Club Crawl - Lake Mary : Carlos and Charlies (Closed)

10-11pm: Carlos and Charlies: You know a place sucks when I immediately go home and slam it. This place was peopled with the same crowd that probably went to it on Spring Break 1990. What a disater. It took forever to get a drink (The 4 bartenders couldn't keep up). As if it's not bad enough that they young girls in Lake Mary are fat and ugly, the cougars that prowl this enclave are pawful. I can't wait to leave this cesspool for a real city in a couple of days. I will be on leave for a month. Good riddance social oblivion.

3 6 9, Casselberry - Closed

Today I had lunch at this Chinese restaurant on 436 near Rachel's. I had the Brocolli with Chicken for $6. It came with rice, tea, water, and wonton soup. The wonton soup was rich and chickeny. Two large dumplings in a thick coat. Question. Is Chinese food salty because the need the salt for manual labor or is it how the preserve things? I'm not complaining. It was salty but good. The entree was enormous. I felt guilty being charged the same amount I usually pay at my local fast food Chinese place for half as much. The chicken wasn't overcooked. Very moist. The sauce was a bit cloying. They need to learn that less is more. The rice was well cooked. The service was good. But, I have to learn not to make eye contact because they think it means I want something. The place is done up with black laquer tables and chairs. Chinese art adorns the walls. They have a little section that offers Chines items for sale. It was clean and empty. A great value. I think they have another place closer to Apopka.

Hu Hu Hot, Florida Mall

I had lunch 2 (the real object) at this Mongolian restaurant outside the Florida Mall on Wednesday. It's an all you can eat buffet for $9.79. You choose your meat, veg and sauce and they cook it on a big, round, metal grill. What can I say about it? It's a value buy. The results depend more on your ability to match ingredients than their culinary skill. It is a chain so the restaurant is clean and new. It was mostly empty. There's not much service beyond the clean up. They have a bar and flatscreens (tuned to CNN). Question: why do restaurants choose a political channel to show? You're going to piss off half your clientele.

Salsa, Florida Mall

On Wednesday I had luch 1 at this Mexican restaurant near Macy's in the Florida Mall (John Young and Sand Lake). I had a steak quesadilla for $7.99. It was kind of tiny. The steak was kind of hamburgery. It was topped with a little guac and some strings of sour cream. This was one of the cheaper things on the menu. I would say it's overpriced for a mall restaurant. While the place is modern and clean, I wouldn't recommend it. It's part of a national conglomerate that runs Samba Room, etc. You are paying big boy prices for McFood. The staff was nice. Try authetic Mexican at realistic pricing at any eyesore over this. Unless you think Outback is a good steakhouse and non-gringos scare you.

Grafitti Junction, Thornton Park

I had dinner at this bar in a tent past Dexters on Friday night. I had a cheeseburger with avocado for $8.50. It came with a lot of fries. I was surprised when it came close to medium rare as requested. All seemed well until about 10 minutes after eating. Can you say indigestion? I think it was the spicy rub they put on it. I would lose it. The service was good. The place is trying to channel Austin, TX. It is a fenced in "porch" with grafitti all over the place (including the servers). I bet it gets a fun crowd (Zooey Deschanel not Emily) later on. They have Widescreens and video games. I wouldn't be surprised if they have live music. A good place to get annihalated and puke up that shitty burger seasoning in the corner. They probably just hose it off.

City Diner, Downtown

I had breakfast at this diner behind the court house on Friday. Let's just say I think I overpaid for a one egg on a muffin with cheese and a DC for $5. I asked for no grease on the muffin. Got it. The egg must have been from a quail. The cheese wasn't melted. The DC tasted like rust (no re-fill). The waitress had on a wig. The place has shitty parking. It closes at 2. I feel bad for all those cons and lawyers who have to eat here before trial.

District Five, Downtown

I had lunch at this hotel restaurant in the Crowne Plaza on Friday. I had a turkey club for $7.99. It had only one slice of turkey and two pieces of bread but it was tasty. They served it on some thick whole grain type bread with a spicy mayo. It came with a side of potato salad and chips. They were both above average. The service was pretty much order and delivery (no check). But, that may be because they were serving a seminar at the same time. The place is very modern. It has windows for good light. The whole hotel (which was a condo) was very nice. I would stop by (before a Magic game or Carr performance) for at least a drink at the bar and a look around. The parking was free too.

Golden Thai, Longwood

I had lunch at this Thai place on 434 in between 1-4 and 17-92 on Tuesday. I had the Masaman Chicken for $7. It's white meat with a yellow curry with peppers and white rice. Everything was good. No surprises. The place is small (10 tables). It was full. They have a small staff (3 including management). The service was adequate. The decor was authentic Thai with lots of bling. It's a fine spot for a casual Thai meal.

Club Crawl - Longwood & Sanford : Harmoni (Closed), Mulligans, Route 46 (Closed)

10-11pm: Harmoni. Had some nice wine but the scene was slow. One foursome of New Yawkers and 2 couples on dates at the bar. Should have stayed at Hurricanes. At least they had eye candy. I call the brunette.

11-11:30pm: Mulligans. All dude-fest. How do people in non-club towns every get laid?

11:30-11:59pm. Route 46. Went to the new Garage Bar. Two married girls at the bar. Maybe five non-descripts outside. This is the second time I've been to this multi-space vortex and the second time it was beyond suck. I think it's out of mind until I get a Harley and start day drinking in my leather vest.

Hurricane Grill and Wings, Longwood

I had dinner at this Surf themed American restaurant in that strip mall right at Wekiva Springs Rd and 434 on Friday. I had the Mahi-Mahi Platter for $10.99. It was a grilled rectangle of fish with fries and a mini-cup of slaw. The fish was actually well prepared (not dry). Although the shape screamed frozen, it was fine. It wasn't hidden under any rub or sauce. The fries were very good. They were covered with a salt and pepper rub. The cole slaw had a lot of fennel or coriander seeds in it (I forget which is which). The place was packed. They had adequate staff (all girls) for the traffic. People seemed to move in and out quickly. It was full throughout the night. They have a bar. They have flat screens. Surfboards and surfing murals provide the visual stimulus. A family friendly place. Especially for Dad (see the line about all girl staff).

Circa, Winter Park (Closed)

I had lunch at this what they call American Classic (I call it themeless) restaurant on Park Avenue on Wednesday. I had the Tortellini in a Tomato Chianti Cream Sauce (very American, right?) for $7. It was delicioso. It came with sweet english peas. The portion was large. The pasta was well cooked. The sauce was savory. I laughed to myself when I looked across the street and saw those saps getting a Panera sandwich for the same price. The service was good. Although, it better have been since only two others were in attendance. The staff was all dressed in costume. The waiter gave me a good table and refilled my drink without provocation. He was always attentive. They served a little unleavened cracker in lieu of bread (very cost conscious). The butter was a little stinky. It had either been melted and reformed too many times or tainted by something in the refrigerator. The place is art deco. They have fresh flowers. There is a mirrored bar, piano and an upstairs night club (all white). They have a banquet room in the back and a pub next door. The food ranged from meatloaf to alligator bits to seafood. The place was clean and has good views. They have put a lot of care into this operation. The value is great (especially at lunch). Let's hope they can succeed where many others have failed.