Fish Tales, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch at this seafood restaurant on 434 near I-4 in the strip mall where the original Terra Mia is (they seem to be closed for lunch of the weekend) last Friday. I had a shrimp Po' Boy for $9. It was the cheapest thing on the menu. One thing I hate almost as much as high priced, mediocre Italian is high priced, mediocre Seafood. The bun was stale. It had visible streaks of what I like to call white mold. I'm not sure if it is mold, but, it is a sign of stale bread. Not that the bun was probably top notch to begin with. The shrimp seemed frozen. They (8) were very mushy. The coating was ok. It came with "half and half" fries. I say "half and half" because half were fried and half were undercooked. I've heard this happens if you fry cold/frozen fries before they defrost. It seems to be an epidemic. Can no one tell they aren't done when they lift the basket? It happens everywhere. Drop them back in the damn grease! I'll wait. It also came with a ramekin of mayonaise based cole slaw. It was fine. The service (3 on duty) was fine. Pleasant and informative. The place is a little weird looking. It has three areas. The front area is a little sparse. It has some a wooden floor and maritime decoration. The bar has a loungy, blue light counter top. They said it was put in by this owner. It is totally gauche and out of step with the other interior decorating. It takes up most of that room. There are some high tops around the perimeter and an area for live music. The lights were off for some reason. I hope it wasn't to flaunt the neon.The room I ate in was three toned (orange, green and yellow) with a black ceiling. You can say that this melange either gives you three unique dining environs or you can say nobody thought this through. The place seats around 70. It was a sushi and an Italian dinner theater spot (Pal Joey's) in a previous life. They didn't wow me and neither did this place. It's fine if your idea of fine dining is where the locals go after playing a round on the public golf course. The prices are all around $20 and I would have no faith that you are getting fresh seafood for the price. I would also bet that the person cooking the food has had no formal training. It's the kind of place Gordan Ramsey would go to and find a myriad of issues to blow his top over. It has been open for a month. Since it is so hidden and the value proposition is low. I wouldn't expect it to be open long. Yet, it was only one po' boy and I am assuming alot. Try it and let me know if my presumptions were right. I have nothing against the owner or the place. She seemed nice. I don't want to get into one of those pissy tiffs like the guy from Finesse (now closed as predicted) wanted to initiate. I'm scared she chose one of those terrible locations and hard food categories that just kill businesses. I wanted to say there is no happy ending to this Fish Tale, but, I won't. It would be too precious.

Francesco's, Maitland

I had lunch on Wednesday at this Ristorante - Pizzeria in Maitland. It is on 17-92 in the old NYPD Pizza location. I had a Pollo Mianese Salad for $9. It was good. The spring mix was fresh and bountiful. The chicken was not greasy. It was cut into strips. It probably had a panko crust. The tomatoes and onions were fresh. The Italian dressing may have been a little bottle-y. It was good enough that I sampled a dessert (Cassata al Forno) and ordered a pizza (10 inch) to go for dinner. The cake was made by the head chef's (part owner) father. It cost $6. It was good. It was three desserts in one. The crust was thick like a biscotti or a Snickerdoodle. The filling was like cheese cake (ricotta). The bottom was drenched is syrup like Baklava. It was infused with chocolate. I don't know how the attained such chocolate-osity with what appeared to be a minute amount of product. The family is Sicilian, so, I guess that explains the various influences in the cake. The pizza was ok. They say they have a 700 degree oven. It kind of came out like a tire. The hub cap area had cheese. The tire area was crust. There was a little too much crust and the whole pizza was a little fat. I'd bet they take the same amount of dough the use in a regular pizza (13 or 16 inch) and just didn't knead it as thin. The cheese wasn't great either. Not the freshest it could be. They provided you with some slices of bread that I think were made in house. They didn't have much taste. The menu is a little me-too and small. Under ten options for each course. Oddly, they have panini, but, don't list them on the lunch menu (dinner only). The chef is from Terra Mia and they offer a little more diversity. Maybe some of those interesting items will make it onto the menu as specials. The place is dressed in black and tans. It is meant to look like a rustic enclave like a farmhouse. It is mostly booths. There is a private room and a small area aside it with tables. Unfortunately the bimbo hostess they hired for the summer seated me there and I had a wonderful view of the ticketing computer. There were plenty of other tables on offer and the place wasn't full and it was past the rush. There is a bar area aside the open kitchen. All in all, I can recommend it. It isn't as big or visually appealing as some of its competition and the menu and ingredients could use a nudge, but, it is good. It has opened recently. Try it and then take a trip into Eatonville to see the improved city planning, bird sanctuary and the Zora Neale Hurston home.

Ceviche House, Orlando - Closed

I popped in for dinner at this newly opened sister station of this Peruvian restaurant on OBT on the way back from the airport on Monday. It is on 436 in between the Beach Line and 50. I believe the original is well received. I had the Chilicano Soup (Fish broth with fish pieces) for $6. It was a huge bowl loaded with a ton of fish. I think they said it was Baca as in Bacaloa. I'm not sure what it translates to in English. It was white, light and buttery. The broth was outrageous. A meal in itself. I wish I had made it that because I was already tapped out from a trip to the Midwest where I did as many Travel Channel joints as possible (think Foie Gras dogs, Cheese curds, Brats, Juisy Lucy's, etc). I also ordered some ceviche. It is the Ceviche House after all. I ordered the Ceviche Mixto (octopus, squid, shrimp, fish) for $17. I was expecting one of those little, glass sundae containers with some poorly vinegared bait (I know it's lime juice, but, they never do it right). I received a hip, white plate with a mound of delicious seafood and red onion (enough for 4). The seafood wasn't over seared. The searing liquid was a tasty amalgamation of citrus juice and leche de tigre (dairy based). They served a sweet potato square and some Land of the Lost sized corn kernels with it. I wasn't that keen on the last two items, but, I guess it is traditional. I just don't see how they compliment the ceviche. The menu is huge. You could take a course in Peruvian cuisine here. They had chaufa (fried rice dishes), every kind of beef, chicken or seafood dish, some dishes using mashed potatoes as a base. Too many to name. I used to have no respect for South American cuisine, but, I'm gaining more respect for it. Orlando is a good place to sample the diet of most of the countries south of us. In my limited experience Peru is to South America what Japan or maybe Vietnam is to Asia. It is the best and most diverse cuisine in the region. The flavors are more subtle, complex and refined. The owner of the restaurant told me that it started with the Incas, but, the Asians, Italians, and Spanish have influenced the growth. I'm not sure who to thank. Let's thank them all. Back to the review. The place is in a sketchy neighborhood. The building is nothing to look at. The interior is very bare. It's a square room that seats about 80. There is not much for decoration save the tables. It's a dark wood color scheme. There were about 10 people there when I ate. They mostly seemed like ex-pats. It's not fancy. Nobody was dressed up. People brought their kids. They had a TV showing ESPN in the corner. The wait staff was pleasant. They probably should have known not to bring out both dishes at the same time. The menu is priced in the mid-teens to twenty. I though this might be a bit pricey for the customer base when I first looked at it and the clientele, but, it is more than reasonable when you see the portion size and quality. Just remember to reduce your order in half to adjust for the huge servings. Other than that, the only problem I can see you having at this place is choosing what sounds the most interesting. I suggest you seek either location and test what has to be the best cuisine in town of the best cuisine in South America. They even have Peruvian wine (which I was told is prodigious, but, doesn't have the distribution network of Argentina or Chile).

Grub Crawl - Sanford : State Market, Great Wall, Montego Bay

All these spots are on 17-92 in or around the Seminole Town Square (think around The Barn). I ate there on Saturday.

State Market Restaurant - I had a Turkey Triple Decker Club (also available with Ham or Roast Beef) for $5.65. It came with fries. It was acceptable. The turkey was a little "loafy", but, the rest was fresh. The shoestring fries were good (hot and crisp). Service (2) was a little flustered to begin with. They were pleasant, however. The place has been in existence for over 50 years. I don't know how I missed it before now. Perhaps the unlighted "Open" sign has something to do with that. It's a small place. It seats about 40. The crowd seems very local. I think half the patrons were off duty cops. They seem like the go there regularly. The menu is diner food. Breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and some interesting down home desserts (ie pies). They have a signature dish. It's called a breakfast boat. The place was a little dirty (unbused tables) and not much to look at. However, they must be doing something right to be in business that long. I wouldn't make a special trip for it, but, if you are in the area and you order right, I can see it being a slightly ironic hoot. They are closed on Sunday. They close at 3pm during the week and 2pm on Saturday. The menu accepts/displays ads for local businesses. I'm not sure if that is good business or tacky. This is the one place that was not in the strip mall. There is a truck depot behind it. One of the loading docks said it was a farmer's market. Maybe that will make it more enticing an option? I also overheard the customers saying that the Barn goes off with college kids on Thursday starting at 10pm.

Great Wall Chinese Food - I had a lunch special of something I think was called sliced chicken for $5. It came with fried rice and a soda. A deal. The meal was more sweet than spicy. It came with carrots, cabbage and green peppers. The fried rice was better than what I have been complaining of. It may even have been cooked that day. It was more yellow than brown, so, perhaps I avoided alot of soy/sodium. It had a sprinkling of peas, pork and onions. It was buttery. The place is Chinese take out. The menu is cookie cutter and the decor is meal signage. They say the do it "New York Style". Since it was cooked by Chinese and not Mexicans, I have to argue that point. It's probably above average for it's class. Probably something better than the neighborhood deserves. I would trade out my local purveyors for it. Not worth a special trip, but, ok.  

Montego Bay Caribbean Takeout - I had a small Jerk Chicken meal to go for $8. You have to watch out because they are sneaky genius's when it comes to pricing. They do extra small, small and large. They nailed me for the larger price. The chicken was predictable. Good spice, but, not a lot of meat and boney. It was basically a drumstick and thigh cut into hunks. It came with rice and peas. They sure looked like beans. I'm getting sick of rice so I just nibbled. It was your basic dirty rice dish (no flavor). It also came with sauteed cabbage and carrots. Not my thing. The last side was sweet plantains. They were sweet. Too much starch/carbs and once again not my thing. But, I do this for you. If you like this food then I think you will like this place. They have been open for four years. They do puffs, goat, oxtail, shrimp, ackee, saltfish, snapper, etc. They even brew some of their own drinks (sorrel and ginger beer). It has 3 seats. The decor is made up of newspaper pullouts and advertising posters pertaining to Jamaica.

Grub Crawl - Altamonte Springs : Just Fork It, Viet House, Luna Station - Closed (2 of 3)

I sampled these spots on 436 this Wednesday. One of the first two (or a combination of) caused explosive results the next day.

Just Fork It - I had the daily special of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and a cucumber salad for $7. The meatloaf was made with ground chuck. It was a little stringy. They gave you three slices. It was bland. The mashed potatoes were bland. It had chunks of potatoes, so at least it wasn't powdered. The gravy was bland too. The cucumbers were too thickly sliced and the brine seemed to be Italian dressing. I don't want to crush this place because the people were nice. They are from Wisconsin. Their old location was on Lee Rd. The have been open for a year (old Del Dio's location). I can't recommend it to anyone who has an average or better palate. It's probably ok for the old people who were also eating there. Very road side diner in the boonies. The place seats about 70. It resembles a road side diner (non-Greek). The menu is all over the place (typical for this sort of endeavour). The are open 10:30am - 10pm. Closed on Sunday. They are hidden behind an oil lube place, so, you can't see it from the road. I have to give them some credit for trying to incorporate some fun by having a burger that they saw on Triple D.

Viet House - I had a special combo Banh Mi at this little takeout window next to a gas station at 1006 East Altamonte for $4. It had pate, pork roll, jambon, bbq pork and head cheese with mayo, cilantro, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon on a baguette. It's amazing that most of these things can taste/look/feel horrible on their own, yet, combine into a tasty whole. The place was once a Cajun place and then a Cuban place. Now it's the only Vietnamese for miles. You can't eat inside anymore. Officials made them close that area because of some ordinance (size). It's all take away now. I'd roll the dice on the gastrointestinal roulette wheel if you have to have Vietnamese and are in the area. It's right by where the train tracks cross over 436.

Luna Station - I had a pineapple and ham empanada for $1! It was baked dough with pineapple jam and a few scraps of ham. It was ok. Mostly air. At least it wasn't greasy. The place is mostly an ice cream, dessert and hot drink spot. The do serve arepas too. It is right next to Viet House (closer to 436). It is also take away only. The have a bench with an umbrella outside. Update - I believe Luna Station is the only survivor. 11/18/2013