The Coop, Winter Park - Closed

I went to this new venture of John Rivers on Wednesday. I went at 2 pm because I heard it has been a madhouse since it opened last Thursday. It still had a line, but, it wasn't bad. I had to wait around ten minutes. It has the same waiting line as 4 Rivers. The food is in front of you as you make your way to the cashier and you tell them what you want as you sidle by. I had a two piece fried chicken meal for $8. That gets you two sides (out of 18). I had creamed corn (because of an article in the Weekly) and the Anson Mills Creamy Grits. I figured the Mac and Smashed Potatoes would be the same as 4 Rivers. The chicken was good. The coating had alot of black pepper in the batter and little else. Nice. The skin was mostly crisped up. The pieces were a little smallish, but, they probably use steroid free birds. The corn was very sweet and must have had a million calories. I couldn't tell what made the cream. Heavy cream or mayo? The grits were a bit bland. They had little yellow corn granules in a white puree that was reminiscent of cream of wheat. Not sure if they mix ingredients. It also had a few smallish lumps. I love lumps, but, some people will say they didn't stir correctly. The place seats over 100+. It was about a quarter full. It's in that great corner spot on Morse that has had a pizzeria and a Middle Eastern place, et al. This time they walled in the patio. I can't remember if they had AC in the last place. It looks homey. They do the mismatched chair thing. They have a few communal tables. It's supposed to feel Southern casual. The menu is also VERY Southern. Catfish, oxtail, dumplings, meatloaf, pork chops, pot pie, biscuits, deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes - you get the picture. The cherry fried hand pies are supposed to be great. It's another home run by a guy who I think of most when I think of Central Florida taste makers. For some reason his name is the first one on my mind when visitors ask what they should try in Orlando. I know he doesn't have the fanciest or most impressive restaurants in town, but, he seems to represent what is best about the area. This spot will only enhance that reputation. I'd tell you to go, but, I think you already were on your way. Ohh, I forgot. They sell Old Milwaukee and real Coors beer. Nice touch.

The Strand, Mills Ave

I had lunch on Wednesday at this new spot that replaced the dump Chuck's. It's next to a place that sells English goods and a hot pot place and their dessert shop. It's on Mills almost on 50. It's a huge step up from it's predecessor. I had a fried fish sandwich and french fries for $9. They didn't have cod (thank God) and subbed in Mahi. It was a great sandwich. The brioche bun was huge and fresh. The fish (thick hunks) was fresh and fried perfectly. The lettuce (iceberg) was a bit boring, but the tomato, pickles and onion were very fresh. The tartar sauce was great and probably home made. The french fries were fried perfectly. Seasoned with salt and pepper. Maybe a tad effusive with the salt. They also kept the $2 thresh hold on sodas. The service was great. I didn't mind having to sit at the counter. It seats about thirty. It was full. The place is decorated wisely. Minimal but effective. The main feature was a wood wall panel on the left side. It's run by a husband and wife team that had a previous establishment in Ocoee. They were cooking with the help of one prep. They had three waitresses for thirty people. They serve beer and wine (not run of the mill). They do a brunch and dinner. The game hen on the dinner menu seemed worth coming back for. The menu is smallish. Around ten entrees that have one of most animal represented. This probably ensures that those dishes will be done expertly. This place has all the things you should be looking for in an artisan kitchen without the pretense and cost. I'd put it on your short list if you want a delightful experience.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Winter Park: Scratch (Closed), Wine Barn (Closed) and Keg & Cork (Renamed Paddy's - Closed)

I went to these places on Saturday night. They are all on Fairbanks.


Scratch Tapas Bar - They call this a tapas bar, but, it's more of an American style appetizer place. I had some scallops (2 cut into quarters) that were served with a pork belly accompaniment, some trout roe, a sauce I don't recollect, a white puree that I also am flaking on and a caviar lentil puree. It cost $13. It was good. The puree was a bit sloppy and overcooked. I had a hard time incorporating the roe in a way that made sense. It seemed like more of a decorative piece. The scallops weren't dry and rubbery. The place is tiny. It's that old Sake bar. It's seats about thirty including the bar. Every seat was taken. I am a little confused at why the chose such a small spot for what appears to be an ambitious venture. The kitchen is tiny. The staff was always required to yell "behind you". They had a bartender, three waitresses, a swishy host, a spare hostess, an expediter and a floater (owner). That's alot of hands for a small place. They obviously need to pay all these salaries, so, I don't get why they chose to rent a closet. The solution to the economic realities/business model seems to be to charge alot for a little. I don't like the concept of small plates. It's never in the customer's interest. You just are forced to order three or more dishes instead of an app and an entree. I suspect that the chef wanted to be a line cook and not a chef (manager of a staff) and constructed this strategy so not to overwhelm his art or social life (they are closed for lunch and all day Sunday and Monday). It's an ok art. A little pretentious. They did the whole Grant Anchutz thing where they pour aromas into a dish and cover it and then release it in front of you. The one I smelled was just plain wood smoke. Not exactly an inventive attempt. It revealed what looked like four, cut brussel sprouts. Most of the dishes were unremarkable in their design. They even had a chicken salad. They have around a dozen choices. They had one rib eye for $32 as the only thing approaching an entree. The decor was well thought out (again alot of thought for a little space). It was like a vintage seating room or library. Filled with lots of old bric a brac. Don't get me wrong. I liked it. It was just a tad self aware. It's hard to straddle the line between providing an experience and being full of yourself. They are right on the edge. Depending on your disposition on that day, it may seem a little farcical. And this trend is played out.

The Wine Barn - I'm driving to destination two and I am so overcome with hunger that I cross lanes and pull into this wine store that I saw driving in. They said they have wood fire pizza. I decide to cross this off before I have to add it to my list. They may have the best pizza in CF. I had a pizza with finocchio (sp). That is a dried fennel sausage. It cost $9. They told me to wait for it in the other room. It took about fifteen minutes. They brought it to me in this room where they place crates (and some seats) and tables and is in the middle of the inventory. The place was packed. It seats about forty in mostly communal tables. The service couldn't have been more pleasant. They use only that Italian flour you need if you want to be considered a pizza place in Italy. They make the dough in house. The cheese was fresh (and this wasn't even a Margarita). The sauce was fresh. The sausage was from Italy. The pizza was ultra thin. They stretched the dough so it was as big as a medium fast food pizza. They gave you maximum surface area for the toppings. They (toppings) reached all the way out. It was cooked perfectly. Not crackery. A little char. They said the oven gets to 800 degrees. They also cook wings and other things in the oven. They have about a dozen designer pizzas and you can make your own desire. They serve wine by the glass from those great tap machines or you can buy a bottle there (retail markup not restaurant. Parking was abundant. It's next to Spatz. It was an unbelievable surprise. You must try it.

Keg and Cork - I went to this bar next to 4 Rivers just to knock it off the list. I stayed until 2pm. And the place was virtually empty. It just had a great vibe. They have around 300 beers (and some wine). If I was back in college, I would be here every night. They said it gets more crowded during the week (Rollins). It looks like a dump from the outside. Inside it is kind of quaint. they have a patio and patio bar. It has been no less than four places in my memory. I hope this one sticks. It's not easy to stand apart with so many of these craft brew bar around. They somehow seduced me.*5/23/15 - Renamed Paddy's. Same owner. Same beer selection. Food is a little more ambitious.

* Side Note - Upon entering the bar I had a case of explosive stomach. Not sure if Scratch did the damage, but, I wanted to put it out there because I doubt the pizza could have had any bad actors on it. I wonder if the chef at Scratch was ever a victim of this blog when he worked at another spot and remembered to get his revenge. It could have been that great microwaved food I had for lunch at Wendy's. It came on very suddenly though.

Grub Crawl - Oviedo: Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Eastern Garden

These place were in the next strip mall from Yuki Hana on Aloma near the 417. I had some things to go and ate them for dinner yesterday.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit - I only went here because it came up on Google when I was verifying the Yuki Hana location. It was a lucky stroke. It's a branch of a Dallas based location. They have over 300 franchises. You expect salt brined, packaged meat in a putrid glue from these places. This place isn't like that. I only saw (the real machinery could have been elsewhere in the shop) some kind of cooker/steamer/warmer next to the counter. I'm not sure if the stuff comes pre or partially cooked. I just know that it wasn't half bad. I had a Wednesday Special that was pulled pork over sausage. It was so simple a combination, but, I swear I've never seen it on a menu before. The pork was good. I saw the owner pulling it from a lump of meat that actually/eventually revealed a shoulder bone. It was done Texas-style - salt and pepper. The sausage was ok. I was expecting a big, full link in the middle. I received some slices of a fairly tasty tube steak. They topped it with cheese (American I think) and two slices of raw onion and some pre-sliced jarred pickles. They buttered the sub on some kind of roller machine. It came with two sides. I chose waffle fries and baked potato casserole. The fries were just as good as Chick Fila and twice the portion. The casserole was like a cheese and bacon baked potato where they mashed the potato for you and 86ed the skins. It was topped with green onions. It was great. They also had beans, cole slaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, green beans, okra, onion rings, Caesar salad or jalapeno beans as sides. The whole shebang cost -dun dun dun - $8. And it came with a free, huge (32 oz?) soda in a hard plastic cup. And they have a free ice cream bar. Eight bucks what a crappy Subway combo ($5 options) costs. If I could eat this stuff as often as I eat sandwiches and I lived near here, I would be here three times a week minimum. But, I'm guessing it isn't the healthiest diet in the world and I live elsewhere. So, I'll have to curse the sandwich places and my own vanity/will power every time I sit down there instead of here. The sad part is that those places are equally as fattening. They also serve brisket, ribs, turkey, chicken and ham. If they can pull off any of those meats, I will have to rethink the whole feasibility of franchised barbeque (excuse me ... barbecue). The place is big. It must seat ninety+. It has a casual, clean feel. They have pictures of the parent location and commercial oil and gas marketing objects as the theme. It's counter ordering and pick up. The staff was nice. The food came out fast. They also sell meat by the pound and cater. The one negative was that they just gave me a third of a little container of sauce for the sandwich. I'd check this place out if you can't get to 4 Rivers. Even if the food sucked, it would still be recommended as a value play.

Eastern Garden - This is a cookie cutter Chinese place with the cookie cutter Chinese menu and I only went there because I was there. That said, it was clean and they didn't mess up my simple order. It's been done before. I had a egg roll to go for $1.50 (maybe even less). There was actual pork in there. they cooked it long enough. If you had to have one of these places in your neighborhood, you could have been stuck with worse owners.

Grub Crawl - Oviedo: Yuki Hana and North End Pizza

I had a second lunch at the first place and some to go from the second. they are in the first strip mall where Aloma and Tuskawilla meet. It's a convergence point between winter Park, winter Springs and Oviedo. Just west of 417.

Yuki Hana - I found this place after (I think) I read a blurb in the Weekly. I wasn't expecting much. I just wanted to knock off another sushi place. It didn't make me regret the effort. I equate it with the Maso Canali they offer on the wine menu. It's good not great. I had a lunch roll special (choice of 2 of 10) for $11. It only came with a soup or salad. I chose a salad. It was a big portion and the dressing was better and fresher than most places. However, they lost points by putting fried wonton strips in it. The place is owned by a Chinese family, so, it's not traditional. This works in some areas and not others. The whole thing also looked like it was "pre-bowled" and left in the refrigerator. The bowl was nice. As was the platter (both glossy, white and modern china) the sushi came on. I chose tuna and salmon with cucumber and avocado. The tuna was actually not the usual let down of small remnants of off pink ahi. It was ahi, but, big chucks of darkish color that had no "dental floss" attached to them. The salmon portion was a little less generous. It was unevenly "loaded" in the roll (more in the middle). It also wasn't bursting with flavor, although it look fatty to the eye. The cucumber was also a little dry. I would just ditch it. The rice was ok. Cold. A little starchy (improperly washed) and sticky. The pieces were fairly uniform in size. The ginger seemed wilted. Therein lie the imperfections of the sushi. I can't speak for the udon or the varying Asian hot dishes. They need to You Tube how to wash/cook/season the rice. Make sure the rice is the most appropriate type and cook it more frequently. Keep the vegetables at room temperature. Pay attention to the slicing. It's doable if they want to make the leap to the next level. The pricing was a little more than some places. Most roll specials are under $10 and I've seen more than soup or salad attached. Those places tend to cheat on the fish though. The place looks much better than I expected. It's tastefully appointed. There is a huge silver, metallic "back splash" behind the sushi bar. The rest is black. They have Ian Shrager-esque light fixtures. They utilize black leather booth seating around the exterior. The tables and chairs are black wood. The place seats about 50 with ten sushi bar seats. There were ten people there at 2pm. They have been open for a year. This is the only branch. They have a better than average wine and sake selection. The menu has some interesting and unique elements. They use blue crab, pistachios, shiso, bacon jam in dishes (including the sushi). The standard sushi menu is a little restrictive (16 items). I do give points for calling the shiromi and escolar by name and not trying to pass them off as something else. They have Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese influenced hot dishes. They have teriyaki and tempura and katsu. They have Kobe beef. Like I said. This place could be great with a little pushing. It's definitely better than the area requires. The people were nice and the service was good. I just hope they push it to the next level. Maybe play some lounge type music. The name means snow flower. I found it more experimental than the supposedly creative Sushi Pop. They also aren't as narrow in their focus. Not yet a must have, but, it could get there.

North End Pizza - I only went to Boston inspired Italian because I was there and didn't anticipate being there again in this lifetime. I had the 2 slice special for $5. It came with a soda. The pizza was typical. The cheese and sauce were probably purchased in mass quantities. They weren't of the greatest quality. Salty and tasteless. The pizza was under cooked. The crust was dense, crumbly and dusty. Someone used too much flour in the dough AND while stretching it out. It was thin and low on sauce. I'm not making any judgement calls on those points. I'm just describing it. The place also serves calzones, stromboli, pasta, subs, salads and the usual snacks and entrees (think the things that are are on the subs on some pasta). The people were very nice. It's clean. It seats around forty. It's the typical, no frills pizza place that you all know.

El Buzo, Casselberry - Closed

I had lunch at this Peruvian restaurant in the strip mall across from Patsio's (436) where there are all manner of bargain basements stores. I've been meaning to go for like 2 or 3 years. It just fell through the cracks. It didn't help that I thought they just renamed a Colombian place in that same mall that I had already tried and I thought the experience would be similar. I had the Milanesa de Pollo lunch special for $8. It came with a small salad and rice. As you know, I think Peru has the best food in South America. This little, two person (husband and wife?) establishment serves most of the things you would hope they would (except for that spaghetti dish with crushed walnuts). They serve (I feel like Keenan what's his name on SNL doing Big Papi) ceviche, tiradito (sauced sashimi), cooked seafood, tamals, aguadito (soup or sometimes the juice from the ceviche), stews, fried rice, beef and chicken dishes, etc. They even have a beef heart dish that I just learned about (take out menu). The most expensive thing is $11 (actually one thing at $15). Most things are under $10. Sodas are only $1.50. My chicken was fried nicely. The salad was tasty. The rice was slightly overcooked, but, good. I think ceviche is usually over priced. They try to keep it under $10 here. The fish is most likely fresh. The name of the restaurant means "diver" as in spear fisher. There are photos of the owner and his catch all over the restaurant. The fish of the day was grouper. If I had asked I would have tried it. I, ignorantly, assumed it would be some fresh water, tank raised, frozen garbage fish like in most places. I think this place would be embarrassed to serve that. And that's all you need to know. You aren't treated like a mark here. You will get the best they can do at the best price for you. That's almost a rhyme. I should have been an ad man. The place seats about 40. There were 6 others there at 1 pm. They seemed to be Peruvian. The place had a really inviting energy. I can't believe I just wrote that. I can't believe I'm not erasing that. It's not like we are drowning in Peruvian places, so, I guess it's in the "find it" column for diversity, value and authenticity. Add in a little something for honest effort. Must go. Survivor's on.

Grub/Pub Crawl - College Park: NYPD Pizza, The Local and Woody's American Italian Grill

I tried to make up for the Mimi's disappointment by clearing the last of College Park off my list. They are on Edgewater in between the town's center and Lee Rd.


NYPD Pizza - I had a slice for $2. Like all the other locations - pretty good.

The Local - Really just a normal pool table and dart board bar. I thought it would be hipper or hipster-er. I had 5 wings for $5. They were good. Crisp. Fresh, clean celery. The menu was pretty uninspired. The beer selection is pretty uninspired. Like I said, really just a bar. Plus, for a place called College Park, I don't think I've ever seen more than a couple of girls in all my visits there that would fill that description.

Woody's American Italian Grill - They said the new owner bought this and added Italian to the menu. I had a Chicken Parm Hero for $8. It was ok. The sauce was good (just tomatoes). I think they did "the splash water on the stale bun to revive it" trick. The place looked safe. It's not in a great area, so, expectations are probably low. It is probably one of the more dependable places for the neighborhood, but, you don't need to go here.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Orlando: Mimi's Cafe and Orlando Brewery

These places are semi-near each other. Mimi's is on Millenia Blvd near the mall and the brewery is behind ORMC Downtown on Atlanta.


Mini's Cafe - I was semi-tricked into going here by the Orlando Weekly. They made it sound like it was a new, little bistro. It's just that dumb chain and I've already tried it (in Altamonte I think). I was in the area to try and find some lamp covers at IKEA (failed), but, I'm still mad I wasted a trip on this place. I tried to stem the bleeding by choosing something under $10. I was geared up for some breakfast and French food. That (and the fact that there were no new places in the area to sample) was the main reason I didn't just pick up and leave after I realized my error. I had some kind of Eggs Benedict that traded a potato galette for the muffin and bacon and spinach for the ham. I think they called it Lyonaise (even though the receipt says Pomme Benny). It was just under $10. It also had a fruit salad that they others didn't. It was simultaneously bad and good. The eggs (2) were poached nicely. The "galette" were mashed potatoes (uncrisp) not fried slices. The Hollandaise was pretty white. It wasn't bad. I just wonder if they use eggs (yolks). The bacon and spinach were fine. It came out fast. the service was good. The place looks like it belongs in Disney. I think they started out being more French Quarter (props) and have moved towards (their idea of) traditional French. The menu is for Americans. It has burgers and waffles and pancakes and the like. They do try and have a French spin. I just don't like these "theme" restaurants. It seats over 100. It was pretty full (or the parking lot was), but, the staff was complaining that it was empty. They serve alot of dishes that have no relationship to real French cooking (ie Bayonne Benedict - which I got them to admit was just a nod to the spices they claim are used in that city - strange I thought the French always use corned beef in their recipes and I'll bet the spices are as foreign to someone from there). I know there's a dearth of French options, but, I still say "pass"

Orlando Brewery - I found them two blocks off the Kaley exit on I-4 in an area that is still surrounded by working mills and factories. I had a flight (4 samples for $8) and a glass for $5. Most of the beers in the flight (Kolsch, Blond Ale, Pale Ale and Red Ale) were watery and uninspiring. The Red was maybe the best. The Doble (Double) Imperial IPA was good. It was (by far) their most aggressive beer and it was kind of average compared to what most guys are coming up with. The place was fun. It has one bar, around 16 beers (24 if you count their "mixes") and some table seating. It's a factory tasting room. Around thirty people were there in the middle of the day. They have one tour at 6pm. They are open every day (later on weekends). They were celebrating their eighth anniversary. The server knew her stuff.

Grub Crawl - Lee Rd: Mediterranean Gourmet and Arepera La Nueva (Closed)

I grabbed some food for dinner at these places I saw when I ate at Wild Rice last week and after my disappointment in Winter Park yesterday. They are on the even worse part of Lee Rd (east side of I4).

Mediterranean Gourmet - A bit of a misnomer. Gourmet it's not. Cheap, authentic and acceptable it is. The guy is from Lebanon. He's been there for years. I had a vegetarian roll for $3.50. It had tabouli, hummus and lettuce and tomato. I think it was supposed to have avocado. I think they actually subbed out some pre-made wrap that they cut into fourths and call a roll. I wasn't up to arguing. This was just a "because it was there" sampling. It's in a strip mall next to a defunct Tokyo Express that still has it's signs up. It's not very clean or pretty. The cashier smelled of swamp grass. There was one other there at 1 pm.

Arepera La Nueva - I've written about the original on 436. This is outpost number two. To refresh your memory, they serve Venezuelan food (limited menu). I had a fried cheese/dough finger that I think was called a Tequenos for $1. It was ok. The place was technically off the list and I wasn't in the mood to stay in there with the smell of an overrun sceptic tank. The place isn't new or clean. Not "roach on the wall" bad, but, nothing to write home about either. There were two ex-pats there at 1pm. It seats about thirty. It's across (laterally) from the strip mall that has Med Gourmet .

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Nopa Grill (Closed) and Le Macaron

I ate at these place (on or off Park Ave) yesterday.


Nopa Grill - I could sense that this place would blow by looking at the menu. If the Greeks yell Opa when they are happy, then Nopa should be the opposite. Or we could go with - they have an "a" where an "e" should have gone. This place is what happens when someone finally visits the big city and comes back with pretensions. Unfortunately (for them), this isn't Geneva (Florida), it's Winter Park.You can't recreate what you barely have been exposed to. Everything they do is simply not up to snuff. The menu is simplistic, boring, directionless and ridiculously over priced. They want $13 for a hamburger! They have a thing called a Nopa roll at $5. I figured it was some kind of snack. Maybe a sushi item or an Asian wrap? Nope -ah. It was just a piece of bread. I suffered through (for you) a $10 Boston Fried Cod sandwich with french fries. It was the cheapest thing on the menu. They delivered two, mass market brand, frozen pieces of freezer burned cod on a bun. You know how I know they are McFood? I have some in my freezer. AND fresh fish (or even packaged, unbreaded, frozen fish) doesn't have rounded off corners. I just saw a program on Irish cooking where they were extolling the flakiness and flavor of haddock and cod. Lies! Outrageous lies! Those fish are the worst. There is a reason fast food places use them. Back to Nope-ah. The bun was ok and the fish was fried correctly. I don't blame the kitchen. I blame the (mis) management. The fries were good. Too much mixed seasoning. The place is tacky. It's next to that raw food place on Morse. They say Nopa stands for Not On Park Avenue. If only we could make it a sixteen lane highway. They have every type of cheap, cloned bric a brac as decoration. They offer wine on one wall like it's a retail shop. They sell that wine at restaurant mark ups +. They had that terrible Quantum Leap Riesling, that they (QL) have the audacity to sell for $14, for $30 and some $9 wine for $30+. The art on the wall is all mass production. They have a dining room that seat about forty. All on raised chairs. There were two others there at lunch. The menu is mostly flatbreads and burgers. There would be no real reason to go here IF the pricing was in line. With the pricing out of line, I suggest you avoid it. It's been open a few months.

Le Macaron - This place is on Park (about the middle) next to Paris Bistro. They said they have been there for three years. They serve gelato, macaroons, pastries, coffee, and chocolates. All looked nice. I'm not a macaroon guy and don't understand the fad. At least they seem to have been near the forefront of the revival. They bake all the items in Sarasota and have other shops around Florida. I had a lavender (or was it violet) gelato (kids size) for $3.and a Madeleine for under $2. The gelato was good. The Madeleine was a little dense. Either the dough was under cooked or it was poorly mixed or they have have a recipe that incorporates pureed nuts. The place is small. I don't recall seating. You have to walk into an alcove and past some koi ponds to find them. They have one glassed in area for the pastry on the left and a glassed in freezer on the right for the gelato. Not bad.

Pub/Grub Crawl - Sanford: Shantell's Cafe (Closed and Now Re-Opened Across the Street), Buster's Bistro and Little Fish Huge Pond

After my bitter diasppointment at the Food Truck event, I walked down Sanford Ave to a little enclave that has the following spots. Note that the town is re-doing the road they are on. It's expected to be completed in July.

Shantell's Cafe - They are supposed to put out good 1 lb burgers and chicken and waffles. It's a soul foodish menu (but higher end). I tried to sample both without overdoing it. I had their sliders (3) after they assured me it's the same meat as the 1 lber. They were cooked as ordered (medium) and the pickles, tomatoes and bun were all supremely fresh. I didn't care for the seasoning they adulterated the burgers with. It was was too garlicky and salty. I suggest they just let the beef speak for itself. They cost $7. I also had to try the fried chicken and found a $5, 2 piece dinner on the menu. The chicken was fried perfectly. No grease. Thin coating. Juicy chicken. It also came with a side. I chose mac and cheese because they raved about it. I found it a bit bland (needs a tangier cheese in the mix), but, the macaroni was cooked perfectly and the portion was large. This place is a real gem. I saw them make a huge rib eye with shrimp (big and fresh), fried fish and waffles. They all looked great. And all were cheap. The waffles are $12. I'm not sure you need to eat 5 cents worth of batter and an extra breast for the extra $7. But, that's the thing. You can mix and match the value items and still get to know their menu. The place is cool. It's done up like a speakeasy. It only seats about 22 on the left side of the restaurant (bar stools and hightops) and 12 in the other room (Fat Rat). It's mostly black backgrounds with paisley reliefs. They have three TVs. They cook right behind the bar. They do lunch. It attracts all kinds. Maybe the best value in Sanford.

Buster's Bistro - Another shock to the system. This is a Belgian beer hall cum restaurant. They serve a mostly Belgian selection of beer and cider and some atypical wines. They also serve Belgian food. They change it up frequently. The place looks great. The front and back have garage doors. They have a big patio out back. The main room is spotless and beautiful. The bartenders know their stuff and are polite. It seats about forty inside. Plenty of standing room. It was pretty full early in the night. It has been around for a year. A Belgian immigrant opened it. The only questionable choice he has made is the name. It doesn't scream Belgium. I think people would assume it's just another dive bar. That couldn't be further from the truth. A real get away right outside your door. *moved down the street.

Little Fish Huge Pond - This place looks like a boring Irish pub from the outside, but, it's a funk fest inside. All kinds of whacked out art. They serve beer, wine and some crazy cocktails. I think they might have been operating nearer to the town center before as One Fish Two Fish. The name sounds familiar. I know I've been to a place called that somewhere before.

If you have a night in Sanford, this little area should be your choice. I hear the party goes on to the early hours. Don't be scared away from the area. They say they are putting in street lamps soon.

Monsta Lobsta Food Truck

I had a lobster roll for $12 from these charlatans at the Sanford Food Truck Rally yesterday. It was mostly fake crab with a few, tiny frozen lobster claws. They should be ashamed to be in business. A total fraud.

Sandwich Shop Evaluation

Subway - The bottom of the barrel and the proof that the world is upside down (because it's the most successful). The bread is usually stale. The vegetables are contaminated or covered in some chemical to make them stay fresh. The meat is high fat spam. You usually catch a cold from the workers. Salt levels are ridiculous. No coupons or loyalty programs. The $5 sub promotion (the one inducement) is being clawed back (now basically a BLT). They can even be charged with deceptively advertising it. No TV. No wi-fi. Few Seats. They have a "breakfast" menu and bottled sodas and fountain sodas. Cheapest combo meal (12") will be near $8. They had to take out some chemical from their bread. Now the bread is atrocious too.

Firehouse - Their fat owners claim on commercials that you will be full when you leave. Fat chance. They give you little meat on sub-12" rolls. It takes a long time to get your sandwich. They bring it to you. I prefer watching for monkey business. The meatball sub is the only sandwich where they can't short you. It's good. You could also go for a corned beef or pastrami. You just won't get much. The veggies are even limper than Subway's. They do have the soda machine that allows many combos/choices. But, they only have one and there's always a line. They have TV's (usually sports on). They have coupons. They give you a huge soda. They try and eke out a little extra with the pricing. No wi-fi.

Jersey Mike's - I vacillate between liking them and avoiding them. It usually centers around whether I caught a cold from them breathing/sneezing into the product the last time I was there and how bloated I want to be for the next 48 hours (high salt). Their "swamp" lettuce is usually the cause (I think). They slice the meat in front of you. Not something I care about and it slows down the assembly line. They have a small selection of toppings. The sandwich is less than 12" (even if you don't get short sliced). The bacon is hard as plastic and who knows how long it has been there. They have a griddle. They have a red pepper paste. They have been raising prices pretty consistently and shrank the size of their soda cups.They have TV's. Seating is usually a struggle. They have a loyalty program and do coupons. The daily specials or a meal using a coupon is usually required to make this work. No wi-fi. I still don't get why they don't have the mustard next to the mayo. It's in the cooler. Shouldn't the mayo be there, if anything should?

* I ate there today (4/10/14) and they just changed the daily special so it's a dollar more. Now $8. The sandwiches offered ARE better now. However, it shows that they are still in the "see how far we can push" mode of companies on the rise. The cheapest regular combo meal in the place will now cost you over $8. I'd watch to see if printed coupons disappear now that they just added a direct text program.

Jimmy John's - They have a $3, $4, $5 Menu. I don't go here often because they turned me off by not being transparent with their combo pricing and the sizes are small. You can't get a set price on adding a drink and chips. It's off menu. I asked last time and it seems they charge a different price depending on how expensive your sandwich is. I have no idea why it should fluctuate (they do this at Wendy's too) or why you should get charged more after paying more for a more expensive sandwich, but, it irritates me. The few times I have gone, I think the sandwiches were ok. Not very stacked. They have no TV or wi-fi. I don't think they have loyalty programs or coupons. They deliver.

Arby's - A little out of place, but, they may screw you the least (if you use coupons) and they have a fairly unique beef sandwich. It seems like there is more meat per dollar doled out here (especially if you use a coupon). Their other (menu is always in flux) items are usually too highly priced and not very good. I saw them pouring hot water into powder for their "au jus". No TV or wi-fi. I think they have a code when you use a coupon that tells the staff to short the amount of meat they give you. They have all those deep fried, fast food snacks the others lack. They have a drive thru. They have a dollar menu. They have disgusting curly fries. They have a stupid bell.

Blimpie's - Haven't been in a while. They are usually pretty bad and specialize in ham or bologna type sandwiches. They coupon.

Nature's Table - Only good for their avocado sandwich. Expensive because stupid hippies eat here and I guess they don't understand pricing.

Pita Pit - Items start at $6.50. They have a little more choice. You are nearing $10 if you combo it. They have breakfast and a kid's menu. A Mediterranean section. People think a pita or wrap has less calories than bread. They don't. Just less air. They have crazier toppings. No TV. No wi-fi. They have a grill.

Quizno's - I haven't seen one in a while. I always found them to be a bad value. I hated that they tried to bake everything.

Which Wich - Too expensive. A small (7") is over $5. They have some cool subs like a cheese whiz philly and that old crab salad one from Subway. The have no TV or wi-fi. They do have a free, communal newspaper. Ok if you want something funky. Loyalty program. No coupons.

Sobik's - Will have to refresh my recollection. I remember it as similar to Blimpie's.

Panera - I hate them and only abuse their free wi-fi mostly. Baked goods aren't a total rip, but, they never make enough quiche. The menu is over priced. They execute horribly. The only good item they had (salmon salad) is gone. the bread bowl soup have a shot glass of soup in them. It's for middle class women who think they are high class and don't want to cook and don't want their friends to see them in a (gasp) fast food restaurant. The beeper and you pick up thing is stupid.N o TV. No coupons.

Crispers - Much like Panera except they are known to give you more food. I just had a trio plate for $8 and although it was pretty gross, there was alot of it. They have free wi-fi. No TV. They bring the food to you. takes a while. Low staffed.$2+ for a soda.

All in all, I used to go to Subway for a $5 special when it's a good selection for that month and I can risk a cold. I try Now they are blacklisted. Firehouse for a meatball or when I have to have corned beef or pastrami and I have a coupon. I go to Jersey Mike's when I have a coupon or I like the daily special. I go to Which Wich when I have to have whiz (not often). I go to Arby's when I want chicken fingers or sliced beef and have a coupon. I go to Panera (and now Crispers) when I need wi-fi. But, I buy little or nothing.

Brooklyn Water Bagels, Lake Mary

I went to this new (1 week) bagel place in the strip mall that has BurgerFi on Wednesday for lunch. The options were so uninspiring that I just took a bagel and left. I had a bagel with nova cream cheese for $3.29. The bagel was good and they actually had pieces of real salmon in the spread (not just colored whip). I think that is all you would come here for. They sell some ludicrous product called "Brooklynized" water. I think that means they mug money from your wallet by "selling" you filtered water. They only serve breakfast type sandwiches and turkey or ham or one of the "salad" quartet. I think sandwiches on bagels are stupid. Almost as bad as pizza bagels. They are small (bagel dimensions) and hard to eat (too high). And all these start at $6+. The place looks clean. It seats about eighty. It's kind of like Subway or Jersey Mike's with the maps of NYC on the wall. It's a chain. I've seen them in South Florida. I'd go for a weekend breakfast and listen to people tawk about cawfee - no big woop, that is about all.

Wild Rice Buffet, Longwood

I had the lunch buffet for $8 on Monday. It was terrible. They used tuna fish (from a can) and seafood salad from the supermarket (celery and mayo) in their sushi. The Chinese items were typically repulsive. The worst, cheapest cuts of meat. The place is dirty. I only suffered this for you people. You know it's bad when you leave hungry from a buffet. The less said the better. It's on Lee Rd.

Club Crawl - Downtown: Avenue, Aloft, Schumann's, Dubliner's (Closed) and Hooch

I went to these places on Saturday night.


9-9:30pm - Avenue - I had a beer and a snack (cucumbers with blue cheese and peanuts in a buffalo sauce for $5) at this gastropub on Orange. I was a little disappointed in the menu. Some goofy snacks, burgers and pork belly). I'm off gastropubs to begin with and they aren't the measure of these in any case. The place is basically the same layout as all the places that preceded it. A wall of seats, a bar and some high table seats up front. The bartender was nice and knowledgeable. Their collection of "premium" beers was adequate, but, not awe inspiring. The place was pretty crowded.

9:30-10pm - I tried out the bar at the Aloft (a cheaper version of the W chain) for the first time. It's in the old OUC building where Orange meets the 408. The entrance to the hotel was nice. They put in a pool and a lounging area out front. The bar was a typical hotel bar. It was empty when I arrived and there were around eight people when I left. The bartenders say it gets good towards the end of the night when their drunken guests try and prolong the party.

10-11pm - Schumann's Jaeger Haus - I've written about them (on Church) before. This time I tried some food. I had some meatballs (3) for $7. They were surprisingly good. No rubbery bits. Not overcooked. Not bad for 10pm. I think they didn't serve food after 10pm the last time I was there. This time they did. It seemed to help with the occupancy rate. Alot of people came in and ate while I was there. They all seemed to like their meals from what I could hear. Service was good. Food came out fast. They have a very reasonable $8 lunch menu. The schnitzel and wursts seemed appetizing. I wish they would do pig knuckle. I still think they did a good job making it look German.

11pm-11:30pm - Dubliner's - They cut Don Jefe's (on Chirch) in half and made a good looking pub that serves alot of whiskey. It was packed. It may have been because they had a private party earlier or CFers can't avoid a pub to save themselves. It looks like it was the right move for them. I'd guess for us it means another similar type place is about to go under. A weird thing I noticed was that they were now charging a cover for Don Jefe's and there was a line to get in. If they can charge $10 to get in now, why did they feel the need to cut its square footage in half?

11:30pm-1am - Hooch - I ended up on Wall St (no cover to get in now) and grabbed a drink at this place that replaced Slingapour's. It looked the same. It was packed. They need more than 3 bartenders. The two rooms play different music. I hung around outside on Wall (they replaced Sauced with a bar and kept the name and sign). It (Wall) was pretty packed too. A funny sighting was that girl Cat (?) from Survivor stumbling around like the trailer rat she is. Now with fake boobs. No sign of her "boyfriend" from that season of the show.