Cheddar Jack's - Bleu Cheese and Bacon Burger

When I saw a Groupon for Cheddar Jack’s I decided to check out their website to see if it was something I was interested in purchasing. The opening page of the site states, “The Best Burgers and Cheese Steaks in Central Florida, Maybe even the World”. Although the location was a bit of a drive for me, I had to purchase it to see if they were right or wrong.

The ATMOSPHERE… This small building looks more like an office building then a restaurant from the outside. The inside is basic seating with random artwork on the walls. There is nothing really appealing or inviting about the place.

The SERVICE… A young lady brought us our drinks and took our order. The service was adequate, but not great.

The FOOD… Breakfasts, Deep Fried Appetizers, Burgers, Cheese Steaks and Sandwiches.

I decided to get the Bleu Cheese and Bacon Burger ($6.45) and for my side item I ordered the Corn Fritters ($3.89). Surprisingly the Burgers Do Not come with a Side Item so I was already over $10 without a drink.

Our food was brought to our table very quickly. The Corn Fritters were hot and greasy on the outside and a little doughy on the inside. (I really wanted to like them but instead they were kind of gross.)

As I picked up my Burger I thought, “This isn’t going to be very good either” however much to my surprise it was actually pretty decent. Although (like the Fritters) it was definitely greasy, it did have a pretty good flavor and I was impressed with the amount of Bleu Cheese on it.

So for two of us each having a Burger, a Side Item and a Drink the bill came to $26 (before tip). I was glad I had the Groupon because otherwise I would have felt like the price was way too high for what you get. I doubt that I will return, not only is it too far of a drive for me, but the food was not memorable enough to make me want to come back for more.

Holy Smoke BBQ - Smoked Turkey Dinner

 We had seen a place with a sign that just says “BBQ” and wandered in to see what it was all about. We were the only ones in the place, so we had their undivided attention. Turns out that the people that run the Catfish Joint on Curry Ford have been working on Holy Smoke BBQ for 3 years, which is now open in the same plaza. 

 

The ATMOSPHERE… It is a very large place with western décor featuring a bar, a private dining room, and a large open dining room with plenty of booth and table options.

The SERVICE… Our server Wendy could not have been better, she was very helpful in answering questions and giving suggestions.

The FOOD… Comfort Foods, Seafood Plates, Steaks and Hickory Wood Smoked BBQ (We could smell the Hickory as we walked in) All of their Meats are Dry Rubbed, Slow Cooked in their “Old Hickory” Smoker, and Hand Carved when ordered.

With all of their “Non BBQ” meals and their 19 side item choices the menu makes the place more of a “Country Cookin’” place rather then simply a BBQ Joint.

As we looked over the menu Wendy brought us sampling of Beans and Corn Bread Muffins. What a nice little bonus.

We were both curious of their Pulled Pork, so we started with a half order of Pulled Pork Nachos. They were pretty tasty and we finished the plate in no time!

 Since we has already tried the Pulled Pork we decided that one of us would get the Turkey Dinner and the other would get the Brisket Dinner.

My friend had the Brisket with Green Beans and Mac & Cheese.

I had the Smoked Turkey with Fried Green Tomatoes and Sweet Potato Wedges.

My food was good, not great. The portion of sliced Meat was very generous and tasted like your traditional Thanksgiving Turkey. The Fried Green Tomatoes were OK but rather bland, a little salt or other seasoning would have helped. The Sweet Potato Wedges were also just OK, I feel like if they would have been cooked a little longer and were a little softer they would have been perfect. The plate was also served with Gravy, which was great on the Turkey. I had planned on using the BBQ sauce, but found that I really liked the gravy better.

Then when we asked about Dessert Wendy told us about their shooters. When she brought them around we were impressed with the size of them. Normally a shooter dessert is simply a shot glass, but these were in “Rocks” glasses and were a great deal for the money. They were 3 for $9 so we decided on the Peanut Butter Cup, the Oreo, and the Key Lime. They were all very rich and dense. The Peanut Butter Cup was my favorite and still I could only eat about half of it. The Pastry Chef came by our table later and was also really nice, she clearly is a talented woman and loves what she does.

Our bill for 2 Drinks, 2 Entrees, 1 Appetizer and 3 Desserts was only $41, which is a Great Deal I thought.

My hopes for the place are that they get a better Sign, hopefully something that actually says, “Hole Smoke”. Although I have slight complaints about the Food I would simply order something different next time. There were several other menu items that caught my eye, and Wendy’s service was so good that I would definitely go back again.

Polonia - Hand Pounded Chicken Cutlet

I was a little skeptical about trying Polonia, but we were in the area and decided to take a risk. I usually go to Anna’s Polish Restaurant and it is one of my favorite places to eat. Not only did I feel a little guilty about eating Polish food from somewhere else, but I also figured that it couldn’t be nearly as good as Anna’s. I was wrong.

The ATMOSPHERE… Located in Longwood on 1792 near 434, as you walk in there is a counter where you can buy Sausages, Wines and fresh baked Desserts. Then to the right is the dining room, which has about 15–20 tables.

The SERVICE… It was our server Michelle’s first week there, but even being new she was very personable, knowledgeable, and did a great job.

The FOOD… Standard Polish menu items such as Piegori’s, Potato Pancakes, Kielbasa and Paprikash. All of their food is made from scratch and cooked to order.

My friend ordered a salad that was the daily special. It contained Spring Mix, Walnuts, Gorgonzola Crumbles, and fresh Strawberries with a pureed Strawberry Dressing. Although there was nothing about it that was super-special it was very fresh and the dressing was good.   

He also had the Piegori entrée, which contained 6 pieces of Cheese filled Pierogis with caramelized Onions on top. I believe he intended to just have the appetizer portion, but I gladly helped him finish them!

I ordered the Hand Pounded Chicken Cutlet and for my two sides I chose the Red Beets and Cucumbers in Creamy Dill. The (Very Large) Chicken Breast was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside and served with a dollop of Herb Butter. The Beets were naturally sweet and at the same time almost savory, and the Cucumbers were cool and refreshing and tasted so good slathered in the creamy Dill Sauce. I really enjoyed my meal and would gladly order it again!

Then for Dessert we saw that they had a Coconut Peach Cheesecake in the case up front, so we decided to share a piece. We were glad we just got one because it was huge, enough for two people for sure, possibly three. It was really creamy and rich, but not too sweet. The fresh Peaches gave it a unique flavor and I cannot remember the last time I had a Dessert that I enjoyed this much. For my personal taste it was just the right balance.

So between my long-time favorite Anna’s Polish Restaurant and my new discovery Polonia I refuse to pick a favorite! Instead I would like to think that I now have two delicious dining options when I am in the mood for Polish Food!

Bento Cafe - Orange Chicken Bento Box

I had been to the Bento Café downtown a couple of times, but I recently tried the one on Sand Lake road where I met some friends for a lunch meeting. To quote their website “Bento offers quick, casual Pan-Asian cuisine in a stylish and friendly atmosphere”. I agree that place was stylish, the service was fast and friendly, but most importantly the food was really tasty!

Bento Café offers Sushi, Noodle Bowls, Rice Bowls and Bento Boxes, and they are all at very affordable prices.

I decided on the Orange Chicken Bento Box (Lightly fried with green peppers in an Orange Glaze $8.25). The Bento Boxes are served with White Rice, Noodles, Ginger salad, Vegetable and Dessert, so you really get a taste of everything. The Chicken was tender and the Orange Glaze was sweet and delicious!

My friend also ordered the Edamame ($3.95) and I tried it as well, very delicious!

I recommend Bento Café is you don’t mind a chain and are looking for a lunch that is quick, inexpensive and delicious.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

I remember the first time I ever heard about Five Guys Burgers. I was meeting a friend at the Brandon Town Center Mall just south of Tampa, and she told me to meet her in the Food Court at this new place that had amazing Burgers. I was early and so I was going to start without her, and even though I wasn’t really in the mood for a “Food Court” Burger I decided to give it a try. I could see right away why she had recommended it so highly. That was about five or six years ago, and ever since then Five Guys has taken over Orlando, popping up everywhere, and now everyone knows what they are and just about everybody loves them!

The ATMOSPHERE… Each location has a slightly different layout but they all have the same feel. Bright and spacious with plenty of tables and chairs (but they will still be packed at peak hours regardless of how big they are)

The SERVICE… Order and pay at the counter, then get your drink and condiments at the self-serve bar and wait for them to call your number. You can snack on the complimentary peanuts while you wait for your food to be prepared.

The FOOD… Although they do offer Hot Dogs and a few Sandwiches, what you really need to get is a Burger and Fries!

Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Bacon Burger, or Bacon Cheeseburger (They come as double Burgers, so if you just want a single you order it “Little”)

All the rest of your toppings are free (Mayo, Lettuce, Pickles, Tomatoes, Grilled Onions, Grilled Mushrooms, Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, Onions, Jalapeno Peppers, Green Peppers, A1 Steak Sauce, Bar-B-Que Sauce, Hot Sauce) and every Burger is custom made to order.

For the Fries there is no need to order a “Large” because the “Small” is still pretty big. In fact they fill your French Fry container and then pour more on top of that so the bottom of the bag always has plenty of extra. I’ve even shared a small order with another person and still had enough.

I have tried ordering Five Guys Burgers several different ways, but I find that my favorite way is just to get a Cheeseburger with Ketchup, Lettuce, Tomato and Pickles. That way you really enjoy the flavor of the Meat with the creamy Cheese, and the Lettuce, Tomato and Pickle give it just the right amount of crispy, fresh crunch!

So for those of you who have not had the pleasure of visiting Five Guys yet, my recommendation is that you go with a friend, share some Fries and each get a Burger with your favorite toppings. As far as “Burger Chains” go I would rank it right at the top and I would be a little surprised if you didn’t love it!

BubbaChuck's BBQ - Winter Haven, FL

My friends that live in Poinciana have been talking about this amazing BBQ place they go to called “BubbaChuck’s”. They have been trying to get me to come out for a visit so that I could try it as well. Yesterday I finally made it out there, I tried it, and now I am ready to make the hour plus drive back just to have it again.

What I understood about this place ahead of time was that the owners were BBQ competitors who seem to have won a lot of prizes in local and regional competitions. They had a catering business and then opened up the restaurant because of the demand for it. I also knew that they were only opened Thursday through Sunday, and were often extremely busy.

As we walked in I was starving and excited. I noticed that the windows were lined with all of the trophies they had won from many years of BBQ cook offs. We walked up to the counter to order (This is where I would like to mention how all the staff was friendly and personable). I decided on the Pulled Pork Sandwich (This is what I usually order from a BBQ restaurant and it is what I base my like or dislike of the place on.) I also got a side of Tater Tots, Bean Bites and the Dessert of the day, which was a Banana Pudding Cake.

As I went to the drink station to get my Iced Tea I noticed all of the sauces; Mustard, Spicy, Original and one that was labeled “Award Winning”! I tasted them all but realized that “Award Winning” was for me, it was Sweet with a little bit of a Kick. Our food was delivered shortly and I couldn’t wait to dive in.

The Pulled Pork Sandwich was served on Toasted Bread and had Cheese on it. It is served without Sauce, and unlike most BBQ places the meat was so tender and delicious that I didn’t even need to add too much Sauce to it. Something else I noticed about it was that it was not very greasy, and although I still ended up using several napkins it was because I am messy, not because the sandwich was greasy! I ate every bite.

The Tater Tots were extra crispy and well seasoned.

The Bean Bites were very unique, they take their Baked Beans and wrap them in Wonton Wrappers and then Deep Fry them. They are crispy on the outside and sweet on the inside. They are equally interesting and delicious!

My friend ordered the Fried Okra and I had a few of them, they were also really good!

The Banana Pudding Cake was tasty. All of the yummy flavors of Banana Pudding in the form of a Cake, and since none of the bananas on top had started to brown yet I knew that it was really fresh.

The only bad thing that I can possibly say about BubbaChuck’s is that there is not enough parking. We lucked out and got a spot, but we had difficulty leaving because we were blocked in. We were there around 3pm on a Thursday, and I understand that on peak times parking can be a nightmare. However this only means that eventually they will have to expand or at least address the parking situation, because the Food is SO GOOD that the community will demand it! If you are ever in the area please give BubbaChuck’s a try. You will be glad you did!