Restaurant Reviews by Heather McPherson

Restaurants

Heather McPherson: Wine pour a costly lesson for all involved

I heard from a reader last week about an unfortunate incident at a downtown Orlando restaurant. In this case, the consumer and restaurant both learned an expensive lesson about transparency. Restaurateurs need to teach their staffs to be honest and upfront with guests and customers should always inquire about prices of items when not ordering directly from a menu or wine list.

The confections of our affection

Heather McPherson: The confections of our affection

You may be out of luck for Valentine's Day dinner reservations at your favorite fancy restaurant, but there's plenty of time to pick up an indulgence that will surely make your sweetheart blush with excitement.

Heather McPherson: Daytona Sloppy Joe's opens

A new toast to Key West and Papa Hemingway is at the Ocean Walk Shoppes (250 N. Atlantic Ave.) in Daytona Beach. Executive Chef Erik Walter is heading up the kitchen.

Big Fin is reeling them in

Big Fin is reeling them in

Big Fin has a big chain vibe but it's purely a local fresh catch owned by Bobby Moore, whose Beluga restaurant abruptly closed in Winter Park Village in 2009.

New life for Old World flavor

New life for Old World flavor

Chef Henry's is a not-so-new restaurant in Central Florida. Fans have been following chef Henrich Brestowski across three counties for almost 20 years.

Thinking outside the heart-shaped box

Heather McPherson: Thinking outside the heart-shaped box

As Valentine's Day draws near, the panic over dinner reservations is palpable. Granted, there are plenty of posh, special occasion restaurants to help set the romantic tone for the evening on Feb. 14. But there are other options that could get you bonus points from Cupid for creativity. Here are five ideas to consider:

Come for the beef and more

Come for the beef and more

Driving into Baldwin Park is a surreal experience. From the outside it's Truman-show light. A neat and tidy planned community on land that once was home to a Naval base, I can still visualize graduation ceremonies and guarded entry streets.

Heather McPherson: A big bite of Chicago in downtown Orlando

The sign inside What's Your Beef in downtown Orlando has a lot of attitude. The logo/illustration depicts two circa 1930 tough guys posturing over who is holding the best Chicago-style sandwich.

Winter Park Fish Company making big splash

Winter Park Fish Company making big splash

Like other Central Floridians lapping up social media, I watched the evolution of Winter Park Fish Co. on Facebook. From permits to construction to menu tastings to final inspections, I checked in almost daily until the doors opened in December. The anticipation was so great that the owners had folks popping their heads in almost daily.

Cohen's Deli blends modern touches with family tradition

Heather McPherson: Cohen's Deli blends modern touches with family tradition

In May 2009, Amira's Kosher Restaurant and Catering in Altamonte Springs served its last orders of chopped liver, corned beef on rye and Amira Cohen's famous mandel bread. At the time, son Justin, 35, vowed to open a new venture in Lake County between The Villages and Clermont.

Get your BBQ kicks at Route 46

Heather McPherson: Get your BBQ kicks at Route 46

Route 46 Entertainment District in Sanford is the culinary equivalent of a busy highway clover leaf. Head down one ramp and you will find yourself at an upscale eatery called Monroe's. Take the east turn and you'll end up at the front door of a home-style eatery called The Smokehouse. Veer off the main drag a little to the Northwest and you'll find The Saloon, a somewhat refined bar with signature cocktails, seafood, ribs, flatbread and soups. The Garage Bar, your fourth destination option, is connected to an outdoor dance floor and porch, where live entertainment is featured weekly.

Urban Deli! A page out of how to do it right

Heather McPherson: Urban Deli! A page out of how to do it right

On my first visit to the Urban Deli!, we sat near an array of cheerleading and gymnastic books. (Who knew the back flip was so complex?) On my second visit, our table was closer to an assortment of Florida-themed literature.

Off the clock, anything goes for a foodie

Heather McPherson: Off the clock, anything goes for a foodie

When I'm not eating for you, I'm dropping into my favorite places. Where I like to dine and shop for great food depends on the meal, the company, the occasion, the mood I'm in and a host of other variables. I'm sure it's the same with most other foodies. Like a well-conceived cassoulet, it can seem a bit complicated. But it's really not.

Which Orlando restaurants offer that 'wow' factor

Which Orlando restaurants offer that 'wow' factor

Romantic. Opulent. Luxurious. Those are three words that can refer to menus as well as dining rooms. But in reality, all of those descriptives can be interpreted by personal taste. One person's special-occasion restaurant is another person's Saturday night supper.

Local fare moving front and center

Heather McPherson: Local fare moving front and center

The carbon footprint for Central Florida dining is getting a little smaller thanks to the Orlando Slow Food chapter.

Dolce is the place for sweets in Kissimmee

Review

Heather McPherson: Dolce is the place for sweets in Kissimmee

Sometimes when worlds collide it's a great day for foodies. After World War II, many Southern Europeans (especially from Spain, Italy and Portugal) immigrated to Latin American countries such as Venezuela.

Garlic bursts with flavor, fun

Three stars for New Smyrna eatery

Heather McPherson: Garlic bursts with flavor, fun

Every restaurant has its niche. It could be the cuisine. It could be the neighborhood. It could be the decor. Or it could be a culinary focal point within.

Silvestro's shines in Lake Mary

Four Stars for Italian eatery

Heather McPherson: Silvestro's shines in Lake Mary

Silvestro's in Lake Mary had me even before the food came to the table. The service was top-notch from the moment the water glasses were filled. Service is just one ingredient a restaurant cannot take for granted. You can have great culinary talent in the kitchen, and a poorly-trained wait staff can quickly dilute those efforts.

Copacabana Cafe spices up Mount Dora

Review

Heather McPherson: Copacabana Cafe spices up Mount Dora

Mount Dora is known for its quaint downtown, art and boat festivals, antique shops and independent restaurants.

Hispanic cuisine: A world of flavor

Heather McPherson: Hispanic cuisine: A world of flavor

There's a wealth of excellent Hispanic food in Central Florida. Unfortunately, many diners perceive most of it as the same fare, ignoring the complexity and culinary hallmarks of individual countries. While many countries share similarities in ingredients and cooking styles, it's important not to homogenize them all into one large platter of rice and beans.

New Journeys worth the trek

Four stars for Longwood eatery

Heather McPherson: New Journeys worth the trek

In 2004, chef Bram Fowler and his wife, Geraldine, opened Journeys in a Longwood location that couldn't be seen from busy State Road 434 and Interstate 4. Tucked inside the Longwood Village Shoppes, a GPS could find the Seminole County address, but good luck finding the door.

Epcot International Food & Wine festival brings a world of flavor

Preview

Heather McPherson: Epcot International Food & Wine festival brings a world of flavor

Imagine setting a table that stretches for than more than a mile - 1.2 miles to be exact. Epcot executive chef Jens Dahlmann knew that preparing for the 14th annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, which starts next Friday, was a daunting challenge.

Slow down for a few Zellwood foodie finds

Review

Heather McPherson: Slow down for a few Zellwood foodie finds

Along U.S. Highway 441 in north Orange County, Zellwood is a whoosh of traffic traveling to weekend getaways or antiquing at one of Renninger's "extravaganzas" in Mount Dora. In October, Long and Scott's Farms adds two more attractions: The opening of the market Oct. 1 and Scott's Annual Corn Maze on Oct. 3.

Murano fine fit in Altamonte

Heather McPherson: Murano fine fit in Altamonte

Location, location, location. Cafe Murano has a lot going for it simply by its address. The space, which was formerly occupied by Gina's Lakeside Grill, is roomy, has a wonderful view of Cranes Roost Lake and fab outdoor seating area in earshot of the Eddie Rose Amphitheater. Sitting on the back side of Altamonte Mall, parking is rarely a problem and it's just far enough off State Road 436 and Interstate 4, you quickly forget you've ventured off some of Central Florida's most maniacal thoroughfares.

Much to like at Guavate's new location

Review

Heather McPherson: Much to like at Guavate's new location

Guavate has given up its plain Jane digs on East Colonial Drive for a swell, modern strip mall off Alafaya Trail in East Orlando.

Heather McPherson: Chef Han's has fine comfort fare

Chef Han's Cafe has settled into the Winter Park space formerly occupied by Chef Henry's. The accent is still authentically Eastern European, and the effort is still quite commendable.

Head to Swamp House Grill via car or boat

Review

Heather McPherson: Head to Swamp House Grill via car or boat

From the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, beach eats seem to be the postcard view of Florida's casual dining. But it's the water views of the St. Johns River that define much of Central Florida.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 4 out of 5 stars for Emeril's Tchoup Chop at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal

Emeril's Tchoup Chop at Universal is not new to the Central Florida dining scene, but there is new talent in the kitchen. Greg Richie has garnered a following since 2000, when he opened Roy Yamaguchi's Roy's on Sand Lake Road.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 4 out of 5 stars for Disney Animal Kingdom's Sanaa

Sanaa — pronounced "sah-NAH," a Swahili word for "work of art" or "beauty" — is the latest culinary destination at Walt Disney World. On the ground floor of the Animal Kingdom Villas' Kidani Village, the decor is African-inspired with eclectic lighting.

Three stars for Portobello Trattoria

Heather McPherson: Downtown Disney's Portobello Trattoria needs some fine tuning

Portobello Yacht Club at Downtown Disney has recently transformed into an Italian countryside restaurant and renamed Portobello Trattoria. The corporate big brother here is Levy Restaurants, which also shepherds Wolfgang Puck Grand Cafe and Fulton's Crab House.

Four stars for Shin Japanese Cuisine

Heather McPherson: Sleek space sets new bar for sushi

From your first step through the door, Shin Japanese Cuisine has your full attention. The long, sleek sushi bar lures you in. The waterfall element at the door pleasantly distracts for a second and then the floor-to-ceiling windows fill the room with light. The decor is modern comfy from the high-top tables up front to the traditional low-rise table at the back. All this before you are mesmerized by the menu.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 3 out of 5 stars for Orlando Sand Lake area's Bravo!

It was when the children at the next table begged for water that I realized my second visit to Orlando's Bravo! Cucina Italiana had no hope of getting better.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 4 of 5 stars for Orlando's I-Drive area's Cantina Laredo

Just when you think they couldn't squeeze any more restaurants on Orlando's Restaurant Row, the Dellagio complex rises to the occasion along Sand Lake Road.

Review

Heather McPherson: All aboard: Fuel stops for locals and visitors

I went in search of a jazzy dog and discovered a trio of eateries catering to quite a diverse crowd.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 3 out of 5 stars for Apopka's Highland Manor

Highland Manor in Apopka is a marvelous transformation. Once the knickknack-laden Townsend's Plantation, then the oddly split personality-like The Captain and The Cowboy, the historic Orange County home-turned-restaurant finally seems comfortable in its own skin.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Orlando's Loving Hut

On a recent gray, rain-drenched afternoon (well, aren't they all?), the Loving Hut on Colonial Drive proved to be a culinary oasis of bright and light.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 3 out of 5 stars for Orlando Baldwin Park's Lago

Lago occupies an extraordinarily beautiful space in Orlando's Baldwin Park. Brushed in aqua and steel-gray tones with high ceilings, the room is a gorgeous example of contemporary, casual, elegant design.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 3 out of 5 stars for Orlando Thornton Park's Graffiti Junktion American Burger Bar

Graffiti Junktion American Burger Bar has no hint of its former occupants. The small venue at the corner of Washington Street and Hyer Avenue was once home to a string of eateries including Midnight Blue, Thornton Park Cafe, La Fontanella da Nino and Rocco's of Thornton Park.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Orlando Hunter's Creek Padrino's Cuban Bistro

Padrino's, a family-owned, Florida chain is indisputably the new standard for Cuban food in Orlando.

Review

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Downtown Orlando's Ember

In the fall of 2008, Ember opened in downtown Orlando as a bar with food. But don't think the menu gets little attention here. And the setting is marvelous for meals — especially the courtyard.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 4 out fo 5 stars for Eustis' Cafe Gianni

Cafe Gianni in Eustis was a sweet surprise. My first visit was supposed to be an "off" night for me. Dining with my husband and not thinking about work. A Mount Dora neighbor recommended the place and but our expectations were simple: Just a nice meal not too far from home.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 3 out of 5 stars for Downtown Orlando's Virgin Olive Market

We started with the brute and ended with the big cheese and decided this interesting little cast was just the culinary infusion downtown Orlando needed.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 5 out of 5 stars for Orlando's Le Coq au Vin

Since 1976, Le Coq au Vin has been a place locals have counted on for unpretentious fine dining. With a menu that celebrates the best of classic French cookery, chef Louis Perrotte and his wife Magdalena created the go-to place for special occasion meals and simply suppers.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: 4 out of 5 stars for Orlando's El Coqui Mexicano

El Coqui Mexicano may be small, but the kitchen dishes up flavors so big it easily rivals larger restaurants.

Heather McPherson: Menu remorse: The cure

There's a feeling I get in a restaurant when, having ordered my food, I spot a dish that looks much, much better sitting on a nearby table.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 4 out of 5 stars for downtown Orlando's Relax Grill

A gorgeous spring day calls for eating al fresco and, in downtown Orlando, there's no better location than the Relax Grill on Lake Eola.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 3 out of 5 starts for Sanford's Stones Throw Bistro

The Sanford historic district is bustling with activity on weekends. The town has a quaint and eclectic community feel and the residents are nurturing several restaurants, including Stones Throw Bistro.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 4 out of 5 stars for Ormond Beach's Billy's Tap Room and Grill

Billy's Tap Room & Grill is in a culinary time warp of sorts, on bustling Granada Boulevard in northeast Volusia County. But don't take that to mean this landmark restaurant is tired and staid.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 4 out of 5 stars for Downtown Orlando's Sanctuary

Fifi's is out and the Sanctuary Diner is in.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: 3 of 5 stars for Sanford's Rockin' Ribz

It doesn't look like much when you pull up to Rockin Ribz in Sanford, but that's the beauty of barbecue joints. Authentic shabby chic is the first indicator of great 'cue.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Orlando I-Drive's Bar Louie Tavern & Grill

Make no mistake, Bar Louie lives up to its first name. It's a bar first and foremost. But its extensive menu mix of comfort foods and quick bites makes it a dining destination, too.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Casselberry's Ole Gourmet Israeli Vegetarian Cafe

Finding a lot of kosher restaurants in Orlando is a lot like trying to find eateries that serve decent hush puppies in New York City. There might be a few places, but you have to know your way around the area. One place to start is the Web site JewishOrlando .com. Search "restaurants" for eateries, markets and info on how to get a meal at Disney and near the tourist corridor. Kosher Culinary, 7508 Universal Blvd., next to the Chabad Center (407-354-1296), is one of the places highlighted at the Web site.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Orlando's I-Drive's Nelore Churrascaria

All-you-can-eat restaurants most often conjure up images of crowded smorgasbords or stuffed buffets in casual settings with harsh lighting.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Longwood's Harmoni

Harmoni Artisan Meal Market opened in Orlando in 2006, adding a new dining niche to College Park. Now the restaurant has a sibling in Longwood — and it's not a twin, mind you.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Orlando's Sharon's

Wallet a little light this week? Or perhaps you've realized seeking bargains isn't just a culinary sport for times like these. The best bang for your buck is always at mom-and-pop-style places.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Orlando's Zenzi

Zenzi Restaurant is filling a smart, casual void on South Orange Avenue. Located south of Michigan Street, just across from local fave Julie's Waterfront, Zenzi offers a mix of traditional steakhouse fare and Indian-inspired meals with a touch of Florida.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Clermont's Devenney's

Most people don't have to dig deep to discover their inner Irish on St. Patrick's Day. On Tuesday, the prospect of a little food and fun easily puts anyone in a celebratory mood.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: New Smyrna Beach's Atlantis Bistro

Beach-side fine dining can be a tricky concept. Your husband's feet just won't give up the Top-Siders, and while the sand has been showered off, you would both really rather stay in bluejeans too.

Dining

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Winter Garden's Thai Blossom Restaurant

The historic district of downtown Winter Garden may be small, but it's a becoming a big player as a foodie destination.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Waterford Lakes' Rice & Beans Cocina Latina

Pigs are flying, and something somewhere has frozen over. There is an independent nonchain restaurant smack dab across from Waterford Lakes Town Center, and it's thriving.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Orlando I-Drive's Cuba Libre

Cuba Libre is the new kid on the Pointe Orlando block. In the shadow of two culinary heavyweights -- Capital Grille and Oceanaire Seafood Room -- Cuba Libre is plating up food to its own beat.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Longwood's Imperial Dynasty

Longwood's Imperial Dynasty has been named one of the Top 100 Chinese restaurants in the United States by Chinese Restaurant News. It came in at No. 25. Not bad a bad place to be from sea to shining sea.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Winter Park's Cafe 118°

When most people think of raw food, they think steak tartare, sushi or oysters on the half shell.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Winter Park's Circa 1926

Standing outside Circa 1926 on Winter Park's Park Avenue, there are those who may recall when the restaurant was Sage, Park Avenue Grill, Zak's, Chapters or East of Paris.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Hurricane Grill

Wing joints seem to be a dime a dozen these days. But Hurricane Grill & Wings (six Central Florida locations) has freshened up the concept with more than 30 flavors and the option to blend your own sauce by combining some of theirs. Broken into appropriate hurricane levels by intensity (cat 1, mild and sweet; cat 5, seek shelter), the sauces can be sampled before ordering.

The Dish

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Sanford's Captain's Cove Restaurant and Poolside Bar

Captain's Cove in Sanford may still look a lot like its predecessor, Otter's Riverside Restaurant, but its enlarged outdoor deck and improved hustle from the servers and kitchen are making it a welcome stop for St. Johns River boaters and landlubbers.

Dining

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Orlando College Park's Paxia Alta Cocina Mexican Restaurant & Lounge

Paxia Alta Cocina Mexicana in College Park offers a modern approach to traditional Mexican cookery.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Kissimmee's Abuelo's

Diego Rivera's fabulous mural "A Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park" slowly draws you to the back of Abuelo's restaurant in Kissimmee. The interior of this casual Mexican eatery is designed to give the feel of an open-air courtyard. It's a pleasant space, but perhaps the developers could have borrowed a Disney Imagineer to really set the scene.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Tavares' Casa Mia Cafe

Good things do come in small packages. Case in point: Casa Mia Cafe in Tavares, a cozy two-room restaurant with first-rate food coming from a pint-size kitchen.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Downtown Disney's T-Rex

This was a first: lunch with friends and witnessing the cosmic onslaught that begat the Ice Age -- four times. Not four lunches, but four loud, room-shaking explosive incidents where meteors pummeled the Earth, driving dinosaurs to extinction -- all before we had dessert. Now that's a power lunch!

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Orlando Sand Lake's Ocean Prime, the Modern American Supper Club

This Modern American Supper Club is the newest addition to Sand Lake Road, but the cool retro style of its setting and service are setting it apart from others on restaurant row.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Lake Mary's Vineyard Wine Co.

There's a lot going on at The Vineyard Wine Co. in Lake Mary. So much so you might overlook the food, but don't.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Orlando I-Drive's Kafe Kalik

The scope of eateries with an International Drive address is mind-boggling. Some are worthy of the traffic snarls while others barely prompt a tap of the brakes.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Winter Park's Palmano's

I have no idea how seven years has gone by, and I have never been to Palmano's Coffee Roastery and Espresso Bar on Park Avenue in Winter Park. But there it was, hiding in plain sight on one of the busiest pedestrian and vehicle thoroughfares in Central Florida.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Disney area's Hemingway's at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Hemingway's at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is one of Central Florida's hidden gems -- quite literally.

the dish

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Orlando's Oh! Que Bueno

I have this new method for finding good metro restaurants: just follow an Orange County deputy. Of course, if this evolves into stalking, you are on your own.

the dish

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Altamonte Springs' bd's Mongolian Grill

Holiday errands and a deep dip in gas prices will likely have more of us on the roads this month. Hungry elves traveling near the intersection of State Roads 434 and 436 have a quick fuel option that's fast and fun.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Mount Dora's The Goblin Market

If you follow the Donnelly Street address for Mount Dora's The Goblin Market, you could wander aimlessly and miss out on one of Central Florida's best dining hideaways.

The Dish

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Winter Garden's Sweet Traditions

It's hard to get a table right away at Sweet Traditions Bakery & Cafe in downtown Winter Garden.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Ocoee's Tamboras Grill and Cafe

In Spanish, tambor means "drum." So when the owners of Tamboras Grill and Cafe were naming their little restaurant, something that playfully implied a kitchen marching to its own beat was perfect.

the dish

Restaurant Review: DeLand's Brickhouse Grill

Bill & Frank's Brickhouse Grill has many personalities, and that may be why it thrives in downtown DeLand.

the dish

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Orlando's White Wolf Cafe

When Michael and Anne Marie Hennessey opened White Wolf Cafe in 1991, it infused new life into that bohemian district just outside downtown Orlando.

Restaurant Review

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: DeLand's Cress

Something fresh and vibrant has arrived on our scene, and it's called Cress.

The dish

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: South Orlando's Taqueria Ameca Jalisco

When you get to the lively block of South Orange Blossom Trail that's home to Taqueria Ameca Jalisco, you may be tempted to drive on by.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant review: Howey-in-the-Hills' El Conquistador

With gas prices dipping and cooler temperatures tempting us to get out of the house, perhaps a nice drive and dinner are in order. El Conquistador at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills is a destination to consider.

Heather McPherson: Restaurant Review: Orlando College Park's K2

You have to admire chef Kevin Fonzo's energy and dedication to the Orlando dining scene. His K Restaurant Wine Bar is a local favorite with seasonal menus that reflect the ever-evolving modern American cuisine. With his brother chef Greg Fonzo, he opened Nonna Trattoria ed Enoteca, a culinary homage to his Italian heritage. Now, he's created K2, a cozy alcove next to K that he calls a "Food Lounge."

Table Matters: Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Orlando Sand Lake's J. Alexander's

Your first visit to the new J. Alexander's in the Rialto complex off Orlando's Sand Lake Road will likely bring on a bout of d�j� menu.

The Dish

Restaurant review: Orlando's Green Day Cafe

Going green just got a little easier for fast-food lovers in Orlando.

Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Downtown Orlando's The Harp

Entering The Harp on Magnolia Avenue in downtown Orlando is a quick step back in time.

the dish

Restaurant review: Winter Park and UCF Area Jimmy John's

Did I need to explore a franchise sandwich shop? When the title includes the words World's Greatest Gourmet Sandwiches, I think I must.

Table Matters Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Downtown Orlando's The Graze

Jephanie Foster has always been uncomfortable when singled out as one of Central Florida's best female chefs. For her, it's about the work.

the dish

Restaurant review: Orlando's Amazonas Latin Grill

The menu at Amazonas Latin Grill in Orlando covers the islands and parts of South America. But make no mistake: Venezuela rules this kitchen.

Restaurant review: Orlando's Mama Nems'

We know how to spot a local winner. Mama Nems' in Orlando won a Foodie Award for best dessert in 2007, just a year after the restaurant opened. But the spotlight now shines even brighter: The restaurant is a finalist in the Best Soul Food category in the Hoodie Awards, honors created by syndicated radio host, comedian and actor Steve Harvey. Hoodies salute the nation's best small businesses, educators and community leaders.

Dining

Restaurant review: New Smyrna Beach's The Grille at Riverview

If there's a restaurant location award, The Grille at Riverview in New Smyrna Beach is the clear winner.

Table Matters Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Disney's The Wave

The Wave's tunnel entrance at Disney's Contemporary Resort offers much promise. Lighted with a Star Trek-esque blue glow, it sets the stage for something modern and fun. The large bar behind the host station similarly teases guests.

Table Matters Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Orlando Sand Lake area's Chatham's Place

There is much more to fine dining than great food. It's about the setting. It's about the wait staff. And it's about creating an environment in which every customer feels special.

Table Matters

Restaurant review: Two Blondes & a Shrimp

Take one fabulous name, a menu with a thick Southern accent and a cool jazzy soundtrack, and you have the makings of an emerging star on the Central Florida restaurant scene.

Table Matters Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Rolando's

Rolando's in Casselberry is far from the Cuban enclaves of South Florida or the historic depth of Ybor City, but the heart of Cuba drives the kitchen.

Table Matters Restaurant review

Restaurant review: Orlando Sand Lake area's Timpano Chophouse

There's something invigorating about walking into a restaurant bustling with activity, lots of chatter and a Rat Pack vibe. Add a rousing rendition of "Mack the Knife" coming from the bar, and you can feel the gentle uncurling of an uncomfortable shoulder hunch that set in during a rain-soaked drive on Interstate 4.

Dining Table Matters

Restaurant review: The Chef's Table

The Chef's Table at the Edgewater is an absolute delight, a perfect concept for the space and a fitting showcase for the talents of the staff.

Table Matters

Restaurant review: Tijuana Flats

Brian Wheeler was just trying to replicate a favorite University of Florida eatery when he opened the first Tijuana Flats in 1995. Wheeler, 38, may be as surprised as anyone that his little burrito and taco shop, modeled on Burrito Brothers in Gainesville, has grown to a chain of 64 restaurants with locations in Indiana, Virginia, the Carolinas and Pennsylvania. The newest TF is slated to open July 28 in Thornton Park next to Hue restaurant.

Table Matters

Restaurant review: Johnnie's Hideaway

Johnnie's Hideaway wasn't what I thought it would be. It was more. And less.

Restaurant review: Emiliano'z

I have to admit it: The server was correct.

Restaurant reviews: Trattoria d'Urbino and Palladino's Ristorante

Restaurant reviews: Trattoria d'Urbino and Palladino's Ristorante

I predict we're going to start seeing a lot more "Italian" restaurants opening. I put the quotations around "Italian" because I'm afraid we're also going to see the kind of restaurants that we had in the early '90s. That's when nearly every week there was a new place serving a plate of pasta with red sauce and calling itself Italian.

Restaurant review: Red Wing Restaurant

If you're looking for "old Florida," you can't get much older than Red Wing Restaurant.

Restaurant reviews: Orchid and Chai Thai

Restaurant reviews: Orchid and Chai Thai

This is a tale of two Thais.

Restaurant review: The Fat Snook

People often give me credit for finding little out-of-the-way dining treasures. The truth is, I rely on tips from readers to lead me in the right direction.

Restaurant review: Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House

Restaurant review: Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House

I'm not one for superlatives, but I have to say that Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House is the most awe-inspiring venue in all of Central Florida.

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: The Bistro on Park Avenue

The most interesting thing about the Bistro on Park Avenue is that, technically speaking, it isn't on Park Avenue.

Restaurant review: Disney Animal Kingdom's Jiko

Restaurant review: Disney Animal Kingdom's Jiko

For some reason, whenever I think of the more upscale casual dining venues at Walt Disney World, I don't think of Jiko. I think of California Grill, Flying Fish Cafe and Citricos, but not the top-of-the-line restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: Elephant Bar Restaurant

Elephant Bar Restaurant has set up camp inside Altamonte Mall in a space next to Sears. It's a chain restaurant out of California, which is where you'll find the majority of its locations. The Altamonte Springs restaurant and another in Fort Myers are the first in Florida, although another, at Mall at Millenia, is scheduled to open this week.

Restaurant review: Capital Grille

Restaurant review: Capital Grille

In the world of steakhouses, there are two distinct types.

Restaurant review: Redrock Canyon Grill

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: Redrock Canyon Grill

It's been more than two years since Pointe Orlando announced the major restaurants that would be part of the reinvention of this struggling entertainment/shopping/dining complex. We've visited Capital Grille (before it was purchased by Darden), Tommy Bahama's Tropical Cafe, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Maggiano's Little Italy, Taverna Opa and B.B. King's.

Restaurant review: Tavern on the Lake

This week, we visit a new restaurant in MetroWest called Tavern on the Lake. It's a beautiful place with a casually upscale dining room that features sculpted carpeting, slate tile and an on-stage kitchen visible behind a large slanted window.

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: Brick & Fire Pizza and Wine Co.

Mark Dollard must really believe in Church Street.

Restaurant review: Los Generales

You may not notice the missive stenciled on Los Generales' storefront window; it's long and wordy and is easily overlooked next to all the decorations and signage. And, if you were to read it, you might not understand it. Something is lost in the translation from Spanish to English, and it rambles a bit.

Restaurant review: Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining

Restaurant review: Teppan Edo and Tokyo Dining

It used to be that the restaurants in the pavilions that line Epcot's World Showcase were the only places in Central Florida to offer a glimpse of the host countries' cuisine and traditions.

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: Spice Modern Steakhouse at Lake Eola

In its short life span of less than a year and a half, Spice Modern Steakhouse has grown into a three-location mini chain. Two of those locations are more prime than the meats: the original on Winter Park's Park Avenue, which is slowly regaining its title as one of the area's best dining destinations; and the newest on Lake Eola, amid the downtown dining district, which could have a greater role in the revitalization of downtown Orlando than Church Street, often touted as the last great hope.

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: Nelore Churrascaria

I had intended to tell you about Gol! The Taste of Brazil. Instead, I offer my review of Nelore Churrascaria -- it turns out they're the same place.

DINING table matters

Restaurant review: Village Tavern

Village Tavern seems to do a whole lot better when they're not trying so hard. Maybe another way to put that is that the staff makes fewer gaffes when they haven't somehow realized there's a restaurant critic at the table.

chow hound

Restaurant review: Hamburger Mary's

Hamburger Mary's is a nice family restaurant. But we're talking a different type of family. Think Sister Sledge's "We Are Family."

chow hound

Restaurant review: Croissant Gourmet

Well, Winter Park is just going gaga for Croissant Gourmet. I'm pretty sure ga-ga is French for head-over-heels in love.

Restaurant review: Singh's Roti Shop

To the uninitiated, Singh's Roti Shop might sound like a business doing mechanical repair. Roti is the plural of rotor, right?

Restaurant review: Park Avenue Wine & Cheese Cellar

This week we have a cheese theme. No, I didn't say cheesy -- that's next week.

Winter Park food market evokes memories of yesterday

The Hound has been feeling nostalgic lately. I recently passed my 20-year mark as the Sentinel's restaurant critic, and I've been thinking about all the change that has happened in the last two decades.

Restaurant review: Golden Chicken

The Hound recently visited a restaurant that apparently did not want his business and ended up finding one of the best deals around.

Restaurant Review: Cup O' Soul and Daily Grind

This week, the Hound visits a couple of coffeehouses. You may think the concept of coffeehouses is a recent development, emerging out of the bean-loving Northwest, where coffee bars abound.

Restaurant reveiw: Azure

and it really doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but there you go -- I told you about Baleen, a restaurant out of South Florida that had cropped up at the Shores Resort, the shores in question being Daytona Beach Shores.

Restaurant review: Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux

Here's something about the Hound you may not have known. When he was a pup, he rode his bicycle across the country. Of course, there weren't as many states to cross back then, but still.

chow hound

Restaurant review: Rincon Cubano Cafeteria and Mima's Cuban Cafe

This week, we visit a couple of Cuban restaurants in locations we've visited before. One was a Cuban restaurant the last time we were there, and the other sold sausages and hot dogs, which aren't a big part of the Cuban food chain.

Restaurant review: Eden's Fresh Co.

Swimsuit season is almost here, so it's time to start eating a little lighter, at least for one of the four major meals of the day. I'm not quite ready to give up my bedtime prime rib just yet.

chow hound

Chef's Gala raises more than $200,000 for Heart of Florida United Way

Last Saturday was the 16th annual Chef's Gala, benefiting Heart of Florida United Way, and it was a sold-out affair. In fact, there were so many people wandering around sipping and sampling that even Epcot's blimp-hangar-sized World Showplace seemed too small to handle the crowds at times.

Dining Review: Bento Cafe

It's hard to recall that, just a few years ago, the area of South Orange Avenue between Pine and Church Streets known as the Jaymont block was occupied by decaying buildings and empty storefronts, including the old McCrory's store, which a lot of people thought held historical significance. The preservationists had succeeded in preventing the demolition of the block.

Restaurant Review: Ethos Vegan Kitchen

The Hound has a friend who is a vegan. I don't approve of his lifestyle. I mean, just look at all the meat-eating references in the Bible.

Heather McPherson: Check us out before you hit the road

We've put together galleries to help you choose dining destinations along the Atlantic shore, Sand Lake Road's Restaurant Row, Sanford's First Street and in New Smyrna Beach and Mount Dora. OrlandoSentinel.com/dining

Restaurant Review: Disney Animal Kingdom's Yak & Yeti

Restaurant Review: Disney Animal Kingdom's Yak & Yeti

So then, Yuk & Yeti it is.

Chai Thai doubles diners’ pleasure

Restaurant reviews

Heather McPherson: Chai Thai doubles diners’ pleasure

Central Florida has many options for Thai food, a cuisine that - when done right - is all about the balance of the components.

TABLE MATTERS

Restaurant Review: Disney's Il Mulino at the Swan and Dolphin

When I told a friend that Il Mulino New York was opening a restaurant at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, he said he couldn't wait to go because the original -- Il Mulino New York in New York -- was his parents' favorite restaurant when they lived there.

A tale of two Hot Olives

Restaurant review

A tale of two Hot Olives

Hot Olives is no newcomer to the local restaurant scene. But lots of newcomers have been asking me about the menu and ambience. The casual eatery has long been one of my go-to places for lunch because I like the salad selections and how the sun illuminates the covered patio.

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Daily Horoscopes

March 16, 2010

Today's birthday (3/16/10). With myriad ideas at hand, a sensible goal for the year is to make use of them. Don't hoard your thoughts and feelings. Share them with associates to get the most out of every task, even the most basic ones.