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.