WAWA

WAWA is the greatest thing ever! Gas Station,

 Convenience Store,

Coffee,

Donuts,

Those Soda Machines that allow for a million Soda Combos, and (most importantly in my opinion) a Sandwich Shop!

First you go up to the Kiosk and use the touch screen to create your Sandwich.

Hot or Cold, Toasted or Not, Add Toppings and Sauces, Extra Cheese?, Add Bacon?

Have it any way you want!

Then you go and pay and they make it fresh to order.

Without naming names of other similar Sandwich places, I can say that WAWA seems to have more options and be a little bit cheaper, plus there is the fact that they are open 24 hours a day!

I usually get the BLT with Roasted Red Peppers, Pickles and Creamy Pesto Sauce!

Their Cheese Steaks are pretty good too!

Give them a try, and fill up your tank while you are at it!

Hummus House

I am never in this area, but I had a Doctor’s appointment on that side of town as well as a Groupon that I had purchased almost a year ago that was about to expire so I decided to give Hummus House a try.

After finding the location and walking in to what seemed like an empty building, someone came up front from the back to take my order.

I had previously checked out the menu online so I already knew what I wanted.

I had the Veggie Falafel Pita (Falafel, Greens, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Tahini Dressing, Roasted Garlic Hummus $6.19) and on the side I got the Guacamole Hummus (Traditional Hummus blended with Avocado and homemade Pico De Gallo served with Pita Chips $2.99)

The Guacamole Hummus was just OK. I could have made it just as good at home in my Food Processor, however the Pita Chips alone made it completely worthwhile.

They were thick and fried to a crisp, and were seasoned nicely.

The Veggie Falafel Pita was decent, a little on the dry side but overall good.

My friend had ordered the Traditional Gyro Pita, and I secretly wished that I had ordered that one because he said it was really good.

Doubtful that I will make the trek back to that side of town just for Pita Chips, but if you are in that area they are pretty good.

Stefano Greek-Italian Restaurant

Recently in Tampa with a friend who lives there I asked where I should go for a nice dinner. She told me there was a great Greek-Italian place called Stefano that had reasonable prices and large portions.

 I was sold.

It was obvious that the place use to be a Pizza Hut, but boy was the food good!

From the Greek menu I ordered the Mousaka (Layers of Potatoes, Eggplant and Seasoned Meat topped with a Cheese Sauce $9.95). It is served with your choice of homemade Soup or Salad, and also one Side Item.

I started with the Black Bean Soup. It was perfectly seasoned and very hearty.

When my Mousaka came out I realized my friend was right – they do serve Large Portions.

For my Side Item I chose Grilled Eggplant, which was tender and full of flavor.

As for the Mousaka itself, Wow! I make this dish and I do a really good job of it. I often order it when I am at a Greek Restaurant, but am rarely impressed. Actually I have only found one Restaurant that makes Mousaka better then I do… until now.

The layers of Eggplant and Potatoes were nicely balanced with the Meat Sauce, and the Custard Topping was perfection! Cover it all with some freshly made Tomato Sauce and you have one of the best (if not the best) Mousakas ever!!!!

The others that we dined with were also pleased with their meals, and if given the opportunity I would love to go back there again.

Waffle House

Why am I writing a review of Waffle House? Because it is delicious.

Regardless of which location you go to the service and food will be consistent.

Greasy? Yes

Healthy? No

Inexpensive? Yes

Quick? Yes

Satisfying? Yes

I always get the Breakfast All Star Special. It runs about $7 and consists of Two Eggs, Hashbrowns or Grits, Toast, (your choice of) Bacon, Ham or Sausage and a Waffle.

Their Waffles are always made fresh to order and are delicious when slathered in Butter (well, Butter-like Product) and Syrup!

Georgie's Alibi

I was recently in St. Petersburg and some friends of mine told me that the Burgers at Georgie’s Alibi were really good. I knew this place to be a nightclub and I couldn’t have imagined that the food would actually be good, but we decided to give it a try.

The atmosphere was nicer then I was expecting. There were video screens playing ads for upcoming events. Most people in this large space were just drinking at the bar, but as we found a table a bubbly server came over to greet us and take our order. We ordered Burgers, and then our server moved us to a different table because they were about to start a drag show and she wanted us to have a good view of the stage. The show was actually quite entertaining and before we knew it our Burgers had arrived.

I read that their Burgers are ground fresh daily and prepared to order. I decided on the Sticky Burger (Topped with Cheddar Cheese, Applewood Smoked Bacon on a Peanut Butter loaded Bun $9.95). This sounded both delicious and interesting so I gave it a try. I ordered Tater Tots for my side.

It arrived just as I expected it to look, however upon first bite I realized that it tasted much better then I was expecting. The Burger patty was so fresh and tasty, the toppings were great, the Bun was excellent, and overall it was an exceptional Burger. The Tater Tots were nothing special but not bad either.

Then to my delight when the bill came around I was only charge $5 for my Burger. Apparently Tuesday nights are Half Priced Burgers!!! How exciting. It is about an hour and a half drive for me, but next time I find myself in the area I would gladly go there again.

Linda's Winter Park Diner

From time to time I enjoy having a big breakfast from a Diner or “Greasy Spoon” establishment. I realize that to many this is NOT “Fine Dining”, but to me it is comforting and in many ways I prefer it to going somewhere “Fancy”. They are by no means healthy, but every once in awhile I like to indulge.

 

Linda’s Winter Park diner has been one of favorites for many years now. When I lived on that side of town I would get off from work around 3am and I would wait until 5:30am when they opened and be their first customer.

The Food is standard, the prices are affordable, and it is the type of place where the waitresses remember you even if you haven’t dined there in over a year.

I was there recently and had my usual, Bacon & Cheese Omelet, with Home Fries and Wheat Toast ($6.50). There is something about their Omelettes that I just love! Instead of the Eggs and Ingredients all being mixed together and then grilled it is like the Egg forms a “Burrito” around the crispy Bacon and melted Cheese.

I also am quite fond of their Home-Fried Potatoes. I’m pretty sure they just drop them down in the Deep Fryer because they are always perfectly browned on all sides. It is probably my favorite breakfast around.

My friend had the French Dip with Fries and was very pleased with it as well.

I had purchased a Groupon where I got $20 worth of food for $10. This more then covered our meal and we both left with full bellies and smiles on our faces.

Thai House

Thai House on Colonial Drive has been in this location for several years. I have dined in this building before when it was something else, and when it became Thai House I never bothered to give it a try until recently when I met some friends there who had been talking it up.

There is nothing special about the exterior or interior of the building, it’s just OK.

The service was friendly and our order came out promptly.

But the Food is what makes this place so great!

When we arrived there were already some Thai Spring Rolls on the table that our friends had already ordered. (Cabbage, Onion, Bean Threads and Carrots in Rice Roll skin, Deep-Fried and served with a Sweet Plum Sauce $3.00) They were crispy and the Sauce was sweet and we gobbled them up immediately.

Then I quickly decided to get the Cucumber Salad (Cucumbers, Tomato, Scallions, Carrot, Shallots and Onion in Sweet Tangy Thai Dressing $2.95) I couldn’t believe how fresh it was, so good!

For my entrée I had Chicken Phad Poong Galee (Yellow Curry simmered in a Coconut Milk, Celery, Carrot, Bell Pepper, Scallions and Onions “lunch special” $6.50). The Chicken was tender, the Vegetables were plentiful and the Sauce had a nice Coconut flavor.

I also had a bite of my friends’ entrée, which was Phad Sam Lot (Deep-fried slices of Meat topped with a sweet-spicy sauce on a bed of steamed Cabbage, Broccoli, Baby Corn and Snow Peas $9.95). It was so sweet and the Meat was so crispy that the next time I go I want to order it for myself.

We also split an order of Fried Cheesecake for dessert ($3.95). It was good but unnecessary and I think next time I will pass on dessert.

I have some other friends from Tampa that come to Orlando upon occasion and they love all forms of Asian Cuisine. This will definitely be a place that I look forward to taking them to in the future.