Yellow Dog Eats, Gotha

I had dinner at this American (it's not a hot dog joint) restaurant on Hempel Ave in Gotha/Windermere last night. I had a Blue Suede Shoes Pulled Pork sandwich for $10. It came with blue cheese, bacon, a sweet sauce and raw onion. It was phenomenal. All the ingredients were fresh and played off each other perfectly. The sandwich was big. The bun was great. It even came with chips. A great combination of flavors. The place serves mostly riffs on pulled pork. They have some specials, confections and salads. They sell wine (sadly double retail) and self labeled condiments like spicy pickles. The staff was all young. The girl who took my order was a knock out. Sweet too. It's self serve. The place has character. It's like an old, hirsute farm house (even though they rebuilt it two years ago after a fire). People have written on the walls and given them photos of their dogs to display. It has a very inviting vibe. They have a downstairs interior off the kitchen that seats about twenty. It is flanked by the goods they sell. The upstairs seats about thirty more. The outside is separated into two patio/garden areas. They seat about fifty. All very clean. Although, most of the decor is faux chic it still has a kitschy appeal that convinces you it could be authentic. I really loved this place. It had a great aura and great food. Almost everyone who came in seemed like a regular. Parking out front was a little limited. Now let me tell you how to find it. From I-4, take the 409 or Old Winter Garden Rd (the one behind the Citrus Bowl) west to Hempel Ave and then head south about a mile to where Gotha begins. It is a destination spot.

Zorba's Eatery, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch at this Greek restaurant near the 434 - 424 intersection on Thursday. I had a Gyro Combo (with fries) for $7.95. It was fine. They also have a chicken gyro if you don't like the lamb/beef combination. The fries were crisp and sprinkled with herbs. They also serve other Greek staples and many American sandwiches. They have a small retail kiosk of Greek foods. It's small. It seats about 30. It was about half full while I was there. The crowd was mixed. It's clean. The walls are blue and they have photos of the Greek isles all over. You can see the kitchen behind the glass shielded counter from which you order. It's self serve (no tipping expected). I believe the place is owned and operated by the man behind the glass. He was very friendly. I recommend that you give it a go. Break out of your dull routine. They will have you in and out in a flash. And at the cost of a sandwich combo from Subway, you will have a superior experience (even if you chicken out and order and American sandwich). They don't take AMEX.

Danny's Broasted Chicken, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this new Broaster (pressure fried) restaurant next to Tijuana Flats on Lake Mary Blvd on Wednesday. I had a chicken breast for $2, disco (cheese and gravy) fries for $4, and a fish sandwich for $5. The chicken was broasted. I liked the results. It was crispy and juicy. Get ready for a new way to experience chicken Orlando. The fries were also very good. The fries were crinkle cut, crisp and plentiful (a meal in itself). The gravy came in a container if you preferred to abstain. I ate the fish sandwich for dinner and I'm sure the refrigerating and nuking detracted from its potential. However, it was still good. It came on a medium sized sub bun with lettuce and tomato. I though they said it came with tartar sauce. They had tartar sauce in packets by the napkins, so maybe I misunderstood. The place is tiny. It seats about 20. They also serve shrimp and other sides. It is painted red and is decorated with Wisconsin sports memorabilia (love the upside down Favre) and old school pennants. I'm not sure what sports has to do with the culinary concept, but, that's the theme they are branding themselves with. I would have suggested a more generic, regional decor. The have a TV that they say is to occupy you while they make your meal "cooked to order". I didn't really notice the seven minutes they said it took to make the meal. The service was courteous and accommodating. You order at a counter and they bring you the food. As a result you can funnel that tip money into more food. The place seems family run and owned. I would recommend that you abandon one of your trips to Tijuana Flats and give them a go.

Apna, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch today at this Indian restaurant on the east side of I-4 on 434 today. I had a Salad with Tandoori Chicken for $8 and a side of Naan for $3. The salad came with tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, onions, and green pepper. They gave it a slight spritz of oil and vinegar. It came with a shot glass of Raita. There was plenty of chicken. It was nicely spiced. A very refreshing meal. They served a complimentary fried crisp (I'm spacing on the name) as an amuse bouche. The place seats about 80. There was only one other diner there (although they have been only open for two weeks and it was really cold today). It's very clean for an Indian restaurant. It even smelled of bleach when I entered. The floor plan is open with four seat tables arranged in a grid. Not much decoration. It seems to be a husband and wife, two person show. There was one waitress and maybe another person in the kitchen (although the husband seemed to be the cook). They have a pretty extensive menu. They said it was kosher. The service was good and she seemed genuinely concerned for the fate of the restaurant. Most lunch specials came with rice or Naan. Some other Indian restaurants have a larger sample on their lunch plates at the same price (10ish). However, I didn't get a look at the portion size to compare. I do recommend it. Even if they don't take American Express. And I would like to have seen if they would have charged me for a refill.

Fresco, Sand Lake

I had lunch at this Italian restaurant in the K-Mart plaza just off the Sand Lake Rd exit last Wednesday. I had a meatball panini with fries for $8. I also received a house salad for free because the waitress and I mis-communicated over what I wanted as my side selection. The salad was a little wilted. However, it was still better than most salads in an Italian restaurant and it was comped. It even came with some olives and mozzarella cheese. The meatball panini was ok. The meatballs were a little undercooked. I can forgive that since it appears that they took pains to make them to order. The fries were crisp. They had a bread basket. It was a very filling meal. The place is half in and half out. It partially makes an attempt at being a nice restaurant. It looks low end from outside. It's in the far corner of a dump of a shopping mall next to a bad chain store. The signage is cheap. Inside they make the same half hearted effort. It's one part gourmet shop and one part cafeteria. There is way to much empty space. It seats about 100. There were about 20 people there at lunch. It has a tiny bar with a TV. The service (2) was good. The silverware was a little dirty. They sell wine (double retail) in the back. They don't make pizza at lunch. All in all, it's like Janine Garafalo. You can find good things if you look, but, it doesn't feel like making any attempt to reach its potential. I wouldn't mind eating here again. I just wouldn't go out of my way again to get here.

Braxi's, Downtown - Closed

I grabbed a dog from this Burger place on Church Street after the game last Wednesday. It cost $3.50. It was fine. However, I'd like to talk more about the spot and the people. I'm surprised that more people didn't file in here (either because of munchies or they fact they couldn't find food around the arena before the game). It might have been because no one was behind the counter. I'm not a Nobel Prize Winning economist, but, I would think that if I owned the spot I would make sure that someone was behind the counter when a stream of 14,000 customers walked by. Remember this (and my Paradise Island review) when you hear these jerk offs complaining about how the new arena hasn't helped sales. Speaking of which, the only spots with customers were Hamburger Mary's and that Cajun Pub on the corner. This leads me to believe if you are selling dainty desserts or anything non hops or cow related, you should not expect a bump in business.

UCF v UF, Amway Arena

I saw the UCF Knights play the Florida Gaylords at the new Amway Arena last Wednesday night for $17. It was fun. The Knights won. It was almost sold out. I had to sit two rows from the back. Wasn't the reason they built half an arena at UCF that they couldn't haul ass over to Downtown? The new arena is basically the old arena with one more section added to it. That is one too many. If you are offered seats in the upper bowl, do not accept them. It is too far away. The arena is still pretty generic. They have some cool, new bars, but, it's not a giant upgrade from the old place. The one area in which it excels is in VIP seating and pamepering (exactly what a town with a median income of 28k demands). I also think that the one side of the arena that does not have wrap around lighting is distracting the shooters. Both teams shot horribly at that end. Then again it could be the lights from the Ozone bar.

Paradise Island Cafe, Downtown

I had dinner 1 at this Jamaican restaurant across from the Amway Arena last Wednesday night. I had the large beef and bean soup for $3.75. It was tasty. Lots of beef. It was big enough to be a meal. It was a little discouraging to see that it was being reheated via microwave. It's small. It seats about 30. They have a deli on the other side (where you have to pay along side every lush buying beer). The service was a little "lethargic". They weren't exactly tripping over each other to make the customers feel welcome. They could have done double the business if they showed the slightest interest in engaging their patrons. I wager that they lose their entire clientele when ANY competition emerges. They have been given a golden opportunity and I see them letting it pass them by. The best part of meal was watching Crackers wince when they read what being served at the restaurant. I guess this isn't part of their usual food rotation.

Boston's Fish House, Winter Park

I had lunch 2 at this Seafood restaurant (behind the Italian Ice Guy on Aloma - east side of 436) last Wednesday. I went for the cheapest thing on the menu (because I had already reviewed their satellite in Sanford and eaten my lunch 5 minutes ago) and ended up with a steal. I had the Mini-Fish Sandwiches. It was two "sliders" of fried fish (Haddock?) in between two well buttered rolls. It came with (I chose) cole slaw (sweet) and a broccoli salad with raisins and bacon. I'm sure it's a NE staple, but, I had never had that. I could have lived without the raisins, but, I loved the broccoli. The fish was well cooked and not oily. It was enough to fill you up on it's own. It all cost $6. To put it in perspective, a bowl of chowder cost around $5. This place (the original) has a lot more charm than the one in Sanford. It has NE nick knacks and a nautical type theme. It seats about 50 inside. It was full. The service was quick. I believe the owner actually works there. I recommend it.

Johnny's Diner, Winter Park - Moved

I had lunch 1 at this Diner on 436 (right after University) last Wednesday. I had 2 eggs over easy with hashbrowns, toast and sausage for $6. It was all fine. They did kind of trick you with a sign that said it was $4.25 but only applies until 11am. The place is decrepit but not dirty. They Christmas wrapped all the paintings. It seats about 50. It was pretty full (of old timers). The service was good. A decent Diner. They aren't open for dinner.

*See 3/30/2024 post for where they moved to.

NYPD Pizza, Maitland - Closed

I got a personal pizza to go at this pizzeria in Maitland on 17-92 on Saturday night. The cashier lied and said it would come out faster than the pie they would have to make to give me a slice (not on the menu) because of course that had not been made yet. She lied. It took 25 minutes not 5. It also cost about 2x as much as two slices would have cost (same approximate serving of pizza). The pizza was alright. It was thin. It just wasn't great. The specialty pizzas are ridiculous. They have some combinations that should be forbidden and are anything but traditional. The place looks like a chain. They have NY Sports memorabilia and hastily painted murals on the wall. Some douche bag croons 90's hits to a mostly empty restaurant (seats about 80). Is this Pizza-bucks? Your vibe is closer to crayons and place mats with mazes on them than to a hip night spot. They have some sandwiches and other things as well. I guess if you are taken there don't freak out, but, don't make an effort to find this place.

Trey Yuan, I Drive

I got an order of shrimp, fried rice to go at this Chinese restaurant near the Skydiving attraction last Friday. I scarfed it down when I got home (no lunch and a small steak dinner left me hungry). It was fine. They used little shrimp. I would have used real ones. They didn't fry up the shrimp in soy sauce. Anyway it was fine. The place looks like a real, stereotypical Chinese banquet hall. It seats about 120. It had about 10 people there at 7pm. I'm definitely going back for the Dim Sum they serve every afternoon. Then I'm going to finally do that Skydiving ride and then I'm going to throw up in it.

Shalimar Tandoor, I Drive

I got an order of vegetable samosa to go from this Indian restaurant last Friday night. They (2) cost $5.50. They weren't bad when I had them on Saturday night. They were mostly potato and peas and came with a bitter, dill sauce to cut the heat. The place is a rectangular eye sore. The ceiling is near collapse and water stained. The windows are cheaply black out. Some of the art is ok, but, this is an establishment that has allocated next to nothing for the dining area. I hope the kitchen is better, but, I doubt it. Indians are not known to part with a penny if they can escape it. The place is all booths. It seats about 80. I bet the food tastes good. You just feel like you might be sharing it with a mouse. And at an average prices nearing twenty dollars per dish, you won't want to share. I wish I could say I'd go back. I won't. There are too many options. I'm also scared that they only do one lunch (on Monday) a week and it is a buffet. Can you say "cleaning out the refrigerator"?

Wild Jack's, I Drive - Closed

I went to this steakhouse for dinner on Friday. I had the steak special with fries for $10. The waitress said it was veal, but, I think I got a sirloin. In any case it was good for the price. It was mostly medium as requested. The fries were fine. It did take forever (30 minutes). The service was fine. I just planned on dipping my toe in because I don't pay to have someone cook me the easiest meal on the planet at steakhouse prices. But, I can't complain. The place is a notch below tasteful in it's cowboy theme - exposed work stations, coin operated carnival games and modern pool tables ruin the experience. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting, but, sometimes that makes you more disappointed for what it could be with a little effort. I guess you have to appeal to the kind of people that dine on I Drive. The place seats about 140. There were five others there at 6pm. They don't do lunch. Most meals came with some sort of potato and cost $17 and up.

Old Spice Classic, Disney

I went to this college basketball tournament last Friday afternoon at Disney's Wild World of Sports' HP Fieldhouse. Tickets were $25 ($10 if a Florida resident) per session (two games). Parking was free. It's the best deal in town. You get to sit where ever you want. You get to see real D1 teams in an intimate setting. The only downer is that they play on Thanksgiving (family commitments) and Sunday (travel day) but not Saturday. This make Friday the only real day you can go.

Tilted Kilt, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this chain restaurant that used to be a Uno's last Wednesday. I had A Big Arse Bacon Burger for $8.49. It was good. It was cooked liked I asked for. It came topped with thin, fried onion rings and bacon. The barbecue sauce had been flavored with something like nutmeg or cinnamon (something evocative of Middle Eastern cooking). The bun was fresh. The burger was big. The french fries were crisp, but, they came with that ass batter that some people think is helpful. I had been told that the food was average and the waitresses were hot. I think they hd it backwards. The food was way better than the looks of the staff. I felt like I was at a bad strip club. Nothing mixes more naturally than Catholic School uniforms and tats, piercings and penciled in eye brows. However, the service was quick. They were as polite as you can expect from women who have to listen to losers engage them all day. They switched off on tables. There were about ten of them. The place seats about 200. It has a bar area and a table top area and a dining area. It has high ceilings. The floor plan is open. It has all manner of cheesy faux Celtic and sports decoration. They have a lot of flat screens showing sports. However, it's not as dark and depressing as most fake Irish pubs. It's a Chili's with the bare minimum of Irish fare (are Nachos really Irish?) and decor to differentiate it as something else. It's was packed. I don't really go in for this thing. Too generic and in this case sad. It's aimed at married men looking over the wall at what now qualifies as freedom and their single friends who haven't mastered the art of asking a girl out on a date. If you one of the aforementioned groups, and you don't mind or realize that these trailer trash girls are just there to help fleece you, line up for an adequate meal. At least you get that out of the exchange. And if you are lucky - Herpes and a step child!

Club Crawl - Lake Mary : Friendly Confines, Tilted Kilt, House Of Beers, Carlos and Charlies (Closed), Dexters

11pm-11:05 pm: Friendly Confines - This place is officially toast. Even more empty than on Halloween. The party has moved on.

11:10pm-11:15pm: Tilted Kilt - I thought the crowd may have moved on to this new spot. Wrong! And a guy a met said they have the hottest waitresses. Wrong!

11:20-11:25pm: House of Beers - Dead. I predicted that the female staff would quit in a matter of weeks when I attended the opening. Guess what? I was right. Looks like the crowd quit too.

11:30-11:35pm: Carlos and Charlie's - Back to this warren of trizzash where you can't get a drink. A little better than the rest. Still bad. They must have reclaimed some of Fall deserters.

11:40-11:45pm: Dexter's - Usual dude-fest and bad cover band.

11:55pm: Put gun in mouth and wondered how a town with a Hooters, Jax, Tilted Kilt, Friendly Confines, Stonewood, Dexter's, Carlos and Charlie's, House of Beers, Westin Hotel and other offerings can not attract any chicks or young people. Is this Nome, Alaska?

Genuine Bistro, Debary

I had lunch at this "bistro" on 17-92 and Beall Blvd on Wednesday. I say "bistro" because it's hard to see what dishes qualify it as a traditional bistro. I had a Muffaletta sandwich for $9. I should say I had a half of a Muffaletta because that's all they give you. It gave with kettle chips. Not withstanding the penurious portion size, I have to report that the sandwich was excellent. It had quality ingredients. The service (3) was good and more than adequate for the crowd (10). The place seats about 20 inside and 40 outside. It's smaller than it looks from the road. It's a mostly wood structure and a little dark. They have a small bar. The menu is mostly american classics. It's more of a gastro-pub. They don't or can't wow you with their creativity. I found the prices a little high for the area. Apps were close to entree prices. It's not the best value for this type of fare, but, it wasn't bad by any stretch. It just had nothing to separate it from the multitude of similar choices. They need to make the menu more challenging or drop the prices by a third to be a recommendation.

SSC, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

I saw this production last Sunday afternoon for $10. I thought they did a fine job. The script is an uprorious farce about a boy in love with a courtesan who has been sold to a Roman Centurion. The girl who played the "Wild" Courtesan was beautiful.

India Palace, Disney

I had dinner at this Indian restaurant on Palm Parkway (2nd street off the Downtown Disney Exit on 535) yesterday. We all know what that means. It was awful. The worst Dish I've had at any Indian restaurant and the worst Indian restaurant in Central Florida. I had the Chicken Dansak for $15. It was 6 small pieces of dark, thigh meat cooked with Dal Makhni (lentils). It tasted like the black beans' backwash from the bean container at Moe's. The only taste was the bitter insult of Bay Leaves and Cardamon. Now I can't say the rest of menu is bad, but, this dish has to go. I'm permanently scared away from this place. And at that price, the profit margin must have been $14. It came with basmati rice that didn't help the dish at all. The place seats about 90. It's ugly and cheap. Only one other person was there. Tables were not cleared from previous patrons. The worst part is how far I traveled to be afflicted by this mess. They advertise with upscale restaurants! Now that is a joke. If. If you must go, do the lunch special to limit your losses and stay away from the Dansak (Dan must mean Balls).

Barducci's, Winter Park (Closed)

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant on University on Monday. I had a slice of pizza for $2 and a Meatball Sub for $7. The pizza was god awful. Hopefully (for them), it was just old. It had the consistency of a cracker. It reminded me of an overcooked Red Baron pizza from the frozen food aisle. They tried to compensate by sprinkling Parmesan on top. It didn't help. The meatball sub was better. The meatballs were huge and properly made and cooked. The sauce and cheese were authentic. It came with properly cooked fries. The place seats about 80. It looks like typical, no frills Italian restaurant. Cheezy decor. Run down appearance. The service was friendly. Only 2 others were there at 9pm. Not a bad joint, but, not haute cuisine.

East Buffet, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch at this Asian buffet on 434 (in between 436 and I4) on Saturday. I had the lunch buffet for $6.99. Are you kidding me? What a value! A most worthy successor to Crazy Buffet (out of business) at half the price. They took away all the lame items at CB and kept the best. There were 10 types of sushi rolls. They were always replenished regularly. Thai food. Stir Fry Noodle area. Chinese. American. Desserts. I had the following. California Rolls, Salmon CC Rolls, Spider Rolls, Mango Rolls, East Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, Tataki Rolls, Tempura Rolls, etc. I had Chicken in - peanut sauce, thai style, tempura nuggets, pepper sauce. I had pork dumplings. I had edamame. I had tempura. I had more. I just can't remember what. I almost had a food coma. The place seats about 100. It was pretty full. They did a great job refurbing this old Roadhouse. It is all stained wood inside. Lots of booths and an Asian feel. They have lots of staff. Question - Why do buffets have more staff than a regular restaurant? You do most of the work. I guess they can find alot of people who want the job because it's a cinch to do. All the staff was Asian (EEOC anyone?). Anyway. I highly recommend it even if they don't give you a receipt or take AMEX. A soda was only $1.49.

Club Crawl - Baldwin Park & Downtown : Uptown, Red Star, Blank Space (Closed)

Friday

9-9:30 pm: Uptown Park Wine Bar - Tried out this new bar in Bladwin Park near Seito Sushi. A fine, small spot serving wine and micro brews. The bar area was full.

9:30-10 pm: Red Star Tavern - Tried this chain bar on 50 outside the Mall. Empty.

10pm-3am: Blank Space - Tried this bar/art studio on Central on the lake side of the library. A limited selection of beer, wine and sake. But, a mellow spot where you can talk and relax. Downtown was dead anyway.

Lago, Baldwin Park - Closed

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant on Friday. I started with Lumache for $8 and finished with Grilled Pork Loin with White Beans for $20. The Lumache (I believe that is an area in Italy) consisted of snails and assorted mushrooms in a red wine, cream, etc sauce. It was superb. The sauce was savory and sweet. The snails were a tad overcooked. To be honest the snails could go. The mushrooms were enough to make the dish. It had a plasticene piece of foccacia in the center. That could go as well. The main course didn't work. The taste of char from the grill overpowered/ruined the balance of the dish. A dish that was too bland to compete with the starter. The pork was all over the place. Some pieces were cooked ok, some were overcooked. I don't think it was a quality loin either. It seemed to have that plumped/watered up mouth feel you get with agro-products. The beans were mostly tasteless and dry. There was some heat on them, but, it didn't really gel with the compote on the pork. I would roast the pork and add some heat to the compote. The portion was large. That may be because the place can probably seat 200 and there were maybe 6 people dining (36 if you count two tables of ten in the back area). It's a shame because they have spent money on the place. It's a tad generic-modern, but, what isn't nowadays. The place has really high ceilings (although you are forced to stare at the exposed duct work). It has serpentined booths in the middle of the room (half face the exposed kitchen). The front has a bar area. The tables are liberally spaced. They have a large exterior patio area that faces a lake. The decor is modern. The service was great (after a small wait at the hostess table). The clientele was natty but not formal. The main courses were reasonably priced. the apps and wine were a little high (that's how I know this was an Italian restaurant). I suppose the have desserts, but, you are fat enough America. I would recommend it. The most curious thing about the place is that it can break even without a lunch service. I must have really been in on a slow day.

Crave, Orlando - Closed

Last Wednesday I had lunch at this "American" restaurant on Conroy Rd off I4. I had a Sashimi Special for $11. It was very good. I was apprehensive to make my indoctrination on a "non-American" food category, but, they do raw fish better than most Japanese restaurants. They served 3 large pieces each of Tuna, Salmon, White Tuna, Albacore and Yellowtail. All were fresh. The YT was even wild YT (black tipped). It came with rice (well cooked) and Miso (vinegar scented). The service was good. The place was clean. It's a large open room that is bisected from the bar area by a wine storage room. It's done in Bellagio mock-art deco style. Think Chilloully glass and maple wood. The prices were high on most items. I recommend only going for the lunch specials. The wines were even marked up more than the usual 3x retail. It seats around 200. They can expand to serve outside. The rest of the menu has what you'd expect in an "American" restaurant. I had heard some mixed reviews about this place, so that is why it took me so long to go there. However, for what I ordered, I couldn't have been more pleased. The $3 Coke was excessive.

Smokehouse Bar-BQ, S. Orange Ave

I had dinner (to go) at this BBQ restaurant across from McWells on Wednesday. I had their Brisket dinner for $9. It was a real let down. The brisket was rubbery and without flavor. The mac and cheese was bland and overcooked. The mashed potatoes were powdered. The garlic toast was rubbery. The best thing about it was the to go container. The place looks like an Elks lodge. It's all picnic tables in one open room. It has just taken over from Back (or black) Water BBQ in College Park. Too bad for the neighborhood. The prices were high too. The sandwiches were only $2 less. The don't take AMEX. Drinks are 2$+. Pass.

Brazas Chicken, S. Orange Ave

I had lunch 2 at this Peruvian restaurant in the same strip mall as McWells (it's across from Le Coq au Vin) on Wednesday. I had a 1/4 chicken to go for $4. It was what you would expect. Not bad at all. The place seemed cute. Done in the right tone. It seats about 50. It's cosy. Probably worth a return sit down. The service was fast.

McWells, S. Orange Ave

I had lunch at this bar on S. Orange on Wednesday. My original target (Zenzi) is now closed. I had a Club Wrap with fries for $6. It was actually pretty good. The bacon was thick and not burnt. The vegetables were fresh. The fries were thick and crisp. More than I expected from a dive bar. The soda was even under $2. I can't recommend it as a destination, but, if you have to have food while in a bar you could do worse. The service was good. The place is old. It's made up like a bar with pool table, etc. It seats about 40 in the room with the big screen. It was pretty full.

Lechonera El Barrio, 436

I had lunch at this Puerto Rican restaurant on 436 south of 50 this Sunday. I had a Tripleta for $6. It is a Cuban style pressed sandwich with brisket and mayo and catsup. It was PHENOMENAL. I'm doing that thing that Italians do when they press their fingers together and put them to their mouth and kiss them. I recommend eating the contents in stages. If you eat it as one, the flavors get lost. The brisket was perfectly cooked. It had no fat or cartilage. It had great flavor. Same with the pulled pork. I then ate the remainder as a ham sandwich. Very filling and incredibly tasty. The place is narrow. It seats about 30. It has a glass window facing the street. It's not much to look at. However, the food was great. They have a ton of Latin American dishes that you can mix and match in a combo for $4 for a small and $7 for a large. I got there late so it wasn't packed, but, it looked like it had been full. I highly recommend it.

Bee Won, Dr Phillips

I had lunch at this Korean restaurant in a strip mall on Dr. Phillips Blvd near Hiawassee the Wednesday before last. I had a Golbi Box for $11.95. It contained short ribs, salad, kim chi, bean sprouts, potatoes, turnip, miso soup, rice and a fried dumpling. The traditional sides represented all taste profiles - spicy, savory, sour, etc. They were fine. The soup was not watery. The dumpling was good. The let down was the short ribs. It was the most expensive option and was not really worth the extra expense. Korean short ribs are just never very good. And at $5 a pound in the market, they aren't really an extravagance worth the extra price. The place was clean. It seats about 90. There were five others dining there - 2 Koreans. It seems to have been an old beer garden in a previous life. The decor is mainly wood. The service (1) was a bit slow. I can't really find anything about it that would make me want to return. The $2 can of Coke was a bit excessive.

Kobe, Longwood

I grabbed a roll to go from this Hibachi/Sushi restaurant on 434 and I-4 on Friday. I had a spicy tuna roll for $5.50. It was disappointing. The tuna was tail meat (lots of cartiledge - ocean dental floss) and not very fresh. They didn't even pre-sauce the tuna. They just dabbed some hot sauce on the rice like it was wasabi. Weak. I didn't sit because the place was mobbed. They have nowhere near enough parking. Two neighbor lots were full off their customers parking illegally. The front of the spot is the sushi area. It had some vacancy. The hibachi area was jammed. Lots of wait time. They did a good job arranging the space. It is clean and satisfying. They have lots of Japanese accents and even an indoor Koi pond (which you will need to entertain your kids as you wait for a seat). The staff was well dressed and helpful. I still don't get how this place used to be empty with a location that was more observable and evocative. Now it's packed? The same spot that was death valley for two previous establishments? They poured money into the spot too. It now is a draw? Now that we have 6 sushi spots and 3 hibachi spots when before they only competed with 1. I will never cease wondering about the collective mentality of this town. Why are they going here? And why not before? Are they giving big discounts through Groupon or such?

Mitchell's Fish Market, Winter Park

I had lunch at this Seafood restaurant in the Winter Park Village (where Beluga was) on Thursday. I had the Shang Hai Sampler (2 scallops, 2 small shrimp, salmon, sticky rice, spinach in an Asian sauce) for $14. It was a tale of two tastes. If eaten together (rice, protein, and spinach), the sauce was not overpowered. If you ate any of the pieces separately, the sauce tasted over soyed, too sweet and too savory. The proteins were a bit fishy tasting (not so fresh I guess). Which is a shame because the place seems to pride itself on that. They even sell fish to go. The sticky rice was non-descript. The spinach was plentiful but without flavor (which was fine with me because that means it didn't have a ton of calories). They gave me a fresh baked demi-loaf of bread gratis. The spot has been given a new veneer. There are models of ships in glass cases, nautical charts and maps, paintings of shells, etc. There is a bar room, a private room, a main room and the patio. It must seat 200. It was about 1/4 full. The service was good. Refills! The waiter took time out to explain the dishes. The manager asked how my meal was. They were all attired professionally in white collared shirts. They let you sub out sides. They have happy hour specials. They have sandwiches, a raw bar, daily fish specials, salads, etc. My meal was one of the more expensive lunch items. I really could find nothing wrong with the place, yet, I left without a passion for the spot. It seemed generic. Like Flemings or Stonewood or their chain competition in their strip mall - PF Changs and Brio. I'm not sure what they can do to make it seem more authentic. Which, incidentally, they may not wish to do because that other type of experience is very popular in some circles (ie here).

California Burrito Express, East Colonial - Closed

On Monday I had lunch at this Mexican restaurant on 50 near the Executive Airport. I had a Machaca (shredded beef and scrambled eggs) Torta for $3.50 in honor of my old college roommate who would order one (a burrito actually) from a roach coach near our apartment every night that he didn't hook up. It was good. The beef was juicy and not too gamey. The eggs seemed to be without salmonella. The onions and peppers were soft. The roll was not a piece of Styrofoam. The place is an OLD fast food spot that relatively nothing has been done to. It was dirty. It seats about 100. It was pretty busy. The AC is barely working. However, if you don't define those qualities as necessities, then I think you will enjoy some tasty Mexican fare of the the food truck variety. They have burritos, taquitos, tacos, etc. Seafood, Tongue, Chicken, Pork, Beef, Etc. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's a great value. There were people of all economic classes and ethnicities there while I dined.

Garibaldi, Florida Mall Area

I had lunch at this Mexican restaurant near the Florida Mall (John Young and Sand Lake) on Wednesday. I had a bowl of Guacamole for $3.50 and a Milaneza (beef) Torta (sandwich) for $5. The Guacamole was ok. It wasn't freshly made. Part of it still had a chill to it (from the refrigerator). The salsa was also a little bland and disappointing. The chips were fresh. The Torta was good. The beef was fried within an inch of it's life and the bread needed a chainsaw to cut through it, but, it was an interesting diversion from the usual taco/burrito selection. The vegetables that accompanied it were fresh. They had a pretty complete menu. Some of the entrees were straying into upper teens in price. Don't just settle on the Lunch options. The full menu had some of the better bargains. The service was good. The Torta did take longer than expected to arrive. The place is like a Mexican Bennigans. Lots of false flair. It was clean. It seats about 100. It was half full. It seemed like a popular spot regular customers. They have a bar. The sodas were around $2, large and refilled without asking. A perfectly adequate Mexican restaurant.

Bale, N. Mills Ave. - Closed

I grabbed a sandwich at this Vietnamese deli/restaurant across from the Paradise gay bar. I'm not. Not that there is anything wrong or right about that. I had a pulled chicken in a baguette for $3.50. It had hot sauce, jalapenos, and asian slaw on it. It was fine. The bread was fresh. It tasted good. The place is not much to look at. What furniture and decoration they do have is old and mis-matched. They have a limited menu (about 8 sandwiches, 2 soups and stuff to go). Try it if you don't want to go to 50 and live on the north side of town. Look for a green awning.

Now Yum-mi. Looks newer.

Pub Crawl - Friendly Confines, Lake Mary

11pm-1:30am: (Friday) It seems like the new hot spot in this area is this non-descript sports bar off 46a. Because this town is continually befuddling, it seems that this spot that has ruined more than a few purveyors of food and drink will now be the place to waste money. However, they make it hard to do that. Everything is much cheaper than the competition across the street. And there are actual girls here. Not chiquita's and baby mamas, but, actual doables. I can't speak for it's future because I saw some of the scum from Carlos and Charlies taking a peek at the action. They weren't there two weeks ago when I first got dragged here because everything else was empty per usual. Can these people ever NOT ruin a good thing by ingratiating themselves into an unwelcoming construct? The only thing that stinks about the bar is that they kick you out so early. Why not milk every minute?

Rikka, Lake Mary - Closed

Last Friday I had lunch at this "Asian Bistro" that has taken over the space in which two other similar attempts have been made on this theme. It is on the side of 46a that is fast becoming known as the Friendly Confines parking lot. I had a Bento Box for $9. It came with Miso Soup (not too watery), salad (crisp), one piece of shrimp, potato, yam, and brocolli tempura (good), 4 pieces of California roll (good), Edamame (serviceable), and a big white turd in nasty black sauce listed as Chilean Sea Bass. It was rank. It smelled like bait. Raw bait. I'm not even sure how a fish that is flash frozen the moment is caught can get so rotten. It doesn't speak well for their standards. The sauce it came in was also God awful. It was an incredibly salty beef and black bean sauce which was also some how sweet. It sucked. Which is a shame because it seemed well staffed. It is still a nice space. It is a little expensive (Amura range). The Bento Box was the second cheapest thing on the menu. I guess the are hoping the guests of the hotel nearby don't care or know that places like Samurai are a better value. Their "happy hour" is basically the same shit at the same price. Wrappping up, the service was fine. They offer something from most Asian countries if we count only the Far East. Oddly, almost every table had at least one Asian in the mix. I wonder if they used some kind of Asian Groupon to market the place.

Keke's, Winter Park

I had lunch at this breakfast cafe (closes at 2:30pm) on Fairbanks today. I had a breakfast combo of one pancake, 2 eggs and 4 sausage links for $8.50. The pancake was pretty big. I don't like pancakes so I won't comment on its quality. The eggs were poached. They came formed like two fake breasts and were a little overdone. I'm not sure what cooking method they employed to get that shape, but, I used to have a contraption that you put in a microwave to similiar effect. The links were well done. I can't say I'd go back. The whole menu is structured to walk you up in price. It's kind of pricy for the food and hipster doofus appeal. Any diner will do just as well or better for half the price. The place is dull (even after the makeover). It's all booths in one open room. It seats about 100. The service was fine. Although, can we all inform the wait staff that when we ask if we can get X - we are not asking if we can get it - we know we can get it if we pay extra - we want to know if we can get it at that price. I also didn't like the $2+ sodas. Are you asking for people to ask for water?

Line Drive Burgers, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this burger (and not much else) restaurant on Monday. I had a turkey burger for $5.50. It was a ridiculous coaster looking thing from your high school's lunchroom. The concept of this "restaurant" is to grill (might have been nuked) pre-fab, frozen food for you. There are places that do this already. They are called fast food restaurants. They are a fifth of the price. This spot replaces the Peruvian restaurant which replaced the diner. It's two steps back for the community. The place is still being worked on, but, it is not promising. It has a dorky baseball theme. Get this - they had no burgers the day I ate there. They even confirmed my suspicions by writing that their "patties" hadn't been delivered. How do you have a burger restaurant and not make your own patties or ground your own beef? How about you run across to Publix and buy some supplies? I'm sure the owners will be blaming the economy for their failure in six months.

Club Crawl - Bullitt, Lodge

10-11pm: Bullitt - About 1/3rd full. Last night was dead until late at night. The best thing was the bartender in the front room.

11pm-1am - Lodge. Full. Decent mix. Became less "exclusive" after 12. Two hot bartenders downstairs. Don't forget to eschew all beers in favor of Pabst. It's half the price of the others.

A pretty slow night.

King Cajun Crawfish, N. Mills Ave

On Friday I had dinner at this New Orleans Seafood restaurant on Mills. I had a small (more than generous) bowl of Jambalaya for $4 and a pound of Crawfish (alot) for $5. The Jambalaya was tasty. It had chicken and sausage and shrimp in it. It was a bit pastey, but, it must be hard to keep it al dente all day. The crawfish were boiled in a Cajun hot sauce. They were fresh. The place is small. It seats about 40. It was half full at the closing hour. The crowd ran the gamut of hipsters, Asians and Crackers. The decor is pretty basic. The space is a little run down. The AC was overwhelmed by the night heat. The service (5 rotating) was efficient. One of the customers was overheard saying that he was from that area and this place was his favorite in Orlando. I heartily recommend this spot because there is a lack of alternatives and the value is incredible. They also boil Snow Crab, Blue Crab and Shrimp. They have all manner of fried platters and po boys. They have Gumbo. They have salads, desserts, beer, and Cafe du Monde. Sodas are also only a dollar. It's run by Asians, but don't let it be said that they can't cook Cajun. Great addition. It's next to Bananas. *now at the Bananas location.

Bananas, N. Mills Ave - Closed

N. I had lunch at this "Modern American Diner" on Mills on Wednesday. I had the Funky Monkey Burger for $9.95. It came with a almond and panko crusted patty of goat cheese (too bulbous), tomato jam, bibb lettuce, tomatos, onions and a side of crinkle cut fries. The burger was the proper temperature, but, I think they self grind the meat. As watching my brother unsuccessfully try to do this all summer informed me, leave it to the professionals. The self ground meat is always tough, stringy and un-uniform. The toppings were fresh. The jam was a bit boring. The bun was very good. The fries were spot on - very crisp. The service was uneven. Good when there, but, often not there. The place is an old Vietnamese place. They have added some metallic tiles to the ceiling and some funky art and some booths. It seats about 80. It was half full. Parking is limited. Most things were a little pricey for lunch, but, excellent for dinner (if they keep them consistent). I found the chicken and waffles, ribs, and chicken pot pie interesting at $13. Wine and beer is available. They serve breakfast fare until 11. It averaged $6. The crowd is a bit artsy and there is a rainbow hue coming from the building. It is an offshoot of Funky Monkey (two doors down). Big thumbs down for the $3 sodas.

Asian Express, Altamonte Springs

I had lunch at this suhi/chinese restaurant on 434 just off 436 two Tuesday's ago. I had a salmon roll combo plate for $5.95. The roll was pretty bad. Pale salmon. The spring roll was better. The wonton soup was ok. The salad was ok. It's in an old fast food place of some sort. It seats about 40. There were 5 others there. I would stick with the chinese items. They have a drive thru. *Note - Crazy Buffet in the area is now closed.

Super Orient Buffet, Orlando

I had lunch at this Chinese buffet on 436 near the airport two months ago. It was $7.95. I remember some good items and some average ones. I think I liked the spring rolls and the Moo Goo Gai Pan. All in all it was a notch better than most. It seats about 120. It is very diner/buffet like in appearance.

Athenian Garden, Lake Mary

I had lunch on Monday at this new Greek restaurant in the cursed location near Fish Bones on 46a. They didn't do anything to the lay out (neither did the the costly Italian experiment before it). It is like it was when it was the Wine Room. It's still nice though. I had a Souvlaki Gyro with lamb pieces for $8. They didn't look skewered. Which doesn't matter to me, but, I thought that was what it is. The meat was ok. Some pieces cooked alot more than others. The tatziki was very strong with raw garlic. You've got to let it age a little more or wash it it in water (same with the onions). It came with a field green salad that is a little wimpy after Greek flavors. The service was fine (2). The place seats about 80 (2 room and a bar). About 8 people were there at lunch. Their wine list is almost all Greek (rare). Most things are $10 and up. Ownership seemed like they hadn't given up yet.

Club Crawl - Plaza Cinema, Blank Space Gallery, Bullitt

8:30pm-9pm: Plaza Cinema - Grabbed a beer here. No action. Didn't expect any.

10pm-10:30pm: Blank Space Gallery - Watched some people play ping pong. Had some Sake. Left with the people to the next club.

10:30pm-1am: Bullitt - a great new club. They half a Scooby Doo van as a cooler. Cool vibe. Great mish mosh of music. They have booths in the back. Brick walls. Pop art. Pretty full. Cool Crowd

310 Lakeside, Downtown

Last Friday I had dinner at this American restaurant on Lake Eola where Sam Snead's used to be. It looks about the same. I had their loaded burger for $10. It was overcooked. I like the concept of the cheese inside, but, it really just robs you of meat. The fries were crispy (krinkle kut). The toppings were fresh. The service was good. It has a circular bar in the middle. It seats about 70 inside. They have a patio. The decor is plush. It was about 1/3rd full at 9pm. Decent looking crowd.

Fish N Loaves, W. 50

I got a fried chicken breast with hush puppies and fries to go at this Soul Food restaurant on W. 50 on Wednesday. It cost $5. The chicken was good. Not greasy or dry. The fries were a mushy, uncooked mess. The hush puppies were soft. The place is mostly white walls. I believe they have some charitable (religulous) purpose. It seats about 60. You have to find the hidden strip mall next to the police station on John Young or you will miss it. The serve turkey wings. I don't recall alot of places offering them. I love them. The don't take AMEX.

Ginza, 50

I got some rolls to go at this location for this Japanese restaurant on Wednesday. I had an avocado roll and an asparagus roll at $3 a piece. They were average. The rice was bad. They have redone the old Vietnam Town. The have a big statue in a pond in the front. A sushi bar to the left. A bar to the right. Quite a few hibachi tables in the center. It must seat about 120.

China Town, N. Mills Ave - Closed

On Wednesday I had lunch at this Chinese restaurant on N. Mills. I had Szechuan Shrimp with white rice for $7. It came with Wonton Soup. It was fine. The shrimp were not fresh. Are they ever? It came with sliced zucchini, celery and squash. Service was fast. They checked on my experience a few times. There were two other couples there at noon. The place seats about 60. I was told that by natives that they do Hong Kong Style cooking very well. Or at least they used to. I was told that a while ago. The walls are white. It's pretty sterile.

Pub Crawl - Pour House, 903 Mills Market

9pm-10pm: Pour House on S. Hiawassee. Mostly empty. Not a happening crowd.

10:30-11pm: 903 Mills Market on South Mills. Mostly empty. Closing down.

Habibi, Metro West

I got a Falafel wrap to go from this Lebanese deli on S.Hiawassee (same as Taquitos) on Friday. It cost $4. The Falafel was fried fresh in front of my eyes. It came with my choice of hummus, hot sauce, tomatos, parsley, and onions. It was tasty even after spending the night in the fridge. The people were nice. It sits about 20. You order at the counter. They have Shawarmas, Kebabs, platters and sandwichs. It was filled with a young, arab crowd. They don't take AMEX.

Taquitos Jaliscos, Metro West - Closed

I had dinner at this Mexican restaurant on S.Hiawassee in the strip mall in Metro West that has Tavern on the Lake and Pour House on Friday. I had a lengua (tongue) soft taco for $2 and a mixed appetizer that had a mini pork soft taco, a mini chopped beef soft taco, 2 chicken taquitos, and a chicken tostada for $6. It was big enough for a main course and everything was excellent. The lengua was good too. All of this was good because I was warming up the big guns before the food came. I was going to tell you about the cheezy frescos, the dirty floors, the watery salsa, the fat rolls pouring out of the waitresses pants. However, I'll let all that slide and remember the food. Not the best in Orlando, but, up there. The place seats about 100 in two rooms (one is more of a bar). It was pretty full. Gringos and whatever the opposite of that insult is. The service was fast. It was dirty. Napkins and straw wrappers (etc) on the floor. Stains on the silverware and tables. Just pretend it's a taco truck and you won't be disappointed. Most things were around $10.

Art's BBQ, Altamonte Springs - Closed

I had dinner at this Southern Style (No Frills) BBQ in Uptown Altamonte where Shane's BBQ used to be for about five minutes. I had a hot links (sausage) sandwich with potato salad for $6.50. What do you want from me? It was two butterflied links of spicy sausage served on a plain roll. Whoopee. The links were probably bought at Costco. The potato salad also. It was very similiar to the mass produced, sweet spugen they sell at super markets. The place is big. It must seat 100+. It has a barn house facade. I'm not sure if that is a remenant of the previous owner. Three others were there (it was semi-early). It's no frills, over priced bbq that this town is awash in. I guess I should be happy it didn't come on white bread.


I think it's now a World of Beer.

Green Lemon Cafe, Winter Park

I had a dessert at this creperie/deli in the Whole Foods strip mall east of town. I had a rasberry jam crepe for $4. They put too much jam on it, but, I bet the fatties who go there expect it. They serve smoothies, sandwiches, crepes and other things. It looks like a yougart/smoothie shop. Bright colors and glass. The service was fine. They didn't take Amex. It's badly marked. Just a sign that says cafe. I don't think they stay open at night. Another over rate by the Sentinel.

Il Pescatore, E. 50

I had lunch at this Italian restaurant off 50 on Primrose on Wednesday. I had the meat filled cannelloni for $8.25. I wasn't aware the Chef Boyardee made canelloni. It tasted exactly like their ravioli. There were also only two of them and they were thin. Just as well. It came with a predictably bad salad and garlic bread. The service was fast. The decor was rustic (hand painted murals). It seats about 30 in the side room and 50 in the main room. It looks shuttered from the outside. Too bad it isn't. Why it's called Il Pescatore is a mystery as they had no seafood on the menu. It's everything I hate about Italian restaurants -high prices, bad food, and an ugly setting. I'd liked to say I was shocked that it was half full, but, most people are devoid of sense so it fits.

Grub Crawl - Dr Phillips : Scalini's, Bonsai, Le Cafe de Paris

Scalini's: I had lunch at this pizzeria near the end of Dr. Phillips and Windemere. I had their 2 slice lunch special for $5. It's a nice, basic pizzeria. It seats abot 40. It was packed. The owner was cool. Not much too look at. I downgraded to pizza after I saw it was a basic place. The pizza was good - thin, good sauce and cheese. A fresh slice probably would have earned it a better rating.

Bonsai Sushi: I had a yellowtail roll for $6. It's in the same strip as Scalini's. It was good. Most basics adhered to. The fish was a little cartilidged. It's small. It seats abot 30. Prices were about 50% higher than the norm. They were nice.

Le Cafe de Paris: I had a chicken sandwich with black olives. Which was really a very mayonaised chicken salad from a can sandwich. Disappointing. It did have flavor (oil, seasoning). This is more of a deli than a restaurant. In the same complex as the others. Seats about 40. They were nice. Not expensive. They have breakfast.

Pub Crawl - I Drive/Sand Lake: Cricketer's Arms, O'Henry's, BB King's, Cuba Libre, Miller's Ale House

Cricketer's Arms: I had a beer at this pub outside the Festival Bay Mall on Friday. The bartender was a dick. It had some people. Not people you would want to have in your home. Do people really need to socialize so badly that they are willing to pay 10x the cost of retail booze for the pleasure of knowing other people exist in their town? This is why I never feel bad for the poor. They just piss away money stupidly.

O'Henry's: I would never EAT at one of these chain abominations (Beef O'Brady's, Houligans, etc). I mean who has concluded that making something sound Irish increases it's gastronomic allure? Probably someone who doesn't know what that term evinces. I did have to get it off my "to do" list so I grabbed a drink there. The place was empty at 10pm. It looked like every other Stonewood, etc. They have a cute bartender. Russian of all things. Why are there no Russian restaurants here? We have an Icelandic, a Ethiopian, etc.

BB King's: I had a beer at this spot on I Drive. Great spot. However, I felt like I had crashed a Black Wedding party. Mostly empty at 10:30pm.

Cuba Libre: Nice spot. A little Epcot-y. In the same complex as BB King's. I felt like I crashed a Cuban Wedding Party. Mostly empty at 11pm. Bartender was so disinterested I couldn't let myself wait.

Miller's Ale House: See above. I felt like I crashed a pay per view party. Which it was. MMA = dude fest. Still full (of sausage) at 11:30pm.

Grub Crawl - International Drive and Sand Lake: Fuddrucker's, Flipper's and Anthony's

Fuddrucker's: I had some chili cheese fries at this outpost in the Festival Bay Mall at the north end of I Drive last Friday. I was there mainly to add Cricketer's to my done list and didn't feel like paying near $10 for a chain burger. They almost got me with an elk and/or buffalo offering, but, I held fast. You order in a cafeteria style queue. The place was fine for that class of restaurant. They even had a guy making balloon animals for kids. It was mainly empty. It seats around 100. The fries were fine. Wedge cut. They cost $3.50. It was clean.

Flipper's: I ordered a sausage hero from this place behind the strip mall that has Ocean Prime on Sand Lake. It cost around $7. It was fine. The place is half way between a nice sit down faux trattoria and a fast food restaurant. They don't serve slices. It seat about 50. They have outdoor dining. It was about one third full.

Anthony's: A step up from Flipper's. It reminded me of an Italian restaurant in a casino in Vegas. It just seemed inauthentic. The service was good. I had a personal pizza for $6. It seats about 90. It is just a square area with no nooks. They have odd things on the menu like ribs and wings. The decor is old celebrity and sports related. It was about one quarter full.

MLL - Orlando Titans v Toronto Rock

I went to the semi-finals at the O-rena (yes!). It was my first time seeing Lacrosse indoors. The object seems to be to get possession of the ball and then run to the bench. Can they please change this strategy? It has to be more tiring doing it this way than leaving the unit out for a few shifts. The crowd was pleasant. It was small. Only about half of the lower bowl was filled. The Titans lost. I may go back next year if they lower the prices and fix the way the players play the game.

Garden Cafe, W.50

I had dinner at this Chinese Vegetarian Cafe on W. 50 near the O-rena last night. I had a faux shrimp and chicken entree with mixed vegetables in a brown sauce for $10. It was very tasty. The faux meat was probably the worst of it. It looked like what it was replacing, but, the shrimp tasted like shirimi and the chicken didn't taste like much of anything. The vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower) were all very fresh and clean. The sauce was savory. It came with a bowl of rice that was dry and old. I didn't have room for it anyway. The platter was huge. The place is a bit unwelcoming. It is a white brick edifice with bars on the window (obviously necessary given the neighborhood). I could never tell if it is opened or closed or if it was abandoned. Inside it is a square box with low ceilings. The tables and chairs are black with white table cloths. There is not much decoration. The service was good (fast). It seats about 90. There were three other dining at 6pm. I don't love vegetarian food, but, I have to admit I felt energized all night after eating here. Too bad I'm not that concerned with my well being. They get a plus for $1 sodas and a minus for not accepting AMEX or giving a receipt.

Daily News, Downtown

I got a burger to go at this raggedy coffee shop on Magnolia on Wednesday. It was $5 and came with toppings, fries and a soda. Let's just say that the patty (of all things) was the star. It was fat. It wasn't overcooked. It didn't give me the squirts. The toppings were wilted. The fries were half cooked. But, it was closing for the day. At 2pm! Anyway. If you like low prices and an old fashioned breakfast/lunch experience give it a go. It doesn't have much in the way of style. It's a true greasy spoon. It seats about 40. They deliver. The waitress was very courteous and may I dare say a little sexy too.

Java Lava, Downtown

I had lunch at this coffee shop on Robinson (near the Court House) on Wednesday. I had a buffalo chicken salad combo for $9. It was supposed to come with soup and a soda. I never got the soup. The salad was large. It was surprisingly fresh. It was a little weird to have feta cheese in a salad covered by blue cheese dressing. The chicken in it was that horrible faux, soy, lips and dicks chicken gruel. It was covered by that horrible orange, buffalo dressing. You order they bring it to the table (but you get the soda). The place seats about 80. It was full. I think everyone was associated with a law firm or a juror. It's no-frills. Not quite cafeteria like, but, strip away some of the mustard color paint and homey touches and you could get there. They have Greek options, wraps, dogs, desserts and coffee.

Grease, Wayne Densch

I saw this musical in Sanford on Friday night. Let me say that I have seen the movie hundreds of times, but, I had never seen it on stage. I think the stage book is better. Even the contracted scenery made more sense. Most of the singing (save Sandy) was passable. The acting and dancing was another story. Danny, Rizzo and Sandy were particularly bad. Doody was visibly gay. He looked like Will Forte. He squealed like a queen. He did sing and dance well (shocker). I do have to applaud the director's brave decision to see what a musical would be like if he placed his least talented actors in the leads. Here's a tip. Don't assign roles based on head shots. The audience made it up about 2/3 rds of the way up the orchestra seating. The best thing about it was watching the little kids eyes grow as big as saucers whenever something blue was said on stage. Tickets were $18.

Efes, Sanford - Closed

Last Friday I had dinner at this new Turkish restaurant in the Marina. I have to begin by stating that I don't think it will a success any more than any of its predecessors. And the issue is price. They price like a fine French restaurant and Middle Eastern food can be made with a camp fire and a stick. It's shepard food. The lowest priced entrees were $15. Some items broke $30. This is just too much for the neighborhood and a cuisine that is peculiar to an American palette.

Now for the review. I had Adana Kebab made of ground chicken for $17. I think Adana's are supposed to be a bit more spiced than the Kafte Kebab I think I got in it's place. What can I say about it? It was two skewers of a flattened, meatloaf like, kabob. No real taste. It came with white rice (overcooked) and piles of pickled cabbage, carrots and one other (I forget). I'm never sure what to do with these after thoughts. Do I mix them in? Do I use to cleans my palette? They aren't really necessary for either and they come in such big quantities that you feel bad for leaving them uneaten. The service was good. I had barely any time and they got me in and out. There was some unpleasantness getting a seat (tried to usher me to the bar in an empty restaurant and sat me under a dripping pipe). But, once I ordered it was fine. They even gave my some Turkish delight on the way out. The place is mostly like it was under the old establishment (Italian place). I think they painted the trim black and changed the seats. It looks nice. It's on the water (swamp but it's the best the area can do). I think I overheard the owner saying she started Bosphorous in Winter Park. It seats about 40 on the patio and 60 inside. I just don't see a bunch of Crackers and Retirement Home customers paying these prices. I saw a couple look at the menu and leave. Maybe it was the type of food. Maybe it was the prices. I just think that's a deadly combination. I hope it's not. But, I wouldn't go back unless the have a $7 lunch special like at Anatolia's.

Izakaya Toshi, Altamonte Springs

On Wednesday I had lunch at this Japanese restaurant on 434 just off 436 (the spot where there was a Hotties for five minutes). I had their 3 Roll Special for $9. I chose an Alaska (smoked salmon and avocado), a spicy escolar and a Kamikaze (tuna, escolar and salmon). All were ok. They were wrapped a little sloppily. The rice was a little flaky. The rolls were long and thin (8 pieces). The fish was fine. Real salmon is always preferable to smoked. All in all I liked three things about the place and disliked three. I liked the fact; that it was run by Japanese people, the food was ok and the price were in line with most places of this kind. I didn't like; the slow service, the bad decor and the fact that don't take AMEX. The place is old. The furniture is a bit of a melange. It is however conducive to the theme. They have a lot of prep items in eyeshot. Not nearly as fine as the reviewer in the Sentinel described. Not a destination spot. OK if you live or work in the neighborhood. Then again Crazy Buffet is a few feet away and it's all you can eat for a few dollars more.

Gringos Locos, Downtown

I had to try this Mexican restaurant on Washington more out of curiousity than out of hunger. I got a Quesadilla for (I swore it was $5 but the menu says $7.50). It was stuffed with cheese and salsa and a side of sour cream. Perfectly acceptable. It's a small place. Grunchy chic. The menu is irreverent. They stay open until 3am. Since we have been limited to dogs and pizza, I predict it will find an audience.

Club Crawl - The Lodge

11pm-2pm: The Lodge. After deciding that it is insanity that most of these dives charge a cover, I couldn't convince myself why I should play "girl" roulette and just settled in at The Lodge. They have easy enough access to cheap beer, the crowd is usually acceptable and the music is good. Plus I just saw Hot Tub Time Machine so the 80's theme was in the air. It was a good night. Handsome crowd. Not too packed. If they could just 86 the smoking.

Beard Papa's, I Drive

On Friday night I had a snack at this desert shop in the Prime Outlets Mall on I Drive. They had cream puffs and molten chocolate cake and ice cream and these bite sized mounds of ice cream covered in a jelly shell. I had a Lychee for $1.75. It was interesting. Like a Klondike Bar covered in fruit roll up rather than chocolate. Give it a go. It doesn't melt all over your hands. A plus in this climate. Challenger for "What the F" name of the year. Some one clue us in.

Kafe Kalik, I Drive

On Friday I had dinner at this Bahamian restaurant in the Prime Outlets Mall at the end of I Drive. I had Calamari and Conch Frito for $9. Two large slices of conch. A bit chewy. A nice pile of calamari. Not oily. Didn't need the marinara sauce (actually a bit off theme and unnecessary). It also came with a little salsa with Bahamian peas. I also had a piece of conch sushi for $2.25. Thin slice. Not crunchy (fresh). Over vinagered rice. I finished with a West Indies Curry Crunch Roll for $8. Nice. Filled with cooked Mahi-Mahi, cucumber, avocado, and topped with two sauces and crunchies. The menu swung from burgers and ribs to fish and sushi. They also have an outdoor bar with loud island music. It seats about 30 by the kitchen (exposed), 30 in the inside bar and 50 outside. The decor is plausible for an island theme. It is new and clean. The service was fast and concerned. It's not the cheapest option in the world, but, they did have $6 burgers if you bring the kids and parking is free. They do address a form of cuisine that is under served. Name 3 Bahamian restaurants. How about 2? One? A notch below authentic, ethnic dining or sushi. But I applaud the attempt to fuse. Akin to a Bahama Breeze. A little more creative, but, as I recall the Breeze had better execution (maybe because they didn't attempt sushi).

Wrap Planet, Winter Park - Closed

On Wednesday I got a meal to go (for dinner) at this sandwich shop behind the 7-11 on Fairbanks and Park. It's new (2 weeks). I had a Rocking Rollins Wrap for $6. It was guacamole, pumpkin seeds, turkey, steamed vegeatables, and ranch dressing. Not sure the Ranch fit, but, I'm sure some fatties have to put it on everything. I could have also lived without the peppers (hate 'em) and the cubed turkey. Even sliced turkey loaf is better than this turkey spam that you have probably encountered in cheap super market salads. It even has a gross mouth feel. The wrap was large. The place is small and is not allowed to seat anyone because the local zoning board requires they rent parking spaces to comply. Nice lobbying landlords. They serve breakfast wraps, desert wraps, vegan wraps, regular wraps, salads, soups, tacos, and smoothies. They have some unique concoctions. The decor is hip. It's clean. The staff is pleasant. You could do worse Tars.

Trattoria Toscana, Winter Park

On Wednesday I had lunch at this Italian restaurant on Park Avenue (near the 7-11). I had a plate of Lasagna for $7 (rereading my receipt it seems they overcharged by 50 cents). I figured it would be the best way to sample the basic ingredients. The tomato sauce was bland. It tasted like it was just pulled staright from a can with nothing added. The lasagna noodles were passable. There was not a lot of ricotta. The mozzarella wasn't overly flavorful. The meat was bland. It was served as two pieces (however they weren't uniform so I don't know if the split one piece or pulled one piece out of who knows where). It wasn't exactly bubbling out of the oven. All and all it was average (slightly better than Sbarro). I believe it was also prepared in advance and reheated. It needed some flavor in the tomato sauce and meat. Cream might have helped. It deeply needed the parmesan kicker offered by the waiter. My service was good, but, I could see how others would feel differently as more and more people were seated. There was only one waiter. The place seats about 36 inside and 2o outside. It's a cozy space. The decor is old world. It was clean. I know it's very popular with the people who work in the area. It was full by the time I left. It was what I expected. Another middle of the road Italian place adored by people who have never been to the Boot. The bread was the highlight.

Italian Beefstro, W. 50 - Closed

I got an Italian Beef Sandwich (Dipped) to go at this Chicago style eatery on Wednesday. It was $5. Compared to Beefy King it was a step up, but, it was still rather bland. It was just roast beef and juice. That's not really a barrage of flavors (I know it's a tradition). I can't believe how bland the undipped sandwich would be. The roast beef seemed not overcooked, but, it just had no flavor. That said, they couldn't have been nicer. They packed everything separately for me so it wouldn't congeal on the way home. They also have subs (sausage, italian and meatball), salads and dogs. It looks like it's brethren in Chicago (not chic) with the exception of the TV's in the wall. It has outside seating. It seats about 40. Self serve. You can see the Orena (F Amway) from the parking lot. Stop in before the game because they stay open for you until tip off. Otherwise they close at 6.

Beefy King, 50

On Wednesday I had lunch at this sandwich shop on Bumby (2 blocks south of 50). I had a BBQ Beef meal for $7. It was disappointing for such a landmark. It was like a wet, tasteless Sloppy Joe. The best thing about the meal (sandwich, tots and soda) was the tots. The place looks like a fast food restaurant circa 1950. It seats about 70. It was full. I don't see what the attraction is. It's just mediocre mundane sandwiches.

Pom Pom's, UCF

I had lunch at this teahouse/sandwicheria on Sunday. I had a Low Rider for $8. It needed a little more than one quarter of of a half of promised avocado. The salsa also seemed like it came from a big plastic pre-made container from the supermarket. Otherwise, the turkey, bread, CC and beans were good. It stays open until 5am on Thursday and all night on Friday and Saturday. The service was fine. It seats about 60. It has a faux Bohemian vibe. The menu is fanciful. Don't go expecting Subway. This location has been demolished to make dorms. Maybe they are open in a new location. That's why I didn't say closed. I was originally vague on where they were located. 11/18/2013

Club Crawl - Dragon Lounge, Deko at UCF - Closed

10pm-12pm: Dragon Lounge. Became busy after 11pm. All college aged girls so who can complain.

12am-1am: Deko. Bad call. Full of grenades.

UCF is now rife with clubs in that strip mall. The aforementioned plus Fubar and Knight Library and the two others. Update - Whole shopping area that housed these places has been demolished to make dorms. 11/18/2013

Falafel Cafe, UCF

Last night I had dinner at this Mediterranean restaurant on University just before UCF. I had the Kibby dinner for $11. It contained a meatloaf of ground meat mixed with bulgur wheat and onions and pine nuts plus Hummus and Yogurt and Pita and Lentil Soup. Everything was delicious. The Lentil Soup was purred and creamy. The Yogurt was thick. The Hummus was light. The Kibbeh portion was large. That's usually a good thing, but, it is so flavorful that too much overwhelmed my senses. The place is small (serves 36ish). It has glass window in front and one one side. The tables mostly populate the right side of the space. The service (1) was good for me, but, might have been a little slow for others. They serve all the usual suspects plus a variation on yogurt called Labneh (with olives) and Holloumi (cheese). They also have regional wines. I had Lebanese. Great food experience. Strangely, Steve O from Jackass was sitting at the table across from me (really).

Universal Studios

Islands of Adventure was a joke. The Neptune ride is becoming ancient enough to be a real relic. It's so boring and amateurish. Most restaurants were shuttered (ie Jurassic Park's and the one in Marvel Comics Land). Looks like they've been closed a while. Really helps the fantasy. The flume at Jurassic Park had non-working dinosaurs. Harry Potter has caused Deuling Dragons to be offline. I reiterate that this addition will be colossally underwhelming. The BMX bike show was closed.

Universal was better but still not 100%. They finally had Disaster back on line. It's lame. The RV selling dipping dots was finally open. The Horror Cafe and Gardens of Allah restaurant were still closed. The mechanical donkey from Shrek was closed.

It's amazing that they don't even consider giving you a discount when they can't deliver what they sell in a commercial. No wonder revenue is down so dramatically. But, of course it's the economy not their product (the refrain of every non-performing CEO).

Orchid Court, Universal

Wednesday night I had dinner at this sushi bar in the Royal Pacific at Universal. It was worse than their "croquet court". I had conch, surf clam and tuna for $5 to $5.50. All were old. The tuna smelled and was barely red. The conch had no flavor. The surf clam was dry. The setting is nice (faux Hawaiian). It overlooks the pool. The service was fine. The building blocks were just unacceptable. It's hard to believe a hotel bar can't turn it's fish. The best part was the boat ride from Universal.

Anatolia, Sand Lake

I had lunch on Wednesday at this Turkish restaurant in the shopping plaza at Sand Lake and Dr. Phillips (I think the previous owner had a hot dog place here). I had an Adana Kebab wrap for $7.50. The kebab was made out of ground lamb. It was a long wrap cut in two. The tomatos in it were very fresh. It came with a side salad and a side of tatziki and a cup of soup (yogurt with bulgur wheat). Everything was tasty. They have all the traditional menu items plus some harder to find ones like fried calves liver and tripe soup. The place was clean (save some detergent spots on the knife). Earth tones and tablecloths. It seats about 60 inside and an additional 20 outside. The clientele was a tapestry of ages and cultures. The service (3) was good. My only complaint would be that they broke the $2 soda barrier.

Boston Fish House, Sanford - Closed

Today I had lunch at this seafood restaurant on Rinehart Rd in Sanford near the 7-11. Strangely, I was watching a PBS special late last night on architecture that looks like objects and they visited a place I went to last summer called the Clam Box in Ipswich Mass. So I was really in the mood for some fried clams. I have to say that I think the world famous Clam Box had inferior food. Definitely more greasy. I had a "lunch meal" of fried clam strips with two sides (Cole Slaw and French Fries) for $9. You could have had onion rings, mashed potatos and some other things. The clams were recognizable and the batter came out oil free. The portion was large. They didn't even get rank after sitting long enough to get cold. They got cold because the great staff kept plying me with free samples. They gave me 5 large pieces of fried catfish which were of equal quality as the clams. They gave me clam chowder. It was a bit sweet for my taste, but, the clams in it were enormous. It was more thin than thick and at $7 a bowl it may be a bit overpriced. The cole slaw was also a bit too sweet. The sugar granules didn't dissolve (which I actually thought was cool from a texture POV). The fries looked outstanding, but, they had that awful Burger King starch coating on them and were somehow underdone though they looked crisp and golden. Most dishes (even at lunch prices) are over $9. The lobster roll was $24! Isn't lobster at it's cheapest in decades? It has that "half service" service. You order. They deliver. The service was on a rotation basis. No one dropped the ball. I was double covered all game (err meal). Plenty of refills and answers to questions. The place was packed. I almost left before ordering because I thought I wouldn't get a seat and they didn't take AMEX. Turns out they did and they turned the tables fast enough that I didn't wait a second. The clientele was mostly post Gen X. The decor is similar to when it was American Pie or the place after that. They still have flat screens on the wall. The soda area is now empty. Maybe they should put a counter there to free up tables. Quite a few booths or 4's were taken up by singles. It seats about 70. It's funny. A month ago we didn't have one seafood restaurant worth a damn and now we have two. This is more of a traditional New England style option than Fresh On The Fly. It may be too expensive or caloric for everyday dining, but, pencil it in once a month.

Chef Henry's, Longwood - Closed

On Wednesday I completed the relocation shuffle (Journey's/Henry's) at Journey's old location in Longwood (east off I-4 where you see the Boston Market on 434). I had something called Flecken for $9. It was pork loin served open faced on artisanal bread. I was a little surprised it was breaded and open faced. The menu description was a little vague. It was very good no matter how it was described or what it did to my arteries. It was topped with sauteed onions and a jus replete with oil. They left the interior as you would have remembered it. They added some Austro-Hungarian/German relics. The clientele seemed the same (mostly older people who you would think were unworldly by their dress, but, refined by the things they were speaking of). I swear the same imbecile tried to seat me in the same Siberian ante-room two owners haven't yet found a solution for. At least it's not storing wine like the old days. Is there no way to light it? Thankfully, my waitress was less dis-obliging slash passive aggressively insulting. I think she was at the old location. Service was fast. The place is clean. It's tiny (seats 40?). Most things were more expensive than the Flecken. It's probably not a daily lunch place for most budgets nor would you want to indulge on this cuisine often, but, add it to a bi-monthly rotation.

Journey's at Alaqua, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this restaurant in the Golf Club in Alaqua (are there more architectural anathemas in one spot in the country?) on Tuesday. For some reason they tore down the old edifice (which was nicer) to put up this little loft that has zero character. I had the Airline Chicken Breast with Risotto for $12. The chicken was a little small (think anemic, farm raise guinea hen) with a drumstick the size of my thumb. But, I understand the mentality of a fine dining establishment. It's got to be ORGANIC. I ordered it seared, but, that must mean burn the skin. It was moist inside, however. The risotto portion was large, but, I found it a bit cloying. It was very starchy (unwashed?) and the seasoning (I believe some kind of cheese) only added to that. They also added two asparagus stalks that didn't compliment the risotto. Perhaps they were to be decorative. It's a shame the execution was a bit below what they usually deliver. I would wager that I had the B team kitchen since I was the only patron accounted for on that day. The table setting was nice. The waiter was great. The place has high ceilings and seats about 100. They have a bar. It has that faux luxe feel of a hotel dining room. It looks unfinished. My meal was by far the cheapest thing on the menu and dinner prices were about double. Surprisingly, they were below the $2 level on sodas. They have alot of ambitious menu items that you can't find everywhere. They just need to tighten up the execution.

New Dim Sum Feast, West Colonial

Today I had lunch at this self-proscribed Dim Sum Feast. It's really more of a buffet. They had about 8 Dim Sum items. None of them are worth the trip. The shrimp dumplings (Har Gow) didn't have big enough pieces of shrimp. The seafood and beef dumplings (Shu Mui) were bland and gamey respectively. I had one interesting item. A shrimp, chive and garlic dumpling. It was very greasy however. They had some oddities like chicken feet and tripe if you are looking for that. Fortunately, it was a buffet and only $7. However, the place is old and dirty and ugly. I would skip this place unless I was in the mood to graze on garbage. It seats about 100 and was pretty full. The people were nice. Slight language barrier.

Korea House, Longwood

Yesterday I had dinner at this Korean restaurant on the east side of 1-4 on 434. It's in a strip mall that could be the best ethnic food locale in the area if they could get a few more occupants and 86 the Cici's. It now houses Ali Baba, Sushin and Korea House. I had a noodle soup with seafood that started with a J but has been forgotten. It was $8. It was ENORMOUS. A ton of thick noodles and julienned vegetables (onion, carrot, green onion, zucchini). The broth was red and red hot. There was a decent amount of squid and octopus (they could have removed the cartilage from the squid more assiduously). It even had a shrimp and mussel. The place seats about 100. It has a very orderly, column and row flow. The ceilings are high. The walls are white. It has 5 cook top tables on one side and a "room" behind a half partition for large parties. Most tables were for four. The decor is appropriate for the region. The service was good. A little language barrier. They serve a typical Korean menu of stews, soups, roasted meats and rice based dishes. They serve complimentary sides. I had pickled, yellow radish and Kim Chi. All in all it's probably the most complete Korean option in Orlando. Lunch specials on the weekdays.

Ceyfa, Longwood

Yesterday I grabbed two slices at this pizzeria on the east side of I-4 on 434. It's in a spot that has been the kiss of death for previous owners. The pizza was ok. Pretty thin. Large slices. The crust seemed to expose it's lack of freshness (dry and crumbly). But, a fresh pie is probably good. They also offer non-italian fare (poppers, nuggets, wings) and pastas, subs, salads, soup, calzones, rolls, etc. They have really cheap lunch specials (2 slices with topping and soda for $3.99). I do question the 50 cent credit card fee. It seems like the remnant of a distant age.

Pickles, Longwood

Yesterday I had lunch at the deli in the strip mall behind the Boston Market on the east side of 1-4 on 434. I had a corned beef sandwich with potato salad for $8. The corned beef was tasty (they say they smoke it after it's delivered) but sliced a bit thin for me. I felt I was eating shavings. The sandwich was also tiny. You could finish it in two bites. The bread (rye) was cut too thick. You can't make up for a narrow loaf by cutting it thick. That just compounds the problem. It was like eating a vertically instead of horizontally. It was way too crusty as well. The potato salad was ok. A bit plain. A bit sweet. It needs some kind of seasoning. The location is in the old Volcano's coffee bar. They have retained that element of it. I don't remember the decor, but, I don't think they changed much. "They" are the owners of Craving's which is next door. The place seats about 60 (indoor and outdoor). About 5 others were there (all outside). If they can increase the portion sizes and ratios, I could recommend it. Nice people.

Maitland Breakfast Club, Altamonte Springs

Today I had lunch at this "diner" on Orienta Ave in Maitland. Where the hell is that you ask. Take a right on Maitland Ave off 436 (near Panera's) and then the first left and look for the abandoned strip mall. I went because the readers in the Sentinel Best Of Poll recommended it. I call ballot stuffing. It was passable, but, hardly great. I had a breakfast special for $4.99. It had french toast (undercooked and no hint of vanilla or cinnamon or whatever else they said it would contain). The eggs (2) wer cooked nicely. The bacon was good. It was interesting to eat fried eggs with no mopping device. The place has an old ambience. Decor and patrons. It is split into two rooms that hold about 25. Service (2) was good. It was a bizarre spectacle. They had Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd on the sound system. It was an odd choice considering the customer base. I'm sure they wish you were here, but, I can't see a reason why you would search out this place unless you have an insatiable curiosity like myself.

Winter Park Fish Company, Winter Park

On Saturday I had lunch at this new seafood restaurant on Orange Ave in Winter Park (next to the Rollins baseball field). I had a salmon burger for $8.50. The salmon was minced into a pate. It had a thick, oily crust that suppressed all the flavor. The bun was stale and fell apart. They have a half serve restaurant in which you order and they serve and clear. I still not understand the concept (unless good help is hard to find or give health care to), but, at least you can avoid a tip. The place is small (seats 50). It is fashioned after an old surf shack. Half of it's seating is out of doors. Yellow crime scene tape surrounded the fountain. It was full. Most things are a bit pricey ($20 lobster roll). Try it for a lark, but, I wouldn't put it on speed dial.

Bento Cafe, Sand Lake

I had dinner at this Japanese version of Pei Wei on Wednesday. The experience was the antithesis of my earlier meal at J. Alexander's. The place was dirty (can you vacuum a rug or wipe off a table?) and the room bore visible scars of what ever used to be here. The service was slow. It took forever to order. It took forever to get the food. They have that bullshit process in which you have to go to them to order and then they bring out the food (except your drinks). Either have everything take place at the table or nothing. I hope people aren't tipping as if it's full service. They probably aren't and that's why the service is not materializing. They have noodle bowls and salads and sushi (on seperate menus so you might not realize it - dumb). I had a sushi sampler (because I could sense this would be a mistake) for $8. It had 4 pieces of a california roll plus 4 pieces of any other and 4 pieces of another. I chose yellowtail and rainbow. The pieces were small. the fish was tasteless and paper thin. There was a distinct taste of cleaning fluid (something was cut with an unwashed knife) in the sushi. Horrible. the place seats about 60. Unfortunately (for us) it was full. The space is poorly laid out (lots of empty space). Prices were high. With all the choices for sushi in the area, I implore their customers to switch allegiances.