing over who's paying. This would be amusing except you know underneath the bravado they really can't afford to cover the bill. The crowd is about half and half white and black. It's not a scary or oppressive environment. They rotate items on the menu each day. I had the fried chicken with 3 sides. The chicken was good (although a little skinny). The green beans were from a can. The mashed potatos were from a box. The broccoli was all gone. I really can't recommend a place that skimps on key elements of their menu. They're living off being the only fish in a small pond.

*7/2/14 - Now called McKnight's. I expect it is the same experience.

Livingston Street Cafe, Downtown Marriott

I had breakfast here on Friday. I had the All American Breakfast for $9.95. It was 2 eggs, sausage, hash browns and a bagel. A fine gut buster. 3 links, a nice bagel with CC. Eggs were done properly. Service was good.

Club Crawl - Fuji, Dessert Lady, Brix, Ember, Independent

8pm-9pm: Fuji Sushi. I had some sake at this Japanese restaurant on Conway past Kirkman. I had to get some uni after Tomi shut me out. No uni. No people. Learned about sake and that the restaurant (4 branches) is run by Bangledeshies (who knew).

9pm-10pm: Desert Lady. I traveled back to Kirkman and decided I needded some sugar. Then I realized I hate desserts so I had some espresso and port. The place was full of ladies who were going back to their cats. I probably should have hit on the waitress as you will soon read.

10pm-12am: Brix. Mostly dudes. Not getting any better with age (the place not the dudes).

12am-1205am: Ember. Same horribles as last Sat. I guess it stinks on Friday's too.

1205am-1am: Independent. Samo samo. Good thing I was amped up for Super Bowl weekend. Orlando delivered again! Ugh.

Sushi Tomi, Orlando - Closed

On Saturday night I had dnner at this tiny Japanese restaurant south of Sand Lake on John Young. I had the grilled mackerel (with soup and salad) for $12.95. I wasn't thrilled to have that as I don't think cooked food is a Japanese talent. However, I was forced to because they had only one sushi chef and he could not keep up with the overwhelming throng of customers (about 20) and was 45 minutes in arrears. That's why I showed my disappointment be ordering the nearly cheapest thing on the menu that I could stomach. Thankfully, another patron (who I think was the golfer Jonnie Miller) shared some grouper, snapper and tamago with me. The quality was good and the tamago showed expertise in it's preparation. My bar mate assured me this was the best sushi in Orlando and as he brought his own wine I have to assume he knows of what he speaks. Back to the mackerel. Nice size but lots of bones. Not too oily. It came with their cold, sweet mashed potatos, some beans and a bowl of rice. The place was small. It had watermarks on the cieling. The service was ok (except for the whole not being able to have sushi issue). Prices were reasonable. They seemed to have some off menu items.

I guess I would go back if I lived near there, but, as I don't I doubt I will be back.