I had high hopes for this place based upon reviews, but it was just okay.
The concept is a bit odd, as it’s a strange conglomeration of different cuisines, from Middle Eastern to Asian to deli to American.
They were out of my wife’s first choice, so she just had a Caesar salad, which was weirdly sweet, as if they made it with honey mustard dressing.
Given the name, I opted for the falafel and hummus, and both were just okay. If you really want great hummus, falafel, and pitas, it’s only a few minutes to go to Cedar’s on Sand Lake Road, and there’s no comparison.
There isn’t really much atmosphere, just some rows of long tables in a brightly lit storefront. Service was a good team effort.
We’ve gone to Ciao Italia for many years, so we thought we’d try their sister restaurant, Vincenzo. It’s located in a more visible, tourist-accessible spot, and is in a newer space.
The interior is nicely designed, with an appealing bar, and good acoustic design in the dining room. Lighting levels are pleasant.
The menu is similar, offering classic Southern Italian cuisine. My Shrimp Diavalo appetizer was excellent, and its $20 price quite reasonable for a generous serving. My wife really enjoyed her Fettuccini Alfredo, which was made in the classic butter and parmesan style, rather than inundated in cream sauce.
The wine list is well-considered, and service was pleasant.
I wasn’t expecting to be wowed by Norman’s based on previous restaurants, so we put off visiting for more than a year, but absolutely loved our experience here. The interior is beautiful, and just what I am looking for in a fine dining experience: classy, not noisy, and not brightly lit.
The food really stood out for us, too. The dishes seemed more cohesive than those we’ve had in his past restaurants, with a perfect melding of complex flavors. We opted for six small plates so we could sample many things. Standouts were:
House salad: this was startlingly good! Mixed greens with a light but complex vinaigrette, pepitas, dried fruits, and some crumbled blue cheese. Rarely has a simple salad been so memorable.
Shrimp Ceviche: not really a ceviche, but more of a cooked, creamy combination with some tomato in the sauce and a dollop of avocado crema.
Octopus: absolutely tender and flavorful, so hard to find prepared this well.
French Toast Foie Gras: I had read about this dish, and it did not disappoint! The perfect combination of sweet brioche and lightly seared foie.
Pumpkin Cheesecake: I would call this a pumpkin s’more caramel taco!
Service was impeccable–professional, friendly, and attentive.
I wasn’t a fan of the Norman’s at the Ritz Carlton (mostly due to the coffee shop atmosphere) or his Mount Dora effort (LOUD!) but this one absolutely nails it, with a classy, romantic interior, great acoustics, and subdued lighting. Highly recommended.
This place definitely has a hip atmosphere. It looks like it could get boisterous, but we were there for a late lunch and it was great.
The concise menu has lots of interesting selections, and we enjoyed everything we tried. We started with the hummus, which was served with fresh-baked pitas. The hummus was topped with an assortment of herbs and seasonings, which made it fun to experiment with different combinations.
I had the three-piece fried chicken, and it was terrific. The crunchy, complex batter kept the tender, moist chicken steaming hot throughout our meal. The accompanying macaroni salad and cucumber chunk salad were both excellent.
My companion had the steak frites, a classic preparation with perfectly seared steak and a huge pile of nicely crisped truffle fries.
There are some interesting wines by the glass. I finished with the very intriguing root beer latte.
Chef Henry Moso is the magician behind Kabooki Sushi. Now he brings the quick service hand roll concept to Orlando.
The secret to hand rolls is temperature and timing. The rice must be at the perfect temperature, the nori wrapper fresh from the warming box to ensure its crispness, and the whole assemblage delivered within seconds. Of course Mosonori nails this perfectly. I would expect nothing less from Chef Henry.
We attended the first night of the public preview, and service was already perfection. The friendly staff filled the place in minutes and made sure everyone was having a great time.
Beverages will be limited to sake, beer, and some sake cocktails.
Chef Henry is not just a master chef, he also has a brilliant sense of decor, and Mosonori is a truly beautiful restaurant. I understand it will also be open for lunch, and perhaps all afternoon, which would be a great way to above what I’m sure will be a line of people waiting to get into this great new concept.
Note: Exterior signage is not up yet, but it’s unit A of City Place. Parking is available immediately north of the space, so don’t turn in to the south, or you can’t get to it.
I really like the interior design of this new, airy restaurant in Flamingo Crossings. The staff is very welcoming, and the ambiance is great.
The menu offers a nice variety of upscale Italian fare. We started with the sauteed mussels and clams (which were okay, but could have used more garlic) and the tuna carpaccio, which had a marvelous lemon dressing on the accompanying arugula.
That same fantastic dressing showed up on the Salad Capri, one of the best salads I’ve ever had. The combination of the slightly sweet lemon dressing and the bitter greens was amazing, as were the other surprising ingredients: banana peppers, melon, candied walnuts, and olives.
We happened to go for lunch on a Wednesday, which is lasagna day, and the lasagna was very good. It seemed like something an Italian grandmother would make.
Because it’s in a tourist area, prices are not cheap, but I would definitely return for the amazing salad and excellent service.
This is a nice new Gators with a very friendly staff. I love the way that Gator’s menu has gotten so creative lately, with lots of temporary specials. This is a great venue for watching sports, but also just a good place for traditional bar food plus some creative variations on same.
Shakers recently won a people’s choice award for best breakfast in Orlando, and I can see why. My Western Omelet was overflowing with fresh vegetables and savory ham. Hash browns were extra crispy, just like I ordered them. And my server’s suggestion to grill my biscuit was pure genius.
I also loved the decor, with unique salt and pepper shakers on every table, and many more lining the walls.
Service was excellent, and all the servers I encountered were very friendly. Indeed, this was the best breakfast I’ve had in a long, long time.
UPDATE, MAY 9, 2024
Breakfast Quesadilla
Shakers still makes the best breakfasts in town! My new favorite is the breakfast quesadilla. It’s perfect!
This counter-serve place is light and airy, with nice seating and a great vibe.
My Grilled Pork Banh Mi was as good as any I’ve ever had. The secret to a great banh mi is great bread, and this baguette was fresh, yet crusty, and filled with crisp veggies. The sauce and pork were spot on, and there was plenty of cilantro and jalapeno. Just a terrific sandwich.
This salad assemblage place is much nicer than many of the competitors, with a large, pleasant inside seating area.
Their featured combinations all seem quite interesting. There is a nice variety.
I had the Chicken Bacon Ranch. The house Ranch dressing is nice and light, and a bit herbal. The bacon was meaty, the chicken was nicely seared, and the avocado was generous.
I ordered online, and it was ready by my selected time.
