I tried these spots Saturday at dinner. The first is in a strip mall across from Hourglass Brewery on Ronald Reagan Blvd. The second is in a strip mall on Lake Mary Blvd on the road that goes to the high school. There is a Chamberlain's there. I was going to go to a place called Longwood Social Club initially. The entire row of shops it was on seemed condemned. I guess it is too. It was there a few weeks ago.
Guntur Kitchen - I have been told it is a location in India (Andhra Pradesh in the SE of India) known for spice (chili capitol of India). It has a small menu that I believe changes frequently. Today they had three mains. Mutton with rice or dosa, Chicken something and Vegetable Kheema Dum Biryani. I had the biryani for $16 to go. It was probably the best I've had. The two toned (white and yellow) basmati was prepared perfectly. Soft. Moist. Whatever the make up of the wads of vegetable were, they were terrific. Some much of them. Tempeh? *I just looked it up and this dish is made with minced meat. Receipt says Veg though. The portion size was fit for four. The spicing was remarkable. And I'm no vegan. But, like In and Out burgers, I'm coming to the conclusion that as the former are tastier without cheese, Indian food may not improve with meat. You really can never taste it anyway. They included the best raita I've ever had. A bit spicy with cucumber and onion and tomato. They also had around a dozen apps like dosas and snacks like fried chicken. A few desserts and drinks like lassi. The place is small. Four mis-mosh tables. Red and yellow and white and gray. A few framed pieces of art on one wall. Closed Monday and Tuesday. I think they do lunch. It's a mom and pop shop. Opened a few months ago. Will be a Favorite. No added charges.
Made in Puerto Rico - They said they have one by the Cracker Barrel at the airport on 4366 and in Throgs Neck NY. I can't believe I wasn't aware or haven't seen the first. Huge menu of the usuals. Plus they do brunch on the weekends and catering. Open for lunch and dinner. Fancy. I had the pollo guisado (chicken stew) with side for $16 to go because I don't love Puerto Rican food and I thought the biryani may need help in the form of chicken. The shoestring fries (side) were perfect. Alot. I ate them with the raita. The four small pieces of bone in thigh meat were fine. No real flavor. The sauce is tomato based. It also was pretty bland. Came with a with slices of carrot and potato. Also bland. Not a huge portion of stew. I ate it with the biryani the next day. Rhett and Link have this segment where they ask "Will it?" Like soda ramen. Guisado. Will it biryani? Yes! They pork and steak, seafood and chicken dishes. A few sandwiches at $17. A trifongo (new to me). Prices rise to $65. They spent alot on the refurb. It was the Lake Mary Social Club or something and a dive bar before that. Never went. Scarface vibe. Mostly shiny black. Two fake white leaved trees. Split into a seated bar section with a few high tops and three tables near the bath. Four booths aside four tables of four and then two tables of six. There were some kind of techno light projectors above them. The bar stocked top shelf booze. Around ten beers on tap. Digital displays were pimping Happy Hour, Super Bowl Watch Party, Champagne Brunch and Ladies' Night. Marc Anthony was on the wall and the speakers. Other paintings of Puerto Rican celebrities. Lots of staff in black. The crowd and staff were all Hispanic. They chose a weird neighborhood to put down roots in. I am not aware of a large wealthy Hispanic population in that area. But, I don't know everything. That strip mall doesn't have a reputation for success. I think the Tijuana Flats is pretty much the only survivor/attempter over the years. They are surely taking the biggest swing at changing that. I hope they beat the odds. I may have seen enough to make them a Fav. The attractive hostess and great fries didn't hurt their chances. Opened two weeks ago. I believe they have a sign that read that they had lunches starting at $9.99. It will be interesting to see how they juggle the vibe/clientele. Dressy/clubby evenings with a likely sloppy lunch crowd. They added a charge for credit card.
*Apropos of nothing, Aldi has further diminished Winn Dixie (as if that was possible) by changing out their tuna fish supplier. No pull top. Less full though the label says the same ounces. Water weight? Way inferior quality of tuna. Worse label. Raised the price. This is hardly the only negative change. With no positive ones. Keep on truckin' Aldiculous Aldicks. I mean fuckin'.
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