**** (4 stars)
It’s really hard to find good places for outside in Orlando, and this is a hidden gem. The large outside patio offers a quite, shaded environment for breakfast any time of day. But my favorites are their salads, particularly the ones with salmon or fruit ingredients. Light and refreshing.
Peach Valley Café
5072 Dr. Philips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 522-2601
http://www.yelp.com/biz/peach-valley-caf%C3%A9-orlando-4
**** (4 stars)
Being from the West originally, I’d never heard of Red Robin, but there was much excitement at the office when this place opened. Instant success, very crowded. I was impressed by the professionalism of the staff, even shortly after opening day. The bacon cheeseburger is exactly the recipe I like: lettuce, tomato, mayo, so I’m happy. On a second visit I tried the onion rings, which are excellent and incredibly bad for you. Substitue the salad for the fries that come with the burgers and pretend it’s health food.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
3310 Daniels Road
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 654-0626
http://www.yelp.com/biz/red-robin-gourmet-burgers-winter-garden
*** (3 stars)
Typical Disney restaurant on the mezzanine of the Polynesian. Kid friendly (and packed with them). The most flavorful thing we had was the teriyaki sauce that accompanied the beef satay. A lot of the selections are fairly bland, so if you have picky eaters it’s a safe bet. Extensive selection of island-themed mixed drinks.
Kona Cafe
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 939-3463
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kona-cafe-lake-buena-vista
**** (4 stars)
I had fond memories of this dining room from a trip thirty years ago when I was freshly married. In particular, the morning toast, which seemed to have been deep fried in bacon fat stuck in my mind (and arteries, I’m sure). Fortunately (or not, as you view it) the toast is gone, but the place still holds a certain charm. Along with the Awahnee at Yosemite, it’s the only remaining grand hotel in a national park. There’s something deliciously decadent about fine dining in the midst of hikers who’ll be having beans and sleeping in a bag. While breakfasts in the dining room are no longer special, dinner is still an event.
We had a lovely table next to a widow and watched a storm come in. We shared salmon and trout croscanti as appetizers. Both were really excellent. Dinner was salmon and Filet Mignon, also good. Because the hiring is seasonal, the wait staff is often recently trained, but our waiter was an expert, and also an interesting fellow. He had studied Physics in college and knew all about Niels Bohr and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, and had even visited Copenhagen to see Bohr’s Institute. Chatting with him turned a pleasant evening into an also memorable one, and made the meal as special as the setting.
El Tovar Dining Room
Village Loop Dr
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
(928) 638-2631
http://www.yelp.com/biz/el-tovar-dining-room-grand-canyon
*** (3 stars)
Well, it isn’t really a bistro, but more of a burger and salad joint right off the lobby. Delicious Chinese chicken salad, forgettable chicken burger, forgettable tuna burger.
CENTRAL BY MICHEL RICHARD
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 650-5921
http://www.yelp.com/biz/central-by-michel-richard-las-vegas
***** (5 stars)
This is a small plates sort of place, so we sampled some smoked salmon, hummus, Margherita flatbread and some fish tacos. It was all good, and the hummus plate, which is more like a whole Lebanese meal including falafel and olives, is a particularly good deal.
The menu is really interesting, and warrants several repeat visits. Service was well-intentioned but not quite as professional as the food. The place was very busy, due to the trendy vibe and good prices. The bar looks nice, too.
Terra an American Bistro
2676 Green Bay Rd
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 563-9100
http://www.yelp.com/biz/terra-an-american-bistro-evanston
**** (4 stars)
Al’s Deli was founded in 1949 by Al Pottinger, a francophile, who offered European groceries, baked goods, soups and sandwiches. His sons took the business over in the 1970s, and are still there. They offer traditional french sandwiches such as brie on a baguette, plus homemade soups. The Soup au Pistou I had today was wonderful, a cup full of chunky vegetables with a dollop of garlic aeoli that turned it into something you might find in a bouillabaisse. They also make six types of enormous, tasty cookies themselves. The place is a short walk from NU, in the charming little area around Noyes and Sherman.
Al’s Deli
914 Noyes St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-9400
http://www.yelp.com/biz/als-deli-evanston
***** (5 stars)
Justifiably famous for their apple pancake, which is more of a cross between a tart and coffee cake. Omelets are good too, and come with pancakes, so you don’t have to choose. The sprawling place is always packed, often with a line out the door, and there’s a reason.
Walker Bros Original Pancake House
153 Green Bay Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
(847) 251-6000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/walker-bros-original-pancake-house-wilmette-3
**** (4 stars)
Part of the appeal of Lee and Rick’s is that it IS a dive. There’s something experiential about sitting at a concrete trough with a hundred layers of paint on it eating oysters served by girls wearing “I Eat Em Raw” T-Shirts. One of the best deals in town is the basket of shrimp, served hot or chilled (I prefer chilled). Mix up your own cocktail sauce from the provided condiments, add a few saltine crackers, and you’ve got a fresh shellfish feast for under ten bucks.
Lee and Ricks Oyster Bar
5621 Old Winter Garden Rd
Orlando, FL 32811
(407) 293-3587
http://www.yelp.com/biz/lee-and-ricks-oyster-bar-orlando
***** (5 stars)
This is Orlando’s best sports bar. It has all the TVs and atmosphere you expect in a sports bar, plus excellent food and service. Gators offers “grilled” buffalo chicken wings, which are prepped the normal way (with your choice of about a dozen sauces), but are then grilled, which makes them much less fatty than most wings. They also have great burgers, monte cristo sandwiches, and — surprisingly for a sports bar — excellent salads. It’s also a very good place for large groups. We have our company birthday parties here. Highly recommended.
Gator’s Dockside
5142 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 392-4669
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gators-dockside-orlando-3