Aji Sushi Teppan

***** (5 stars)

I go here almost every weekend for lunch, and have never had anything but excellent sushi. Their Heaven Roll is perhaps my favorite sushi item anywhere, it’s sort of a California roll with salmon and a thin slice of lemon on top. Somehow the ingredients come together to create much more than you’d expect, as the tart lemon and bitter peel mesh with the richness of the mayo in the krab salad. The other great thing about Aji is that it’s open for lunch on Sunday.

Aji Sushi Teppan
3251 Daniels Rd
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 877-9888
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aji-sushi-teppan-winter-garden

Bonsai Sushi

ChirashiBowl

***** (5 stars)

This is a charming little sushi place with very friendly service. I go often for lunch during the week, and the yellowtail sashimi is always excellent. The Chirashi Bowl is a favorite, with its generous assortment of two pieces each of 9 types of fish and shellfish.

The floor plan is traditional sushi restaurant, with a good size sushi bar dominating a small dining room. I like the sunny ambiance and super cheerful table service.

Bonsai Sushi
5174 Dr. Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 292-0333
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bonsai-sushi-orlando

Nagoya Sushi

**** (4 stars)

This place has been around for ages under one name or another, and it must be pretty good, because it’s almost impossible to find! It’s way at the back of the corridor of shops (and closed storefronts) that separates two section of the Dr. Phillips Marketplace. The lunch combos are a great deal here.

Nagoya Sushi
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-8558
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nagoya-sushi-orlando

RanGetsu

**** (4 stars)

We used to go to Rangetsu on International Drive every week, and were sad when it closed. Now, years later, this loosely affiliated version has opened in Maitland. It’s much trendier than the old one, but sadly the food isn’t quite as good. If you like sitting at a sushi bar, this isn’t the place to go, because the sushi bar is small and a wall of plywood blocks your view of the chefs’ work. But if you want sushi at your table, or like the idea that the place turns into a dance club late at night, then it’s a good bet. One of my favorite sushi rolls was the old Rangetsu’s mayo and wasabi laced dynamite roll, and happily they have that at this new location. Note that parking is mostly by valet, even at off hours.

RanGetsu
901 S Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 345-0044
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rangetsu-maitland

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza

***** (5 stars)

Okay, I admit it. I’m now addicted to the cauliflower pizza, and had to upgrade my star rating to five. “That’s not pizza!” says my cauliflower-hating wife, but whatever it is, it’s scrumptious. Charred crust, and perfectly rich garlicky olive-oil roasted cauliflower. Yum.

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
8031 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 363-9466
http://www.yelp.com/biz/anthonys-coal-fired-pizza-orlando

Cedar’s Restaurant

***** (5 stars)

I’ve traveled the world and have yet to find better middle eastern food than at Cedar’s. Service is friendly, and the hummus and tabbouleh can’t be beat. The felafel is never greasy, and the pitas are baked fresh and replenished multiple times during your meal. Perfection.

Cedar’s Restaurant
7732 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 351-6000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cedars-restaurant-orlando