Art’s Southern Style Smokehouse BBQ

Posted on by

***** (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

Posted on by

**** (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

Posted on by

***** (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

Posted on by

**** (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

The Cellar Restaurant

Posted on by

***** (5 stars)

I love the ambiance of this restaurant in both of its very different rooms. Downstairs is intimate (although it can get noisy) and not at all cellar-like because of the clever use of backlit stained glass windows. Upstairs is light and airy, like eating in a conservatory surrounded by flowers and shrubs.

The food and wines are mostly traditional Italian, and the ingredients are fresh.

Service is impeccable, and the proprietress keep a sharp lookout to make sure it stays that way. A terrific fine dining experience.

The Cellar Restaurant
220 Magnolia Ave
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 258-0011
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cellar-restaurant-daytona-beach-2

The Taproom at Dubsdread

Posted on by

**** (4 stars)

A nice clubby atmosphere (it is, after all, a golf clubhouse) with excellent bar food and some more elaborate entrees.

They have the reputation of having the best burger in town, and it certainly is in the running. The hummus appetizer was excellent, with lightly grilled pitas.

We were there for a busy Saturday lunch, and the server did a good job of keeping up.

The Taproom at Dubsdread
549 West Par Street
Orlando, FL 32885
(407) 650-0100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tap-room-at-dubsdread-orlando-2

Aashirwad Indian Restaurant

Posted on by

IMG_1049

**** (4 stars)

I’m wary of Indian buffets because they tend to get tired as they sit. Not here. There are eight different ho items to choose from, and they are all super fresh, with top notch ingredients. I happened to go two days in a row, and all eight items were different! I really appreciate that variety. I wouldn’t hesitate to go for dinner and order ala carte, as I liked everything I tried.

Aashirwad Indian Restaurant
5748 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 370-9830
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aashirwad-indian-restaurant-orlando

Hanson’s Shoe Repair

Posted on by

* (1 stars)

This place is taking itself way too seriously. Someone needs to explain the difference between theming and snootiness. If you want to play their game, call (407) 476-9446 and leave a message and maybe you’ll be graced with a call back to get their password. Otherwise you’re out of luck, because they won’t let you in. They’ll tell you how to get the password but not what it is. Rather puerile, isn’t it? But if that’s your thing (and bearing in mind they won’t serve drinks to anyone still in third grade) then go for it. Otherwise, there are a LOT of other bars that DO want your money nearby.

Hanson’s Shoe Repair
27 E Pine St
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 476-9446
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hansons-shoe-repair-orlando

Jumbo Asian Cuisine & Sushi

Posted on by

**** (4 stars)

This new place is an instant success, a measure of the demand for restaurants in this area, and especially sushi.

My wife and I were in disagreement about the place. I thought it was quite good, while she didn’t like too much about it. It’s true that the lighting over the sushi bar is dreadful, and the servers seem very disorganized and inexperienced. But on the other hand, the place was slammed, with a wait all evening, after being open only three days.

I thought the sushi was excellent. The fish was clearly better than most of the area sushi bars. The hamachi and kampachi sashimi were both particularly good. We both really liked the Magik roll, a mixture of tuna, yellowtail and salmon with wasabi mayo.

The only clear miss was the Tom Yum, which bore no relationship to the Thai lemongrass soup it was supposed to be.

Overall, I think they’re doing a great job for a brand new restaurant, and will be very successful in this area.

Jumbo Asian Cuisine & Sushi
7798 Winter Garden Vineland Rd
Windermere, FL 34786
(407) 909-8868
http://www.yelp.com/biz/jumbo-asian-cuisine-and-sushi-windermere