Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Lucky's Market (Closed), Halal Guys and 5 F(X)

I tried these spots on N. Alafaya Trail as part two of my lunch/dinner to go date on Monday. Part of the reason I ate so meekly in Winter Park. The first is in a strip mall at the south west intersection of 50 and Alafaya Trail. The second is farther down Alafaya towards Waterford Lakes. The third is next to the second.

Lucky's Market - This is a Whole Foods-esque type supermarket out of Boulder. I found the selection (though pup-ified) to be decent. Alot of "off/artisan" brands. A bigger wine and beer selection than World Market. Prices were cheaper than Publix on the few items I cared about looking into (papaya, rotisserie chicken and sushi). A weightier papaya was sold there at $4. Flat price. No by the pound. I spent $6 for a 2.5 lber (theirs were over 3lbs by eye) yesterday at Publix. A rotisserie chicken was $5. I'm pretty sure it's $2 more at Publix or even Winn Dixie. Sushi seemed a buck or so lower per container. I went there for a looky loo and for the $5 pizza deal (two slices and a beer). Italian was another thing I hadn't had in a while. The pizza (even slices with toppings) should have been better. They have a real pizza oven. I guess you can only rise so high if the dough and cheese are cheap. Plus the cheese ratio was too high. Tasted like a grilled cheese. You might like that. It was acceptable though. I grabbed a pepperoni and plain slice. They also let me sub out the beer for root beer. They opened around June. I think one more is on the way.

Halal Guys - They are a food cart in NYC. I couldn't make out from the blown up photos on the wall if I have ever had the pleasure. A quick perusal of my food journal (yes I keep one for trips) and my travel guide (yes I keep a photo journal on my phone) yielded no evidence that I had. Perhaps I tried them when I lived there. There are alot of carts doing what they do. I just searched them for you and they are at 53rd and Sixth. I just might have. Anyway. This is their first brick and mortar in CF. I think they might be a franchiser if you can believe it. They offer just a few things. Sandwiches. Platters. Sides. Desserts. Beef or chicken (or a mix) or falafel. Hummus and baba ghanouj as sides. And baklava as dessert. That's it. I had a "mixed" gyro for $7 and an order of two falafel for $2. The sandwich was served on a thick pita. The beef was "loafy" and bland. The chicken had more texture and flavor. Both we pre-shaved. A no no in my book. The falafel was ok. It was also not fried in front of me. I kind of expected more from all the hoopla I had heard about them. They offer a white a red (very hot) sauce. I chose both and onions. It comes with lettuce and tomato and anything (ie jalapenos, olives, hummus) else is extra. I think I like the gyro place (was it Oh My Gyro?) in Longwood better. Seemed tastier. Fresher. But, they aren't bad. Prices are good. I'm not sure if it is destination. The place looks like subway sandwich shop. Meaning it is clean with little character. Service was fast. It opened in September.

5 F(X) Ice Cream - This was a chance encounter, but, I think I liked this place the best. Part of the reason I don't use "dating" apps. No surprises. Or at least ones that are pleasant. They make their own ice cream and taiyaki. Not pour candy into ice cream and blend it. They MAKE milk and soy based ice cream in front of you while you wait. And they make a pancake like dessert for you as well. It can be stuffed. It can be sweet or savory. I didn't comprehend the extent of the ice cream service until I was on the way out. I ordered a taiyaki stuffed with apples and cinnamon for $2 just to order something. I know Tai means red snapper in Japanese and Yaki usually means something fried (like Takoyaki - fried octopus balls). I believe this food category is called this because they mold the batter into the shape of a cartoonish fish. Probably a red snapper. The woman behind the counter wasn't Japanese and didn't know. The taiyaki was good. Fresh. Duh. I was just expecting a batter with apple and cinnamon flavor. It had real filling. If it took less time, McDonald's could/should emulate them. They also had other combos. Even one with a hot dog. I also think they had other items. Maybe milkshakes and a few other things. The place looks a little messy in the "cooking" area. The walls are filled with Polaroid shots of customers and not much else. The curb appeal could be improved. They have been open for three years. A nice break from the norm.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Wonton, Tea and Tea and Mon Petit Cheri

I was going to go to OBT for some Mexican and Chinese because I hadn't had any in two weeks, but, I decided to knock these out while checking if a new spot on Park Ave was open yet. It isn't. The first place is at the intersection of 17-92 and Fairbanks. The second is behind the 7-11 on Fairbanks and Park. The third is at the first light on Park. I went to these places for lunch on Monday.

Wonton Asian Kitchen - I thought this would be a Pei Wei knockoff, but, it is a one off. They serve a medley of Asian dishes. Korean. Vietnamese. Japanese. Thai. Chinese. I just ordered two small dishes because this wasn't my final lunch destination. I had two pork dumplings for $2 and a Chickity something or other Summer Roll for $2.50. I was going to try chicken lettuce wraps, but, they were out of them. I like that they have small portion sizes. Usually you have to order 5 to 9 dumplings and a pair of rolls. The way they are set up, you can try a bunch of things. The dumplings were ok. They had a thin skin. They were steamed. One was split open. The roll was mostly vegetables. The chicken was barely discernible. These items were starters. They have more of these and soup. They also have about a dozen entrees. even bahn mi. The design is a step above a fast casual place. The floor plan is open. They have brick walls. The kitchen is exposed. They opened three weeks ago. I would try them again.

Tea and Tea - I grabbed a Waikiki cold tea for $4. It tasted like Sunny D. Had slices of orange, lemon and apple. Is apple a Hawaiian delicacy? They also serve milk tea and one other kind (can you tell this isn't my bag?). You can add boba to the teas. They used to be in the Winter Park Village. They have been here for one month. Was B Cupcakes.

Mon Petit Cheri - I've been to this location before. I hope I reviewed that place and not this. I forgot to check. They are mainly a French inspired breakfast and lunch spot. Nothing too fancy. Crepes. Burgers. Sandwiches. Pizza. Salads. Quiche. Breakfasts. Pastries. Hot Drinks. I had the poached eggs and bacon on an English muffin. The eggs were over cooked. The bacon was crisp. The muffin (sour dough) was under toasted. Not a strong showing for how long it took to get out. It cost $8.50. It came with a side of fresh fruit. I'll trade you the fruit for $3 of 4 back in my wallet. The place was dependent on natural light and as such was gloomy. Can't imagine it on a cloudy day. They have a few seats out front and a patio in back. There is an indoor area in between. A few small tables, the register and a bar. Decoration is an afterthought. They are open from 7ish to 4pm every day. They stay open for a dinner on Friday. They have been there for three years. A fine place if you want a little French comfort food. The chef/owner apparently has won some recent contest for best dessert.

*I wanted Mexican or Chinese because I was in New Zealand for the last two weeks and didn't trust them on Mexican and just didn't order much Chinese. I ate alot of sushi, salmon and meat pies. Some new experiences and popular items were: mussel pattie/fritter, marmite, gunard, elephant fish, toasted sandwiches, smoked mussels, oysters, fish cake, venison salami and an ice cream sandwich of macaroons. I never tried fresh crayfish (lobster) or the blue cod they were raving about. I also tried my first Sri Lankan dish (I think). It was called Kottu Rottich. I also had something called Tulsi Murtabak. It wasn't my first try, but, I had Hokkien Mee (Malay/Singapore Chinese dish named after a province). Little sushi places were everywhere. You moved down a line and paid by the piece. They also had almost every fast food franchise (including Pita Pit). I had a meat pie at McDonald's. Mostly gravy.

Willie's Pinchos, East Colonial

I tried this Puerto Rican spot on Golden Rod near 50 on Sunday night. It was the Fieri "book end" to my trip out of town in that they were featured on an episode of Triple D that aired last year at this time. I haven't seen it as yet and didn't know that when I went here. I saw them when I tried that Mexican place a few months back. It was always closed when I have tried them since that visit. I had a pernil sandwich for $9. It was pulled pork and mayo an lettuce and tomato. It was ok. The pork was too salty. The portion was a bit skimpy. I think they wet down the meat with the saved marinade and pork drippings. I think that is kind of a cheat. The meat should retain that juice with constant basting. It shouldn't be "refreshed" before serving. Plus, I don't need it that soggy. The meat also had a bone in it. How non-observant do you have to be to miss a big round bone while portioning out an inch of pork? I, also, don't love sweet mayo with the sweet/savory pork. It's too "one note". It needs something spicy or vibrant or both. The bun/roll was excellent. I think most of the pernils I've had were pressed. This wasn't. It came with crinkle cut fries. They were very crisp. The rest of menu is breakfast items, burgers, mofungo, skewers, hot dogs, sandwiches and sandwiches on fried tostones that I believe were called Jibertos. The sandwiches were near the top in price. They are open until 7pm most days (not Monday for now). The place seats only twenty or so. It looks like a tiny cantina. They used to be a food truck. I think they said they have been in this spot for a year. They are opening a new place in Kissimmee soon. I would go back to try something else. They were very nice and seemed to care about the quality of their food.

Grub Crawl - Disney Springs: Planet Hollywood, The Ganachery and Ghiradelli Chocolate

I ventured back to the Mouse Trap before heading to the airport around two weeks ago. I tried these spots at Disney Springs. Who knew that Guy Fieri would end up book ending my trip. But, more on that in the next post.

Planet Hollywood - I knew this would be an expensive waste of time and I was mostly right. I had a Plain Jane Cheeseburger for $18. And a coke was a mere $4. The cheeseburger was non-descript. I can barely remember it two weeks later. I bet the one at the burger restaurant a few yards away is better at half the price. And that is no bargain to start with. It came with a cone of mixed fries. Waffle. And I really can't remember the others. Maybe shoe string and curly? I think they had an offensive seasoning on them. The rest of the menu is so humdrum (and equally over-priced) that I think a room service waiter would be embarrassed to serve it. So, a perfect fit with Disney. The one "interesting" item was a fried lasagna something or other. I'm sure it is another Fieri fail (he supervised the re-do) though. Maybe Kat Cora can come in and try and make it healthy like she did at Taco Bell. Bring on all the celebrity douche bag sell outs. The service was lacking. The waitress was polite enough, but, the burger took a half hour to appear. I think the kitchen lost the order. Plus the hostess tried to seat me directly across the swinging door to the kitchen (with other low volume tables open). Nearly half of the area I was sitting in has a view of this eye sore. Nice design planning. And the door is really noticeable. One of those "old timey" doors you see on a ship or the interior of a hotel kitchen. Just terrible. Now, it has been like a decade since I was last in the old place, but, I think it used to be much bigger. Now it feels minuscule. I think they went in and up. The place has three of four levels. I think the old design was all open space. Only the bottom floor was open. It has "my area" at the entrance and a bar to the left and another seating area a step below. They still have the memorabilia (mostly costumes). They play music videos from movies (mostly-to all Disney owned). They have an outside bar called Stargazers (or maybe catchers) that rims the wall. I'm not sure if I understood that the old design was supposed to be an observatory or if they just re-imagined it as that now. That works. I guess it makes more sense than a steel globe. I'm not sure what it has to do with "the movies" (maybe it's supposed to be the Griffth Observatory (which it doesn't look like at all). I had a view of the gift shop (of course). Hard pass from me. I'll wait for the all you can eat free Fieri burger bar on my next cruise. They finally opened in June. I think.

The Ganachery - I'm not sure it deserves the "the", but, it was fine. They make chocolates on site. I had a coconut lollipop for a mere $6. It was described as having fresh coconut under the chocolate, but, it was mostly coconut flavor. You can by chocolates by the piece or by the box. Nice presentation (packaging). I'd save the cost and drop the price. But, I don't understand those who shop for their self-worth. They know their market.

Ghiradelli Chocolate - This place was further away from the newly renovated area. They make it look like an old fashioned ice cream parlor. I had a chocolate cone for $5. A big scoop of ordinary ice cream. It could have been any brand. Another time I've had Ghiradelli chocolate and wondered how they became famous for it. The are like Whitman's Sampler. Another mystery. Why haven't they been called out? You would think that the food snob mafia would have taken a baseball bat to this representative of middle class taste. They also have other desserts. You order at a register and pick it up at the counter. It has been there forever.

Gianni's, Mount Dora

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant today. It is on N. Alexander (one street closer to the lake). It was fine. The menu seemed ambitious yet accessible. I would give it higher marks if my meal was fine tuned. I had chicken prosciutto spinachi with a side of spaghetti for $18. The chicken and spaghetti were prepared properly. The sauce was a mess. It was a cream sauce. I think they used half and half or maybe just milk. The wine they used was stale and wasn't cooked off. I even think they used margarine. There were more than one "off" flavor. And there was way too much of it. A puddle of calories. Ham handed execution. The prosciutto was thick. For the record. The menu had some interesting things like a pear and cheese pasta (statra-something) and a half duck. The special was pumpkin ravioli. The items I saw delivered to other tables seemed fresh. Prices were between the mid teens and mid-twenties. They served some bread that was cut into triangles and pre-soaked in olive oil. That was a first. Should be copied. The place has a patio and two floors. The place has some charm (exposed beams), but it isn't all it could be. The wall art is a bit scatter shot. The trim looks like it was never touched up. The furniture is a bit old. On the plus side, there is a lot of room between tables. Service was good. Prompt. Knowledgeable. Polite. I'd give them a second chance. They have been there for four years. It is next to the German restaurant.

*They have the Christmas lights up in downtown Mount Dora. It's a charming scene.

**This will be the last post for a little while. I'm sure we are all relieved. The most popular seemed to be the one at Disney. It makes me laugh to think that it is because tourists are clicking on it. I imagine little Johnie asking his parents what "premature ejaculating" on "my tuna's tits" means.

Grub Crawl - John Young Pkwy And Sand Lake Rd Area: House of Pho and Latin Square

I grabbed a meal to go at these two places in the strip mall at the intersection of Sand Lake and John Young on Monday.

House of Pho - I wanted to compare and contrast them with the pho I had on Sunday. In their favor, it didn't lead to repeated trips to the toilet. Now, for a HOUSE of Pho, it is really just a pan-Asian restaurant. Their entree section is largely Chinese and the only other Vietnamese stuff is rice and noodle dishes. I tried the fried pork spring rolls for $5 (all apps are $5) and a brisket, flank and tendon pho (small) for $9. The rolls (3) were spongy. Too much pork. More like an egg roll. The pork had little flavor. The pho was fine. A little less meat than the other place. I did get a recognizable tendon though. The meat was good. They use a thin rice noodle. The vegetables were standard fare and fresh. It's a big room. Prices were in line. Some interesting things on the menu are: goat hot pot and shrimp and honey glazed walnuts. They have been open for a year. They close at 9pm and not a second later. I tried to get something to go a few months ago and they denied me.

Latin Square - While walking to my car, I saw them and didn't want to travel back here again for a run through. It turns out that I had been to there original location downtown already. However, the $5 quarter chicken with side (a huge serving of roasted potatoes in my case) is worth a repeat visit any time. The chicken (large bird) was good. side of chimichurri sauce. The potatoes as well. They also have a separate Venezuelan menu. The standard menu had PR, Cuban and Latin American fare. This location has been open for a year. The place is all new. It has a buffet line type ordering process. Great value. Big selection. They also do breakfast. Not sure about dinner.

*John Young in this area is under construction. Ingress and egress to the area is more complicated than ever.

Lafayette's, I Drive

I had lunch at this two year old Cajun spot at Pointe Orlando on Monday. It is on the second level across from Adobe Gila's in the old Lulu Bait Shack spot. It was ok. Too chain-y/theme-y for me. It has the usual Cajun menu. I had the one dish that seemed a bit refined. It was Paneed (Breaded) Chicken in a lemon caper sauce with a side salad of arugula and cherry tomato for $15. Kind of like a Milanese. It was ok. A small piece of pounded breast (paillard) in a light batter. Fresh salad. A lot of capers. The fried coating did mush up in the sauce. Service was a bit inattentive. A soda was $3. They had an industrial strength fan blowing on your neck even though it was temperate inside. They start the tip recommendations at 18%. It looks nice. Lots of free space. Two sections and a patio. A bar in between. Not my scene.

*There is a southern restaurant across the way called Itta Bene. It seemed interesting (rabbit fricasse). Only open at night. The piano bar scares me though.

Grub Crawl - Longwood: Pho 4 U and Shiraz Market (Moved to 17-92 and 434)

I grabbed food to go from these places on Sunday. One of them gave me salmonella. I was betting that it was the first place (lots of possibly poorly washed raw vegetables), but, I'm feeling a recurrence of the shit storm after eating the rice from the second place today.

Pho 4 U - I ordered a pork skin bahn mi and a brisket, flank, tendon and tripe pho to go. Now, I have never had the pork skin before and either it is not very "skin-y" or they gave me the grilled pork. It was good whatever it was. The bun looked like they tried to extend its life by wetting it down and nuking it. It was crispy anyway. The pork was cut into noodle like slivers. Tasty. It cost $4.50. Makes you want to fire bomb fast food sandwich shops and their over priced slop. The pho didn't have the tendon or tripe. There was some kind of soft white thing that maybe is soft tendon. The meat was plentiful and of a good quality. It's so amazing how one cut (brisket) from the same animal can be brown and the other (flank) gray. They use a wide flat (linguine size) rice noodle. The broth was good. The vegetables were fresh. Especially the basil. I do think I am going to wash them from now on though. Just in case. It cost $9 for the medium (their smallest). They are in a building on 17-92 near 434 that probably was a fast food restaurant at one time. The place looked clean. Not very posh. There were a few normal people eating there. I think they have been open for five months. They offer the usual Vietnamese menu. It is hard to find a pho/bahn mi combo place. It's a good value.

Shiraz Market - They took over the corner building on Ronald Reagan Blvd (near the tracks on 434) that used to have a little Mexican market and kitchen. They serve up to ten dishes and have a market with interesting Middle Eastern goods. I will have to buy the honey comb, sour pistachio nuts and watermelon seeds at some point. I believe the name means they are Iranian. I tried a beef kebab with jasmine rice and a roasted tomato for $7 and a lamb gyro for $7. The beef was cooked to medium and had a mild flavor. The rice was cooked perfectly. The gyro was comprised of tzatziki, lettuce, tomato, sour pickle and thinly sliced lamb "loaf". It was also not seasoned to death. I'm not sure if they make it in house. It came in a fresh lavoush instead of a pita. The tzatziki wasn't overloaded. It was a nuanced gyro. Now, like I said, something I ate on Sunday (that had a lot of vegetables in it) desperately wanted to confabulate with my toilet (and maybe float to sea or that inter-coastal that we sent all the shit through after Irma). It certainly didn't want to spend one second more in my body than it had to. I'd hate to think it was either of these because I liked the food. I will try both again at some point. This place is more of a carry out place. They have one table with six chairs and it is cramped. They have been there for one year.

*I do have to make mention of the interminable time it seems to take for road construction in the city. we all know the ever worsening ridiculousness of the I-Sore, but, the 17-92 project (near The Senator tree) must be in year ten. Is it just graft? Sand Lake Rd near John Young is now under construction too. It took them forever to do what they did on OBT and 434. An investigation would seem proper.

Pub Crawl - Downtown: Mather's Social Gathering, Lion's Pride (Closed) and Orange County Brewers (Closed)

I tried these bars Saturday night.

Mather's Social Gathering - This is one of those cocktail/speak easy type bars ala Hansen's Shoe Repair and the Herman's Insurance one. It is on the second floor of a building aside from the one that used to house Cairo (on S. Magnolia). There is a bar on the corner now called Shots. It was interesting. A little closer to cheesy interactive dinner theater with the hidden door handle, piano bar and the natttily attired type writing ad lib poet. However, they did seem to spend enough to make it an experience. There is a bar area (cramped) on the right as you enter and couches along the left wall. It's decorated in knack knacks and flea market bric a brac. I'm not Southern so I don't know what type of place it is meant to recreate. It reminded me of a set from a Tennessee Williams play. The crowd and the place were a little mismatched. I would envision Auburn or Clemson alumni (maybe even Rollins) and scions relaxing in this atmosphere. Instead there was a multiplicity of poorly dressed middle aged I-95ers. It's also a little weird to match up the (probably Venezuelan) elevator girl and the Hispanic door guy with this aestetic. They are the first thing you experience and if the roles were reversed people would be screaming about cultural appropriation. Nevertheless, it is something we have to get used to as we become Atlanta/Miami. The cocktails were all around $15. They were pretty stiff. There was a menu with a small selection. I can't imagine what liberties they take with the bill if you order off the menu. All in all it was pretty good (and I hate cocktail bars). It seems to be first come first served on the couches. If you have a big group and can milk the clock with conversation, it would probably make for a nice evening (like lounging in a lobby bar). Time goes more slowly if you are there by yourself. I think they have been open for around a year. No Cover. Had a line down the block (close to capacity inside) when I left.

Lion's Pride - They are across from Hamburger Mary's on the tracks on Church St. They opened in May. It is an excellent sports bar. It looks like a sports hall of fame, They spent too much on it. It sparkles. It's so white. They have tvs everywhere. The liquor selection is expansive. The prices (especially Scotch) were the most reasonable I have seen downtown. They serve food. It has two levels. They have special viewing parties for major league and college sporting events (and of course soccer). You can rent out private spaces. They even sell Lions trinkets. It's like they took a stadium vip bar and moved it off site. I like it better than Jay-Z's 50/50 club. If that still exists. It closed at eleven though.

Orange County Brewers - They have been open for two months. The owner has some kind of past affiliation with Shipyard and Seadog beer. It's in the old Mini Cooper (Fiat?) space on Orange. Cafe Annie was close by at one time. The beer is on the lower end of the local selections. I have never loved Shipyard or Seadog beer, so, I hope this isn't what it will always taste like. They had a blonde ales that was good. I often find that new breweries have trouble with complexity and balance when they open. This batch was over hopped in places and watery elsewhere. Not a lot of taste sensations. But, the place looks great. A flight (5) was $12. They have a brick pizza oven. They serve other things as well. The staff was willing to have an interchange. They had knowledge of the product. The place has tvs (sports). And it's closer than WOB. And far enough from the Orange Ave riff raff. I don't think people have discovered it yet. They were closing at midnight.

Muddy Waters, Thornton Park - Closed

I tried this Cajun spot where Mucho used to be (on S. Eola Dr) on Saturday for dinner. I had a disappointing meal at their first place (Two Chefs), so, I wasn't encouraged when the look of the menu was almost the same. I settled in on Shrimp and Grits because it was one of the more reasonably priced dishes ($18). It was the right call. The grits were cooked perfectly. They had a nice cheese essence. It was full of andouille. The shrimp (5) were pretty good. A little slippery, but, a nice size and not overcooked. It was hard to knife off the tails though. The bowl they come in isn't conducive to surgery. There were also some sauteed mushrooms and a hot sauce in the recipe. A big portion. They have been open for nine months. They kept the layout the same and changed out the decor. Like I said, the prices are a little high. Over $20 for many of the mains. The have an oyster bar and a bar bar. I think I read that the chef with the Louisiana roots runs this place and the Florida chef is at the old restaurant. Wine selection was low end.

Orlando Meats, Mills Ave Area

I had a medium rare cheeseburger at this meat market on Virginia Dr yesterday at lunch. It was well done. It also came with an overly salty garlic aoli and a "XO flavored bacon" that looked and tasted like pate. They serve it on a "french" bread that looked liked ciabatta. Probably one known simply as Freanch rustic square bread. You could taste anything over the aoli. I scraped it off. That helped a little. The "bacon" was a distraction. The cheese was overwhelmed. I don't see why they would add all that jazz to a burger. Who wants it? You are at a meat shop. You are there for quality meat I would suspect. Let a lesser establishment hide the meat. You should use your meals to market your meat. Let your meat swing freely.

They seemed to be to busy to press the meat into a patty and it would separate along the "ridge" lines. I often do this myself when I don't want to get my hands dirty/greasy. I just cut out a square of ground meat out of the "lump" of ground meat with my burger flipper and toss it on the grill or in the pan. I shouldn't do that (it cleaves in layers when I try and flip it) and neither should they. They compliment the burger with home made chips. They are very light and fried in beef tallow or marrow, but, they are too salty and I think they were so sharp that they cut up my throat. They add a pickle spear. It cost $12 and a soda was only $1.

It is mostly a meat shop/butcher. They have around a dozen meal options. The restaurant part has been open for two months. It looks great. Hipster appeal. They offer challenging things like pigs feet fritters and pork torchon (dish towel). The torchon a a sister of a terrine. It was/is made by wrapping the meat in a towel or cloth. It started as a foie gras preparation. I'd like to see a little better execution, but, I liked it. It's in between Matador and Santiago's Bodega. They are open every day except Monday.

Grub Crawl - Tavares: O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Ruby Street Grille and Lake Dora Sushi and Sake

I ate at these three places on the lake at lunch on Friday. They all are on or near Main St. You take St Clair St off 441 to get there. They were on that Sentinel list that I have referenced before.

O'Keefe's Irish Pub - I had a potato baxty with smoked salmon for $15. It was a mound of mashed potatoes (like a knish) with a baked coating. It also came with shredded onion and sour cream. It was very tasty. It made laugh to think that the Nova Supreme (bagel and salmon with veg) may be a rip off of an Irish recipe. Especially when I think back on how often my Irish classmates would call me a Yid for ordering one. Then again, maybe O'Keefe's is the one who was inspired by the Supreme. The rest of the menu is normal pub food (sandwiches and burgers). They had three or four more Irish specialties. They have been there for 33 years. They have a patio that faces the lake. The main room is split by a wine storage "wall". The bar is in the rear. The place is lined with mugs with patrons names on them. Beer mirrors and posters make up the majority of the remaining decoration. It was clean. Not smoky.

Ruby Street Grille - I was going to rip them apart and then I wasn't and now I might. It's not as cute as it might sound. The place stunk of Febreeze covering something worse. I went in and then left for O'Keefe's. I came back only to get something to go that would knock this off the list. I settled on the daily special (pulled pork and beans and potato salad and bread) because everything else was overpriced and mundane and might have forced me to smell the air longer. It cost $9. The portion was huge. Three servings. Probably trying to ditch it before it spoiled. It was edible. Probably that shredded pork that comes in a plastic bag. WAY too much sauce. Hidden calories. I am ashamed of the caloric intake. The potato salad was also from a bag. I saw them scooping in from the mother ship. I didn't eat the beans. So, big portion, average food. It was a wash. But...I got a really sore throat the next day and feel a little flu-zy today. It could be the place I had lunch the next day or their razor edged chips plus my hangover or it was something here. I hate to cast aspersions, but, the throat thing happened to quick after lunch the next day for me to point my finger that way. Now, maybe I'll feel better tomorrow and decide this wasn't the flu. If I do, I'll amend the post. The place isn't very nice looking. The art inside is particularly bad. The deck may be what you come for. It seemed like one of the "bad house band" joints. It has been there for nine years.

Lake Dora Sushi and Sake - I grabbed a three roll special to go and was very pleased. If the quality of their "real" sushi is as good as these "entry" rolls. then they really have something. Especially since the pieces were priced at around $2-$3. My combo (with miso soup) cost $9. The rolls were medium size cut into eight pieces. Now I could get nit picky and say that the cuts were not uniform, but, I will concentrate on the good. The rice was properly prepared. It had very little to no vinegar. The tuna in the spicy tuna roll was discards, but, they weren't cat food and weren't pureed into a paste. You could taste and feel the tuna. The salmon in the Alaska roll was good enough. They (thankfully) added just a smear of cream cheese (not a caloric cube). The avocado in the avocado roll was fresh. The wasabi was fresh. I ate it all as soon as I got home. Now, I had been jones-ing for sushi for about a week, but, that has to count for something. And compared to what you get at the supermarket for $9, this is a steal. The owners are Japanese. There were two framed articles outlining their thoughts on the place (positive). I can't say you have to come this far for it, but, if you live here then you could have drawn worse lots. I also liked that they are wise enough to sense a marketing opportunity. They add a wrapper to their chopsticks sleeve that has there contact info. The also serve up hot items including soba. The place has a sushi abr and a main room. It is decorated in a funky way.

*There was also an ok looking bar (Bru) and a coffee place (something Bear) and an ice cream shop near these spots. And the sea planes.

Grub Crawl - Disney Springs: The Polite Pig and Paddlefish

I grabbed a sandwich to go at the first one during lunch and grabbed a quick dinner later on at the second on Thursday.

The Polite Pig - I had a smoked chicken salad sandwich for free because their register broke down. They demanded I take it on the the house. How can you refuse (or ignore) such hospitality. I think it would have cost me $12. It was pretty good. The chicken was in slices (not cubes). It was mixed with grapes. The problem with it was mostly bun related. I don't like the way many brioche buns fall apart.They also throw in a pickle quarter. The place is modern. They have a patio. I thought it would be a bit bigger and not a serve yourself endeavour. I'm happier that it is the way it is (less fuss). It is located right to the right of the escalator at the lime parking structure. They open at 11am. They also have pork and brisket and a fried and smoked chicken sandwich. They also do platters and sides. It's from the Ravenous Pig people (Petrakis). It;s their version of 4 Rivers.

Paddlefish - I don't see why they felt the need. It's almost exactly like The Boathouse. The redo seemed half ass. Some areas (especially the top deck) seemed badly renovated. Maybe it is already worn after one summer. And the layout is weird. They wanted to exploit the "views", but, their architectural design makes the whole middle off limits. This separates all the other areas into separate rooms. No flow. I'm sure they'll say they meant to, but, I think it is a mistake. It feels claustrophobic/cramped. And all the money they spent (where they spent it) still only succeeds in making you think you are on a cruise ship. I would it have left it as it was. If it had rot or termites then repair and replace and leave it looking like a working Mississippi river boat. Don't try and recreate it as a pre-war luxury liner. The place has three levels. The top is a bar/open area. I sat at the front bar on the first level because that is what you see when you enter. There is no indication that there are other bars or other levels. I had two appetizers because I wasn't hungry and everything else is about twice as expensive as it should be. $40 to $60 is what they want you to spend per person per entree. I had the charred octopus for $15 and the ahi poke for $16. The octopus was pretty good (two arms) atop cannelloni beans and a few slices of chorizo. It would have been better if it came out of the kitchen less meteorically. That means that they pre-cooked everything and just plated it. I prefer my food made to order at this price point. The poke was terrible. I imagine some manic idiot with two squeeze bottles (one with soy sauce and one with yuzu) prematurely ejaculated a a mouthful of their contents into my tuna's tits. And then he topped this pearl necklace with some sea salt. Weak. To recap - I love the thought of dining on a river boat. I liked the old Fulton's Landing (or whatever it was called). I would have preferred they had left it as it was if this was their plan. It duplicated a niche. It's not a value. It's comically filled with riff raff (in an quasi-elegant environment). There doesn't appear to be any concern over the quality of the food. And (unsurprisingly) the food (at least some) is not cooked to order. Almost any of the other restaurants in Disney Springs is a better option. Maybe go for a drink on the upper deck if they don't try and rip you off there as well. Unlikely.

Advocare Invitational, Disney

It's here again. 8 teams. $30 per session. Free Parking. At HP Fieldhouse at ESPN location. I went on Thursday. Only Sunday games are left to go to.

Too Much Sauce, Mills Ave

I grabbed a Luau Pork Bowl to go at this new (one month) fast casual place today. It replaces Giraffa Burgers in the strip mall on Mills Ave (and Virginia) that has the Whole Foods (I think that's the market). It is like a Noddles & Co (I think I have that name right). They use rice and/or quinoa instead of pasta. They try and space out the flavors so a multitude of cuisines are represented. Or you can mix and match. The ingredients aren't mundane. They offer some unique items like cauliflower rice and baby bella mush. My bowl wasn't bad. The rice was good. The pineapple pulled pork was over sauced, but, otherwise acceptable. It also came with sweet potato fries, a green salad and steamed green beans. They were fresh. The serving size was large. It cost $8. Not bad for an assembly line. They also have ice cream bowls for around $4. They aren't a chain. I liked it more than I thought I would. And I thought it would be an Italian place based on the name.

*I need the address (for you) some possibly bad or changed info I copied from the Orlando Weekly over the year. Maybe you are confused as well. I wrote down that a pizza place called Chalaten was to open around Lake Ivanhoe. I've driven around for months (and Googled) and there is no evidence of it. Similarly with a Pho place (Pho #7) on 50 near Mills. It is there, but, it has been closed the two times I've tried it. The phone number says it has been disconnected and a store owner nearby says they are closed. I've given up on them. I also think that place at the intersection of Virginia and Orange at Lake Ivanhoe (Nova?) has closed. It looked deserted while I drove by.

**I also meant to add that I'm thinking of opening my own (similarly sounding) place. It would be called Too Much Saus-ich.

Reyes Mezcaleria, Downtown

I went to this Mexican restaurant on N Orange Ave (the old Citrus locale - north of 50) today at lunch. I had three starters. Raw Chesapeake Oysters at $12. Red Snapper Ceviche at $12. Tuna Tostada at $9. The oysters were the worst. I think they pre-shuck them. There were only five and they lost all their liquor on the way to the table. I just saw a thing on oysters and they said that the wholesale price is 60 to 90 cents. They sell them for $2.40. The ceviche was very good. Maybe the best I've ever had. Lots of fish. A mild leche. Some little quirks like thinly shaved green olive, cubes of jicama and thick golden tortilla chips sprinkled with sugar. The ceviche also had some jalapeno and red onion and very fresh avocado. A real winner. It could be an entree. The tuna was very fresh and plentiful. Cut in thin squares. They topped it with a spicy dust that was a distraction. This quality of fish doesn't need masking. The tostada was crisp and supported avocado, crema and cilantro. The place has the same foot print as Citrus. They tinkered around the edges (decor). It looks crisp and modern. The guy from Saito Sushi and Osprey Tavern runs it. It has been open for five months. The clientele was hip, young and well heeled. It seats over one hundred. They have a large private room and patio. The one criticism (other than underperforming oysters and unnecessary spicing) centers on the service. My waiter forgot my soda order and then disappeared until the tostada was presented. Other wait staff had to bring out the oysters and ceviche for him. He then disappeared again until the end of the meal. He only offered a refill (made necessary by the spicy tuna) after everything was consumed. I needed it half way through the meal. I have a new passive aggressive response to the "late refill". Say that you want it and then just leave it there untouched. And adjust tip accordingly of course. Parking is a bitch around there, but, I recommend it. The rest of the lunch menu was pretty standard high end Mexican. The dinner is probably more ambitious. They also do the tequila/mezcal thing. I found them much better than F&D Cantina for instance (who may not be updating the prices on their menu).

Grub Crawl - Mount Dora: Let's Do, Fiesta Grande and Magical Meat Boutique

I tried these three restaurants at lunch in downtown today. None of which were on the original agenda.

Let's Do - They refer to themselves as a Maine Lobster Roll restaurant. I tried one. I am always apprehensive about ordering these because they are so expensive and usually not fresh nor overflowing with lobster. I was especially so after another unsatisfactory experience yesterday in Minneapolis (never trust Triple D). However, I was yearning for some seafood/sushi and they price reasonably. I had the roll/soup/side special for $16 ($13 alone). The soup was NE clam chowder. It was probably Chunky in the can. I had a celery and skin on potato salad as the side. It could have been made in house. It was fine. The lobster roll was acceptable (a feat). The butter they used on the roll wasn't rancid. Probably butter. I would guess the meat came from an under one pound lobster. I had a piece of claw and it was tiny (but sweet). The majority of the remainder was leg meat. Now, I go to town on a lobster and pull/squeeze all the meat out of those tiny legs with my teeth. I'm not sure how many people make that effort (and know the taste of the meat). I like the meat. Some may feel cheated if their roll is comprised of them. I felt there was enough meat (and it was fresh enough) and the price point is where it should be. I think $15-16 should be the limit. And that should come with a sea/bay side view. I'd rather wait until I'm at a place that can give me that than pay through the nose for a bad imitation. This place comes as close as I have seen (not just in Florida) of offering a fresh product at a price you would see at the source. The place is not much to look at. Ten or eleven tables and a Chinese paper wall separating the grill and the dining room. They said they have been open for two years (name on window for just one month). They also serve hot dogs, eight sandwiches, milkshakes and soup. They are right on the main street (426 N Donnelly St).

Fiesta Grande - This is a Mexican (more Tex-Mex) restaurant up the hill one street on North Baker St. I had the lunch special three (taco, enchilida, burrito) for $8 (or more because the total was $8,83 and that seem like they add 10% tax if not). I had the trio to go. They were all pretty mediocre to bad. The enchilada was empty and smothered in a pasty, bland "cheese". The tacos (they gave me a second possibly because they knew the screwed up the enchilada) were comprised of a tasteless, milled ground beef with lettuce and tomatoes. The chicken burrito was all shredded chicken covered with that foul cheese. The place looks like any other mid-range Mexican chain. They had a patio. It seemed to be a hit with the locals. They had a pretty extensive and predictable plastic menu.

Magical Meat Boutique - I tried a Lady Haddock meal to go for $9. It was a filet of fried fish with chips (fries). Both were ok. This is another meal I rarely have success with. The fish was still moist (a little fishy). The batter mostly stuck to the fish. It wasn't too oily. The chips were crispish (hard at that thickness). They have a lovely story about originally being in London/Camden Town (since 1500's as a butcher shop and 1960's as a hippie enclave) and emigrating here with the lore and latest generation. They dress the place up with English props (phone booth, Beatles stuff, etc). It has a patio/deck that abuts the historic train and tracks. The menu has some interesting traditional English fare (like battered sausages) and a group of semi-expensive ($13 and up) burgers. They serve breakfast until 11am. They close at midnight on week days and 2am on weekends. The mostly English beer selection is pretty cheap ($6) compared to many places (up to $9). It's a fun place and I would suggest it. They seem to take the culinary aspect seriously. It has been on W 3rd Ave for three years.

Out Of The Woods BBQ, Umatilla

I went here around a week ago to try a place listed in an old Sentinel article (Gator Den) that is no longer here. This food truck was there and since they had a pulled pork sandwich for $4, I decided to give them a try. It was meh. Sloppy. Over sauced. Stale hamburger bun. I can't describe the quality of the pork. It was overwhelmed. The portion was generous and the guy seemed to care. Perhaps you will have better luck. It's in a trailer park called Nelson's Outdoor Resort. It is on some kind of water way that I don't think is the St Johns. The address is 19400 SE 42. You take the directions I gave you to Eustis and then turn left onto SR 42. It's a nice drive. He also serves ribs, chicken, hot dogs and sides.

Grub Crawl - Eustis: The Crazy Gator and Barnwood BBQ

I had lunch at these places near the lake around a week ago. The first is on the street that runs north and south on the east side of the lake. The second is at a train crossing on that street (N Bay St) called West Orange Ave. It is a few blocks south. As I have said in the past, a way to get here from Orlando is to take I-4 to 46W to 441W/N to 19N. The first restaurant was in that Sentinel article. The other was one I found (but was never open) a few excursions ago.

The Crazy Gator - It's not much food wise. Your basic bar fare. I settled on chicken fingers and fries for $9 because I needed to eat while driving and the rest of the menu was yawn inducing. The fingers took a while to prepare. I think they forgot. There were three of them. They were plump tenderloins. They packed the wrong dipping sauce. The fries were half cooked and dripping with oil (one reason why I think they forgot about my order). They had that horrible starch coating. Don't go for the food. The only reason (unless the bar gets rollicking) to go is to see what they haven't ruined of the old provisions building they are located in. And the nice view of the lake. Open since 2000.

Barnwood BBQ - This as a combo bbq and cafe. I had a brisket sandwich for $7. It was very good. The best in the area. It had a smoky (almost chipotle like) bark that had hints of Hungarian paprika. It was a thick bark. Dark and silky. I believe they served me the burnt ends. If not, it was a cut close to the surface. The bun was sweet. I really enjoyed it. Some might have found it a bit dry, but, I think it was just the cut I received. It came with a sauce that I didn't try. They also bbq other meats. Ribs, chicken and pork. The "cafe" menu had burgers, sandwiches, etc. They do breakfast. They are closed on the weekends. I forget when they open and close during the days they are open. It looks like a little "granny cafe". It seats about 40. They also sell a variety of swag (including t-shirts, honey, rubs, etc). It has been open for three years. They will be on the Favorites list.

AJ's Press, Longwood - Closed

I was originally in this area yesterday for this newcomer. It is the brother location of a one off Tampa based sandwich shop that somehow is/was the number 4 "top 100 places to eat" nationally in 2017. Now the sandwich I had was good, but, I'm not even sure they are the fourth best sandwich shop in Orlando. I had AJ's Cuban because it seemed like one of the more complex sandwiches (another reason why the ranking is questionable and hopefully not purchased). It cost $9.49 (for the larger one) and consists of two slices of pit style ham, four slices of Cantimpalo chorizo, slow roasted pork, jack cheese, pickles, mustard and mayo. It comes on a pressed 'locally baked" Telera roll (smaller size comes on a Bolillo roll at $7.49). It was good. I liked that the chorizo wasn't thickly sliced or worse - loose. The ham was good. The pork can be described as Carolina style (vinegar). I'm not sure if they roast it with vinegar or add that later to moisten it. The serving size could have been more generous. Maybe a hardball's worth. It comes with good home fried "lattice" potato chips. Think waffle cut fries. The other sandwiches that are a bit interesting (I'm reaching) are a brisket at $11 and a crunchy chicken at $9.49 (for the larges). The Grilled Chicken BLT, Chipotle Grilled Chicken, Sonora Bacon Dog, Roasted Mushroom, Burger, Mojo Pork, BLT, Grilled Cheese, Ham and Cheddar and Fish sandwiches didn't really wow me. And that is the main issue I have with the place. It's pretty vanilla. They could use a bit more funk. They also serve all these items (and breakfast sandwiches) as bowls. The breakfast items come on potatoes. The lunch items on black beans. They have a few sides, soups and desserts. It's on 434 near the RR tracks (near Ronald Reagan Blvd). It took over the spot that was Zorba's and some other spot most recently. They give you a very good jalapeno hush puppy while you wait. They are amiable. I didn't have to wait long. A family run business. I'd go back alot if it wasn't in such a traffic nightmare. They are closed on Sunday (the one light traffic day) and 8-4pm on M-F and 9-3pm on Sa.

Jon Jovonni's Pollo A La Brasa, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch at this new (13 weeks) Peruvian restaurant on Ronald Reagan Blvd (near the light rail station on the north side) yesterday. I had the fish (corvino) ceviche for $14 and the 1/4 chicken lunch special for $7. The ceviche was ok. They said they add the lime juice as ordered, but, it seemed a little "cooked" for that. Who knows? Maybe the fish is a fast cook. The portion was large. It was topped with thinly sliced red onion. I usually don't order this dish because in addition to it rarely being prepared properly, the portion size is usually an appetizer's worth at an entree price. This was enough for a meal. They also tossed in some corn nuts, some big, boiled hominy and a half of a sweet potato. I was getting bored with the ceviche, so, I started mixing it with the potato and the hominy and it made the fish a little more interesting. I'm not sure if that is how it is supposed to be consumed. It's not intuitive. The hispanic cultures often just throw stuff on a plate that doesn't seem to be complementary but is maybe all that they have in the larder. They serve two other types of ceviche. The chicken is cooked "a la brasa" and was moist with crisp skin. It was very good. They may have used a jerk rub. The bird was smallish, so, I expect it wasn't "roided" up. Maybe even free range. Normal size. You can get white or dark meat pieces. It came with crisp fries, a can of soda and an acceptable, basic salad of lettuce and tomatoes. You can get it with rice and beans and without a soda ($5). The rest of menu is representative. Beef, chicken, pork, seafood. Around a three page menu. The place seats around forty. The color scheme was black and red. They have no decoration. They seem to be leaving the wall space clear for people to write on. You order at the counter and it is delivered. The co-owner is a ball of energy. They are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Til 9 on Sn-Th and til 10 F and Sa. The last Peruvian place I believe I wrote about was Gaviota. They would probably consider themselves higher end than this. I would say that there isn't much difference. Especially for the 50 location. They seem to be trying and those lunch specials (the have others) are great. I just spent $7 for disappointing Chinese take out this afternoon. I'd go back.

Big Kahuna's, Winter Springs

I tried this newish (seven months) poke bowl place in the strip mall at Tuskawilla and Red Bug Lake Road (the one with Flanagan's Bar) last night. It fronts Tuskawilla. I had a traditional tuna bowl and a salmon bowl because I hadn't eaten since four in the afternoon of the previous day. The tuna bowl was ok. I asked for sesame oil. It would probably be less good their way. The tuna was a bit pale. It didn't taste off though. It came on top of rice with seaweed, onions and a few other things. There were temperature variations in the ingredients that affected the taste and mouth feel. Some things were too cold (almost frozen). They could iron that out. The rice was very good. Toothy. Right grain. Unfluffed. Superior to alot of sushi places in town. The salmon bowl came with edamame, seaweed, avocado, cucumber, ponzu and a few other things. The salmon looked fresh, but, was bland. Could probably use some soy. The avocado and soy beans had redundant flavor profiles. Maybe a contrast element instead? Both bowls were $10 and had alot of fish to them. $14 gets you 5 scoops. $10 gets you 3. They have five-ish pre-fab bowls and then you can make your own concoctions. The bases are tuna, salmon, shrimp (elbow macaroni sized), octopus, yellow tail and maybe ahi (I think they had two types). I think they had one veggie option. They also offer alot of sauces. I'm of the belief that this can be a dangerous thing. Think; eggs with ketchup, hot sauce on popcorn, ranch and pizza to name a few gastronomic liberties. I don't even like it when they offer up "choose your own sauces" with chicken wings. But, go ahead and experiment. The place reminded me of a paint your own pottery store for some reason. They make some attempt at appropriate decoration. It seats around twenty. It's an assembly line type set up. It was better than I expected, but could ratchet it up a notch with better sourced fish. Still a good value as it is. And it isn't a chain. Open until 9pm.

Austin's Buffet, Longwood

I tried this new buffet (one month) on 434 today at lunch. It replaces an Asian buffet and before that a Long Horn Steakhouse or something similar. The decor inside is western. I can't remember if the Asian place colored in around it or if these guys added it back. The place wasn't changed that much. It cost $11 and a soda was $2.50. They don't leave a line on the bill for tips. You are expected to leave them in cash. The food was average. It seems to have a different concentration each day. Today must have been Southern. It was mostly fried fish and poultry. I tried the fingers, fried chicken, fried chicken livers, fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, turkey, rolls, brownies, potato salad and salad. Nothing was particularly outstanding. The bread (the make it and probably the desserts in house) was yeasty and dense. I think it wasn't proofed or baked long enough. The brownie was not very chocolaty. I would say that the pork chop was the best. They also had two soups, a variety of sides, a quesadilla, a salisbury steak, fried fish and a few other things. If I'm in this area, I'd rather spend $8 at Koy Won sushi and worry less about the calories. This is like a Golden Corral. They open at 12pm (late for lunch?) and serve dinner. At least it isn't a vacant waste of space any longer. I'm sure it is some people's cup of tea.

F&D Cantina, Lake Mary

I had lunch at this new (one month) Mexican offshoot from F&D today. It is in the old World of Beer spot in that strip mall on 46A that has the Amstar movie theater. It was the mirror experience of my last post. It started out with reserved enthusiasm and eroded from there. The food was just poorly prepared. I could excuse the fact that it is just another modern Mexican addition to a thoroughly played out genre. But, there is no way I can support this level of carelessness. It's as if they don't have a quality control person at the pass. Half the items I sampled were in need of salt (or other listed components) and half were in need of restraint. I started with the trio of dips (so I could report on a host of things for you) at $10. Now considering that a whole order of guac is $12 and queso is $8 and salsa is $3 (not free), the $10 seemed reasonable. The guac was supposed to have serrano chiles. It didn't. That left no foil for the lime. It could have also used salt. Fresh but bland. The queso was "stadium" style and had way too much salt. Couple that with salty tortillas and it was offensive. The salsa was spicy and good. A bit of garlic. However, it was a bit foamy and watery. Like when I make it in a blender. I wonder if they are as bad at salsa prep as I am or if they didn't churn it enough before they scooped the less dense area of the cauldron. The chips were fresh. I had a main course of Floridian Fish (grouper) Tacos for $14. The fish tasted and smelled fishy. The moron in the kitchen also doused them in salt. Some dull cabbage slaw completed the dish. They came in raw flour tortillas even though the menu said corn. The drunken golden raisins (the main draw) were nowhere to be found. The aoili tasted like McDonald's buffalo sauce. I ate one and asked for the rest to go because I didn't want to cause a scene when I didn't eat the rest. The tacos came with black beans. They were undercooked/hard. Plus that is a bad pairing with fish especially when you add beef to the beans. You also get hosed if you come on a weekend. Their lunch pricing (around $3 less) doesn't apply. The rest of the menu is ordinary. Tacos, burritos, chimis, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas are all they aspire to. They have a few trendy (actually not at this point) like street corn and ceviche, but, they aren't breaking any new ground or bringing authenticity to the table. Oddly, they remind me of the Mexican place that F&D replaced. And they failed. The place looks great. Yet, not ground breaking there either. They have murals and paintings from that artist that does the hot chicks in "day of the dead" make up and those metal star light fixtures. I'm seeing that everywhere. They opened the kitchen. They have a big selection of tequila. Service was good. It seats about eighty. I'll try it once more. But, if they haven't worked out the kinks, I won't try again. There's no need to. These places are a dime a dozen. And God help them if they bring back the live music that made WOB insufferable. They get a F'ing D for this performance.

The Waterfront, Orlando

I tried this hand off from Julie's on Tuesday night. It's at 4201 South Orange Ave. I was scripting a hatchet job in my head thirty minutes into my visit. And then they served the food. The original three strikes came when: I had to return to a visited location, the menu was routine and they had a warbler making it impossible to think (let alone talk) with his amp turned up to eleven in the main room. I won't even dwell the next three (double strike out): waitress that jumped down my throat before I had a second to peruse the menu and then didn't return for ten minutes after I had, the seemingly high prices for the meals they were offering and the fact that they did nothing to the decor (which wasn't stylish when the place opened years ago). However, as I was saying, The food (when it came a half an hour later) was delicious. I went with the fried chicken thigh with cheese grits because all the other stuff (sandwiches, burgers, fried catfish) was yawn inducing. It was dumb luck. For $13, I received two largish (made doubly large by the breading) thighs that were cooked beautifully. Skinless and boneless. Moist inside and with a perfect crust. A crust that I have often wished they (some entrepreneur) sold in bags. A crust that would be eaten like potato chips. Now, I don't mind a thick crust. Some may. Some may think it is employed to cheat the customer of his precious chicken. A fake out. I say that there was enough chicken for that man AND a "crustie monsters" like myself who will appreciate the extra "peelings" of crunch. There was so much chicken that I could only down one thigh. The other was partly eaten cold and partly reheated and was still good (both ways) the next day. The cheese grits were also wonderful. Probably stone ground. They also included some kale that was sauteed in garlic and something acidic. Very good. And kudos for using kale instead of spinach. The plating was a bit cramped. They put all that into a little porcelain skillet. It made it a little hard to get at the grits. And people who like to segregate their components will not like the cross contamination. The chef is from North Quarter Tavern. I liked my only visit there, so, I will wager all the other "boring" options are best of breed if he trained there. And maybe most people aren't as freaky as me and like the bread and butter dishes. If so, they will probably J(ay) Z all over themselves at The Waterfront. A regular guy menu prepared in an irregular (good) way. Most things are priced in the middle teens. They had some ahi apps that were around that price too. It seats around ninety in two inside rooms and a lakeside patio. It is owned by the Harry Buffalo et al people. It made the change from Julie's in February. I would go back. Maybe for fried catfish and ahi tartare?

*I tried a place written about in the Orlando Weekly before I came here. It was some seafood joint in a Sunoco off Hoffner and on Conroy (or Conway - I can't keep them straight). The guy at the station says he kicked them out five months ago. Now you are updated.

Bonchon, OIA Area

I tried this new (6 weeks) Korean chain on 436 near the airport last night. I might have given it a lukewarm review if it weren't for four trips to the toilet today. I had a wing combo (four wings are replaced by three drumettes for a total of nine pieces) for $13. That is over $1 a wing and not worth it even if they weren't a health hazard. The wings were very dry, so, I assume they were old and possibly fried multiple times. They were also tiny. Maybe from multiple oil baths? The drumettes were a tad plumper and less jerkified. And I don't mind an overcooked wing as long as the skin is crisp as a chip. The sauce was also a tad too hot. George likes his kung pao spicy, but. most people would be put off. It totally precluded any enjoyment (or experience) of the flavor. It came with a side of pickled radish that was too sweet. The starters (8) are pan-Asian. Leaning to Japanese. IF the salmon avocado ball could be prepared properly (and I have my doubts), It could have been an interesting alternative. It was $11. $7 is the floor. $10 on Mains. And that is for  a wrap. Bulgogi is $17. There are 7 other options. Mostly Korean. Buns and tacos are $11. And that (in addition to spoiled food) is the problem. They are a soul-less chain. A knock off. And they charge more than an authentic Korean restaurant. It's untoward. The room is one, high ceiling-ed square. It seats around sixty. It tries to be Asian modern. The bathroom was dirty. I just came back from Edmonton and I ate at place called Seoul Fried Chicken (SFC) and they gave me five pieces of fried chicken, a side (I chose and interesting sweet potato cole slaw), fries and a soda for $10. And the place was cuter and a award winner and a locals favorite. The chicken was far superior and the portion was bigger. I'm not totally writing this place off, but, I will be reticent to try them again. I would also like them to reduce their prices by at least 20 percent. It's also funny that they sell next to no "bonchon" (ie tiny bites). They threatened (informed me) that we are going to get two or three more locations in Orlando. You all have been warned. I mean informed. They do lunch.

Rasa, Sand Lake Rd Area

I tried this homage to Malaysian food stalls on Sunday night. It is aside the cigar place and the Middle Eastern (Cedar's?) place in the strip mall at the Dr Phillips and Sand Lake intersection. It was some kind of wine bar the last time I was here (years ago). It seemed like the same decor (in general). That was odd because it seemed like the time between when they promised to open (hung their shingle) and did open was long. I think they opened in January. I last checked at Xmas. It is what it purports to be. A peek into the world of Asian street food. Now, it is 3x as expensive, but, you get air conditioning, napkins and service minus the noise and congestion. Plus we are talking about $4 meals. They have a fair representation of dishes you might find in Malaysia or Singapore. The apps are a little "Americanized" and there may be a tad more Thai and Indian influence than you'd normally see. The owner is Indian, so, that may explain that part. Indians are everywhere, so, maybe you get more Indian dishes depending on the region or neighborhood in Malaysia that the food stall is in. I don't want anyone complaining that I'm misrepresenting the facts. I've only been to Singapore and Kuala Lampur, but, I found that the Indian food was more prevalent in the Indian neighborhoods than at the food stalls. I also don't recall much Thai. A lot more Chinese. Anyway. Back to Rasa.

I had the black pepper fish (cod) for 12. The fish was much fresher (no smell) than you usually get at an Asian place. They also weren't stingy with it. I must had had over ten marshmallow sized pieces of it. There was also some superfluous vegetation in their too. The sauce was brown and could be spiced to your tolerance level. They also served a side of properly steamed white rice on the side. You didn't need an app. This was filling. They have around six fried rice dishes and six house specials and eight noodle dishes and four soups and maybe one more category. The wine menu is a little blase. The sake and beer menu is better. The place seats about sixty. It was a mostly professional pan-Asian crowd (a living representation of the menu) that ate late. It started getting full after 8pm. Like I said, it seemed like they kept the brown brick and iron work of the old place (the bar seemed the same) and added some Asian "flare". Not that it is bad. You wouldn't notice if you have never been there before. Service was fast and polite and competent. You probably aren't going to get a chance to experience much of this cuisine (I recall one food truck and Mamak in Vietnam town) anywhere else in town. So, you could be less fortunate than being forced to try it here. The prices are fair. The atmosphere is pleasing. The service is good. And you don't have to wash your hands in a water fountain (or wipe your spice inflamed sinuses with your hand) when you are done. Give it a try.

Daytona Pig Stand, Ormond Beach

This one is kind of at the edge of our community, but, I'll add it for beach goers and I-95ers because it is hard to find a place that is close to the highway on your way to Jacksonville and beyond. I had a brisket sandwich with a side (potato salad) for $8. It was good. Better 'que than 4Rivers has been serving up lately. I had to convince them not to mutilate (chop) it though. They still didn't serve it exactly right. The potato salad was excellent and plentiful. Another improvement over 4Rivers' tiny cups. I thought the place might be a shack based on the billboards. It was a nice, big, log cabin-y place that you would expect from a bank rolled chain. They said they have been there for ten years. It looked brand new. Now I'm pissed that I have passed right by so many times. I forget which exit it is off, but, the cross road is US 1 and it is after the main exits of Daytona Beach (ie LPGA Blvd). It is on the south bound side of 95 near a Harley dealership. They serve the usual bbq items.

Oh My Gyro, Longwood

I had a gyro at this Middle Eastern fast-casual place on 434 yesterday. It replaces around a half dozen other places (mostly Indian) at this location (before Max and Meme or Ali Baba from I-sore). The gyro was excellent. I went because it was listed in a Weekly's list of ten under $10. They were right on. The meat was savory and fresh. The vegetables (T,O,L) were beyond fresh. The tzatziki was nice. The pita was warm and fresh. They give you more taztziki and a lethal hot sauce on the side. If I compare it to the last couple of gyros I've reported back on, it's like crescent moon and day. And it only cost $6.49. You can also chintz on a can of soda for $1.25 or get a fountain drink at $2. You can also make it a special (fries and drink) or make it a platter (rice and salad) for a few bucks more. I think it was just meat or chicken available. But, they also serve steak, kabobs, hamburgers and I think I remember some American things like nuggets (don't quote me). They did next to nothing to the decor. Even the art work is from the last guy. It's a service-less experience. You order. You pick up. You clean up. It seats about sixty and was feeding about sixteen people while I was there. It has been open since October. I'm mad I missed out for so long. I would eat here once a week if I lived closer. I think they charge $10 for a way worse gyro at that place in Lake Mary (Paramount).

*I also grabbed some brisket from 4Rivers on my way back to I-sore. They really aren't very good anymore. This brisket was under cooked. Little flavor or smoke ring. A rush job. I think this is the sixth time in a row that they disappointed me (different meals), so, it isn't an over-reaction. It's a trend. They over-expanded and do too many things. It's obituary time.

Wondermade, Sanford

I tried three marshmallows fror $2 on Saturday at this sweets shop across from Hollerbach's. They said they have been in that location for four years. Hats off to the PR/marketing department. The store is a regular beacon. Impossible to miss.. It is really more of an ice cream shop than a marshmallow shop. They only had the three flavors and two chocolate covered options. There were some ridiculously priced previously packaged gift boxes for sale as well. But, who wants potentially stale marshmallows at a marshmallow store? Most people probably wouldn't know they wanted a marshmallow store to begin with. With a product like marshmallow, it better be good. I will give it up for the marshmallows. They were good. Lavender, caramel something and one more that has already slipped my mind. I'd replace every cupcake place with a marshmallow place if possible. Faint praise.

There was also an "Arts" centric event going on that night. I ate a a truck called Saigon Sizzle and they may have caused my digestive issues the next day (them or a Subway Club). I won't expound because of the uncertainty. I will continue to question why all these roach coachers think they can charge $9+ for fast food. Monotonous, derivative, duplicative fast food.

The Pie, College Park

I popped in here for lunch about a week ago. It's in that strip mall to the right of the condos near Princeton. Parking is in the back. It is an Italian fast casual spot that specialized in Roman style pizza (a cross between Sicilian and Neapolitan). I resisted the slice and soda special at $8 for a Margarita and a Meatlover twin bill (so I could report on more for you people). That made the total (with soda) $10. The slices (taglio) were ok. A "meat lovers" consists of  ham, prosciutto, mortadella, pepperoni, salami, sausage and meatball. I'm not sure I recognized all those flavors. Seeing them in print makes me surprised that I sampled all of those ingredients. I do recall that I wasn't wowed by the quality. Not bad. But, understandably, average. I mention it because I don't want you to think that this is a high end spot because of the sloganeering. And it's not like they add a full serving of all those meats. You just get more variety. Which is why I usually avoid a meat lovers. In general, I guess a slice is worth $4. If a regular slice runs $2 then this is probably two times as big. One slice is enough for most people. A bit odd that a plain slice costs as much as a topped one. Maybe fair if you are looking at it from the "toppings please" side of it. They also do full pies (up to $17), sandwiches, calzones, salads, deserts (2) and a few apps (5). All under $10. They are open for lunch and dinner all week. They even opened a little early for me. The place seats about forty. They have large murals on the wall and the seats and tables are functional. It is fine for a quick bite and they do have the concession on Roman style pizza in CF. They have been open for a month or so and have already changed hands. A Brazilian man owns it now.

Pub Crawl - Sanford: The Stranded Sailor (Closed), Bitters & Brass (Closed) and Sanford Brewing

I tried the first two and re-tried the last on Saturday night. They are on Sanford Ave in downtown. Seems like all the action is around here now. And there actually was some action.

The Stranded Sailor - This is across from Wops Hops. I think they said the have been open for 4 weeks or months. It's an English themed bar. Kinda. Not a cheesy reproduction, but, the beer is mostly from the UK and they have dart boards. I had a $10 beer from New Zealand. They have cheaper options. It was fine. They had a punk/metal (ballsy) band playing later on that night.

Bitters & Brass - This is also new. I ended up spending the most time here because I got into some conversations. I had two tequila based cocktails at $9 a piece. They were good. Showy. This cocktail craze isn't the best thing I've ever lived through, but, these guys weren't that self-impressed and actually were able to get the drinks out at a decent pace. The space is lovely. It's in that old "speakeasy" building that is part of the larger structure that had the soul food and breakfast spots (in between Sailor and Sanford). It has a look and feel that can't be matched. They definitely had the best looking girls too. I think the restaurant next door was also back in business. Looked like a chicken place with a Latin vibe.

Sanford Brewing - I had a terrible lager and "dinner" (disappointing cheese fries) here. The lager was very yeasty and kept me from ordering another beer or more food. I can't remember if I hated the beer the last time. If so, then this will be "the last time". The fries sounded good last time I was here. Bacon dust and other things were promised. They either forgot the bacon dust or it was indiscernible, because - well because I'm complaining about it. The wedge shaped fries were also under cooked and the cheese sauce had me longing for game day nacho cheese. And then they slopped a ton of jalapenos and onions on top of it. Of course a place with these issues (a totally overwhelmed kitchen) was packed with middle aged Sanfordinians. Adding to the horror was the "old man" band that I think I complained about Buster's employing last trip here.

*I'll try the chicken place and a marshmellow place (across from Hollerbach's) for you shortly. Just couldn't eat marshmellows and beer and I was distracted until after having a dinner would have been sensible.

El Molcajete, East Colonial (50)

I tried this new (six weeks) Mexican restaurant near 50 on North Goldenrod on Friday at lunch. I believe this area was full of Vietnamese places not so long ago. Now it is mostly Spanish speaking from University to 50. Ignore any info on their hours that you see online. They correspond to the food truck they run/ran out of Kissimmee. They are open seven days a week from 10 am (I think) until late at night. Their number is 407-845-1628 if I have that wrong and you want to check.

They have an "expanded" Mexican menu that includes things like Vera Cruz Snapper and Huevos Rancheros, however, the real reason to visit is antojitos. Antojitos are corn themed apps/street food that translates into "little cravings". They have ten "classes" of them and I tried four of them for you people. I tried the tacos, pambazo, picadita and gringas. Two I ate there and two I brought home for dinner. I had a cabeza (cow brain) and lengua (cow tongue) taco because you know I'm disgusting. Both were good. The brain is soft and oily and the tongue was lean and tender. They are served in freshly made tortillas in a street food (onion and cilantro) style. They cost $2 a piece. Next I had the $4.50 picadita. It was basically a corn (huarache) cake with green or red (I did green because I always do red) sauce, sour cream, cotija cheese and the menu says cheese (but I don't recall eating any). It was ok. How good can a corn cake get? I'm an omnivore. At home I ate the pamboza. This is a stupid dish that I always avoid because it sounds (and now I know tastes) so lame. It's a roll dipped in red sauce with sour cream, lettuce, and cotija cheese. This one was filled with potatoes and chorizo (I tasted and saw no evidence of chorizo). It was $5.50 down the toilet (but we'll get to that later). The last dinner item was the gringas. It was basically an al pastor (chicken and pineapple) quesadilla. It cost $6. I don't really like al pastor, so, this didn't do anything for me either. That said, I liked the food in general. It's authentic from the Toluca (capitol of the state of Mexico near the big volcano outside of Mexico City) region. I really only have three peeves that may keep it from my "favorites" list. 1. They charge $3 for a soda. 2. They start the tipping options at 18% and you can only tip by percent not real numbers. 3. Something in the mix did give me intestinal issues the next day. The last "peeve" is the most serious. I'll stipulate that it was hot in the car coming home and I didn't ever refrigerate the dinner items.

The plus is in a scary-ish strip mall across from a gas station. some of their windows were cracked and it looked a little trashy outside (inside was better). They have three tables of four in the front and six or seven booths on the left. Two murals are the main decoration. There was nobody else eating there at 1pm. I wonder if the prices are a little high for the neighborhood? A place next door called Willie's Pinchos seemed to be faring alot better. The rest of the antojitos menu was gorditas/sopes, huaraches, tortas, burritos, quesadillas and esquites/elotes. The last two are corn kernels in a cup and corn on the cob. They cost $4. The huaraches were the most expensive at $9. The other tacos come as: al pastor, carnitas, tripa, pollo, buche (stomach), and chorizo. The free chips (colored) were very good and came with a garlic-y chipotle salsa that came in a cute container that I'm not sure is the molca or the jete. In know that isn't what it translates to, I just didn't want to write that it came in a mortar. And from that you can guess that the name means mortar and pestle.

Overall it probably will satisfy a Tex-Mex AND a Mexican (authentic) crowd. You have the Taco Bell/Don Pablo (?) items for the 'fraidy cats and the specialties for the OGs. And if that fails, you'll have to tell me how Willie's was. But, I doubt a fraidy cat would have any better reaction to a pincho. They had parking and took credit cards. I don't love the fact that ingredients seem to have been overlooked/forgotten and that it didn't totally agree with my buche and tripe, but, it was still interesting and they did give me a gigantic soda to go (when I just asked to have the remainder of what they poured me already).

Ace Cafe, Downtown - Closed

I tried this place out a week ago. It parallels I-Sore at Livingston Street (Lynx Station). It is purportedly the first American cousin of a famous biker bar outside of London. It is huge. It has two levels. It is in the class of a Planet Hollywood/Hard Rock. It is a bar and restaurant. It has entertainment (music and games). The decor and layout is industrial. The menu is predictable(for a franchise play) and limited. Think burgers and sandwiches and finger foods. They have four "dinners". However, they are regurgitative fare like meatloaf. I had a chili app because I had already eaten lunch and the menu didn't thrill me. I expected breakfast items for some reason. The chili had some chunks of beef in there, but. was nothing to bike home about. I would come here alot for the bar end of things if I lived or worked close by. They even have free parking. They have a relationship with some bike-centric apparel (etc) company next door. It's a destination spot for downtown because of the history/reputation, the provenance of the spot (the old Edge) and the size of the space. You can bring the whole family because A. they will fit and B. it's not that kind of biker bar. Open for lunch too.

The Gourmet Muffin, Audubon Park - Closed

I tried this new bakery across from Sushi Lola Saturday afternoon after my meal on Mills. It was a blessing. We all know I don't have a sweet tooth, but, I must have been having my male menstruation because I woke up NEEDING sweets. Sweets that I didn't get at breakfast. I bought 4 $1 "bites (lemon, blueberry, strawberry and chocolate with toffee or something) and a banana and chocolate chip muffin for $3. If I compare the muffin with the banana empanada I paid $3 for at breakfast, I want to yell I suck Olive Cock Bars and jihad the empanada place. This muffin was L to the E to G to I to the T. No sticky sweet icing dunce cap. The "batter" was more "stretchy/glutinous" than a cup cake "batter". Like a pop over. It tore. It didn't crumble. And there must have been 40 grams of chips in it. It was half chips!. A huge cupcake (may have been a muffin now that I think about it) by today's standards. The "bites" were covered in "crumble" and two had powdered sugar as well. They have other locations (ie Ocala, Gainesville, Lakeland) in Florida. I think they might be the best bakery I can remember trying around here. A limited/manageable selection that is still has a lot of variety. Great quality. Great prices. They even had some "sandwiches". The last thing the world needed was another sweet shop, but, I'm glad we don't stop at need.

Brooklyn Coffee Shop, Mills Ave

I tried this new (less than a month) breakfast and lunch (7am-3pm everyday) spot in the old Ash location on Saturday. I needed to knock off one of the two new openings in this category and the other one (Ace) seems to have better hours and parking options, so, it didn't seem like it had to be done on Saturday. This is going to be a long assessment. Not one that I particularly care to craft at this time. However, I'm doing it with the hope that it leads to a turn around. Because the people seem good.

You can break down the menu into two sections. French (more of a Nawlins/Cajun variety if I had to guess) and Brazilian. I erred and frolicked on the Brazilian side because it was "new". I'm glad I'm not a cat because nine lives wouldn't be near enough for my curiosity. I tried the Vatapa (the special) at $14. It was described as a North Brazilian shrimp and rice stew over white rice. Something akin to a Thai or Indian curry dish. I'm not sure if this is what it is supposed to taste like, but, they should leave this dish to the Thai or Indians if it is. This attempt was a mostly tasteless (less coriander), pasty, luke warm brown roux over overcooked and over fluffed, clumpy rice with frozen, supermarket quality, pale, gray shrimp. A small portion at that and served on a paper plate with plastic cutlery! And at $14, it was twice as expensive as the rest of the menu. Boo. The best thing in it was a single pickled spring onion (scallion). Fail number two and three came in the form of empanadas. Another stab at the Brazilian side of the menu. The cost $6 for two. I tried a banana and a barbacoa. The first bite of the banana exposed an unmixed white powder in the dough. There was also some salt there too. WTF. The bananas were devoid of any sweetening and tasted like that. Sour bananas in a greasy envelope. Boo. I had the barbacoa at home and it was tasteless cubes of beef. Too many fat cubes as well. They didn't even flavor the meat. It came with an acceptable chimichurri sauce. Boo. Fail number four was the shashuka I ordered. It is a Middle Eastern dish of poached eggs, preserved lemon, feta in a tomato and pepper and sumac sauce. I was still hungry from the Vatapa fail and I was trying to give them every opportunity because they were offering more than the run of the mill fare. The first mistake was that they somehow thought that I wanted this to go. That meant it became dinner. That probably (at the very least) resulted in the eggs over cooking. I'll grant them that. But, I didn't see any evidence of lemon or feta in the container. Not sure If they forgot or in the case of the lemon that it was too big to make the container. There was also too much sauce. I'm not sure if they drown it when it is served in house, but, they did in the to go order. This was also kind of small portion. Even at a more reasonable $7. Maybe they think the one piece of toast they serve with it satiates the hungriest of customers? It appears that the owner (Brazilian) has a chef that can't handle that side of the menu. I'm ASSUMING he handles the other side. They have to either practice cooking the Brazilian side, drop the Brazilian side or hire a chef that can handle the Brazilian side. I would hate for them to lose this part of their identity. It helps differentiate them. But, it can't be at the expense of everything else.

The other side of the menu is more nouveau and French. You have a benedict and a florentine and an egg sandwich on a croissant and a normal two egg dish and another egg dish (in a crock?) that are a bit French. And two of those "toasts" that are en vogue. An avocado one (of course) and an interesting sounding bacon pate one. They also have a burger.

The real problem, as you can see, is that the menu SOUNDS interesting. They need to make it TASTE interesting. I tried alot more dishes than the regular customer would and they didn't make their case to me. The shashuka was even on the "other" side of the menu. Add in that the parking situation is tough and they did nothing (went backwards) to the already aging space and I really should be lambasting the place. What saved them was the warmth. The people seem to care. It's a limited "band of brothers". There was one waiter, a chef and an owner. The chef and owner were serving. That's either sweet or unprofessional given your mood. I was in a good one, so, I liked interacting with the the primos. I'm not sure what is going on withe tableware.

A little more on the decor. They did something to let in more light and that didn't help the ambiance. You see all the defects. Scratches, dust, exposed nails and screws, old paint, empty (except for some LBGT lit) baskets. It needs a face lift. The crowd was really sparse until 1pm. It was four lesbians and me. Then two breeding couples came in. The younger guy looked like he wanted to slink out and I'm not sure they didn't. Which is a shame because I like that it isn't the eggs and bacon place you would expect from a place called the Brooklyn Coffee Shop (called that because the owner met his wife there) and the prices are quite reasonable ($6-$8). It's more like a place Gianni Versace would get a newspaper at before he got shot (Miami reference). They have two types of gourmet coffee for Christ's sake. I'm surprised because they said that they have rolled out a few of these in Brazil. They should have hit the ground running.

Hops Boss, Winter Park

After trying a failing to find a new brewery called Whipporwill in the Milk District on Friday night, I thought I'd see if these guys were finally open. Yes, they were. Been open for two weeks. They are in the old Hotto Potto space in that strip mall at Fairbanks/Aloma and 436. They are owned by a Ukranian who hired a countryman to make light, euro style beer. I tried what they had so far - Pilsner, Wheat, Porter or Stout. Dark Honey and Light Honey. I settled on the Dark Honey. It was sweet. Little carbonation. Probably little alcohol. It cost $6. It was good. The other non-honey beers seemed a little weak/watery for my neo-American influenced palate. Maybe that is good. Most of the breweries around here (and country wide) are churning out similar tasting stuff. We kind of need an old world reminder/supplier. They will also serve East European/German food. They remodeled. I believe they do lunch. Odd name for a place where they probably have the least hop forward beer. Friendly service.

Grub Crawl - Sand Lake Rd Area: Kokino (Closed) and Gyu-Kaku

I tried these places on Turkey Lake Rd (right off Sand Lake) on Friday night. This was going to be a well deserved crucifixion of two pains in my ass after multiple missed connections, but, I ended up liking the first and loving the second.

Kokino - I must have tried to eat here five times. They changed the times. They stopped lunch. The buffet was ridiculously priced. I just had a beer here (out of spite), but, the vibe was good. Hot PYT's (staff too) with a boozy disposition. The menu (tapas) was a little small and ordinary. Not many there for dinner. Nice, modern decor. Maybe they should expand the bar area. It is in that strip mall with the gym (World or Gold's) and Graffiti Junction.

Gyu-Kaku - I tried them at their announced opening last summer and they kept having construction delays. Then it was that they weren't doing lunch yet (though advertised). Then a private party. Then a huge wait. It never came together. Then I went to San Mateo and saw they were a CHAIN! It was over and done with. But, my list is dwindling and I needed to excoriate Kokino, so, they got the call again. Golden bullet with their name on it ready to go. And then another wait for a seat. It was almost go (to go order) time. But, I found my chi and they really did find me a table fast and it was a lesson in Zen from there. The place is a chain from Japan, but, it is unimportant. No one else really offers this kind of robata (grilling) experience. Some do it. For you. Some boil. Some (Koreans) have a similar type of self-cooking experience. But, I seem to recall they all use an electric heat source. Now hot coals are supposedly the best, but, I think I've only done that in Koreatown in NYC. They use gas under a metal disc with holes at Gyu. I had toro beef, toro pork, chicken breast and pork belly. The toro are thin cuts from the stomach area. The beef was great and cheap ($5 from around ten slices). The two pork items ($6 and $5) were ok. I preferred the chicken ($4). All orders had around ten slices. Very fresh. Very fun to cook. They had tons of options: veggies, tongue, intestines, all cuts of beef, waygu, shrimp, duck, etc. Lots of apps from fried sushi rolls to dumplings. Also some rice dishes and soups. Not everything is Japanese. They also drop the prices after 9pm (and at happy hour) automatically. On booze too! My pork belly dropped to $4 and a Sapporo dropped to $3. They also have a decent selection of mostly affordable sake. Service was very polite. My white server even tried to act/speak Japanese. It was full even at 9pm. People of all types. Lots of good humor. I wish they had a few more of these around town. Will be on Favorite's list. It is across from the Kokino strip mall before the gas station on Sand Lake.

Millenia 106, Mall at Millenia Area - Closed

I had lunch at this newish  (under two months) American (with Portuguese and Brazilian undertones) restaurant on Friday. It is across from the Jag dealer in that strip mall on your left at the first turn into the mall off I-4. It is not the first place to try and make it at this spot. It deserves to. It is something I imagine I would conceive if I ever chose to get into the game. A reasonably priced, cleverly sourced, balanced, avant garde, menu in a tasteful and inviting environment and lacking in self-reverence. It doesn't have many (if any) worn out/fad dishes. It avoids being pigeon holed. Like a man/woman who has style, it ignores what is trendy for what is eternally tasteful (even adds a bit of their own personality). I had the fresh fish (the waiter said it was a golden version of mahi mahi) sandwich with a side for $12 and the lunch special (I chose the Margarita pizza - with salad and drink -  to go) for $13. I asked blend the two meals (salad would have wilted and I needed the drink), so, I ate the salad then and there. It was very fresh and opulent. A very clean leafed assortment of field greens and spinach with cherry tomatoes in a lightly applied citrus dressing. Two minor criticisms: the tomatoes were ice cold and the sea salt they added didn't bring about what ever effect they were looking for. It just clashed with the citrus. The batter (beer) was under cooked on the inside. It made the quality of the fish hard to assess. Sticky. A slight timing adjustment. Otherwise, it was refined. It created a crisp and fluffy shell you see on the best examples of fish and chips. The bun and veg were top notch. A very tall sandwich. Whatever mayo-y spread they added was applied with restraint/finesse. The side (chips/fries) were perfect. Shoe string. Crisp. Not sticky batter application. No stupid skins. No brown flaccid mutants. A large amount. I had the pizza for dinner and it was ok. Maybe 12". They didn't pound the CO2 out of the dough, so, the pizza had many bubbles. A rookie mistake. It was also a bit "crusty" for me. Not thick crust. Just wide. The cheese and fresh tomatoes showed respect for the diner. It was ok. Should have sampled the duxelle infused burger for you folks instead. It was also a lunch special possibility. The rest of the lunch menu is pretty small. Dinner has a few more entrees. And Sunday brunch was the biggest. I don't recall seeing anything north of $16. The wine and beer selections were thoughtfully selected for price, quality and singularity. I'm having a hard time recalling the menu items. That's what a red eye from the Coast will do to you. But, also because they weren't what you find everywhere else. I recall a red shrimp dish, an avocado toast with something on it, a Brazilian conglomeration of some sort, fresh oysters, an interesting pasta dish. I hope you get the picture. And if you don't, Take a flier or just trust me. The interior was fully retouched. It has a minimalist and earthy tone. Almost like some one's upgraded private loft. A gleaming open kitchen surrounded by everyday items (like cook books - see if you like the chefs they follow). The bar is up front. The tables (twenty-ish four seaters) are spaced well and symmetrically. There is a curtained off private room in the back. Two big long tables. It's casual and elegant. Masculine and feminine. They even have sports on tv at the bar. It should be acceptable to parties composed of a "mixed" social strati. Burgers and pizza for the Chili's and Applebee's goofballs (or kids) and the rest of the menu for the 1%-ers. Access in and out, mall congestion and parking is a little bit of a pain. Suffer through it. It's cheaper and more intimate than Earl's Kitchen. This is clearly a chef dominated restaurant. And this guy has his head about him. They also of a ridiculously affordable happy hour (I think 4-6 or 7). Closed on Monday (I think). Not a hard ticket to get at this point. You should be able to walk in. They will be on the favorite's list.

Joyful Garden, Chinatown (W50)

I popped into this new (one month) Chinese restaurant in "Chinatown" (on west 50) on my way home from Winter Garden today. I grabbed some things for dinner. I'll tell you about them after I'm done listing SOME of the freaky (in a good way) stuff they offer. Seaweed and raw crab. Pork tongue. Fish belly. Cordyceps flower. Rabbit. Pork liver. Frogs. Geoduck. Yellow Croaker. Goose Fish. Arrow Head Fish. Fish buckle. Rotten Leather. And I didn't include stuff like jelly fish and snails as freaky. You get the idea. I tried to ascertain the regional cuisine they represent, but, I just heard that the owner had a place in NYC's Chinatown. I settled on a safe dish and an experiment. I had the Fuchow (thin noodle wrapping) Dumpling Soup for $5 and the Pork Stomach with Sour Cabbage over Rice for $9. The soup was good. The usual chicken/pork broth and 16 dumplings! A good amount of broth. The stomach was actually quite tasty. It had the texture of an abalone or some other tough mollusk with a porky taste. I'm not sure if pigs have four stomachs like cows, but, this one was non-icky if there are multiples. The sauce was some kind of very light, black bean involved sauce. Chinese food can be ridiculous on the sauce side, so, I was happy with this level of restraint. The cabbage was good. I didn't care for all the green and red pepper. I hate non-spicy pepper. It tastes like herbaceous barf and makes you gassy. The rice portion was huge. Just white rice, A little water logged/soggy. The plaace seat sixteen in four tables on the right and about the same in two tables on the left. There were a few more tables around the bend on the right and two private rooms. The decoration is mostly water tanks. Some with bubbles and some with dinner. It's located in the part of the complex across from the oriental Market (to the right of the entrance). The composition of the patrons was surprisingly mixed for such an ambitious and new place. It was full. I would be food spelunking here once a week if I lived near by. Freaky food that tastes good? Now that is a business plan!

Market To Table, Winter Garden

OK, I wanted to knock these out before I go chasing polar bears. I stopped by this American restaurant today at lunch. I was about to throw a conniption when I saw that it was closed. I had checked Google a few times and it was supposed to be open. This is another reason I'm knocking this out. They are on summer hours. This means no lunch on week days and a brunch on Sunday. Back to the brewing conniption. I must have looked forlorn because the door opened and I explained how far I had journeyed and the owner said he would make me something for my trouble. It turned out to be a cheese burger and although it wasn't what I had geared myself up for (it had a reputation as a finer dining establishment), it turned out to be good. Medium well instead of medium rare, but, otherwise buttery and topped with fresh veg. The home made chips were good and it came with a pickle. It cost $0. Now that is how to turn a frown upside down and why I'll speak well of then in the future. Their dinner menu (what I saw) ran from $24 to $30. A smallish (6) entree selection with complementary components (spelt, grains of paradise) that seemed more interesting than the canvases (filet, chicken, tile fish). The apps were a little on the "popular" side. That should please the non-adventurous. The burrata at $8 seemed like a value. Other sides ran to $12. The charcuterie board had whiskey salami and wild boar salami. They had some (4) desserts. A few wines (5) per color/type and a few beers. They didn't do much to space (the old Al Fresco spot behind the theater). They opened the end of the bar to have a cold prep showcase and partitioned the middle of the room with some cheap metal shelving with iffy nick nacks on them. Maybe it looks better with the lights on. I'm not sure if I can suffer a repeat trip in the near future (50 is filled with retards), but, I'm glad I got some sense of their skill and a full dose of their ethos. The town just completed a multi-level covered garage behind them. This should help a common complaint about going to WG - no parking. The truly opened around six months ago.

Laurel, Winter Park

I grabbed a Cuban sandwich to go on Thursday at this new (one month) Latin restaurant on Park Ave. I was walking through town after my La Merce meal and stumbled upon them. I think Paris Bistro was in this spot (the enclosed area with the koi pond) previously. It was fine. It cost $12. The ham and pork were of good quality. It came with plantain chips. I'd prefer paying two bucks extra and getting the special at La Merce. Their menu is blase. Thirteen items. The most interesting was a pulled fish pie. The rest is your usual Latin stuff. The Cuban was the cheapest thing. I can't think of another Latin place on Park, so, maybe they can make a go of it. They didn't change a thing to the interior. It was empty at 1pm.

La Merce, Winter Park

I had lunch at this new (3 months) Spanish (Andalusian - southern) restaurant on Morse off Park on Thursday. I think it replaces a vegan spot. There have been so many casualties in this location that I can't keep track. If the crowd at lunch is any indication (no one else), these guys are going to share the same fate if they don't pick a lane. If they are going to charge what they do ($30 range with a standard deviation of $10), they have to improve the experience. Now they are a one legged stool. The service and ambiance do not support the price points they demand. They must be counting on the food to carry the whole load. Not that the service or ambiance are bad. They just aren't on par with a Luma or Prato (for example) and the pricing is about the same. Not to mention the food is better (based on this meal) at those locations. I had an acceptable lunch special (pork or chicken with two sides, dessert and a soda for $14. That was a value. However, if I had ordered a $27 chicken dish (for example) with a $4 soda (3/4 ice) then I would have been dissatisfied. Then I would have really been mad at the dry pork and the crusty mashed potatoes and the store bought rolls and the lack of a butter knife (or butter) or spoon for the tapanade and the non-cloth napkin and the plastic plants in the centerpiece. At $14 I can let that stuff go. At their regular menu prices, I could not. The dish I had had some nice asparagus (slightly wilted) and the sauce I chose (five spice) was a nice mix of chicken stock, cumin, honey and assorted hues of peppercorn). The meal also included a mini guava pie with vanilla ice cream. The dessert was delicious. I hope they didn't buy that too. The place is cute. They went minimalistic. The color motif is black and white and light blue. They "wrote" their name on one wall. It seats about forty. Tables and booths. New. They kept the bar area and patio. If it is not clear, I enjoyed my meal. But, I didn't pay $4 for a soda or x for an entree plus y for dessert. I actually stopped myself from ordering a regular entree or adding an app when I saw the $4 soda charge. It irked me. I suggest they keep it quasi-casual and lower the prices by a third. It has too much of a family run vibe (name is short for Mercedes - the grand mother) to compete with the professional "white table cloth" set. I worry that everyone will do the calculus that I did and just settle on the lunch menu. And I don't think they want that or can survive like that. I don't think they have competition (on Park) for their type of cuisine, so, they have a chance. I hope they succeed. Not just because I'm sick of coming back to this pot, but, because they seemed nice and the seem to import conscientiously and have some fun items on the menu. For now, I recommend the lunch special. I'd feel a little guilty advocating the full monty.