Friday, March 16, 2007

Eating Around Town.....and Beyond

Ken and I enjoy going out to eat. We like everything from casual comfort food and sandwiches to gourmet fine dining with all the trimmings. Here are some of the places we have dined and what we thought of them. We hope this information can help make the right choice for you. Last Update 6/22/07

Maitland -

Copper Rocket - English Pub - Sandwiches, Beers, Darts and Video Games. Good Shepard's Pie when they have it. 2.5 Forks

Antonio's - Italian - Deli/Restaurant - This place was great 10 years ago. Convenient liquor store on the first floor in the south Maitland area. 2.25 Forks

Sam Snead's - American - A place for Average Beef. Terrible Service. 2 Forks

Sheraton Orlando - American - Buffet Style Breakfast. $10 per person/limited selection. Opens at 6:00AM. 2.25 Forks

Applebee's - American - Good Cocktails and appetizers. Drink prices comparable to Bahama Breeze 2.5 Forks



Altamonte Springs -

Seasons 52 - American - Good Healthy Food. Friendly Service. Nice Decor. 3 Forks

Ale House - American - Sandwiches, Sports, Beers, Video Games. Not Bad. 2.5 Forks

Gina's Lakeside Grill - American - Nice setting overlooking Crane's Roost. Good, Fun Food. Next Door (in the rear) to the AMC 18 - Altamonte Springs 2.75 Forks

Broadway Rist. & Pizzeria - Italian - Hearty Pasta Dishes and Great Pizza. 2.5 Forks

Outback Steakhouse - Steaks - I don't understand why it is so crowded. 2.25 Forks

Back Yard Burgers - Drive Through Burger Joint. Excellent Hamburgers. 3.5 Forks

Kobe's Steakhouse - Japanese - Great Sushi. Great Kobe beef. Beautiful setting. The place is always packed with a waiting list for the cooking tables but if you want sushi, the place is wide open and no waiting in the sushi section of the restaurant. 3.5 Forks

Golden Coral - Buffet - Excellent food; Great selection & variety; Awesome Price. 3 Forks

Kiwi's Bar and Grill - Beer and Sandwiches - Loud, smokey, beer joint. Good chicken wings. 2 Forks

Hot Shots Bar and Grill - Beer and Sandwiches - Beer and chicken wings. 2.25 Forks

Habana Grill - Cuban - Crowded, loud, mediocre, overpriced "touristy" Cuban food. 2.25 Forks

Vari-Asian Crazy Buffet - Oriental - Excellent sushi in a buffet setting. 3.0 Forks


Bahama Breeze - American - Great shrimp in garlic and blue crab leg appetizers. 3.0 Forks (Nobody can leave this place without trying the delicious Bahamarita cocktail, a definite must) We went back for more of those delicious Bahamaritas the following Friday. Yum!

Checkers - American - We stopped in one late night after a movie and ordered Champ Burgers with Cheese, battered spicy fries and Diet Cokes. The burgers and fries were good, but I must admit we were starved. We will keep you posted what we think of it again next time, but for now, we liked it fine. We give Checkers 3-Forks.


Casselberry -

Rolando's Restaurant - Cuban - Great, authentic Cuban food in a relaxed setting. 3 Forks

Colorado Fondue - Fondue - Fondue cooking on a Hot Rock. Poor Service. 1.75 Forks

Cubans on The Run - Cuban - Great Sandwiches and a handful of Cuban dishes. 3.25 Forks


Longwood -

Journey's - Continental - Charming, romantic little Restaurant with good food. 3.25 Forks

Enzo's - Italian - Excellent Italian food, great service, in a beautiful setting. We have been there about once a month for the last 4 months for lunch on the only day they open for lunch, Friday. Most dishes are terrific. The salmon and the braised veal today (6/22/07) were good, but not spectacular. The Chilean Sea Bass soup was wonderful. It was the best thing we had today. Usually 4 Forks today though was 3 Forks

Calypso Grille - Caribbean - Busy. Nice place for lunch. Deliciously Americanized. 3 Forks

Ali Babba's - Persian/Lebanese - Delicious Lunch Buffet for a great price. 3 Forks

Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club - Race Track - Good light meals & sandwiches. 2 Forks

Carmela's - Italian - Very good food and clean, well appointed, casual eatery. 3.5 Forks


Orlando -

Del Frisco's - Steakhouse - Beautiful place; Great steaks and awesome service. 3.75 Forks

Manuel's on the 28th - Continental - Awesome views, good food and service. 3.25 Forks

Waitiki Retro Tiki Lounge - Tiki Bar - Delicious, fun food in a fun setting. 3 Forks

Le Coq Au Vin - French - Great food; awesome service; romantic setting. 3.75Forks

Viet Garden - Vietnamese/Thai - Poor Service, not very good food. 1 Fork




Fleming's Steak House - Chain Steak House. Mediocre. I like Ruth's Chris better. 2.5 Forks

Andreas Quality Cheesecake - Small Mom & Pop Deli. Great sandwiches and cheesecake. We did not care for the fried Cheesecake a la Mode. 3.5 forks




IHOP - The tuna melt and the Philly steak sandwiches were unimpressive. 1.5 Forks







College Park -

K's Restaurant - French - Great food & service. Different atmospheres available. 3.5 Stars



Disney -

Victoria and Albert's - French - Spectacular Food, Service and Surroundings. 4.5 Stars



Deland -

The Shady Oak Bar- Sandwiches - Redneck joint w/ cold beers & sandwiches. 1.5 Forks


Apopka -

Babba Lou's - BBQ - Good American B-B-Q. Good Prices & Clean Atmosphere. 2.75 Forks

Pastavino's - Italian - Only have had the Deluxe Pizza. 3 Forks






Chung Xiang - Chinese Take-out - Very good, clean, fast Chinese food. 3 Forks




Davey -

TGI Fridays - American - Loud, crowded, poor service, and average food. 2.25 Forks



Mt. Dora -

Perkins - American - Good Breakfast place; usually crowded; reasonable Prices. 2.75 Forks



Lake Mary -

Smokey Bones - BBQ - Good Place for lunch. Average food and sandwiches. 2.5 Forks

Toojays Gourmet Deli - Excellent Pastrami on Rye and other delicacies. 3.25 Forks



Longboat Key -

Euphemia Haye Rest. - Continental - Very good food, setting & service. 3.25 Forks

The Haye Loft - Desserts - Awesome Desserts & Coffee and Cigar Bar upstairs. 3.25 Forks



St. Armand Key -

Europa Cafe - American - Avg. food. Good Place to people watch. OK service. 2.25 Forks



Lido Key -

Christopher's Lido Beach Resort - American - Excellent Sunday Champagne Brunch. Incredible selection of dishes. Well worth $25/ea 3.75 Forks


Weston -

East City Grille - American - Great food and service in a nice atmosphere. 3.5 Forks



Tampa -

Floyd's - Hard Rock/Tampa- American - Average Breakfast Buffet. 2 Forks



Sorrento -

The Pizza Place - Pizza Take out - Average Pizza to go. Ask for Extra Sauce. 2 Forks



Eustis -

Dominoes Pizza - Pizza - Good Pizza to go. 3 Forks




Tarpon Springs -

Hella's Bakery and Restaurant - Greek - Nice food right by the docks. 2.5 Forks



Silver Springs -

Jan and Al's Country Kitchen - American - Great Ham sandwiches near Ocala. 3 Forks