Mia's Italian Kitchen, IInternational Drive *GRE/ROM/CYP Travel Notes

I tried this Italian Kitchen on I Drive aside Boston Lobster Feast on Tuesday at lunch. I would like to give it the time it deserves, but, frankly I'm getting a little pissed off at the low levels of interest out there. I was skeptical when I pulled into the parking lot and it seemed like a chain experience. And although the owner owns Café Tu Tu Tango, it felt like a one off (which it is). They have struck a balance between intimacy and spectacle. It's a large space with two story ceilings. There is a bar in front of you as you enter (pizza oven too). To the first left is a seating area. To the right the bathrooms. The second left (after the hostess desk and before the bar) leads to a lounge area and then another seating area that flows around to the rear. The second right follows the bar. The interior design is unique. Too varied to explain. It works though. Not tacky. Not dull. The walls are festooned (I think that's the word I'm looking for) with art. The ceilings are Michaelangelo'd. Once again. it is busy, but, I found it exciting. Which is good because it was almost empty. Kind of like my viewership. I needed something to entertain me. They assured me that it is doing well and I'm sure it's a scene when packed. It must seat over ninety. I'd go into the colors and fabrics, but, that too is all over the map. They used their people from their restaurant empire in Arlington on the design. It has a fresh look.

I had the Sunday Gravy and took a Margherita Pizza to go. The Sunday Gravy was a stew of "leftovers". Chicken thigh (they said thighs), sweet Italian sausage, meatball (they said balls), bracciole and rigatoni in a tomato "gravy". The owner said his grandmother served this every Saturday (no Sunday - just seeing if you are paying attention). The sauce was a little bland. It just tasted of tomato to me (though they said the added other vegetables and stewed the meats in there). Not bad. Just unadulterated. Healthy. Some might be expecting a little more zing. (I checked and it was supposed to have grana padano in it. It either had very little or they forgot. I would have improved the flavor). The rigatoni was described as "al dente". It was a little over and under that. I'm not sure how that is accomplished, but, I've been thinking it over and I think they pre-boil to under al dente and then "refresh" it. With a thick pasta like this, it just reboiled the outside and left the center dry and the outside pasty. The rigatoni was also collapsed in on itself. Another sign of age. What ever was wrong with the sauce and pasta was more than made up for by the meats. The beef was falling apart and moist. Same with the chicken. The meatball was tender. The sausage too. The portion was huge too. It cost $21. The rest of the "specialties" run from $18 to $39 for a Bisteca alla Fiorentina. They have "common" fare like chicken parm for $19 and Branzino for $27. One everyday item for every ambitious item. That's hard to find. Usually it is one or the other. They also have sandwiches ($14-$16). I was intrigued by a wild mushroom hoagie. They have seven types of pasta and salad. A meat board in which they have two items they even make in house. A cheese board. Well chosen. 10 starters. I was curious about the egg yolk ravioli. Desserts. 10 pizzas. And it is pan pizza from a brick oven. Speaking of which, mine cost $6.50 and was four index card squares large with tons of little mozzarella "gumballs" on top. Nice bottom crust. Not  burnt. Not oily. There were so many enticements on the menu I can't get into them all. Let's just say that they don't lack creativity. When others would use canned button mushrooms, the use black trumpet.

Service was also good. The "wares" were hip. Everything is new and clean. Open nine months. Cloth napkins. Parking was a non-issue. They have tvs tuned to sports. The wine list was chosen well and not "me-too". ALOT of Italian choices. And one of there greatest accomplishments is the menu itself. It describes everything well and unpretentiously. It has a map explaining where everything is coming from. It's rare to find an accessible place (they have lunch cards) that has class and panache. They really should be giving classes in how to run a restaurant. I can't think of anyone who would feel uncomfortable here. I take that back. They world has never had as many a-holes. But, you get the point. I was really surprised and I may just do the unthinkable and haul my ass all the way down here again for an encore. It'll be on the Favorites list for sure. Mamma Mia that's a spicy meatball!

*Travel Notes - Greece/Romania/Cyprus: Corn pitas (Cyprus). They also had a waffle fry design. Speaking of waffles - bubble waffle cones (Crete). They also covered the cone with sprinkles. They also would dunk your gelato in chocolate sauce whenever you wanted. Macaron in gelato (Bucharest). Also hazelnut flavor. They put French fries in most of the gyros/shwarmas. In Cyprus they cut the potatoes into sections and then cut a notch on the skin side so they looked like lips. Cream Bougatta in Cyprus. Vanilla cream dessert. Fried haloumi (Cyprus). Haloumi is their specialty. Crispy Bagel (Brasov Romania). The crispy part was just chicken fingers , but, the bagel was like the lightest Kaiser roll you can ever imagine. Covri Dog (Brasov). A hot dog baked into a roll. Walnuts in honey (Corfu). They put this and kumquats on yogurt. There were tons of other dishes, but, these are things I had first hand. Sicily had a lot of fried fish.

Coco Cucina, Thornton Park

I tried this Mexican restaurant next to Oudom (same owner) at lunch over two weeks ago. It was ok. It offers more than just burritos and tacos. Things like: ceviche, elote, fried tequila pickles, fundido, paella, fire stones, meatballs and pozole. I had the ceviche rojo (Hamachi) for $14 and one of the $9 lunch specials (Mexican burger) for $9. The ceviche was fairly good. A lot of fish. It didn't seem too prepared in advance. They used citrus in the marinade. Not too astringent. Lots of avocado. A meal unto itself. The waiter/bartender sold me on the burger. It was ok. A mix of beef and chorizo. A bit tough because of the extra time needed to cook the pork. A lot of stuff with/on it. I think even fried onions. Fries too, I think. I was the only one seated at 1pm and the food took a little long to arrive. Maybe that meant the ceviche was fresh? Maybe they were cooking their lunch first? They have $5 happy hour items and a taco Tuesday. The menu has seafood and meat dishes. The room has been redecorated to appear Mexican. It has a modern feel. I can't remember what the last place was. French? I was expecting to hate it (because they just closed a failed Mexican place across the street and you would think they could take a hint), but, it was more ambitious than I expected. Given that I was the only patron, I hope this wasn't another case of my reviewing a restaurant in a death roll. Small tip - you may be able to park in one of their reserved spots in the condo behind them. Actually the Oudom spots. Otherwise parking is a problem. I had to park by Lake Eola. Oh yeah, this place is on South Eola. Open for nine months. You could do worse.