China Panda

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Pork lo mein
Exterior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

This is a very modest counter service restaurant with limited seating. The proprietor was friendly, and the food was prepared to order, served hot, and generously portioned. The pork lo mein was excellent, with crispy vegetables and noodles that weren’t overcooked, and very succulent pork strips. Very good!

China Panda
5 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 877-9968
https://www.yelp.com/biz/china-panda-winter-garden

Winter Garden Restaurant

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Bacon skillet
Exterior
Interior

*** (3 stars)

This unprepossessing diner service traditional coffee shop breakfasts and entrees.  Service was friendly and quick. There was nothing particularly special about the potatoes, bacon and eggs, but nothing wrong with them either. The biscuit was served more like a square of corn bread, and was pretty good. Coffee was just OK.

Winter Garden Restaurant
7 S Dillard St
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 656-7052
https://www.yelp.com/biz/winter-garden-restaurant-winter-garden

Nessas Food Co BBQ Restaurant

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1/2 rack ribs
Exterior
Interior

***** (5 stars)

Wow! I’ve been to every BBQ place in Orlando (most of them more times than I care to admit!) and this one blows them away.

What amazing ribs! Obviously slowly smoked to perfection over hours, with a slight crust, but incredibly succulent center, with oodles of meat. The half-rack portion is very generous and well-priced. The BBQ sauce, served on the side, is a perfect balance of sweet, tangy and spicy.

Pulled pork is also tender and tasty. The baked beans have a rich sauce and tender chunks of meat, and just a hint of spice. Usually I add BBQ sauces to baked beans, but these didn’t need it.

It’s counter service, and friendly service at that.

There’s just one table inside, and one on the lawn out front, but there’s also parking in the rear. This is a cozy little downtown area of Ocoee, so a pleasant place to eat outside.

Nessas Food Co BBQ Restaurant
14 West McKey St
Ocoee, FL
34761
(321) 370-8172
https://www.yelp.com/biz/nessas-food-co-bbq-restaurant-ocoee

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

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Chicken sandwich

*** (3 stars)

I’ve been coming to this Popeyes for over twenty years, and have always been completely satisfied with the food. My go to meal was always spicy three piece with red beans and rice, and mashed potatoes. But I have to say the new chicken sandwich is amazing, and I may have to change my allegiance!

The place was remodeled sometime in the past twenty years, but it’s still pretty much the same, which is just fine with me.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
5245 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL
32808
(407) 299-6150
https://www.yelp.com/biz/popeyes-louisiana-kitchen-orlando-7

Linda’s Winter Park Diner

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Farmer’s Omelet
Exterior
Exterior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

This is an authentic diner in the time-honored tradition of roadside eateries. While it may not have the nostalgic decor of a movie-set diner, the menu has all the right items, and the staff is friendly and welcoming, which keeps the regulars coming back.

Breakfast offerings are diverse, with a special focus on omelets. I had the farmer’s omelet, which combined veggies and ham, and a very creamy cheese. It was delicious. Hash browns were crispy, as requested, and the coffee was regularly refilled.

A great place for an old-fashioned dining experience.

Linda’s Winter Park Diner
1700 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL
32789
(407) 775-2288
https://www.yelp.com/biz/lindas-winter-park-diner-winter-park

FrutaMix Mexican Kitchen

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Drink bar
Interior
Margarita

**** (4 stars)

This is the third and best iteration of Mexican restaurant in this space. The concept is a bit odd in that it is both a restaurant and a juice and ice cream bar, but it works.

Complimentary chips and salsa were good, and the margarita was excellent. Nacho are to be avoided, as they involve liquid cheese.

Street tacos on soft corn tortillas with pastor were authentic and excellent. The cheese and mushroom quesadilla was very savory.

Service was odd, probably the result of a language barrier, but it will presumably improve with experience.

FrutaMix Mexican Kitchen
15493 Stoneybrook W PkwySte 120
Winter Garden, FL
34787
(407) 614-1438
https://www.yelp.com/biz/frutamix-mexican-kitchen-winter-garden

TooJay’s

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Nova Lox
Exterior
Interior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

There aren’t many genuine delis in Orlando, for whatever reason, so it’s nice to have this Toojay’s as an option. I’ve never been a fan of the other location, but they seem a lot friendlier here.

You’ll find all the deli standards here. My favorite is the hot pastrami on toasted rye. The pastrami is particularly lean and flavorful. I also like their cole slaw and dill pickles.

The Nova Lox, served on very crispy latkes, was a good appetizer.

Service was friendly and efficient.

TooJay’s
10185 W Colonial DriveShoppes of Ocoee
Ocoee, FL
34761
(407) 798-2000
https://www.yelp.com/biz/toojays-ocoee

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar

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Shrimp and scallops with spicy garlic butter
Shrimp and scallops with spicy garlic butter
Exterior
Interior

***** (5 stars)

I’ve been to a few of these crawfish-in-a-bag type places, and never been very impressed. They tend to be messy but not all that flavorful. But this place is different.

You can tell you’re going to have a good experience here from the moment you walk in the door. The staff is obviously really into what they are doing, and proud of the results. Our server, Wynona, was terrific, and it was apparent everyone else was enjoying themselves, too.

I ordered the shrimp (heads off) and scallops, because I felt they would be the least messy to eat. That was certainly true of the scallops, although the shrimp still need to be peeled, so you’ll want that bib and gloves they bring you! Both the shrimp and scallops were tender and flavorful. The corn on the cob was also particularly good. I chose the spicy garlic butter as my sauce, and it was fantastic.

This was really a tasty meal, and I’ll be back soon.

Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar
7480 W Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL
32818
(407) 801-5223
https://www.yelp.com/biz/hook-and-reel-cajun-seafood-and-bar-orlando-2

The Edison

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Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Grilled Edison Wings
Interior
Interior
Interior
Exterior

*** (3 stars)

This is a spectacularly set decorated multi-level space where The Adventurer’s Club used to be. Old machinery forms the decor, and old movies play on flat panels and projectors. At night there are even aerial acrobatics, but it’s much more relaxing during the day.

This is the sort of place that almost demands you have a cocktail–preferably a classic cocktail–to match the decor. And the drinks are good, although pricey.

Unfortunately the food doesn’t live up to the surroundings. The menu is pretty much basic sports bar, but not particularly well prepared. Chicken wings were particularly flaccid, with a soggy, loose skin that was quite unappealing. The buffalo chicken sandwich was better, although the accompanying fries were also limp.

Service was friendly and attentive.

The Edison
1570 East Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830
(407) 560-9288
https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-edison-lake-buena-vista-4