Jitney by August Wilson, SSC

I saw this play about a Pittsburgh taxi service last night at Seminole State College on 17-92 in Sanford. It cost $10 (cash). They are doing all of his plays and this makes 3 out 5 (of 10) that I have seen. The actors aren't polished but they get the job done. The set was fine. It's never sold out so you can just show up. The theater is intimate. It's about 3 hours with intermission in 2 acts. You just might see a flying bat for no extra charge. Trust me. The quality of acting isn't much better on Broadway (let alone the traveling companies) these days and the theaters are so large they need mics. Plus it costs an arm and a leg. These regional productions get the job done and are right in your backyard. You know you aren't actually going to read them, so get in your car and get out of your rut. You can only take so much Paul Blart before you turn to jello.

Bergamo's, I-Drive - Closed

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant in the Festival Bay Mall on the North side of I-Drive on Wednesday. I had two appetizers because I didn't feel I could trust the place and wanted to test them as extensively as was practicable. I had the beef carpaccio for $10. The beef was still ice cold. It was cut in four discernable circles. It had the look of the beef you get in those 50 cent packages at the supermarket. It was topped with capers and dirty, wilted arugula. It had no dressing. Not even olive oil or lemon juice. It was poor. I had scallops on a white bean puree for $10 next. That was better. The scallops (hardest thing to get right) were real and properly cooked. Although, one (probably the test one) was pulled apart. The puree was dry and too thick. It had been probably been prepared days before and lost all moisture in the interim. All in all the food had the quality you would find on a cruise ship or fund raising dinner. The place is nice if a bit Vegas-y. It's circular with large cielings. The centerpiece is a piano. Their claim to fame is singing waiters that I thankfully was too early to suffer through. The maitre d' was your usual Cu-ido (Cuban Guido) in a bad Men's Warehouse suit. He is under the false impression that he is presiding over a fine dining establishment rather than a bad imitation of one. My waiter was better. At least he was not full of himself. Pet peeve. They broke the $2 soda limit. It's 7 cents of syrup. I can't recommend this place to anyone who knows better. It would be like recommending Zanetti suits.

Universal Studios

I got a free 3 month pass to both parks, so I coughed up the $14 to park and amused myself for the day. I'm not sure I would have been so happy if I had to pay full price ($99). Surprisingly, I now prefer Universal to Islands of Adventure. The Dr Doom ride launches you only once in the air. The various islands have no continuity and are getting old (Jurassic Park?). Suess land is for kids. Persian land has one lame show. Castle land has the best coaster, but, it's being folded into Harry Potter. This will be the biggest disppointment in a while. They didn't even expand the park. They just replaced a land. It will be small. The castle is no where near to scale. They're just folding Dueling Dragons into it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a bunch of shops with Jurassic parks theme song bellowing through it. Speaking of which, JP is the largest island but it just has the old log flume and a lame gondola. Toon Town is a water park. Not great in the winter. One flume was off line. Marvel land is just creepy. And it's basically the Hulk Coaster. The Morrocan bazaar at the entrance makes no sense.

Universal is better because of it's continuity and the Rock 'N Roll Roller Coaster, Simpson's and Mummy ride. Disaster was off line (ironic because of Haiti). I still don't get the Blues Brothers (Chicago) being included with SF and NY. Men in Black was never good and now is sooo dated. Shrek and Jimmy Neutron is good for kids. The rest of rides at least make sense as part of a Hollywood back lot (old rides at least can feign history). The most amusing thing was that their Starbuck's was the cheapest vendor in the whole park. Where else can you say that? All in all it's still less of a rip than Disney. Not that there is anything right about that.

Kabbab House, Metro West - Closed

I had lunch 2 at this Moroccan restaurant in the same shopping plaza as Tavern On The Lake in Metro West on Wednesday. I had a Gyro to go for $6. It was everything a Gyro should be. Fresh pits. Lots of meat (lamb/beef comb). Not too much Tatziki. The place seats about 50. It was pretty full. Half of the place is kitchen/takeout (was probably an old pizzeria). Half is the dining area. It's a little dark with low cielings. Not aesthetically pretty. They had one waitress for the room. It seemed like ownership is actually on the premises. The had a nice menu (tagines, kabobs, nothing too challenging). They have belly dancers at night. Where else are you going to get a Moroccan take on Middle Eastern fare? Try it and be happy you did.

Tavern On The Lake, Metro West - Closed

I had lunch at this American restaurant (formerly Dan Marino's) in Metro West near the golf course (go in off Kirkman and make a left at the course then up a 1/2 a mile) on Wednesday. I had Cheeseburger Lunch Special for $7. The CB was properly cooked if about 1/2 the size of what I suppose their non-lunch special burger is. It had a good bun and fresh toppings (fresh romaine leaf was nice). It came with a bag of chips. Would it kill them to take them out of the bag? Weak. It also came with a soda. The service was good. I sensed a little 'tude when he found out I was going with the special, but, he warmed up and at the end we were fast friends. The place is nice. Modern. I didn't appreciate being herded towards the bar when the place's main attraction is the lake behind it. But, I insisted on a table in the main dining room. They have a nice patio with a view of the lake. It seats about 80. There were five other tables occupied. I sensed the pallor of death in the air. I hope it's not always that slow, but, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of it's obituary in months to come. It would be a shame because the place isn't bad and they obviously are cognizant of the bad economy (cheap lunch specials). I really won't understand if you keep paying an equal amount for a Combo at Subway when you can be here for the same price.

Tomatina, Winter Park - Closed

Last Friday I had dinner at this tapas/paella bar in Winter Park (near Dexter's). I couldn't get a seat so I restricted my purchase to what they deserve to get out of guy getting a bar stool experience. I had the Caracoles al Ajillo (snails in oil) for $8 and Tortilla Espanola (quiche/fritta with potatos and onions) for $6. The snail portion was larger than I anticipated (about 16 snail pieces). The Tortilla was 3 two inch squares. Both were good. The snails could have had more garlic. The place was packed (about 40 seats). Most people were sharing paella that averaged around $40 (but you get 50 cents worth of rice and $6 worth of shellfish!). The place is cute. They have outdoor seating. It's quasi-modern. The staff was friendly. The owners were working (I think they were sauced). They had an interesting wine and beer menu. The tapas menu is no where near as extensive as Ceviche. If we start with the premise that I think tapas and paella are two of they bigger food cons going, then I had a surprisingly satisfactory "meal".

Mikado, Hunter's Creek

Last Wednesday I had lunch 2 (after cutting short an unsatisfactory first lunch experience) at this sushi restaurant in the new strip mall in Hunter's Creek (closer to 417) on John Young. Because I was half full, I just had the sushi roll combo (choose 2) for $8.75. I chose a crunch roll (seaweed, tempura crunch and crab) and a spicy tuna roll. Even though spicy whatevers are generally made with the remenants of the fish, the quality was still better than Suki Hanna's full pieces. And the faux crab seemed fresher. The rolls were long (8 pieces). The service was good and fast. A pretty and pleasant Asian woman. My order in way deserved the respect she showed me. The place is brand new. It's an offshoot of the one in metro west. It's small (seats 40). It's new. It's authentically decorated. It has good light and high cielings. It looks good from the street. It will eat Suki Hanna's lunch. Which would be a burden if it wasn't a metaphor.

Suki Hanna, Hunter's Creek

Last Wednesday I had lunch at this sushi restaurant in a strip mall in Hunter's Creek. That's 2 blocks south of 417 on the John Young. This must have been the 4th time I tried to find the location. An ad in a magazine said they were on Central Florida Parkway. It wasn't worth the effort. They had $1 pieces of sushi, so I thought that would give me the best chance of gauging their breadth of menu. The tuna was awful. The salmon was good. The conch was ok. The red snapper was good. The yellowtail was bad. The surf clam was bad. The albacore was ok. The rice was ok (not coarse or vinegary). All pieces were sliced long and thin (which I hate because I can't fit it in my mouth). Now I know you don't put on your best show when you are playing for pennies, but, I have to assume this is the quality all through the day. If it's not then this promotion is killing their reputation. However, the food was the least of my issues. The service was your all too typical Asian condescension. Now I don't know if it's a Gaijin thing. Or an age thing. Or a sex thing. Or a repressed cultural thing. Or a "I've been shipped here and kept against my will" thing but, Asian women can be rude. Don't bring your troubles from the Massage Parlor to work. Of course there were no refills on the $2 Coke. Need you ask. The outside is ugly. I've rarely come across a restaurant that decided to spend their money on the interior. While I applaud them for having an adeqaute interior (seats 80), I can't imagine they get any walk up traffic. I suggest you curtail your adventure if you don't live near by. This place is certainly not a destination dining destination. It was probably the only game in town and survived up until now because of that. *Because see next post.

Paris Bistro, Winter Park - Closed

Yesterday I had lunch at this French restaurant on Park Ave. I had a 3 course lunch special for $11.95. The first course was a choice of salads. I had a field green salad. It was fresh. I had Veal Normande for an entree. It was veal shank in a mushroom cream sauce. Very nice. Could have been seasoned better. For dessert I had Profiteroles (2). The chocolate sauce was rich. The ice cream was tasty. The pastry was fresh. Service was excellent. The environs were luxuriant. It is located behind a glass enclosure in an enclosed mall. There is even a tree outside the window. It's small. It probably seats 40 inside and 20 outside. It was mostly full (of women). The service was excellent. The bread was good even if they serve butter packets. They have a wide variety of inter-french regional selections. Even the lunch special offers a wide variety. I highly recommend it. At these prices you would be a fool not to indulge your palate.

Shula's 347, Lake Mary

Last Wednesday I had lunch at this Grill in the Westin off 46A. I had a cheeseburger for $10. It was ok. Close to medium. They char-broiled it. I'm not a fan of the burnt, out door Backyard Barbeque burger. I prefer a pan or broiler. It was dressed well. It came with mostly crisp french fries. They were too salty. But, they made an effort. As did the waiter. They have other non-steakhouse (this is not a steakhouse per se - like his others) fare. Some if it starting at $8 for lunch. The decor is art deco/steakhouse cool. It has a row of table facing the patio then two rows of booths and another row of tables. It has two private rooms and a bar area (Happy Hour specials). It seats over 100. It has high cielings. All in all, a very unclaustrophobic environment. I recommend you treat yourself to this little touch of class whenever you are feeling down about living in disturbia.