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.