Grub Crawl - Sand Lake Rd : Cariera's (Closed), Flame Kebab, Dragon China

I sampled three restaurants for lunch around Sand Lake on Friday. I also tried to find a food truck on I Drive. I never found it. I believe it was supposed to be around Fun Spot. It wasn't. They did have a sign that said they were hosting a food truck event after 5pm (FYI).

Cariera's Cucina Italiana - I'm not sure how I let this one fall under the radar for so long. They say they have been operating in the complex that WOB, Mortons, etc for 16 years. I ate there (in another life) when it was Enzo's. The inside was largely the same. They said the take out area was new. It is obviously a little more "seasoned" than the last time I ate there. They have also decorated the walls with hundreds of framed photos of customers. Cheesey or endearing according to your outlook. I had the 10" pizza for $7 not because it was the cheapest thing on the lunch menu, but, because the menu said it was award winning. It was good and more than enough for one. However, I wouldn't give it an award. Many places (Armando's, Enzo's, etc) serve a better pie. This had too much crust and not enough char. It could have used a little more time in the oven. The cheese was also pedestrian. It solidified quickly (fresh cheese has more water content and doesn't congeal in minutes). The service was pleasant and mostly efficient. They dropped the ball at a crucial stage - food delivery. I saw it sit on the counter for over seven minutes before another server noticed and came to the rescue. The place is big. It must seat 100+. It was pretty full. Most of the patrons seemed like volume shoppers. The dress was very informal. This is a working mans place. They have all your usual, over-priced Italian favorites. The meatball sub looked good. Dinner pastas start at $16 and go to $21. Dinner entrees start at $18 and go to $28. Appetizers hover around $9. I still say it is too much for this level of complexity, but, I'm obviously the only one who does. There doesn't seem to be a more popular dining proposition in the CF area for most of you (if we are to judge by the amount of these places doing business). I don't think Italians eat this much Italian food. I wish you were being charged a little less for this level of quality or expertise. But, it's your money you are throwing away and then complaining that taxes are too high. At least this place isn't a chain.

Flame Kebab - I visited this spot (same complex as Cariera's) when it was Indian. Now it's Middle Eastern. I believe the owner's are Lebanese. I had a Shish Tawook (wrap of marinated chicken cubes, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, peppers and garlic sauce) for $6. It was good. It had some good Middle Eastern spices in it. It came with fries and a soda. The fries were horribly undercooked. The place seats about 50 in tables of four. It was empty. They added a wall facade that creates some Middle Eastern mystique. The wall art consists of French provincial landscapes (from the place that provide motels with art) that the artist has labeled with Italian names. I would guess he has never been to either place. I'm not sure how they help the Middle Eastern theme. The place seems acceptable. I'm not sure why it was empty. The people were nice. Most entrees are $15-$22. They have a pretty traditional menu.

Dragon China - This place is another I have obviously walked right past for years. It's in the complex that has Season's 52, Timpano). They said they have been there for ten years. I just recognized it when I went to that Crawfish place a few weeks ago. It's "slightly above average" for take out and "average" for sit in. They also serve sushi. I had the Moo Goo Gai Pan lunch special for $5. It was fine. It came with fried rice. I have to say that I think it is time for us all to say no to fried rice. Not because it is bad for us, but, because it seems it has become common practice to prepare mountains of this stuff in advance and let it sit until it is done. This can't be healthy. I seem to get "after effects" every time I eat Chinese takeout and I think I can pinpoint this as the culprit. I know it's risky to try and decide what in Chinese takeout is potentially poisonous, but, I am zeroing in on that mountain of pre-prepared fat. It can't be poor storage, spoiled meat and dirty hands in all these places. The place seats about 60 in a wood paneled room. It could be a little cleaner/unencumbered.

Ichigo Ichie, Sanford

I endured this buffet (on 17-92 in the Wal-mart shopping center) for you yesterday. It's near the closed Mexican place (I think it was an El Potro). The people who run these places are always a bunch of penny pinching little weasels. Suffering through them and the mass of inhumanity that eat here is always a lesson in perseverance. These guys, literally and figuratively, left a bad taste in my mouth. The literal "bad taste" was an undercooked pizza. It is the common thread through all buffets. Raw pizza. The figurative "bad taste" was the fact that they refuse to take American Express and their evident disdain for the customer. The first one I can live with. The second I should understand because I just similarly insulted them a few sentence up. However unlike the people that work there, they are not subsidising my Get Out Of Jail Free card (life in whatever shit hole they sailed out of). These shameless, round eye gluttons make your life possible. Treat them with a little reverence. I know an engaging personality may be too hard to affect, but, at least try to not look hostile. The buffet cost $7 and $2 for a soda. They have a lot of items. I went for sushi. The name sounded Japanese. They had about eight rolls and two nigiri. The nigiri (salmon and what they said was fluke, but, was more likely talapia) was paper thin. They never, ever replaced it once the one plate was gone. Same with the rolls. This was the strictest non-replenishment code I had ever encountered. If I was there after I was there, I would not have had any sushi. I was lucky that I seemed the only one interested in it. The only roll worth eating was the salmon roll. The other rolls were just riffs on fake crab and diced up, spicy fish remnants. Cheap stuff. I had two warm things (nuggets and pork loin). The pork loin was good. They didn't provide knives to cut it though. Try cutting a loin with a spoon. The nuggets were nuggets. The place has three seating areas and a private room. The tables evince the lack of aesthetic sensibility common to the milieu. It includes faux marble table tops, black chairs and a crystal chandelier inside yellow and orange trim. They all flank warming stations. The guys at Caesar's Palace think it's tacky. Tacky and unfortunately too common. But, it takes a while for people, like food, to absorb taste.

I just searched online for what the name means and it means "Each Moment Only Once" in Japanese. That just makes me madder about the sushi and more confused as to why all the staff looked Chinese. It is a fit name. That was the one moment I will spend there. It is an average buffet. It has more than the Sun Valley Buffet in Sanford or the one in Lake Mary. I think I would recommend the one in Longwood (East-West) over all of them (for that area) - especially if you are looking for sushi. None of this would be necessary if Crazy Buffet hadn't gone under.

February Food Truck Round Up - Lake Mary : Firehouse BBQ, Louie's Bistro

On Sunday, the Firehouse BBQ Food Truck and Louie's Bistro On The Run Food Truck replaced Chutzpah, Baxter's, Beard Papa's and the Empanada Trucks in the lineup at the Lake Mary City Hall. I tried the newbies. I had a "Hero" at Firehouse for $8. It was a sandwich of beef brisket, pepperjack, cole slaw, banana peppers, pickles, sauteed onions on buttered toast. It was rich and oily. The brisket was fatty. Too much unnecessary fat and calories for my taste (plus I don't like peppers). How can any hillbilly still think white toast is an acceptable sandwich component for anything other than grilled cheese, pb&j or a club sandwich at this point in time? We have interstate commerce now. I know it is tradition. But, evolve! They said they were competitive cooks who decided to branch out into retail. I believe they are out of DeLand. They said they had just won a contest in Kentucky. They have a sharp, new, red truck with a smoker attached. That and the BBQ mystique must be why you are still paying a premium for roofless, seatless and serviceless service. They had some kitschy products aside from the usual BBQ fare - BBQ Sundae (beans, slaw, pulled pork), BBQ Wangs (no sp) and Fried Apple Fries. They have ribs, but, sold out in the first hour. The food came out reasonably fast.

I also sampled Louie's Bistro. They took forever! At least ten minutes ordering and twenty five expediting. I switched at the last minute from beef tips in a cream peppercorn sauce over fries for the chicken tacos. They were very good. A good audible (the tip sauce looked coagulated and dreary). It was three soft shell tacos for $6 (the low end of the pricing). The chicken must have been braising in liquid all night (possibly in something with green olives). It was infused with a wonderful flavor. The taco came with fresh lettuce and a pungent lime sauce. It was a generous portion. The taco shells would be better served if they grilled them a little besides a squirt of water. This would take some of the raw flavor out of the shell and keep them pliable. They currently taste like raw dough and they split in half during ingestion. They also had a jerk pork something or other and a pork loin (about 6 items). It was an eclectic menu. The big difference in value they had versus some of the other trucks was that they gave a side (fries) with most meals.

Both trucks were good and were the most popular at the event. I'm not sure if this was because they were new or best. It was only my second rodeo. It was going pretty well until the rain came.

La Nueva Arepera, Orlando

I bookended my trip to the airport (a gastro-copalypse of Vail and Denver that hit almost every Guy Fieri, Anthony Bourdain and Adam Richman recommendation and climaxed with me eating bulls balls at the Buckhorn - like a virgin, munched for the very first time) with a stop at this Venezuelan restaurant on Friday night. It is on 436 in between 50 and 408. It is a rectangular space that is mostly counter top (they have some seats up front). It seats about 40. It was about half full at 10pm. It is a plain, white walled space with the grills against the wall. I had an Arepas (white ground corn bun) stuffed with shrimp for $5. They gave me an ungodly amount of shrimp. I used most of it to make an extra sub with the next day's Subway tuna sub carcass that I ate the tuna out with chips. Subway should really consider selling a shrimp salad sub. The part of the Arepa I left "as is" tasted ok. A little bland with either the garlic are ultra hot sauce they served as a condiment. I grew some jalapenos a few years ago and made a salsa out of them when they turned red. Maybe this was what they use. Maybe it's habaneros? It's an ass burner. The shrimp looked like the ones you buy at the supermarket in one of those shrimp cocktail trays. Quantity versus quality. I also had a mixed Cachapas of shredded chicken and cheese for $8. I made the double mistake of not reading the menu thoroughly enough and getting two things I didn't really need on something I had never had. That made the price go from $3 to $8. A Cachapas seems to be a thick, sweet, yellow corn pancake. It came with the aforementioned shredded chicken and cheese. The chicken was fine. I didn't specify which of the four (white, yellow, guayanes and mano) cheeses I wanted, but, I received the one that looked and tasted like mozzarella. It was a huge slab. Too much for this dish or your bowels to process. I ate some of the plate "as is" and transferred most of the cheese to the Arepa to make a "Caracas" grilled cheese. That is purely from my imagination. I'm sure there was nothing named that until right now. Feel free to run with it. The Cachapas is good, but, the sweetness wears out its welcome fast. You definitely don't need it and an arepa. The restaurant was more than I expected. I expected just a few Arepas and maybe some grocery store items. They had a pretty extensive menu. The things I have already mentioned (with many iterations) plus breakfast plates, empanadas, empanadillas, soups, chicken cutlets, fried fish, steak, pork chops, sides and desserts. They are open 24 hours. Parking is limited. They speak English. The menu is in English. I have no problem with you trying this place out. The neighborhood is scary, but, the people inside are nice. Plus how many restaurants can you choose from that deliver a Venezuelan experience? It may be the only way many of us get to experience the culture.

Riviera Maya, Orlando

I had lunch at this Mexican restaurant on 436 near 408 last week on my way to the airport. It is in that strip mall (Royal Oak Village) with the Sonic that has the Jetson-esque nameplates out front. It is the only restaurant still serving in that complex. Can we not have an ordinance that requires old places to rip down their signage when they file? I had a cup of the tortilla soup (which seemed to be a house specialty) for $4 and a plate of Chilaquiles (because I like saying Chilla-kill-ayssss) for $6. The soup was very good. It had lots of good white meat chicken and fresh avocado and cheese and sour cream. The tortilla strips were thicker than usual (3x). The broth was good. There wasn't much room for it. It is a little expensive at $8 a bowl, but, a cup is a nice portion and the soup is really good. They describe the Chilaquiles as "stewed" in a homemade sauce. I've always had the sauce poured over the chips before serving. The chips here were very "saturated" with the sauce so maybe they did cook them together. It was a big portion. It came with eggs, cheese, onions, avocado, and cream. I'm not sure if they understood what "over easy" meant because they came "sunny side up". However, they at least had a liquid yoke to spread around the plate. The place is non-descript - not trendy - oldish. Its interior tries to resemble a cantina brought indoors. One side serves as a dining room. The other side is an area for the bar. There were two other people in the dining area while I was there (Orlando's finest). There were some people in the bar area, but, I wasn't sure if they were customers or friends and family. The dining area seats about 30. I believe it had a mural on the wall. The menu is mostly Southern Yucatanian. They have some Latin/South American dishes (ie Ropa Vieja, Cubano, Tripleta) and even a Cheeseburger. It is "authentic" despite the occasional departures. The Yucatan is mostly coastal, so, they have and claim to cook fish well. They have a kids menu, desserts, wraps, sandwiches, salads and many traditional dishes. The high water mark is $16 for seafood stews. Most things cost around $8-$10. Breakfast items cost less and are served all day. They are open from 7am to 9pm on weekdays and 9am-8pm on weekends. They are open on Sunday (which can be rare for Catholic run businesses). I forget if the "Cloth" did well converting Mayans. I absolutely recommend the place. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food. It far outpaces the look of the place. It is in an oasis in what can be a scary part of town. It has lots of parking. The service is polite and fast. They even are "hip" enough to have an online presence on Facebook and the web - http://www.rivieramayacafe.com/ while offering free Wi-Fi.

Truffles, Winter Park - Closed

I had lunch at this Grill/Cafe (depending on the receipt or card) in the Winter Park Village next to Chamberlain's on Orlando Ave (17-92) yesterday. It is a division of Applebee's. I had the Chicken Pot Pie for $12. The pie came in a clean, white bowl with a pie crust top hat. I, originally, was disappointed by its modern look (I cut my teeth on messy, unruly crock pots of imprisoned components) and gave the waitress an "anhh" when she asked if I thought it the most delicious CPP I had ever had. I think I may have said (in fact I know I did) that it was like cream of chicken soup with pie crust crackers. No sooner did I open my big mouth (I should disclose that I vowed to myself as a teen to give honest, thoughtful answers to even the most pointless small talk as a reaction to the pointlessness of small talk) than I started to rethink and regret my reply. As I tasted the still firm carrots (man that sounds gay) and broccoli, I understood the benefit of reconstructing Grand Ma's Chicken Pot Pie. It's not a mushy mess. And while you still miss the bottom and side crust, it is a reasonable price to pay for toothsomeness. And besides they usually undercooked that part of the dish anyway. So I admitted my mistake and asked for Absolution from my waitress and received more than that. They comped the dish. I didn't ask for it. I tried to dissuade them. But, they wouldn't let me hear of it. And that is why this review switched from - a rather generic, overpriced, ordinary American McRich-staurant - to what I have to say about it in the next, few lines. It is true that it is part of a chain (all be it a small chain aiming at the higher end of American casual). But, some people are comforted by that. It is true that the menu is a "Greatest Hits" album. But, some people are comforted by that. It is true that the prices are a little high considering the first two concessions. But...well everbody hates that (except maybe the baby in the Jimmy Fallon credit card commercial). However, this is what most unadventurous Americans want and what most adventurous Americans can put up with.

The place is clean with a forced elegance. It looks like everything was bought at Pottery Barn or wherever they sell faux French advertisement posters and mass produced works of art. You just sense the conformity. Aside from that, we already established that the service is beyond reproach and multitudinous. There must have been eight, corporately dressed attendants on call for lunch (plus a host and a bartender or two). This is the benefit of having big, corporate dollars paying the bills. The place seats about: 20 in booths of two on either side of the bar/dining room divider, 10 at the bar, 40 in two rows of tables for four in between four person booths for 20 in the dining room. They also have a patio that seats around 50. I was there late so the inside was almost empty. It was "waiting room only" two Saturday night's ago. All in all, it's ok. I still don't get why they call it Truffles. I didn't see any on the menu. I didn't see any French or Italian food. It's perplexing. I am more familiar with the jokes about Applebee's than the food, but, I know I've been there at least once and I think I think of them as I do of Truffles. It's a little basic. It's a little safe. It's a little overpriced for what you get. I can't say I will fight to get back here, but, I wouldn't whine if I was forced to. And let every other restaurant manager take note. What could have been a very sour and uncomplimentary report on a lunch service turned into a semi-laudatory review. In addition, I feel a certain debt to and affinity for the place. A debt that I tried to repay by giving the waitress most of the cost of meal (I didn't have all the cash required) as a tip and an affinity for the place so that I am more likely to return (even though I prefer to try uncharted waters) or tell others to. Finally, I didn't mention the "tip" to garner sympathy. I did it so you wouldn't think I'm the type of person that goes around complaining about my meal to get a discount. I just complain about it out the sheer love of the complaint.

BTW - a McRich-staurant is a cookie cutter chain of "luxury" dining (ie Houston's, Flemings, Seasons 52). Slightly different from a Mc-restaurant (ie Chilis, Applebee's, TGIF)

The Piano Lesson, SSC

I saw this edition of the August Wilson retrospective last Sunday afternoon. It had many of the usual suspects and the quality has remained constant through the years. I don't know how they remember the dialogue. Wilson never shuts up or finds the most direct (yet believable) way to the point. I don't know if he was like Mamet and tape recorded or transcribed real arguments by people in his life who apparently have no ability to find the center of a philosophical argument, but, his characters just keep rehashing the same misguided logic and preferences/prejudices. If this is how black people really live, it most be exhausting to be black. I could barely take three hours of it with an intermission. It's just "oh no you don't" versus " oh yes I do". It's like hearing children bicker. The central question posed by this play is if a heirloom should be kept for its intrinsic or extrinsic value. Sell your past for your future. They spend 3 hours arguing around it and the only way Wilson can solve the enigma is by introducing a tie breaker. He adds some ridiculous element of the supernatural to the equation at the last moment. It is like he just had to finally put something down so he could get this thing out of his door. The play ends with the piano in place, but, the question unanswered. I would have preferred that he left the dilemma festering if he couldn't resolve it. I'm not sure how I resolve it. At any rate, it is still a good key hole in which to view an unfamiliar social dynamic and period in time. There is a lot of humor and home spun wisdom in the exposition. It will only cost you $10 to peep. The playhouse was almost full. A mix of all ages and other arbitrarily defining adjectives. It runs through the 12th. Putnam County Spelling Bee is next.

Grub Crawl - Longwood/Lake Mary : Bite Hot Dog Company (Closed), La Parada Criolla (Closed), Joy Luck (Closed), Mikado

This is a combo from today and yesterday. I had lunch at one of the places then came back and bought some thing to eat while watching the Superbowl at the others. The first three are on 434 between I4 and Ronald Reagan Parkway. Mikado is on Lake Mary Blvd.

Bite Hot Dog Company - I had a Bloody Mary Basket here for $6.69. It was a hot dog with tomato, olives, celery, horse radish pepper sauce and celery salt. It came with fresh cut fries and a drink. The dog was ok. I'm not big on these Mid West "salad" dogs. It's $3.49 on its own. I think anything over $2 is too much for a dog. This turned out to be just 20 cents over the cheapest available dog ($3.29). They top out at $4.29. The have some interesting combos (mashed potato dog). The fries were undercooked. They gave you a large (half the basket) portion. I would advise them to relax on order fulfillment speed and concentrate on quality. They seemed understaffed, so I will chalk it up to that. The place seats about 50. It was pretty full. It's mostly counter top seating. They have four tables inside and more on a patio. It is similar to Moe's in that they have rock 'n' roll quotes on the wall. The wall is bright red. The place is clean. They are not a chain. They have been open for ten months. I would go back if the traffic around the place weren't so bad or if they weren't inconveniently in the middle of the morass of 434.

La Parada Criolla - I ordered some chicken wings and fries to go for $5.50. I really wasn't in the mood for "island" Spanish food (Puerto Rican), but, I wanted to knock this place out while I was in the neighborhood and traffic was lighter. It's in a strip mall where they have some night club. The new owner took over a hamburger joint that was run by the nightclub's owner. They have the expected fare. The soups and entrees (like most of these places) seem a little expensive, but conversely, the sandwiches and desserts seem too cheap. They have lunch specials starting at $5. They serve breakfast. The owner was very nice. Try it out so she can quit her other job and concentrate on school and/or her kids.

Joy Luck - I could have sworn I ate her before, but, it isn't in the search. They said they have been open for three years. I had a Kung Pao dinner for $10. It came with a huge amount of pork fried rice, a good egg roll and wanton soup. It's still not the Kung Pao I was raised on. They use a black sauce. Alot of it. It wasn't very spicy. The chicken they used was mostly dark meat scraps. It seats about 60. It's behind Bayridge sushi. Nice owners.

Mikado - I made the mistake of eating here on a Monday (I hope for their sake). I received fish that was probably delivered on Thursday. As such, my sashimi platter for $12 wasn't very fresh. It was ten pieces. The tuna was bland. The salmon was pasty and tasteless. The white tuna was soft. The tough fluke ironically had the most flavor. It came with a salad (or soup) that was drenched in dressing. I needed something healthy after the Super Bowl junk fest. I should have reconsidered. The place is the old Fuji. They jettisoned the hibachi tables (they do that in the back now). Other than that it is similar. I had similarly bad experiences at Fuji. I will put these guys on the black list as well. They think they are high end (and charge that way), but, I don't have them in my top twenty. I would suggest Samurai sushi instead. They have better pricing and know better than to try and pimp the sushi bar when the whole restaurant is empty.

Tamarind, Winter Park

I had a late dinner at this Indian restaurant in a decrepit strip mall on the corner of 17-92 (Orlando Ave and Lee Rd) last Monday. The parking lot is so devoid of illumination, I don't know how the landlord or proprietors in this area haven't been sued for some sort of malfeasance that such an environment engenders. I had the Chicken Xacuti for $13. It was good. Kind of like Tikka Masala, but, with coconut. It was a big portion (enough for two). It came with basmati rice. They provided me with a complimentary basket of the thin Indian "crackers" (I'm spacing on the name) with three accouterments to snack on. One was a salsa-esque salad. One was a sweet, black, thick liquid. One was a hot, green puree. I can't believe I'm still struggling with the terminology after eating it for so long. It doesn't help that the food is so fattening I can only allow myself to have it once a month. In any event, the food seems mostly higher end. The fat lady at the Sentinel gave it good marks. It is run by the people who do Ashirwaad (sp?). They have some dishes I haven't seen labeled as such at other Indian restaurants, but, they seemed to think they were common enough when asked about them. They do tandor, soups, salads, naans, dosas, desserts and "stews" of chicken or vegetables or lamb or seafood. Most are in the $13-$16 range. The most expensive thing is $20. They are on Idine. The place is in the old Cuban location. They dressed it up in Indian luxury. The design is very rococo. They have plush tapestries, chandeliers, ornate accents and a big mural of a village scene on one of the walls. It has: two booths that seat six, four that seat four, two tables that seat four and two tables that seat eight. Service (1) was good. The meal came out in minutes. There were three others there at 9pm. There was a wait for a table on first attempt to dine there the Saturday before. I would guess it is popular. They are open every day (take that lazy Americans). They are open for lunch. No buffet, but, a pick 'em menu is offered. I forget the price on that. It's a good spot for value.

Food Truck Round Up - Lake Mary : Nubu, Baxter and Tilly's, Chutzpah

I went to this event (at City Hall) on Sunday (1-4pm - supposedly every last Sunday of the month) and tried three of the trucks. I had already tried all but one of the others (8 total) and was not willing to wait for El Salvadoran Pupusas (Arepas clone). It was like the Seinfeld (it's amazing that this site has Seinfeld in the spell check and doesn't have a million other words) with the car reservation. They knew how to "take the order" just not how to "make the order". I swear there were nine tickets at the window and still nothing was coming out of the truck. And the guy was still taking orders. And idiots were still making this the most popular truck by far. I swear - the more I learn, the less I know.

Nubu Food Truck: A big selection of ambitious meals around $7. I had coq au vin for $5. It came in a Styrofoam cup. Maybe too much dry herbs (bitter) and bad white wine (wasn't cooked out or had a bad residual taste). Less and fresh herbs would impove it. Lots of nice vegetables. I'm not sure if coq au vin is supposed to have bow tie pasta in it. A for effort. C for execution. Nice people. I will try something else in the future.

Baxter and Tilly's Food Truck: I had a Cannoli for $2 because the Greek salad that came pre-packed in a plastic container and the chicken salad on a croissant (both $7) seemed boring with what else was going on around her truck. She said she is new and hopefully will learn. The cannoli was good. Chocolate dipped at both ends. I'm not a fan of desserts so I can't really elaborate.

Chutzpah Food Truck: The best truck. They had around nine options. All for $5. I had the Brisket Sandwich with a garlic and onion relish pickled in balsamic vinegar. Tender brisket. Great relish. Although, the bun was kind of over soaked in the vinegar. This was my weekend of brisket. I'm going for the middle eastern meatballs and the matzoh ball soup next time.

I hope the other trucks noticed that the people were most receptive of the things priced $5 and lower.

Club Crawl - Winter Park and Downtown : Taps (Closed), Blank Space, Stigma, Lodge, Ceviche, Hot Dog Lady

I ended up Downtown on Saturday. It was devoid of females. I heard theories ranging from the rent was due soon to people were in Tampa for the Gasparilla Festival or in Daytona for Speed Week. I prefer to believe that the PGA Golf Convention was is town and most of Orlando's girls are prostitutes. I believe if someone correlates the convention schedules with the nights that suck, they will find a connection. An idea for somebody's Master's thesis?

8-10pm: Taps - This new bar (original is in Tampa) was supposed to be my stop for dinner, but since they basically only have lunch items on the "menu", I had to go to the newest version of Lime (see past review) across the street. I had the tacos this time. A good deal at $7 for 3. On par with Chipotle's prices and they give you chips and a hipper setting. Taps is broken down into two rooms - a "beer" room exhibiting sports (and unfortunately on this night a homeless looking warbler) and a "wine" room offering nothing in particular. The staff was nice. The prices were good. They have the dispensing system in the wine room that lets you self serve with a card. Wine Room on Park Ave bottoms out at $2 for small pour. This place almost maxes out at $2 (actually $3 for a highly rated Seghesio Zin). The selection is less, but, most of wines are decent. You can get half glasses (and other sizes) that are as big as full glasses from the waitress too. The wine prices are very reasonable. Maybe half the price of most places. The selection of beer is less than World of Beer or Jax, but, that is in some ways less intimidating. The beer room has a brick wall encircling the taps. It is under the 4 TV's. Two glass refrigerators flank that. Two walls are glass. The glass walls are garage doors. The main color of the room is gray. It has mainly high top tables. They are black. Seats about 50. The wine room is a little more swank. It has sofas. It is decorated in some kinds of earth tones (like tan). I really can't remember. The main color was black (maybe and it depends on what you are calling out). I didn't spend much time there. It seats about 40. Taps is a good addition. They just need to address the menu. I don't see them doing more day traffic than night. Sandwiches and flatbreads don't cut it. They were a little banal and pricey too. Parking is only getting worse at the Winter Park Village.

10:30-11pm: Blank Space - Empty. Had a beer.

11-11:01pm: Stigma - No pole dancers?

11:03-11:04pm: The Lodge - Empty.

11:10-11:11: Ceviche - It was full, but, I went for a snack and decided hot dogs were a quicker alternative.

11:15-11:59pm: Wall Street - Pretty empty. Mostly dudes.

12am: Hot Dog Lady across from Independent. I knew she would be the best hot dog cooker on Orange and she was.

You know it's a bad night when shoving wieners in your mouth is the highlight. At least I was propositioned in the parking lot.

4 Rivers, Longwood

I finally went to their location on 434 and I4 today. I have reviewed the original before so this will be short. A much bigger spot in the old Crisper's location. One side is BBQ and one side is Sweets. It seats about 70 inside (group tables and booths) and 40 on the patio. It was jammed. Out the door by the time I left at 2pm. Eighteen orders gets your name in a brick. I suggest you indulge for immortality asap. I had a trio of sliders (brisket, burnt ends, and chicken) for $8. Very filling. Very good. And no parking problems here.

Club Crawl - Conroy and Downtown : BJ's, Stigma, Independent, Bar BQ, Gibson's

This is a little out of order, but, I went out around Conroy and downtown last Saturday.

10:30-11pm: BJ's (Conroy) - not a bad corporate mega-rant. They make their own beer. The place is huge. Mostly empty. Prices weren't bad.

11:30-12am: Stigma - Same us usual. DJing was good until 12 then he most have taken something that made him want to slow the music way down and and elongated bass "whooomps" every ten seconds. I felt like I was in one of those scenes in movies where the actors succumb to laughing gas and start talking low and in slow motion.

12-12:30am: Independent - Made the huge mistake of paying to get into this smoke filled jerk fest. It was 80's night and unlike Back Booth, this place attracts people who were there the first time around. Sad.

12:30-12:45am: Bar BQ - Bad ratio.

12:45-1am: Gibson Guitar Party Room - I waltzed in to this private space (who knew it was operating) after a PR event. It was closing up, but, it was cool to see inside the curtain.

Fork In The Road Food Truck, Winter Park

I had a Turducken Sandwich to go from this food truck on 17-92. I give it a nine for creativity, but a seven for execution. It was supposed to be self made duck bacon on top of a confit of duck wrapped around turkey. It was more like deep fried in a fryer duck around dry white turkey breast. Both fowls had little to no flavor. He needs to add some cinnamon or cardamon. Anything. The bacon was tastier when I fried it with my hamburger for dinner. It looked like luncheon meat pre-heat. The aioli and ciabatta bread it came on were good. And I'm left with a question. Where was the "en" (chicken)? Maybe I mis-remembered and it was chicken inside of turkey? That's how non-descript the elements were. The sandwich cost $9. I say it should be $6. Isn't the point of a truck to lower overhead? How are their prices always more than a restaurant? People will wonder why this fad crapped out and we will point to ridiculous price points fostered by bad business acumen. Don't overestimate your sales rate. He had a short rib sandwich for $9 and some mac and cheese bites for $6.

I need to edite my earlier review upon seeing the truck again. It was chicken around turkey with duck bacon on top. That is why it was dry and had little flavor. Makes the price even more suspect.

Sweet Traditions, Winter Park - Closed

I bought (remember kids "got" is not a word) a loaf of bread for $4 at this French Bakery and Cafe on Park Ave yesterday. It is an off shoot of a place in Winter Garden that I have previously reviewed. They serve reasonably priced breakfasts, sweets, soups, crepes, yogurt, quiches, salads and sandwiches. It's good to go. They have been open for four months.

Prato, Winter Park

I had lunch at this Italian restaurant on Park Ave yesterday. It is its misfortune that I just dined at rival Armando's last week. Not to say it is bad (it's pretty good), it just loses out to the aforementioned in almost every category. It's danker. It's more expensive. It has less selection. It has smaller portions. I had the cheapest panini on the menu (Grilled Eggplant) because as I said the selection is limited and expensive. It was $10. I had a choice of a $14 burger, a $12 meatball, a $13 tuna or a $11 Muffaleta. I wanted to try something that would require them to show any cooking proficiency, so the tuna and cold cuts were out. I didn't want a burger in an Italian restaurant and I definitely didn't want a $14 burger in an Italian restaurant. I chose the veggie because I wasn't in the mood for beef and a bad meatball would have been too much to go through. The eggplant skin was bitter. They charred it too brutishly. The eggplant itself had little flavor (even for an eggplant). The slices (one and a half layers of) were very thin. At least it wasn't oily. There were roasted garlic or shallots. There wasn't much taste to them. It was the only element of any abundance. The sauce and tomato sauce were penuriously applied. The bread was good. It was a pretty long sandwich. It came with Parmesan dusted shoe string french fries that may have been scented with truffle oil. My amnesia on the subject will tell you what an impression it did or did not make on the side. Not that I care because it is rarely anything but chemicals anyway. The portion of fries was large. They had that offensive starch coating on them that some places choose to use. The meal came on an unadorned modernish plate. The service was good. And they did beat Armando's in one category. The soda was a nickel less. The overall menu changes frequently (according to them). They revel in their fidelity to the locally grown movement. They really let you know that they do. But, you pay for their politics. Either that or overhead/poor business acumen or profit/greed. The only appetizer that may be of value is the Chicken Liver at $8. Everything else is more expensive and only the Ocala Rabbit Sausage is intriguing (and probably only because it says Ocala). I mean is prosciutto from Iowa really enticing? Is it enticing at $12? The pastas seem reasonable ($9/$16 for all four) They say they are made from scratch. The entrees (4) all top $23. It isn't outrageous. It's just more than Armando's. The real bamboozle is on pizza. They all cost $15 (even a Margherita). That's 50% more than Armando's and they are about 30% smaller. Be advised that there is a seperate lunch and dinner menu (I have been describing the dinner menu in the last part of the review). The place itself is interesting. It is the old Ann Taylor shop. It has lots of brick and wood. It looks like an old barn. The place translates to "meadow" so you get the motif. They have left some of it looking undone (ie the cement from inbetween cinder blocks exposed). I think it detracts, but, I'm sure some overpriced RISD alum will disagree. The space is rectangular. The front is windows. There is a long, island bar in the center. They have; mostly half booths for two in the front third, high tops for two and booths for four in the middle room and a combo in the back third. There is an exposed prep area near the pizza oven towards the back third. The have six flat screens. There are seats on both sides of the bar and some tables outside. The outside tables have umbrellas to shade you from the sun. The decor has things like: a wall of plants, mirrors, blackboards, iron light casings, gas lamps and other pastoral elements. The color scheme is wood and grays. Don't get me wrong. I really liked it (even if the whole locovore thing is becoming pendantic). I just happened to have gone to a place that does nearly the same thing better and cheaper. If you want to dine in a sombre setting on Park Ave and pay for adjectives this is the place for you. If you want an ethereal setting with better values go to Hannibel Square. Either way, you can't lose. Two welcome additions.

Sushi Katana, Orlando

I popped into this sushi bar on Conroy to quaff some sake on Saturday night and ended up eating. I had two pieces of the following: Sea Urchin ($7), Conch ($4), Salmon ($4), and Yellowtail ($5). I also had two glasses of the Saturday "special drink" - Premium Sake for $5 for 3/4 of a champagne glass. Everything was excellent. The rice was good. It was packed properly. The cuts were large. They were extremely fresh. They were plated simply and attractively. The service was great. It looks super cool. It has a mostly gray template that incorporates steel as the backbone. They have some lithographs of lips and one flat screen above the prep area. The place seats about ten at the sushi bar and 60 at tables. It was packed. They have one couch like area in the middle of the room. It's a small, rectangular space. The menu was mostly rolls. I would rate it in the top ten if they had more selection. But, competition is fierce and the sample pool is large in the greater Orlando area that I consider. I still love what I saw and sampled. Definitely the best in the area around the Millenia Mall. BTW - some tips that I think I have yet to share with you. Supposedly, real sushi eaters dip the fish side into the soy sauce not the rice side and if you dip more than 33% of the thickness into the soy sauce you are a Gaijin.

Nara Deva, Orlando

I had dinner at this Thai restaurant on Millenia Plaza Way (off Conroy near the Mall) on Saturday. I had something called the Classic Combo for $17. It is a plate of green papaya salad, rice and jerked meat. The papaya salad is made from the unripe fruit which has the consistency and taste of cabbage. It is mixed with carrot threads, green beans, tomatos and peanuts. It is hot and sour. The peanuts absorb a little of the spiciness and add some savoriness and depth. The rice was called something like Pandan. It was white rice that they dressed in a bowl with some sweet coconut infused liquid and then flipped over onto the plate. It had a sweet and sour taste. The rice seemed a little dry. I would guess that it was left over from a less than successful lunch service. The "jerked" meat can be chicken, beef or pork. I went with chicken and I think it may survive this technique the least successfully. Strips of meat are marinated in teryaki sauce and stir fried. I think the chicken is too delicate. The result was salty and sour. I liked that all three elements picked up on a different flavor in relation to the sour one that they all shared. The food came out fast. They serve the usual Thai curries, some interesting delicacies and some elements that I swear are Chinese, but they said were Thai. I guess I just have never run across them at other restaurants or in my one visit to the country. The place seats about 80. It is a big space. The tables have alot of breathing room. There are booths and tables. It is decorated nicely and appropriately (except for an area on the right side that just stores wine). Half the space has windows. There is a patio that I didn't include in my capacity estimate. There were twelve people there while I ate. I think that is their problem. It's a good spot. The prices aren't that high for Thai. The place looks nice. The service (probably the wife and daughter) was good. They advertise. The location is a little off the beaten path. Yet, somehow I bet they are being overlooked. If I have guessed right, it is only: the Thai mother who is in charge of the dining room and probably talked her Indian husband into opening the place, her poor daughter or niece forced into indentured servitude to help cut costs and a skeleton kitchen crew. They have gone for a high end Thai experience and I'd like to see them be able to work it on all cylinders. Try and make that happen for them before they drop off the map.

Armando's, Winter Park

I had lunch at this new "Pizzeria e Cucina Italiana" in Hannibal Square (most recently the Hot Olives location - W. New England Ave) on Wednesday. If you read my reviews you will know that I hate mediocre Italian that is priced like fine cuisine. This is the exception to that rule. I love this place. They are the same people who brought you Toscana on Park Ave (not sure if they closed that down). I had a Pollo Milanese (pan fried breaded chicken cutlet with arugula) for $10. It was well prepared. It wasn't greasy. The coating was panko-like. It was a fair sized portion. They served alot of arugula. It wasn't over dressed. It came, simply, on a nice white plate in which they had made a swirl of balsamic that covered the circumference of the plate like one of those illusions they spin to make you dizzy. Simple, yet refined. I was so taken by the presentation and the return of my ailing appetite that I wanted to see if they could bake a pizza. I ordered a Margherita Pizza for $11. It was great. Thin. Lightly charred bottom. Crunchy crust. Real, fresh mozzarella. And not just four half dollars in a sea of dry tomato sauce like at some places. The whole pie was covered. It also came with basil. There was a little wetness to the pie. That means there was water content in the tomatoes or cheese (both signs of freshness). The pizza came out quick. I'm not sure if they gave me one that had been started for someone else, but, I could swear it was at my table in four minutes. The pie was a big pie. Not some plate size insult. Six BIG slices. I ate half and took the rest home. It was almost as good cold. The rest of menu (lunch) is composed of: entree priced appetizers (Antipasti per Due), reasonably priced salads and soup (Inslata e Zuppa), $9 paninis, $10 entrees (Pranzo) of pastas and chicken and pizzas from $10-$15. The dinner menu is similar, but, adds a larger pasta section ($14-$17), switches up the chicken dishes ($17) and adds veal ($17-$18) and seafood ($18-$20). Nothing above $20! At dinner! And it's actually good. It's like they read my reviews. The place has about four dining options. Outside (40), bar (8), back room (30) and main room (30). I believe the back room was once a tented area. It is now enclosed. Most people were dining al fresco when I was there. It was about half full. The place is all white with some wood accents. The overhead lights are converted baskets. The pizza oven is tile with colorful rustic designs. The hot kitchen is all stainless steel. They are open view and in the back of the main room. Cold prep is done behind the scenes. On a possibly interesting tangent, Gordon Ramsey said on his latest episode that it's a bad sign if the chefs aren't looking in the direction of the oven. See where these chefs focus their attention. The service (3) was good (especially after I ordered again). The one downside is that parking is limited in this area of town. Aside from that, I have been itching to write this review. This is a well run business. The space is great. The decor is great. The staff if competent. It is set up smartly. They have the right items. They have the right pricing. The different lunch and dinner menus don't make anyone feel they are being cheated if they come at night. Their wine list was good and distinctive. I have a feeling they will be very popular for years. I'm so glad this location received a good trustee.

The Crepe Company, Winter Park - Closed

I had a raspberry (jam) and cream cheese crepe without the cream cheese at this food truck at the food truck ranch on 17-92 last Wednesday. It was $5, but, the owner must have dropped a buck off the charge because I didn't want the cream cheese. It was a crepe. I can't really discriminate between them. They either form or they do not. It took a little while to prepare (get done with the two people before me). I probably would have walked away if I hadn't psyched myself up for a sweet snack. The owner seemed nice. It has two crepe griddles and one preparer. They had five types of crepes on the menu. Mine, a nutella and chocolate, something else with nutella, a cheese and something and some other one with cheese. The sweets were $5. The savories were $6.