I tried these spots yesterday at dinner. The first two are in the Plant St Market. The second two were add ons after Matthew's required reservations. They are in a shabby strip mall at the intersection of Maguire and 50. There was also a gross Chinese take out and a promising Colombian joint in there.
Norigami - I believe they just received that third level Michelin award. I forget the back story on the people behind it. It seems to be reservations (only seven or so seats) or take out. I got there just as the were going on break between lunch and dinner service. The guy took pity on me and I took pity on him and ordered just one roll. An akami (bluefin tuna) for $7. It was fine. Hard to weigh in on such a limited sample size. They have interesting items like: beakfish, thorny head, black throat, sea bream, stripe jack, yt, king salmon, fatty tuna, urchin, scallop, blue crab, etc. Nigiri or sashimi or temaki. I think they price per piece. $5-$13 if so. They do a few snacks like: cucumber salad, popcorn hamachi, baked fish collar, miso soup, etc. Omikase is $70. If they really are Michelin level, then this is hardly the most expensive sushi option in town. No M/Tu. Mostly dinner time. Lunch on WEs.
Bruno's Oysters - They said their poohba has some connection with the Norigami people. He now has opened a place in Winter Park called Foreigner or something. Here they share a small counter space and some tables (mostly outside) with a brewery. The location is in the front of the market place. Mostly open at nights and weekends. I forget which day it is closed. Probably Monday. I tried a dozen oyster for $36. They let you try all the options. They had five of six left. Canadian, NE and Washington. Two were ridiculously small. Shouldn't have been served. One was funky. A few had shell bits. Plus the ice melted fast (or was melting to begin with) and flooded the shells. They weren't great at letting you know which were which. Still, it was enjoyable. They also had some real interesting hot items like: bone marrow, confit duck grilled cheese, roasted oysters, lamb LT, chicken pate (I know that's not hot), lobster roll ($21), etc. Most items were single digits or low teens. I should have come back for those after Matthew's fell through.
Bangkok Thai Passion - Hardly. They only allow take out for some reason. They should stop that too. I had the worst Red Curry Chicken I've ever had for $14. The most watery, milky curry ever. The chicken was dyed red. ??? Just a few veg. Small portion of rice. Not that you weren't going to anyway, but, avoid.
La Fonda de Ocoee - A very good Mexican meal. I had three tacos for $10. Lengua and birria soft tacos. Ground beef in hard shell American style taco. That had a great thin shell. Beef had a bit too many bits. But, that makes it authentic. Lengua was tender. Double tortilla. Beef was a little tough. Oily. A few seats. Clean. Regular menu items plus dessert chimichangas, wings, chilaquiles, fire beans, etc. They have a Jalisco platter. Jalisco styled food? Mexican clientele. Nice find.
*Travel Notes - North Carolina/Tennessee/Georgia/ Florida: I rented a car for a week at $255. Drove to Colombia SC because all the hotels I checked in at from 95 on were asking too much. Like $150 for crap in a crap town. Found a Quality Inn in an area called Fort Jackson (sketchy adjacent) for $73 (rack rate). I should explain that I wasn't supposed to be here. I was going to go up 75 to Georgia and then come back this way. I zoned out and missed the 44 exit to 75 and went with it because the Universe had been shitting on me all week (and that is the last exit for miles). I drove to Charlotte and did the Pro Am day at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow for $40. Got there a day early, so, I went to buy a ticket and they talked me into going in. Then I bailed on the next day because it would have been to redundant. Not much difference truth be told. Saved $50. I stayed at Best Western Pineville for $92 because it was easiest to find and next to the parking for the golf at a theme park called Carowinds. I actually got them to let me park free to get the ticket. It would have been $20. I drove to Shelby NC to try some liver mush. Andrew Zimmern did a show on it. Not sure if I found where he ate (although I think it was a fair), but, Shelby Cafe came out when I researched liver mush. I think they are a century old. Had it on a biscuit there (and a huge egg breakfast). It's like deep fried pate. Drove on to Asheville NC. Stopped at Chimney Rock SP and Lake Lure. Went atop Chimney Rock for $17. Stayed at Downtown Inn (one of few hotels with free parking downtown) for $96. FYI - most hotels I stayed at were fringy. Drank at Wicked Weed Brewing and La Zoom. Ate a curated meal at Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse. Too many items to list. $90 with beer and tax and tip. Don't make decisions when drunk. Took so long I just crashed after. Drove to and through Sevierville TN. Stopped at Bush's Baked Beans and Tennessee Legend Distillery (bought moonshine for $33). Drove towards Pigeon Forge. Ate ok brisket sandwich and bad pork burnt ends sandwich at Preacher's Smokehouse (Jimmy Fallon talked about eating there). Stayed at Travelodge Dollywood Lane for $110. Got in too late to pay the $90 plus $25 parking for Dollywood. Visited Applewood Grill and surrounding shops (ie Cider Mill) technically in Sevierville. Great Muscadine Grape and apple cider. Got a four piece fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes (with gravy that also had potato chunks in it), mac and cheese and apple fritters. Very good. So much food. Had breakfast at Flapjack's Pancake Cabin. Got the eggs when I found out it is a chain owned by a mega food conglomerate. It (and Applewood) was listed in a magazine article I read. Drove through Gatlinburg (it and Pigeon Forge were like one big I Drive) and the north part of Smokey Mountains NP to Chattanooga. Walked a bit. Saw a Look Outs game. Ate at a cb with cole slaw at Wooden City. Stayed near 75 at Stay Express Inn for $105. Drove to Rome GA to see Braves. Drove down to Kennesaw. Stayed at Baymont for $78. Drove to Athens. The place (Pulaski Heights BBQ) I wanted was closed. Had a tire issue. Had to waste time replacing it. Ate a good chicken salad sandwich with cheese straws and cookies and cream cupcake at Bee's Knees Bakery because it was only decent (or non chain) option near the tire place. Drove to Augusta GA. Stayed at Microtel Riverwatch for $77 because it was easy get from here to my destination. Saw Woodrow Wilson's (and some SC judge) boyhood home and downtown. Didn't want to continue to find James Brown's house. Saw the Green Jackets play. Next to Savannah River. Drove on south via 25 to 16 to 95 to Fernandina Beach. Grabbed a 1/4 smoked chicken sandwich at Bob's Famous BBQ in Yulee FL. Stayed at Florida House Inn for $144. Mistake. Ate a chimi at Pablo's. Drank at Mocama Beer Company. Had a few beers at PJD's. Ate egg breakfast at Beach Diner. Saw Jumbo Shrimp game in Jacksonville. Drove home. Ate enchiladas at Tacos Queen in St Augustine. Slept at home. Had lunch (see previous post) in Titusville and NSB. Drove to St Augustine Beach. Took Crescent Beach exit in. Stayed two nights at Regency Inn for $207 because it seemed near enough to beach and pier. And it was the cheapest with the best rating. Lounged on the beach. Had a red drum sandwich with red potato salad and pasta salad lunch the next day at Florida Cracker Cafe in DT SA because it was written about in AAA magazine. Walked the DT. Exhibit at Governor's House. Didn't go into Lightner Museum because I doubt it is worth $17. Churches. Found free street parking just a few blocks away. Back to the beach. Coffee Bean and Coke Float at Cone Heads Ice Cream. Ground Beef and Thai Chili Chicken Pies (half off at closing) and a pastry named Lamington at Kookaburra. Drove home. Stopped at North Turn Grill in Ponce Inlet for lunch of 1/2 bbq chicken with baked potato and cole slaw. It has a museum and was part of the old Daytona 500 race course. Read about it in AAA magazine. As usual, missing meals were fast food. Gas was under $3 in TN and GA! I extended the rental by a week at same price because I felt like keeping away from the Universe. Didn't feel like listing all the roads this time. Most of the trip was finding places to go on the fly. Would have done other cities if their teams were playing at home.
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