Bouley

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***** (5 stars)

Lunch here was pretty much perfection. The bread service is much appreciated, and something not offered by many restaurants any more, even the three-star variety. There are a few bargain pre-fixe deals in town at top rated restaurants, but I’d have to say that Bouley’s is perhaps the best. The quality of food and service really can’t be topped, and the room is unbelievably comfortable and welcoming.

Bouley
163 Duane St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 964-2525
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bouley-new-york-2

Sardi’s

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*** (3 stars)

You go to Sardi’s for the history, not the food. It’s probably the same as it’s always been, but standards have changed. However its location right in the theatre district, and the drawings of ancient theatre stars that paper the walls are what it’s all about. My wife loves the spinach cannelloni, but warns that the appetizer portion is plenty.

Sardi’s
234 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 221-8440
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sardis-new-york

Candle 79

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*** (3 stars)

This is a charming place, with excellent service. I loved the house made ginger ale. I was a bit disappointed in the food, because it seemed under-seasoned and under-flavored, despite having quite a few ingredients. The hummus appetizer was fine, but the falafel seemed like almost the same dish, just seared hummus in a pita without much sign of tahini or other ingredients.

Candle 79
154 E 79th St
New York, NY 10075
(212) 537-7179
http://www.yelp.com/biz/candle-79-new-york

48 Lounge

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*** (3 stars)

I’m an old fuddy duddy, but this place was close to the theatre, the hotel, and was open late. Lounge seating is–let’s face it–uncomfortable, and the soundtrack makes it almost impossible to converse, so going in I knew it would have two strikes against it from my point of view. But the drink list and wines were interesting, and the food was okay. Pork sliders were the best, followed by the kobe hot dogs. Tater tots, spinach artichoke dip and hummus were okay but nothing special. If you like lounge ambiance and are in the area, it’s worth a shot (pun intended).

48 Lounge
1221 Ave Of The Americas
New York, NY 10020
(212) 554-4848
http://www.yelp.com/biz/48-lounge-new-york

Hash House A Go Go

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**** (4 stars)

I’ve enjoyed other Hash House locations, so I was happy to see this place was taking over the location on I-Drive that has hosted a variety of restaurants in the past years. The building is a bit odd, but the surface remodeling done by Hash House is better than the previous incarnations, and the food is pretty much identical to elsewhere.

I don’t know what the fuss is about chicken and waffles. The waffles are pretty good, but the chicken is really pretty flavorless. I’ve tried it in Chicago and here, and it’s the same. A better choice is one of the hashes, which are really thickly chopped up potatoes with other chopped up stuff. I had the vegetarian one, and it was actually fairly healthful. I ordered it with eggs over easy, and they were about the freshest eggs I’ve ever gotten in Orlando. The biscuit was also great, and I’m not a big biscuit person.

My companions had burgers and the BBLT, and liked them. The bread pudding was a good shareable dessert.

All in all a good solid (i.e. heavy) choice for breakfast or breakfast type foods, with enough other offerings to keep the non-breakfast eaters happy.

Hash House A Go Go
5350 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 370-4646
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hash-house-a-go-go-orlando

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

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*** (3 stars)

Flemings is an adequate steak house with little to differentiate it from all the others in town. The decor is a bit lighter than some, I guess. The happy hour small plates in the bar seem to be the big draw. Wine pours, served in portion enhancer carafes and glassware, are some of the stingiest in town; I wonder if they’re getting seven glasses from a bottle. I think you’re better off paying corkage to bring your own.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
933 N Orlando Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 699-9463
http://www.yelp.com/biz/flemings-prime-steakhouse-and-wine-bar-winter-park

Seasons 52

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***** (5 stars)

This is the original, and I think still the best Seasons 52. It’s hard to believe this is a chain owned by Darden, the same people who bring you Olive Garden. The food here is delicious, nutritious, and low in calories; in fact, the original concept was that everything was less than 475 calories, which given its flavorful nature was amazing. Now there are some exceptions, but it’s still pretty healthful.

I like the quarterly updating of the menu. Favorites are all of the flatbreads, the cedar plank salmon, the vegetarian plate and the hummus. Less successful are the burgers.

While many people like the little dessert shot glasses, they’re not what I want in a dessert; they remind me of supermarket pudding cups. But that’s okay, it makes it easy to skip a course that could double the meal’s calorie count.

Although the wine list has been dumbed down since the early days, there are still some interesting offerings, even by the glass.

My favorite thing about Seasons is the architecture, both inside and outside. Drawing upon elements of Frank Lloyd Wright ad the 1950s, it is elegant, interesting and restful. A great place for business lunches, family dinners, single (there’s an active bar scene here) and dates–quite an accomplishment to work for so many different interests.

Seasons 52
7700 Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 354-5212
http://www.yelp.com/biz/seasons-52-orlando

Hot Krust Panini Kitchen

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**** (4 stars)

Hot Krust serves a sandwich that’s a bit different than anything else in town. Technically, it’s a panini, since it’s pressed between flat hot plates. But unlike other paninis, it’s on a sort of crusty hamburger bun rather than sliced bread. The result is that there’s a… well, hot crust on the outside. Since I like crusty bread, this suits me well. In fact, my favorite item here is a hamburger rather than a sandwich. The meat is good quality, and I particularly liked the barbecue sauce used on one version.

Other options are philly cheesesteak type beef, chicken and tuna. There are about a dozen offerings, but they are essentially all the same sandwich with slightly different ingredients. You also have your choice between white and multi grain buns.

The sandwiches are HUGE, so you may want to share. They are available in combos (if you’re really hungry) that include a drink, waffle fries (sweet or regular), chips or soup. I’m not much of a soup person, but the tomato soup I tried was the best thing they served, velvety and full of great flavors. Combo pricing is around $10, very reasonable for the huge amount of food.

There are also a nice variety of salads that I didn’t get to try. In addition to soft drinks they offer some interesting beers and wine.

Hot Krust is hampered by the same poor location as its predecessor, a NY bakery. The spot is between Whole Foods and Pei Wei, on a blind curve with no curb parking, set back fifteen feet from the surrounding buildings, making the already fairly illegible sign nearly invisible. But there’s plenty of parking in the Whole Foods lot.

The owner and staff are very friendly, and there is both indoor and very pleasant outdoor seating. If you’re in the mood for a sandwich with a different twist I recommend it.

Hot Krust Panini Kitchen
8015 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 355-7768
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hot-krust-panini-kitchen-orlando

Emeril’s Orlando

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**** (4 stars)

Emeril’s is one of the original and most high profile fine dining celebrity chef restaurants in Orlando. It’s a strange amalgam of upscale and touristy, an inescapable fact when there is a steady parade of sweaty people in shorts outside the windows. Most of the food at Emeril’s is really quite good, especially the mushroom and pasta appetizer and the calamari with olives. appetizer. Portion sizes tend to be large; the calamari could easily serve as an entree. Given that, appetizer pricing is reasonable. Wine and entree pricing is a bit high, but given the location and big name chef it’s not too surprising. Service is efficient, and sometimes friendly. The biggest problem is the noise level in the main dining room. It’s actually quieter to sit at the chef’s bar facing into the kitchen! Another trick is to ask to sit in the small room along the windows. It’s quieter, and has better ambience than the upstairs rooms. Emeril’s is a good choice for pre-show dining before going to a concert at Hard Rock Live.

Emeril’s Orlando
6000 Universal Blvd, Ste 702
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 224-2424
http://www.yelp.com/biz/emerils-orlando-orlando

Emeril’s Tchoup Chop

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**** (4 stars)

This is Emeril’s other restaurant at Universal, and I actually like it better than the original Emeril’s. While there is an Asian twist to most items, it is more a fusion of different cuisines, and there are lots of interesting flavors. The room is absolutely beautiful, with a long lily pond down the middle, high reedy ceilings and dramatic lighting. It’s usually not as noisy as you might expect from the soaring roofline. Prices are reasonable for a tourist hotel restaurant. This is a surprisingly good choice for pre-show dining before going to a concert at Hard Rock Live, because you can take the boat there and save the exorbitant valet parking charge at Citywalk.

Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
6300 Hollywood Way
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 503-2467
http://www.yelp.com/biz/emerils-tchoup-chop-orlando