Category Archives: Florida

Red Eye Bar And Grill

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**** (4 stars)

This place is run by the former owner of one of Orlando’s better gourmet food trucks. The cooking transcends typical barbecue, although that’s certainly the emphasis. A nice assortment of sauces are served with the BBQ items, but the highlights of our meal were the flatbreads, corn and crab chowder, and the cornbread. Pricing is very reasonable, especially for lunch items. You’re getting a sit down restaurant meal for the price of counter service. Good ambience, and a nice selection of beer and wine. Owner rob and our server were both very gracious and helpful.

Red Eye Bar And Grill
2594 Maguire Rd
Ocoee, FL 34761
(407) 877-0003
http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-eye-bar-and-grill-ocoee

Stonewood Grill & Tavern

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***** (5 stars)

I positively love the ambiance at Stonewood. Tables are far appart, it’s fairly quite even when full (as long as you avoid the bar) and it’s… dark! Remember when restaurants used to be intimate? This one still is. Excellent steaks and fish, friendly service, good wines by the glass. I just wish they were still open for lunch.

Stonewood Grill & Tavern
5078 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 297-8682
http://www.yelp.com/biz/stonewood-grill-and-tavern-orlando

Peach Valley Café

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**** (4 stars)

It’s really hard to find good places for outside in Orlando, and this is a hidden gem. The large outside patio offers a quite, shaded environment for breakfast any time of day. But my favorites are their salads, particularly the ones with salmon or fruit ingredients. Light and refreshing.

Peach Valley Café
5072 Dr. Philips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 522-2601
http://www.yelp.com/biz/peach-valley-caf%C3%A9-orlando-4

Le Café De Paris

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***** (5 stars)

Café De Paris provides one of the more authentic French experiences in town. Sandwiches just like you’d get in Paris, and they have excellent croissants and coffee. The savory crepes are about the best I’ve had.

Now newly expanded, there is plenty of seating indoors and out. When the weather is nice, it’s pleasant to eat on the sidewalk, an authentic Paris sidewalk cafe experience, and it’s even away from the street, so it’s better than that!

The owners are very hands-on, which is reflected in the food and service.

Le Café De Paris
5170 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 293-2326
http://www.yelp.com/biz/le-caf%C3%A9-de-paris-orlando-2

Saffron Indian Cuisine

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**** (4 stars)

This place faces a lot of competition, with Orlando’s favorite Indian place just up Turkey Lake Road, and an expansive new gourmet Indian restaurant upstairs across the street. The food here is good, and some interesting accompaniments are available at lunch (although service can be a bit too slow for an hour lunch). I wish they would get rid of the ugly display case at the back of the room, which ruined the ambiance of the previous restaurant in this space, too.

Saffron Indian Cuisine
7724 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 674-8899
http://www.yelp.com/biz/saffron-indian-cuisine-orlando-2

Ayothaya

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*** (3 stars)

I keep trying this place periodically, hoping it will trip my trigger, because it’s close. But I’ve never had anything here that was really better than average. Noodle dishes tend to be overcooked, and the appetizers are mostly fried and oily. My dining companions on a recent trip found most of the current dishes somewhat one-dimensional. I think salads are the best bet here.

Ayothaya
7555 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 345-0040
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ayothaya-orlando