Aroma, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this Indian restaurant today. I had the buffet for $8. It was a little disappointing that around a third of the options were consumed and not replaced at any point in the sitting. I had two, new (to me) interesting selections (a fried spinach and fried mushroom dish that was reminiscent of tempura). I also has the obligatory chicken tikka masala (very buttery), chicken curry (a tad watery) and some rice. They also had some tandoori chicken (just don't love the pieces they use for this) and a first for me - soup served in the same metal containers they serve the food. The food was mostly adequate. Management seemed to be the weak link. I already mentioned the reluctance to replenish, but, the tables weren't bused and there didn't seem to be any wait staff. I hate waste as much as anyone, but, you can't charge full buffet prices and not deliver a full buffet. Make smaller batches if you abhor left overs or remove the trays so we don't know there was more available at one time. The place is drab. It's a little, rectangular nook with no decor. There are five of six booth and one side and tables of four on the other. They have a private room that can be and was used for private parties. It looks like a store room and had no heat. I would be embarrassed to have a party there. Now, I'm not sure how much of this is bad management and how much is a concerted effort to keep costs down, but, it comes off as bush league. Oddly, it was pretty well attended by customers so maybe I caught them on a down day. With two other competitors nearby, they must be doing something right some of the time to get what I assume was repeat business. Or maybe some people can just put up with the value proposition offered here. I really wouldn't recommend it for anything short of a gluttonous, blind feed.

Grub Crawl - Hunter's Creek: Padrino's (Closed), El Inka, Rice and Beans, Dolce

I had lunch and to go meals from these spots in and around Hunter's Creek on Wednesday. The first two are in side by side shopping commons on John Young (they say North JY, but, it is in the southern most part, odd) after 417. Rice and Beans is in a large shopping area right before the Osceola Parkway. Dolce is on that parkway near the the Turnpike (east).

Padrino's - I had an Orly burger at this Cuban restaurant. It cost $8. The lunch menu had a wide selection from the real menu, but, this seemed unique. It is, purportedly, from a recipe by Primo. I think he is the chef at one of Hiltons or it is a restaurant in one of the Hiltons (or both). It was a cheeseburger deluxe with sweet plantains. They pressed it like a Cuban sandwich. The concept was ok (Cubanize a burger). The execution was bad. Like most places, they couldn't keep from squeezing all the juice out of the patty. Still can't grasp the laws of thermodynamics. It doesn't cook any faster if you press it. Would you press down on an egg to make it fry faster? Would you crush a grapefruit before you served a half? It was also well done (no surprise) when it was requested to be medium. The combination itself is odd. The cheese and LTO compete or are subsumed by the plantains. It doesn't all work together. Drop everything but the plantain and burger. It came with shoestring fries. It was a large portion and most were cooked enough. The best alimentary offering was the complimentary plantain chips. They came in one of those wire coils baskets with a cone of white paper. I believe they were baked. That application left them with a nice toasty flavor and saved calories. The service (3) was good. Everything came out promptly and politely. I received multiple refills on the soda ($2.50). The place is a bit mismatched. I was expecting it to be a little more modern/luxurious. It looks like they put make up (bright paint and impactful art) on a old IHOP. I'm not sure what it was before it was this, but, I would lay odds that they didn't approve the demure fabrics and layout. The place seats about 90 in the main room and they have a more private, large table next to the small bar. Booths line the main room. It could be cleaned up a little. I saw brooms and spray bottles from my vantage point. There were about twenty people there for lunch. I wouldn't make special plans to eat here, but if you are in the neighborhood and like Cuban, then try it. I was expecting a little more sizzle. It's a fine as a mom and pop endeavor, but, I think they are trying to position it as a top rated brand. More Calle Ocho than South Beach.

El Inka Grill - I ordered one of their lunch specials to go. You can choose from three appetizers and eight entrees. I chose a soup (Aguadito de Pollo) and fish (Pescado Frito). It came with a soda and cost $9. The soup was good. I could live without the bones, but, maybe that assurance of real poultry makes it worth while. The fish (not sure what kind) was good. It even held up to a microwave spa treatment after sitting in a box all afternoon. The frying wasn't oily and the batter stuck to the filet. The fish had a mild taste. The entree also came with white rice. It must have been given a butter bath. They put some kind of salsa on top. The vinegary juices ran into the rice. I would probably prefer them to remain separated. I would bet that they are arranged so if you eat in. The whole lot came out in five minutes. The place serves most of the popular Peruvian dishes. They had some sort of fried calamari plus platter that looked outrageous. The place is fairly small. It must seat around forty. It has a pretty Spartan decor. There were about 18 people there while I waited. It was a mostly Peruvian crowd. I think they want to have a more buttoned up crowd, but, I guess it's a good sign that your core audience appreciates you. If we still had a dearth of Peruvian restaurants around town I would say find this place. But, we have a lot of participants. Still, your belly wouldn't be disappointed if you did make the effort. It's mostly a gastronomic play. I still think the pricing at all Peruvian restaurants is higher than it should be or would support. But, that is my issue.

Rice and Beans - They call this place a "latin" cocina, but, I say it's Puerto Rican. I had another lunch special (choice of meat, choice of starch, choice of rice and choice of beans) to go for $7. I had roast pork, yucca, vegetable rice and black beans. All were very good and the portion was sizable. The place looks like a Quizno's or any other assembly line, take out place. The food lifts it above that. Now, this was another place that markets itself as a higher end place than it really is, but, it serves good food. It also seemed extremely popular based on the attendance. You order at the counter and then sit down. They have a large menu of platters, mofongos, coffee and shakes. They even have wine and beer. I wouldn't seek it out, but, go if you are in the neighborhood. They have a Waterford Lakes area sister establishment.

Dolce Bakery and Cafe - This may have been the hippest, cleanest and best find of the day. It is in the middle of nowhere (kind of near Tupperware so maybe people live around there). It is in a crappy strip mall. It is really interesting (maybe because everything around it is tedious). The color scheme is white walls with black, graffiti like murals on the left side of the shop. The long and beautiful glass counter is right in front. It has all manner of goodies inside it. They have "sandwiches", cakes, tarts, cookies, etc. I had a turkey and ham "sandwich" in some sort of croissant like (in taste) glazed shell. I had it yesterday for lunch and it held up. I also had a peach tart they called a crostate. It must have been made with a thick jelly. It tasted like a fruit roll up. It was open faced with that lattice type top. I'm not a huge fan of un-French pastry, but, there is some real baking going on here. It's so far from civilization that I am reluctant to tell you to find it because your expectations couldn't be satisfied. However, if you are in the neighborhood or going south on the Turnpike, give it a go. And bring back something for your more rational friends.

Grub Crawl - Hunter's Creek: Flat Rocks, Venezia, Bistro Europa, All Italian

I had dinner and snacks at these places in Hunter's Creek last night. They are in a strip mall on John Young past 417.

Flat Rocks - I had a antipasto salad that was described as a antipasto plate for $6 and a 8" pizza for $6. The salad was surprisingly fresh. The field greens were good. The mozzarella was fresh. It did lack the artichoke hearts and pita squares described on the menu. But, then again it was a salad and not a plate, so you can't expect them to get that right. It was also drenched in red wine vinaigrette. The pizza was also better than I expected. I expected the worst when I heard it was conveyor belt pizza. It turned out ok. The people behind the counter said the place was an old American Pie. I never thought their pies were good, so they must be doing something different. They said it might be a higher quality of cheese or the corn meal, but, I thought the dough was better. The place looks old. They had a TV set in my booth and the controls were pealing off the base board. It has around nine booths that seat six or seven. There are tables of different sizes in between. The decor is wood and tannish upholstery. They have a mediocre selection of wine and beer. The menu is mostly pizza, salads and flat breads. They have some pasta and pub like appetizers. The service (2) was fine. They did take forever to bus the empty tables (no busboys). I wouldn't recommend a sojourn here unless you live nearby. They say it's "Casual Fresh Perfect". I would argue the last platitude. It's a fine improvement on American Pie, but, I sense that it is on life support.

Venezia Bakery - I had a strawberry something or other (a custard like tart) for $3.50. It was good. The place serves Venezuelan baked goods. I was told Venezuela means little Venice and that Venice makes a large impression on their cooking. Who knew? I thought all those fascists disappeared into Argentina after WWII. They have seating.

Bistro Europa - I had a Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich for $7.25. I ate it today. It was fine. I mean it's rotisserie chicken so how bad could it be. I do wish I just went for the whole rotisserie chicken for $8. The sandwich was one breast with a sad tomato slice and a sad lettuce leaf, It also had a side of that abomination - honey mustard. It came on a crumbly whole grain bun. The name says "European", but get real, it's Greek food with American, comfort food sides (odd pairing). They also do chopped salads. Greeks have to learn that they are not European. They are Middle Eastern. Plus, I'm not sure if they understand what a bistro is. This is not a bistro. They have seating (inside and out). It's new, so, it's sort of appealing. It's like a beefed up Subway or a low rent Lime. I wouldn't struggle to find it. It's fine if you live close by.

All Italian Market and Deli - I resisted buying anything here because everything was about 3X retail. They sell supermarket pasta for $3.25 that can be had at the aforementioned for $1. They do have a decent selection of Italian foods. They also seemed to be serving dinner. The place was full. They have three tables in room one and I'm not sure how many in room two because a private party was going on that night. They have gelato. I'm not into speciality stores. I think they are a relic thanks to Whole Foods and Costco.

Kohinoor, Altamote Springs

I went back to this Indian restaurant (on 436 in the strip mall next to I-4 that has the Houlihans) a few weeks ago for lunch. I had been there many times pre-blog. It is one of the older Indian restaurants in town. I had the lunch buffet for $11 ($17 with drink, tax and tip). While $11 isn't breaking the bank, there are better values (Moghul on 436 for instance) available. They also have a more generous selection. Kohinnor really only had three entrees (butter chicken, tandoori chicken and chiken tikka masala). They had a basic salad, the usual side dishes and the starches. The space is far worse than I remembered. It looked like somebody took a two story townhouse (twenty years ago) and put tables inside it. It is broken up into two, tiny areas by a staircase. The front area has the register and about six tables of four. The back area has the bar, two tables for two and a group table. The buffet is on the side wall between the two areas. The service (I still don't know why I need someone to bring me a drink if they assume I can serve myself the food) was fine. Although, they couldn't answer questions about the cuisine because they were Mexican. The place was packed (only one two seater was empty). The big table I sat next to seemed to be conversant about food. The place has been around forever and evidently is still packing them in, but, as I said already, there are better options. I wouldn't make a special trip here now that almost every town has a similar contestant and some of those offer more at a reduced price.

Grub Crawl - Orlando: Teolinda, NY Chinese, Broadway

I stopped by these restaurants in the Century Plaza (436 and Curry Ford Rd) a few weeks ago. I bypassed a Mexican place that may be safe for lunch, but, turns into a sketchy bar at night. I had everything to go. It's not the most inviting area of the city.


Teolinda's Bakery and Cafe- I had some sort of pastry for around $2. I can't remember what now. It was fine. The place is a little, oldish deli whose greatest attraction may be that it serves Ecuadorian dishes. Didn't try any. Nor do I have much experience with this cuisine. You can eat in too.

NY Chinese Restaurant - I'm not sure what makes it NY? It seemed to cater to Hispanics (menu also in Spanish and Latin dishes). I had an egg roll. It was fine. I think it had pork in it. Typical drab take out spot. It had some tables.

Broadway Ristorante and Pizzeria - It looked like a place you would find in small town America. Earth tones and wear. The Chicken Parm was good.

PSA - Phytoceramides

Dr. Oz says 350mg of these a day promotes collagen loss (wrinkles, bags). You can get a 30 day supply for $30. They are made from rice, yeast or wheat. You are supposed to avoid wheat if you have gluten sensitivity. I haven't tried them.

Westgate Smokehouse Grill, Turkey Lake

I had dinner at this barbeque restaurant at the Westgate Resort on Turkey Lake Rd (paralleling 1-4 South after you turn onto it from Sand Lake) on Saturday. I had a beef brisket sandwich for $11. I chose this to compare the brisket I had for lunch and because the skunk haired, trailer possum hostess tried to seat me in every worst seat in the place. It wasn't full. FYI - everything else on the menu is more expensive. The brisket and the baguette it came on was surprisingly good. They did slather on too much (any) mayo. It was a huge portion. It was a little fatty. It was cooked properly. It came with good mashed potatoes. I think they pre-mixed them with sour cream. Unfortunately, something didn't agree with me later on that night. I didn't get a full case of food poisoning or unending Hershey-squirts, but, it would have been a problem if it had been a late night out on the town. I can't say emphatically that this meal had anything to do with it (it could have been the sale priced Swanson TV dinner from Friday night), but, the timing was incriminating. Maybe the skank hostess had words with the kitchen and I got the secret sauce. The place itself is tacky. It looks like it was constructed for a Mexican restaurant and then they tried to shoehorn in some Western motifs. They have arcade games in the back for Christ's sake. It's, solely, a spot for hotel guests. I wouldn't seek it out. They advertise in a popular, free culinary-themed magazine. It should not get legitimacy through association. They guy next to me complained about his meal, but, the guy behind him was effusive.

The London Fish & Chippy, Winter Garden

I tried a $1 Peppered Papadam (Indian wafer) on Saturday at this food truck at the farmer's market. It was fine. It could have been bought at an Indian restaurant for all I know. They said it was home made. They had five or six English items. They seemed fine.

Harry & Larry's, Winter Garden - Closed

I had lunch at this barbeque restaurant in downtown on Saturday. I had a beef brisket on texas toast for $5. It was tremendous. Possibly, the second best barbeque in CF (4 Rivers is first). Great smoke. Lean. A decent amount. I still don't see why these places ruin good meat by serving it on white bread, but, I'm funny that way. This bread was better than Wonder and cut thick. The menu is small. They do sandwiches or platters with brisket, pork, sausage and St. Louis ribs. They have 10 sides. I didn't try any. The place is small. It has about six booths. There is a takeout window in front. The place looks like an old meat shop that they cleaned up. They have fifties metal advertising signs hanging as decoration. I would definitely make a day trip here. I would start eating my way around town at this spot.

Lonnies, Lake Mary

I had lunch at this eclectic restaurant near City Hall on Friday. It was recently Nico Globos. I had a Pot Roast sandwich for $9. It was ok. The pot roast was tender. It was cut (they say shredded) into 1/4" strips and piled two strips deep. It had havarti cheese, horseradish sauce, lettuce, onion and tomato. The bread seemed artisinal. It was pressed. The menu is peculiar. It has Asian, Mexican, French, Italian, Southern, Traditional, and Eastern European (deli) components. Lunch (sandwiches and salads) ranges from $8-$13. Brunch from $7-$10. Dinner from $15-$20. The place looks exactly as before. It's a quaint setting. It seats about 20 in booths. They have a counter. They sell booze. It's basically the same place it always was. Unfortunately, there is a rising tide of non-fast food or chain options in the area now. It may be a struggle to find enough refined palettes.

Dickens Coffee & Tea Room, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this Tea Room in the corner of the strip mall on Lake Mary Blvd and Rinehart Rd today. I had a Chicken Pesto sandwich and a pot of Dickens Black tea. It cost $7 ($3 for the tea). It was fine. Some cold chicken on bread. Not exactly a demanding request. The place looks like a working class tea room. There are dainty affectations (commemorative plates, china, British food containers, tea caddies). The furniture seemed more Danish country than English. I think they wouldn't have a problem with it being described as working class. Dickens (champion of the working class) is the namesake. Americans might not even recognize the distinction. I think the owner is Black Irish (maybe Welsh). The place seats about thirty. I was the only male. It was half full! With only two hands on deck, I would expect to spend a little more time here than you anticipate. They served me fast because I think they thought I stumbled into the wrong place and wasn't into the fantasy. They were probably right. Or maybe I was ruining the fantasy. The table next to me was given a pot of tea and then abandoned until I was about to leave. Same with two tables that came right after me. It's never a good sign when they tell you straight away that this is a slow paced place so you should adjust your internal clock. The waitress wouldn't (actually said couldn't - though that is not factually accurate) take my meal order with my tea order. Oddly, she came back a minute later and then could. I think the two women do it all - hence the leisurely pace (marketed as purposeful). Like vegan food, this is (and I wasn't expecting it to be) isn't my bailiwick (I'm sure they feel similarly). It's more for book club women dreaming of meeting Mr. Darcy or Rochester. Or maybe a little girl's birthday party (that was going on today). They serve sandwiches, desserts, soups, salads and platters of finger sandwiches and petit-fours. My sandwich was at the low range. It was listed at $10, but, that was with a side salad. There was some confusion in ordering and it was presumed that I didn't want one. I didn't care either way. I just note it because maybe $10 isn't the low mark. Maybe it is the $7 they charged me. The full tea service (probably for 2-4) was around $20. I say check it out if you are in the mood for a change of scenery. I went to another tea place on 434 a few years ago (not sure if it still exists) and I think there may be another near Oviedo, but, this is the only one I've seen in this area.

Darmani's, Sanford - Previously Salt n' Sugar Pizza - Closed

I had a pizza to go at this pizza/crepe/wing place on 46 on Saturday. It was a small (8 inch), cheese for $6. It was fine. A little undercooked and they use too much oregano. I went by on Wednesday, but, they weren't open yet. They were, however, in the place and offered me a slice of a "fancier" pie (with cream in it). That slice was unsurprisingly better. Although, the crust was a little tough (maybe kneaded for too long). It's a small place. It might seat 25. The decorations are minimal. They are going for a hip vibe. They have two guys from Nice to make the pies and crepes. Not sure if that makes them any more capable, but, it a point of differentiation. They are in the strip mall that houses Beard Papa's. There was already Gio's in the neighborhood, but, maybe there is room for two. It's a tough price point. Terra Mia has a really good (the pizza and the price) pizza special (drink and salad) for under $10. I'll go back because the people seemed nice and variety is the spice of life.

Ichiban, Lake Mary - Closed

I had lunch at this Hibachi Buffet on 46a on Friday. It was $8.50. I mostly had sushi. Chinese food is greasy and salt ridden. And that's the good stuff. The sushi was passable. It was mostly rolls, but, they had the tuna, salmon and a white fish trio. The white fish used to be snapper, but, now I think talapia is often substituted. Alas, I remember when tuna was actually tuna (blue fin) and not a large mackerel (yellow fin). The pieces were small. That's fine with me. I hate it when they try and load you up on rice. They did a fairly good job at restocking the supply. They definitely don't waste any part of the fish (or they suck at trimming fish). You get all sorts of crunchy bits mixed in with the flesh. I did try the salt baked crab. It was overcooked. Think warm paste. I never understood why the Chinese flavor shells. How about we take the crab out of the shell and then season? Or use soft shell crabs. I also tried the Har Kow (Shrimp dumplings). They were also overcooked. Pasty and the shrimp were tarred and feathered with some sort of sarimi slurry. Gross. And finally, I had a clam dish. Not bad. The place is big. They took two office spaces to the right of the coffee place and added it to the restaurant space (some Asian fusion place most recently). The buffet is in the office space area. There are about one hundred seats in front and to the left of the entrance. The sushi counter is on the right in the back. They left the restaurant room as it was. The place is decorated basic plus. It's pretty bare except for some modern Japanese decorations. It's not meticulously appointed, but, it's not a dump. It's like a cut rate Koy Won. And that's where I put it. Slightly below Koy Wan and maybe on par with East-West Buffet. It is a little more expensive than EW. I'm going to go often, but, I love "almost free" sushi. I think that has to be your attitude too if you come. Quantity. Not quality. They took Amex and they are giving a 10% discount. They just opened two weeks ago. A soda was $1.75.

Ethos Vegan Kitchen, Winter Park - Closed

I had a Hippie Wrap (hummus, sprouts, cucumbers, tomatoes, banana peppers, and lettuce in a spinach tortilla to go at this vegan kitchen on Fairbanks on Thursday. It cost $7. It was fine, but, possibly the only thing on the menu that is palatable (did you know the palette is the roof of your mouth) to me. It is all that fake meat and vegetable nonsense. I think I've discovered why this (really) appeals to a certain segment of society. The people that eat this way are sickly. They obsess about their health because it has always been suspect. As such, the answer to the "what do all the "emo's" and neurotics do when they grow older" question is - they work at Ethos. The place is nice. A step up from their old location on N. Orange Ave (now closed). I think I went their pre-blog. I mean I know I went there, but, it was pre-blog. It must seat 100+. It has that unfinished, industrial look (exposed everything) with farmy knick knacks. They have a long bar on the back wall. I saw a turn table, so, I guess they do douchey "events" at night. The crowd was surprisingly mixed. There were some suits in there with the co-eds and pierced chubby guys in camo shorts and black t-shirts with a wool berets. Look, it's not my kind of place, but, it seems to be run well. I've had my share of girlfriends who tried to stay skinny...err...I mean "healthy" going to places like this so I am familiar with the lifestyle. I guess I should be grateful they serve pizza. I've been left with fewer options. Try it or don't try it. I'm too weak from lack of meat to care. 

La Chiva, Winter Park - Closed

I had lunch at this self-described Latin (mostly Colombian) restaurant on Thursday. I had the special of the day for what came out to be $10 with a can of soda. I think it was called Chicken Ajiacco. It was a stew. It had a thigh and few pieces of the outside part of the breast plus potatoes and onion and a quarter ear of corn. It was served with white rice and a third of an avocado. It was fine. Very rustic. Maybe not the most balanced dish (two starches and a raw vegetable thrown in). The menu has arepas, sandwiches, Colombian dogs and burgers, meat dishes and daily specials. Prices can reach $20. It's on 436 in a strip mall between the road that goes to Maitland and the one that goes to Winter Park. It was a Puerto Rican (Sazon) and an Ecuadorian place before. It's has been open under these owners for eight months. The place is cute. They have all the proper decorations. It looks like a souvenir shop. They use cut up coffee bags to carpet the ceiling. There are two rooms. The front room houses the kitchen and looks like a takeout/bar area. They have a side room ( with wooden tables) that is the main dining area. It seats about 25. It also has a bar counter. There were two others there when I visited (Colombians). The service was good. The food came out promptly. Communication was a slight problem. The place has a casual vibe. You can tell from their cartoon logo that they don't take themselves too seriously. If I have it right, a "Chiva" is a loud food truck that people assemble around to eat and drink and dance. It's not gourmet. And it's not seedy. It's a nice family restaurant (you can tell by the highchairs) that happens to serve food you probably don't think much about. If you are curious, I suggest you try this place. It has a nice variety of dishes. Some dishes for the adventurous and some dishes that are universally recognizable.

New York Diner, Orlando - Closed

I had lunch at this diner on 436 near the airport on Wednesday. I had a corned beef on marble rye for $9. It came with fries, slaw and a pickle. I didn't like the corned beef. It had a sweetness that I associate with ham. They also sliced it too thin. It reminded me of the deli meat they sell in individual servings in the supermarket for 79 cents. It was almost devoid of fat. They say they trim and slice it in house. I say try a different setting on the slicer and leave some fat. It was served hot. The rye was cut thick and it was the highlight. The slaw was way to sweet too. The fries had that horrible batter on them. The pickle was mediocre. The main problem I see here is that it is not run by Jews. Maybe the non-deli items fare better, but, authentic this place is not. It is a shame because they seem to be making an effort to be authentic. They import alot of items from the NYC area (ie Junior's cheesecake). They just don't have it in their blood. Even Too Jay's is better. The menu is large and diverse. They have alot of desserts and coffees and even beer and wine. They even have matzoh brie (if you don't know what I am talking about - investigate). It is "diner overpriced". The place seats about 120+. The majority of the seating is booths, but, they have a counter, some group tables and a take out counter. Parking is no problem. The space is painted a yellow and a weird shade of blue. The kitchen is not visible. They have some similarly colored tiles behind the counter. The walls have print murals of NY landmarks. It is bit cheery for a diner. Think Miami diner. The service was great. They have enough staff. I wouldn't make a special trip here, but, if you need a "nosh" on your way out of town give it a whirl. You might not know the difference.

*Now an IHOP.

Laspadas, Sanford

I had lunch at this Delaware County, PA-style grill on 46 (in the old Quizno's) across for the 46 food and bar village. I had a bacon cheeseburger for $5 and some cheese fries for $2.25. A drink was $1.70. The burger was fine. They even gave the appearance of being concerned with what temperature it came out at (not a guarantee at some places). The meat was a little "loafy", but, it survived that impediment. The bacon helped. It was a big patty. The fries were great. Well done and loaded with Whiz. Love the stuff. Both were served in paper containers/plastic baskets. No pretensions here. The place looks like a joint. It's not the cleanest and not the nattiest, but, it passes code. It's decorated with Philly team logos on the wall. There is one TV on the wall. It was showing football. They have a few tables (8) on the window side of the structure and the counter and grill are positioned to the back. Their specialty is cheesesteak sandwiches. I found them a little expensive at $9 for a ten inch. That is the medium size. Maybe the quality is that superior, but, I wasn't going to risk it before I had some additional evidence. The last thing my hungover stomach wanted was a bad cheesesteak rotting inside of it and clogging the exit door. They said they had/have a decades old following up north and some other locations around here (at least one on Lee Rd). The staff was gregarious and polite. It's a fine little dive for this type of cuisine. I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but, if you crave a taste of your hometown (should it be Philadelphia) or have been indoctrinated into the hysteria by someone for whom it is and you don't have the power of teleportation, this may be a must do for you.

Breezeway, Sanford

I had lunch at this American restaurant on the main street. It is the latest in a series of efforts (lastly Two Blonds and a Shrimp). I had come to the area in hopes of finding a food truck event, but, I searched far and wide and never found it. It is home to one of the lamest farmer's market in the country (10 stalls? - most not selling food). So it has that going for it. I really wasn't expecting much from the place. The menu seemed unoriginal and overpriced. I was originally going to cut my loses and just order a salad, but, I overheard the owner telling another table about how meticulously he prepares his specialty pork sandwich. It sounded interesting and since it came with a salad for $9, I bit. Fortunate for me. It was a huge, pounded (cubed twice), cutlet (I forget which part) covered with panko and expertly fried. It was light. Good thing because it was massive (six times the size of the roll). It came on a roll that was a step above the usual hamburger roll. It was a little stale though. The lettuce, tomato and onion were superfluous and were of medium quality and freshness. The sauce (mayo, sour cream, hot sauce and horseradish) was excellent and necessary to counteract the dryness of the cutlet. I suggest that they challenge Hollerbach's to a Schnitzel-off. I chose a Caesar salad as an accompaniment. It was properly made. The place looks like it always did. It has that bar to the left and some tables (5 or 6) on the right. It is a narrow, rectangular shape. Most seats are outside (60). There are TV's both inside and out. The crowd is disparate. It seemed like most people were just passersby who said "how bad can it be?". I do think it's odd that they choose a sport fish as a mascot. The menu had more turf than surf. I think they are just trying to evoke some "fun in the sun" sensibility because we are in Florida. Maybe they are trying to differentiate themselves. The service (3) was ok. My waitress seemed the least engaged. It wasn't as if there was a lunch rush going on. All in all, it's a slightly overpriced, me too American version of pub with a really good fried pork sandwich. I'm not sure that's enough for me to tell you to waste the gas getting here. However, if you are in Sanford and don't want to be a cliche (by going to Hollerbach's) you have another option. Although, to be honest, I would go to the aforementioned's market before doing that. Marco Dino's or Cafe Rouge may also be potentially more gratifying, but, they are inconsistent.

Texas de Brazil, I Drive

I had lunch at this Brazilian Steakhouse last Friday. It's near Fun Spot. The buffet costs $27. It is only open for lunch on Fri-Sun and Friday is the cheapest day. It was fine. Actually better than I expected. They said the "cold" buffet had sixty items, but, really only a few were worth sampling. I had shrimp in a tasty pesto sauce, some smoked salmon, some manchego cheese and some salami. I was most surprised that the majority of the shrimp were not mushy and had a little snap. I think I tried one piece of all the things they bring to you on a sword. I remember filet mignon, bacon wrapped filet, pork sausage, chicken sausage, parmesan pork, chicken, sliced pork and I'm sure there was more. The meat could have been of better quality. Parmesan does not work with pork. I don't know who eats the limp, half cooked bacon. I know they use it for lean cuts of meat, but, can't you toss it before you serve it? The service was fine. I still don't know why I need a waiter when either I'm getting my food or someone else is bringing it to me. They did try and hose me with a service area adjacent seating assignment. I kind of understand because most seating was for four and up, but, I still have to bitch. Who's to say the guy in flip flops isn't a mover and shaker. I must take time out to remind everybody that only poor people (social climbers) dress to impress. Those with means (for at least more than one generation) do not care what you think of them. They also do not carry their life savings in the wallet. Back to the review. The place is huge. It must seat 200+. The place has a bar area, a private room and a dining room that is intersected by the cold buffet. The decor is mix of iron (chandeliers) and backlight marble. The wine "cellar" and the kitchen are enclosed in glass an visible to the diners. The wine selection was substantial. It's a fine place. We used to go to other outposts on the company dime back in the day. It's that sort of place. It attracts the convention set. And fat people. Saw a lot of fat people. Or are they just called "people" now. Has everyone given up? I don't have anything bad to say about this place. It's fine. It may be a little pricey if you aren't fomented with gluttony. I don't think I would struggle to go back, but, it's off the list - finally.

Piada & Piada, Lake Mary - Closed

I went to this tiny, Italian cafe in the strip mall on Rinehart and Lake Mary Blvd last Wednesday. It's near the Blockbuster (which I think is becoming a Burger Fi) in the spot that was a diner then a Peruvian then a burger/dog place. I had a Piada (thick crepe like circle) Classic for $7. It was filled with a Livornese soft, cow's milk cheese that I can't remember the name of and had never heard of before (it started with a sfz I think) and arugula and prosciutto de parma. It was good. About the size of a large quesadilla. They said they serve this style of "bread" so that the ingredients stick out. I would say that is accurate and the ingredients were of a good enough quality to make that a sound business decision. Probably good for calorie counters too. They have six versions of this sandwich. The rest of the majority of the menu is made up of something they call Piadizza. I believe it is the same piada base served open faced with pizza toppings. There are eight versions of this all priced at $7. They also serve a couple of soups, desserts, coffee, wine and a pasta or risotto of the day (only $5). They have authentic (hard to get) Italian brands of the aforementioned items and some others items are only sold as retail. The coffee machine is the real deal. They did a nice job renovating. This spot has never looked so good. It's hip and comfortable. They put six booths against the wall and are the first to do outdoor seating (about 30 seats). They have a glass counter that separates the dining area from the kitchen. It sits on a layered stone base. The serve yourself soda machine (the really unauthentic thing here) a dessert refrigerator, a wine refrigerator and the retail goods are the only things on our side. The art work was mainly pithy, Italian sales art (posters from suppliers). I understood that the menu is inspired by Livorno, Italia (think 3/4 up the front side of the boot). I believe that is where the cook/owner said he was from. It's always a good sign that the boss man is in the kitchen. I have to say that this place is right up my alley. It serves something unique to the area and something most people have probably never had. That's two reasons to go. They also seem to be cognisant of quality without being pedantic about it. I trust this guy to always do right by his customers (even if it bankrupts the place in the process). I don't see quality being an issue - ever. He seemed to be very concerned with it (the correct way to make an espresso in this case) while I was there. They had only been open for six days when I went there. There were three other people there. One looked like a foodie and the other two were talking about how they had read about the place. It may already be on everyone's radar, but, I think it's the best thing to happen to Lake Mary this year. It's affordable and transporting. It's simple luxury. I am reticent to impugn all the heavy, working class dishes that most people associate with Italian cooking (it's fine in it's obvious sort of way), but, this type of Italian I find superior. It is more refined. It's a single red rose instead of a bouquet of wild flowers. I suggest you give it a try (should my new catch phrase be "do" or "don't do"?). It's one of a kind (at least to my recollection or experience) in Orlando.