Athenian Garden, Lake Mary

I had lunch on Monday at this new Greek restaurant in the cursed location near Fish Bones on 46a. They didn't do anything to the lay out (neither did the the costly Italian experiment before it). It is like it was when it was the Wine Room. It's still nice though. I had a Souvlaki Gyro with lamb pieces for $8. They didn't look skewered. Which doesn't matter to me, but, I thought that was what it is. The meat was ok. Some pieces cooked alot more than others. The tatziki was very strong with raw garlic. You've got to let it age a little more or wash it it in water (same with the onions). It came with a field green salad that is a little wimpy after Greek flavors. The service was fine (2). The place seats about 80 (2 room and a bar). About 8 people were there at lunch. Their wine list is almost all Greek (rare). Most things are $10 and up. Ownership seemed like they hadn't given up yet.

Club Crawl - Plaza Cinema, Blank Space Gallery, Bullitt

8:30pm-9pm: Plaza Cinema - Grabbed a beer here. No action. Didn't expect any.

10pm-10:30pm: Blank Space Gallery - Watched some people play ping pong. Had some Sake. Left with the people to the next club.

10:30pm-1am: Bullitt - a great new club. They half a Scooby Doo van as a cooler. Cool vibe. Great mish mosh of music. They have booths in the back. Brick walls. Pop art. Pretty full. Cool Crowd

310 Lakeside, Downtown

Last Friday I had dinner at this American restaurant on Lake Eola where Sam Snead's used to be. It looks about the same. I had their loaded burger for $10. It was overcooked. I like the concept of the cheese inside, but, it really just robs you of meat. The fries were crispy (krinkle kut). The toppings were fresh. The service was good. It has a circular bar in the middle. It seats about 70 inside. They have a patio. The decor is plush. It was about 1/3rd full at 9pm. Decent looking crowd.

Fish N Loaves, W. 50

I got a fried chicken breast with hush puppies and fries to go at this Soul Food restaurant on W. 50 on Wednesday. It cost $5. The chicken was good. Not greasy or dry. The fries were a mushy, uncooked mess. The hush puppies were soft. The place is mostly white walls. I believe they have some charitable (religulous) purpose. It seats about 60. You have to find the hidden strip mall next to the police station on John Young or you will miss it. The serve turkey wings. I don't recall alot of places offering them. I love them. The don't take AMEX.

Ginza, 50

I got some rolls to go at this location for this Japanese restaurant on Wednesday. I had an avocado roll and an asparagus roll at $3 a piece. They were average. The rice was bad. They have redone the old Vietnam Town. The have a big statue in a pond in the front. A sushi bar to the left. A bar to the right. Quite a few hibachi tables in the center. It must seat about 120.

China Town, N. Mills Ave - Closed

On Wednesday I had lunch at this Chinese restaurant on N. Mills. I had Szechuan Shrimp with white rice for $7. It came with Wonton Soup. It was fine. The shrimp were not fresh. Are they ever? It came with sliced zucchini, celery and squash. Service was fast. They checked on my experience a few times. There were two other couples there at noon. The place seats about 60. I was told that by natives that they do Hong Kong Style cooking very well. Or at least they used to. I was told that a while ago. The walls are white. It's pretty sterile.

Pub Crawl - Pour House, 903 Mills Market

9pm-10pm: Pour House on S. Hiawassee. Mostly empty. Not a happening crowd.

10:30-11pm: 903 Mills Market on South Mills. Mostly empty. Closing down.

Habibi, Metro West

I got a Falafel wrap to go from this Lebanese deli on S.Hiawassee (same as Taquitos) on Friday. It cost $4. The Falafel was fried fresh in front of my eyes. It came with my choice of hummus, hot sauce, tomatos, parsley, and onions. It was tasty even after spending the night in the fridge. The people were nice. It sits about 20. You order at the counter. They have Shawarmas, Kebabs, platters and sandwichs. It was filled with a young, arab crowd. They don't take AMEX.

Taquitos Jaliscos, Metro West - Closed

I had dinner at this Mexican restaurant on S.Hiawassee in the strip mall in Metro West that has Tavern on the Lake and Pour House on Friday. I had a lengua (tongue) soft taco for $2 and a mixed appetizer that had a mini pork soft taco, a mini chopped beef soft taco, 2 chicken taquitos, and a chicken tostada for $6. It was big enough for a main course and everything was excellent. The lengua was good too. All of this was good because I was warming up the big guns before the food came. I was going to tell you about the cheezy frescos, the dirty floors, the watery salsa, the fat rolls pouring out of the waitresses pants. However, I'll let all that slide and remember the food. Not the best in Orlando, but, up there. The place seats about 100 in two rooms (one is more of a bar). It was pretty full. Gringos and whatever the opposite of that insult is. The service was fast. It was dirty. Napkins and straw wrappers (etc) on the floor. Stains on the silverware and tables. Just pretend it's a taco truck and you won't be disappointed. Most things were around $10.

Art's BBQ, Altamonte Springs - Closed

I had dinner at this Southern Style (No Frills) BBQ in Uptown Altamonte where Shane's BBQ used to be for about five minutes. I had a hot links (sausage) sandwich with potato salad for $6.50. What do you want from me? It was two butterflied links of spicy sausage served on a plain roll. Whoopee. The links were probably bought at Costco. The potato salad also. It was very similiar to the mass produced, sweet spugen they sell at super markets. The place is big. It must seat 100+. It has a barn house facade. I'm not sure if that is a remenant of the previous owner. Three others were there (it was semi-early). It's no frills, over priced bbq that this town is awash in. I guess I should be happy it didn't come on white bread.


I think it's now a World of Beer.

Green Lemon Cafe, Winter Park

I had a dessert at this creperie/deli in the Whole Foods strip mall east of town. I had a rasberry jam crepe for $4. They put too much jam on it, but, I bet the fatties who go there expect it. They serve smoothies, sandwiches, crepes and other things. It looks like a yougart/smoothie shop. Bright colors and glass. The service was fine. They didn't take Amex. It's badly marked. Just a sign that says cafe. I don't think they stay open at night. Another over rate by the Sentinel.

Il Pescatore, E. 50

I had lunch at this Italian restaurant off 50 on Primrose on Wednesday. I had the meat filled cannelloni for $8.25. I wasn't aware the Chef Boyardee made canelloni. It tasted exactly like their ravioli. There were also only two of them and they were thin. Just as well. It came with a predictably bad salad and garlic bread. The service was fast. The decor was rustic (hand painted murals). It seats about 30 in the side room and 50 in the main room. It looks shuttered from the outside. Too bad it isn't. Why it's called Il Pescatore is a mystery as they had no seafood on the menu. It's everything I hate about Italian restaurants -high prices, bad food, and an ugly setting. I'd liked to say I was shocked that it was half full, but, most people are devoid of sense so it fits.

Grub Crawl - Dr Phillips : Scalini's, Bonsai, Le Cafe de Paris

Scalini's: I had lunch at this pizzeria near the end of Dr. Phillips and Windemere. I had their 2 slice lunch special for $5. It's a nice, basic pizzeria. It seats abot 40. It was packed. The owner was cool. Not much too look at. I downgraded to pizza after I saw it was a basic place. The pizza was good - thin, good sauce and cheese. A fresh slice probably would have earned it a better rating.

Bonsai Sushi: I had a yellowtail roll for $6. It's in the same strip as Scalini's. It was good. Most basics adhered to. The fish was a little cartilidged. It's small. It seats abot 30. Prices were about 50% higher than the norm. They were nice.

Le Cafe de Paris: I had a chicken sandwich with black olives. Which was really a very mayonaised chicken salad from a can sandwich. Disappointing. It did have flavor (oil, seasoning). This is more of a deli than a restaurant. In the same complex as the others. Seats about 40. They were nice. Not expensive. They have breakfast.

Pub Crawl - I Drive/Sand Lake: Cricketer's Arms, O'Henry's, BB King's, Cuba Libre, Miller's Ale House

Cricketer's Arms: I had a beer at this pub outside the Festival Bay Mall on Friday. The bartender was a dick. It had some people. Not people you would want to have in your home. Do people really need to socialize so badly that they are willing to pay 10x the cost of retail booze for the pleasure of knowing other people exist in their town? This is why I never feel bad for the poor. They just piss away money stupidly.

O'Henry's: I would never EAT at one of these chain abominations (Beef O'Brady's, Houligans, etc). I mean who has concluded that making something sound Irish increases it's gastronomic allure? Probably someone who doesn't know what that term evinces. I did have to get it off my "to do" list so I grabbed a drink there. The place was empty at 10pm. It looked like every other Stonewood, etc. They have a cute bartender. Russian of all things. Why are there no Russian restaurants here? We have an Icelandic, a Ethiopian, etc.

BB King's: I had a beer at this spot on I Drive. Great spot. However, I felt like I had crashed a Black Wedding party. Mostly empty at 10:30pm.

Cuba Libre: Nice spot. A little Epcot-y. In the same complex as BB King's. I felt like I crashed a Cuban Wedding Party. Mostly empty at 11pm. Bartender was so disinterested I couldn't let myself wait.

Miller's Ale House: See above. I felt like I crashed a pay per view party. Which it was. MMA = dude fest. Still full (of sausage) at 11:30pm.

Grub Crawl - International Drive and Sand Lake: Fuddrucker's, Flipper's and Anthony's

Fuddrucker's: I had some chili cheese fries at this outpost in the Festival Bay Mall at the north end of I Drive last Friday. I was there mainly to add Cricketer's to my done list and didn't feel like paying near $10 for a chain burger. They almost got me with an elk and/or buffalo offering, but, I held fast. You order in a cafeteria style queue. The place was fine for that class of restaurant. They even had a guy making balloon animals for kids. It was mainly empty. It seats around 100. The fries were fine. Wedge cut. They cost $3.50. It was clean.

Flipper's: I ordered a sausage hero from this place behind the strip mall that has Ocean Prime on Sand Lake. It cost around $7. It was fine. The place is half way between a nice sit down faux trattoria and a fast food restaurant. They don't serve slices. It seat about 50. They have outdoor dining. It was about one third full.

Anthony's: A step up from Flipper's. It reminded me of an Italian restaurant in a casino in Vegas. It just seemed inauthentic. The service was good. I had a personal pizza for $6. It seats about 90. It is just a square area with no nooks. They have odd things on the menu like ribs and wings. The decor is old celebrity and sports related. It was about one quarter full.

MLL - Orlando Titans v Toronto Rock

I went to the semi-finals at the O-rena (yes!). It was my first time seeing Lacrosse indoors. The object seems to be to get possession of the ball and then run to the bench. Can they please change this strategy? It has to be more tiring doing it this way than leaving the unit out for a few shifts. The crowd was pleasant. It was small. Only about half of the lower bowl was filled. The Titans lost. I may go back next year if they lower the prices and fix the way the players play the game.

Garden Cafe, W.50

I had dinner at this Chinese Vegetarian Cafe on W. 50 near the O-rena last night. I had a faux shrimp and chicken entree with mixed vegetables in a brown sauce for $10. It was very tasty. The faux meat was probably the worst of it. It looked like what it was replacing, but, the shrimp tasted like shirimi and the chicken didn't taste like much of anything. The vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower) were all very fresh and clean. The sauce was savory. It came with a bowl of rice that was dry and old. I didn't have room for it anyway. The platter was huge. The place is a bit unwelcoming. It is a white brick edifice with bars on the window (obviously necessary given the neighborhood). I could never tell if it is opened or closed or if it was abandoned. Inside it is a square box with low ceilings. The tables and chairs are black with white table cloths. There is not much decoration. The service was good (fast). It seats about 90. There were three other dining at 6pm. I don't love vegetarian food, but, I have to admit I felt energized all night after eating here. Too bad I'm not that concerned with my well being. They get a plus for $1 sodas and a minus for not accepting AMEX or giving a receipt.

Daily News, Downtown - Closed

I got a burger to go at this raggedy coffee shop on Magnolia on Wednesday. It was $5 and came with toppings, fries and a soda. Let's just say that the patty (of all things) was the star. It was fat. It wasn't overcooked. It didn't give me the squirts. The toppings were wilted. The fries were half cooked. But, it was closing for the day. At 2pm! Anyway. If you like low prices and an old fashioned breakfast/lunch experience give it a go. It doesn't have much in the way of style. It's a true greasy spoon. It seats about 40. They deliver. The waitress was very courteous and may I dare say a little sexy too.

Java Lava, Downtown

I had lunch at this coffee shop on Robinson (near the Court House) on Wednesday. I had a buffalo chicken salad combo for $9. It was supposed to come with soup and a soda. I never got the soup. The salad was large. It was surprisingly fresh. It was a little weird to have feta cheese in a salad covered by blue cheese dressing. The chicken in it was that horrible faux, soy, lips and dicks chicken gruel. It was covered by that horrible orange, buffalo dressing. You order they bring it to the table (but you get the soda). The place seats about 80. It was full. I think everyone was associated with a law firm or a juror. It's no-frills. Not quite cafeteria like, but, strip away some of the mustard color paint and homey touches and you could get there. They have Greek options, wraps, dogs, desserts and coffee.

Grease, Wayne Densch

I saw this musical in Sanford on Friday night. Let me say that I have seen the movie hundreds of times, but, I had never seen it on stage. I think the stage book is better. Even the contracted scenery made more sense. Most of the singing (save Sandy) was passable. The acting and dancing was another story. Danny, Rizzo and Sandy were particularly bad. Doody was visibly gay. He looked like Will Forte. He squealed like a queen. He did sing and dance well (shocker). I do have to applaud the director's brave decision to see what a musical would be like if he placed his least talented actors in the leads. Here's a tip. Don't assign roles based on head shots. The audience made it up about 2/3 rds of the way up the orchestra seating. The best thing about it was watching the little kids eyes grow as big as saucers whenever something blue was said on stage. Tickets were $18.