Club Crawl - Longwood : Liquid Scrips

Don't ask me how I wound up there. It's a psuedo-biker bar with go-go dancers and shot girls. There weren't many girls there, but, the drinks were cheap. It's in the spot on 17-92 where McGinty's used to be. I decided to leave early before I ended up in an apartment complex trying to keep it down so the baby wouldn't wake up.

Hugo Joe's, Oviedo

I had lunch at this restaurant on West Broadway on Friday. I had the French Dip because I didn't feel like carbs or grease. It was the special and it was $6.99. I was astounded by how much I liked it. All the ingredients were fresh. I was a little suprised to see melted cheese on top of the beef. But, it didn't ruin the sandwich. It came with mixed vegetables (my choice of side). Only the brocolli was over cooked. It had yellow carrots! Pretty atypical for such a place. The service was prompt (and cute). The decor was a little bar roomish. They had some interesting Swiss entrees and some seafood (oyster po boys!). I believe the spot used to be Frankies and more recently - Victorio's (that what the receipts still say). The crowd was very local.

Club Crawl - Brix (Closed) and Sky 60

9pm-12pm: Brix. Nothing new. OK crowd. They all left before 12. *They are no longer on Rewards Network.

12pm-1:30am: Sky 60. Pretty empty until 1am. I only stayed because while walking around Orange I saw that this night was a lost cause. I chose this spot because it had been a while and it's outside. I didn't want to waste one of the last cool nights we have left. The place reached it's usual quota of beaners early on. They love that Miami Beach linen cabana exterior. It became more mixed later on. I think there was a high school reunion of girls from Lakeland or Winter Haven going on. You can always spot the trailer park hair and clothes. It was uncomfortable to see the needy prom queen running around taking photos with everyone (even the dweebs who seemed uncomfortable to finally get an audience with the mean girls). Not that the girls were pretty. Just "Winter Haven pretty" I guess. The (1!) bar was a complete joke. It took over 20 minutes to get a drink when there were only about 20 people there. I didn't dare try once it went past 21. It's a sin that they can charge a cover for this place. But, I think it's the only incentive you have to stay so they must need it. My favorite patron was the aging Latina in knee high boots (have they been out so long that they're back in?) doing a tranced out, waving her arm behind her back like she was dispersing fart odor dance. She was doing the requisite left right dance that seems to be the only sanctioned move that her race allows. Tune into Univision or imagine some shitty trumpets playing a polka if you want to experience what I'm talking about. It makes the white man's overbite seem inventive in comparison.

Gargi's, Orlando

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant on Saturday. I had the Strachiatelle (sp) for $6. It's Italian Matzo Ball soup. It's chicken broth with noodles and lots of egg whites. It was very satisfying. I had Lasagna for $14 as an entree. While visually appealing (not cut from a pan), the pasta was way overcooked. It was pastey. I think it may have been re-warmed because it was overcooked without arriving hot on my plate. It was also bland. I don't think they spiced the dish at all. The meat was grey so I originally thought it was veal but, it might have been beef that had the blood boiled out of it from it's own juices during baking. The cheese was flavorless too. The service was polite. Although, it was subject to an unfortunate criticism that I'm having to assign more and more of these days - understaffing. There were only two waiters for the dinner service.

The place is on a lake and it was a beautiful setting for this time of year. It's on that lake in between Princeton and 50 on the good side of town (N.Orange). It serves about 30 tables. The place was about 1/2 full. The crowd was eclectic. Yokels, bourgeosie, gays, women who booze, and a some kind of youth church group were there on Saturday. The best story I overheard was a yokel lionizing the comedy and intelligence of Jeff Foxworthy. The gay couple next to him were forced to put down their cancer sticks for a second in order to savor the moment. The place is clean. The silverware is clean. The decor is an afterthought. I would recommend it for the view and hope that your muse just ordered the wrong thing on the wrong night.

That Deli, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this sandwich shop on Monday. I had a curried chicken salad sandwich on wheat with a side of mac and cheese and a DC for $9. The place has a hippie dippy feel. Lots of autographed photos of soft rock artists. The sandwich was fine. It came with alfalfa sprouts, onions, cucumbers and tomatos. They all were fresh. The mac and cheese needed salt. It's in the spot that was Nick's Pizza then some other sandwich shop. It has a counter that seats about 8 running perpendicular to the entrance and about 4 tables to the front of the shop. The staff is a bit cloying (but at least it's not a false enthusiasm like a "welcome to moe's). It is very clean. It's self serve.

Stone's Throw Bistro, Sanford - Closed

I had lunch at this restaurant where Da Vinci used to stand on Wednesday. I had a cheeseburger with home made chips and a beverage for $9. The burger was well cooked and came with field greens, gouda cheese and fried onions. The meat was sort of meat loafy (which we agreed was caused by the Worceister marinade). It wasn't bad or good - just different. It came in a large, fresh roll. The place has obviously not been washed since the days of the Pony Express (which is what one imagines when one enters this saloonish environ). The only decorative change is the local art pimped out on the walls. There is no underlying message with the decor. It's dark and eery. The service though extremely polite and working at full capacity, needs some attention. One person can not handle 30+ patrons. I waited almost an hour. Other tables had to ask for their meals to be wrapped up because their lunch hour had come and gone while waiting. Hopefully, they can add people as business picks up. It feels like friends and family now.

All in all this is a foodie place. The chef/owner obviously cares for nothing except the food. I would try his impromptu wild game nights if you can stomach the $60 entrance fee. They are probably good. They also have a nice selection of obscure micro brews. Let's hope they get enough patient devotees.