Papa Sabz, Casselberry

Today I survived a gauntlet of aggravation that started on the Eye-Sore and ended with this lucky encounter. Let me start by saying that we have a special species of imbecile running the I-4 "improvement" project. Either that or a special kind of grifter. It is unbelievable how slow this is going. And today I encountered a new piece of imbecility. I won't dwell on the crash that caused a traffic jam that most certainly was the fault of the "improvement". I will talk about the traffic light they placed/hid around a curve (under an overpass) on the West Bound lanes at the Maitland on ramp. Not only does it take forever to cycle, it is hidden from drivers entering the highway. Drivers have to jam on the brakes just as they are accelerating to merge onto the highway. This is a multi car pile up waiting to happen every minute of every day. And they could easily push back the light or place a warning sign. Back to the day of frustration. Chela in downtown closed before I got there. I arrived at 2:45pm. They say they are open until 2:30pm. I think they started closing early. All the chairs were stacked on the tables in fifteen minutes? So, my first choice was out. And a wasted gauntlet. I tried to make the effort worth while by walking past Lake Eola in the heat to see if that ramen place near the 7-11 in Thornton Park had opened. That would be a "no". Back to the car and off to Bem Bom in Audubon Park. Still not open. The guys in the parking lot said two to three weeks. Waiting on permits. Are we at two years yet? Then to 436 in Casselberry to see if 4 Guys Pho was open yet. Nope. The sign says June 19. That's tomorrow. Lucky me. I threw in the towel and started home. Then I saw this sign where Holly and Dolly's used to be.

It's now a mostly Mediterranean place run by an Iranian couple who own the building. I had a 1/2 chicken with two side for $8. This is funny because I just scoffed at a whole chicken at Winn Dixie yesterday because it was $7. That aside, this chicken was very good. A great herb coating. Cooked in a rotisserie. On the rare side. Not pink. How the professional chefs say chicken should be served. The skin was crisp. Hard combo to pull off. I tried their hummus and roasted potatoes. The hummus was especially good. Thick. A little olive oil on top. No flavorings. Great, toasted, thick pita triangles. The potatoes had a lemon flavor. I was impressed. Sodas were only $1.75. I refilled three times. Parched from that lake walking. They also serve gyros, pastrami, cheese steaks, turkey, grilled chicken breast, Caesar salad, Greek salad, and desserts. Around $7. They redid the place with metal wainscoting, nude wood shaded table tops and black metal chairs. It seats around sixty. You order at the counter. There were people there (and they were open) at 4pm. A mixed crowd. They have been open for seven weeks. Not a destination, but, a real value. It also probably saved me from slashing my wrists, but, don't hold that against them. And at least they stay open all day.

Rossellini's, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this new (three weeks) Italian restaurant in the Winn Dixie shopping area off I-4 on Thursday. It was previously Luigino's. Sign on Lake Mary Blvd still says that. It doesn't appear that they did much re-decorating. I could be wrong, but, it seemed the like the same stuff. A little scary because I think they had been closed for a while. The windows looked like it. Still covered in grime. The table was also a mess. Visible streaks from a dirty wash cloth. Same with the oil and vinegar bottles. Crumbs on my chair. It isn't a surprise. All the help quit after a poor opening. Could be the fact that it is in a remote corner and they haven't done enough (any?) or the right advertising. When I took in my surroundings and the lack of staff (one) and the empty restaurant and the lack of AC penetration to the tables by the windows (the hottest area and their prime real estate). I was really apprehensive. Luigino's was pretty mediocre by the end (maybe always). Was this more of the same? I set my fate on a lay up. A Chicken Florentine sandwich. Hard to screw up. I wasn't rolling the dice on a potentially rock hard meatball sandwich or a $18 Chicken Park from the dinner menu. This $10 sandwich was the limit of my faith. They surprised me. The sandwich was good. A little small, but, fresh. Fresh (unsalty) mozzarella. Fresh, thick meated tomatoes. Reasonably fresh (a little freezer burn taste on part) chicken. A great, crispy baguette. A nice pesto sauce. Even a little tarragon leaf decoration. And the steak fries were fried perfectly. I was really worried that the fryer was going to be cool or they were going to have other issues that "empty" or new places have early in the day (or existence). They were ready for business. The one flaw was bloody chicken. They didn't let it rest and it released its juice. Hey, at least it still had some. I didn't like the $3 soda. They need to include that in the lunch price. Terra Mia sells most lunches at $10 and they include the soda. The meal is doable at $10. Remember we have to tip. At $13 it becomes a discussion. That $10 is now $16 or $17 with drink and tax and tip. That's double what most take away lunches go for. And that's the competition. Dinner prices are even more out of line. Either they offer a full experience (clean environment, working AC, mood music, excellent food) or you reduce the prices by 50% until you do. You can't expect full remuneration when you aren't executing to your fullest. It's self-serving. A micro crime. It drives me crazy when businesses do this. They never excuse the buyer from full compliance. And I'm not sure there is a need for a high priced, rustic Italian restaurant. A new one is opening near City Hall in a few weeks. But, if you don't blink at a $30 steak (or seafood pasta) or apps in the mid teens are pastas (second courses) near $20, then this place is for you. I don't see myself returning for that. Luigino's used to be an expense account type of place. But, that was when the town had few options. It also attracted alot of the real estate agents. But, that didn't seem to save them. *Actually it could have closed for non-economic reasons. In any event, I wish them luck. The owners name is Paulo. He runs a similarly named place in Daytona Beach. He seems to care about ingredients. His one helper was on the ball. Two others came in at lunch (and some looky-loos). They have some Green Sea (or something) Salmon (with green peas) that sounded interesting. Food quality seems to be Job 1. It isn't perfect, but, it can't be written of yet. They are really reliant on the quality of the food at this point. Should it drop off, the restaurant won't survive for long. Here's hoping the solve the other issues.

Grub Crawl - Casselberry and Altamonte Springs: Chalten, Wildflower and Sugar Sow (Closed)

I went to these places at lunch on Friday. The first two are near the 17-92 and 436 interchange. The third is in a Citgo gas station at the train tracks on 436.near the light rail station in Altamonte.

Chalten - They were supposed to open a pizza place in Ivanhoe last year. Some how they ended up at 124 Live Oaks Blvd in a cul de sac behind an Asian buffet (northeast side of the interchange). I'm not sure how they will get enough foot traffic to make this work. Maybe catering? They sell a small menu of Argentinean influenced sandwiches and salads. Some bowls and breakfast. Put it this way - lemonades are a fifth of the menu. I had a chicken salad sandwich for $7. It was a very healthy looking attempt. They say there was mayo in there. Just a dab. On the bun. The chicken tasted of oil and vinegar. They also say - cream cheese. I don't recall that. I recall brown, ground chicken and carrots. The flat herb "roll" was the must intriguing element. It became mushy in places. It was served warm. No side. They have been open for two months. It's small. One or two tables. No service. The name is from a town in Patagonia. The owner was nice. And cute. Closed Sunday. Open until 3pm.

Wildflower Vegan - This place did little to change my mind about veganism. A scam to overcharge needy people for lousy food. I had a fried chicken sandwich because it was the cheapest thing at $12. I think it was $12 because they didn't offer paper receipts. Needed for some of the entrees I guess. The fake chicken was cut into "fries". They weren't bad tasting and fried properly, but, the bun and veg were disappointing. Bad "bbq" sauce. It is probably twice as expensive as it should be. It's funny how this type of value exchange isn't considered impermissible by the type of perpetually aggrieved person who usually traffics in this kind of opiate. The price of the chicken wasn't as bad as the "shrymp" sandwich. I think it was $16. Why is the letter y always part of non-conformity? It came with "mac and cheese". A small side of mac with a dusting of some cheese chemical. The menu is smallish. So is the place. They seat around twenty. It's very hard to find. In a strip mall on the north east side of 17-92 and 436. In the back. Small sign within the strip mall sign. Look for a barber shop. Service was good. Talking with me while I waited, as it were. They have been open for two months.

Sugar Sow - Finally here after a four month set back. They were a cart and are now a nook. Open for two weeks. Still a work in progress. They specialize in pork. I had a Drunken Swine sandwich for $10. It came with a side. I chose mac and cheese. The sandwich was shredded ham. Not pork. Ham! I had to try it. I've never even seen it. It was bad. I don't love ham and this was just soft, over sweet ham. Nice creativity though. Huge portion. I separated the meal into two sandwiches/meals. The mac was very creamy. More roux than cheese. Some grated cheese mixed in. Shells. Bacon on top. Not bad. I prefer more cheese. Bacon was good. They also sell some apps (3), hot dogs (5), platters (5), desserts (4) and four other sandwiches. The people seemed engaged and engaging. I'll go back.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Brownerierie (Closed), Buttermilk Bakery and Foxtail Farmhouse

I tried these places for breakfast on Friday. The first is across the street at a diagnol from Trader Joe's on S. Orlando/17-92. Not on S. Orlando, but, around the side. Easy to miss. The next two are on Orange Ave (the road that Einstein's sits at the corner of).

Brownierie Cafe - This is the only CF location of a Brazilian chain. They specialize in brownies (a few other things are available). I had a Banana Brownie for $3.30. It was very good. Moist. Rich. Chocolate-y. Dense. The banana wasn't baked in. Just an "icing" of fresh banana paste. Good though. They do around 28 types. They have been open for 18 months. It's a small, clean, new space. Glad it came up when I searched to see if the new crepe place had opened yet.

Buttermilk Bakery - I couldn't remember if (still can't) if I had tried them. This location seems to chew up little cafe places. I can't keep track. I think I hadn't. Strange to think I've passed by for two years (how long they said they have been open) and just thought it was "in the books". I'm glad I forced a visit. I had two croissants and both were very good. I had a turkey and provolone and an everything. I should mention that I just got back from France and Belgium (ate horse there) and my stomach couldn't wait for lunch time. The croissant was baked around the turkey and provolone. It survived a reheat. A little dry (extra flakey). They tossed in some pepitas in there. Not bad. I just saw a cooking show where they made an "everything" croissant based on the bagel. I don't like the bagel. Too salty and bitter and messy. Oddly, the croissant is a better vehicle for this "rub". I think both were $4. No printed receipts. They serve alot of good looking baked goods. They had a deviled egg tartine and a sandwich for lunch (won't serve before then). Too pricey to my mind. $12 for a tomato and mozzarella sandwich? In fact all the "meals" were too high. Stick to the bakery rack. They redesigned the space. They put the seats by the window up front. I can't remember if the old tenants had a patio. They do. You can also dine by the front door. Parking in back. I'd go back.

Foxtail Farmhouse - They expanded the location to the right. They put a cold drip coffee bar in there. I can't decide whether it is the most pretentious thing in CF or pretty cool. I wish I liked coffee more. At least I'm a little buzzed when I seek this type of experience with wine or beer or spirits. I guess if I maintained "consistency (of opinion) discipline", coffee is no more or less ridiculous to obsess over. And they certainly had their share of obsessives there. Packed house. I didn't partake. Maybe some other time.

*Foxtail in Hourglass District still not done.

Los Generales, Curry Ford Rd

I had dinner at this Mexican restaurant in the Hourglass district on Thursday. It was ok. They do things Yucatan (Mayan) style. They do pozole (on weekends), vaporcitos (tamales), huarache, sopes, gorditas, pambazo and the rest of the usual fare. I had tacos de cochinita for $8 and a lengua taco for $2.50. I didn't need the extra taco. The cochinita (3) were piled with pulled pork and red colored pickled onions. Soft tacos. The pork was steeped in a broth. I don't like that technique. I prefer the meat to be basted in its own oil. This pork was a little bland. The tortillas were also a little dry. I'm not sure if they tossed the platter into the oven because the plate and the food was scorching hot. I think that would account for the dry tortillas. I really hope they didn't use the nuker. The lengua was a little bland too. I saw some bumps on the skin too. That means they didn't peel it off. There was alot of meat here too. And some raw white onions. Same dry tortilla and hot plate. I saw the cook and she seemed like a home cook. That's about the level of this place. There is a big menu. It's not as derivative as a chain, but, it isn't high end or totally authentic. Right in the middle. It does the job. More value than quality. The place used to be another Mexican place (La Fiesta?). Never got there before it closed. Their sign gave me the impression that it would be more of a hipster taco place. It's not. The decor is basic. A little old. Probably the stuff from the last place. They have wooden booths on the left side and pleather booths on the right. A bar counter towards the back. They had some framed photos of guys in weird outfits. I guess one is Zapata. I guess that is why they are called "generales". TVs tuned to Mexican programs. Service was good. The chips and salsa (slightly hot with a little garlic) were fresh. They were offering pozole on a Thursday although the menu said Sat and Sun only. That means it was old or the regular pozole is old by Sat. Pricing was in line. Not a must see. Generally average.

The Frog and the Monkey, Mount Dora

I ate lunch at this pub (English?) about ten days ago. It has a basement location in one of the three story buildings on the main street downtown. Nothing really appealed to me (burgers and sandwiches and a few English dishes), so, I settled on a turkey and brie panini. It was better than I expected. Whole grain bread. Apple. Thick sliced turkey. Acceptable brie. I goofed by sub-ing out honey mustard for spicy. Generous portion. The real kicker was the side of potato salad. A sweet mayo (Duke's). Celery, carrots, raw onion. I usually don't like Duke's and I have never had celery or carrots in my PS, but, it worked. I think there was a pickle too. It cost $11. The current occupants have been there for over ten years. I think they said the place has been a pub since the Eighties. It's a little worn. It's a little small. Six or seven customers. It looks like a pub. Monkey decorations. They seem to have a corner for a dj or minstrel. Service was good. I tried for bangers, but, they were out. They had a venison burger and some pork dish as specials. Nothing out of the teens. It's ok for this sort of place.

Pier 36 Fish Camp, Casselberry - Closed

I had dinner (only open for dinner as of now) at this new (three weeks) seafood (says oyster bar outside) restaurant on 436 across from the roller rink. It used to house a Hooter's (the first restaurant I ever ate at in Orlando). It has been empty for a LONG time. I'm glad someone finally did something with it. I had a dozen raw (Victoria Bay - Jacksonville) oysters and a half dozen fried oysters (with side). The "raws" cost $14. They were probably as good as southern oysters can be. Nice medium sized white shells. Salty and bland. A hint of meatiness. The shucker did a pretty good job. He/she didn't dump all the liquor or leave a lot of "shell dust". The fried oysters ($12) had an offensive batter. It was sour and spicy and salty. Made it seem like the oysters were bad. And the remoulade dipping sauce was almost an exact copy in liquid form. No contrast. The batter looked properly fried, but, it wasn't fried all the way to the oyster. More unpleasantness. Surprisingly, the salad (that they let me sub in instead of slaw or fries) was really fresh. Fresh spring mix and fresh onions and tomatoes. Even the sweet balsamic dressing wasn't that cloying. They serve most things from the sea. Prices were in line for seafood. The guy next to me had a head on fish. They have shrimp and grits and oysters steamed, raw and fried. Mahi was around $16. Grouper $17. They did a total refurb. Giant fish tank. Assembly line ceiling fan. Big TV's. High ceilings. Stuffed fish. Raw bar. Bar bar. The place seats about one hundred. It was near capacity. They have a volleyball court outside that I believe was a relic from the Hooter's days. A guy was wandering around the place "singing" with a guitar. I think he may have been part of ownership. No joke., Large parking lot. Service was good. Worth watching. I liked it better than that supposed oyster legend near 50 and Kirkman. I forget the name of that town. Probably, not as impressive as that place in College Park (near the lake ) that I just reported on. Lakeside? Simply because of the scale of the other place. The place will be a real hit with families, Florida locals and the blue collar set. In other words, it's not pretentious.

Grub Crawl - College Park: Cafe Linger (Closed) and The Pastrami Project (Closed)

I had brunch and then lunch at these two places today. The first is a cafe that opened a week ago. The second is a food truck that has been around for a few years.

Cafe Linger - The are on Edgewater Dr in the old NYPD Pizza location. They have a breakfast and day menu. I think they do the brunch menu on the weekends. They close at 7pm. I had an open faced crepe with leeks in cream and a fried egg for $8 And smoke salmon tartare with avocado and a half slice of toast for $12. Both were good. Maybe too much cream sauce. And a slightly runny egg. The salmon and avocado were plentiful. Not enough toast (whole grain). They serve things like avocado toast, steak frites and chicken and waffles.Around a dozen things. And pastries and fancy coffee. Pricing was reasonable. The place is made up to look like a home. Couches, tables, book cases, etc. The room has a rectangular shape. An exposed kitchen and counter ordering in the rear. They had a guy playing guitar on the far left wall. The AC was a little forceful. They have some tables outside in the front. I would ping pong back and forth between them and the next review if I lived near College Park. And not just to see the attractive German co-owner. Do you have to let it linger? I should think not. Try it asap. It will be on my Favorites list.

The Pastrami Project - I just re-caught the Diners, Drive Ins and Dives episode they were on last week. It's a year old or so. I was in a hotel in Maine and was bemoaning the fact that I never had crossed paths with this guy. It's only my home town for f's sake. Lo and behold, I was driving to try a place in Winter Park and I passed right by him. He is in an old gas station that seems to have turned into a flower shop (Daisy's Flowers). It's on that street that has the Drubsdread golf course. The receipt says 175 E. Par St.. Right underneath I-4. It looks deserted. I had a pastrami on rye (with slaw and half pickle) for $10. It was great. I was a little worried because the guy seemed a little disheveled and angry. Could he be wallowing in a "unappreciated artist" phase of existence? He is in the middle of no where. Was that a sign that the guy (and the food) on tv no longer existed? Not to worry. Like I said it was very good. I forget how he seasons the meat, but, I think I tasted some cinnamon and some cocoa in addition to the usual spices. He cooks it low and slow. The portion was respectable. The rye bread was fresh. The slaw was roughly chopped with celery seed, lemon (or bitter orange) zest and a little mayo. Tasty. The pickle was good as well. Not sweet or garlic-y or salty. Most of his items are pastrami related. He self-cured some salmon on the show too. That looked great (on the show). I had salmon at Cafe Linger, so, I passed on it. Will go back and get it soon. I suggest you try and beat me there. This place will also be on the Favorites list.

*8/30/2018 - I returned today to try the brisket and smoked salmon. The brisket didn't seem smoked. It was a bit fatty (on top), but, still very good. The portion size wasn't huge. It cost $10 and came with a pickle and celery seed cole slaw. He put a slightly sweet brown (donkey) sauce on it. The bagel with lox was better. Great even. It cost $9. I believe he cures his own salmon. I'm half Viking, so, I knows my salmon and this is quality stuff. The portion was big. Not too salty. The bagel was crisp and chewy. The cream cheese was good. It came with red onion and capers. Addictive. Tried to take a bite and finished it all off.

Fajitas, Sanford - Closed

I tried this new (one month) inauthentic Mexican restaurant on 17-92 (S.Orlando) near Lake Mary Blvd tonight. It's weird because every one working there was Mexican. I'm not sure why the food was so Tex-Mex. I sampled quite a few things for you. I had: a shredded beef quesadilla for $4, a regular hard chicken taco for $2, a traditional carinitas soft taco for $3, two chicken flautas for $2+ a piece and some free tortillas. All were bland. Both salsas were bland. A regular and some kind of chipotle bbq sauce. The fact that they delivered alot of food in each portion didn't exactly compensate for the disappointing lack of flavor or authenticity. Each meat could have been substituted for each other and you wouldn't have noticed. The hard shell taco was full of chicken and bland iceberg lettuce and gummy tomatoes. Light on the shredded cheese mix. The flautas were similarly boring. The carnitas meat may have been the worst (and driest) carnitas style pork I've ever had. It doesn't deserve the association. The quesadilla beef was ok. Way too much though. It ruined the quesadilla feel. A soggy lump instead of a crispy, light cheese snack. They did little to the interior (it was an Italian place called Kiko's or Kika's or Kaka's). Some pinatas and decorations. Two other tables were occupied while I was there. I was the first in and it seemed like the staff wasn't expecting a rush. They were all lounging outside on the patio. Not of interest if you desire real Mexican cuisine. Maybe they do fajitas really well?

I've been forgetting to mention some interesting dishes I've encountered in my rovings. They may interest you. Turkish eggs, huitlacoche quesadilla with peach, chopped green lip mussels with egg yolk, butter soy salmon taco, corned beef cheese fries, taquito dog, egg salad with pickles, trout benedict, a sandwich (any) pressed in a waffle iron, coffee milk, potato pie, egg and lobster eclair, sticky date pudding and carrot lox

Paizano's, Sorrento

I stopped here on the way back from Mount Dora. It's a little "roach coach" on the side of the road (46). A bar called Oasis is diagonal from it. I've been meaning to stop for a while. I grabbed a lengua taco for $2. I had an order of ribs in the passenger seat or I would have tried more. The taco was good. The lengua was a bit tough. I suspect that it had a little age on it. The fact that they reheat it on oil (on the flat top) didn't make it less cooked through. Still ok. They used two corn tortillas that seemed hand made. Lime. onion and cilantro. Hot sauce (hot) on the side. Alot of meat. Big chunks. They serve tacos, quesadillas, tortas and a papusa. Closed on Sunday.

Grub Crawl - Mount Dora: Lake House and Mermaid Juice

I went to these spots on North Highland St (the one where you make the first right off of 46 to get to downtown) about a week ago.

Mermaid Juice - I was told that they brew. They don't. A shack with bric a brac that serves craft beer. It has been open for six years. No need to make a special trip for. I'm sure you have one of these near by. Parking is limited.

Lake House Bar and Grill - Not much more than the unremarkable mediocre eats place I suspected them to be. I think they have been open under this name for three years. I grabbed a half rack of ribs (with waffle fries and a salad) to go for $13. They said they were ready to go. They weren't. Took a half hour to get them. Ribs (6) weren't bad. Sweet sauce. Way too much sauce. Is Mt Dora the "over sauce" capitol of the nation? Waffle fries had a coating. Salad was a lame "fresh out da bag" supermarket special. It's like a Duffy's. Not as polished and the food is a little worse. They tried to play up the food provenance, but, I wouldn't expect anything to be special. Try the place on the corner for that. I forget the name. It's in an old gas station.

Peppino's, Curry Ford Rd - Closed

I had lunch at this Sicilian stylized Italian restaurant today. It is near Bumby and Curry Ford in an area closer to Orange that the are trying to label as the Hourglass district. Why the area in Longwood (that has Hourglass Brewing) is not called that is open for debate. I guess they are (or a similar sounding brew crew) opening an outpost (or relocating) next door. So, we can have a walk off. Is that what they called it in Zoolander? Anyway, they have been open since November. The owner owned a place in Annapolis that I think was called Maria's. It was in a photo on the wall. Both his first and last name end in vowels, so, we have that going for us. The place is a contradiction. The name sounds like it would be a soulless chain restaurant. The decor makes it seem like a artisinal hipster hangout. The menu evokes Federal Hill or Little Italy. I didn't know what to expect. I ordered the chicken parmigiana because it cost as much as the regular pizza and came with choice of soup or salad, bread, Sicilian butter (just herb-ed olive oil) and spaghetti. It was delicious. My favorite parm dish is at Il Vagabondo near the 59th St Bridge in Manhattan. It a bone in veal number. It's huge. This doesn't quite match up, but, it is closer to that than most parms in CF. Most experts would say the coating was mushy and the chicken a little dry, but, it didn't lessen my love. I like it a little dry/grainy for the texture it supplies. That counteracted the mushy coating a bit. Plus the meat fell apart more easily as I cut it. The sauce was just tomato on its own. Very fresh. The quality of the mozzarella melted on top was nice. The proper amount. The spaghetti was al dente. Both the portion of the spaghetti and chicken were enormous. And I ordered the SMALL size. You are definitely leaving with leftovers or a food baby after this meal. This is how much I liked it. I wasn't even supposed to eat here. I'll explain below. I wasn't in the mood for Italian. I made my own chicken parm two days before and spaghetti in tomato sauce last night. I ate every bite. I left in that stage of fullness where you can't concentrate, you need a lay down and you think you might have filled your intestinal track to the point of forcing the other trains out of the station. The bread was ok. The soup was a pot luck of leftovers. Chick peas, meatballs, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes. It was ok. A cup. Mostly the aforementioned. Little broth. It seemed freshly concocted. The peas were firm. Like just out of a can. They have a lunch and dinner menu. Some breakfast fare on the lunch menu. They have a brick pizza oven. They do some pasta and panini and apps and salads and entrees. They add steak and two chicken dishes and some more pasta at dinner. The lasagna has walnuts in it. The place has a bar area. a small dining area and an enclosed patio in the back. The main inside deco element is corrugated tin wainscoting. There are wood embellishments as well. It had a family friendly vibe. Service was polite and knowledgeable. I wasn't relishing coming here. It has been on my list all year. All year I have given it the brush off. I don't usually like American-ized comfort Italian. This is exception to that rule. And since most people around here love this classification of food, they really should enjoy this place.

* I was around here because of a place called Iron Cow. I don't want to go there at night because there is no parking in the Milk district and it isn't really a super fun time party experience. I've tried three times to have lunch here. It is never open. Some guys in the parking lot told me that they aren't really serious about food. It's just some slop they muster up during drinking hours. I think I'll drop them from consideration. And the Italian deli (Stasio's?) that was supposed to open on Bumby and Robinson has still not. I've also heard talk about Sandwich Bar. It is closed. Another food place took the location. I think I read that some big, permanent food truck space is opening around there too.

In the Hourglass district, Foxtail Coffee and Leguminati aren't open yet. There is a new Mexican place aside them though. Claddagh Cottage is open. It is across from Peppino's.

If you take Bumby from the north side of the 408, remember it snakes around a little lake/pond on the way to Curry Ford. Make sure you follow the sign that keeps you on Bumby (veers a little right after the pond).

**6/11/19 - Replaced by F&D Italian.

Rice King, Sanford

I tried this new (a month or so) low end Chinese restaurant for lunch yesterday. It is near the Walmart on Rinehart Rd. It was a cheap pizza place before this. It is your typical take out menu. They have a $8 lunch buffet. Two low level entree selections and some fried junk. I had a lunch special to go for $7 in all. I chose Szechuan Chicken, fried rice and wonton soup. The chicken was yet another recipe. This one was pounded strips of chicken in a sweet and garlicky sauce. How many types of Szechuan chicken can there be? I had one plastic-y piece of chicken. The rest were ok. The veg were mainly onion slivers. If I wanted vegetables, I'd probably feel cheated. The fried rice was bland. They filled those "side' cups in the to go box with them. Not a lot. The wontons were over boiled (soft), but, they included three. The place is clean. They make some attempt to acknowledge their heritage in the decor. It's just another in a long line of take out Chinese joints. Who are pricing themselves out of the market if you ask me. I often wonder if it wouldn't be better for them all to join in a super chain. The menu and pricing is already uniform. Maybe then we could get some uniformity on execution? Swipe left. They are the King of All Media-crity.

Olive Branch, Mount Dora

I grabbed a second lunch at this Mediterranean place on 3rd Ave (near the tracks) yesterday. Sometimes you get a feeling about a place and it proves right. I've been bypassing them for other restaurants in town because of the prices and my belief that cooks at "Mediterranean" restaurants aren't very good at their own cuisine let alone that of other cultures. And this place offers little Mediterranean fare. It's Italian with some American. I decided to take my medicine at lunch because that is when the prices are more reasonable. About half off. So, a plus $20 lasagna is now $12. Making it an acceptable risk. I should have tried that. I tried the penne ala vodka. We used to eat that every Sunday night at a fashionable East Side restaurant until we found out how many calories were in it. It has been years since I've tried it again. This was a poor attempt. It was DROWNING in sauce. A sauce that wasn't very good. Four or five times too much volume. It was a soup. Too thick. Too milky. And they used cheap, wide penne. Probably Barilla if not a supermarket generic. And they were overcooked. Soft. There was also supposed to be prosciutto in it. There were four, half finger nail sized pieces of something in there. That's all. I'm not even sure if a true ala Vodka is supposed to have prosciutto in there. And the waitress wanted me to add chicken! It cost $12. Probably double at dinner. A soda was almost $3. They also supplied some bread with oil and vinegar mixed in a bowl. That is another sign of poor Italian in my mind. Oil only please. It's not a salad. Would you consider Ranch? I know the Pizza Hut crowd would love to dunk their bread into that. Preposterous? Now you know how I feel. Service was fine. They have a deck and an interior dining room. They have to double their sophistication or cut prices in half to get into the conversation. I don't mind aspirational ownership, but, be a bit aware of what it takes. Don't be the guy in white leather loafers. If I had to concoct a story about this place, I would say that the owner and/or cook worked at a pizzeria when they were young and thought to him or herself - "I could take this menu to the rich part of town and charge double. All I need are a few table cloths and some cushioned chairs."

Calle 3, Apopka

I tried this new (four months) Mexican street kitchen today at lunch. It was fairly good. It is listed as being at 1664 South OBT. I typed that into a search and it sent me to downtown. I even drove back OBT to the north where the numbers changed and it wasn't there either of course. When I typed in Apopka and the address it gave me the right directions. And the signs and map say 441, so, I'm not sure why they insist on saying it is on OBT. I had a fried stuffed triangle (3 to an order) called a Kekadilla for $6. They were covered with cotija and chipotle mayo. They were ok. I also had a Carnitas Taco Grease for $2.50. It was good. The pork was a little dry. I was the first customer, so, maybe all the juice settled to the bottom of whatever they were storing it in and they just picked my portion off the top of the pile? I hate having to make excuses for places. The taco came with pico, pickled onions and avocado crema. It was served in a freshly made corn tortilla. I also had two street tacos at $1.50. A asada and a pollo. The pollo was plastic and salty. The asada was better. Still salty. Also, on corn tortillas and with raw, white onions and cilantro. Maybe some salsa. They offer a chorizo street taco as well. They have three other grease tacos. Two flautas. Four apps. Three snacks. Two tostadas. Four mains. They also throw in some dark brown, slightly thicker and smaller tortillas with every order. The style is Mexico City. The menu says that the owner has twenty years experience as a chef. The place is smallish. It is in a strip mall in front of a Walmart. It is rectangular. You order at a counter. The tables have a metallic look. White and black paint. It's trying to be foodie friendly. If they tighten up the execution (less salt and fresher, less cooked meat) it could be something. I liked the starch based components. I would tell you to find it if it wasn't so far out of the way and if there weren't an overload of these types of places in every neighborhood.

El Rinconcito, OIA Area

I grabbed dinner to go at this Latin restaurant aside the last gas station on 436 (before you get to OIA) last week. I tried a Puerto Rican sandwich for $7. I think it was shredded chicken and ham. The fact that I can't recall is not an endorsement. Maybe it was pulled pork instead of ham? It was actually pretty good. A fair amount of filling. Pressed. Cheese too. It came with fries. The fries weren't fried long enough. They have a full Latin menu. Don't think of it as a gas station add on. It's just a restaurant in a curious location. The dinner prices were way worse than the lunch and breakfast prices. Double. Lunch prices were around $5 or $6 bucks for things like a quarter chicken meal. They also serve alcoholic drinks. It has a drive thru. The inside is large. You order at a counter. I think they were open every day and I think they close at 11pm or 12am on F-Sn. 10pm or 11pm on the other days. They named a sandwich after PR and one after DR, so, I guess the food is a representation of those two islands. Not a bad last stop before airport pricing.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Little Blue Donut Co (Closed) and Moonlight Pizza

I tried to knock these two out on my way to Sugar Sow. Sugar Sow is still not open although I think the web says it is. The first is in the old Scratch location on Fairbanks near Rollins. The second is in the location next to a 7-11 (Temple Rd?) that recently had an Indian restaurant on Howell Branch Rd.

Little Blue Donut Co - They opened last week. They serve around 18 types of fancy donuts. I tried a Peanut and Sriracha for $2.82. It was ok. Maybe the other type of donut (like in a frosted) would work better. This was the crumbly kind. Old timey. And it was possibly over peanuted and peanut buttered and hot sauced. Very substantial. Not always good with strong elements. The place looks cute. They have banquettes (I think that's what they call them) against the left wall. The counter is on the right. It has a rococo feel. They also serve coffee.

Moonlight Pizza - Everything is the same as the Indian restaurant except for some wine iconography. I just grabbed a slice for $3. It was tiny. The crust was dense and over floured. The cheese was cheap and abundant. I can't remember a sauce. Salty. However, it wasn't terrible. I must have been hungry. They also have a full menu. It seats about eighty. It was empty except for one diner. I think they said they opened three months ago.

Stir, Lake Ivanhoe Area - Closed

I tried this replacement for Nova on North Orange and Virginia today at lunch. It won't cause much of what it is named for. It isn't much different than Nova. And that is not a good thing. The decor and structure seem exactly the same. Down to the arctic temps. The menu is dull. The exotic items are a pork cheek puff pastry and bone marrow. I tried the pastry ($8) and a half Florida Cobb Salad ($6). The pork was bland. They served it in a jus that my clown fish would find too salty to swim in. The pastry was dough was ok. The salad was atrocious. Every bite was sweet. Sweet bacon jam. Honey goat cheese. Sweet vinaigrette. It also came with some herbed corn. Couldn't begin to guess the herb over all that sweet. They also added a few halves (one whole) cherry tomatoes that were tart. And I doubt they were meant to be. Just bad produce. As was the wilted field greens. A salad you would get at a business conference at a Marriott ... Suites. The lunch menu was mostly sandwiches and app. A boring ensemble like a Cuban and a  fried chicken thigh or buffalo calamari. I did like the fact that they allowed you to get a half order of salad. The dinner menu is the same banality plus four entrees. I think they were a short rib, shrimp and grits, duck with fettuccine (gross) and a pork chop. All a few dollars too much. The executive chef is a girl and you can see evidence of that in the menu and the flavor concoctions. Everything is a little cafe-ish. Too many sweet components. I didn't like Nova and it didn't last. I predict the same outcome for this close cousin. And it had nothing to do with the $3 soda with no re-fills. What is the definition of insanity again? It opened for lunch last week and dinner 2 months ago (?).

Pub Crawl - Sanford: Deviant Wolfe Brewing, Tuffy's, Da Kine Poke and Inner Compass Brewing

I came down here yesterday night  because I was told that the first place served food. They don't. So, I decided to not waste the effort and try their beer even though it was a school night. They told me about the second place (had food) and that a place I was waiting on (the third place) had opened. I guess I came on a Tu or W last time and that's why they still looked under renovation.

Deviant Wolfe Brewing - They are next to the Tennessee Truffle on 1st St. A square room with a bar in the rear. They serve their own quaffs and a few others. I tried five (IPA, APA, Stout, Sour IPA and a Sour. They were all good. Only Sour IPA I have ever heard of. It was good and I don't enjoy sours. The bartender was knowledgeable and personable. They have been open for two months.

Tuffy's - Started by the Central 28 people. They serve their beer, other beer and the cider (singular) they ferment there. I had a glass. It tasted like apple juice. No fizz. No zing. No alcohol? I really came for the poke truck (Da Kine Poke) out back. I had a Hawaiian Bowl for $14. It was fresh. It is the only way poke should be served. Sesame oil, soy sauce, onion and seaweed salad. You can actually keep the seaweed and onions and the rice. Just give me tuna, sesame oil and soy sauce. This one also had ginger and avocado. It was a big bowl. The rice was mushy. Still the best poke I've had in Orlando. They serve three other types and a pork platter. They have a location in the meat market in Winter Park and another in that new market downtown (old Frank N Stein's). Tuffy's is huge. It is on Myrtle (closer to 17-92) and 2nd. The front room has a huge ceiling. Mirrors in granny frames atop the bar. There is an intermediate game room and a huge outdoor area with a pontoon boat and RV serving as decoration. Parking is not an issue. They have been open for three weeks.

Inner Compass Brewing - This old service station location across from Celery City on 2nd St has a tiny interior and a patio. I tried their four brews (flights not full glasses). All were good. Not bad for their first batch. I had a Saison, Kolsch, IPA and Stout. The kolsch wasn't limp and watery and neither was the saison. They did a good job on the remodel. They opened two months ago.

Lisbon, I Drive - Moved to Dr Phillips and Sand Lake Rd

I had lunch at this reboot of a Brazilian sushi spot in the shadow of the Orlando Eye on Wednesday. It is now a straight up Portuguese play. I had their chicken soup and the octopus salad. Nether were great. The soup was like a Greek avgolemono with out the lemon. I'm not sure if the grain was rice. It was very abused (fluffed from stirring) if it was, It was also very salty. Another imbecile that has to be told that you add salt AFTER the stock has been reduced. It cost $5. The octopus salad was less of a salad than I was expecting. It was octopus hunks on a bed of diced onions, green pepper and parsley. They weres not something I would want to EAT and excessive if a decoration. The octopus was extremely flabby. I'm not sure if I have been mis-served octopus for my whole life or it was always supposed to be this soft, but, I didn't like it. The outer skin was soft and gelatinous. It was peeling off the meat in my mouth. It had an unpleasant mouth feel. Like eating marrow from a bone or cubes of fat. It left me nauseous. It cost $16. It may have been the cause of stomach issues. The rest of the menu is very bacaloa centric. It must be half of the pages of the menu. I'm part Swedish and even I think cod is disgusting. Let alone reconstituted, salted cod. Prices are all over the place. They had lunch special plates for $7 or $28. Any app from the sea was in the teens. A soda was $3.50. Almost as much as the soup! Hard to choose. Pony up and be disappointed or cheap out (and be disappointed with the selection) and lessen the risk? The place is similar if not unchanged. Three rooms. A bar up front. A main room. An overflow or private room on the right. It is painted in white a steel gray colors. Plates and photos on the wall. The chairs are dark brown. This type of fare isn't destination worthy. Maybe go for a cheap chicken, beans and rice special. But, who would go out of their way for that? I think they want to be fancy, but, accessible. That leads to multiple personality disorder in people. They need a better chef (or ingredients) or a price adjustment. I'd be hesitant to advise that the higher price dishes will be worth what they feel the are. But, I didn't try them, so, I may be off base and the octopus was an outlier. I don't want to savage them because at least they didn't reform into an Italian, Mexican or poke joint. And they did serve free (under baked) rolls. Service was fine. There were a few other customers. Parking is free.