Manzanos Beachside Deli, New Smyrna Beach

I went to this deli across the street from the pizza place on Sunday because the majority of the "fancier" places were closed. I'm glad they were. If I wasn't such an idiot about trying new places, I would just come here every time from now on. I had a half of a NSB for $9. A half is like a whole normal hero/sub. This came with turkey, avocado, bacon and swiss cheese. I did mayo in lieu of ranch. The bread (French batard) was wonderful. A wide baguette. Crunchy. The turkey was about three inches thick. A generous portion of avocado. Half of the half of sandwich filled me up. They have lots of these pithy sounding sandwiches. Also panini, salads (green and mayo'd), breakfasts and even pizza. The place is a dump. Who cares? It was packed. The line moved quickly. A fountain soda was $2. A deal if you refill right before you leave for the beach. They have seating inside. Loved it.

Flagler Avenue Pizza, New Smyrna Beach

I tried this Italian walk up on Monday. Most of the sit down restaurants took the holiday off. I saw them on Saturday and the pies looked pathetic. Old. Congealed. I'm not sure if those were made in advance in anticipation of a holiday rush and are not the norm. However, the ones on Monday looked better. I just had a cheese for $3. It was good. I was scared when I saw how thick and crusty it was (it couldn't be folded), but, I liked it. The cheese was good. The sauce was unadulterated. They serve all the usual Italian fare. Even some pasta. It is small, so, it was full. Lots of teens. The place looks new and shiny. It has a big, welcoming open feel. They opened just seven months ago. I didn't see it the last time I was in town last year. I think that was November, so, that sounds right. It is on Flagler Ave across from the Shuffleboard courts. Not bad.

Ootoya, Altamonte Springs

I first became aware of this Japanese restaurant driving out of Koy Wan. I figured they would charge the same or more for a lunch than Koy's unlimited offer, so, I passed. I tried them on Sunday night (to go) because I was in the area and Koy's dinner price is higher then.so I wouldn't be mad at myself. Not that I wanted sushi after getting Mexican to go a few minutes before. But, I was there. I was pleasantly surprised. They were a step above the usual non-Japanese owned places. It may be a little gem. I need more data to make that call. I had two pieces each of red snapper and salmon. I also tried an avocado and peanut (I know) roll and an order of monk fish liver. The fish cost $5 (2 pc). One of the snapper was a little pasty. The other was good. They assured me it wasn't tilapia. The salmon was good. The knife work was a little clumsy. The rice was a tad over vinegared, but, otherwise up to snuff. The pieces were medium long and medium thick. The roll was weird as expected. I've never seen this combo before. The avocado acted as a kind of creamy peanut butter. The peanuts were salt roasted. I'm not sure if I'd order it again, but, it was an experience. The monkfish liver was ok. Four, thin slices from a cylinder of pate. It came with a ponzu sauce. It cost $9. I was just glad they offer it. They serve a wide variety of raw fish. The app list is a little more ambitious too. They serve tempura, katsu, teriyaki, udon, etc. They have a three roll special all day at $14. Lunch specials start at $10. The owner is Chinese. I've never seen Japanese Fried Rice before. Maybe it is a nod to his culture.The interior is very cute. It is on a lake (not the cleanest though). The room is very white with some wood accents and black calligraphy. They have (what I assume is) a fake cherry blossom tree in the center. It's a smallish, square room. The sushi bar is on the far wall. They pumped in lounge-y music. The service was polite and knowledgeable. They have around twenty sakes. I assume beer and wine too. I would actually go back for a sit down dinner. Two things (three including a return visit - four if it means driving far) that I reserve for special restaurants. They have been open for eight months. Pricing is equal to other less worthy competitors. It is located in a strip mall on 436 just off 434.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop, Altamonte Springs

Sorry to bombard you with all of these, but, I had a busy weekend. I stopped off here on the way home on Sunday. I just read about them in the Orlando Weekly and I had to go when I drove right by it. It is a chain out of Ft. Worth. Another one is coming to East Colonial. Tijuana Flats, Moes, Qdoba, Jimmy Hulas, Chi-pottle et al can kiss the ring. You just got kinged. This place looks nicer and has more items. The quality is way better too. I grabbed a soft shrimp taco and a hard shredded brisket taco to go. You order at the counter and they give you a beeper. The shrimp ($3) was good enough. Four shrimp, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese and queso anejo. The brisket ($2.59) portion was big and I didn't have to order three. It came with the same toppings. The hot sauce (on the side) was nice and hot. Good flavor. I don't think a single thing was over single digits in price. The place was packed, so, I guess the word is out. It seats about fifty. It is at the corner on Gateway Dr and 434. Near that road off the Maitland exit. Near the RDV complex. They have all the usual Mexican items. They also serve breakfast all day. I would never go to those other places again if they opened one of these near me. It will be on the low price "Best of" list at the end of the year.

Black Rock, Orlando

I was going to try one of the new place at Disney on Sunday and then hit traffic. I detoured to this location. I had read a while back that a new craft something or other opened there. It didn't take I guess. This place has taken root. It is a burgeoning chain out of Michigan. Seven locations in all. I think they said there is another in Tampa. It wasn't half bad. I have to get my head examined because this is like the third chain in a row that I haven't hated. I wasn't very hungry so I had a New England Clam Chowder and a Bubbling Shrimp appetizer. I was making up for the missed opportunities on Saturday in NSB. The chowder was good. Rich. Lots of fresh clams. The portion was a bit small. Really a cup. However, it was so rich that I probably wouldn't have wanted more. It cost $5. The shrimp (8) came on a hot stone (their gimmick). Actually in a cruset on a hot stone. It was "bubbling" in a black cajun/creole sauce. Not bad. It came with some really soaked garlic bread. I still had indigestion from Wahlburgers, so, I just took a nibble. The place is black and gray. It looks huge, but, seats less than you would think. It looks like it could be in a ski resort. The menu is high on the low end. Not too high on the upper end (ie steaks). Think $20-$30. All the apps were double digits. The $3 soda was a downer. Between tax, tip and soda, $16 turned into $24. I would suggest they hide their staging area better. The back left room has a birds eye view of one that is really egregious. It is on Apopka Vineland and Conroy Windermere. It has been open for either one or three weeks. Service was fine. They had alot of staff in uniform.

Doghouse, College Park

I saw this spot out of the corner of my eye when I ate at that mediocre bistro a few weeks back. I tried in on Sunday. It is an add on to that"fancy" ice cream parlor on Edgewater Dr. I grabbed a small tots to go because I don't pay $6 for a hot dog. Especially one on one of those 7-11 rotators. I pay up to $2 and only want mustard and sometimes sauerkraut. I'm not one of those Mid-western idiots that puts a chef's salad on one. The tots (Totchos) came with green onions, cheese sauce and bacon. They cost $4 for a small. The portion was more than enough. The tots were crisp and the toppings were good.The cheese sauce was ballpark cheese sauce (which I like). The bacon was a little raw.  Back to the dogs. They sell a "Kobe"dog. There is no way it is Kobe beef. I just saw a special on how Americans lie (it's more than puffery) about things being Kobe. It's a special grade that the Japanese sanction like the French do wine. Something like 200 lbs of it ever makes it to our shores. Even big restaurants like Homestead in NYC lie about having it. Don't waste your money and shame on them. The place is just a closet off the ice cream store. It has a hip look. They have been open for either three weeks or months. I forget what they said. Expensive hot dogs seem to be the latest scam to separate you from your money. I saw some going for $10 later in the day.

Dapper Duck, Downtown

I saw a review of these guys in the Orlando Weekly. They opened six weeks ago. It is run by the same people that run Downtown Pour. I went in last night in hopes of salvaging a trip downtown. It's not bad, but, it's not different. In fact it is the apotheosis (not in an aggrandizing way) of every industry trend. They have cocktails, craft beer, wine and hipster food. Can you be anymore lame? The menu is composed of burgers, shrimp and grits, short ribs and every other cliche. Yes, this fad is THAT played out! I never thought Downtown Pour brought anything special to the table (save the fact they got screwed by UCF's winless season ie free beer), so, this isn't that surprising. Downtown was pretty empty last night, but, this place was pretty empty for a new place and alot of the patrons were out of towners. Even the staff is dated. The hipster beard thing is played out. Don't you think? Hopefully, this a "jump the shark" moment for Downtown. The place does look nice though. Guess what kind of light bulbs they chose. The staff was nice.

Wahlburgers, Downtown - Closed

The party kept going on Saturday downtown. I had to eat at this glorified Wendy's because those a-holes at Maddey's still haven't opened. I had a triple cheeseburger for $10. I've had indigestion ever since. This is the second franchise I have tried. Not impressed. The whole menu is lifted from Wendy's. At double the cost. Of course it was packed. Every "hood big shot" who still probably made his date pay for dinner was there. They have a bar. It's on the corner of Orange and Church. It is to food what Marky Mark is to acting or singing. Mediocrity must run in the family. Funny story - my brother sells hair growing devices. One of Marky's piss boys called him up a few years ago. I wonder why. Maybe ask Donny.

Central 28 Beer Company, DeBary

I located this brewery on my way home on Saturday. You get off at Exit 108 and go to 17-92. Then either a right and a left at Spring something (looks like a housing community entrance) and then left on S Shell and a right into an industrial complex. Look for a lobster food truck. Or go left on 17-92 and find S Shell near the gas station and light rail stop and make a right onto S Shell. It was worth the effort. I tried the beers I hadn't had at local bars and they were all good. The place is cool. Every seat was taken. They have been in business since 2014. They have cases or growlers to go. A top tier local brewer.

The Hideout, New Smyrna Beach

I was taking my still hungry self to the parking lot (on Saturday) when I saw a street placard for this place. The menu seemed interesting and I thought it said tuna poke tacos for $2.50. I ordered two. They turned out to cost $15 for two. I said "wtf" I just saved $14 and this is karma/the universe speaking to me. They were bad. Bad karma/universe. The tuna had no flavor and was mushy. They pair them with corn or flour tortillas. Both are a bad match. You need a hard shell for contrast. They doubled down on the mistake by serving the corn tortillas raw. Plus they don't know what poke should be. No sesame oil. No soy sauce. The other interesting thing they advertised was wreck fish. Google says it is either a whole family of fish or something that resemble grouper or bass. Not sure how much they were playing with the name or which theirs is. At least it sounded exotic. The rest of the menu was as small as the space itself. It is one tiny room that looks like a dive bar. It is in some setback mercantile area one block east of the shuffleboard court on Flagler. I didn't get a sense that there was talent behind the stove. Lack of knowledge on how to prepare the poke and poor execution. It may be a place that doesn't live up to its promise. The people were nice. The tacos also came with black beans and white rice. They may also incorporate the name Hemingway in their title.

Flagler Tavern, New Smyrna Beach

After putting in a solid, burn inducing four hours on the beach, it was time for lunch (on Saturday). I tried this place on Flagler Ave (the main street). It opened last year I think. I was waiting until they completed the renovation. It is one the bigger spots on the street. Between the holiday and some wine festival, the whole area and this place was a mad house. I sucked it up at the bar and had a dozens oysters and some ceviche. The ceviche (mahi/scallops/shrimp) was surprisingly good. Not made too far in advance and made with citrus juice. It was served in a weird bowl. I don't recall much (if any) shrimp. It cost $9. The oysters were supposed to be Blue Points. They had no liquor and were mealy. I ate four and stopped. They tasted like wet grits. I'm not sure if restaurants now get these pre-shucked and frozen (like those mussels at the supermarket). I've never tasted oysters that tasted like this so I don't no what was wrong with them. They were nice enough to comp them. I didn't even have to ask. The manager or owner agreed that they were a bad batch. He also said they were Galveston not Blue Point. I hope this is a case of "stupid bartender" not deception. They were way too big to be Blue Points. If they were fresh, they would have been a value at $14. The rest of the menu is straight "plastic menu". Nachos, wings, quesadillas, seafood, burgers, pizza, etc. It is way too big to ensure quality. They want to be everything to everybody. The place is big. They have a deck. They have a main room and a side room. I think there is a second floor (also with a deck). If you are a drunk with limited culinary ambition, then this is the place for you. Or to put it another way - If you about 80% of the people that go to New Smyrna. It's not terrible. Just par for the course. They also had a live band. Ugh.

C's Waffles, New Smyrna Beach

I had breakfast (yeah I know I can't believe I was up so early either) at this diner in  a strip mall on the south side on Saturday. It's near my new favorite beach location. It was about what you would expect. A packed, ordinary enterprise. I had the Ultimate French Toast meal (3 pieces, choice of meat and two eggs) for $7. The french toast was really thick and they were too swamped to let the egg wash soak in. The eggs were fine. I still don't get what you are supposed to do with the yolk if they don't offer toast. I chose links (4) over the other choices. They were fine. Store bought. Service was spotty. No refill request until after I got the check. In their defense, it was a mad house. They were polite. The place has been there for close to 25 years. They must be doing something right. I preferred the Cuban breakfast place before the "turn". Funkier menu and a tad more panache. These guys have your usual breakfast/lunch offerings. They close at 2pm. The biggest surprise was seeing Little Ping dining there. No Big Ping and his ground down molars though. The owner must be a Steelers fan. They have Steeler stuff up inside. The rest of the decor is old. I want to place a shout out to out great weathermen. Not only did it not rain all day, there was nary a cloud in the sky. Also, a shout out to the people in charge of the I4 widening project. With a nod to the anti-Vietnam war crowd - hey hey (was LBJ) how many people did you kill today. Not to mention all the traffic tie ups.I'm sure they have nothing to do with the project. Funny occurrence. A guy with an Indian girlfriend was commenting on a dog he saw. "I like the brown ones". Evidently.

Grub Crawl - Orlando: Valisa Bakery and Pizza Paradiso

I grabbed some food to go at these spots in a new strip mall near the back way to Baldwin Park on 436.

Valisa Bakery - They just opened a week ago. It'sa  Puerto Rican place with tons of sandwiches and sweets. Maybe more than that. They have a digital menu that kept rotating and rotating and the take out menu only lists the sandwiches. I grabbed their cooked meal special of pernil (pork) with rice and a side. It seemed like a steal. They only had sauteed green bananas as the side. The rice had little chunks or fried pork that looked crisp but were soft and pigeon peas in it. It was a PR fried rice. Yellow not brown. I have to applaud the fact that they veered away from putting gross vegetables in their rice. I'm not sure why beans or peas have to be added, but, maybe it is a tradition to infuse alot of calories and bulk cheaply ahead of a hard days work. It doesn't do much for the culinary aspects of the dish though. The pork was tender. A little salty. The bananas were ok. It's a big serving. I ate half last night and half today. It held up well. It cost a measly $6. Love the value in this segment! The rest of the menu (we'll have to talk sandwiches) is weird. The pricing anyway. A roast beef or corned beef is almost $12! A turkey only $6.50. Tuna is $5.50. Steak is $7.50. It's all over the map. They also have breakfast "sandwiches". They are around $5. There are alot of other sandwiches I didn't mention. And they have a sweets counter. I though that is all I would find here since it is called a bakery. It was pretty full at 3pm. If you order right it should be a great place to get a good value.

Pizza Paradiso - They say the original location is on Golden Rod. I don't seem to have reviewed it. They say they have been open for three months. It was impossible to tell they were open driving past them evidently. I just ordered two slices that they generously converted to a pizza special that added a free soda to the deal ($6). The deal may be $5. I ordered a special slice and it may have added to the list price. I don't see the special price on the menu and didn't see a sign in the restaurant. I didn't go beyond the pizza because I may come back and I wanted pizza and the menu seemed like it was a stock menu for an Italian restaurant at a print shop and they decided to make what was on it. Not a great sign. The pizza was pretty good. Thin crust. Little sauce. I had a cheese and a white slice (I know that doesn't have sauce). I let one cool off until I got home and the other was in the refrigerator until lunch, so, I didn't taste them at their best. The place seats about fifty. It is new. Not very memorable. It seems like an acceptable low end Italian spot.

Ocean Sun Brewery, Curry Ford Rd

I heard about this new brewery when I went to the confection shop on Colonial a few weeks ago. It is where that disappointing barbeque place that The Fat Lady loved was (and Rogue Pub is) in the Winn Dixie shopping mall on Curry Ford Rd (Crystal Lake is the cross road). I tried it on my way home yesterday. I had five $2 pours of their 12+ selections and all five were great. I won't go into each one, but, they were from the lighter side of the spectrum. I know now that they are among the best brewers in CF. I'm even ready to argue that they are the best. They have only been open for a few months and they have nearly a flawless selection. A wide swath. The brewing capacity seems limited, so, you might have to come to them. The place looks good. Mostly a wood feel. They have TVs showing sports. It was about half full. They are open every day and night. The only thing I find "wanting" is the logo. The name seemed odd for an inland brewery, but, I can live with it if the get a sexier logo.

Boteco, I Drive

I had lunch at this Brazilian restaurant on Sunday. It has the distinction (maybe to its detriment) of being one of the few non-buffet Brazilian options in the area. It is located across from the Artegon shopping area on the north side of I Drive. I had a soup/stew in a tall tea cup that they call a black bean shot for $5 and a steak and side (fries) for $10. Both were good and I'll go onto that in a second, but, therein lies the problem. For the same outlay I could have eaten until the cows come home in one of those buffets. I'm sure they have some cow option in a warming tray. The quality here would have to be alot better and I'm not sure it is. Not that there is anything wrong with what they served, but, I'm not sure I could argue much difference either. The soup was good. A black bean puree with bits of dried beef and bacon. The portion was small for the price. I don't think it was nuked. The cup was intensely hot, but, there weren't any cold pockets in the soup. The sirloin was the regular length and width. however, they cut the depth in half to get it at that price. A whole cut with two sides instead of one is $18. A better deal than the "lunch special" by a side. The sirloin could have used some seal salt or butter or aging. It was au natural. They got the medium rare temperature right. The fries were great. Very crisp and plentiful. And I have to applaud the cook because it was hangover Sunday (for the help). Not a great day to eat out. It could have helped that I was THE customer at lunch. I'm not trying to cripple their business (I like it), but, I have to wonder how they have stayed in business for three years. I went to another $12.95 buffet place after here (maybe to get dinner to go) and it was packed. You couldn't get a seat. Their menu is interesting and fairly priced (most at the low teens and topping out in the low twenties). Is that enough? The buffets I have gone to have had most of what is on their menu. The place looks a little bare. New-ish though. Patio dining. Seats about sixty. Service was good. They spoke English. I had two small issues besides the nearly $3 soda. The waiter changed the one non-soccer channel to a soccer match and he could see I was watching what was on and the table was sticky. The name denotes a bar more than a restaurant. Maybe that is what pays the bills. I have no problem with them. I just think they may have to go even more up market or play the buffet game. Their sign is way too small too.

Overdraft Tutorial

I was listening to this banker on the radio a few days ago and she said that the overdraft option should be opted out of asap. Of course they (banks) opt you in. It's an income generator for them. The main problem is that if your card gets stolen or account is compromised, you are paying the over draft fee ($30+) for every transaction the thieves make. You may not be aware for weeks unless you constantly check your account. If you opt out, then if you (or they) hit zero balance your card is just rejected. No fees. You can't overdraw plus you are on notice of a problem if the level is below what you thought it was. I would also add from personal experience that you should keep most of your money out of the ATM card account. Just put enough in it to cover your cash needs and get a "real" credit card (Citi Double Cash Back 2% is the best) for charges. That way thieves can't drain your savings. I believe that all online accounts have an opt out link. And remember - if they (any counter party) suggest it - you reject it. They aren't your friends. They are another animal that wants to eat you.

Izziban Sushi, East Colonial

I went to this Korean owned Asian/Sushi restaurant on 50 near 436 two Tuesdays ago. It was on the way to the airport and I just wanted to knock it out of the queue. I was full from the bistro, but, I got a Salmon Bento Box for $10. Everything else was around this price or more and the sushi didn't look great. The salmon was fine. It was grilled. The rangoon was left untouched. The miso was bland. The gyoza was the same frozen one they all serve. The salad was ok. I didn't touch the rice. The California Roll was ok. They didn't screw up the rice. This is another hard call. The place is an old gay bar (so they tell me). It looks like a dirty college bar. It is a huge place on the lake near the private airport. It has been open for a few months. I sat on the enclosed deck. Three other parties were eating. All the tables have electric hot plates for Korean dishes. The sushi set up seems too tiny to be the focus. I would guess that it would be a fun place for college aged consumers that don't mind the conditions. They serve until 2am. Service was fine. They have another place on one of those weird sounding roads. They have an all you can eat sushi option if that helps describe the number of "stars" they would garner. If I went back, it would have to be because everything else was closed or I was drunk. And that isn't as unlikely as you would expect.

The Peppy Bistro, College Park - Closed

I went to this scatter shot restaurant that calls itself as "fusion" two Tuesdays ago. It is on Edgewater Dr near Rusteak. It was one bad cheeseburger away from evisceration. Fortunately, for them, they didn't appear to screw up or vandalize the burger too badly. However, that makes my job harder. I could have called out the lack of clientele or the dusty, mismatched tables or water stained tableware and the over priced, disjointed menu and called it a day if the execution was poor. It was good enough. I hope it wasn't because I didn't want a repeat of that meal in Baldwin Park and asked the waitress to make sure they didn't press on the burger. Incidentally, that was why I was worried about "vandalizing". I didn't suffer any visible side effects if they didn't like being told how to do their job. I had an Italian burger for $13 because I was getting on a plane and didn't get the sense I should trust them with anything that swims and the rest of the menu was so uninspiring or overpriced. Anything "un-lunch like" was either over $20 or a salad. And I couldn't really report back to you on a salad could I? The lunch menu was pure pizzeria (ie parm sandwiches). The burger was average. The meat was oily and tasted bland. Except one area that tasted gamy and was hopefully not where it was ass wiped. It was pure, cheap supermarket surplus. I know because it is what I buy. It was a big patty and cooked to medium rare as requested. The juice/oil wasn't squeezed out. The mozzarella was well melted and seemed to be of acceptable quality. It came with unripe tomatoes and lettuce. I don't think they work with an Italian burger. They were not incorporated. The bun wasn't anything special and seemed burnt. I think it was panini pressed. It came with alot of thick cut fries that were hit with a blizzard of seasoning. Now that I think of it. so was the burger. That really mixed well with marinara sauce. Half (of the fries) were cooked long enough. And that was the pattern. One thing good. One thing bad. They have been open for five months (old Paxia spot). The owner (supposedly) had a hit restaurant in Del Rey. If they are still having issues then they just aren't good or have given up. I would have guessed (from all the evidence) that they were close to closing, but, the waitress said they are getting new pizza ovens in a few weeks. Now the boss could be telling her tales, but, I have to accept that as fact. Time will tell. It doesn't really matter. I'm not going back. I don't need a place that serves fajitas AND shrimp and octopus salad. I need them to pick a lane and stay in it. Plus I wouldn't gamble that they can  manage the $30+ fish and steak dishes. I know that the ambiance isn't what they are selling. Maybe with a money back guarantee. I also just remembered that the Coke was foul tasting and the Sprite tasted like seltzer. Ugh. The place is named after the owner. It's not an adjective.

Don Julio, Lake Mary

I went to lunch at this newly opened (eight days) Mexican restaurant in the second strip mall area down on Lake Mary Blvd (next to Wich Wich and Ale House) this Wednesday. It looks like it would be a chain even though they say they are only the second location. They have a large menu and I think tequila is their thing. The menu may be too large to ensure excellence. Plastic menus should always be a warning. And not just for the germs they will spread.  The food was, however, acceptable. It looked like they were drawing from the Jimmy Hula's crowd. I always forget that that isn't a Hawaiin place.

It seats about sixty on the right side and fifty on the left. It has a buffet feel. The place was pretty packed with cackling office assistants and guys who can get away with wearing a golf shirt to work. You can get a lunch special for less than you can get an item at Chipotle. I went a little upscale and had a rice bowl with shrimp for $8 and a chicken taco for $2.25. I was scared the rice bowl wouldn't be enough. Boy was I wrong. It was a large, deep, white, modern elliptical shaped bowl filled with white rice, black beans, salsa-esque veg, corn (I think) fresh avocado and around five medium shrimp (cut up). The shrimp were a little mushy (defrosted) at the edges, but, I wasn't expecting more and I think you need to catch them yourselves these days to get a fresh one. My stomach was still acting weird (I think I isolated the culprit to be these Duke's Small Batch Smoked Meats that I had bought for my trip to Brazil), so, I only ate half the bowl (full and didn't want to risk an outbreak while away from salvation). It would have been alot (especially after the taco) anyhow. The rice seemed to be of a longer grain than the usual white rice. I'm not a rice bowl guy. It seems alien to order this sort of thing in a non-Asian environment. It was fine though. The taco was large. I didn't like their brand of cheese. It was very pasty and soft. The flavor was unappealing too. The rest was ok. Alot of chicken that almost tasted boiled (no flavor or color). It was all white meat. The free salsa and chips were ok. Flavorless, Heatless salsa. The chips could have been store bought or homemade. Hard to tell. And that seems to be the pattern. Alot of marginal food. Like I said, I blame the extensive menu for the mediocrity. If that big steroid monster on TV came to "fix" this restaurant, he would start by eliminating half the items. Maybe that is why you would like the place. I would if they could handle it all. They had "sexy" things like ceviche and street tacos and non-fish tank fish. Huevos Rancheros and all the usual suspects too. But, the restaurant is too big (capacity) for more than an  assembly line, pre-prepped operational set up to work. I have a feeling that even if they have/take the time in the less stressed environments that the food wouldn't be any better because they have set up their procedures for when it is stressed. I hope I am wrong. The place is a little generic looking. They have some big murals that let you know it is a Mexican place. Ads for popular brands. One says. Hecho en (is that right?) Mexico. I don't like clutter, but, it needs a little more atmosphere. The seats and booths are non-descript. Service was fast (frighteningly fast) and conscientious. There were alot of them (added to the buffet atmosphere though). They refilled my drink when it was only half empty and the meal was only half over. The check came fast. A value play for now.

La Gordita Loca, Lee Rd

On my way out of town (WP) on Sunday, I was looking to cross off a place I noted (Geno's) on that College Park sojourn a little while ago. It (Geno's) is either being built out or scrapped. I did, however, find this little gem. It's a simple, thirty seat Mexican spot on Lee Rd near the turn towards College Park. I forget the SR number. I had a chicken, barbacoa and al pastor taco to go with a chicken gordita to go. The tacos were under $2 and the gordita was $3. The barbacoa was rich and greasy (in a good way). The pork was tasty and it had some weird vegetable strips on it that I couldn't identify and never had before and didn't mind. The chicken was shredded. It was fine. The same chicken was in the gordita. We had a miscom on that one and the taco was supposed to become the gordita. But, I was glad to eat the mistake. All the tacos came on little tortillas with onions and tomato. The gordita was in a white corn flour cake that reminded me of a pupusa or an arepa. It was filled with tomatoes and lettuce and grated queso fresco. It had a lot more chicken. The menu is pretty small. What I had plus burritos and a few other things. They made a special soup because it was Sunday. It was still full at two pm. Mostly a home town crowd, but, the people like me had to have come here especially to come here. I mean I can't see this as a cruisers area of town. I should have asked what area the food is represented of. I didn't. The gordita is throwing me. They have been open for a year and that is one year I now regret living through. I also apologize to you that I didn't uncover these guys sooner. If I lived here, I would eat here twice a week. Love the prices. Love the food. Love simplicity.

Canopy Cafe, Winter Park - Closed

I went to this little breakfast/lunch cafe on Pennsylvania (near Coop) on Sunday. It was Tolla's two years ago. They close at 2pm. I had the Chef's Special omelette for $10. It was probably a two egger. It was filled (not stuffed) with mushrooms, tomato, ham and some cheese was melted on top. It was mostly ham. Two types. Little cubes of what tasted like honey baked and maybe some really fried Canadian bacon. The mushrooms seemed desiccated. The tomatoes had no taste. The eggs were bland as well. It came with a choice of potatoes. I chose home fries. They were a little (just slightly) undercooked. It also came with toast or biscuit. I almost went with an eggs benedict of smoked salmon on a cream cheese bagel, but, it is disgusting isn't it? The rest of the menu is what you would expect. Sandwiches and breakfast fare. The guy next to me had a nice looking pancake. The look of the place and the canopied patio is probably the main thing that separates this from a dime a dozen diner/cafe. The inside is a little "blase" with the mass market French decorations and exposed work areas. I think they are actually going for a French Cajun affect. They have a painting of Cafe du Monde inside and I recall some similarities with their awnings and the faux awning accents inside. The outside is black. In any event, the staff (5 for maybe 15 tables) was polite and polished and conscientious. The place was full of what seemed like happy, repeat customers (even towards closing). It's not a wheel reinvention, but, it's a wheel. There is no way I am writing " a wheel good time" or a "wheel good wheel". You would have to be a real lug wrench to write that.

Sumo, Winter Park - Closed

I ate dinner at this Japanese steakhouse on Saturday. It is on the corner of 436 and Aloma. I believe it used to be a diner. I had a selection of sushi that were all around $2 per piece. I think some are on the menu for under $2, so, check your bill versus the menu if it bothers you. I didn't catch it until now. I had escolar (alias white tuna), tuna, salmon, yellowtail, conch, red clam and scallop. The escolar was soft and a little "stringy". That was a first. The tuna was dead. Really old and tasteless. The beginnings of a fish smell. The salmon was good and fatty. The yellow tail was good. The conch was turning spongy. The scallop was cold from defrosting. The red clam was ok. A little dry. probably frozen. All the cuts were long and fat. I had to eat them in two bites or risk gagging. The rice was pretty good. Very unadulterated. I'm not sure if lack of vinegar, etc is a punishable offense in the guild, but, I'll take it over the other end of the spectrum. The rice was packed a little to loosely or was the result of the way the rice was mismanaged. It crumbled in the soy sauce. And I'm sure not all of it was a result of my lack of dexterity with the chop sticks. The soda tasted funny. The glass was sticky. My waiter looked like he just came off a twelve hour shift in a rice paddy.  He was was obsequious and nice though. Well maybe he craved my death, but, his servile manner made my simple mind categorize him as a non-threat and as such - a nice guy. They still don't have any kind off booze after opening on February 14. I think it would really help their Yelp score. The place looks like one of those $40 motel rooms that they modernize with some new electronics and wall paper. It looks new when you first enter and slowly gives up its secrets as you sit there start smelling the fifty years of cigarette smoke that two coats of paint can't corral and the water marks and rug (hell everything) stains that would have busted the budget (or just be repeated a few months later). In the motel room of course. I was still remembering a nightmare motel on Jekyll Island.  The restaurant is cut in two. There is a hibachi room and the sushi area, The sushi area is about seven tables and a bar counter and a sushi bar counter. My eye line had a view of the dividing wall and the bathroom and two kitchen swing doors. In other words, every seat in the house looks on an eyesore. Plus the swinging doors are one of those areas where they didn't upgrade and that just makes the effect all the more sinister. The parts they did upgrade were done up in gold with green backlighting. I'm not sure if that is a Chinese or Thai affect and if it could lend any information on why this place falls short as a Japanese place. The mish mosh of wait staff also confuses the inner detective. The hibachi room looked really dark. So, it is a mixed bag here. Six to eight tables. They could hit another gear and make it to (this hurts to say because it shouldn't be an aspiration) Mikado or Mt Fuji level or they could just become an all you can eat sushi place like Koy Wan. I'm not sure if the cooked food was anymore consistent. Hopefully, it is because they need something to hang their kasa on.