Izakaya Toshi, Altamonte Springs

On Wednesday I had lunch at this Japanese restaurant on 434 just off 436 (the spot where there was a Hotties for five minutes). I had their 3 Roll Special for $9. I chose an Alaska (smoked salmon and avocado), a spicy escolar and a Kamikaze (tuna, escolar and salmon). All were ok. They were wrapped a little sloppily. The rice was a little flaky. The rolls were long and thin (8 pieces). The fish was fine. Real salmon is always preferable to smoked. All in all I liked three things about the place and disliked three. I liked the fact; that it was run by Japanese people, the food was ok and the price were in line with most places of this kind. I didn't like; the slow service, the bad decor and the fact that don't take AMEX. The place is old. The furniture is a bit of a melange. It is however conducive to the theme. They have a lot of prep items in eyeshot. Not nearly as fine as the reviewer in the Sentinel described. Not a destination spot. OK if you live or work in the neighborhood. Then again Crazy Buffet is a few feet away and it's all you can eat for a few dollars more.

Gringos Locos, Downtown

I had to try this Mexican restaurant on Washington more out of curiousity than out of hunger. I got a Quesadilla for (I swore it was $5 but the menu says $7.50). It was stuffed with cheese and salsa and a side of sour cream. Perfectly acceptable. It's a small place. Grunchy chic. The menu is irreverent. They stay open until 3am. Since we have been limited to dogs and pizza, I predict it will find an audience.

Club Crawl - The Lodge

11pm-2pm: The Lodge. After deciding that it is insanity that most of these dives charge a cover, I couldn't convince myself why I should play "girl" roulette and just settled in at The Lodge. They have easy enough access to cheap beer, the crowd is usually acceptable and the music is good. Plus I just saw Hot Tub Time Machine so the 80's theme was in the air. It was a good night. Handsome crowd. Not too packed. If they could just 86 the smoking.

Beard Papa's, I Drive

On Friday night I had a snack at this desert shop in the Prime Outlets Mall on I Drive. They had cream puffs and molten chocolate cake and ice cream and these bite sized mounds of ice cream covered in a jelly shell. I had a Lychee for $1.75. It was interesting. Like a Klondike Bar covered in fruit roll up rather than chocolate. Give it a go. It doesn't melt all over your hands. A plus in this climate. Challenger for "What the F" name of the year. Some one clue us in.

Kafe Kalik, I Drive

On Friday I had dinner at this Bahamian restaurant in the Prime Outlets Mall at the end of I Drive. I had Calamari and Conch Frito for $9. Two large slices of conch. A bit chewy. A nice pile of calamari. Not oily. Didn't need the marinara sauce (actually a bit off theme and unnecessary). It also came with a little salsa with Bahamian peas. I also had a piece of conch sushi for $2.25. Thin slice. Not crunchy (fresh). Over vinagered rice. I finished with a West Indies Curry Crunch Roll for $8. Nice. Filled with cooked Mahi-Mahi, cucumber, avocado, and topped with two sauces and crunchies. The menu swung from burgers and ribs to fish and sushi. They also have an outdoor bar with loud island music. It seats about 30 by the kitchen (exposed), 30 in the inside bar and 50 outside. The decor is plausible for an island theme. It is new and clean. The service was fast and concerned. It's not the cheapest option in the world, but, they did have $6 burgers if you bring the kids and parking is free. They do address a form of cuisine that is under served. Name 3 Bahamian restaurants. How about 2? One? A notch below authentic, ethnic dining or sushi. But I applaud the attempt to fuse. Akin to a Bahama Breeze. A little more creative, but, as I recall the Breeze had better execution (maybe because they didn't attempt sushi).

Wrap Planet, Winter Park - Closed

On Wednesday I got a meal to go (for dinner) at this sandwich shop behind the 7-11 on Fairbanks and Park. It's new (2 weeks). I had a Rocking Rollins Wrap for $6. It was guacamole, pumpkin seeds, turkey, steamed vegeatables, and ranch dressing. Not sure the Ranch fit, but, I'm sure some fatties have to put it on everything. I could have also lived without the peppers (hate 'em) and the cubed turkey. Even sliced turkey loaf is better than this turkey spam that you have probably encountered in cheap super market salads. It even has a gross mouth feel. The wrap was large. The place is small and is not allowed to seat anyone because the local zoning board requires they rent parking spaces to comply. Nice lobbying landlords. They serve breakfast wraps, desert wraps, vegan wraps, regular wraps, salads, soups, tacos, and smoothies. They have some unique concoctions. The decor is hip. It's clean. The staff is pleasant. You could do worse Tars.

Trattoria Toscana, Winter Park

On Wednesday I had lunch at this Italian restaurant on Park Avenue (near the 7-11). I had a plate of Lasagna for $7 (rereading my receipt it seems they overcharged by 50 cents). I figured it would be the best way to sample the basic ingredients. The tomato sauce was bland. It tasted like it was just pulled staright from a can with nothing added. The lasagna noodles were passable. There was not a lot of ricotta. The mozzarella wasn't overly flavorful. The meat was bland. It was served as two pieces (however they weren't uniform so I don't know if the split one piece or pulled one piece out of who knows where). It wasn't exactly bubbling out of the oven. All and all it was average (slightly better than Sbarro). I believe it was also prepared in advance and reheated. It needed some flavor in the tomato sauce and meat. Cream might have helped. It deeply needed the parmesan kicker offered by the waiter. My service was good, but, I could see how others would feel differently as more and more people were seated. There was only one waiter. The place seats about 36 inside and 2o outside. It's a cozy space. The decor is old world. It was clean. I know it's very popular with the people who work in the area. It was full by the time I left. It was what I expected. Another middle of the road Italian place adored by people who have never been to the Boot. The bread was the highlight.

Italian Beefstro, W. 50 - Closed

I got an Italian Beef Sandwich (Dipped) to go at this Chicago style eatery on Wednesday. It was $5. Compared to Beefy King it was a step up, but, it was still rather bland. It was just roast beef and juice. That's not really a barrage of flavors (I know it's a tradition). I can't believe how bland the undipped sandwich would be. The roast beef seemed not overcooked, but, it just had no flavor. That said, they couldn't have been nicer. They packed everything separately for me so it wouldn't congeal on the way home. They also have subs (sausage, italian and meatball), salads and dogs. It looks like it's brethren in Chicago (not chic) with the exception of the TV's in the wall. It has outside seating. It seats about 40. Self serve. You can see the Orena (F Amway) from the parking lot. Stop in before the game because they stay open for you until tip off. Otherwise they close at 6.

Beefy King, 50

On Wednesday I had lunch at this sandwich shop on Bumby (2 blocks south of 50). I had a BBQ Beef meal for $7. It was disappointing for such a landmark. It was like a wet, tasteless Sloppy Joe. The best thing about the meal (sandwich, tots and soda) was the tots. The place looks like a fast food restaurant circa 1950. It seats about 70. It was full. I don't see what the attraction is. It's just mediocre mundane sandwiches.

Pom Pom's, UCF

I had lunch at this teahouse/sandwicheria on Sunday. I had a Low Rider for $8. It needed a little more than one quarter of of a half of promised avocado. The salsa also seemed like it came from a big plastic pre-made container from the supermarket. Otherwise, the turkey, bread, CC and beans were good. It stays open until 5am on Thursday and all night on Friday and Saturday. The service was fine. It seats about 60. It has a faux Bohemian vibe. The menu is fanciful. Don't go expecting Subway. This location has been demolished to make dorms. Maybe they are open in a new location. That's why I didn't say closed. I was originally vague on where they were located. 11/18/2013

Club Crawl - Dragon Lounge, Deko at UCF - Closed

10pm-12pm: Dragon Lounge. Became busy after 11pm. All college aged girls so who can complain.

12am-1am: Deko. Bad call. Full of grenades.

UCF is now rife with clubs in that strip mall. The aforementioned plus Fubar and Knight Library and the two others. Update - Whole shopping area that housed these places has been demolished to make dorms. 11/18/2013

Falafel Cafe, UCF

Last night I had dinner at this Mediterranean restaurant on University just before UCF. I had the Kibby dinner for $11. It contained a meatloaf of ground meat mixed with bulgur wheat and onions and pine nuts plus Hummus and Yogurt and Pita and Lentil Soup. Everything was delicious. The Lentil Soup was purred and creamy. The Yogurt was thick. The Hummus was light. The Kibbeh portion was large. That's usually a good thing, but, it is so flavorful that too much overwhelmed my senses. The place is small (serves 36ish). It has glass window in front and one one side. The tables mostly populate the right side of the space. The service (1) was good for me, but, might have been a little slow for others. They serve all the usual suspects plus a variation on yogurt called Labneh (with olives) and Holloumi (cheese). They also have regional wines. I had Lebanese. Great food experience. Strangely, Steve O from Jackass was sitting at the table across from me (really).

Universal Studios

Islands of Adventure was a joke. The Neptune ride is becoming ancient enough to be a real relic. It's so boring and amateurish. Most restaurants were shuttered (ie Jurassic Park's and the one in Marvel Comics Land). Looks like they've been closed a while. Really helps the fantasy. The flume at Jurassic Park had non-working dinosaurs. Harry Potter has caused Deuling Dragons to be offline. I reiterate that this addition will be colossally underwhelming. The BMX bike show was closed.

Universal was better but still not 100%. They finally had Disaster back on line. It's lame. The RV selling dipping dots was finally open. The Horror Cafe and Gardens of Allah restaurant were still closed. The mechanical donkey from Shrek was closed.

It's amazing that they don't even consider giving you a discount when they can't deliver what they sell in a commercial. No wonder revenue is down so dramatically. But, of course it's the economy not their product (the refrain of every non-performing CEO).

Orchid Court, Universal

Wednesday night I had dinner at this sushi bar in the Royal Pacific at Universal. It was worse than their "croquet court". I had conch, surf clam and tuna for $5 to $5.50. All were old. The tuna smelled and was barely red. The conch had no flavor. The surf clam was dry. The setting is nice (faux Hawaiian). It overlooks the pool. The service was fine. The building blocks were just unacceptable. It's hard to believe a hotel bar can't turn it's fish. The best part was the boat ride from Universal.

Anatolia, Sand Lake

I had lunch on Wednesday at this Turkish restaurant in the shopping plaza at Sand Lake and Dr. Phillips (I think the previous owner had a hot dog place here). I had an Adana Kebab wrap for $7.50. The kebab was made out of ground lamb. It was a long wrap cut in two. The tomatos in it were very fresh. It came with a side salad and a side of tatziki and a cup of soup (yogurt with bulgur wheat). Everything was tasty. They have all the traditional menu items plus some harder to find ones like fried calves liver and tripe soup. The place was clean (save some detergent spots on the knife). Earth tones and tablecloths. It seats about 60 inside and an additional 20 outside. The clientele was a tapestry of ages and cultures. The service (3) was good. My only complaint would be that they broke the $2 soda barrier.

Boston Fish House, Sanford - Closed

Today I had lunch at this seafood restaurant on Rinehart Rd in Sanford near the 7-11. Strangely, I was watching a PBS special late last night on architecture that looks like objects and they visited a place I went to last summer called the Clam Box in Ipswich Mass. So I was really in the mood for some fried clams. I have to say that I think the world famous Clam Box had inferior food. Definitely more greasy. I had a "lunch meal" of fried clam strips with two sides (Cole Slaw and French Fries) for $9. You could have had onion rings, mashed potatos and some other things. The clams were recognizable and the batter came out oil free. The portion was large. They didn't even get rank after sitting long enough to get cold. They got cold because the great staff kept plying me with free samples. They gave me 5 large pieces of fried catfish which were of equal quality as the clams. They gave me clam chowder. It was a bit sweet for my taste, but, the clams in it were enormous. It was more thin than thick and at $7 a bowl it may be a bit overpriced. The cole slaw was also a bit too sweet. The sugar granules didn't dissolve (which I actually thought was cool from a texture POV). The fries looked outstanding, but, they had that awful Burger King starch coating on them and were somehow underdone though they looked crisp and golden. Most dishes (even at lunch prices) are over $9. The lobster roll was $24! Isn't lobster at it's cheapest in decades? It has that "half service" service. You order. They deliver. The service was on a rotation basis. No one dropped the ball. I was double covered all game (err meal). Plenty of refills and answers to questions. The place was packed. I almost left before ordering because I thought I wouldn't get a seat and they didn't take AMEX. Turns out they did and they turned the tables fast enough that I didn't wait a second. The clientele was mostly post Gen X. The decor is similar to when it was American Pie or the place after that. They still have flat screens on the wall. The soda area is now empty. Maybe they should put a counter there to free up tables. Quite a few booths or 4's were taken up by singles. It seats about 70. It's funny. A month ago we didn't have one seafood restaurant worth a damn and now we have two. This is more of a traditional New England style option than Fresh On The Fly. It may be too expensive or caloric for everyday dining, but, pencil it in once a month.

Chef Henry's, Longwood - Closed

On Wednesday I completed the relocation shuffle (Journey's/Henry's) at Journey's old location in Longwood (east off I-4 where you see the Boston Market on 434). I had something called Flecken for $9. It was pork loin served open faced on artisanal bread. I was a little surprised it was breaded and open faced. The menu description was a little vague. It was very good no matter how it was described or what it did to my arteries. It was topped with sauteed onions and a jus replete with oil. They left the interior as you would have remembered it. They added some Austro-Hungarian/German relics. The clientele seemed the same (mostly older people who you would think were unworldly by their dress, but, refined by the things they were speaking of). I swear the same imbecile tried to seat me in the same Siberian ante-room two owners haven't yet found a solution for. At least it's not storing wine like the old days. Is there no way to light it? Thankfully, my waitress was less dis-obliging slash passive aggressively insulting. I think she was at the old location. Service was fast. The place is clean. It's tiny (seats 40?). Most things were more expensive than the Flecken. It's probably not a daily lunch place for most budgets nor would you want to indulge on this cuisine often, but, add it to a bi-monthly rotation.

Journey's at Alaqua, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this restaurant in the Golf Club in Alaqua (are there more architectural anathemas in one spot in the country?) on Tuesday. For some reason they tore down the old edifice (which was nicer) to put up this little loft that has zero character. I had the Airline Chicken Breast with Risotto for $12. The chicken was a little small (think anemic, farm raise guinea hen) with a drumstick the size of my thumb. But, I understand the mentality of a fine dining establishment. It's got to be ORGANIC. I ordered it seared, but, that must mean burn the skin. It was moist inside, however. The risotto portion was large, but, I found it a bit cloying. It was very starchy (unwashed?) and the seasoning (I believe some kind of cheese) only added to that. They also added two asparagus stalks that didn't compliment the risotto. Perhaps they were to be decorative. It's a shame the execution was a bit below what they usually deliver. I would wager that I had the B team kitchen since I was the only patron accounted for on that day. The table setting was nice. The waiter was great. The place has high ceilings and seats about 100. They have a bar. It has that faux luxe feel of a hotel dining room. It looks unfinished. My meal was by far the cheapest thing on the menu and dinner prices were about double. Surprisingly, they were below the $2 level on sodas. They have alot of ambitious menu items that you can't find everywhere. They just need to tighten up the execution.

New Dim Sum Feast, West Colonial

Today I had lunch at this self-proscribed Dim Sum Feast. It's really more of a buffet. They had about 8 Dim Sum items. None of them are worth the trip. The shrimp dumplings (Har Gow) didn't have big enough pieces of shrimp. The seafood and beef dumplings (Shu Mui) were bland and gamey respectively. I had one interesting item. A shrimp, chive and garlic dumpling. It was very greasy however. They had some oddities like chicken feet and tripe if you are looking for that. Fortunately, it was a buffet and only $7. However, the place is old and dirty and ugly. I would skip this place unless I was in the mood to graze on garbage. It seats about 100 and was pretty full. The people were nice. Slight language barrier.

Korea House, Longwood

Yesterday I had dinner at this Korean restaurant on the east side of 1-4 on 434. It's in a strip mall that could be the best ethnic food locale in the area if they could get a few more occupants and 86 the Cici's. It now houses Ali Baba, Sushin and Korea House. I had a noodle soup with seafood that started with a J but has been forgotten. It was $8. It was ENORMOUS. A ton of thick noodles and julienned vegetables (onion, carrot, green onion, zucchini). The broth was red and red hot. There was a decent amount of squid and octopus (they could have removed the cartilage from the squid more assiduously). It even had a shrimp and mussel. The place seats about 100. It has a very orderly, column and row flow. The ceilings are high. The walls are white. It has 5 cook top tables on one side and a "room" behind a half partition for large parties. Most tables were for four. The decor is appropriate for the region. The service was good. A little language barrier. They serve a typical Korean menu of stews, soups, roasted meats and rice based dishes. They serve complimentary sides. I had pickled, yellow radish and Kim Chi. All in all it's probably the most complete Korean option in Orlando. Lunch specials on the weekdays.