***** (5 stars)
Intimate, clubby space with a great menu and impressive cocktails! The service was very friendly. Great relaxed atmosphere. Everything we had was delicious, from charcuterie plate to Ceasar salad to filet. The Pineapple Express cocktail, their own creation, is one of the best cocktails I've ever had, not too sweet due to the inclusion of Amaro. I'm so glad we decided to dine here rather than in Market Square!
The Drawing Room
531 Henley St
Knoxville, TN 37902
**** (4 stars)
SOS has a dramatic and beautiful interior design, and a very pleasant outside patio. I like the emphasis on classic tiki drinks, which are well-prepared, served in traditional glassware, and nicely garnished. The menu gives a brief historical note for each drink. There is also an extensive Rum list.
The food is less impressive than the drinks. I suggest sticking with the Cauliflower Bang Bang appetizer, and having dinner elsewhere.
Service was friendly and fast.
The SOS Tiki Bar
340 Church St
Decatur, GA 30030
***** (5 stars)
Boku serves excellent quality sushi and sashimi in elegant surroundings. It's tucked into the corner of its complex, next to the parking garage and behind the Starbucks.
The decor is a welcoming mixture of interesting textures and colors, a combination of wood, tile, and stone. I like that each table along the windows has its own unique lighting treatment.
The extensive dinner menu is supplemented by a lunch menu and daily specials. I started with the Jalapeno Hamachi, which was the best version of this appetizer I've had.
For my lunch I had the sashimi lunch with all fish, as I don't care for the clam, squid, or octopus selections that are often included in such samplers. I loved all of the fish, and the presentation was beautiful, and included plenty of shiso leaves, which are like catnip to me.
Service was friendly and the food was delivered quickly, so a good choice for lunch indeed.
Boku Sushi & Grill
140 Independence Ln
Maitland, FL 32751
***** (5 stars)
This is such a great neighborhood find, I almost hate to review it rather than keep it to myself! First off, note that this is not really a coffee shop. Sure they have lots of coffees, in all the various forms and flavors, but it is oh so much more. The incredible sandwich menu is too good to ignore, so please think “cafe”, not “coffee shop.” I had the Toasted Tuna, and it was fabulous. Really it’s a huge salad with lettuce, chunks of tuna, avocado, cucumber, cilantro, and tomatoes, between two panini style pieces of toast. Basically, you disassemble it, eat half the salad, then reassemble it into a scrumptious sandwich.
The other thing that distinguishes this place is the amazing ambiance. It’s filled with cozy nooks and comfortable seating on couches or at tables, plus several outdoor tables as well.
They also have beer and wine, so it would be great for happy hour too.
Finally, the staff is enthusiastic and friendly, and although it is counter service, food is delivered to your table. This is not a place to go for a fast bite, it’s a place to linger and enjoy the ambiance–although you certainly could stop in for a quick and delicious coffee I suppose!
Achilles Art Cafe Coffee Shop
2869 Wilshire Dr
Orlando, FL 32835
https://www.yelp.com/biz/achilles-art-cafe-coffee-shop-orlando-4
***** (5 stars)
Definitely well named, The Nook is a cozy little spot that specializes in mostly locally sourced beers. You can find the menu here: thenookonrobinson.square… but there are many, many more selections in the cooler. Knowledgeable, friendly staff make it a great place to hangout at one of the few bar seats, a table for two, or a sitting area.
The Nook on Robinson
2432 E Robinson St
Orlando, FL 32803
**** (4 stars)
This is one of only two table service restaurants in the Southwest gate area. The menu is much more limited than at the far larger Cask and Larder, but I’ve never been a big fan of that place.
You can sit at a small number of tables, mostly for two, or at the bar.
The breakfast burrito at Farmair was better than anything I’ve had at Cask and Larder. We substituted bacon for sausage, and boy did they deliver! The only downside is they don’t have hot sauce, just salsa.
Service was prompt and friendly.
Farmair’s Bar & Bites
9223 Jeff Fuqua Blvd
Orlando, FL 32827
***** (5 stars)
Remarkably good sports bar food (albeit expensive) for a tourist location. Excellent burgers, wood grilled wings, wood grilled oysters.
Extensive game room with redemption games, and thankfully completely separate from the dining area. Plenty of screens for every game.
Groovy Goat
7720 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 601-0310
https://www.yelp.com/biz/groovy-goat-orlando
***** (5 stars)
This charming restaurant is located on a side street of St. Helena’s Main Street. The delightful space upstairs offers high beamed ceilings and an open kitchen, plus lots of duck hunting memorabilia. Downstairs is an atmospheric bar that also has table seating. And there is also lovely outdoor dining.Goose & Gander
1245 Spring St
Saint Helena, CA
94574
(707) 967-8779
https://www.yelp.com/biz/goose-and-gander-saint-helena-2
***** (5 stars)
Really good family Mexican restaurant in a shopping center. The service is terrific and the food is good. The lunch carnitas torta was huge and came with a delicious salad option rather than rice and beans or fries. Great blue cheese dressing. The appetizer sampler is also a nice variety. Very reasonable.El Jardin Restaurant & Catering
1119 S Main St
Manteca, CA
95337
(209) 825-8552
https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-jardin-restaurant-and-catering-manteca
***** (5 stars)
Restaurants in tourist areas don’t need to be all that great, because there is a constant supply of new patrons. But I’m a big fan of Gibson’s restaurants in Chicago, so I decided to give The Boathouse a try, and I’m glad I did.The Boathouse
1620 E Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830
(407) 939-2628
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-boathouse-lake-buena-vista