Monthly Archives: November 2019

La Bamba Mexican and Spanish Restaurant

Posted on by
Lunch quesadilla

***** (5 stars)

This place was a delightful surprise. The interior decor is colorful and festive, and the food is top notch.

We started with cheese nachos, a simple preparation with lots of jalapenos that was just what we were looking for.

I had the La Bamba combination, which included a beef taco, chicken enchilada, and chile relleno, plus rice and beans. The standout was the taco, which was deep fried with the beef in, then stuffed with cheese and lettuce. This is a fairly rare style, and is my favorite. The rice was also quite good.

The perfect margarita was, indeed perfect, with plenty of lime to offset the sweetness.

Service was attentive and friendly.

La Bamba Mexican and Spanish Restaurant
730 US Hwy 1
North Palm Beach, FL
33408
(561) 882-1718
https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-bamba-mexican-and-spanish-restaurant-north-palm-beach-3

La Mar by Gaston Acurio

Posted on by
Scallops
Pisco Sour
Bar
Interior
Exterior

*** (3 stars)

What a beautiful setting, with a lovely outdoor patio overlooking the Miami skyline across the water.

The best dishes were the ones that were the most traditional, including some of the ceviches, and elements of the causa. The scallops were also very good. A combination of cold noodles, seaweed, a Korean style beef and vinegary kimchi didn’t really work.

I’ve found that when celebrity chefs take a classic cuisine and try to “celebrityfy” it, it’s rarely an improvement, and that’s the case here. I love Peruvian cuisines, and all the favorites are represented here, but few if any have been improved by unconventional treatment.

This extended to the Pisco Sour, which had so much egg foam the drink was unrecognizable.

To really know Peruvian food I suggest starting with a family run Peruvian restaurant in a strip mall!

Service was top notch.

La Mar by Gaston Acurio
500 Brickell Key Dr
Miami, FL
33131
(305) 913-8358
https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-mar-by-gaston-acurio-miami-5

China Panda

Posted on by
Pork lo mein
Exterior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

This is a very modest counter service restaurant with limited seating. The proprietor was friendly, and the food was prepared to order, served hot, and generously portioned. The pork lo mein was excellent, with crispy vegetables and noodles that weren’t overcooked, and very succulent pork strips. Very good!

China Panda
5 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 877-9968
https://www.yelp.com/biz/china-panda-winter-garden

Winter Garden Restaurant

Posted on by
Bacon skillet
Exterior
Interior

*** (3 stars)

This unprepossessing diner service traditional coffee shop breakfasts and entrees.  Service was friendly and quick. There was nothing particularly special about the potatoes, bacon and eggs, but nothing wrong with them either. The biscuit was served more like a square of corn bread, and was pretty good. Coffee was just OK.

Winter Garden Restaurant
7 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 656-7052
https://www.yelp.com/biz/winter-garden-restaurant-winter-garden

Nessas Food Co BBQ Restaurant

Posted on by
1/2 rack ribs
Exterior
Interior

***** (5 stars)

Wow! I’ve been to every BBQ place in Orlando (most of them more times than I care to admit!) and this one blows them away.

What amazing ribs! Obviously slowly smoked to perfection over hours, with a slight crust, but incredibly succulent center, with oodles of meat. The half-rack portion is very generous and well-priced. The BBQ sauce, served on the side, is a perfect balance of sweet, tangy and spicy.

Pulled pork is also tender and tasty. The baked beans have a rich sauce and tender chunks of meat, and just a hint of spice. Usually I add BBQ sauces to baked beans, but these didn’t need it.

It’s counter service, and friendly service at that.

There’s just one table inside, and one on the lawn out front, but there’s also parking in the rear. This is a cozy little downtown area of Ocoee, so a pleasant place to eat outside.

Nessas Food Co BBQ Restaurant
14 West McKey St
Ocoee, FL
34761
(321) 370-8172
https://www.yelp.com/biz/nessas-food-co-bbq-restaurant-ocoee

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

Posted on by
Chicken sandwich

*** (3 stars)

I’ve been coming to this Popeyes for over twenty years, and have always been completely satisfied with the food. My go to meal was always spicy three piece with red beans and rice, and mashed potatoes. But I have to say the new chicken sandwich is amazing, and I may have to change my allegiance!

The place was remodeled sometime in the past twenty years, but it’s still pretty much the same, which is just fine with me.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
5245 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL
32808
(407) 299-6150
https://www.yelp.com/biz/popeyes-louisiana-kitchen-orlando-7

Linda’s Winter Park Diner

Posted on by
Farmer’s Omelet
Exterior
Exterior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

This is an authentic diner in the time-honored tradition of roadside eateries. While it may not have the nostalgic decor of a movie-set diner, the menu has all the right items, and the staff is friendly and welcoming, which keeps the regulars coming back.

Breakfast offerings are diverse, with a special focus on omelets. I had the farmer’s omelet, which combined veggies and ham, and a very creamy cheese. It was delicious. Hash browns were crispy, as requested, and the coffee was regularly refilled.

A great place for an old-fashioned dining experience.

Linda’s Winter Park Diner
1700 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL
32789
(407) 775-2288
https://www.yelp.com/biz/lindas-winter-park-diner-winter-park

FrutaMix Mexican Kitchen

Posted on by
Drink bar
Interior
Margarita

**** (4 stars)

This is the third and best iteration of Mexican restaurant in this space. The concept is a bit odd in that it is both a restaurant and a juice and ice cream bar, but it works.

Complimentary chips and salsa were good, and the margarita was excellent. Nacho are to be avoided, as they involve liquid cheese.

Street tacos on soft corn tortillas with pastor were authentic and excellent. The cheese and mushroom quesadilla was very savory.

Service was odd, probably the result of a language barrier, but it will presumably improve with experience.

FrutaMix Mexican Kitchen
15493 Stoneybrook W PkwySte 120
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 614-1438
https://www.yelp.com/biz/frutamix-mexican-kitchen-winter-garden

TooJay’s

Posted on by
Nova Lox
Exterior
Interior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

There aren’t many genuine delis in Orlando, for whatever reason, so it’s nice to have this Toojay’s as an option. I’ve never been a fan of the other location, but they seem a lot friendlier here.

You’ll find all the deli standards here. My favorite is the hot pastrami on toasted rye. The pastrami is particularly lean and flavorful. I also like their cole slaw and dill pickles.

The Nova Lox, served on very crispy latkes, was a good appetizer.

Service was friendly and efficient.

TooJay’s
10185 W Colonial DriveShoppes of Ocoee
Ocoee, FL
34761
(407) 798-2000
https://www.yelp.com/biz/toojays-ocoee