Celebrity Delly - The Bogie Burger

I have been driving by the Celebrity Delly and Pizzeria (although I don’t recall Pizza even being on their menu) for years, in fact I vaguely remember having breakfast there about twelve years ago. I was passing by and decided to stop in and see if it looked familiar.

The ATMOSPHERE… Definitely has not been updated since I was there last. Very late ‘70s, early ‘80s.

The SERVICE… Fast, Efficient

The FOOD… I would call it more of a diner then a Delly. (Shouldn’t it be spelled Deli anyway?) Burgers, Sandwiches, Breakfasts. Most of which have a famous Movie Star name.

I decided on The Bogie Burger (Chopped Sirloin served with slices of baked Ham and Provolone Cheese topped with our savory Blue Cheese Dressing on a Kaiser or Onion Roll - $7.25)

I wasn’t asked which bun I would like, but I was asked how I wanted it cooked. It came out quickly which was a good thing, because the more I looked around at the drab dining room the more I realized this was probably not going to be a Burger that I even wanted to review. As I took my first bite I was pleasantly surprised that the Burger patty itself was actually thick, juicy and delicious. The rest of the ingredients were sub par. (Not a big surprise) The Ham portion was generous but not that tasty, both the Bun and the Blue Cheese Dressing were underwhelming and the Fries were frozen from a bag, slightly undercooked and simply dusted with seasoned salt. They never claimed to be a Five Star restaurant and I do think there is a time and place for everything, I just don’t think that this is the place for me. 

Guavate Puerto Rican Eatery and Bistro

Guavate is a Puerto Rican restaurant that I go to once a year. If it were a little closer I would probably dine there more often, but it is definitely worth the drive.

The ATMOSPHERE… Small but there is plenty of seating and very clean

The SERVICE… Friendly and Efficient

The FOOD… Soups and Appetizers, Chicken, Pork, Beef or Seafood Dinners, Mofongo (plus they have great lunch specials mon – fri)

This past visit to Guavate was when I realized just how delicious and flavorful Puerto Rican food can be! We both ordered several things and then shared, which was a great way to get a little of everything!

At most restaurants I don’t usually pay too much attention to the complimentary bread that comes out, but this was garlicky and delicious!

Even the Salad with the homemade lemony dressing was Dynamite, and we hadn’t even gotten to anything that we had ordered yet!

Our first appetizer was Sorrullos de Queso (Sweet Cornmeal Fritter stuffed with Cheese - $2.49 for two) I could have eaten a dozen of them.

Amarillos – Fried Ripe Plaintains

Yucca

Beef Empanada

Vegetarian Mofongo

and then Plato Navideno (Savory Green Pigeon Pea Rice, served with marinated Roast Pork Shoulder and Pastel - $11.95) rounded out our meal.

We both left absolutely stuffed, and we had plenty of take out boxes to enjoy the next day which still tasted just as good. We will definitely be back, I just hope that it doesn’t take us another year to make it out there.

El Potro - Buffet

I have been to couple of El Potro locations and I really enjoy their lunch buffet. Where else can you get a Mexican buffet anyway? I recently visited the one on Conroy and Kirkman and it went a little something like this….

The ATMOSPHERE… Standard Chain Mexican Restaurant, most of them have indoor and outdoor seating

The SERVICE… Friendly, Fast

The FOOD… They have a full Mexican menu to order from, but honestly the only reason I go is because they have a buffet.

I have my routine of the items that I like from El Potro…

My first plate consists of (what they call) Chimichangas, (Burritos stuffed with seems to be seasoned Pot Roast meat that have been lightly fried) then I drizzle with spicy Queso. Then to the plate I add a Cheese Quesadilla topped with Guacamole and some Potatoes.

My second plate usually has another Quesadilla with Guacamole and Cheese, a few more Potatoes and some sweet fried Plantains.

Then my third and final plate usually has a couple of Cinnamon Custard Taquitos, some Flan and maybe a couple chunks of fresh Fruit.

Sometimes I see something that looks especially good or I want to be different, but I am usually quite content sticking with the tried and true. If I have been there enough times where I have my “usual” buffet items, then I guess the food must be pretty good. I also like that not only is it rare to find a buffet that serves Mexican food, but for about ten dollars (that price includes getting a beverage) you will leave very full!

Spooky's Black Cat Cafe - Pulled Pork on Waffles

Spooky’s Black Cat Café is located in the Milk District on Robinson and Primrose. It is the same people that own the Milk Bar and the Social Chameleon and I recently went there for lunch.

The ATMOSPHERE… Best to just look at the photo of the interior and see for your self.

The SERVICE… Our server was dressed as a sexy Witch and was very friendly and personable

The FOOD… They have a small, eclectic menu offering a couple of Indian dishes, and couple of Vegetarian dishes, and a couple Comfort food dishes. I like all of those things so I was in luck.

I finally decided on the Pulled Pork on Waffles (Pulled Pork slow cooked in Milk Stout Beer topped with Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce with choice of side and our sweet and spicy BBQ Sauce on the side - $9) I had the Mac and Cheese as my side item.

When my food arrived I was slightly concerned that the portion size was not large enough but I did think it looked interesting. The pork tasted pretty good and the sauces were a nice touch! The waffle was “nothing special” and although I really liked the Mac and Cheese I felt like there wasn’t enough of it. However I did think that overall the odd combination of flavors worked well together and I did eat every bite. (I just wished there were a couple more bites on the plate)

It is a nice place to go if you are looking for something a little bit different, but I would be surprised if anyone called Spooky’s their “favorite restaurant”. That being said I would like to go back someday and try another one of their menu items, I’m just not sure how soon I am going to rush back.

Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries - Bacon Bleu

The building where Denny’s use to be across from the Fashion Square Mall has been split into two store fronts. One half is a Jimmy John’s, and for the past several weeks I have seen that the other half was going to be Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries. I have been driving by frequently to observe the progress, and much to my excitement I saw an OPEN sign the other day.

I remember the Florida Mall use to have a place in their food court called Boardwalk Fries where you would just get your Fries and then dip them in Cheese Sauce, Gravy or Vinegar. Well after checking out their website I realized that this is the same place, only now they have Burgers as well! (Always fresh, never frozen)

As I walked in it reminded me of FIVE GUYS BURGERS, and the Atmosphere, Service and Menu were all comparable. One thing I did notice is that there were way too many people working. (At one point I counted twelve employees, and none of them were doing very much) However, at the time of my visit they had been open less then one week, and most new restaurants tend to over staff at the beginning until they have ironed out all of the kinks.

I decided to get one of their Signature Burgers – The Bacon Bleu ( Two Patties, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Crumbled Bleu Cheese, Bacon and Grilled Onions) and from their “Free Topping” section I decided to add some Pickles. One cool thing is that you can choose what kind of Bun you want. (White or Wheat) I went with the classic White and decided to add some of their “Famous” Fries. Much like FIVE GUYS you really don’t need to get any larger then a “Small’ order, because it was still plenty!

I just had water but my friend had a Soda, and they have one of those Coke machines where you press which blend of soda you want on the touch screen and then it makes it for you. It is pretty neat at how many choices you can make, but the bad thing is that there is only one machine and the line to use it was rather long and there was a wait.

One really nice thing about Boardwalk is that they offer punch cards which will give you a free meal after you have purchased six combo meals.

Now on to my review of the food, as I unwrapped my Burger I was pleased with the way it looked. I was so excited to take the first bite! The ingredient quality was quite good. The Bleu Cheese was sharp and tangy. I was very satisfied. The Fries were just as I remembered them to be and I nearly devoured every single one. (Next time I will probably try dipping them in Gravy for an additional 99 cents.) All in all I really liked it. Once again I would like to say that Boardwalk Fresh Burgers and Fries is VERY SIMILAR to FIVE GUYS. I’m not sure if I can pick a favorite between the two. I am afraid that FIVE GUYS might be slightly cheaper. But if you are a fan of one I would bet that you would be a fan of the other. Try them both and then let me know what you think. 

Lake Harris Hide A Way - Cheese Burger

I recently dined at the Lake Harris Hide A Way in Tavares.

I remember growing up in Lake County about 20 years ago it was called Little Joe’s Hide A Way, however it has definitely expanded since then with the addition of an outdoor bar and deck with Live entertainment.

The ATMOSPHERE… Indoor or outdoor dining, very casual, arrive by car or boat

The SERVICE… Friendly servers will be happy to take your order

The FOOD… Burgers, Sandwiches, Salads and just about any Deep-Fried Appetizer you can think of

I was there on a Saturday afternoon and it was actually quite busy. We sat outside and started with the Fat Boy Combo Basket (Chicken Tenders, Mini Corn Dogs, Cheese Sticks and Onion rings, served with Honey Mustard, Kickn Cajun and Marinara Sauce - $9.25) While not healthy in the slightest bit, I will say that it was Artery-Clogging Goodness and we devoured the whole basket.

For my main meal I had a Cheese Burger (1/2 lb. Burger made fresh daily from the finest Beef - $7.50) It was served on a Keiser roll with Lettuce, Tomato and Pickles. It did not come with Fries, but with the large appetizer they were not necessary. It was nice to re-visit this place so many years later and find that they are still going strong and still making delicious Burgers!

Anna's Polish Restaurant

Anna’s Polish Restaurant in Winter Park is one of my favorites.

The ATMOSPHERE… Small, Quaint, Comfortable

The SERVICE… Always friendly!

The FOOD… “Made-from-Scratch” by Anna herself. Every thing that I have had there has been enjoyable.

I CAN and WILL go there again and again!

Here are some photos of Anna’s delicious food.

Complimentary Bread Basket

Pierogi (A tasty Polish specialty! Our Pierogi are boiled and served with caramelized onions and sour cream - $9.99)

Cracovia Chicken Cutlet (Chef's Specialty! Chicken cutlet coated with Parmesan Dough served with choice of two sides - $15.99 I like to get it with Potato Pancakes and Beet Root Salad!)

Silesian Dumplings with Meat (Pyzy) (Round Potato Dumplings stuffed with Ground Meat served with your choice of Bacon Pieces or Mushroom Gravy - $12.99)

Crepes "Nalesniki" (Crepe filled with cheese and topped with fruit sauce and whipped cream - $4.79)

Pubbelly

I was recently in South Beach with a friend who lives there now, and he insisted that we go to Pubbelly because it was where all the locals went swearing that the food was “Dynamite” and that I would love it!

The ATMOSPHERE… tiny, quaint, with one of the greatest bathrooms I’ve ever been in, and did I mention the place is tiny?

The SERVICE… I have read reviews where the service was lacking, but my experience couldn’t have been more different. Our server was courteous and helpful, and our food arrived very efficiently. We did arrive right at 6pm when they opened, and it was packed by the time we got our food, so maybe other complaints were because it was so busy (but that’s the sign of a successful restaurant in my opinion)

The FOOD… Pubbelly is an Asian inspired Gastro-pub style restaurant. The portions are small. Oder a couple for yourself, or get several and share.

I ordered the Pan con Tomate Bread ($2.5), which was chewy and delicious.

I also got the Heirloom Tomatoes (Soft Tofu, Amazu Ponzu, Blueberries - $11), which was cool and refreshing, yet unique and interesting.

Last but not least, I ordered the Brussels Sprouts (Bacon Miso, Sea Salt - $7). (Here goes my rant) This was by far the best thing that I have eaten in a long time! It has been over a month since I actually dined there, and I have thought of this dish every day since. Large fresh Brussels Sprouts with Bacon pieces slathered in a thick, rich, sweet-yet-salty sauce. It was so good! I am tempted to take the 4 hour drive back down to Miami just to get several more orders! I have been to great restaurants and knew that I enjoyed my meal but cannot remember what I ordered, but this was one of those experiences where in 20 years I will still be able to remember “that time I was in South Beach at Pubbelly and had the Brussels Sprouts”. My suggestion is that when you read this that you make plans to go and try them for yourself. That is all.