I tried these spots yesterday at lunch. The first is at Pointe Orlando. The second is in the first strip mall on the right on Turkey Lake Rd south of Sand Lake Rd. The third is at Via Dellagio on Sand Lake Rd. The last is in a strip mall on Sand Lake heading back to I4. Across from the Mc Donald's.
Kavas - Probably a national Mexican chain. Even the waiter kind of apologized for it NOT being Mexican food. Seats over 100. Multi-colored. Mask and Frida Kahlo murals. Steel and straw chandeliers. Cloth hangings. Black colored "canvas". Not so high ceilings. Exposed duct work. Bar on the left. Two aisles of seats merging into a main room. I think there was a patio. Mariachi band and dj booth. Too dark. I had a taco salad with chicken for $17. I had decided on this the last time I was here checking in on their new neighbors. It is the only real "value". It was ok. Bowl wasn't warmed. Chicken was probably the top half of a breast sliced lengthwise. Better quailty than I expected. Romaine. Some black beans/awful shredded cheese/diced tomato and sour cream and ok guac. Mini balls. The salad needed dressing. Chips and salsa weren't complimentary. I think the main menu has fajitas at $25. The cheapest kind. For an example of pricing. The usual Mexican fare. They also have a brunch menu on the weekend. But, the prices weren't any cheaper and I wasn't in the mood for eggs. It was much more full than during the week. All kinds. It wasn't bad, but, I've been brought up to reject chain experiences. And I'm not sure that that is a handicap/fault. However, if you like mariachi bands (unlike Ben Stiller in that movie where he is a newlywed in Mexico - Heartbreak Kid?) blaring "happy birthday" or alternately getting on the table to pour tequila shots down a bachelorette's throat while playing "Tequila", then have I got a place for you. They said they validate parking. It may be a bit complicated though (signs had some bs list of demands through your phone to satisfy them/pay). I don't think you can just swipe a cc. And I think their lot has removed any human interaction altogether. What if you are a tourist without a sim card? How do you get out? 86 69-ing! I park in a free, tow threatening lot next door. Yet to be towed.
Rawsha - Iraqi owner serving Med fare. I believe it JUST opened. I believe it is in the sad Med space I went to during the Boiled Fish post. It has had a total refurb if that is the case. Narrow floor plan. Ten tables. Seven fours and three twos. On the right side. Prep area on the left. Off white with gray. Unused serving platters and small mirrors as wall decoration. Tasteful. There was some kind of "bathroom" odor. 1 server. 6 cooks (including the owner). They said he was the only one allowed to shave the meat for shwarmas. I like that. Quality control. Means it is an important dish to them not fast food part of menu. I missed if he did or if it had been preshaved and heated up. The beef looked like THEY prepared the block of meat on the gyrator. I wonder if that has a name? It was very good. Fresh, paper thin lavosh. Browned. Tender, warm and sweet spiced beef. Tomato, onion and pickles and bitter herbs. Nice hummus or tahini or a mix. It was very white. Not enough to dissect. The one criticism is that it was not exactly busting at the seams (that denotes class right?). Probably a Fav though. Had it (unheated) for dinner. Held up. They did not have a chicken one that day. Had chicken kebabs/kofte though. Dips and salads are their apps. 6 wraps ($10-$15). 4 sides ($6-$8). 8 shwarmas if you count combos, etc ($12-$22). 7 grills ($20-$35). They have lamb chops, falafel, cheese rolls, tikka as some of the less traditional options. I think I have only had Iraqi food from Kurds before. I'm not sure if (even) they or other Iraqi would say that counts. They said this was a motley crew. I wonder from which parts. Maybe I've had some now? It had more customers than I expected. And a mixed crowd. I'm satisfied that the rest of the menu will be done with care/finesse too. Have to come back again. That last bite was magic.
Nola's Ice Cream - They said it was the other partner from Sampaguita. Open for a few months. Opens at 2p on week days. Noon on weekends. White store. Business side on the right. Around ten flavors. I had the Vietnamese Che for $5. It was bad. I thought I put Sampaguita as a Fav. This was green and white colored with coconut and cinnamon flavor. It was really fluffy. In a bad way. The worst kind of mass produced, frozen ice cream mouth feel. I can't believe this was the expected result. I don't recall reading about this "style". Nevertheless, the most important thing about the place is that there is a false wall behind where you order and it leads to Nabe. I took a peek. It is small, but, looks excellent. Very posh.
Melt n Dip - Opened six months ago. They sell fancified (expensive) versions of waffles, crepes, cookies, cakes and dip sticks. An interesting one was the fettucine (cut) crepe. Drinks and gelato and shakes and fruit plates too. After Nola, I had to cleanse myself. I had their Mandarin gelato for $5. Better. Larger. But, it must have been old. Lots of frozen areas. A milkshake (didn't see the size) was only $7. Black. Around 20 tables. L shaped. Windows. High ceilings. Prices in mid to high teens. I liked the inventiveness (ie pouch crepe). Not sure who we have to thank for that. Sweets are not my baliwick. The owner was asked (not by me) where he was from. He said Palestine. Didn't say if if it was closer to the river or the sea. Not sure if this stuff is ordinary fare there. Or from a way station he passed through. Parking is limited. The generic sounding name belies what is offered. Those with an insufferable curiosity or just a sweet tooth may be surprised at what is hiding here in this non-descript location. Proper execution assumed.
*I also did a pass through the Rosen Plaza across from Pointe Orlando. They have a poor looking buffet at Cafe Matisse. A coffee bar called Smooth Java. An event and pool bar (closed for private affair) boite called 39 Poolside. And Jack's Place. That is the old timer. Always meant to try it. Valet, dinner only, grandpa/steakhouse menu and high (most around $40-50 with a low bar of $34?) buy in means it ain't gonna happen. Unless you're paying. And can I say that we can have some fun here in the City of Light. Mexican, Iraqi, Vietnamese and Undetermined in one square mile in one part of one day. And mostly afterthoughts. That is the real Epic Universe.
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