***** (5 stars)
Expansive visitor center with tons of great Coke history and collectibles. The new aroma exhibit is interesting. I always like to taste the international brands, all of which are tastier than the US varieties. Great shop as you exit.
World of Coca-Cola
121 Baker St NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
***** (5 stars)
Wow, what an amazing aquarium. Very "immersive" exhibits (sorry). The whale shark tank that surrounds you is literally jaw dropping.
Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker St
Atlanta, GA 30313
***** (5 stars)
Great inventive burgers in a fun indoor/outdoor location that was a service station. Now appropriately outfitted with antique trucks and motorcycles. Excellent and friendly service. The Grumps burger is particularly tasty.
Espresso 41
1811 US 41 N
Tifton, GA 31794
**** (4 stars)
I’m not sure whether Orlando is ready for an $18 sandwich, but if it is, this is the place to get an excellent one. The “Surf and Turf” is a Lobster Roll plus Filet Mignon, and the quality of the ingredients do, indeed, justify the price. The lobster was fresh and flavorful, and the filet mignon was tender and juicy. Add a perfectly butter-grilled and toasted roll, a bit of mayo, and you’ve got a scrumptious sandwich.
In all fairness, there are other selections featuring just filet or lobster, but they’re $12, so you may as well go all-in and get the Surf and Turf.
Sides of fries or Tater Tots are available, either plain, with Old Bay seasoning, or with truffle and cheese. I had the Old Bay Tater Tots, and they were WAY too salty. Note that the “mini” size is actually quite generous, so unless you’re serving a group, don’t get anything larger.
Service was friendly, and fairly quick, even though the place was fairly busy–certainly busier than the former occupants of this space. If you’re concerned about masks, note that none of the customers or staff were wearing any.
Nick Filet
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
*** (3 stars)
This is a nice but non-traditional tiki bar. There’s no particular tiki related sub-theme, but there are some games and karaoke, and a spacious decor.
The menu is also atypical, with original drinks that often emphasize tequila. The limited food menu consists mainly of sliders served on Hawaiian buns.
Aloha Beautiful
69 East Pine St
Orlando, FL 32801
***** (5 stars)
Wow! This is far and away the best use of this restaurant space ever. It retains its former upscale decor, but brings an all new menu and cuisine to the area.
Affiliated with the nearby Saffron Indian Restaurant, but this restaurant is Southern Indian, and entirely vegetarian, or even vegan if you wish.
The lunch "table side buffet" is actually a traditional Thali, a tray with an assortment of soups and stews, a bowl of rice, and a variety of breads for dipping. It is easily the best Indian lunch deal in town, and arguably one of the best lunches in town.
I'm a fan of lunch at Saffron, and I wasn't sure this would be that different, but it is quite distinct, and deserves its own separate recognition as a best Indian food winner.
The Madras Cafe
7730 W Sand Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819
**** (4 stars)
I really like the straightforward approach the food takes at The Great Greek locations. The menu is easy to navigate, and you can get the most popular Greek ites or a Middle Eastern spin with falafel. My go to is the traditional gyro, but the falafel pita is also quite good. If you don’t want the wrapper, there is a platter version, too.
This location is a bit more upscale than the one in Lakeside Village, with a nice covered outdoor eating area. The food also works well to go.
And there is a lot of togo business. Even though I thought I was alone when I ordered after 8pm on a Wednesday, at least ten dinners were picked up before mine was ready. I think next time I will order ahead to avoid the wait.
Service was very friendly.
The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill – Winter Garden
16045 New Independence Pkwy
Winter Garden, FL 34787
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-great-greek-mediterranean-grill-winter-garden-winter-garden-2
***** (5 stars)
This sleek new hotel is my favorite of the Bonnet Creek offerings. It may not have all the resort amenities of the massive Wyndham, or the poshness of the Waldorf, but its modern, high-ceilinged lobby is just somehow more welcoming, and the bar and restaurant are marvelous.
We live nearby, so we just stayed for one night to try the place out, and didn’t make use of the pool, but it looked nice. The view from the higher floors looks out over the surrounding forest and wetlands, with Disney icons in the distance. A soon to open rooftop bar should be very nice.
Our room was nicely outfitted with a desk, love seat, refrigerator, and espresso machine. The king-size bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom is luxurious, with tub and separate, large stall shower.
We stayed during the pandemic, and it was a bit eerie to have an entire hotel almost to ourselves, but we certainly enjoyed the welcoming staff, and their pampering attention.
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
14900 Chelonia Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32821
https://www.yelp.com/biz/jw-marriott-orlando-bonnet-creek-resort-and-spa-orlando-2
***** (5 stars)
While the focus here is definitely steakhouse, Sear and Sea definitely departs from the standard formula. Starting with a modern, airy decor and light colors, the room isn’t clubby at all, and is almost more of an extension of the massive hotel lobby. Servers, on the other hand, are garbed in black from head to toe, including (presumably pandemic-inspired) black mask and black gloves. They look exactly like ninjas! And like ninjas, they seem to be everywhere at once. Service was really exceptional. Perhaps the highlight of the meal.
The appetizers and salads aren’t the usual steakhouse fare, either. I particularly like the endive salad, a generous portion served with a lovely assortment of ingredients and a bright vinaigrette dressing.
The steaks are good, but they’re not going to change your life. They were perfectly cooked to the desired medium rare, and had a nice, somewhat salty rub on the crust. But they weren’t stunners, and the rib eye was surprisingly low on the fatty marbling the steak is known for.
The wine list is particularly noteworthy, both for its breadth and reasonable markups. Contrary to the rather pricey food items, the wines seem to be at about three times retail or less.
We finished with a superb bread pudding.
It’s also worth calling out the lobby bar attached to the restaurant. It’s open, appealing, has some very interesting cocktails, and many wines by the glass.
Service in both the bar and the restaurant were both exceptional, and we felt really welcomed by the entire staff.
Sear + Sea at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek
14900 Chelonia Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32821
https://www.yelp.com/biz/sear-sea-at-jw-marriott-bonnet-creek-orlando
*** (3 stars)
I have mixed feelings about Agave Azul. On the one hand, I love the expansive outdoor patio, the spacious, well-decorated interior, and the excellent margaritas. One the other hand, in many visits to their various locations, I’ve rarely had any food that stood out as above average.
That was pretty much the case at this location, too, with one stellar exception: the goat cheese jalapeno appetizer was absolutely amazing. Spicy jalapenos were stuffed with creamy cheese, and then finished with an array of toppings that really elevated the dish, including a cilantro crema and a dash of sweet balsamic.
Other items were just average, including the tostadas, ceviche, shrimp diablo (which despite the name is not spicy at all), beans, and rice.
Service was great, and the kitchen is fast, too, even though the place was jam-packed, with a dozen parties waiting outside.
My advice is to go to the bar, have the La Flaca Margarita and the Goat Cheese Jalapenos, and call it a day.
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
5855 Winter Garden Vineland Rd
Windermere, FL 34786
https://www.yelp.com/biz/agave-azul-cocina-mexicana-windermere