New York Beer Project – Orlando

Posted on December 12, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

Wow, this place is HUGE. Fortunately the ceilings are high, so noise levels are reasonable. And the interior decor is very nice, with giant fake trees.

Kudos to management, because opened only three weeks this place was extremely busy, yet running like clockwork.

The menu is extensive. We started with a giant pretzel, and the sauces that came with it were amazing, especially the house sauce, a mixture of mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and black pepper. The pizza dough was also very good, and the chicken wings, ordered extra crispy, were truly HOT.

This is a real brewery, and offers only their own brews. The four beer sampler is a good deal. They also have a full bar.

New York Beer Project – Orlando
9230 Miley Dr
Winter Garden, FL 34787

https://www.yelp.com/biz/new-york-beer-project-orlando-winter-garden

Cedar’s Restaurant

Posted on December 8, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

I realized it has been ten years since I've left a review of Cedar's on Yelp! Blissfully, nothing has changed. It's still the best Middle Eastern food in Orlando. In fact, I've traveled the world and have yet to find better.

The hummus and tabbouleh and baba ganoush can't be beat. The falafel is never greasy, and the pitas are baked fresh and replenished multiple times during your meal.

Service is always friendly, and you can tell they are really happy for your business.

Perfection.

Cedar’s Restaurant
7732 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819

https://www.yelp.com/biz/cedars-restaurant-orlando

Sajoma Latin Fusion

Posted on December 4, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

This is a beautiful restaurant with great food and service. We shared an assortment of appetizers, and they were all very good.

Highlights were the ceviche and the very creative green pea hummus with fried pitas. The grilled shrimp and the Caesar salads were also both very nice preparations. I liked the goat filling in the Yuca nests, but the yuca was a bit heavy.

We went for a late Sunday lunch and it looked like they were setting up for evening live entertainment.

They also have outside dining.

Sajoma Latin Fusion
1600 W Osceola Pkwy
Kissimmee, FL 34741

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sajoma-latin-fusion-kissimmee

Abracadabra Ice Cream Factory

Posted on December 4, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

This is one of those places where they freeze your ice cream to order using liquid nitrogen, and mixing it in a stainless steel bowl. You have your choice of base–regular, sugar free, lactose free, etc– and added flavors and mix-ins.

I've been to some of these where the result is a smoother consistency, but here is turns out rather chunky, sort of like frozen curds, which wasn't my favorite, but if that's your thing then you'll enjoy it. I also thought my lactose free coffee with chocolate chips was very, very sweet. I'm not sure why. But again, if you're getting ice cream with mix-ins, perhaps that's just what you're looking for.

There are bounce houses out back for the kids to further mix their ice cream after consumption,

Abracadabra Ice Cream Factory
520 N Main St
Kissimmee, FL 34744

https://www.yelp.com/biz/abracadabra-ice-cream-factory-kissimmee

The Vineyard Wine Bar and Healthy Bistro

Posted on December 1, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

We love this place not just for its interesting collection of wines, but for the great food. You really can't go wrong with any of the shared plates. We love the Brussels sprouts, bruschetta, charcuterie, and the pita plate. Caesar salad is excellent.. And you won't find a better pizza crust anywhere–it's imported from Napoli. Service is very gracious and welcoming, and the wine advice is, of course, great.

The Vineyard Wine Bar and Healthy Bistro
4848 South Apopka Vineland Rd
Orlando, FL 32819

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-vineyard-wine-bar-and-healthy-bistro-orlando

Naan Stopp

Posted on November 22, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

This place is much nicer than I was expecting! The previous tenant was a counter service concept, but this is a full restaurant with table service. And the service provided by our server, Anna, was, indeed, great.

Even greater was the food! I've had Lamb Korma in Indian restaurants all over the world, and I've never had a better, more complex version than this. The Chicken Saag was also good.

We started with Papads, which were delightfully crisp. The Vegetable Samosas were nicely stuffed, and just the right amount of spicy.

Lunch pricing is very reasonable, and the portions are generous.

I'm delighted to have found this great Indian restaurant right in our neighborhood.

Naan Stopp
5845 Winter Garden Vineland Rd
Windermere, FL 34786

https://www.yelp.com/biz/naan-stopp-windermere

YH Seafood Clubhouse

Posted on November 17, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

First, this restaurant is gorgeous. What a transformation they’ve done on this space! Some of Orlando’s best interior restaurant design.

I admit that Cantonese is not necessarily my favorite Asian cuisine, but I can certainly appreciate how well it is done here, and there are some real standouts.

The dim sum menu is extensive. Our favorite item, as is usually the case, was the chive dumpling. The pan-seared potsticker appetizer was also good.

A fellow at a table next to us ordered Clay Pot salted chicken and fish, and it looked incredible, reminding me of Korean bibimbop, but I couldn’t find it on the menu. I definitely need to check that out next time.

Service was terrific, with constant refills of our drinks, and friendly and efficient throughout.

We definitely want to return and further explore the menu.

YH Seafood Clubhouse
8081 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819

https://www.yelp.com/biz/yh-seafood-clubhouse-orlando

Garibaldi Mexican Cusine

Posted on November 14, 2022 by steve

**** (4 stars)

I've been to Garibaldi before, but this is the first time I've been to this location. I actually like it better than the original.

The menu is very extensive, with all the standard American Tex-Mex offerings. The fiesta sampler offers a pretty good selection of most of the menu, it is a very generous serving, more than enough lunch for two people.

This is one of the most extensive margarita lists in town. The house margarita is by far the best deal, and is an ample serving of a well mixed margarita.

Garibaldi Mexican Cusine
848 Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32809

https://www.yelp.com/biz/garibaldi-mexican-cusine-orlando

Blended Bistro & Boba

Posted on November 3, 2022 by steve

***** (5 stars)

I love me a good bánh mì sandwich, and you won't find a better one than served here. That's high praise, considering how many good examples of bánh mì there are in Orlando.

This one was perfectly fresh bread with a crisp crust filled with super fresh vegetables, spicy sauce, and succulent roast pork. There was no room for improvement.

The spring rolls, a Yelp check-in bonus, were also delicious with crisp vegetables and fresh shrimp.

I also enjoyed the Vietnamese coffee, in case you want to drink your dessert.

Blended Bistro & Boba
2306 Edgewater Dr
Orlando, FL 32804

https://www.yelp.com/biz/blended-bistro-and-boba-orlando

Bocas Grill – Orlando

Posted on October 4, 2022 by steve

*** (3 stars)

This place has improved since my first visit four years ago. There is still better Venezuelan food to be had in Orlando, but this is perhaps the nicest sit down restaurant to eat it in.

I enjoyed the sparking sangria, which was chock full of scrumptious fruit.

Our appetizer of assorted fried seafood and potatoes was also quite good.

The specialty here is arepas, and they are just okay; I think you're better off with something else.

Prices are still high, especially at lunch, but service is significantly improved.

Bocas Grill – Orlando
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819

https://www.yelp.com/biz/bocas-grill-orlando-orlando-2

Forking Orlando

Restaurant reviews from Orlando and beyond

Author Archives: steve

New York Beer Project – Orlando

Cedar’s Restaurant

Sajoma Latin Fusion

Abracadabra Ice Cream Factory

The Vineyard Wine Bar and Healthy Bistro

Naan Stopp

YH Seafood Clubhouse

Garibaldi Mexican Cusine

Blended Bistro & Boba

Bocas Grill – Orlando