**** (4 stars)
We had a nice afternoon snack here on the semi-enclosed patio. Protected from the wind, but open above, it’s a great way to enjoy a brisk day. The lobster dip was a generous serving, and mostly lobster.
There are a lot of similar menus in this touristy area, but you can’t beat the view at the end of the pier this restaurant sits on.
Murphy’s Cable Wharf
1751 Lower Water St
Halifax, NS B3J 3E4
(902) 420-1015
http://www.yelp.com/biz/murphys-cable-wharf-halifax
**** (4 stars)
This is a favorite stop of ours. Excellent fresh seafood and shellfish in a great environment. I particularly like the prepared crab appetizer.
Cozy, pub-like interior. On a nice day it’s great to dine in the covered area out front.
The wine selection is particularly well-suited to fish and especially the shellfish selections. You can’t go wrong with the Albarino.
Bentley’s
11-15 Swallow Street
London, W1B 4DG
+44 20 7734 4756
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bentleys-london
**** (4 stars)
This is a great place for pork lovers, as most of the dishes involve some variant of that meat. The aroma of the place reminds me of some of Chicago’s pig-centric restaurants such as The Girl and the Goat.
The micro brew beers are interesting. I tried the cilantro lime variant, and it went great with the CBLT, a BLT involving fried chicken skin.
I also tried the Devils on Horseback, dates wrapped in country ham and stuffed with bleu cheese, but felt they were too sweet.
There’s an extensive cocktail list, and since half the space is taken up by the bar, it’s a great place for happy hour.
Cask & Larder
565 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(321) 280-4200
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cask-and-larder-winter-park
**** (4 stars)
I’m not completely in tune with the whole sports bar thing, probably because I’m not a sport fan. But Miller’s Ale House is certainly the most successful chain of them in Orlando. This location, on Kirkman, is packed every day, and the food is good (just don’t check the calorie counts on their website).
Burgers and salads are good bets here, and I also like the chicken fajitas, one of the healthier choices (they are lower in calories than many of the salads).
Service is decent, but it’s pretty much impossible to have lunch here in less than an hour, so don’t go if you’re tight on time.
Miller’s Ale House Restaurants
5573 S Kirkman Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-0000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/millers-ale-house-restaurants-orlando-6
**** (4 stars)
The Big Easy offers fairly authentic New Orleans style food in a convivial, neighborhood sports bar-like atmosphere. The emphasis is on fried food, including shrimp, crawfish and oysters, which can be ordered as an appetizer or in a po’boy sandwich.
We enjoyed the mixed seafood appetizer and the fried pickles, but my favorite was the Mufaletta sandwich, as good as any I’ve had in New Orleans. The ham was tender and generous, the olive spread appropriately tangy, and the bread had the perfect crusty consistency. The sandwich was accompanied by some great battered fries, served piping hot.
There are also entrees such as Étouffée and Jambalaya and blackened redfish. I found the flavors of the Étouffée and Jambalaya a bit too similar.
Service was a real standout. A single waitress handled the whole room, and was more efficient than three people might have been. She kept our drinks refilled, checked back often, and made the whole experience a very pleasant one.
The Big Easy
15502 Stoneybrook W Pkwy
Ste 120
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 654-3279
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-big-easy-winter-garden
**** (4 stars)
The interior design of Catch 35 is really interesting, with multiple tiers extending up into the buildings mezzanine area. As you might expect there is a fairly broad offering of fish. My favorite is the halibut. The best thing is their sourdough bread, reminiscent of San Francisco. It’s a good spot for pre-theatre dining. Also, after work there is often live jazz in the bar area, where you can eat at a high top.
Catch 35
35 W Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 346-3500
http://www.yelp.com/biz/catch-35-chicago
***** (5 stars)
Having dined at nearly all the top places in Chicago, this one stands out. Just on the basis of the exceptional wine list, L2O (which stands for Lakes to Oceans) deserves its Michelin stars. Each offering is so well considered for its ability to match the food or offer something special, and there are a few real gems at reasonable prices.
The food is, of course, superb, and each dish is a true work of art. But perhaps the thing that most sets L2O apart is the service, which perfectly strikes that balance between professionalism and sincere friendliness. Truly an experience not to be missed.
L2O
2300 N Lincoln Park W
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 868-0002
http://www.yelp.com/biz/l2o-chicago
**** (4 stars)
If you’re looking for good food right at the beach in Cocoa, this is the place. It’s not just your typical fried fish hut, but an excellent restaurant with a range of offerings that is an unexpected and pleasant surprise.
We particularly enjoyed the coconut shrimp appetizer and the wedge salad. The entrees were also good, with a massive plate of “Malibu” chicken — chicken covered with cheddar cheese, bacon and mushrooms. I was a bit surprised that there was no tartar sauce for the fish and chips. Side dishes, which come with the entrees, were also very good, especially the coconut rice and the cole slaw.
Pricing is extremely reasonable for the great quality and large portions.
Reservations are really important. This restaurant has only five inside tables, and two more outside, so plan ahead, or come at an off time!
Fat Kahunas
8 Minuteman Cswy
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 783-6858
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fat-kahunas-cocoa-beach-2
**** (4 stars)
This place offers terrific ambiance, with a stylish, open plan that lets you view the 1900 degree robata grill from anywhere in the restaurant. There is also outside seating.
While several of the sashimi items we tried were excellent, the butterfish tataki was the event, comparable to the best sushi restaurants I’ve been to around the world. The other highlight here are the vegetables off the robata grill, which are all excellent. The Brussels sprouts and the mushrooms are particularly notable.
Roka Akor
4999 Old Orchard Ctr
Skokie, IL 60077
(630) 474-5039
http://www.yelp.com/biz/roka-akor-skokie
***** (5 stars)
This is one of the greatest restaurants in Central Florida. The chef, a multiple James Beard nominee, combines various ethnic influences to create an imaginative array of tastes. Our favorites were the fish tacos, vegetarian plate and the curry. The vegetarian plate alone had a half dozen delightfully inventive items.
The ambience is both trendy and romantic, and service is extremely professional. Best of all, the prices are extremely low for the quality on offer. Many of the small plates are under $10 and servings sizes are generous. There is also a well thought out wine list.
Cress Restaurant
103 W Indiana Ave
De Land, FL 32720
(386) 734-3740
http://www.yelp.com/biz/cress-restaurant-de-land