Saigon Gourmet, Oveido

I had dinner at this Vietnamese restaurant last Friday. I had the Chicken Claypot for $11. It had chicken cutlet pieces simmered in a fish stock with brown sugar, pepper, and green onions. It came with two piles of white rice (supposed to be jasmine) and some steamed broccoli. I was a little disappointed that it came in a metal bowl and not a claypot. It was tasty. The place looks like half a fifties diner. There was one other patron. The owner operator was polite. The service was good. It was clean

I would suggest a little more Vietnamese ambiance.

Sho Gun, Oveido

I had a yellowtail roll at this hibachi restaurant on Friday for $5. It was pretty good. The rice was warm and firm. the yellowtail was fresh. I do hate the nori though. The place has some hibachi tables. It's decor is a little sparse.

Chuck Wagon, Apopka

I had lunch at this greasy spoon last week. I had the chicken fried steak with eggs and toast for $6. It was your typical greay breakfast. The service was OK. The place was drab.

The Ravenous Pig, Winter Park

I had lunch at this gastro pub last week. I had the Pub Burger for $12. It was a nice burger. Although the ham handed cook couldn't resist pressing it on the griddle. Note to all burger preparers - Alton Brown proved on Good Eats that searing a piece of meat does not seal in juices. Leave the poor thing alone and it will cook properly. You are squeezing out all the natural goodness. This burger was topped with sauteed onions and blue cheese. It came with truffle oil infused shoe string fries. The place has a bar area (that they always try and force on single diners), a middle room and a kitchen room. The servers were attractive and attentive. The silverware was modern (the knife was balanced so you couldn't lay it sideways). The decor was bricky modern. The place was clean. It was mostly full. They have an annoying valet service (but you can find your own parking if you try). It suffers from what seems to be a decade long muncipal street improvement project outside its doors. The dinner menus seemed alluring (lots of game). I was told it changes regularly.

*10/31/2016 - Moving to Cask and Larder location.

Funky Monkey, Orlando

I ate at this Asian inspired restaurant on Mills on Friday night. They started me off with some free Edamame that was ruined with lime juice and raw garlic. It killed my taste buds for the rest of the night. I next had a shrimp and scallop dumpling for $8 that was a textureless puree that somehow ended up red. I had the rice bowl with Ahi tuna for an entree at $14. It had a cucumber bottom, seaweed and two layers of tuna between the rice. The rice was al dente (but I think this was because it was old rather than cooked right). I thought it was a success until I got home and had to run to the toilet. I had a cheese plate to end the meal for $12. I was a boring plate of boring Wisconsin cheeses that took forever to arrive. It is decorated like an Asian/Bayou whorehouse. They are about 50/50 with relation to table tops versus tables. They have a 5 seat bar. They have all the pretense, but, I think the execution may be a bit beyond the chef's skill level. The service was good. The place was full at its 7 table max. I do have compliment them for having one of their better values at the lowest price point (Rice Bowl). Although, this does remind me that most of the entrees were overpriced for the talent level of the chef.

I would suggest that they leave Japanese cuisine to the experts and choose something more in line with the vibe of the place (like their cooked fish dishes). I would also move the table tops to the back of the space so that the line of sight doesn't stop at the middle of the room. I would also have a few more hands in the kitchen. I would have actual pieces of what you advertise in the dumplings (Chinese style not the red headed stepchild dumplings that the Japanese make). I would roast or lose the garlic. I would make sure my ingredients or cooking surfaces don't cause irritable bowl syndrome (or don't "spike" the food).

Udipi, Longwood - Closed

I ate at this vegetarian Indian restaurant on 17-92 on Wednesday night. Interestingly, I saw a Globe Trekker episode on the region (southern) that is home to the city of Udipi. It is an area mostly devoid of protiens, so everyone eats veggies. It is in the old Clay Oven space. I had poori (deep fried dough that puffs into a bread balloon) for $2. It was very oily. I had a fried "crepe" made out of semolina and filled with curried potatos, green chiles, and onions for $7. It reminded me of the most fried hash browns I've ever had. The portion was enormous! I can't say I enjoyed the experience because I had a sleepless night of indigestion because of it and I think I gained 4 pounds. However, it was very cheap for a sit down restaurant and it was a change from the norm. The service was polite. The place was clean. It had four other couples/families dining.

I would suggest some more ambience. Better (more eye catching) signage.

11 12 Sports Lounge, Winter Park

I watched football last night at these sports bar with a separate night club on Lee Rd. It was clean and smoke free. It was cheap ($2 beers). It had nice flatscreens. They found my obscure game and put it on. It was nearly empty. It had plenty of parking. I know it's in a rough neighborhood but I could watch games here any time. It's also on the Network.

Korean Kitchen, Winter Park - Closed

Last night I ate at this Korean restaurant on Lee Rd. I had a mix of steamed dumplings (beef, seafood, kimchi/egg) for $12. Let me tell you that I find nothing more challenging than Korean cuisine. It's part of its appeal. It's the most quixotic food in the world. It scares you. It transports you. You seriously feel like you are a caveman eating pot luck around a campfire. That said, the dumplings were ok. They stuck to the paper at the bottom of the steamer. The beef ones were a little oily. The real meal/surprise was the vast amount of "amuse bouches" that came with the plate (18 plus a cauldron of bubling goo that became scrambled eggs and a whole fried mackeral). I can recount - kimchi, bean sprouts, eggplant, green beans, sweet black beans, papaya, sweet mashed potatos, dried shrimp, water chesnuts and nine other things I can't remember or define. The veggies were either spicy, salty, sweet or sour. At least one for every taste bud. They also served free cold barley tea. It seemed to be family run. The service was good. The place is a little hard on the eyes (very bare and a little water damaged). It smelled like soap and water when I entered. I though I had made a mistake when I was the only one seated, but, four other families (mixed race) came in after me. They have table side fires. It was clean.

I would suggest replacing some of the ceiling tiles and adding some decor. I would also hide the kerosene tanks that feed the table fires. I would landscape the front and add alot of lights to advertise that you are open. It's a little dark around the building. However, it was a good value and a (still) exciting cultural experience.

Graze, Thornton Park - Closed

I ate dinner at this retaurant on S. Eola Dr on Friday night. I had the soup of the day - a creamy potato soup infused with cheese for $6 and the crispy fried chicken for $17. The soup was delicious if a bit penurious on the portion side. The chicken was a re-imagining of a typical chicken fried steak. The chicken was served atop of mashed potatoes with barbeque sauce, a white gravy and garnished with ground pork. It was as good as this meal could be. All the elements (even the barbeque sauce) worked off each other. The restaurant serves fish, etc but I tried this hearty duo because the chef is supposed to be some kind of soul food empresario. While she was not in the kitchen that night, the meal was prepared well by the chef on call. The best part of the experience was that these signature selections were the cheapest on the menu. Nothing is better than getting the house specialties at rock bottom prices. The place was techy-chic and clean. It was mostly full. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgable. They were well dressed. They served fresh baked bread. The wine selection was well chosen. The dessert menu looked tempting. They had cheese courses. They have outdoor seating. The plating was good.

I have no recommendations. It was a thoroughly pleasant experience.

Cedars, Sand Lake Road (Universal)

I ate at this upscale Lebanese restaurant on Saturday night with some friends. It's in the shopping complex with Roy's. We shared a tasting menu that had cold appetizers (hummus, baba ganoush, taboleh, feta cheese with tomatos, and tatziki), hot appetizers (spinach pies, meat pies) and a main course (kebabs of beef, ground beef, and chicken) with rice and vegetables for $25 a person. There was probably dessert but we couldn't even finish the meal as it was. The appetizers were very well executed. The main course was cooked perfectly (especially the beef and even the vegetables). We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the belly dancer (first non-fat one I've seen plus she didn't grab you to dance with her) and the customers smoking hookahs (even though I hate smokers and smoking). It was a transporting experience. The place was full. It was clean. It had nice tableware. The service was prompt and attentive. It was a little crowded inside (their problem). Overall, I find it hard to find anything to criticize. They had more variety (fish, etc) than the traditional dinner we had. They had free traditional entertainment and not so traditional (football game on a HDTV). Dress code was casual. They even bagged up the left overs. It was as good as this kind of experience could be.

Yen Yen, Winter Springs - Closed

I had dinner at this Chinese restaurant on 434 last night. I had the Pumpkin Chicken for $12.95. It was supposed to be a specialty. Whoever created it should lose their chef's hat. It was chunks of dark meat that you only find at a chinese restaurant and make you worried that the stories about rat meat are true. Veins and cartlidge and sinews - revolting. It was smothered in a gooey sauce that was part sweet and sour and part black bean. They added those putrescent mini, dried shrimps and chunks of pumpkin that were so sweet I thought they were carrots. This added no depth of flavor and just added to the sweet distastefulness. Do you understand how to make a dish with layers of flavor? Do you understand textures? Do you understand quality ingredients? It came with a bowl of rice - the high light. The place was nice (if in the middle of no where). The service was good. The silverware had dish water marks. They seem to want to be a high end chinese option. Which, leads me to another aphorism. Middle range chinese is like middle range italian - over priced and underwhelming. And, why did you choose this location? I advise anyone out of area to ignore it.

I would recommend that they lose this dish and probably any dish made with this type of goopy sauce. Learn to add layers of flavor. I would not make my location selection based on rent. Winter Springs (and especially the part you are in) is not a high end neighborhood. You spent too much on decor for this spot and this type of peasant food. It's a disconnect.

Taco's Don Pepe, Apopka

I ate lunch at this Mexican restaurant on South Park Avenue on Friday. I had the Combo 1 for $4.99. It was an chicken soft taco, chicken enchilada and quesodilla. The chicken in the taco was reminiscent of the curdled dark meat you get at a bad chinese take out. It was stewed with tomatos and onions. The quesodilla was stuffed too fully with bad queso that settled at the bottom of the crease into a rubbery mess. The enchilada was ok but I didn't taste the chicken. There was one other person eating there. It was mildly clean. It was decorated as a greasy spoon. The waitress was pleasant and spoke English.

Lazy Moon, UCF Area - Closed

I grabbed a slice here after the football game on Saturday. It cost $3 but was wide. It was fine. The place seemed like a real university favorite. It was very crowded. They served many frou-frou beers. It's probably always a good people watching perch.

I also grabbed a portion of "special" Nan from Anmol in the same strip mall for $5. It was supposed to be infused with chicken. It was barely discernable. It was the only empty place in the mall.

I also grabbed a chicken pastry from Millies Jamaican Cafe in the same strip mall for $1.95. It was a curried delight.

I also grabbed a beer for $5 at Underground Bluz in the same strip mall. It was a smoked drenched bar with a large import section. Very piercy.

I tried to max out the UCF experience as I never go there. I had intended to review Mindaneo on 50, but those dicks closed down there impossible to find Filipino restaurant. Update - All these locations will soon be dorms. 11/18/2013

Bangkok Square, UCF Area - Closed

I had lunch at this Fusion restaurant on Saturday. I had a California Roll for $4.95 and a Philadelphia Roll for $6. These were the cheapest on the menu. I went that way because I had a feeling they couldn't pull off sushi and over priced things because of their proximity to students with Daddy's charge card. The rolls were mostly rice. The rice was mostly flabby and over vinegared. The presentation was respectable. They place must be a converted bar. They tried to lounge it up but they haven't thrown any real money or care into the decor. The service was a little snippy. There were about eight people at the restaurant on a football weekend. They also serve Thai, etc cuisine.

I would suggest that they drop prices or improve portion proportion and decor.

Carlucci's, Winter Park - Closed

I had a few slices at this restaurant in the K-Mart Shopping Center across from the Winter Park Mall on Friday. The pizza was $2 a slice. It's your typical pizzeria with baseball decor. The pizza was quite good. It was thin. The slice I tried with mushrooms came with fresh mushrooms. The service was fine. I would say it's above average for a pizza fix. And it's on the network.

Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe, Sanford

I stopped here today because I had business in the area. I had the pork loin with potato salad and sauerkraut (which they let me switch to the cucumber salad) for $12.60. The loin was more like honey baked ham. Three slices and cloud of dull. The potato salad was stewed in a sugary vinegar - gross. The cucumber salad was sliced too thick. I think the waitress said it was watered down ranch dressing. Now lets get this straight. I'm part German and I accept that German cuisine is near the bottom of the barrel, but, they can't even get it to be authentic grool. The clientele is always the ugliest in the county. The setting is ugly. No thought is given to aesthetic concerns. They let people blow smoke in you face. The prices are high for their lunch counter quality fare. The wait staff was courteous, but, not exactly effusive with the advice or attentive. I would say it was beyond explanation why this is the number 1 restaurant in old town, but I've learned not to underestimate the stupidity of locals.

I would advise them to drop prices by 20% or improve quality and execution. Do something with your atrocious patio area. You have walls spliting the view and horrible furniture.

Patisserie, Lake Mary - Closed

Today I tried the newly opened Patisserie in the Marriott shopping center on 46A. It used to be an ice cream place. I had a tuna salad on a baguette for $5.60 (the only lunch option). The baguette was good (not terribly crusty though). The tuna was good (not fishy or over mayoed). It had a little lettuce and tomato on it. Not much more to say about this place. The "patisserie" selection was small (some muffins, cookies, and tart-like things). It has about 5 tables. It was clean. The staff was nice (but of that cloying "we just opened and are too eager too please" variety). There were 6 other people in there.

I would only suggest that they widen the variety (the quality of the pastry also appeared to be more toward German standards than French) and down play their affiliation with Shan. First of all nothing says bad pastry like Asia. Secondly, Shan has low quality food at high quality prices. They probably need more signage too.

Wine Down, Lake Mary - Closed

Tuesday I tried this restaurant in the shopping center near the Marriott -46A (where Urban Flats was). It's an interesting (and by interesting I mean pretentious) concept in wine bars. They make therir own wine from purchased grapes. No other wines are offered. While it is becoming less surprising to have a seperation from grower and vintner, it seems like every egoist that couldn't cook thinks that he can extract magic from a grape. You'll have to let me know how this part of the experience executes. For every Sine Quo Non there are ten ham fisted failures. I'll stick to the food.

I had the lobster tacos for $12.99 (the most expensive lunch offering). The lobster was tender (shockingly so for something that was likely frozen and Australian). They gave you about a tail and a half of a pound and a quater lobster. It was fried in a tempura batter (not greasy). Jicama, red peppers and some kind of white sauce were included in the taco (2 soft shelled wheat tortillas). It came with a avocado aioli that was tasty but a bit extraneous because it was already "sauced". It also came with a field green salad (for some reason undressed) that was exactly the same as the appetizer salad that preceeded and came with it. I was pleased over all with the offering. The place is long and narrow and decorated with French advertisement posters and wine bottle wall paper. There is a glassed off (but door less) back room. The bar is on the left. The place was filled with mostly women of the Real Estate looking variety. There were two people on the wait staff (on the verge of being under staffed). The table ware was clean. The staff was friendly but not professionally bred. The room was clean.

I would only suggest some more signage. It must have been there for weeks and I only noticed it because Spice was closed down and empty. I also hate plus $2 sodas. It's 2 cents of syrup. And good luck with wine monopoly thing. It worked for Steve Jobs.

Gyosai, Sanford - Closed

Today I tried the newly opened Gyosai from Tokyo by Japanese on 46. I had the Sushi Bento Box for $9.95. It consisted of a 4 piece California Roll that was a little vinegary. A 4 piece Chef Roll (tempura something bits). A piece of salmon, white tuna, tuna, shrimp and snapper. The fish were all good (the tuna was fading) and the rice was not soft, vinegary nor cold. It also came with a rather gooey interiored, vegetable spring roll , an iceberg lettuce salad with japanese dressing and a pinch of seaweed salad. The place had nothing on the walls (looked like a stir fry Asian take out) and a Japanese stone reflection garden in the front. It seemed to have only 3 employees (service was not fast for the 10 or so customers). I think it has promise. I think the quality here will be better here than in the Chinese run Samurai. I hope they're Japanese run if they say "...by Japanese". However, Samurai will leave you fuller. I think the loser in the Lake Mary/Sanford sushi wars must be Yokohama and Fuji. Gyosai will probably have the better quality and Samurai the better quantity appeal. I don't include Amura because it is too full of itself. Chains that act like boutique restaurants - for shame.

I recommend that they "pretty-up" the place and get some more staff. I have every confidence that they will. Then I'lll really get picky.

Roma, Apopka

On Tuesday I was taken to Roma Ristorante Italiano on 441 in Apopka. I had the Lasagna with salad for $9.50. The salad was a typically uninspired iceberg, onion circle and tomato wedge (all cold from there imprisonment in the refrigerator) insult. The house dressing was an alright Italian dressing. Can't believe I'm talking about salad. We're talking about salad!? The Lasagna was edible. The portion was average. It had no accoutrements. It was served in a metal (are we dogs?) bowl. The bread was pre-packaged and sliced something. The place was dull with low ceilings. It could have been a coffe shop or an old women's home. The server was pleasant. The food was delivered promptly. It was clean. It was about 1/3rd full. It's everything a road side Italian restaurant in the middle of Apopka Florida would be. At least they weren't loud and rude. But, the meal should have cost about half of what they charge.