Cafe Rouge, Sanford - Closed

On Friday I had lunch at this bistro in Sanford. I had Olive Oil Baked Garlic and Chili Shrimp with a baguette for dipping for $10. It was good. The shrimp were on the under cooked side, but, it beats the alternative. There were 5 of them. Big. They were butterflied. The sauce was savory. The plating showed care. The baguette was fresh. The order took a little while to come out. Not a lifetime, but, shrimp cook in seconds. I came at the end of the lunch rush, so, perhaps that provides the explanation. There were at least three cooks for a tiny place so they certainly have the man power. Getting the check was likewise - a little slow. I'll also chalk that up to the time of day. Everyone had probably moved on to their post lunch assignments. Just don't forget about the stragglers. The place is small. It's an old Quizno's. They supplement the inside (30ish seats) with about 14 seats outside. The outside was full. There were about 10 people inside. The kitchen is where the sandwich stuff used to be (exposed kitchen). It works out well. The decor is contemporary chic. The room doesn't feel cramped. The big window in the front of the restaurant helps. They have some interesting selections - Warm Potato Tortilla topped with Atlantic Smoked Salmon and Sour Cream or Buttered Prawns with a Warm Potato and Fresh Pea Salad for example. Oddly, the lunch menu seem to have more of the ambitious/creative options. But, perhaps they combine the two menus for dinner. They had fish tacos and lamb sandwiches as specials on Friday. Most lunch items were under $9 and the sandwiches all come with fries or chips. I found the place wonderful and I can't wait to go back. There wasn't any false bravado and conceit to the place. The meals are priced right and they have given thought to the menus. The variation of meats and vegetables with a nod to different cultures makes this a place that should appeal to almost everyone. They even have a decent selection of wine and they take AMEX. This place gives Stones Throw a run for its money for best restaurant in downtown Sanford.

Sun Valley Buffet, Sanford - Closed

I had lunch at this Asian Buffet on 46 (in the old Bennigans) on Monday. It turns out that that was their grand opening. The buffet cost $7 and $2 for a soda. It was passable for the dry run. I mostly had sushi. The initial selection was disappointing (mostly gross, veggie heavy rolls and some really old tuna). However, it got better. I had some silky, buttery salmon (actual pieces not rolls) and a salmon skin hand roll. The spicy tuna rolls were ok. The rice is not sushi quality. On the Chinese side, I had an egg roll and some shrimp with broccoli and chicken with broccoli. Not bad. I had some steamed Tilapia (not bad). They refilled the soda (big glass). It had alot (almost half) of American dishes. The Mongolian grill was always a little backed up. I also didn't get why you would put raw meat on a new dish and then give it to the cook and he would give you back a fresh dish. Seemed like a waste of a dish. The place seats over one hundred. It was pretty full. They didn't do anything to the room except clear out some room for the buffet stations. The service was good. Not bad for their first day. I'll try it again in a few weeks. I think that area needed something like this. Good Luck.

Annie, Wayne Densch in Sanford

I saw the last showing of Annie at the Wayne Densch last Sunday for $20. The acting is always far inferior to the SSC productions (which are half the price). This one was no exception. The actor who played Warbucks was passable. I did wonder why they made him shave his head, but, thought it would be "modern" to exempt Annie from wearing a wig. I kept thinking it was Blossom and not Annie. The biggest problem is/was the acoustics. Most of the actors can't project to the back rows or over the orchestra and therefore need help. The sound system is so sub-standard that the feedback on some of the mics was horrendous and the levels were all over the place. Can't the Densch family pony up for a decent sound system and maybe some murals now that they have just cashed out of their distributing business? I would be embarrassed to have my name attached to this facility. The scenery budget seemed to have been blown on the Warbuck's mansion. It looked good. The rest looked ridiculous. The costumes looked like they were the best things in the actors closet. Most were inadequate. The guy who played Rooster didn't even have a pair of wing tips (just some hybrid sneakers). It was cute to see the children enjoying the show (onstage and in the audience). But, they can/should put out a better product. One thing you can count on is sub-zero refrigeration. Almost everyone I sat next to was frozen to death by the air conditioning.

Grilled Sausage Stand, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this moveable grill outside of Home Depot yesterday. I had a sausage and onion (held the peppers) hero for $5. It was perfectly respectable. The sausage was spicy (available plain). It was butterflied and a little crispy. The onions were sweet and translucent (caramelized). The bun looked like it was going to be stale, but, was not. The portion consisted of two links. The proprietor was likable. The service was fast. They also have two sizes of dogs and a selection of drinks. A nice, convenient change up to the usual rotation. I recommend it.

Finesse, Lake Mary - Closed

Yesterday I had lunch at this boutique restaurant on 46a next to Friendly Confines. It will probably never be confused with "fitness" if the things I had were any indication. I had a bowl of lobster bisque for $6 and a caesar salad for $7. The bisque was more of a chowder and I think it was old. The lobster had mostly dissolved into gelatinous threads (like in Shark's Fin soup). It tasted like faux crab. The two recognizable pieces of lobster were a tasteless tip of a claw and part of the elbow meat that had a consistency consistent with frozen shellfish. The portion was large (pro) and I may have received an unfortunate ladle full. It was too sweet and rich for my taste in any event. This was a soup special. However, I wonder from when. Two of three other soups had not been completed by lunch. The caesar was overloaded with dressing and cheese. The portion was small. The croutons had not transmogrified into croutons and tasted like chunks of foccacia. The service (2) was good and knowledgable. I do fear they have bitten the company line a little hard. They were very assured of the restaurants pedigree (even cocky). And I didn't see it in the execution of the things I had. Then again I wasn't overly impressed with their flagship - Citrus either. You set yourself up for criticism when you name yourself "finesse". I saw little in sample (basics) I had. The menu is odd. It's like they shoe horned some of the dinner items into it instead of creating extra dishes that would be appropriate for lunch. There were three sandwiches, some salads, some soups and then chops and fish, etc. Most things were $10+ (Terra Mia throws in a drink for that). Appetizers cost as much as entrees.

The decor has a black and white schemata. They post definitions of culinary terms on black on a white wall. The furniture is darkish. It was clean. It seats about 90. There were six others there at lunch. It looks much the same as the last three iterations of this cursed location (The Wine Room layout still). They are trying to reach the same non-existent level of customer as the many that have preceeded them. That means linen napkins and prices that are about 20% too high for the region. Fish Bones gets the wallets they are competing for because the space is a superior aesthetic draw. It has pizazz (if not taste). It has a theme. Finesse has none of that. Terra Mia's prices will get the next rung of customer (business lunch and the ladies for do lunch or show houses). Rikka will also take from those on that rung that want non-Western fare. Moes and Applebees will pick up the bottom rung. Confines will get the drunk 19th holers and night time bar crowd. And these are the pickings that are left over from those who probably prefer or are accustomed the options across the street.

I see Finesse making the same mistakes as their predecessors. They have to drop prices and get over themselves. The most played out trend in gastronomy is the artisinal, slow food movement bullshit. Is there any restauranteur who doesn't fancy himself an artiste? When everyone is a iconoclast, there are no more iconoclasts. You can't charge extra in today's saturated poseur restaurant environment because everyone is a poseur (even in suburban Orlando). And you are not just a poseur, you are an arriviste poseur. You need to catch up to your competition. You need to develop a customer base. You can't do that by offering less (at least as a holistic experience) than your competition. There are not enough foodies in Lake Mary to sustain a food-centric locale. Ask your predecessors. They all were at this price point with this hubris. They were all out in weeks. Not months. Weeks! And most foodies are into street food now not lamb jus fonds. The wines were a bit heavy on Australia (not really the region of the moment). The artisinal beers are not a draw any longer. Hell there is a WORLD of Beer across the street.

I can't recommend it with what I have seen so far (at least not at those prices). Perhaps I will return and try a more ambitious meal. It would have to be something with real gastronomic creativity. I didn't see a signature dish on the menu. But, then again I believe the menu is supposed to change monthly (another thing that is not considered a plus to most customer's around here). Good Luck. I really do hope you find a niche. I just can't come up with a reason to tell someone to go here other than it's the next next thing. It's not bad. It's just ordinary.

Pub Crawl - Audubon Park and Winter Park : Bikes Beans and Bordeaux (Closed), Stardust, Spice (Closed), Wine Room, Circa (Closed)

9-9:30pm- Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux: I had a glass of wine at this wine bar than serves sandwiches and flatbreads. Nice owner and staff. They were closing down.

9:30-10pm - Stardust Video and Coffee: Was going to go to Big Daddy's Roadhouse but they allow smoking and I didn't take a shower and put on fresh clothes so I could smell like the inside of my Mom's old Volvo for the rest of the night. I had a coffee here and bought a used book. They serve beer and wine. It was fairly packed with hipsters. Mostly guys though so I left.

10-10:30pm - Spice Modern: Had a scotch. Unfortunately, the place was emptying out. Mostly Rollins kids. Went here because the new Shipyard was already closed. How are you going to make money closing at 10pm? You sell beer not early bird specials. Pathetic.

10:30-11:30pm - Wine Room: Fairly full. Mostly couples or group clusters.

11:30pm-1am: Circa: A bad wedding reception facsimile as always. Mostly empty and geriatric. Now they charge you for the displeasure. Only stayed to sober up and because everything else would have been closed by the time I got there.

Sushi Lola's, Audubon Park

I had dinner at this Sushi restaurant on Corrine Dr and Winter Park Rd in an area east of Leu Gardens last Friday (by accident). I had pieces of salmon, yellowtail, octopus, sweet shrimp, sea urchin, conch, surf clam, and scallop. They even threw in a fried banana dessert. Everything was very good. A few items were spectacularly fresh. The conch was crunchy and sweet. The salmon was so buttery. Most items were under $2 a piece. The urchin was $4. The place is small. It seats about 8 at the sushi bar and 32 at the tables. The decor still had reminders of its past life as a sandwich shop, but, was pretty traditional for sushi. They have a flat screen above the sushi bar. The place still had people willing to wait in line at 8pm. However, the food came out pretty quickly once they took your order. The owner said his chefs were all from Destin. They knew what they were doing. The rice was spot on. The proteins were cut properly and served in a long thin manner rather than short and fat. The owner says he does the purchasing. At least to this point he is buying well. The place just opened so I hope the quality is not sacrificed for profitability moving forward. The crowd was mostly white. The wine was reasonable at $5.50. The sake was a bit over priced. They have non-sushi items as well. I rate this as one of the top 10 overall (quality for the price) sushi plays in Central Florida. What a surprise! Good Luck finding it though.

Seven Guitars, SSC

On Sunday I caught the last performance of Seven Guitars for $10. The wonderful set and small, accomplished cast may have served to make it the best August Wilson performance to date. The blend of old hands and new blood gave the script potency. Nice casting and nice execution. Still the best value in Central Florida. SSC is Seminole State College on 17-92 in Sanford.

Grub Crawl - West 50 and South Kirkman : Gyros, Winnaz (Closed), New Orleans Cajun Seafood, Mama Nems

Gyros - 50 - I had a Traditional Gyro at this psuedo-Greek restaurant past the Fair Crowds for $5. I nuked it for dinner and found it acceptable. The place is more wings and sandwiches than Greek. It's in a decaying fast food structure. I counted no fewer than 5 types of tiles on the floor. It's a bit ratty. But, it seemed popular. It fits about 30 and was full.

Winnaz - 50 - I sampled some fritters at this Jamaican restaurant next to Gyros for $3. They weren't the fluffy fritters I am used to. They were more like little omlettes. I'm not sure if they were supposed to come out like that, but, they were edible. The people were very nice. They have some hard to find items (ie Goat Head Soup). The place looked like it could be in the islands (one bare, open room with tables in a grid and a bar at the rear). It seats about 70 and was empty at lunch.

New Orleans Cajun Seafood - 50 (in between Pine Hills and Kirkman) - I had a softshell crab Po' Boy for $9. The roll was good. The crab was not breaded properly. The crust fell off easily. The crab seemed like it was old and frozen. The place is run by Vietnamese. They sell some Viet fare as well. The crawfish and crab boils looked more promising. The place was pretty ratty inside. It only seats about 30. It was full. A mixed crowd. They didn't take AMEX.

Mama Nems - S. Kirkman - I had 2 pieces of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and cheesy grits for $6. It's a Soul Food restaurant. Very well reviewed, I hear. The chicken and mashed pototoes (real) were excellent. The Grits were watery and tasteless. The water they gave me tasted of detergent. The place seats about 70. It was packed (lines). The crowd was mostly (but not all) black. They have a to go window in the back. It may be the better option. The place looks like it was constructed to be a dentists office. The decor is minimal. The service is a bit harried. They didn't take AMEX.

A tip to people coming from the Universal area. Kirkman runs all the way up to 50.

Just Pizza, Sanford - Closed

Today I had lunch at this pizza restaurant near the Seminole Mall. I had a tuna sandwich for $6.30. It was a bit sweet, wet and celery ridden for me. It came with lettuce and tomato. The roll was good. It was a big sandwich. Personally, I would change mayos, drain the tuna and eliminate the celery. However, I know alot of people prefer it their way. The place is big. It seats about 100. Their were two others there today. They have Flatscreens showing the NFL network. They have a drive thru. They have alot of daily specials. What I don't get is the name. They offer alot more than pizza (wings, tacos, salads, etc). In fact pizza is what they do the worst. I went here when it opened, but, did not want to slam it before I tried something other than their reheated, frozen pizza tasting namesake. Maybe the name is short for Not Just Pizza. I would call it Bad Pizza with Some Other Acceptable Food.

Grub Crawl - Winter Garden : Scoops, Sweet Traditions, NYPD Pizza, Caribbean Sunshine, Taquitos Jalisco, Uncle Kenny's BBQ

Scoops Ice Cream, Winter Garden Village - A very good and large Cappuccino flavored Ice Cream with toffee and chocolate pieces. Perfectly priced to come out to $2 with tax. Friendly service. I ordered one scoop, but, probably got two. Cute, old timey creamery space.

Sweet Traditions Bakery and Cafe, Winter Garden Village - I got a Brie Quiche for $3,50. I nuked it for dinner. Still good. They have a patio and a long narrow inside. They have all kinds of confections. Nice staff.

NYPD Pizza, Marsh Road Strip Mall (near Stoneybrook West) - I asked for a cold slice for $2. Might have been wiser to have it heated. It was thin. The crust was nice. Cuter than the Winter Park space.

Caribbean Sunshine, March Road Strip Mall - I tried a a fish (dried cod) pasty or empanada for under $2. It was fine. The service was accommodating. They have events on the weekend.

Taquitos Jalisco, a strip mall on 50 and Dillard - I had a luengua (tongue) soft taco for $1.50. I was alright. It could have been a little more tender. Smaller than their place in Hiawassee.

Uncle Kenny's BBQ/Maryland Fried Chicken, 50 - I had a Pork Basket for $7. The pulled pork sandwich was good. I would go without the side. The mac and cheese was small and tasteless. Save the $2 and go with the sandwich alone. They had a lot of economical daily specials.

Thai Blossom, Winter Garden

On Sunday I had lunch at this Thai restaurant on W. Plant St adjacent to the Edgewater Hotel. I had a Silver Noodle Soup for $4.50 and a Beef Salad for $10. Both were good. I'm not sure that Silver Noodle Soup is Thai (they had alot of dishes I would characterize as Asian rather than Thai). It had a nice chicken stock, vegetables, chicken and a shrimp. The beef salad came in a bowl fashioned out of a head of lettuce. It had more onions than anyone would require, but, the beef was amazingly tender. The sauce was a bit mild (more refined) at the medium level. The place is large (high ceilings). It looks like it could have been an old North Eastern Fish House at some point. They have ten booths of four in the front that are a bit rickety. You will feel it if your neighbor is fidgety. In between and going backwards, there are about 20 four tops. The decor is Thai. The building is a bit worn. The ceiling is exposed air ducts and wiring. They have windows on one side of the building and in the front. The service was fast. A little Asian curtness and aloofness. The place was about 1/3rd full. The crowd was mostly white. A good place, but alone not a destination. The Winter Garden village should be the draw if you go.