Hanan Mediterranean Gourmet - Gyro Combo

Hanan Mediterranean Gourmet sits in a strip mall on Lee Road between Edgewater and I4. Thankfully a friend had suggested it because otherwise I never would have seen it or stopped in, but as you will see I’m glad that I did.

The ATMOSPHERE – Clean, Plain, No Frills

The SERVICE - Order at counter, they make it for you, and you either eat it there or take it to go

The FOOD – Gyros, Grape Leaves, Hummus, Greek Salad, Baklava

There is not an extensive menu, in fact when I walked in the place I intended on giving it a mediocre review at best. I love a good Gyro so I figured that is what I would order but I assumed that it was not going to be that great. The guy shaved the meat and then placed it on the griddle, I noticed that the portion was pretty generous. I decided to get the combo, which included a Greek Salad and a Can of Soda. Thrilled when the total was $7.99, I put a dollar and the penny in his tip jar, and was delighted to put the other dollar in my pocket (Imagine that, a whole meal for under $10, when is the last time that happened?). Now here is where it gets good – As I took my first bite of the Gyro I thought “This is really delicious, way better then I expected”. The more I thought about it I realized that it is probably in the top three Gyros that I have ever eaten. The meat was juicy and well seasoned, the Tzatziki Sauce was fresh, and the Tomatoes and Onions were perfectly placed inside the Pita. I ended up having to “knife and fork” it because it was so big. Nicely accompanied by the Greek Salad, it ended up being a wonderful meal, and an even more wonderful value!

Bahama Breeze - Hand Crafted Burger

Bahama Breeze is a nation wide chain that has a handful of Florida locations. I was recently visiting some friends in Tampa and we ended up going there for lunch. I had been to Bahama Breeze a couple of times in Orlando, but it had been so long that I didn’t even remember what the food was like, and so I figured that this would hopefully be a place where I could get a delicious Burger.

The ATMOSPHERE – Tropical Island theme, think Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville without all the tourists and the long waits.

The SERVICE – Our server was so friendly and helpful (I wish I remembered her name to give her a “Shout out”) even if the food would have been terrible, her service would have helped make it a good experience.

The FOOD – Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads, Coconut shrimp, Fish tacos, etc…. a little something for everyone

I decided on the Fresh Hand Crafted Burger which comes with Fresh Ground Beef, Lettuce, Vine Ripened Tomato, Shaved Red Onions, Crisp Pickle Slices on a toasted Brioche Bun and after adding Goat Cheese and Sliced Avocado the cost was still under $10. My favorite part was that Fries were not my only option as my side, you can also chose between Vine Ripened Tomato Salad, Yellow Rice with Black Beans, or Fresh Fruit Salad. After the servers description I realized that the Fruit Salad was what I wanted, Melon, Pineapple, Strawberries and Grapes with a dollop of Sorbet, it was delicious and refreshing! As for the Burger it was cooked just the way I like it, the Goat Cheese was melted, the Vegetables were fresh and the Bun was the perfect casing to this delicious sandwich!

This experience makes me want to revisit the Orlando Bahama Breeze locations a little more often!

Fiddler's Green Irish Pub and Eatery - Ulster Burger

Fiddler’s Green is an Irish Pub and Eatery that has been located in Winter Park for as long as I can remember. I was going to be in the area and decided to look under “Burgers in Winter Park” on Urbanspoon, and to my surprise this was at the top of the list. I had been there before for some Sheppard’s Pie and a Beer, but never thought of a Burger, and with this high placement on the list I decided to give it a try.

The ATMOSPHERE – Your classic Irish Pub feel with a lot of local history (only larger then most Irish pubs with several different rooms to accommodate the crowds)

The SERVICE – Moderate for Lunch, Crowded for Happy Hour and Dinner, I’ve always had adequate servers when I have been there

The FOOD – Beer, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Beer, Fish and Chips, Beer, Bangers and Mash, and a whole lot of Beer

They have four Burgers to chose from and I decided on the Ulster Burger $8.50, Premium Burger topped with imported Irish Bacon and Cheddar Cheese. Upon its arrival I was visually a little disappointed, the “Irish” Bacon looked just like “Canadian” Bacon (not a bad thing, but also not was I was expecting and not what was pictured on the website) I liked the fact that the Burger was kind of oblong and was hoping that it would be delicious, however it lacked luster and was pretty bland, leaving me feeling a little let down. There was nothing special about the quality or flavor of the Beef, Bun, or Toppings, however the “Potato Wedge” style fries were pretty good. Now that I am comparing one Burger place to another, not only am I harder to impress, but I am also looking for a “Wow Factor” which Fiddler’s Green did not have. Go there for a Beer or some Irish Food and you will love it, but to simply go there for a Burger you might want to give it a little more thought. I wonder why it was at the top of the Urbanspoon list for Burgers

Junior's Diner - Burger and Tots

Junior’s Diner is located in the Audubon Park Garden District on the corner of Corrine Drive and Winter Park Road.

THE ATMOSPHERE – Your basic Diner or Greasy Spoon, sit at the counter and watch them cook your food, or take a booth and wait for it to arrive.

THE SERVICE – Pretty much what you would expect from a Diner, nothing more, nothing less (I do love Diners, so I hope that doesn’t sound like I think that is a bad thing)

THE FOOD – Breakfast, Burgers, Patty Melts, Blue Plate Specials

I asked the server which to get: the Omelet? or the Burger? She replied “the Burgers are good” so of course I had to have one, and why not add Bleu Cheese and Bacon? When I heard that Tater Tots were an option, they immediately became my side item of choice. The Burger itself was 3 out of 5 stars, nether the best nor the worst, just a little on the forgettable side. The prices were OK. I completed the Burger, but left some of the generous portion of “Tots”

I wish I had something better to say about this place because it was really not bad, however there was also nothing that makes me say “Wow” either.

I would love to visit Junior’s again, but will most likely order something off of the Breakfast menu.

Crave - PB & J Burger

CRAVE is a chain with four locations in Minnesota, one in Nebraska, and now for almost a year and a half we have a location here in Orlando, FL, near the Millenia Mall. In the description on their website they are “a dining experience where quality, locally sourced food, chic atmosphere, and diverse choices offer guests the opportunity to create their own unforgettable dining experience”. I’m not really sure what that means.

THE ATMOSPHERE – Smart décor choices, a very spacious layout, a kitchen in which you can see your food being prepared, and you can wear anything from a shirt and tie to shorts and a T-Shirt. The bathrooms are nicely done as well.

THE SERVICE – My experiences have always been with friendly, personable servers. Don’t go to CRAVE for a quick lunch though, because sometimes you can be there for quite some time.

THE FOOD – Sushi is what they are known for and rated highly on, but they have a wide variety of choices and monthly specials. Mondays are “Burger Night” and they offer about ten different gourmet Burgers to choose from.

Me being a Burger Lover decided to give this night a try. I had been there three or four times before, and once on “Burger Night” but on this particular visit I noticed that the Burgers and options had changed. I asked both the Hostess and the Server what their favorite Burger was, and they both said the PB & J Burger. I had previously eyed it on the website menu and decided to give it a try. The description… thick, chunky peanut butter, grape jelly, crispy bacon $10.95, it sounded delicious! The menu said that all burgers come with green leaf lettuce, tomato and red onion and are served with natural cut fries, upon asking the server if the PB & J Burger came with lettuce, tomato, onion she replied “I don’t think so” which was a delight to me because I didn’t want it on this burger. I upgraded my fries to “Truffle Fries” which was about $3 more. Sadly, when the food arrived… there was the lettuce (shredded btw, not green leaf) tomato and onion L The server did say she would gladly take it back, however I decided to just pick off as much as I could and give it a try. The peanut butter was neither thick nor chunky (and there wasn’t nearly enough of it on the burger), and the bacon was floppy (not at all crispy), however both the beef and the bun were perfect. Even with all of my complaints, it did have a pretty good taste and I managed to eat every bite (I was starving). When I added up the price of my burger, the “truffle” upgrade, an Iced Tea and tip, my portion set me back about $20. The Burger was not everything I had hoped it would be, but our server was so nice that it made up for it.

Sunday brunch is definitely a reason to visit CRAVE, and if you are a Sushi fan then give it a try, but should I go there again I will most likely order something other then the PB & J Burger. Great in theory, but not so great in execution.

Keller's Real Smoked Bar-B-Q - Beef Lunch

Keller’s Bar-B-Q offers real smoked meats inspired by family recipes from the “Florida Everglades”. There are three locations, but the one that I go to sits in a strip mall right next to Wal-Mart on 434 near 436 in Altamonte Springs.

The Atmosphere – Although the location is tiny, they have done a fantastic job of maximizing the space. The place is decorated with a cow print theme, and the floors in the bathrooms are very slippery – so please watch your step.

The Service – The waitresses wear cut-off jean shorts and tight T-shirts and are very friendly. The food comes out pretty fast, even when it is busy. Seating is limited so expect a wait between noon and 1pm.

The Food – My kind of Bar-B-Q, Beef, Pork (pulled, sliced or sloppy), Chicken, Turkey and Ribs. If you like Sides, then you are in luck. Many places simply offer Fries, Cole slaw and Baked Beans, but Keller’s also offers Green Beans, Mac N Cheese, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, or a House Salad as your options.

What I like to get is the Beef Lunch ($8.99). The meat usually comes out a little too pink for my liking (It is smoked, so it is definitely fully cooked – just a personal preference). I always have them throw my portion on the grill to brown it up a bit, and they always do this for me without any problem. One of my favorite things about Keller’s lunch specials are that they come with THREE sides and TWO pieces of Garlic Bread. What a Bargain! I take my Beef and make a Sandwich with some of their homemade sauce (sweet and delicious), and usually get the Baked Beans (house speciality), French Fries (basic crinkle cut) and Mac N Cheese (made with sharp cheddar, it is really cheesy and very comforting). If it is one of those days where I can’t eat everything it's OK because it re-heats well, however I usually manage to clean my plate. You will leave smelling like you are coated with a thin layer of Bar-B-Q sauce, but if you ask me that is NOT a bad thing!

TEAK Neighborhood Grill - CAPRESE BURGER

TEAK NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL sits nestled in a neighborhood in Metro West, not far from Kirkman and Metro West Blvd.

The Atmosphere – Sports Bar meets Neighborhood Bar! Spacious inside, but even more spacious outside! On an afternoon or evening with nice weather outdoor dining is a must!

The Service – a friendly staff and management, it is obvious that the people in charge of the menu know what they are doing. Mondays from 5pm until 10pm the whole menu is half price (except for burgers) and they always pour a double Pinnacle Vodka cocktail for $5 All Day, Every Day.

The Food – Delicious Starters, Salads and Flatbreads (all under $10) Entrees, Sandwiches, Desserts (all with large portions and reasonable prices)

It’s really just best to view their menu on their website, I have thoroughly enjoyed everything on the menu that I have tried.

And moving on to the Burgers…. they offer 10 or 11 to chose from including the BRAZILIAN (with sliced ham, a fried egg, crispy potato strings, provolone and ranch dressing), the SWEET HAWAIIAN (grilled pineapple, sweet baby ray’s BBQ sauce, pepper jack and grilled onions) and the HEART-A-TEAK (full pound of angus beef, bistro sauce, 9 slices of cheese, 12 slices of bacon, fried mozzarella, fried onion ring, bean-less chili, and jalapenos smothered in melted nacho cheese sauce)

For those who are up for a Burger competition they offer the TWIN TEAK TOWER CHALLENGE (Two HEART-A-TEAK Burgers side by side, finish both in 45 minutes and its FREE)

Now on this particular visit I wanted to order what I had on my very first visit to TEAK, the CAPRESE BURGER. Half pound certified angus beef, fried mozzarella, think sliced tomato, balsamic reduction, and pesto topped with lettuce $9.95 (with your choice of signature garlic bistro fries, potato chips, onion rings, coleslaw or side salad)

Now if that description wasn’t enough, and the photo weren’t enough, then let me try to describe it a little further. All burgers begin with the Beef, so lets start there… I personally love a well done burger, and I feel like if the place knows what they are doing and uses a good quality of meat that they can serve a burger that is completely cooked through AND have it remain juicy and tender. That is exactly what TEAK does. Thick sliced tomato and just the right amount of lettuce combine perfectly with the pesto and the balsamic reduction giving this burger a well balanced flavor profile. On to the cheese, Imagine a thick slab of Mozzarella (almost as big as the burger patty itself) coated in panko and fried until crispy! Then sandwich it all in between a locally baked brioche bun that is just sturdy enough to keep it all together, but not so “bready” that all you taste is bun! Viola! The perfect Burger!

Served next to it is TEAK’s signature Garlic Bistro Fries. Perfectly seasoned, very garlicky, very delicious, they are served in abundance, and it is very difficult to not eat them all and lick the plate clean.

Although this Burger is gigantic, almost too large to fit in my mouth, I did manage to eat just about all of it, and I must say that ever since the first time I had this Burger, I have thought about it quite often, and I am so glad that I went back and had it again. I was just as impressed on this last visit as I was the very first time I stepped foot into TEAK!