Lime, Sand Lake

I had dinner at this Chipotle knock off in the Whole Foods complex last Wednesday. I had chicken taquitos for $6. They (4) were good. I wasn't expecting them to be unfried, but, it worked. Just chicken and cheese covered with salsa. And therein lay the problem. Either that salsa or the salsa bar selection gave me explosions down below. I know this because I used the remaining salsa the next night and had the same results. Can we all agree to outlaw the salsa bar. It's apparent that you restaurant owner's are not ready to own one. It's a health hazard. In general. Not just here. They all suck. The place is nice. A very tasteful, modern ranch feel. Distressed but clean wood beams and glass walls. It could be on a ridge on top of Camelback Mountain in Arizona. It's big too. It must seat 80 inside and forty outside. The inside is 1/3 kitchen/register, 1/3 open seating, and 1/3rd booths. The furniture is new. It was clean. They said it was part of new chain out of Miami. The concept is like Chipotle (but with many more options). The eco-friendly, socially conscious, sustainable ingredients, recycled materials gimmick. Buzz words that mean nothing to me. However, if you are one of those freaks or just in search of a nice place to have a drink or quick bite, then I point you in their direction. Just stay away from the salsa bar.

Twisted Burger, Sand Lake

I had lunch at this burger joint on the Universal side of Sand Lake Rd last Wednesday. It was disappointing. I had a Classic Burger for $5. It was a 1/3rd pound burger (beef, brisket, and short rib) with cheddar cheese, onions, tomato, lettuce, pickles and sauce. In the immortal words of Al Czervik - "tell the chef this is low grade dog food". The description sounded palatable enough, but, it tasted like the burgers they have at a 7-11. A kind of bland, meatloafy thing that doesn't remind one of beef. The consistency was very fine. It was overcooked. This thing either started off bad or was old or it's life was squeezed from it by the cook. Maybe all three. All the toppings were limp except for the thickly cut pickle slices. They have a limited menu. Burgers, one dog, one salad, one grilled cheese and some sides. The best sounding (most rare) dish was the fried twinkie or strawberry shortcake. The place seems half done. I think it's the original Vines bar. The murals seem incomplete. The furniture clashes with the murals. Old wood booths and tables with vibrant, graffiti like walls. It seats about 60 (mostly in the rear half). There were ten others there at 2pm. You order at the counter. I would pass if I were you. The execution is lacking and the value is low.

Pub/Grub Crawl - Downtown : 180 Lounge, Mojo's, Sauced

11-11:30pm: 180 Lounge at the Amway Arena - The fat troll who does the club reviewing in the Sentinel (how you can be so fatally unhip and be THE reviewer of nightlife for a paper says much about the standards at that rag) said this placed reminded her of a scene from Less Than Zero. Maybe she was referring to a parallel universe where the people who work for the people in that movie go to get their krunk on. It's not a bad spot. Although, the outside is already useless in this heat. However, the crowd is less than zero.

11:30-11:59pm: Mojo's Cajun Bar - Empty.

12-2am - Wall Street - Pretty dead. Monkey Bar is now desolate. Slingapour's and some bar called something like The Other Bar or Door were full. Seems like a place girls go to hook up with black dudes.

2am - Sauced - High Light. The real reason I subjected myself to this night of drudgery. I had a Hot Mess and a Wet Dog. Ate them the next day. The Hot Mess is brisket, chips, mac and cheese and sauce on a roll. The best. The Wet Dog is a bacon wrapped, big hot dog with cole slaw and baked beans. The dog is better eaten alone. The people were cool. Get the word out.

Terrace 360, Downtown - Closed

I had a late dinner at this restaurant in the Bank of America building (past home of Harvey's Bistro) last Saturday after the ballet. It's still in it's dry run. They didn't alter much. It's still one of the prettier settings downtown. They have one area that looks like the formal dining area. It's very white and modern. The remainder is a bar area with conventional tables and high tops. They have many flatscreens and a hand shuffleboard table. It is a guys place. The food was surprisingly good. The ahi tuna tacos at $9 were phenomenal. It's an appetizer but could be an entree. The tuna was barely seared. It was a pretty good cut (a few shreds of cartridge). The soft tortillas had grill marks. The lettuce was cut into squares. Somehow this made it more flavorful than shredding does. It had some avocado in it. The wasbai mayo was the perfect compliment. Nothing new (except the shape of the lettuce), but, it just worked better than I can recall. I also had a wedge salad for $6. I couldn't tell if it was bibb or iceberg. It worked. They served 3 smaller wedges instead of 1 big one. It came with crisp bacon pieces and blue cheese crumbles. The dressing was blue cheese. The service was great and the ownership seemed engaged. It's a great value. I think the most expensive thing was a steak at $20. Most apps were around $5. Most entrees in the low teens. Drinks were only $6 (premium brands). This has to be where you end your day if you work in the area or where you start your evening if you are seeing a show. You can even save $5 in parking if you park on this side of the tracks. I think they have even better pricing during happy hour. I didn't even mention the beautiful palm lined patio. I highly recommend it.

Carmen, Bob Carr

I saw this Bizet Ballet downtown on Saturday for $16. Even though the venue was almost full, I somehow got a 6th row seat 30 minutes before show time at the lowest published price. It was a fairly good adaptation. It was quick. It started at 8pm and let out at 9:30pm (with intermission). It has been a while since I last saw this ballet so I'm not sure if they did a truncated version or not. In any case, it was well worth the expenditure. If only to see what Orlando-ins pull out of their closet in an attempt to look refined.

Twist, SoDo - Closed

I ordered a two roll combo at this Asian Fusion restaurant across from OLV in SoDo last Wednesday. It was $9. I had a salmon avocado roll and a yellowtail scallion roll. They were rolled thin and long (about 8 pieces). The salmon was good. The yellowtail lacked flavor. The service was quick. Then again there was only 1 table seated and I think they had finished lunch. They have all the asian colors of the rainbow represented in the menu. I usually find that that means they excel in none. But, let's give them the benefit of the doubt. The place is split in two. A drab, minimalist hibachi area and a dining room/bar decorated with antique looking black chandeliers. It gives it a unique personality. It seats about 70. Since your only other choice is OLV or Jason's Deli in this complex, I would suggest this as your best bet if you find yourself confined to this complex. The $1 sundae at the McDonald's Bistro next door was actually the high light of the culinary exploration of the day.

OLV Cafe, SoDo

I had lunch at this cafe in the new SoDo apartment complex on S. Orange last Wednesday. I had a Smoked Duck Sandwich for $9. It was disappointing. The duck could have been pulled pork (by consistency and taste). I think they buy it pre-shredded in a plastic bag. It was nothing like the the pressed duck sandwich at Dexter's. It also came with three microscopic slivers of apple and a quarter sized rub of boursin cheese. The roll was good, but, didn't pair well with the duck. The innards became slimy when exposed to the meat. Bad mouth feel. The service was also bad. I saw the waitress (a Deena from Jersey Shore clone) exactly twice. Once to get a menu and once to pay. Another person brought the food. No re-fills. There were approximately ten people there at the time and 8 were cougars having a liquid lunch with their alimony proceeds (1 other diner). The place seats about 30. It's mostly a lounge. The menu is extremely lazy. The bare minimum of effort or ambition. 4 sandwiches, salads and flatbreads. Boring! It's been open less than a year and already looks worn (cracks in the floor and worn furniture). The place is 60% open bar area. They have some couches in the rear. That area has stone walls. I suspect they are going for a chalet/bad country club sitting room feel. The front walls are glass. They have outdoor seating. The owner said the enigmatic name is short for Evolution. If this is the result of evolution then it must be an appendix - a totally unnecessary and superfluous organ. I would skip it for food. Maybe the bar scene is better at night. They had an ok wine selection.

*12/5/2014 - I just walked by and they had a sign that said re-opening. I didn't know that it closed, so, there you have it. They will be there again shortly if you knew they were gone.

Jimmy Hula's, Winter Park

I stumbled upon this Island themed restaurant on Fairbanks (where Habana Grill was) today at lunch. I had a Mailbu Fish Taco for $3.69 and Guacamole and chips for $2.89. They were good. If I was at all hungry I would have tried the Ahi BLT or Thai Beef salad. The Guac had chopped red peppers in it. It didn't stink of preservatives. It was fresh. I even bit into the remnants of the nob on top of the avocado. At least that's what I hope it was. The chips were fresh and plentiful (I couldn't finish them). They were also, pleasingly, non-salty. The taco was made from Mahi Mahi. It was a little fishy and mushy. The condiments (salsa, sour cream, lettuce, guacamole) were better. It was a soft taco. It also came with chips and a wedge of lime. They serve non-Mexican dishes too. Burgers, salads and fish sandwiches come to mind. Most things are well priced. Its theme is a little muddled. They draw from Hawaii, California and the Bahamas to mention a few. The combining element is surfing. I guess. These are all places that have some influence on the menu. The place looks like a shack you would find on a beach. It's decorated with surfing/island centric bric a brac. The seats look like they were taken out of automobiles. An outdoor porch surrounds the front and sides of the restaurant. All the windows and some walls were up today. You order at a counter. They (mostly cute, young women) bring you the meal. Service was quick. The menu is on the monitors above the counter (all digital). It was clean and vibrant. It seats about 70. It was 2/5ths full. It similar to the Winter Park Fish Company. But, it's a lot cheaper, bigger and has better parking. I predict it will be a big hit. They also serve beer. They don't take AMEX. They have been open for three weeks.

Anatolia, Winter Park

I has lunch 2 at this pizzeria and restaurant across from Arigato (436) on Wednesday. I had a sausage sub for $4.50. It was infinitely more satisfying than the sushi I had for lunch 1. The sausage, onions, sauce and cheese were tasty. It was well toasted/melted in an ingenious rack made out of a pizza screen created by the manager. The place itself is kind of awful. As is the name. The manager told me it was because the owners are Turkish. But, you can't just name a place anything because you can. It confuses the customers. You are not selling Turkish cuisine. I don't associate quality Italian competence with the Turks. You even have a jalapeno pepper in your logo. How is that Italian? You are starting with one strike. Back to the place. The last owners ( a Puerto Rican place) combined two small spaces in a strip mall by breaking the wall in between. They did little to nothing in terms of decoration. Now the pizza oven is in one and the dining area is in the other. It's still sparsely decorated. They simply changed the wall art. It's also a little dark. It seats about 40. There were 9 people there for lunch. They serve (what is now becoming de rigeur) a multi-ethnic menu that ranges from Buffalo wings to ham sandwiches (and of course pizza, rolls and Italian sandwiches). The prices and service were good. As was the small sample of food I tried. I recommend it for what it is - a cheap, pizzeria/Italian restaurant.

Arigato, Winter Park

I had lunch at this sushi restaurant on 436 on Wednesday. It was a Greek place previously and started as a Pizza Hut. It's a square box with low ceilings. A real interior design conundrum. I had the Sushi Combo for $11. Their idea of a combo is sushi alone. It was 7 pieces and a tuna roll. The tuna was tasteless. This is becoming an ongoing concern. I remember when tuna used to be the high light not the enigma. What is happening to the tuna industry? They also snuck in imitation crab and smoked salmon with the fresh fish. Surprisingly the smoked salmon was good. As was the red snapper, white tuna, salmon and surf clam. The pieces were big. The rice was adequate. They did forget the wasabi and ginger. The plating was pretty barren. The service (1) was ok. There were only 6 people there so I have no idea how they handle it if they get full. They said it was the same team that used to be on Park Avenue in Winter Park (different name). The place seats about 80. They tried to make it look Japanese Modern, but, as I said the building is just terrible. They even still have the horrible faux brick walls from when it was Pizza Hut. But, now to the real problem. It's no bargain. They have 72 rolls. Exactly 1 (non veggy) is under $5. Most are at or near $10. Their seafood entrees are near or over $20. They have 1 sushi bar appetizer under $10. Most sushi is above $5 (a piece?). And as for the sushi lunch specials (they kind of try and hide that menu), the place near me gives me a salad, a soup, a bowl of rice, octopus salad, seaweed salad and an orange for the same price. Plus they have $1 piece happy hour. It's the same quality. You can't be in the middle of no where, in a poor neighborhood, in a bad building and charge these prices. The emptiness of the restaurant should inform you of the emptiness of your business plan. I expect to see a "for lease" sign here before the summer is over.

The Crooked Spoon, 50

I had dinner to go 2 at this gourmet food truck in a gas station where the old hot dog stand used to be on 50 near Mills. I had a Crooked Spoon Burger for $8. It was large. It was perfectly cooked. They even asked what temperature I wanted it! It was juicy. I'm pretty sure they hand ground the beef. It came on a sweet roll (fresh) that was grill warmed. It came with swiss cheese, field greens, a tomato slice (that may have been marinated or absorbed the dressing from the salad), and a wonderful onion chutney/relish that was sweet (caramelized in balsamic?) and spicy. They also included wonderful, fresh potato chips. They had to be home made. Non-oily, barely salted, thick and golden brown. They have about 8 items and a special (it was pulled chicken sliders). It's a two person crew. Very nice. The prices may be a bit high for a take away place, but, it is gourmet (the care and ingredients warrant it) and hopefully people are into the whole food truck craze and have lost their prejudices. I would encourage you to visit. It was a burger that can compete with The Ravenous Pig's.

Korean BBQ Taco Truck, 50

I got dinner to go at this Korean Food Truck at the Citgo on Primrose and 50 yesterday. I had a Chicken Taco Box for $6. The taco was not the star. The French Dressing type sauce was cloying and dominated the conversation. The chicken also seemed to be too sweet. I think it was all dark meat or it was cooked dark through soy. It came with lettuce. It was large. It wasn't devoid of spice, but, I would ease up on the mayo. The real stars were the sides. 1 spicy chicken wing with an Asian character. A nice twist. 2 pieces of something that they called a cheese roll. An excellent (and new to me) combination of pork and cheese whiz and some kind of soy or egg wrapper (like a crepe). Wonderful. 2 brown rice covered pork meatballs. Excellent. You could really taste the pork. A Japanese style salad. 2 pieces of of fried (Katzu style) soy squares with an oyster type sauce. Nice. They say they will be in this spot permanently. So, check them out. They have taco boxes in most meat options and some more standard Korean meals. The staff was friendly. Look for the bright yellow truck.

Grub Crawl - Audubon Park and Mills : Junior's Diner, Blue Bird Bakery (Closed), Rainbow Sno Cones, Rhapsodic Bakery

Junior's Diner - I had lunch at this diner at the end of a strip mall yesterday. I had two eggs, sausage (3) home fries and toast for $5 and change. Everything was good. The service was good. They have all you diner favorites. It's not expensive. It seats about 50 with a counter, tables and booths. It was nearly full. The decor is plain. Blue Bird Bakery - My real reason for coming back to this area. It's in the strip mall after Junior's. I bought a Guinness Cream cupcake for $2+. It came in a fancy box with a little cupcake cozy inside. The cupcake was rich. The Guinness gave the chocolate an earthy flavor. The icing was a sweet, white cream. It's not a huge cupcake, but, worth it. And I hate sweets. The space is small, but, terribly cute. It's very clean and modern. Plus all the staff and most of the clientele is young and female which never hurts. A very friendly atmosphere. Rainbow Sno-Cones - A few store fronts from Blue Bird. I didn't want a sno-cone, but, since I was already there I had to experiment. I had a Tiger's Blood (no relation to a celebrity recently in the news) kiddie sno-cone for $1.25. It was coconut and strawberry. It was tasty and lasted a long time in my broiling car interior. It ended up saving my life later on that afternoon. It's a small shop. You can't go in. You order from the window. The owner was nice. They have a lot of flavors to choose from. Raphsodic Bakery - This place was not in Audubon Park. It's almost at the corner of Mills and 50. I had a gluten-free Double Chocolate cupcake for $2.50. I'm sorry to report that it was awful. Looks like you really need that gluten after all. It was small. It stuck (almost entirely) to the wax paper. It tasted like rye bread. It was better if you ate the icing and cake together. It barely tasted of chocolate. On the positive side, the place is cute and the staff is friendly. It seats about 16. Parking could be a problem.

Choo Choo Churro, Orlando

I had dinner at this Argentinian Steak House on Lake Underhill Rd (off 436 parallel to 408) last Friday. It's slightly hidden. I had Sweetbreads with white rice for $23. It came with bread, garlic butter, salad and Chimchurri. The sweetbreads (2) were large. It was enough for two. Although I prefer them fried (melts the sinews), they were fine fire grilled. The rice was plentiful. The bread was warm. The garlic butter seemed home made. The salad was fresh. The entree came it a skillet. A very simple and satisfying meal. The service was great. It was a cute place that is mainly a patio. They enclose it in the winter. It's open now. It's decorated with little pans and nick nacks. The had a lit grill in the rear. The tables and chairs are wood. It seats about 24. It was half full. They said it was a light crowd and people tend to come later on in the evening. The inside seats about 12 more. They have a live guitar player (who may have been the owner). They played soothing Latin music over the speakers. The place succeeds in transporting you out of Orlando. I really recommend this type of place over the buffet style, all you can eat Churasscurias around town. This is more in line with what you can expect if you go to Argentina. They have a good wine list and many cattle and seafood based options.

Capt. Sal's Po-Boys, Altamonte Springs - Closed

I grabbed a Chicken Po-Boy at this little shack next to a now defunct ice shop in a gas station on 436 near Bubbalou's (how ridiculous am I becoming that my land markers are now restaurants) a few Mondays ago. I chose Chicken because I didn't want any surprises while on my flight out of town (a risk with any seafood) and to round out my Po-Boy resume. It cost $5.50. I'm sad to say that it happened so long ago that I can barely remember particulars of its flavor profile. I do remember it was pressed. The chicken was grilled. It had lettuce and tomato and a sauce. The roll was baked on the premises. What I would like to convey is that the owner was a guy you want to root for. He says he learned his trade on Gulf shipping vessels. He would pepper the ship's cook with questions and help prepare the meals in his down time. He even has an MBA. All the meals are cooked to order. He has many Latin dishes as well. He also serves breakfast and burgers and daily specials. His only assistance is his wife (who was not there at the time). I would encourage you to give him a try. If only to support a classic American success story of an individual who still cares about the quality of his product. The food is quite good too.