I’d heard about Banh Mi Boy for a while, but since it’s only a couple blocks from what was always my favorite banh mi sandwich place, I’d never tried it before. I didn’t realize that it is in the Mills Market, which has a collection of other shops selling Asian curries, pastries, sweets, and other delectables.
The space is just some high-top tables and counters, so not really someplace you want to dine, but to get food to go, it’s a great choice. Because it’s so popular, I can’t say that the service was particularly quick. I didn’t have to wait to order, but it did take 10 or 15 minutes to get my sandwich. It was worth the wait, though. Probably the best banh mi I’ve had. The traditional ingredients were all there, but the meat was particularly succulent. The bread was the traditional crusty French bread. I’ve had somewhat better on a banh mi, but this one definitely was right up there.
They also serve coffees, teas, and other drinks. I had a Vietnamese coffee, which was quite good.
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 Pho 813 location has a really lovely interior design. If it wasn’t in the nightmarish parking lot across from the Millenia Mall I would be a frequent visitor.
The lemon grass bun bowl has a broth different from other places I’ve tried. And the Bahn Mi, while not the best or cheapest in town, is a very credible rendition.
ExteriorPrivate Dining RoomInteriorCounterSummer Tasting MenuWine PairingsChef Tung PhanTea Egg, Summer Black Truffle Kaluga Caviar, Pâté Foam Mr. Joe Duck, Black SesameKaluga Caviar, Pâté FoamSpiny Florida Lobster, PassionfruitIberico Pork, LemongrassManchester Farm Quail, LeeksAmerican Red Snapper, Coconut, Osetra CaviarBread Service: Focaccia, baguette, sour dough, butter with black saltBread ServiceDungeness Crab, CurryDungeness CrabKagoshima A5 Wagyu, Local GreensBanana, Ginger CaramelWatermelon and other sorbets with Bird’s Eye ChiliPrivate Dining Room
***** (5 stars)
Camille is now in its new, permanent location in Baldwin Park, and what a knockout it is! We had a fabulous meal at the old pop-up in East End Market, and weren’t sure how it could be topped, but it was.
The space is intimate yet spacious, with seating for eight at the counter, plus just four tables, and an elegant glassed-in private dining room for six. It’s easily the most beautiful restaurant in Orlando, and one of the most striking restaurant designs anywhere.
Chef Tung Phan oversees a staff of highly practiced chefs who assemble the complex twelve-course (with actually closer to twenty dishes) menu in front of you. Most courses contain an element of Vietnamese cuisine, but I would not call any specific dish Vietnamese. It’s modern fine dining, with many elements unique to Chef Phan.
We happened to attend on the first night they were doing table service, and although we sat at the counter, it appeared that table service also progressed like they’d been doing it forever. (As of our visit on August 1, 2023 they are not yet doing private dining.)
It’s hard to pick a favorite course given so many astonishingly beautiful and tasty items, and since the menu changes regularly there is no point in my providing a complete run-down. Just feast your eyes on my photos! But I will call out two favorites my companion and I both agreed on in the hopes they will stay on the menu forever: Spiny Florida lobster served with passionfruit, hearts of palm, and various greens was an amazing salad. And the assortment of sorbets including watermelon sprinkled with birds eye chili was a remarkable palate cleanser and pre-dessert.
Two wine pairings are offered, and it is worth getting both if you are a couple, as every one of the selections was thoughtful, matched the food, and contrasted with each other in very interesting ways. Beverage Director Derrick Goodman is very personable, and had interesting comments about each of the wines.
Orlando suddenly has an embarrassment of fine-dining restaurants, and I would place Camille at or near the top of that list.
This place makes a good Vietnamese Bún chả Hà Nội bowl, although their fish sauce is a bit sweet for my taste. They have the advantage of being open Wednesday, when the other place in this plaza isn't. Note that they no longer offer Bánh mì.
Nam Giao Deli 5274 W Colonial Dr Orlando, FL 32808
The countersommelier and cocktail serviceDuck saladShrimpTea EggmenuPhoPork BellyMixology and food prepPalate cleanserLambFrench bread and shrimp butter"Vietnamese Coffee"Chef and the staff
***** (5 stars)
Wow, world-class dining in Orlando! Who'd have thunk it?!
Camille is as good as any chef's bar I've been to around the world, including such icons as Joel Robuchon's l'Ateliers in New York, London, and Hong Kong.
Every course of this meal was just about as perfect as it gets, from the really unique Tea Egg that started us off, to the masterpiece "Vietnamese Coffee" dessert that finished it. It's hard to pick a favorite. Was it the smoked duck salad we assembled ourselves, and which my duck-hating wife loved? Or perhaps the incredibly complex and mouth-filling short rib pho? Impossible to pick.
The counter afforded a wonderful view as each dish was assembled by the very personable chef and his talented assistants, and all was hosted by our wonderfully personable sommelier.
Note that Camille will be moving from its temporary residence upstairs at East End Market to a permanent location in Bladwin Park, hopefully around the start of 2023. I can't wait to go back and experience it again!
InteriorJalapeño Yellowtail Jalapeno PlatePhiladelphia Roll and spicy salmonGrilled pork over vermicelli
**** (4 stars)
Can't decide between Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food? You don't need to, here! Four pages of densely printed menu pretty much cover everything. It's not actually "fusion" since the cuisines aren't being combined in new ways, but they are all represented, and are done well, and with fresh ingredients. The dining area is bright and cheery, and the service is friendly.
Banh MiBanh Mi with veggies outside to goExteriorInterior
***** (5 stars)
Wow! Great bahn mi sandwiches! The key is fresh bread, and this place is baking their own, so it’s super fresh and perfectly crusty.
The roasted pork is very savory, and the veggies crisp and bursting with flavor. I also liked that they offered to pack the veggies separate from the sandwich for to-go orders, to keep everything fresh.
Orlando is an excellent town for barbecue, with many great choices, and a lot of different styles, from Southern to Midwestern and more. I like the barbecue here better than almost anywhere I travel to, because of that diversity. And I have to say, of all the great Orlando barbecue places I patronize, Ellie Lou’s is the best.
I had the pork platter with two sides. I was expecting sliced pork, so I was pleased when something more like burnt ends appeared: succulent chunks of lean, moist pork, with a nice charred crust on some of the pieces. It was a generous serving, too.
I liked all four BBQ sauces on the table: Kansas City (sweet), Memphis, Hot, and Mustard. The combination of the first three was my favorite. All of them are made in-house, and it shows.
Also made in-house are the sides. The baked beans were loaded with chunks of meat; a squirt of sauce and they were perfect. One of my favorite parts of the whole meal was the potato salad, which was also obviously homemade, with big chunks of potato, a creamy dressing and lots of herbs.
The two slices of garlic bread were also excellent: fresh, crispy and with lots of garlic butter.
Perhaps the thing that most distinguishes Ellie Lou’s is the environment. It’s not crowded and is actually quite pleasant inside. And even though you order at a counter, the staff is very attentive once you’re seated, so it’s like a real restaurant. A real GOOD restaurant.
This is a true Asian noodle place, common in big cities like Chicago, but fairly rare in Orlando. It’s a quick-serve operation where you order at a counter and they bring it to you–assuming you can find a seat. The place is very popular, and a line forms within minutes of opening.
The menu is extremely clear, enabling you to build your dish step by step. You start with a broth flavor, select a noodle type, and then two ingredients. I had beef broth with ramen noodles, beef brisket and mixed vegetables. The serving was really huge. The basic flavors are fairly subtle, so I was happy I’d asked for lime and basil as fresh accompaniments. These came in a separate bowl, and were generous helpings.
I also tried the chicken wings, which were simple fried wings and legs served with duck sauce packets.
Service was fast and friendly, but be sure to arrive early if you want to eat there.
