Orlando. Small report.

two days, two lunches, two business dinners.

Day 1
Lunch. Pio Pio. This Periuvian NYC operation has a lot of positive chow reviews elsewhere. Three locations now in Orlando. I tried the one on South Orange Blossom Trail a mile or two south of Sand Lake Road. Superb intensely rich chicken soup with misc chicken pieces, potato and plantain. Lime and a good chimichurri sauced to taste. Very good gas flame rotisserie roast garlic/salt infused chicken, very good and fresh salad, huge portion of exc maduros. Would (and did--see below) return.

Dinner. Shula's Steakhouse at the Dolphin Hotel. Of this variety (prime over-priced 'burnt meat' joints) the best of the few I've tried (Ruth's Chris in Crystal City-DC, Chops here in Atlanta, Nine in Las Vegas). KC bone-in steak cut from the rib side of the strip loin cooked as ordered and a very good quality of meat. Nice seafood appetizer of chilled lobster in shell (not overcooked), terribly mediocre bacon wrapped bbq sauced large tasteless fresh water prawn, an ok oyster rockefeller (if you like that sort of thing). From an expense account wine list a responsive sommelier helped me ferret out a $15 glass of good third growth Bordeaux. Would return, so long as someone else is paying.

Day 2.
Lunch. One of those FL days when all it does is rain and rain and rain--three inches by noon. Found myself craving Pio Pio chicken soup after skipping breakfast. But felt foolish not trying variety. Drove up to Dixie Chicken on Orange Blossom Trail north of Sand Lake in the rain, got a one piece box in the interest of science. Terribly mediocre old-fryer fat deep fried chicken, factory crinkle cut french fries and industrially baked parker house roll, quite ok slaw. One bite of fried chicken--spit it out, ate most of the the slaw, bagged it up and tossed the box. Thereupon I continued on to Pio Pio for chicken soup fix. Ah, nirvana.

Dinner. Atlantis Restaurant in the Renaissance resort by Seaworld. Same Maitre d' as on three previous visits extending back to 2/2002. New chef has been there about a year. Maitre d' is a trooper, I remembered him and he remembered me. New Chef is pretty much working with the menu he inherited, but executing it far far better than his predecessor. Exc Nantucket scallops with a hint of very tart pomegranite glaze served atop wilted snow pea leaves. Herbed Colorado rack of lamb was cooked as ordered, and surprisingly--the herb/bread crumb stuff was actually good--I ate it instead of scraping it off to the side as is the restaurant norm. Rack of lamb was the real thing, large eye, a big portion, not like the New Zealand/Australia tiny racks to which I have become so accustomed. Accompanying the lamb was a two inch high eggplant/potato/garlic slow roasted caramelized gallontine, it too surprisingly good. Slice of dark choc glazed strawberry/vanillia house made ice cream bundt and vg french press decaf. Host selected an Alexander Valley Syrah Tremonte (sp?) which while chewy at first opened up really well. Dispelled my skepticism about CA wines made from this grape--which I like so much in French wines. Surprisingly good value (rack of lamb was $26, scallop app $14) for a high end restaurant. Would readily return either socially or on business, even on my own nickel.

General comment: Orange Blossom Trail, south of Sand Lake Road, extending to Kissimmee, is fertile chow turf. While looking for Pio Pio the first day, I had a hard time not veering into newly opened El Caridad which on its grand opening sign announces: El Rey del Mofongo! Tons of places to check out, and from extensive pre-trip research this area is not covered well either on the internet or by the local press.

Steve,

I want to thank you for this informative, entertaining report which held my interest even though I've never been to Orlando and have no particular plan to visit there. Furthermore, I check in on Chowhound South every now and then and have enjoyed reading your posts on Mexican, Ecuadorian, and Salvadoran places in Atlanta. But I cannot believe that no one on that board responds to your great posts! Maybe you should just start putting all the Atlanta reports over here on LTH...

Amata

Steve Drucker wrote:General comment: Orange Blossom Trail, south of Sand Lake Road, extending to Kissimmee, is fertile chow turf.

I do believe there are more great places in the Kissimmmee/St. Cloud area than are reported. The trick is finding them. The Orlando area is such a tourist trap that finding those great out-of-the way places can be difficult. Here are 2 of my favorite places to dine from previous posts. Both are non-tourist, inexpensive, and have great food.


Orlando Restaurants

Both of these places are "local" type restaurants. They are about 30-45 minute drive but well worth it. St. Cloud has a small beach on Lake Toho and the town is quaint and full of antique shops.

The Catfish Place
2324 13th Street
St. Cloud, FL
407-892-5771

Outstanding catfish. Probably the best I have ever eaten. Coleslaw and hush puppies are great. They also serve alligator and have a full menu. Open for lunch and dinner. Good sized portions. Nice interesting decor.


Pounder's Fresh Fish
1213 N. Central Ave.
Kissimmee, FL
407-846-8980

Great place for lunch. I don't think the are open in the evening. The place is more of a fish market put has the Maine Seafood style. Fresh fish cooked straight forward with your choice of fried, baked, blackened, etc. Multilple types of fish available.

My MIL has a winter house in St. Cloud I discovered these places and highly recommend them. Both places are very casual. You will find local families eating meals, men in overalls having dinner or lunch, elderly people out for a meal. Great mix of people and friendly staff.

Good place to go for a slower version of the Disney experience

Steve Drucker wrote:General comment: Orange Blossom Trail, south of Sand Lake Road, extending to Kissimmee, is fertile chow turf. While looking for Pio Pio the first day, I had a hard time not veering into newly opened El Caridad which on its grand opening sign announces: El Rey del Mofongo! Tons of places to check out, and from extensive pre-trip research this area is not covered well either on the internet or by the local press.

Thanks for the heads up. I'm heading to MCO tomorrow and will have some time to explore.

Will have to try Pio Pio as well.

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Thanks Steve Drucker for the heads up on this stretch of road in Orlando. I’ve been here for a couple days and had some good chow for sure.

At at Pio Pio first. Chicken was VERY moist but really didn’t have much of any marinade taste. The two sauces (garlic and a creamy chimmichurri that went with the chicken and the yucca side I ordered were excellent.
Pio Pio Restaurant
(407) 438-5677
11236 S Orange Blossom Trl
Orlando, FL 32837

In the same strip mall is a bakery opening up soon called Jamaica Bakery
Jamaica Bakery
11352 S Orange Blossom Trl
(407) 580-7303

Also in the same mall is Andy’s Nice House which had a good looking menu (lots of different Chinese cuisines) posted in the window but I did not have time to eat there.

A bit further south of the restaurants above on the West side of Orange Blossom is a place called Caridad, El Ray Mofongo. I did not eat here as I had enjoyed some terrific mofongo at:

Tropifongo
10910 S Trial Circle
Orlando, FL 32837
7am-7pm
Tropifongo is actually located in the B & M Food Store which sells both beer and my favorite, coconut juice to go with the meals one can order at Tropifongo which is the restaurant w/in the B & M convienience store. A buddy and I shared a combo dish of mofongo. The mofongo is not mixed with your choice of meat but instead the meat is served on the side. Normally in Puerto Rico, all mofongos I’ve had the protein has been mixed in. I actually preferred this as we were able to split the mofongo, the two meats we had with were roast pork and garlic shrimp. Pork was SOOOOO moist and good. Shrimps were precooked and simply reheated in the butter/garlic but darn good none the less. Tropifongo was some of the best mofongo I’ve ever had. There is also a “buffet” hot line where many folks were ordering rice, beans, plaintains, pork chops, meatballs, fish.

On the East side of Orange Blossom Trail (around 12355 ish) was another place due to open shortly that may be promising. Ono La’au Hawaiian Restaurant/Bake Shop.

Further up Orange Blossom Trail on the East side is also Real New York Pizza (11741B S. Orange Blossom Trl), NOT GOOD.

Next door to this pizza place was a Cuban/Latin fast food place called Roberto Parrilla which looked pretty good but I didn’t have anything as I had spied the Middle East Market & Deli (located 8100 S Orange Blossom Trl) and I had a hankering for some shwarma. The Middle East Deli did not disappoint, on a spit was real beef/lamb that was carved and served in a wrapped pita bread that was actually put in foil and then pressed to create a crispy exterior. A VERY good sandwich. The baba gannouj was quite smoky and good. Middle East Deli is open 9am-8pm. This would be a good place to grab some items for a picnic somewhere.

Well I’m off to Tampa/St Pete for the remainder of my trip, hope to report back on some stuff from there.

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