Knife and Spoon

5 Stars

I think a lot of us in Orlando were stunned when the first Michelin awards came out, and the stars went to two sushi counters and two hotel steak houses. This is the last of the four I have dined at, and it is the first one I think is close to a Michelin star. I started out skeptical, but the food won me over.

The room is similar to when it was Norman’s and is still challenged by the domed ceiling that reflects and concentrates all the noise, despite the weird grassy mound in the middle of the space. Noise level was fine the weeknight we were there, but the restaurant was only about 25% occupied.

The menu presents a bit of sticker shock, but when you realize most of the steaks are big enough to share, it’s actually reasonable for a Ritz Carlton dining room.

We started with oysters for half our party and hamachi crudos for the other half. The oysters were excellent, but the hamachi crude was stunning. This dish, which has become a bit of a staple in high-end Orlando restaurants, was easily the best I’ve had, combining caviar and spice in a glorious way, and the serving was generous enough to be satisfying.

For entrees I shared a ribeye, and it was also wonderful. A Japanese guest in our party said it was the best beef she had ever tasted, and she is used to having Wagu. I agree, it was the perfect balance of tender, fatty, charred and juicy. Others in our party had the scallops and the gnocchi, and thought they were excellent. Shout out to the best steakhouse spinach ever, elevated by cream and kimchi!

Desserts were beautiful, but perhaps not at the level of the rest of the meal–beautiful but not remarkable. But the starting fruit juice amuse bouche, intermezzo sorbet, and mignardises served at the end of the meal were all terrific.

Service was very good, including the wine service. I took a couple of rare old bottles, and the staff seemed genuinely grateful to have the opportunity to experience them. $50 corkage per bottle is fine for a restaurant at this level that provides such excellent glassware and service.

We were graciously thanked on our way out, and I found myself already anticipating my next visit. It’s fun to be pleasantly surprised.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/knife-and-spoon-orlando

Chaz on the Plaza

Interior
Interior
Neat private booth
Neat private booth
Lobster bisque
Lobster bisque
Charcuterie
Charcuterie
Duke Wellington
Duke Wellington
Shrimp cocktail
Shrimp cocktail
Butter cale
Butter cale

***** (5 stars)

Wonderful live jazz every night in an intimate, romantic setting. Prices are very reasonable for such a nice place. Friendliest service imaginable. On our second night we felt like old friends.

Highlights included the shrimp cocktail, which is deconstructed so you can adjust the spicy sauce and horseradish to your taste. Duke Wellington is a short ribs take on the classic Beef Wellington.

Excellent wine list with reasonable prices.

Chaz on the Plaza
325 Ward Pkwy
Kansas City, MO 64112

https://www.yelp.com/biz/chaz-on-the-plaza-kansas-city

Bern’s Steak House

Lobby
Lobby
Tournedos au Poivre
Tournedos au Poivre
Tuna Tartare
Tuna Tartare

**** (4 stars)

It pains me to give Bern's four stars, but it's time for a wake-up call.

I've been going to Bern's for forty years, and it has always been my favorite restaurant. But pandemic changes have made it not the experience it once was, even though there has been plenty of time to adjust.

The menu is a third of what it once was. True, it could have used some tightening, but all around us we heard people complaining that their favorites were missing. And some of those favorites, such as Bern's caviar service, made the restaurant the unique experience it was.

The extremely aged steaks at Bern's have never been the highlight for me, but, with so much of the menu eliminated, I decided to try the Tournedos au Poivre. The meat was wonderfully tender and perfectly cooked, but the dish was literally inedible. I have never encountered such a salty sauce short of seawater. No chef could possibly have tasted this sauce during preparation.

"Another new menu coming next week," our waiter told us, with some degree of exasperation.

With over one million bottles of wine, the primary attraction of Berns is, of course, the wine cellar. But the older obscure wines on the list are nowhere to be found. Hundreds of pre-1980 listings from Burgundy alone have vanished. Were they all really drunk during the pandemic? Or has this, too, been streamlined? The conversion of one of the wine warehouses into more hotel rooms is not a good sign.

The situation is worse in the upstairs dessert rooms, where a menu of a hundred vintage Madeiras is now a short non-vintage list. I ordered one of the two survivors, and it was also missing in action.

I can forgive obvious pandemic issues, such as the server warning us it would take twenty minutes for her to get a cart for preparing Bananas Foster. But it seems like corners have been cut everywhere.

If it's an inflation issue, just raise the prices. Bern's is still ridiculously inexpensive for what they offer, and the only way to get a reservation is to book one just after midnight the day they open. So there's no lack of demand. But please don't let the new chef cost optimize this restaurant into the pedestrian experience it was last night.

Bern’s Steak House
1208 S Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606

https://www.yelp.com/biz/berns-steak-house-tampa

Bern’s Steak House

Lobby
Lobby
Tournedos au Poivre
Tournedos au Poivre
Tuna Tartare
Tuna Tartare

**** (4 stars)

It pains me to give Bern's four stars, but it's time for a wake-up call.

I've been going to Bern's for forty years, and it has always been my favorite restaurant. But pandemic changes have made it not the experience it once was, even though there has been plenty of time to adjust.

The menu is a third of what it once was. True, it could have used some tightening, but all around us we heard people complaining that their favorites were missing. And some of those favorites, such as Bern's caviar service, made the restaurant the unique experience it was.

The extremely aged steaks at Bern's have never been the highlight for me, but, with so much of the menu eliminated, I decided to try the Tournedos au Poivre. The meat was wonderfully tender and perfectly cooked, but the dish was literally inedible. I have never encountered such a salty sauce short of seawater. No chef could possibly have tasted this sauce during preparation.

"Another new menu coming next week," our waiter told us, with some degree of exasperation.

With over one million bottles of wine, the primary attraction of Berns is, of course, the wine cellar. But the older obscure wines on the list are nowhere to be found. Hundreds of pre-1980 listings from Burgundy alone have vanished. Were they all really drunk during the pandemic? Or has this, too, been streamlined? The conversion of one of the wine warehouses into more hotel rooms is not a good sign.

The situation is worse in the upstairs dessert rooms, where a menu of a hundred vintage Madeiras is now a short non-vintage list. I ordered one of the two survivors, and it was also missing in action.

I can forgive obvious pandemic issues, such as the server warning us it would take twenty minutes for her to get a cart for preparing Bananas Foster. But it seems like corners have been cut everywhere.

If it's an inflation issue, just raise the prices. Bern's is still ridiculously inexpensive for what they offer, and the only way to get a reservation is to book one just after midnight the day they open. So there's no lack of demand. But please don't let the new chef cost optimize this restaurant into the pedestrian experience it was last night.

Bern’s Steak House
1208 S Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606

https://www.yelp.com/biz/berns-steak-house-tampa

Seared

Exterior
Exterior
Interior
Interior
Lady finger appetizer special
Lady finger appetizer special
Rib Eye
Rib Eye
Salmon
Salmon

***** (5 stars)

Excellent food is topped by truly great service at this fine dining but not stuffy restaurant right off historic Route 66.

The real standout here was a special appetizer using ladyfingers(!), feta, apples, and bacon. It sounds weird but it was fantastic and unique.

Meals include a soup or salad. The gaspacho was nice and spicy, and the Caesar salad was classic, but with the dressing on the side. The salmon and ribeye were both very good.

The wine list is great, and really concentrates on the complex chewy reds that we love.

Our server's wine knowledge was truly impressive, and he offered us a ton of great tips for visiting the area.

Seared
119 San Pasquale Ave SW
Albuquerque, NM 87104

https://www.yelp.com/biz/seared-albuquerque

Ten 3

Bar
Bar

***** (5 stars)

We came here for the amazing 360 degree views, but the food is really good, too. I just sat at the bar and had the chip trio, but the people around me were raving about the wings, meatloaf, and other dishes.

My Ten 3 Margarita was excellent.

Service at the bar was great.

Ten 3
30 Tramway Rd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87122

https://www.yelp.com/biz/ten-3-albuquerque

Memories of Peru Pollos a la Brasa

Interior
Interior
Pisco Sour and Chicha Morada
Pisco Sour and Chicha Morada
Causa de Camarones
Causa de Camarones
Ceviche de Pescado y Camarones
Ceviche de Pescado y Camarones
Mariscos saltado
Mariscos saltado

***** (5 stars)

This is my favorite Peruvian restaurant in Orlando. Everything is very authentic. They have the best ceviche I've had anywhere but Lima. The causas are also excellent.

As of this writing if you check in on Yelp they offer a free Chicha Morada, a delicious fruity non-alcoholic drink (based on purple corn, interestingly) with a touch of cinnamon and clove.

The pisco sours are also excellent.

Memories of Peru Pollos a la Brasa
5700 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819

https://www.yelp.com/biz/memories-of-peru-pollos-a-la-brasa-orlando-11

Gallaghers Steakhouse

Fries extra crispy
Fries extra crispy

***** (5 stars)

It's delightful to visit a traditional steakhouse that isn't part of a chain, and that maintains the aura and service that was a fixture of grand steakhouses before they became ubiquitous franchises.

Everything about Gallagher's is what I'm looking for, from the cozy booths to the subdued lighting, the sparkling central bar, and the professional yet friendly service.

We went after theater, and although the place was hopping, currently curtailed hours meant the kitchen was closing, so we limited our experience to a spectacular chilled seafood platter, some carpaccio, and some wonderfully crisp fries. Everything was terrific.

Prices are reasonable for NYC, and it was appreciated that there was a selection of half bottles of wine so we could each have our favorite.

We'll definitely make this a regular stop during visits to the theater.

Gallaghers Steakhouse
228 W 52nd St
New York, NY 10019

https://www.yelp.com/biz/gallaghers-steakhouse-new-york

Boteco do Manolo

Interior
Interior
Exterior
Exterior
Churrasco Misto A Dom Manolo - Mixed Grill
Churrasco Misto A Dom Manolo – Mixed Grill
Lunch Menu
Lunch Menu

**** (4 stars)

Traditional Brazilian food, done well, in a nice place with table service and a full bar.

The emphasis is on meats of all kinds, and the VERY extensive menu does a good job of picturing everything. The prices seem high at first, but even the half portion is more than enough for two people. There is also a lunch menu.

Hard surfaces, so it can get noisy.

Boteco do Manolo
7653 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819

https://www.yelp.com/biz/boteco-do-manolo-orlando