Pammie’s Sammies

***** (5 stars)

This is a great little sandwich shop in an out of the way place. The fact that so many customers find it that there’s aline at lunch is a sign of just how good it is. I had the Grizzly Bear, which featured delicious house smoked salmon pressed on wheat. The salmon was flaky, moist and very smokey, a really outstanding bit of fish. They also have a daily soup, a nice selection of beers, and serve breakfast sandwiches all day. An excellent new lunchtime find.

Pammie’s Sammies
5907 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 730-3212
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pammies-sammies-orlando

Art’s Southern Style Smokehouse BBQ

***** (5 stars)

Wow, the St. Louis ribs are amazing. I’ve regarded 4 Rivers as the gold standard for barbecue, and their brisket and burnt ends are better than Art’s brisket, but these St. Louis ribs are the best barbecue I’ve found in central florida. They’re very smoky, yet moist and tender, but with a bit of a glaze on the top side, then covered with just the right amount of a perfectly seasoned slightly sweet barbecue sauce.

Art’s doesn’t mess around with multiple bottles of sauce on the table, which at first concerned me, but to my palate the have the perfect sauce already on everything when it comes from the kitchen, and the perfect amount, so it doesn’t matter.

Baked beans were a bit watery but tasty. Coleslaw was crisp and refreshing. My new favorite barbecue spot.

Art’s Southern Style Smokehouse BBQ
15502 Stoneybrook W Pkwy
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 614-8910
http://www.yelp.com/biz/arts-southern-style-smokehouse-bbq-winter-garden

Noodles & Company

**** (4 stars)

Excellent service at this Noodles & Company, and a nice outside dining area. The dishes aren’t quite as integrated as at some others I’ve been to up North. My Pad Thai was just okay; the chicken seemed like an afterthought that just sort of sat there. The edamame seems expensive at $3 considering the small serving, and it’s completely lacking in any seasoning or salt. My friend’s Shrimp Bangkok Curry was much better, and is what I’d have on a return visit.

Noodles & Company
12529 State Rd 535
Orlando, FL 32836
(407) 560-8325
http://www.yelp.com/biz/noodles-and-company-orlando

Artisans Table

***** (5 stars)

This is a great spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and it changes character a bit throughout the day, going from counter ordering to full table service depending upon whether it’s a weekday lunch or a more relaxed evening or weekend meal time. The sandwiches are very creative, not your run of the mill usual fare. I loved the chicken sandwich that included a large slab of chicken breast lightly fried and a delicious dill pickle and mayo sauce. The Korean-influenced cheesesteak was also good, and the fries and side salad that accompanied lunch were delicious. Service is friendly and efficient, and the cocktails and coffees are also excellent. A great addition to Pine Street.

Artisans Table
22 E Pine St
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 730-7499
http://www.yelp.com/biz/artisans-table-orlando

Christini’s Ristorante Italiano

**** (4 stars)

Any restaurant that has been in business for thirty years must be doing something right, and Christini’s certainly is. In fact, they’re doing it exactly the same as thirty years ago. We went here when they first opened, and upon a return visit thirty years later we could detect no differences. It’s still got that traditional restaurant decor and lighting, still offers the same traditional Italian dishes, and the owner still comes around to every table, just as he has been doing every night for thirty years.

That dedication is reflected in the loyalty and enthusiasm of the entire staff. Ingredients are fresh, and service is prompt and friendly.

If there’s a downside to Christini’s, it’s the price. Food prices tend to be 50 to 100% higher than comparable items elsewhere, and wine markups are astronomical. Since no corkage is available, be prepared to pay $200 for a decent bottle of wine. Is a multi-course dinner for two with wine worth $400 to $600? The packed room on Saturday night attests to the fact that Christini’s clients believe it is.

Christini’s Ristorante Italiano
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 345-8770
http://www.yelp.com/biz/christinis-ristorante-italiano-orlando