The Grove

Top-notch service and wonderfully creative food are the highlights here, surely one of the best restaurants New Zealand has to offer.

I’ve had many wine-pairing dinners, but the matches here were absolutely stellar, perhaps the best I’ve ever encountered. Great hospitality by the owner and the entire staff.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-grove-auckland-2

De La Vega

This is an interesting tapas concept because instead of Spanish food, the emphasis is on Latin food. We started with a delicious red sangria, and then proceeded to try a number of the different tapas appetizers, never making our way to the entrée section of the menu.

The Asparinas were a great way to start, and were offered free for checking in on Yelp! We tried the empanadas, and had half chicken/half cheese; both were good.

The Chicken Molé Rice Balls were also very good, with a complex Molé sauce that wasn’t too sweet. 

The Ajito de Pescado was my favorite, with flavors of freshly cooked fish and veggies.

Excellent and friendly service. During temperate weather, it would be great to sit out on the sidewalk.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/de-la-vega-deland-de-land

Surah

**** (4 stars)

This Korean restaurant offers all of the most popular Korean dishes in a pleasant environment with friendly service. The space was formally occupied by Bee Wan, but it has been significantly remodeled. The menu is now streamlined and more pictorial, which is good for newbies. There are somewhat fewer side dishes of kimchi now, but they are just as good or better. My favorite entrée, Dolsot bibimbap, is available in traditional and a kimchi version. The Chicken Katsu is a good choice for kids or those who are not yet ready to try the full Korean experience.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/surah-no-title

Bombay Street Kitchen

Wow, this place far exceeded my expectations. For starters, it’s much nicer inside than the online photos make it look. It’s actually a sit-down restaurant with excellent table service.

Orlando is blessed with many great Indian restaurants, but I was drawn to Bombay Street Kitchen because the menu offered many dishes beyond the usual offerings, so I purposely ordered items that you can’t get most places. The menu is divided into several sections including one labeled “Asian” which seemed to offer a fusion of other Asian foods such as Chinese, but with an Indian touch. 

I honestly can’t pick a favorite of the dishes we had! I would (and no doubt will) order all of them again. I’ll let the descriptions and names speak for themselves:

PANI PURI
Fried bread, spiced potatoes mix, tangy water.

GUN POWDER GARLIC SHRIMP
Grilled shrimp, garlic, homemade spice mix.

MASALA PAPAD BHEL
Papad, onions, tomato, spices.

CHINESE BHEL
Crispy noodles, onions, cabbage, pepper, chutneys.

BOMBAY STREET DOSA

The only downside to Bombay Street Kitchen is getting there, because of the heavy traffic past the Florida Mall to the South. But if you can find another approach, it’s definitely worth repeat visits

https://www.yelp.com/biz/bombay-street-kitchen-orlando-3

Pho 813

This Pho 813 location has a really lovely interior design. If it wasn’t in the nightmarish parking lot across from the Millenia Mall I would be a frequent visitor.

The lemon grass bun bowl has a broth different from other places I’ve tried. And the Bahn Mi, while not the best or cheapest in town, is a very credible rendition.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-813-orlando

Maple Street Biscuit Company

Very popular place, with quick service once you get to the front of the line.

Whoever put the menu together, really likes chicken on their biscuits. Instead, I opted for a traditional bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, and it was fine, but not any better than you would get from McDonald’s.

The iced cinnamon biscuit was quite good.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/maple-street-biscuit-company-winter-garden

San Jose’s Original Mexican Restaurant

I had given up on this place ever opening after it spent a year or so in construction and then… nothing. But it finally made it, and it is a good addition to the neighborhood. I’ve long thought that Lakeside Village was the perfect spot for a genuine sit-down Mexican restaurant.

We were greeted graciously and service was excellent throughout. I really like the interior; it’s nicer than the other San Joses.

The food is pretty much the same. Good salsa with the chips. The cheese dip is a challenge; really runny.

The top-shelf margarita was excellent.

My wife enjoyed her quesadilla, which was nicely browned.

My tacos pastor were pretty good, The pastor included the traditional pineapple bits, but was a bit on the dry side compared to others I’ve had.

As others have noted, it’s a bit pricey, but I guess every place is these days.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/san-jose-s-original-mexican-restaurant-windermere

Delaney’s Tavern

Somehow I’d never made it to Delaney’s Tavern. I really liked the place and wish we’d tried it sooner. It’s now incorporated into a hotel across from the hospital. Parking is available in the structure behind it; just be sure to get a paper slip from your server so you can get out of the garage.

The menu offers the kind of eclectic dishes I’d put on the menu if I owned a restaurant. We started with both the crab beignets and the arancini. Both were good; I’d definitely have the crab again. It’s pretty large, so one app would have been enough for the two of us.

My French dip was very good. I liked that the dipping sauce wasn’t overly salted as it sometimes is. The accompanying potato wedges had a nice parmesan crust.

Service was friendly and well-paced.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/delaneys-tavern-orlando