Pub Crawl - Audubon Park and Mills: Winter Park Beer Company, L'il Indies and Matador

I went to this one bar in the old Taps From Scratch location in Audubon Park and these bars on or near Mills Ave two Friday nights ago.

Winter Park Beer Company - It's exactly like Taps except now they brew watery beer. Same owner. It's been open for a few weeks. They were playing trivia games. There were about twenty people there. Boring like before.

L'il Indies - They added this free entry bar next to Will's Pub. It's cute. Who wouldn't like old Playboy centerfolds on the wall? It's more of a craft cocktail place than it's ubiquitous craft beer cousins. It's pretty small. It was full-ish. Parking is a pain. I parked behind Hawkers on a residential street. Will's Pub was having a concert so I couldn't try that for you. I think they still demand a $5 cover. They had a food truck parked outside.

Matador - This place is next to the Bodega Santiago on Virginia. It used to be downtown. I parked in the new condo parking lot. Some people told me that they tow there. Parking is a pain. They have a valet. It's just a bar bar. It was pretty empty. I think you have to have a hipster mustache to work there. Pass.

I had to jump a cruise the next day, so, I couldn't linger.

Txokos Kitchen, Audubon Park - Closed

I grabbed a light dinner two Friday's ago after my large lunches at this new (three weeks) Basque restaurant in the new food market on Corrine. I had a fig and manchego offering for $5 or $4. The manchego was slightly aged. They put the components on skewers. I also had braised oxtail with a cheese spread (forgot what kind - probably bleu) and a marmalade (forgot what kind) for $4 or $5. They (2) were served on crostini. They were good. The place seats about seventy in the two inside room and twenty on the patio. It was packed. It was an upper class group of people. They serve a modest menu of fish, steak and other entrees. I sat in front of the wood fired grill. The decor is hot. It is theme appropriate. Service was great. They didn't make you feel bad for nibbling. Things came out fast. The owners own some popular fish restaurant in New Smyrna. I recommend it. I'm anti tapas, but, this is more than that. It's a little on the expensive side.

Bombay Cafe, OBT

I was trying to parlay an Indian adventure to my Chef Eddies afternoon two Fridays ago, but, only this place was open. It's in a building of all Indian stores on OBT near to Sand Lake. Look for the more obvious House of Spices billboard. It's clean. It's owned by the people who own Aashirwad and Tamarind. It's vegetarian. I had some wild dish that I can't remember the name of. It was puffed rice with some bits of onion and peanuts that you toss a spicy sweet black sauce on. It was interesting. It cost $6. I tried to save it in the fridge for when I got back from my cruise, but, something in there went bad in a week. I had to toss the leftovers. I'm not sure I love vegetarian dishes enough to go back. The Orlando Weekly said to try a sampler platter that I forget what the Indian term is.

Chef Eddies, Orlando

I had lunch at this Soul Food restaurant two Fridays ago. You get off I-4 at John Young and head back towards the city and make a left about a mile up on Orange Center Blvd. It's about 400 yards ahead on the left. There's a great view of a lake and the city on the way. I had pig tails with rice and two sides for $9. I was cursing myself for having to be adventurous and eschewing the far more palatable items like chicken and waffles or the burger in a waffle when I tore into the first pig tail. It's nature's own little sausage. It's a little fatty, but, I found a new obsession. The (3) tails were succulent and meaty. My waitress says she eats the bones too, but I like my teeth, so I abstained. There's alot of meat in those stumps. They must braise and bake it. The rice was cooked correctly and smothered with a chicken based gravy. Excellent. Huge portion. I tried the mac and cheese and cheese grits. The mac was good. They broil the top so it gets crispy. The noodles weren't overcooked. The grits were good, but, I was so full be that time I got around to them that I could barely muster a few spoon fulls. It took a little while to get the food. I felt a little unwelcome at first, but when I told me waitress that I had just been to Jamaica and we spoke about her homeland, I became her pet. The place seats about sixty. There were three tables of black patrons when I arrived and those tables were replaced by foodies/hipsters when I left. The inside isn't posh. They have some obsession with unfilled aquariums. There was a certain amount of clutter that could be put away. The seats and tables are old. The menu is great. I think it may be the best in class in Orlando and maybe in the top twenty of all restaurant choices. One of those Food Network shows should use them and 4 Rivers if they come to Orlando. They have the items I mentioned already. They offer red velvet, banana walnut, chocolate chip, sweet potato and butter pecan waffles to name a few. But, it's not just that. They have a big menu. Pasta, beef, pork chops, steak, ham hocks, short ribs, ox tails, turkey wings, stews, fish, crab cakes, shrimp, crabs, bbq, burgers and breakfast items are just a sample. I won't list the sides. They have many. They have 12 items under $6 for lunch specials. The selection is voluminous. Entrees top out at the low twenties. Many things are under $10. I encourage you to seek this place out. It's bomb-digitty. It's perfectly safe too. They also have a surprisingly good wine. I think they said they have been in business for three years. Three years that I wasted in ignorance. I hardly have to say that I suspect everything is made from scratch.

PSA - Instant Stain Removers

They do not get rid of mildew in your caulk like home remedy "experts" on TV claim. At least not the mildew I have ensconced in my shower's caulk. The mildew it may eradicate must be recently grown. And a wash cloth gets that.

Grub Crawl - Longwood: To Duc Pho and Pizza 2 Go

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Grub Crawl - Caselberry: La Terraza Bakery, 8-8 Panda and Joann's Kitchen (Closed)

I went to these places today while you people were stuck with your family pretending that you won the lottery in the Mother sweepstakes.


La Terraza Bakery - This place is across from Buffalo Wild Wings on 436 near Red Bug. It has been open for a while. I just always ignored it. Small Latin Bakeries usually are nothing to write home about. This place wasn't bad. It was very Latin. I mean - barely spoke English Latin. I forgot to ask from what country they draw inspiration from. I had some kind of giant Munchkin for $1 that I thought they told me was a potato or yuca croquette. It was good. I also had a $1:50 chicken and either potato or yuca empanada. It was in a corn wrapper and very fried. If it was homemade I give it a good grade. If they buy them in frozen packages then I deduct points. I couldn't tell and now I'm paranoid about pre-prepared foods. It looked kind of too perfect to be hand made. Points for the dipping sauce. Habenero? They serve breakfasts. I saw a couple eating chicharon. They have savory and sweet option. It was clean. Glad I stopped. Price was most certainly right. It may be hard to learn what they sell. They had no menu.

8-8 Panda - I went to this place on the advice of the Orlando Weekly. The owner said they reviewed it years ago. I just read the blurb in the last issue. You go for Peruvian Chinese food. They have straight up Chinese and an alternate menu that serves a style of Chinese famous in Peru. I had a combo that had Won Ton Soup, Chaufa (Peruvian Fried Rice) and something called Chi Jau Kay. The owner said Kay is chicken in Canton. Gai (as in Moo Goo Gai Pan) is chicken in Mandarin. The soup had a good broth. The won tons were obviously store bought. The Chaufa had lots of roast pork. The chicken and/or the oyster sauce was way too salty. Sadly, it was a huge portion. I left half of it. It was mostly skin and dark meat though. It was very fried. I thought the oyster sauce was a bad pairing. It made the chicken soggy. The place is very unkempt. I reviewed it once when it was a straight Chinese play with the name like 1-6-8 (had some numerical serendipity to the Chinese). It looked so similar from the outside that I didn't realize it had changed names and owners three years ago. The owner was very nice. There were three other tables there at 3pm. They all came there especially for this type of food. All had traveled farther than I. That's the draw. There aren't that many places around where you can get this. They had a number of other dishes of this style. Alot of shrimp based ones. I would go out of curiosity and then just don't order what I did. It's in a strip mall that I believe was the one that has Holly and Dolly's on 436. If not that one then close. That's in between Rachel's and Red Bug if that makes it clearer. And explain to wife why that is.

Joann's Kitchen - This place is across from the new Sun Rail station on 436 and Ronald Reagan next to a gas station. It has been at least two other places that I have reviewed. One was a Cajun. One was a Puerto Rican. There is another latin place next to it that has made it for a while. It's Puerto Rican again. The owner is a recent Le Cordon Bleu graduate. I just had a pernil (roast pork) and maduro (sweet plantain) empanada for $2. They were tapped out from a catering gig and I didn't want/need to push. I saw her hand make it. She showed me the pot she roasted the pork in. Sadly, the pork was a little dry and I didn't love the mix. a little dry too. It needed a sauce or dip. It was wrapped in a white flour dough. Definitely not machine made. They do breakfasts and had sandwiches and more empanadas and hand held dishes. I also had a coconut flan ($2) that I haven't tried yet. I'd bet that the food will get the proper attention you'd expect here. You just get that vibe some places. And if you need more a better argument - the owner just graduated cooking school. She still has to have the passion that life has stripped from the rest of us so expertly. Right? It has been open for six months. Give it a try.

Pub Crawl - Sanford: Nemo's and The Quiet Man (Closed)

I went to these places on Friday.


Nemo's Bar and Grill - This place is on that island in the marina. It was called Wolfy's for ages. I had thought it had been closed for years, but, I guess it just looked that way. It has been this for two years. I mostly went to waste some time before I went to the next place in this report. That place doesn't offer food. I had a plate of alligator tail for $10 here. Mostly because the rest of the menu was boring and I didn't really trust them to deliver on the eatable side of things. I agreed to have them grilled. There was so much seasoning on them that I really couldn't tell if they were pork. I don't know if alligator is expensive and someone would try and pass pork off as alligator, but, I did have my doubts. I tried to pull the chunks apart to see if they had the flesh of a water animal. My analysis was inconclusive. The place a straight up honky tonk (if anyone other than my father knows what that means). It could use a thorough washing. The view is good though. This is definitely a place that hasn't kept up with the trends. I found their beer prices a little steep for their type of customer. But, as I've written before, I guess this is one reason why poor people are poor - they aren't discerning purchasing managers. They charge $5 for most non-Bud beers. I wouldn't really mind if those beers were special. But, I read some of the labels and even the "imports" are now brewed in the US. I can usually get a craft beer at these prices. Killian's Red isn't a craft beer. It's a made up thing. Not even Irish. The place is a large. open, lofted wood structure. They had a band and sports on TV. They had six young waitresses/bartenders. I was swarmed by mosquitoes when I left. It's a place to go to if you want a "Bayou" experience. The sort of place you could probably talk your way into a rendezvous at the end of the night with one of staff or clientele at their trailer. I would have loved this place when I was in college.

Quiet Man - Now that I'm no longer a prisoner to testosterone and recounting crazy tales born of poor life decisions, I go to places like this where there is no chance of hooking up. A perfectly quaint, little bar with craft beer. It's not bursting with options, but, they have enough and I was promised that they change it up alot. The owners were great. It's on Second St (the one to the right of the main street) at the first block of two story buildings. It's smallish. There were around twelve people there. I went because of an article in the Sentinel. I think the guy who wrote it was there. It has been open for a year. It was the Bad Monkey Tavern before this. Sanford has some nice little bars now. Too bad it doesn't attract women.

Coleman's Sports Design Pizza, Lee Rd

I went to this Italian cum Sports Bar on Lee Rd on Monday for lunch. If you are wondering why I've been frequenting this arm pit of an area lately, it is because my mechanic is near by. This place is another reason to avoid the area. It's (how can I say this non-Sterlingly) what you get when a "differently created" segment of society tries to cook Italian food. I had a 12" Italian Sub for $7. They put mayonnaise on Italian meats! ALOT of mayonnaise. Then they served it warm. Mmm. Warm mayonnaise. And I did ask for it cold. That wasn't the only mis-communication (easy to explain since there were three others there at the time). I wanted the large soda on the menu. They (in actuality) only have one size and it's a small. They charged for the large. I asked for no ice. They put in gross looking ice. They said refills. I wasn't offered one. They also added some grated Parmesan on the sandwich like they do in all the Italian places. I forgot to add that they buttered the roll because obviously it wasn't fattening enough. And we wonder why certain demos are that overweight. The place also didn't have the AC on. I'm not sure if they were saving money or it's broken. There really isn't table service. The places seats about fifty. It's done up with sports memorabilia. It's an old building. It was Spiro's a while back. They said they've been open for a year. They have a pizza buffet. However, it looks like Cici's pizza and they only had a pie and a half in the mix when I was there. They don't take AMEX.  I wouldn't give this place a sniff if I was you. Thank God you have me to take the bullet for you.

I have heard this concept has been so successful that they are going to mix two other incongruous cultures in a Polish Sushi place opening nearby.Their signature dish is going to be raw sausage. Would raw schnitzel have been funnier? Should I have said it comes with mayo?

Bonfires, Oviedo - Closed

I had an order of potato skins with brisket at this old Woody's location on 434 near Red Bug Lake Rd on Friday. It cost $6. It was composed of  two (supply store prepared) hollowed out skins with packaged cheddar cheese and (most likely) pre-smoked brisket microwaved and put in a box. You could tell the meal was nuked because it was a thousand degrees and the brisket was as dry as jerky. Totally what I expected from a place like this. It looks like it did when it was Woody's (two years ago). Faux rustic. It was filled with the same class of people. If you just want to get drunk around a bunch of other small town neighbors and eat some familiar bar food, this is the place for you. I'm not above doing that, but, I wouldn't exactly call it pleasure to do so. It would be more about sustenance (or drunkenness) at that point. You may be able to find some non-microwaved items on the entree menu.

*6/13/19 - If this review was for a place on Alafaya Trail then I think they are back at this location. I passed by and I swear the sign now says Bonfires.

Kesh, UCF Area - Closed

I finally hit on one of my choices on Friday. This place (short for Marrakesh - I think) is in the corner of that old strip mall on 50 and 434 (Alafaya). I had a bbq shrimp quesadilla for $7 because my stomach must have been mad at me for going to Jamaica and only eating seafood (snapper) once. It was even willing to accept cheese and seafood in conjunction - let alone with bbq sauce thrown in. I usually hate this combination, but, it called to me on that day at that time. I can't know why. It was good. The shrimp were large and fresh enough and butterflied. Crappy shrimp can quickly kill this dish. Way more than a crappy farm animal can. He got it right. This was important because the bbq sauce could have been store bought. It didn't stand out. I would have used a spicy sauce over a sweet sauce. The cheese also could have been packaged and pre-blended. I would have chosen a less obvious blend. I would guess that although they seemed not to be made from scratch, that they were. The chef/owner seemed to take his role seriously and the other items I saw him preparing all looked excellent. The menu was mostly sandwich type option. I think you could make them platters. He had some fancy hot dogs that I say are overpriced, but, the rest of the menu was reasonable. I remember a fat Cuban sandwich and a Taylor Street (Chicago) Beef sandwich and some breakfast concoctions. The place seats around around forty in a very narrow space. It won't win awards for decoration. There were five, hung over students there at 1-2pm-ish. They were being demanding and the owner evinced enough patience to gain my respect. If I lived around here it would be in the rotation and if I wasn't so tired of blogging about this inanity I would have been more expansive in my report. Time for CSI.

Dawat, UCF Area - Closed

I stopped by this Indian place near that old Bowling Alley on 50 and Rouse Rd on Friday at lunch. It was supposed to be a good kebab house called Kurry and Kebab. They said those guys just got up and left one day. Just a few weeks ago. I guess dust doesn't gather in the Indian community. I looked at the buffet and then the prices and the general look of the restaurant and decided that all I could trust them with would be a $3.50 Chicken Samosa. I really wanted a kebab specialist (as the old place was reviewed elsewhere) and I wasn't going to be the guinea pig to see if these surprise contestants could match up. The samosas were ok. There were two of them. Although, I go to enough "foreign" markets now that I usually see these types of items in their frozen, packaged state. It kills the thrill when you know they are just warming things you could buy yourself. Dumpling lovers be scared (or mad). So, there you go. An Indian restaurant of zero distinction. A couple of locals said there weren't many (any) Indian places near by. Maybe that is why you'd go.

Maxine's on Shine, Orlando

I had lunch at this place a couple of blocks south of 50 on Shine Ave last Friday. I had a half of a Caprese Salad for $6 ($5 on the menu) and a Pig Wing (baby pork shank) for $3.25. I really couldn't find any excitement on the menu and was trying to cut my losses at this point. The mozzarella was ok. They ruined it by flooding it with balsamic. It's an accent not a salad dressing. The tomatoes were ok too. The real problem was that both were cut too thinly. The "wing" is similar to something they used to serve at World of Beer. It was drowning in a store bought bbq sauce. It made me wonder what distributor they have in common. And that's the gist. The food (what there is of it) is mediocre to an after thought (and the "thought" isn't deep). They offer four lazy Italian dishes. One (a lasagna is probably frozen in the skillet they cook it in or frozen in a square and dropped in the skillet to make it sound exquisite). I think the rest of the menu was a burger and a fish special. Maybe a panini. They have a new chef, but, management has decided to handcuff him with the old menu. The wine list seemed to be the raison d'etre for the owner. And it's not that impressive. Given that they are barely open for lunch and that the place is kind of run down (some might find it quaint - I worry about contaminants), I wouldn't waste my time looking for parking at this out of the way spot. It mostly survives because of the lack of options in the immediate area. Service took too long and they don't have enough respect for you (or fear of the law) to synchronize their menu and cash register. The owner acknowledged that their kitchen is too small to handle a larger work load. Prices are also above what they should be. This is the third ownership group I've reviewed for this location. I really am not looking forward to the next. They've all been superfluous. The ownership seemed pleasant enough, if that is all you ask for in a restaurant. Or maybe approach it as a bar that has some snacks and it changes the geometry in its favor. Imagine a restaurant owned by Joe Walsh (that's an Eagles reference)..

Grub/Pub Crawl - ZaZa, Theo's Kitchen and Rogue Pub

I went to these places on Curry Ford Rd and at or near Crystal Lake Dr (I think) on Thursday night. It's south of the Milk District and East of Downtown.


ZaZa New Cuban Diner - I had a Vaca and Cheese sandwich for $8. It was a stewed-like beef with potato sticks, grilled onions and swiss cheese. It was delicious. I'm not selling it well be calling it stewed beef. It had way more flavor. I just wanted to communicate that it was tender. It also came with some adequate french fries. You can choose any of the other sides. The place isn't amazing to look at. it looks like a fast food place. They have the usually Cuban lunch fare and the breakfast sandwiches are probably great. They are cheap. The have some Cuban desserts too. They also plate up the sandwich elements in platters. They are opening a branch in Winter Park shortly.

Theo's Kitchen - This is run by a Syrian family. It's mostly Greek food with what is supposed to be some great fried chicken. It was in a different location years back. They've been in Orlando since the 70's. I had a Beef Shwarma. It was good. The beef was very redolent of what I think was Sumac. It's also not much to look at. I doubt you'd be coming for the decor anyway.

Rogue Pub - Hands down the best of this type of bar in Central Florida. Better than Redlight Redlight. Better than Oblivion. Better than World of Beer. You get the picture. Not the most selection, but, the most interesting. From ALL over! They serve some food. It has a pool table and dart boards. They have a uninspired wine selection. However, beer is the star. They have got the beer part DOWN The crowd wasn't fussy though. Plenty of guys drinking $1.50 Yuengling's (sp). I left at 10pm, so, I don't know if it gets crazy.

*I should add that I went down for a place called Lima 41. It's out of business.

Pub/Grub Crawl - Winter Springs: Salamander's, South + York (Closed) and Spill Wine Bar

I tried these places on East 434 last Saturday night.


Salamander's - I just popped in for a beer at this place that was recently a breakfast place. It's in the strip mall with Senor Tequila's. I just had a beer. They had a surprisingly obscure selection. They did a good job at refurbishing it. It has lots of new TVs that designate it as a sports first bar. I heard rumors of a great hamburger and lunch specials from the locals at the other spots I went to. Nice, friendly service. It did seem empty/closed at 10 pm when I drove by. It seats around eighty and was mostly empty at eight.

South + York - This place is in the larger strip mall that abuts Tuskawilla Rd. South is the wife (Southern) and York is the chef (NY). It is a Southern fusion attempt. The menu was surprisingly small. I'd venture that they are struggling for air and are cutting the variable costs. It's a shame because the burger I ordered was very good and the fries were as well. The fries are big wedges of potatoes fried and served inside the skin. They could be called a baked potato repurposed. It costs $13 on the menu and $15 on the check. That's usually enough to color my review, but, I'll hold back because it's still worth $15. Unfortunately (for them), the burger was the cheapest thing on the menu and with the exception of a fish dish, the most interesting. It came with pimento cheese and Nuecke (sp) bacon. It was cooked perfectly. The review I read said it had seasoning issues. I guess they fixed that. They other items the review cited were off the menu. So, like I said, the menu is disappointing. They only had around four apps and four entrees. Some had the same main component. I was expecting more. Maybe the chef fired everybody to concentrate on execution and can only concentrate on a small arsenal. The place seats around eighty. There were ten people there for dinner. It felt dead. The service was good and knowledgeable. They could do a better job of arranging the tables. It felt a little bare in places. The back wall is wood and the front windows are garage doors. They don't do lunch. I think that they should rethink that. I small menu like this and the area they are in seem more conducive to a lunch spot. I asked the locals why it was dead and they said it was too fancy and the areas business people are gone at night. I'm sure they would blanche at the suggestion, but, it seems like they picked the wrong town for this concept. I won't be surprised to hear that they have moved on if or when their lease is up.

Spill Wine Bar - This place is on the back/middle side of that strip mall that house S + Y. It was packed. They have a monopoly, so, I wasn't that surprised. They have some decent enough beer and wine. They had a warbler on the patio. All the things middle aged yokels love. I think this is as pretentious as they are willing to act. It had a nice interior. A big bar. It's new and semi-sophisticated. The wine per glass prices were a little high. They also sell bottles in the back. I think they had a few snacks. It attracted an economically diverse element.

The Coop, Winter Park - Closed

I went to this new venture of John Rivers on Wednesday. I went at 2 pm because I heard it has been a madhouse since it opened last Thursday. It still had a line, but, it wasn't bad. I had to wait around ten minutes. It has the same waiting line as 4 Rivers. The food is in front of you as you make your way to the cashier and you tell them what you want as you sidle by. I had a two piece fried chicken meal for $8. That gets you two sides (out of 18). I had creamed corn (because of an article in the Weekly) and the Anson Mills Creamy Grits. I figured the Mac and Smashed Potatoes would be the same as 4 Rivers. The chicken was good. The coating had alot of black pepper in the batter and little else. Nice. The skin was mostly crisped up. The pieces were a little smallish, but, they probably use steroid free birds. The corn was very sweet and must have had a million calories. I couldn't tell what made the cream. Heavy cream or mayo? The grits were a bit bland. They had little yellow corn granules in a white puree that was reminiscent of cream of wheat. Not sure if they mix ingredients. It also had a few smallish lumps. I love lumps, but, some people will say they didn't stir correctly. The place seats over 100+. It was about a quarter full. It's in that great corner spot on Morse that has had a pizzeria and a Middle Eastern place, et al. This time they walled in the patio. I can't remember if they had AC in the last place. It looks homey. They do the mismatched chair thing. They have a few communal tables. It's supposed to feel Southern casual. The menu is also VERY Southern. Catfish, oxtail, dumplings, meatloaf, pork chops, pot pie, biscuits, deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes - you get the picture. The cherry fried hand pies are supposed to be great. It's another home run by a guy who I think of most when I think of Central Florida taste makers. For some reason his name is the first one on my mind when visitors ask what they should try in Orlando. I know he doesn't have the fanciest or most impressive restaurants in town, but, he seems to represent what is best about the area. This spot will only enhance that reputation. I'd tell you to go, but, I think you already were on your way. Ohh, I forgot. They sell Old Milwaukee and real Coors beer. Nice touch.

The Strand, Mills Ave

I had lunch on Wednesday at this new spot that replaced the dump Chuck's. It's next to a place that sells English goods and a hot pot place and their dessert shop. It's on Mills almost on 50. It's a huge step up from it's predecessor. I had a fried fish sandwich and french fries for $9. They didn't have cod (thank God) and subbed in Mahi. It was a great sandwich. The brioche bun was huge and fresh. The fish (thick hunks) was fresh and fried perfectly. The lettuce (iceberg) was a bit boring, but the tomato, pickles and onion were very fresh. The tartar sauce was great and probably home made. The french fries were fried perfectly. Seasoned with salt and pepper. Maybe a tad effusive with the salt. They also kept the $2 thresh hold on sodas. The service was great. I didn't mind having to sit at the counter. It seats about thirty. It was full. The place is decorated wisely. Minimal but effective. The main feature was a wood wall panel on the left side. It's run by a husband and wife team that had a previous establishment in Ocoee. They were cooking with the help of one prep. They had three waitresses for thirty people. They serve beer and wine (not run of the mill). They do a brunch and dinner. The game hen on the dinner menu seemed worth coming back for. The menu is smallish. Around ten entrees that have one of most animal represented. This probably ensures that those dishes will be done expertly. This place has all the things you should be looking for in an artisan kitchen without the pretense and cost. I'd put it on your short list if you want a delightful experience.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Winter Park: Scratch (Closed), Wine Barn (Closed) and Keg & Cork (Renamed Paddy's - Closed)

I went to these places on Saturday night. They are all on Fairbanks.


Scratch Tapas Bar - They call this a tapas bar, but, it's more of an American style appetizer place. I had some scallops (2 cut into quarters) that were served with a pork belly accompaniment, some trout roe, a sauce I don't recollect, a white puree that I also am flaking on and a caviar lentil puree. It cost $13. It was good. The puree was a bit sloppy and overcooked. I had a hard time incorporating the roe in a way that made sense. It seemed like more of a decorative piece. The scallops weren't dry and rubbery. The place is tiny. It's that old Sake bar. It's seats about thirty including the bar. Every seat was taken. I am a little confused at why the chose such a small spot for what appears to be an ambitious venture. The kitchen is tiny. The staff was always required to yell "behind you". They had a bartender, three waitresses, a swishy host, a spare hostess, an expediter and a floater (owner). That's alot of hands for a small place. They obviously need to pay all these salaries, so, I don't get why they chose to rent a closet. The solution to the economic realities/business model seems to be to charge alot for a little. I don't like the concept of small plates. It's never in the customer's interest. You just are forced to order three or more dishes instead of an app and an entree. I suspect that the chef wanted to be a line cook and not a chef (manager of a staff) and constructed this strategy so not to overwhelm his art or social life (they are closed for lunch and all day Sunday and Monday). It's an ok art. A little pretentious. They did the whole Grant Anchutz thing where they pour aromas into a dish and cover it and then release it in front of you. The one I smelled was just plain wood smoke. Not exactly an inventive attempt. It revealed what looked like four, cut brussel sprouts. Most of the dishes were unremarkable in their design. They even had a chicken salad. They have around a dozen choices. They had one rib eye for $32 as the only thing approaching an entree. The decor was well thought out (again alot of thought for a little space). It was like a vintage seating room or library. Filled with lots of old bric a brac. Don't get me wrong. I liked it. It was just a tad self aware. It's hard to straddle the line between providing an experience and being full of yourself. They are right on the edge. Depending on your disposition on that day, it may seem a little farcical. And this trend is played out.

The Wine Barn - I'm driving to destination two and I am so overcome with hunger that I cross lanes and pull into this wine store that I saw driving in. They said they have wood fire pizza. I decide to cross this off before I have to add it to my list. They may have the best pizza in CF. I had a pizza with finocchio (sp). That is a dried fennel sausage. It cost $9. They told me to wait for it in the other room. It took about fifteen minutes. They brought it to me in this room where they place crates (and some seats) and tables and is in the middle of the inventory. The place was packed. It seats about forty in mostly communal tables. The service couldn't have been more pleasant. They use only that Italian flour you need if you want to be considered a pizza place in Italy. They make the dough in house. The cheese was fresh (and this wasn't even a Margarita). The sauce was fresh. The sausage was from Italy. The pizza was ultra thin. They stretched the dough so it was as big as a medium fast food pizza. They gave you maximum surface area for the toppings. They (toppings) reached all the way out. It was cooked perfectly. Not crackery. A little char. They said the oven gets to 800 degrees. They also cook wings and other things in the oven. They have about a dozen designer pizzas and you can make your own desire. They serve wine by the glass from those great tap machines or you can buy a bottle there (retail markup not restaurant. Parking was abundant. It's next to Spatz. It was an unbelievable surprise. You must try it.

Keg and Cork - I went to this bar next to 4 Rivers just to knock it off the list. I stayed until 2pm. And the place was virtually empty. It just had a great vibe. They have around 300 beers (and some wine). If I was back in college, I would be here every night. They said it gets more crowded during the week (Rollins). It looks like a dump from the outside. Inside it is kind of quaint. they have a patio and patio bar. It has been no less than four places in my memory. I hope this one sticks. It's not easy to stand apart with so many of these craft brew bar around. They somehow seduced me.*5/23/15 - Renamed Paddy's. Same owner. Same beer selection. Food is a little more ambitious.

* Side Note - Upon entering the bar I had a case of explosive stomach. Not sure if Scratch did the damage, but, I wanted to put it out there because I doubt the pizza could have had any bad actors on it. I wonder if the chef at Scratch was ever a victim of this blog when he worked at another spot and remembered to get his revenge. It could have been that great microwaved food I had for lunch at Wendy's. It came on very suddenly though.

Grub Crawl - Oviedo: Dickey's Barbecue Pit and Eastern Garden

These place were in the next strip mall from Yuki Hana on Aloma near the 417. I had some things to go and ate them for dinner yesterday.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit - I only went here because it came up on Google when I was verifying the Yuki Hana location. It was a lucky stroke. It's a branch of a Dallas based location. They have over 300 franchises. You expect salt brined, packaged meat in a putrid glue from these places. This place isn't like that. I only saw (the real machinery could have been elsewhere in the shop) some kind of cooker/steamer/warmer next to the counter. I'm not sure if the stuff comes pre or partially cooked. I just know that it wasn't half bad. I had a Wednesday Special that was pulled pork over sausage. It was so simple a combination, but, I swear I've never seen it on a menu before. The pork was good. I saw the owner pulling it from a lump of meat that actually/eventually revealed a shoulder bone. It was done Texas-style - salt and pepper. The sausage was ok. I was expecting a big, full link in the middle. I received some slices of a fairly tasty tube steak. They topped it with cheese (American I think) and two slices of raw onion and some pre-sliced jarred pickles. They buttered the sub on some kind of roller machine. It came with two sides. I chose waffle fries and baked potato casserole. The fries were just as good as Chick Fila and twice the portion. The casserole was like a cheese and bacon baked potato where they mashed the potato for you and 86ed the skins. It was topped with green onions. It was great. They also had beans, cole slaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, green beans, okra, onion rings, Caesar salad or jalapeno beans as sides. The whole shebang cost -dun dun dun - $8. And it came with a free, huge (32 oz?) soda in a hard plastic cup. And they have a free ice cream bar. Eight bucks what a crappy Subway combo ($5 options) costs. If I could eat this stuff as often as I eat sandwiches and I lived near here, I would be here three times a week minimum. But, I'm guessing it isn't the healthiest diet in the world and I live elsewhere. So, I'll have to curse the sandwich places and my own vanity/will power every time I sit down there instead of here. The sad part is that those places are equally as fattening. They also serve brisket, ribs, turkey, chicken and ham. If they can pull off any of those meats, I will have to rethink the whole feasibility of franchised barbeque (excuse me ... barbecue). The place is big. It must seat ninety+. It has a casual, clean feel. They have pictures of the parent location and commercial oil and gas marketing objects as the theme. It's counter ordering and pick up. The staff was nice. The food came out fast. They also sell meat by the pound and cater. The one negative was that they just gave me a third of a little container of sauce for the sandwich. I'd check this place out if you can't get to 4 Rivers. Even if the food sucked, it would still be recommended as a value play.

Eastern Garden - This is a cookie cutter Chinese place with the cookie cutter Chinese menu and I only went there because I was there. That said, it was clean and they didn't mess up my simple order. It's been done before. I had a egg roll to go for $1.50 (maybe even less). There was actual pork in there. they cooked it long enough. If you had to have one of these places in your neighborhood, you could have been stuck with worse owners.

Grub Crawl - Oviedo: Yuki Hana and North End Pizza

I had a second lunch at the first place and some to go from the second. they are in the first strip mall where Aloma and Tuskawilla meet. It's a convergence point between winter Park, winter Springs and Oviedo. Just west of 417.

Yuki Hana - I found this place after (I think) I read a blurb in the Weekly. I wasn't expecting much. I just wanted to knock off another sushi place. It didn't make me regret the effort. I equate it with the Maso Canali they offer on the wine menu. It's good not great. I had a lunch roll special (choice of 2 of 10) for $11. It only came with a soup or salad. I chose a salad. It was a big portion and the dressing was better and fresher than most places. However, they lost points by putting fried wonton strips in it. The place is owned by a Chinese family, so, it's not traditional. This works in some areas and not others. The whole thing also looked like it was "pre-bowled" and left in the refrigerator. The bowl was nice. As was the platter (both glossy, white and modern china) the sushi came on. I chose tuna and salmon with cucumber and avocado. The tuna was actually not the usual let down of small remnants of off pink ahi. It was ahi, but, big chucks of darkish color that had no "dental floss" attached to them. The salmon portion was a little less generous. It was unevenly "loaded" in the roll (more in the middle). It also wasn't bursting with flavor, although it look fatty to the eye. The cucumber was also a little dry. I would just ditch it. The rice was ok. Cold. A little starchy (improperly washed) and sticky. The pieces were fairly uniform in size. The ginger seemed wilted. Therein lie the imperfections of the sushi. I can't speak for the udon or the varying Asian hot dishes. They need to You Tube how to wash/cook/season the rice. Make sure the rice is the most appropriate type and cook it more frequently. Keep the vegetables at room temperature. Pay attention to the slicing. It's doable if they want to make the leap to the next level. The pricing was a little more than some places. Most roll specials are under $10 and I've seen more than soup or salad attached. Those places tend to cheat on the fish though. The place looks much better than I expected. It's tastefully appointed. There is a huge silver, metallic "back splash" behind the sushi bar. The rest is black. They have Ian Shrager-esque light fixtures. They utilize black leather booth seating around the exterior. The tables and chairs are black wood. The place seats about 50 with ten sushi bar seats. There were ten people there at 2pm. They have been open for a year. This is the only branch. They have a better than average wine and sake selection. The menu has some interesting and unique elements. They use blue crab, pistachios, shiso, bacon jam in dishes (including the sushi). The standard sushi menu is a little restrictive (16 items). I do give points for calling the shiromi and escolar by name and not trying to pass them off as something else. They have Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese influenced hot dishes. They have teriyaki and tempura and katsu. They have Kobe beef. Like I said. This place could be great with a little pushing. It's definitely better than the area requires. The people were nice and the service was good. I just hope they push it to the next level. Maybe play some lounge type music. The name means snow flower. I found it more experimental than the supposedly creative Sushi Pop. They also aren't as narrow in their focus. Not yet a must have, but, it could get there.

North End Pizza - I only went to Boston inspired Italian because I was there and didn't anticipate being there again in this lifetime. I had the 2 slice special for $5. It came with a soda. The pizza was typical. The cheese and sauce were probably purchased in mass quantities. They weren't of the greatest quality. Salty and tasteless. The pizza was under cooked. The crust was dense, crumbly and dusty. Someone used too much flour in the dough AND while stretching it out. It was thin and low on sauce. I'm not making any judgement calls on those points. I'm just describing it. The place also serves calzones, stromboli, pasta, subs, salads and the usual snacks and entrees (think the things that are are on the subs on some pasta). The people were very nice. It's clean. It seats around forty. It's the typical, no frills pizza place that you all know.