I tried these spots on Monday at lunch. I grabbed all items to go. The first is in a strip mall near the bowling alley of Crealde Art School on Aloma east of the street that goes to Winter Park HS. I was going there to try Simply Cheese. It was closed and the selection inside didn't seem worth the effort. The second replaces a Middle Eastern place on 436 in a strip mall near Taino's. The last replaces a Mexican place on 436 past 17-92 (closer to I4). Past the Wawa and McDonald's. I think I have been to all of these at other locations.
Shen Tea - Open for two years. They have another on West Colonial in Winter Garden. I thought I was going to have to waste $5 on a drink to report back. They had food! I tried a chicken floss banh mi for $7. I have never seen chicken floss offered up before. It was dried, shredded chicken with the usual veg. I didn't care for it. Kind of knew I wouldn't. Too tough and chewy. They put pate on all the mains. It didn't work well with this flavored chicken. And they cut it thick. Not schmeared. The veg were fresh. The baguette was crunchy. All in all, it wasn't half bad. Pork sausage, jambon or egg (the other options) are probably damn good. They all cost $7. They also sell $6 Korean corn dogs and $7 steamed or pan fried dumplings, soup dumplings and egg rolls. They sell tea, smoothies, slushies and coffee. Something called crystal boba and popping boba (don't recall seeing that). And some kind of flan looking thing they call "jelly". It is modern and white. A few tables. Better than I expected. Not a chain.
Bella's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria - I tried the lunch special of a pasta (I did lasagna) with two garlic rolls for $11 because two slices and a soda were north of $8 and sandwiches were all $13+. It was ok. Both items lacked flavor. The meat in the lasagna was gray and tastless. The sauce was too. Little ricotta. They layered the pasta sheets on top of each other. No pasta then meat then cheese, etc. It also made the pasta sheets cook unevenly. It also had a metallic taste that I can't explain. It needed some herbs and maybe some salt. I don't think they just reheated a finished lasagna. The guy was back there doing something. What, I have no idea. How do you make a lasagna over the oven? Maybe he was reheating it? Taking pre-cooked sheets and assembling it? The rolls seemed like they would have flavor. The oil darkened the bag. Nope. Not garlic-y. Bland. Seemed freshly baked though. They sell 5 apps, 8 salads, 4 soups, 10 subs, calzones, 3 burgers, 10 pastas, 3 chickens, 5 seafoods, 2 eggplants, 6 stromboli and pizza ($14 for a personal). I didn't see the pizza oven. The kitchen is open. Behind the counter. It looked disheveled. As did the dining area. Around twenty tables. They just moved here (one month) from a location near Lee Rd. They said they (couple) cut their teeth in the Bronx. The language they spoke to each other wasn't Italian though. They were nice and the food was ok. Go if you want something you are probably comfortable with.
Lechonera Altamonte - I just finally tried their original location on E50 if you recall. I only tried some empanadas, so, I tried one piece of pollo asado ($3.50) and a .62 pounds of pernil ($6.67) this time. Ok chicken. Not a ton of flavor. Dry pork hunks. Not a ton of flavor. Same assortment (mofongo, etc) as the other location. Nicer interior. Less crowded. Open for a week.
No comments:
Post a Comment