Just Pizza, Sanford - Closed

Today I had lunch at this pizza restaurant near the Seminole Mall. I had a tuna sandwich for $6.30. It was a bit sweet, wet and celery ridden for me. It came with lettuce and tomato. The roll was good. It was a big sandwich. Personally, I would change mayos, drain the tuna and eliminate the celery. However, I know alot of people prefer it their way. The place is big. It seats about 100. Their were two others there today. They have Flatscreens showing the NFL network. They have a drive thru. They have alot of daily specials. What I don't get is the name. They offer alot more than pizza (wings, tacos, salads, etc). In fact pizza is what they do the worst. I went here when it opened, but, did not want to slam it before I tried something other than their reheated, frozen pizza tasting namesake. Maybe the name is short for Not Just Pizza. I would call it Bad Pizza with Some Other Acceptable Food.

Grub Crawl - Winter Garden : Scoops, Sweet Traditions, NYPD Pizza, Caribbean Sunshine, Taquitos Jalisco, Uncle Kenny's BBQ

Scoops Ice Cream, Winter Garden Village - A very good and large Cappuccino flavored Ice Cream with toffee and chocolate pieces. Perfectly priced to come out to $2 with tax. Friendly service. I ordered one scoop, but, probably got two. Cute, old timey creamery space.

Sweet Traditions Bakery and Cafe, Winter Garden Village - I got a Brie Quiche for $3,50. I nuked it for dinner. Still good. They have a patio and a long narrow inside. They have all kinds of confections. Nice staff.

NYPD Pizza, Marsh Road Strip Mall (near Stoneybrook West) - I asked for a cold slice for $2. Might have been wiser to have it heated. It was thin. The crust was nice. Cuter than the Winter Park space.

Caribbean Sunshine, March Road Strip Mall - I tried a a fish (dried cod) pasty or empanada for under $2. It was fine. The service was accommodating. They have events on the weekend.

Taquitos Jalisco, a strip mall on 50 and Dillard - I had a luengua (tongue) soft taco for $1.50. I was alright. It could have been a little more tender. Smaller than their place in Hiawassee.

Uncle Kenny's BBQ/Maryland Fried Chicken, 50 - I had a Pork Basket for $7. The pulled pork sandwich was good. I would go without the side. The mac and cheese was small and tasteless. Save the $2 and go with the sandwich alone. They had a lot of economical daily specials.

Thai Blossom, Winter Garden

On Sunday I had lunch at this Thai restaurant on W. Plant St adjacent to the Edgewater Hotel. I had a Silver Noodle Soup for $4.50 and a Beef Salad for $10. Both were good. I'm not sure that Silver Noodle Soup is Thai (they had alot of dishes I would characterize as Asian rather than Thai). It had a nice chicken stock, vegetables, chicken and a shrimp. The beef salad came in a bowl fashioned out of a head of lettuce. It had more onions than anyone would require, but, the beef was amazingly tender. The sauce was a bit mild (more refined) at the medium level. The place is large (high ceilings). It looks like it could have been an old North Eastern Fish House at some point. They have ten booths of four in the front that are a bit rickety. You will feel it if your neighbor is fidgety. In between and going backwards, there are about 20 four tops. The decor is Thai. The building is a bit worn. The ceiling is exposed air ducts and wiring. They have windows on one side of the building and in the front. The service was fast. A little Asian curtness and aloofness. The place was about 1/3rd full. The crowd was mostly white. A good place, but alone not a destination. The Winter Garden village should be the draw if you go.

Mayfair Country Club, Lake Mary

Yesterday I had lunch at this 19th Hole at the Mayfair Country Club on 46A in between I-4 and 417. I had a Club Sandwich for $9. It was what you'd expect from a working man's golf course snack bar. The cheese was Kraft. The turkey and ham were supermarket brand. The lettuce - iceberg. The tomato - beefsteak. The bread - Wonder. You get the picture. It came with fries (mostly crisp). The place is a notch below nice. Nice view of the course but a little aged. The windows were dirty. It seats about 100 in 4 tops. There were two other people there. They only ordered fries because most of the menu was unavailable due to a family emergency with the purchasing manager. The service was alright once I made myself known as a customer. All in all I thought the menu was about 30% too expensive for what they offer. Especially for a club that I believe was running a $89 yearly membership special. However, If you want a change and a nice view or are unable to go elsewhere in between 18 holes, you could do worse. I believe they have a cheap ($10) dinner special on the weekends.

Pub Crawl - Milk Bar

9:00-9:30pm: Milk Bar in the Milk District. After eschewing the five other bars nearby because of smokers, I tried this sister of Black Cat and Chameleon. People said it was crowded. It is small so that is possible. However, I learned why they call this area the Milk District. The women are all cows. I'm not talking muffin top fat. I'm talking Mike and Molly fat. If you are looking for tons of fun this is your place.

Spooky's Black Cat Cafe, Milk District

I had dinner at this Eclectic restaurant on Robinson off 50 down Bumby on Saturday night. I had ribs with red potatoes for $9. I was disappointed with the meal and with the sparse selection in general (they even ran out of some of the offerings). They served me three tough ribs and a half a hand full of potatoes. I really suggest that non-barbeque joints refrain from serving ribs. You don't cook them long enough. The place mostly serves lunch fare - flatbread, Indian and Mediterranean dips, and wraps. The service is SLOW. How long does it take to stuff a wrap? I got the feeling that the kitchen was a scene out of Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares or Half Baked. I even spotted one underling rushing out to the 7-11 for ice. I hope the refrigerator didn't go down. The service is pleasant but undermanned. There is one Joe Walsh looking hippy and the Manager. If the food didn't come out so slow you would really feel the lack of wait staff. The place is a cross between a stoner's dorm room and a deli. It's furnished with all forms of furnishing recycled from the street on trash day (they even have an old futon cover on the ceiling). It gives it character. But Gary Busey is a character too and I'm not sure how much time you would want to spend with him. They have a big beer menu (what I think most people come for). They also sell wine. Wine that you can find a block over at Total Wine for half the price. I could see my way recommending it for lunch. Tepidly. It's small. It seats about 20. People were waiting for seats. The place was patronized by a surprisingly diverse set of people for a hipster spot in the middle of no where. I should note that I was only there because my first choice - The Social Chameleon (a sister restaurant) - could only seat ten inside.

San Jose's, Altamonte Springs

I had lunch today at this Mexican restaurant in the farthest, rear part of the strip mall off 434 that contains a Wal-Mart. I had a Stuffed Burrito for $6.25. It was full (like 1/2 a pound) of shredded beef. It also was stuffed with rice and beans. It had Guacamole, Sour Cream, Lettuce and Cheese on top. It was resting in a cheese sauce. I liked that they kept the cool and hot ingredients separate. It was good although they used way too much black pepper for some reason. Some other weird things. I think they baked the burrito. The plate was scalding and the tortilla was toasted (bad). However, the cheese sauce was congealed. I don't know what the hell was going on. Plus the Guacamole tasted like celery. Maybe it was the lettuce. Maybe they put the lettuce near the celery in the fridge? The chips were ok. The salsa was a bit to viscous and garlicky for me. The service was quick and pleasant. It's a big (100) place with a bar and a large patio. They have booths and tables. Most entrees cost under $10 at dinner. There were about 12 people there. It has a pastel, Mexican theme. Fine not spectacular. The Sodas were $2.

Metro Burger, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch last Thursday at this build your own Burger restaurant in Lake Mary across from the now (Thank God) defunct Carlos and Charlie's. I had a 1/3rd pound burger with French fries and a Soda for $9. I tried Blue Cheese, Fried Onion Strips, Mushrooms and Corn and Black Bean Salsa. I stripped off the last two because they wouldn't blend but I wanted to try them. The Blue Cheese was plentiful. The Onions were sparse and stale. The Mushrooms were too finely chopped. The Salsa was fine. The Burger itself was overcooked (I didn't notice a spot on the order form for this most important request). I know it was overcooked because...here we go again... it was tough, had no juice and was flattened to look like Ireland. Another burger another ham handed, douche bag who thinks he can suppress the laws of Physics by smashing the patty into the grill. You would think that at a place that only does burgers that they could master this concept. Put it on the the grill. Don't touch it. Flip it when 2/3rds of the way done. Don't touch again. The bun was good. It was buttered. The fries were half crisp and half limp. They were long cut and thick. The portion was huge. I think the owner dropped a log when I walked by with the plate. They were too salty. As was most everything. It is my most vivid memory - salt. The place is medium sized. It looks a little worn for being brand new (bad contracting). It has an open blueprint. You walk down an alley created by a half wall and pick up your form. You then sit in one of the four tops after collecting your beeper. You then go to the back and pick up your order. The front is windowed. They have Flatscreens showing ESPN on the walls. That's about it. No servers or tableware to critique. There were maybe 10 people there. It seats about 100. Management was scaring away looky-loos by being too aggressive at the door. It's ok. Probably won't make the rotation.

Good Fortune Buffet, Winter Park - Closed

Today I had lunch at the Good Fortune Buffet across from the old Bally's on 436. It was $6.49 or $6.99 ($8 with a soda). It was pretty good. The sushi was adequate (7 kinds). I had crawfish, clams, nuggets, calamari, wings, baby octopus, kim chi, and thai chicken. Still feeling ok. The place is big. It's an open space with tables and booths. The food is in the center. It looks newly renovated (it should as it just opened). The staff was clean. They have big photographic murals of cityscapes (ie Hong Kong Harbor) on the walls. They have flat screens showing ESPN. Perfectly adequate asian et al buffet.

Olympia, East Colonial

I had lunch at this Greek restaurant on 50 (East of 436) the Monday before Christmas. I had Avgolemeno Soup for $3 and a sampler platter of their "spreads" for $8. The soup, which is a lemon and chicken based soup was tasty. The "spread" platter came with Humus, Mutabel, Red Pepper Humus, Scordalia, Taramosalata, Tzatziki and Pita. All were very good. The Scordalia (potato) was the the blandest. Mutabel is eggplant and tahini. It was next in line. All portions were about the size of a coffee cup turned upside down. Very filling! Each spread is $5 on its own. They did charge $1 extra for unasked for extra Pita (which actually was necessary). The service was good. It did seem to take a little while in the kitchen for the platter to be plated. How long does it take to scoop? Maybe they were baking the pita fresh. It tasted that way. One waitress held down the fort. There were about four other people dining there. It seats about 100 in a low cielinged, frescoed atmosphere. It's not the most aesthetically ambitious place and from outside it looks worse (even possibly closed). However, the food was really fresh. I was told that two Greek guys run the place. It's been around forever so they must be doing something right. I was told they have entertainment on certain nights. It's probably a lively scene for dinner. Top notch Greek food. They even have some pizza and steak.

Yellow Dog Eats, Gotha

I had dinner at this American (it's not a hot dog joint) restaurant on Hempel Ave in Gotha/Windermere last night. I had a Blue Suede Shoes Pulled Pork sandwich for $10. It came with blue cheese, bacon, a sweet sauce and raw onion. It was phenomenal. All the ingredients were fresh and played off each other perfectly. The sandwich was big. The bun was great. It even came with chips. A great combination of flavors. The place serves mostly riffs on pulled pork. They have some specials, confections and salads. They sell wine (sadly double retail) and self labeled condiments like spicy pickles. The staff was all young. The girl who took my order was a knock out. Sweet too. It's self serve. The place has character. It's like an old, hirsute farm house (even though they rebuilt it two years ago after a fire). People have written on the walls and given them photos of their dogs to display. It has a very inviting vibe. They have a downstairs interior off the kitchen that seats about twenty. It is flanked by the goods they sell. The upstairs seats about thirty more. The outside is separated into two patio/garden areas. They seat about fifty. All very clean. Although, most of the decor is faux chic it still has a kitschy appeal that convinces you it could be authentic. I really loved this place. It had a great aura and great food. Almost everyone who came in seemed like a regular. Parking out front was a little limited. Now let me tell you how to find it. From I-4, take the 409 or Old Winter Garden Rd (the one behind the Citrus Bowl) west to Hempel Ave and then head south about a mile to where Gotha begins. It is a destination spot.

Zorba's Eatery, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch at this Greek restaurant near the 434 - 424 intersection on Thursday. I had a Gyro Combo (with fries) for $7.95. It was fine. They also have a chicken gyro if you don't like the lamb/beef combination. The fries were crisp and sprinkled with herbs. They also serve other Greek staples and many American sandwiches. They have a small retail kiosk of Greek foods. It's small. It seats about 30. It was about half full while I was there. The crowd was mixed. It's clean. The walls are blue and they have photos of the Greek isles all over. You can see the kitchen behind the glass shielded counter from which you order. It's self serve (no tipping expected). I believe the place is owned and operated by the man behind the glass. He was very friendly. I recommend that you give it a go. Break out of your dull routine. They will have you in and out in a flash. And at the cost of a sandwich combo from Subway, you will have a superior experience (even if you chicken out and order and American sandwich). They don't take AMEX.

Danny's Broasted Chicken, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this new Broaster (pressure fried) restaurant next to Tijuana Flats on Lake Mary Blvd on Wednesday. I had a chicken breast for $2, disco (cheese and gravy) fries for $4, and a fish sandwich for $5. The chicken was broasted. I liked the results. It was crispy and juicy. Get ready for a new way to experience chicken Orlando. The fries were also very good. The fries were crinkle cut, crisp and plentiful (a meal in itself). The gravy came in a container if you preferred to abstain. I ate the fish sandwich for dinner and I'm sure the refrigerating and nuking detracted from its potential. However, it was still good. It came on a medium sized sub bun with lettuce and tomato. I though they said it came with tartar sauce. They had tartar sauce in packets by the napkins, so maybe I misunderstood. The place is tiny. It seats about 20. They also serve shrimp and other sides. It is painted red and is decorated with Wisconsin sports memorabilia (love the upside down Favre) and old school pennants. I'm not sure what sports has to do with the culinary concept, but, that's the theme they are branding themselves with. I would have suggested a more generic, regional decor. The have a TV that they say is to occupy you while they make your meal "cooked to order". I didn't really notice the seven minutes they said it took to make the meal. The service was courteous and accommodating. You order at a counter and they bring you the food. As a result you can funnel that tip money into more food. The place seems family run and owned. I would recommend that you abandon one of your trips to Tijuana Flats and give them a go.

Apna, Longwood - Closed

I had lunch today at this Indian restaurant on the east side of I-4 on 434 today. I had a Salad with Tandoori Chicken for $8 and a side of Naan for $3. The salad came with tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, cucumbers, onions, and green pepper. They gave it a slight spritz of oil and vinegar. It came with a shot glass of Raita. There was plenty of chicken. It was nicely spiced. A very refreshing meal. They served a complimentary fried crisp (I'm spacing on the name) as an amuse bouche. The place seats about 80. There was only one other diner there (although they have been only open for two weeks and it was really cold today). It's very clean for an Indian restaurant. It even smelled of bleach when I entered. The floor plan is open with four seat tables arranged in a grid. Not much decoration. It seems to be a husband and wife, two person show. There was one waitress and maybe another person in the kitchen (although the husband seemed to be the cook). They have a pretty extensive menu. They said it was kosher. The service was good and she seemed genuinely concerned for the fate of the restaurant. Most lunch specials came with rice or Naan. Some other Indian restaurants have a larger sample on their lunch plates at the same price (10ish). However, I didn't get a look at the portion size to compare. I do recommend it. Even if they don't take American Express. And I would like to have seen if they would have charged me for a refill.

Fresco, Sand Lake

I had lunch at this Italian restaurant in the K-Mart plaza just off the Sand Lake Rd exit last Wednesday. I had a meatball panini with fries for $8. I also received a house salad for free because the waitress and I mis-communicated over what I wanted as my side selection. The salad was a little wilted. However, it was still better than most salads in an Italian restaurant and it was comped. It even came with some olives and mozzarella cheese. The meatball panini was ok. The meatballs were a little undercooked. I can forgive that since it appears that they took pains to make them to order. The fries were crisp. They had a bread basket. It was a very filling meal. The place is half in and half out. It partially makes an attempt at being a nice restaurant. It looks low end from outside. It's in the far corner of a dump of a shopping mall next to a bad chain store. The signage is cheap. Inside they make the same half hearted effort. It's one part gourmet shop and one part cafeteria. There is way to much empty space. It seats about 100. There were about 20 people there at lunch. It has a tiny bar with a TV. The service (2) was good. The silverware was a little dirty. They sell wine (double retail) in the back. They don't make pizza at lunch. All in all, it's like Janine Garafalo. You can find good things if you look, but, it doesn't feel like making any attempt to reach its potential. I wouldn't mind eating here again. I just wouldn't go out of my way again to get here.

Braxi's, Downtown - Closed

I grabbed a dog from this Burger place on Church Street after the game last Wednesday. It cost $3.50. It was fine. However, I'd like to talk more about the spot and the people. I'm surprised that more people didn't file in here (either because of munchies or they fact they couldn't find food around the arena before the game). It might have been because no one was behind the counter. I'm not a Nobel Prize Winning economist, but, I would think that if I owned the spot I would make sure that someone was behind the counter when a stream of 14,000 customers walked by. Remember this (and my Paradise Island review) when you hear these jerk offs complaining about how the new arena hasn't helped sales. Speaking of which, the only spots with customers were Hamburger Mary's and that Cajun Pub on the corner. This leads me to believe if you are selling dainty desserts or anything non hops or cow related, you should not expect a bump in business.

UCF v UF, Amway Arena

I saw the UCF Knights play the Florida Gaylords at the new Amway Arena last Wednesday night for $17. It was fun. The Knights won. It was almost sold out. I had to sit two rows from the back. Wasn't the reason they built half an arena at UCF that they couldn't haul ass over to Downtown? The new arena is basically the old arena with one more section added to it. That is one too many. If you are offered seats in the upper bowl, do not accept them. It is too far away. The arena is still pretty generic. They have some cool, new bars, but, it's not a giant upgrade from the old place. The one area in which it excels is in VIP seating and pamepering (exactly what a town with a median income of 28k demands). I also think that the one side of the arena that does not have wrap around lighting is distracting the shooters. Both teams shot horribly at that end. Then again it could be the lights from the Ozone bar.

Paradise Island Cafe, Downtown

I had dinner 1 at this Jamaican restaurant across from the Amway Arena last Wednesday night. I had the large beef and bean soup for $3.75. It was tasty. Lots of beef. It was big enough to be a meal. It was a little discouraging to see that it was being reheated via microwave. It's small. It seats about 30. They have a deli on the other side (where you have to pay along side every lush buying beer). The service was a little "lethargic". They weren't exactly tripping over each other to make the customers feel welcome. They could have done double the business if they showed the slightest interest in engaging their patrons. I wager that they lose their entire clientele when ANY competition emerges. They have been given a golden opportunity and I see them letting it pass them by. The best part of meal was watching Crackers wince when they read what being served at the restaurant. I guess this isn't part of their usual food rotation.

Boston's Fish House, Winter Park

I had lunch 2 at this Seafood restaurant (behind the Italian Ice Guy on Aloma - east side of 436) last Wednesday. I went for the cheapest thing on the menu (because I had already reviewed their satellite in Sanford and eaten my lunch 5 minutes ago) and ended up with a steal. I had the Mini-Fish Sandwiches. It was two "sliders" of fried fish (Haddock?) in between two well buttered rolls. It came with (I chose) cole slaw (sweet) and a broccoli salad with raisins and bacon. I'm sure it's a NE staple, but, I had never had that. I could have lived without the raisins, but, I loved the broccoli. The fish was well cooked and not oily. It was enough to fill you up on it's own. It all cost $6. To put it in perspective, a bowl of chowder cost around $5. This place (the original) has a lot more charm than the one in Sanford. It has NE nick knacks and a nautical type theme. It seats about 50 inside. It was full. The service was quick. I believe the owner actually works there. I recommend it.

Johnny's Diner, Winter Park - Moved

I had lunch 1 at this Diner on 436 (right after University) last Wednesday. I had 2 eggs over easy with hashbrowns, toast and sausage for $6. It was all fine. They did kind of trick you with a sign that said it was $4.25 but only applies until 11am. The place is decrepit but not dirty. They Christmas wrapped all the paintings. It seats about 50. It was pretty full (of old timers). The service was good. A decent Diner. They aren't open for dinner.

*See 3/30/2024 post for where they moved to.