Bistro Boudin

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Bistro Boudin is on the upstairs level of the beautiful facility in Fisherman’s Wharf.

Downstairs you can buy bread to go. You can eat at the casual cafe that has outdoor seating, and you can also watch the fascinating process of making the bread in the semi-automated kitchen.

Upstairs is the fine dining restaurant with a great view of San Francisco Bay and a classic selection of menu items.

Of course, there’s the Boudin bread, which is what we all come here for, and it’s complimentary. They also have a garlic cheese bread, which we tried, but I felt like the heavy coating of cheese really masked what’s great about the Boudin sourdough flavor.

We began with a Caesar salad, which is made in a very traditional way and was an absolutely perfect accompaniment to the bread and served with croutons made from their bread.

Then we had two classic entrees:

– A generous and delicious shrimp cocktail with extraordinarily fresh shrimp in a tangy cocktail sauce.

– A wonderful serving of four oysters Rockefeller with just the right mixture of spinach and artichoke combining to form a creamy blanket for the perfect fresh oysters.

Service was friendly, and the ambiance can’t be beat.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/bistro-boudin-san-francisco

Puesto at the Headquarters

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This is an excellent Mexican restaurant that is just a short walk from the cruise terminal. If you’re stopping in San Diego and want to get a fix of authentic Mexican food, this is definitely the place.

The salsa assortment is definitely worth ordering to go with the complimentary basket of chips and the complimentary salsa, because the three in the salsa assortment include very creative flavors, including an avocado-based salsa and a delicious pistachio one, along with one that is spicy enough to suit any palate.

The house guacamole is also deliciously creamy and perfectly seasoned with lime.

The real knockout dish that I had, though, was the taco with chicken pastor. I’m a big fan of pastor, but this is a very non-traditional preparation of pastor. Instead of being shredded pork mixed with a spicy sauce and hunks of pineapple, this was almost more like a Mexican cordon bleu where the chicken had been amazingly seared in some combination with cheese and pastor spices. It was absolutely delicious.

The tacos might seem expensive at $10 apiece, but combined with the obviously house-made corn tortillas, I think they’re a bargain.

Service was friendly, and the atmosphere is very chill. There’s a large outside seating area to enjoy, and San Diego is nearly always perfect weather.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/puesto-at-the-headquarters-san-diego-9

Los Carrizos Restaurante

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This is a pleasant restaurant, a short walk from the cruise pier. They offer an assortment of quesadillas and fajitas and carne asada.

A nice selection of Mexican beers and good sangria. Prices are reasonable, and the menu is easy to order from even if you don’t speak Spanish.

https://www.google.com/maps?q=Los+Carrizos+Resturante,+Calle+Belisario+Domínguez+s/n,+Centro+Histórico,+28200+Manzanillo,+Col.,+Mexico&ftid=0x8424d50855d14b17:0x9b6e2a3b0a1cdcc0&entry=gps&shh=CAE&lucs=,94297699,100808504,100795621,94284499,94231188,94280568,47071704,94218641,94282134,94286869&g_ep=CAISEjI2LjE0LjAuODkxOTAzMTgwMBgAIIgnKlwsOTQyOTc2OTksMTAwODA4NTA0LDEwMDc5NTYyMSw5NDI4NDQ5OSw5NDIzMTE4OCw5NDI4MDU2OCw0NzA3MTcwNCw5NDIxODY0MSw5NDI4MjEzNCw5NDI4Njg2OUICVVM%3D&skid=67927b5a-c21d-485d-8dc3-2b0b983ad8e5&g_st=im

Room 901 Speakeasy

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We took the Bright Line train from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale to get ready for our cruise and spent the night before the cruise at the Hyatt Centric because it is located on Las Olas Boulevard, where all the interesting shops and restaurants are, in Fort Lauderdale. But it was raining pretty hard, and we decided we didn’t want to go out walking to find a place for dinner. Searching around online, a speakeasy called Room 901 showed up, but we couldn’t figure out where it was. It seemed really close, though. So I went online, and there was a reservation open just 30 minutes from the current time. I booked a table for two, not having any idea what I was getting into. 

When the confirmation email showed up, it didn’t really contain any clues, either. All we knew was that the place was called Room 901 and was really close. Then we realized we were in Room 956. “Is it possible that it’s at the other end of this hall?” I said.

So we walked down to the end of the hall and knocked on the door of Room 901. It opened, and there it was. Apparently, if you’re not staying on the ninth floor of the hotel, you’re supposed to somehow know that you go to the front desk of the hotel and ask for a key that will let you access the room. But the way we stumbled on it made it even more mysterious. Of all the speakeasies we’ve been to, it has definitely the most secret. 

It is also the best. The mixology was phenomenal. The drink recipes are entirely enthusiastic to the period. And even though it’s in a room at a hotel that appears to not have a room service or a fancy restaurant, the food was terrific. 

And the ambiance is amazing. The room is extremely dark, authentically decorated to the period, and features an imposing wall of every kind of liquor and liqueur you can imagine. The whole thing is run by a single bartender who acts as host and server, and made everyone in the room feel special and welcome. It’s 12 seats only, and you definitely need reservations. I would go back to Fort Lauderdale just to enjoy this experience again.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/room-901-fort-lauderdale-2

Ovation Bistro & Bar

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It has a good tavern menu with a focus on barbecue. I won’t say that it’s the greatest barbecue I ever had, but I do like the assortment of spicy, sweet, and mustard sauces that are served in bottles along with it. The thing that distinguishes it from a barbecue restaurant is that there are a lot of other interesting items.

My wife had a Caesar salad with Cajun shrimp on it that was outstanding. The seasoning on the shrimp was really authentic.

The service was pleasant, and the interior is a good ambiance for a tavern, although the lighting is a bit painful.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/ovation-bistro-and-bar-davenport

Denny’s I-Drive

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I really love the esprit de corps among the staff at this Denny’s. It makes all the difference when receptionists, hostesses, and servers are happy to be there and take pride in what they do. This location is spotlessly clean, bright, modern, and inviting. The menu is the standard Denny’s lineup, which I personally enjoy. When I’m looking for breakfast, this is exactly what I want.

I hadn’t ever tried the one-crepe breakfast before, which is a nice combination of two eggs (mine were over easy), bacon, and nicely browned hash browns, plus a lovely crepe with vanilla filling and strawberries on top, a delightful change from the usual pancake accompaniment.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/dennys-orlando-21

Kappo Tsan

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In recent years, Orlando has been blessed with so many omakase restaurants that I’d be surprised if it isn’t among the top locations nationally or even internationally for this refined form of dining. There are stellar, Michelin-deserving entries on the list that I’ve already enjoyed, but I think this latest one may be the greatest of them all.

Kappo Tsan’s space is relatively small, and it isn’t exclusively omakase. There is a sushi bar where you can indulge in their nine-course kaiseki-style dining, but there are also tables where you can order a la carte. Everything from the ingredients to the recipes to the skillful work of the chefs behind the counter is as great as I have seen anywhere.

We had the nine-course kaiseki-style omakase, and we’re quite awed by every single course, so much so that it is hard to pick a favorite. The menu changes seasonally and, in fact, every two weeks, according to Chef David, because that’s how the season changes are calculated in Japan. So I’ll just share the phenomenal menu we had and let you enjoy the pictures, as I’m sure your experience will be different but equally stellar.

Service was definitely Michelin quality from all the servers and the sommelier. There’s a thoughtful wine list with a delightful Rosé Grand Cru Champagne if you’re looking for the perfect match for this nine-course feast.

I do need to call out one dessert, because although neither my wife nor I are particularly dessert people, this was one of the most delightful, fun, and refreshing that I’ve ever had. Based on fluffy, light Taiwanese-style shaved ice, it was as delightful to eat as it was to watch Chef David making it.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kappo-tsan-golden-oak

Bahn Mi Boy

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I’d heard about Banh Mi Boy for a while, but since it’s only a couple blocks from what was always my favorite banh mi sandwich place, I’d never tried it before. I didn’t realize that it is in the Mills Market, which has a collection of other shops selling Asian curries, pastries, sweets, and other delectables.

The space is just some high-top tables and counters, so not really someplace you want to dine, but to get food to go, it’s a great choice. Because it’s so popular, I can’t say that the service was particularly quick. I didn’t have to wait to order, but it did take 10 or 15 minutes to get my sandwich. It was worth the wait, though. Probably the best banh mi I’ve had. The traditional ingredients were all there, but the meat was particularly succulent. The bread was the traditional crusty French bread. I’ve had somewhat better on a banh mi, but this one definitely was right up there.

They also serve coffees, teas, and other drinks. I had a Vietnamese coffee, which was quite good.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/banh-mi-boy-bakery-and-café-orlando

Tacos Don Andres Mexican Restaurant

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This is a nicely appointed restaurant in the old Keke’s space next to the newly redone Publix in Metrowest. This area has needed a sit-down Mexican restaurant since Taquitos Jalisco closed in the same shopping center more than a decade ago.

The menu is fairly extensive, and offers some authentic preparations such as Pastor, Mole, and even a Molcajete. We tried the queso, the chicken quesadilla, and the pastor tacos. Everything was fine, but seemed rather under seasoned and certainly underspiced. The meal includes complimentary tortilla chips and a very mild salsa.

The standout was the house margarita. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better margarita, even at twice the price.

Lunch pricing seems reasonable.

Our server was probably on her first day, but the kitchen was having no trouble, so I’m sure they’ll do well.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/tacos-don-andres-mexican-restaurant-orlando

Krungthep Tea Time

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I’ve wanted to try this place for years, but it’s not very close to where I live, so I’m glad I finally got there today. Wow, I’m really impressed. I was misled by the name because I sort of thought it was going to be a tea parlor, but it’s actually a complete cafe with table service, serving delicious sandwiches and desserts in addition to a wide selection of teas and coffees.

I had the Thai dark black coffee, which is sweetened but does not have condensed milk in it. It was served on a crushed ice. Although it was with very strong coffee there was no hint of bitterness – just delicious.

The Gra-Prow chicken sandwich has gotten a lot of praise online, and justifiably so. I think it was the best sandwich I’ve ever tasted. It was done on sourdough bread and pressed in a panini-type press with lots of ridges in it, so that the crust was really crispy – almost like a ruffle potato chip. The filling was a delicious chicken salad with fresh basil, onion, red pepper, mozzarella and spicy basil mayo. Just a fantastic sandwich.

I also had to try the dessert, which is made with toast that reminded me of Japanese milk bread that had been toasted and cut into crouton-sized squares. The version I had was the Queen Bee, which was drizzled with honey, and topped with cookies ‘n cream ice cream and whipped cream. A great way to end the meal.

The service was really friendly, and I absolutely loved the food. I’ll definitely return soon.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/krungthep-tea-time-winter-park