Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Daya (Closed), Braccia and Fairbank's Diner (Closed)

I wasn't really looking forward to eating at any of these places anyway, so. I took my medicine all in one day. The first two require that spine rattling drive to Morse Blvd in the middle of Park Ave and the other is on Fairbanks near Paco's. It is very probable that one of these establishments allowed an employee with the flu to stay at work and spread the bug to it's customers.

Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. 

Daya - This place replaces Nopa. Curiously, it is another plant based restaurant now next to the defunct raw food one from a little while ago. They have done next to nothing with the decor. Replaces the wine display area and some art. My table was not wiped down properly. You could see the soapy residue. I'll admit that I don't get the cult of veganism. It's so insistent. I've rarely had a decent dish at one of these places. Maybe a salad. I've gone through periods in my life where I was way health conscious and I agree that you usually feel great eating like this. However, there is only so much that can be done with this stuff. You're just happy some if it tastes sweet. And with the premium they usually charge, I'm often left wondering at the business model. It has to be some people desperate to get out and flaunt their colors. An Instagram-hearted egotist shouting to one part of the community"Hey, look at me. I'm like you - superior" and to the other - "I'm better than you". The funny thing is that these people (also in the cult of Apple Inc and Whole Foods) usually are better in just one respect (two if you count self delusion). They can waste (someone else's) money like nobody's business (and they usually aren't any healthier looking or skinnier - lots of vegan recipes are very caloric). Speaking of which, I had a tofu taco for $4. How much is it on not a Taco Tuesday? Actually $17. I'll guess that gets you 3? And $6 for a half order of a beet and apple salad. The taco was good. A good slaw. The salad was blah. Lots of diced beet. Some apple. Some dried (cranberries or little figs)? A top of your pinkie's worth of something that was to approximate goat's cheese. Barely any greens. I think the dressing was just oil. I also ordered some hippy coke that had no color and tasted horrible. Remember when the actual cola companies tried clear cola? The whole menu consists of flatbreads, wraps, soup, salad, "burgers", desserts and some Asian and Italian inspired entrees. Most things are double digits. High of $21. Service was a one woman show. There were six other people there at lunch time. I'm happy that this cohort has a place they can call home. It keeps them away from me (I felt for the poor Dad next to me that had to suffer through this because his scarecrow-looking daughter who must of been in college but looked thirty must of insisted on it). I'm just worried that I'll be back reviewing another attempt in this same spot a few months from now. It has been open for over half a year. The name means compassion in Hindi. Not sure I have it.

Braccia Pizzeria - This place is owned by a Brazilian box salesman. Which is kind of funny because the pizzas resemble them. It is a quasi-Brazilian take on pizza. The crusts are really thin and brittle. Almost a cracker. I had a plain cheese (cheapest) for $12. I'm glad I didn't go up market. Any topping (though they would would have added much needed flavor) would have caused the slices to fall apart under the weight. It was already crumbling with the weight of oregano. The taste is hard one to explain. Every time I wanted to conclude that I hated it, a bite would come along that argued "this ain't so bad". The cheese is flavorless. The sauce is almost non-existent. Yet, sometimes you'd get a bite of "crust" and the rest and it would be good. The menu is mostly pizza. Some meat entrees ($25 and up), apps, salads and pasta ($13 and up). The place is cute. I can't remember if any of it is leftover from the raw food place. The walls are a grey wood. They have some cut out plastic astro turf on the walls. A cool mini, glass wine "cellar".  It seats only around forty. The pizzas take no time to come out. I think they pre-bake the "shells". It has been empty (I mean nada) the three times I've walked by. It has been open for two months. I can't see it surviving.

Fairbanks Diner - They say they are older than Linda's and I wouldn't argue from the looks of it. It has a Western theme if any. It is worn. I just had a cheeseburger deluxe because I wasn't that hungry. It tasted like meatloaf. It had "bits" in it. The cheese was super salty. What is up with American cheese lately? It wasn't always this salty. The T and L were soft. Service was fine. The clientele is either on Social Security or scraping by. They have around five daily specials each day. If Linda's and this place are McDonald's and BK. This is BK.

Grub Crawl - Lake Mary: Royals English Tea Room and Lake Mary's Grill and Pub

These places are near City Hall. I went to the first today and the second a few months ago.

Royals - They opened seven months ago. It's a little space near Lighthouse Seafood (behind the 7-11) and a dry cleaner. I had a salmon paste and cucumber sandwich for $7. It was fine. A tiny thing. Way over priced at $7. It was so insignificant that they hadn't had time to pour my tea before it was in my belly. The tea was Dragon Lilly at $4. I ordered a dessert out of curiosity and necessity. It was Treacle Pudding in custard for $6. It was a sponge cake soaked in a syrup in a soupy custard. I think it was nuked. It was fine. Very sweet. Ruined the tea for my tongue. It's run by a couple that I'm guessing is from Sussex. My mechanic is and they sound similar. You would think with all the Disney films and BBC I grew up on I would be able to decipher these accents by now. The room seats around forty. They do their best to make it seem English (ie mass produced commemorative ceramic plates) on a budget. They have a "big" menu of sandwiches. I say "big" because they kind of take all the things we throw together on one sandwich and make ten out of them, They have soups, desserts, quiches, salads, tea time platters, etc. Afternoon tea was started during the Industrial (Victorian) age to assuage the hunger and boredom of married women in between the afternoon and dinner meal that was now taking place at a later hour (darn time pieces, lighting and mercantilism). As such, the items were created for tinier appetites. Meaning that this may be more of a place for the Missus than the Master. It is interesting as a cultural experience though. The owners were nice. They seem to have a following. There is another tea room closer to I4 and one in Sanford. I guess I should be proud that we are so refined that we need three tea rooms. Closed on Monday.

Lake Mary's Grill and Pub - I went here a few months ago after I took the Sunrail back from downtown. I couldn't recall the name exactly so I didn't add them. I had a fried clam dinner for around $7. It was ok. It's a divey bar that has pool tables. It has been there (one street behind the City Hall area closer to 46) forever. 

Mom's Kitchen, Altamonte Springs - Closed

I went to this cafe two Wednesday's ago. It's in the back of a nearly abandoned strip mall on 436. I think the anchor tenant is a Aldi's or some cheap supermarket. It was a Circuit City way back. Between Ronald Reagan and 17-92. It seems to be family run by a Latino family. They have been at it for two years (I think). How anyone has found them is beyond me. I just had some eggs with sausage and home fries because the dicks at Subway (the lunch the day before) poisoned me again and I could feel the repercussions boiling over inside me. They boiled over on the way to the airport. Sorry McDonald's. Is that an Unhappy Meal? Any hoo, back to the review. The eggs were a little under done. Not all the white was cooked. The sausages were small. The potatoes were ok. It cost $6. They also do most of your typical breakfast and lunch stuff. Specials. They close at 2pm. Makes me wonder who is ordering the beer and wine they offer. Nothing costs more than $8. It's clean. It seats around sixty. The room is rectangular.

Merk's Bar and Grill, New Smyrna Beach

I had dinner at this "local's fav" restaurant across from Outriggers on Sunday. (from NSB) You go over the draw bridge to the North Causeway. I almost left. It was jammed with drunks watching football. The staff seemed to be oblivious to my existence. In about fifteen minutes, I got a menu and my order in. I tried the snapper sandwich to confirm my suspicion that Pop Thai subbed out my snapper when I ate there. Suspicion confirmed! This time I got real snapper. Red snapper. A big piece. Clean tasting. Perfectly cooked. I didn't even eat the bun. That would have been an insult to the fish. It cost $12. It came with a side. I chose home made potato chips. Another winner. Needless to say I was stunned. Locals have told me about this place, but, I was way sceptical when I saw a menu that all but mirrored the ordinary surroundings. A hodge podge of junk food. However, if they do wings and burgers and burritos as well as they did the fish then good on them. The menu is vast. I just named a few sections. They have all the favs. It seats around seventy. Like I said, it was packed. I kind of expected a view of the water. No luck.  I usually hate this type of place. Amazing what a properly listed and cooked piece of fish can do.

Wake Up Cafe, New Smyrna Beach

This place is next to Off The Hook in the Indian river Village Shopping Center of A1A. I ate lunch here on Sunday. It's a coffee shop run by an Argentine who draws from his own country (father had a lomito stand - beef sandwich) and Spanish influences. I had a Latin Special that consisted of two eggs, a chicken empanada and a side. I chose the grits with Pisto Manchego (a mix of tomato, zucchini, squash, bell peppers , onions, garlic and manchego cheese). That was the highlight. A big bowl. The eggs were fine too. The empanada was a little oil filled. It was fresh though. They have a nice menu. Just open from 9-2. Prices are good. Eggs Benedict is only $8. A bagel with cc is $2. My meal was $6. They have breakfast items and sandwiches and soups and salads. Around 10 Argentinian items. The place seats around forty. They have a counter. Service was good. They have been open for 3 years. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better breakfast in NSB. It was full when I tried it. I don't seem to be alone in my belief. I like the blend of cultures and it feels like it still has the original puppeteer behind the curtain. Nice find.

Pub Crawl - Downtown: Tsar and Ferg's Depot (Closed)

Tsar is around the corner from Much Nacho's (across from Oudom) on South Eola and Ferg's is on the train track at Church St.

Tsar - I went here after dinner at 10pm. There were about ten dudes there. Some older groups came in later. It has been open for a month. I don't know if it is the name, but, it reminds me of the sort of bar that usually has a drunken money manager or wise guy holding court amidst a table full of Champagnes with names he can't pronounce and Vodka and Red Bull. Think techno music from ten years ago and mirrors and faux marble. It's not trashy. It's just a bit Kardashian. A place you would take a Real Housewife. Don't get me wrong. I spent alot of my misspent youth in places like this. I may even have spent the night here if the crowd was right. It may have been. I was just too ticked off at the humidity (walked from Church St) and the general sense of dullness I sensed in the air to find out. My mind was on getting back to Downtown. Try it. They have a nice selection of hard liquor. I think I read some Turks own it.

Ferg's Depot - We had "too big to fail". Do we now have "too big not to fail"? I grabbed a beer here. They aren't really open yet, but, they were serving some beer to FSU fans watching the game with Miami. The place replaces the whole train depot. I guess it's going to be a restaurant too. Grand plans and I hope it works because it looks like they took this seriously. However, they are going to need alot of customers. El Jefe just closed. Graffiti Junction is a new neighbor. I wish them luck. I'll check back in a couple weeks.

It was Gay Pride day on Saturday. I don't know if that killed the vibe, but, the area was dead and I saw alot of Black College weekenders driving in. On the DL? I also want to dispel the notion that gays are neat. Ask the streets of Orlando after the festivities.

Oudom, Thornton Park - Closed

I was slated to try another new restaurant in the area, but, I didn't like their attitude. I stumbled upon this replacement for that corner spot on 100 South Eola Dr. It's now a Thai/Sushi spot. It opened less than a month ago. I hadn't heard or read anything about it. I balled and had their steak tartare (because it was so out of place) and their Triple Flavor Crispy Boneless Duck (because of my recent harangue over Thai predictability). The tar was $11 and the duck was $19. At the high end of their section of the menu. The tartare was good. At tad mustardy. They laid it on a bed of cabbage and carrots. I'm not sure if it was meant to be incorporated into the beef, but, it was a nice twist when I did it. The beef cut was chunky. A huge portion (maybe because it was that or let it spoil). The duck was a fail. They fried it and then dumped sauce on it. Guess what happened. The crispy duck became mushy duck. They served a half of duck (sans wings and drums). It was tasty. The breast was a little tough. Lots of uneatable skin. The rice was clumpy and soft. Overcooked. I was full, but, I had to try the sushi for you folks. I had one order of yellowtail for $5. The fishy was soft. The cut thin. The rice was packed too tight. The rice was average to below average in general. Service was ok. They did barely anything to the decor. It was nice to begin with though. Side note - why are they constantly redoing perfectly beautiful spaces when so many other spaces are in need of a make over. End note. They corralled everyone into the bar area. The hostess' screaming kids ran around. It was a sparse crowd that seemed mainly to be friends/family. I applaud the chances they are taking. I'd prefer some extra Thai stuff rather than Japanese or Chinese (or French) recipes. Re-invent it if you have to. Inspect what the sushi guy is doing too. Pricing was good for the area. Room to improve. Never found out what Oudom means. The tap water was undrinkable.

Southern Smoke Fish and Ribs, West Colonial

I grabbed a snack to go from this new (one month) BBQ place on 50 near the old O-rena on Saturday. It was a proximity call. I had the brisket sandwich for $9. It came with one side and I chose the fried corn (on the cob) because I had never had that. They said it was a special item. The brisket was ok. A little dry and tough. The real killer is that they used a deli slicer to cut it. I'm not sure if this is old school stupidity (they did this in Eustis too) or what, but, you need to hand slice brisket. You can't (easily) cut on a bias with a machine and the slices are too thin. It kills the texture. Those slices need to be at least pinkie thick. Watch a cooking show every once in a while! It did have some smoke flavor and some bark. You could see the smoker smoking away on the path to the entrance. They made it a sandwich with greasy Texas toast. You love it. I hate it. Waste of calories. On top of the meat they placed some shredded cheddar, onions rings and a sweet bbq sauce. It melded well as a sandwich. Not too much brisket though. A coil of about two/three slices. The corn was fine. They said it was a South American item. The cashier's English wasn't good enough to confirm and the cook kind of ignored my questions. Side note - why do certain segments of society get so suspicious if you start asking innocuous questions? I could see if I was asking about people or if he witnessed any illegal activity, but, cooking questions? I'm just making conversation and showing interest in your life's work. End side note. The frying probably just warmed the corn. It was just in there for a sec. It didn't seem to penetrate the skin, so, it may not be the worst thing for you. They piled on some aged and cheddar cheese (like the Mexicans do). The place has a western theme that I think the last place had. It was an Italian sandwich place and something else.I can't keep track.  It seats about thirty. There were two others there at three. They serve pork, ribs, chicken, cat fish, turkey wings, chicken wings, tilapia and sides.The most expensive thing is $14 (if you exclude a $21 rib platter). An old fashioned, self taught sort of place that is close to good. Ten years ago this is what we thought good bbq was (ala Bubbalou's). Then the hipsters refined it. I tried to get out of him what style the bbq was and didn't get an answer.

Winter Garden Pizza Company, Winter Garden

I grabbed a slice on the way out of town at this pizzeria on Plant St on Saturday. It's next to that wine bar that is next to Moon Cricket. I think half of it was a sweet shop a few years ago. One side has an awning with something about ice cream on it. Confusing. My slice came from a temporary sales area they had for the fair. It was $2.50 with pep. It was a good American style slice. Cheap cheese, thick, no crust, but, satisfying. The place (one half at least) looks cute. It has high ceilings and brick walls with colorful murals. It was full. It seats about eighty. Some subs and pasta, but, mostly pizza .

al Fresco, Winter Garden - Closed

I had lunch at this Mediterranean/Italian place behind the theater off Plant St on Saturday. Did you know Mediterranean means middle earth/land in Greek? They thought they were the center of the world back then. I wish this place disappointed and then I could use that bit of trivia to make a snarky point. Alas, after a bit of a hiccup in the table assignment department (they tried to put me in direct sunlight), I had a nice meal here. I came here once and it was closed (weekday lunch? I forget). And again on a Sunday - overpriced buffet brunch. So, I was ready to be pissy. I ordered the cheapest thing because I had little confidence in the outcome and there was a street fair with food trucks/stalls down the street. Man was I surprised. Side note - why do I always have to anticipate the worst in life to get the best? What is the cosmic assholery that allows/demands this? End side note. I had a falafel wrap with a faro salad for $9. The falafels were made skinny so they fit in the pita and didn't require you to dislodge your jaw like a snake (or some girls we know - am I right fellas?) to bite into. They were freshly fried and not dry. There were some cukes, etc in there and some good hummus. Side note - I still think it is funny that hummus had become so popular with this whole war on Islam thing going on - end side note. They even grilled the tortilla (it wasn't lavosh). The faro was mixed with arugula, black olives, red peppers and cukes (maybe tomato and onion). The veg were fresh and the faro was plump. Faro is way better than couscous if this was a riff on tabouli. They gave refills. The menu has a little bit of everything. They even try fish. The room is L shaped. The stick part of the L is a little extraneous. It borders the "peek in" kitchen and they put some table tops down the hall. The main area borders a bar and seats about 40. I think I recall a patio. The ambiance isn't transporting, but, it is nice. Yellow tones. It has been open for 3 years. They have a ton of staff. They seem to "give a turkey" as The Bandit always says. It's a good choice if you are in town.

Mount Dora Brewing, Mount Dora

I tried the selection of ales at this bar/restaurant/brewery on S. Highland St (intersects with 46) on Friday night. This was the real reason I came to MD. The place was more pleasing than the beer. It's located in the ex-woodshop of the brew master. A cute, tool shed like place with tons of kitsch. It was almost full (thirty people) with mostly middle aged patrons. They had a band playing mostly 70-90's covers. They have been brewing for six years. I tried a flight for $8. It's three beers made into six. They have a sweet blonde ale. A sweet porter. And an ok red ale. And three mixes. Oh, and a seasonal blueberry ale that was the best, but of course, the one that was never going to be brewed again. I was disappointed with the breadth and quality and definitely with the mixing. If the region has around ten or twelve (depending on if you count restaurants) breweries then this may be third from the bottom (Orlando Brewing and Winter Park) . The place is fun though and they are connected (soon to be literally) with the restaurant next door. It's not bad beer. The competition is just getting pretty good. They close at 3pm on week days (open at 9am) to brew. They are only open after 3pm on the weekends (that must include Fri). They have a small selection of other craft beer plus wine. The patio/beer garden outside is large. Nice people.

The Bavarian Haus, Mount Dora

I had dinner at this German restaurant on Alexander St (one west of the main street) on Friday. I had the Leberkase mit Spiegelei for $12, It is a slice of pork and veal (bologna) with mashed potatoes and gravy topped with a fried egg. It was as good as fried bologna can be. I just didn't really want schnitzel or brats - etc. The potatoes were rich (buttery). The place is cute. It's a little home. They had a guy playing German folk music. They dressed in Bavarian garb. The menu is from the region of Bavaria (south). It seats about 40 outside on a porch and 30 inside. It was almost full and with what still confounds me - people of all stripes. Who knew German was so widely accepted? Cars maybe. Food? It has been open for six years. The owners are German. Service was good. The food came out quick.

Grub Crawl - New Smyrna Beach: Off The Hook and Cafe Heavenly

I tried these spots on Friday. The first is near The Spanish River Grill in the Publix shopping area off A1A. The second is near the drawbridge on Flagler Ave.

Off The Hook - I first noticed this seafood restaurant when I found Spanish River. It seemed kind of inauthentic, so, I put it off until now. I will say that I still think the vibe is kind of manufactured. It seems like a chain. Some people are placed at ease by that kind of clean familiarity. I'm not one of them. I had a mahi Puffy Fish Tacos with fries for what I think was $12. I say "think" because I didn't get a bill. I opined (when asked) that I didn't think the fish was fresh (fishy tasting) and they comped the meal. I really wasn't looking for that (you know I just have a big mouth and a penchant for using verbal exchanges for more than social bonding), but, it is good to know that they take their reputation seriously and cultivate it with more than lip service. Then again, maybe they knew this batch of mahi should have found its way into a wastebasket and they really didn't lose anything in the bargain. I will argue that this may have been more a case of a rogue fillet than a financial decision. Perhaps a sourcing or storage problem. I am inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt based on the totality of the service. And it wasn't "piss out of your ass hours later" fishy. The portion size was large (two tail sections) and otherwise cooked well. The fries were good. The salsa was cold and tasteless. They even offered a to go soda that I should have accepted. The place seats about 90. It is clean. It looks like a Tommy Bahama's shirt. Service was good. The menu was a tad ordinary. All in all - ordinary. But, that seems to be the sweet spot for Joe Sixpack (a six pack of Mic Ultra of course).

Cafe Heavenly - This place has been tormenting me since I saw the sign for its lobster rolls last Fall. I know the odds are 1 in 10 for getting a decent/inexpensive lobster roll (1 in 30 in Florida), but, I hoped that they could stand up to the scrutiny. They could not. Here is the problem in a nutshell. Most places fail because they use lobster than has been emaciated from it's time in captivity. Plus they boil instead of steaming (robs them of any sweetness). Side bar - I mean how retarded are people (especially people whom have grown up around the sea) that they don't get that boiling sucks as a cooking method. It even sucks for vegetables and meat. How does no one get that it should be left to the Russians and Germans.They are too miserable to notice they difference.  I see cooking shows and pro's are boiling their seafood. I want to strangle them. End of side bar. Then the "boils" are too far in between. Then they only use the shit parts of the lobster. I won't even get into the guys who use frozen parts. Heavenly gave me three, limp, small, tasteless pincher claws. They didn't even mix in the mayo or cut up the claws. Some say the pinchers are sweeter than the "crushing" claw. Not if you boil it and don't trim the "fingers". Then it's just the least meaty part of the lobster with bitter ends. Plus they had the audacity to charge $19 for this junior version (regular = $23). You know how I know the price is obscene? I saw a $5 off coupon for the "Jr" in a local magazine. That means they can take an extra $5 off and still not blink at the profit margin. This is a $10 lobster roll at best. And that means that you should skip it and order something else that might actually be good. They serve some other seafood, but, it is overpriced too for a place with zero allure. It is just a deli looking place that seem to be two places next to each other. They also serve pizza and the way they do the signage it looks like two different locations. The pizza parlor looked promising. Wood fire. They start at $11 for individuals, but, go up to $24 for a lobster pizza. The gelato looked good. If I had to guess, the place is run by some goombas from Long Island or NE. You realize the cost of living is lower down here, right? This isn't even Jupiter Florida. They are the only ones who think they can do both seafood and pizza. They also serve flatbreads and sandwiches in many forms. And smoothies. I found it be too much of a joint for these price points. Either pony up and get a real location with a paved driveway and adequate seating or pass some of that saved coin back to your customers. I can only say, first hand, that your lobster rolls suck (and the wine selection). The rest may be good (even great), but, $13 for a panini? $17 for one crab cake? That shitty Caesar salad side doesn't balance out. Drop those prices or improve the non-culinary elements of you endeavor. I'd ignore their food truck too.

Makis Place, Winter Park

I grabbed some hand rolls to go at this new (two months) maki (rolled sushi) place near the BurgerFi on the corner of Park Ave near Rollins College. It's an interesting concept. It's a chain from Brazil (run by a Brazilian guy) that serves a Brazilian brand of sushi. I though that sounded strange and stupid, but, it was damn good. I've been exposed to alot of Brazilian twists since moving down here. I've experienced: Brazilian rice bowls, potatoes, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, Middle Eastern food, pizzas, etc. I though I could draw at line at sushi. Who even knew they ate sushi? Let alone enough of it to begin tinkering with it. I had a Cameroon (salmon, peanuts and some kind of fermented mini shrimp in a Thai sauce) for $7 (actually $6 if you do the two for $12 option - do this). A salmon with cooked mushrooms and cream cheese for $7. A California with mango for $5. All were great. The rice sucked. It was pasty, but, they can fix that. Probably just need to rinse the rice before steaming or make less at one time. They are all just mind expanders. A whole new level of sushi. You could probably expel the salmon (really good and fatty) and still have a flavor sensation. Even cc (just a tad served in sprinklings) and mushrooms work. They also "peeled/shredded" the crab in the CR. A slight touch, but, much better than leaving it as that stick it's molded into. At least I could have pretended it wasn't some crap fish colored and flavored into looking like King crab. A lot of these rolls came in their own sauce. You didn't need soy and wasabi. They also filled them down to the bottom of the cone. It wasn't a rice cone with some toppings to fool you. This is also a little thing, but, the packaging they wrapped it in and even the chop sticks were quality. These little touches tell you alot about a place and its owner. They also serve cut rolls and sashimi. I think they had other stuff, but, I forgot.  I saw some guy's' sashimi platter on the way out and it looked fresh. The tuna I saw in the "case" looked a little pale. In any event, it is much better quality than I expected from a fast casual place. Almost, if not at, "real" sushi restaurant quality. The place seats about forty. It looks hip. The staff was personable. If I went to Rollins I would be here all the time (especially if I was a Grad Student). And not just because it is so close. If I worked nearby, this would be my take out three times a week. I couldn't understand why someone would open a maki place right across from a very good sushi restaurant (in a spot that no sushi place has survived in for long), but, now I get the logic. It isn't that it is less of a hassle or cheaper. It is the Brazilian twist. They have to play that up and hope that enough people are curious enough to expand their sushi vocabulary. It's also good for take home too. If I was giving odds, I think I'd rather have the Maki niche than the Umi niche.

Park Station, Winter Park

I had lunch at this American restaurant on Park Ave on Sunday. It replaces a French place that closed down about a year ago which replaced.... It is run by the people who ran the now shuttered Nopa. I didn't love Nopa. I thought it was a little unrefined for Winter Park and its own pretensions. Park Station is much more in tune with both of those. It looks sharp. They added a new bar backdrop (lighted and yellow) and either added or overlaid the bar/dining room divider with a nicely crafted, etched wood shell. They also added some chandeliers made of steel pipe, old fashioned light bulbs and framed photos of old coastal Florida. I would have hidden the tacky stucco facade on the far wall. It was an eyesore and poorly crafted when it was put in by previous ownership. I think it was an Italian theme then. The bar seats about ten. It had some boozy divorcees and couples watching football. The front dining area is mostly two seaters (a blessing for lonely guys like me and I think a smarter choice - you can always push two tables together but you can't pry them apart), There are about three on the bar side (a little crowded) and six on the other side of the "wall". The back has some four seaters and I believe the have some tables in the enclosed area out the back. They have around six tables outside as well. The tables and chairs are new and nice.  It was about half full at lunch. I was looking for another place, but, I forgot the name and I hid here when it started drizzling. The menu is about $5 too high on every item and the apps are all entree priced. I had ribs with truffle fries and a kale salad because that and the eggs benedict were the only things at normal price points. The ribs (5) were good. A tad dry. Probably on their third day. It's so weird, I'm getting better ribs at restaurants than at bbq places lately. They must have been rubbed in black pepper (a slow, back end burn) and maybe coriander. The sauce was heavy and sweet. Not bad. The fries thankfully avoided a wash in that chemical concotion they misrepresent as truffle oil. One area had a puddle of it and the rest were high and dry. The kale salad was more of a slaw and had little discernible kale. It was more cabbage. Some cute little guys that looked like brussel sprouts among the melange. Good. The meal cost $16.50. They jammed me for $3 on a soda. The menu (L and D) has flatbreads and breakfast stuff on the lunch menu. A burger is near $16. More substantial stuff at dinner. It gets up into the thirties. I looked at the menu at Bistro 310 down the street and they are a tad cheaper. A tad less enthralling too. And much less selection (alot of pasta). They kept their wine focus too. It's mainly a California-centric (ie $50 - $10 Cabs) selection, but, they show some diversity. Most wines by the glass are at the price the get at retail for the bottle and the bottles are around a 3X mark up. They offer up a small craft beer selection too. I didn't see any hard stuff. I wasn't expecting to try this place out (you sort of have to know it exists first), but, I'm not sad I did. I think it is a major improvement from Nopa, and if they can tinker with the pricing, it will be there for a while. It has been open for under a month (I think). Service was good.

PSA - UCF Football Coaching Recommendations

Just throwing out some names so we can finally be done with that denture whistling, gin nosed AD. I appreciate what he has accomplished, but, come on - he's past his due date. He'll even admit to it. How about Al Golden or Doug Marrone (Jaguars) or Charlie Strong? They all have Florida ties and though they will probably prove unworthy of their current employment, they may take this job. It's not really a top tier job and could be a good fit for a coach on the rebound. They are good coaches too. Just coaching idiots. Maybe Gus Bradley or Lovie Smith will be so tarnished when they get canned that they would apply. Maybe Joe Philbin for AD? He looks like the empty suit technocrat they like to make an AD.

I also want to thank whatever news station canned Larry Ridley. Who had iller fitting suits or a more pompous tag line. You aren't hard. You are a smurf. Just say "we will be back after this break" like a normal person. Not someone "compensating". And can that guy Ping get caps for his grounded down molars and pluck that Seh girl's eyebrows properly. Marker them in if you have to. And report some SPORTS. It's like a talk show. I don't give a crap about emails, predictions or his brat's intramural bench warming. He hardly show the results of any games. And never anything national. Can we at least get a scroll?

Pop Thai, Mills Ave.

I had dinner at this Thai restaurant on Mills Ave (old Yum-Mi Sandwich) on Friday. Can I first say that I'm sooooooooooooo bored with Thai (and Vietnamese) cuisine. It was a refreshing change from greasy Asian fare when it first started gaining popularity twenty years ago (at least in NYC). Now it reminds me of twentieth century Mexican. The same boring "greatest hits" dishes on every menu. Mexican evolved. I think it is high time the Thai community did as well. Challenge us to more than satay, tom yum and curry. I TRIED to support "the struggle" by ordering the most expensive/ambitious dish they had instead of succumbing to thrift and getting a reliable chicken curry. Big mistake. They pulled the Asian graft on me. That is subbing out the listed "glorified" fish for shit. In this case it was snapper for either talapia or swai. What has a silver skin with a black herring bone pattern? I thought it must be talapia because it was also on the menu. But, I'm not sure that it has that skin. What was worse is that whatever it was, it evinced freezer burn. They fried it to hide the evidence, but, I peeled off the crust. I don't love the fact that the recipe calls for frying what is a delicate tasty filet if it is what it is purported to be and then placing it in a curry bath. The dish also came with some acceptable shrimp (6). Would it kill you to butterfly them? You made a flower out of a carrot. I think you can beautify the co-star of the dish. It had some carrot and zucchini in it for color. I believe the curry (flavorful) was a green curry though it had a white color. The rice (nice heart shape pile) was over cooked. I think the dish was called Thai Delight and cost $20. They gave me an order of cream cheese "rangoon" (fried wonton) for free. I'm appreciative and it was good, but, I don't get how this dish came into being. Who doesn't think cream cheese when they thing of the jungle. Let's keep cream cheese to bagels and places with refrigeration please. The place looks nice. It has a grey/black color scheme. The furniture is new. It's modern luxe. It seats about sixty. There were around five tables seated at dinner. They were playing dance/lounge music. Service was quick and good. My real problem with place (aside from not getting what I was promised) is that we don't need another "me too" Thai place. Adding some "Pop" to it doesn't break through. They do nothing (or not enough) unique. There is no reason to seek this out. Maybe if you live near by. I believe they have been open for two weeks.

Ten10 Brewing Co, Mills Ave

I went to this brewery/eatery at 1010 Virginia (just off Mills across from the supermarket/condo and before Santiago's) on Friday night after work. It has been open for two months (although they said they were having a grand opening on 10/10. It's a first rate brewery. I tried a flight ($8) of four of their lighter beers and everyone was robust and flavorful. They have around ten beers on tap. The place looks great. Factory chic. They have a bar area and tables. Parking in the back. It seats around fifty. There were probably twenty people there at 6 pm. Good addition.