Panera Bread

For many years now Panera Bread has been one of my “Go To” restaurants when I am looking for a delicious Soup, Salad or Sandwich.

They bake their own Bread for their Sandwiches, and they also offer a ton of Fresh Bagels, Muffins, Cookies and Pastries in their Bakery.

 They offer a variety of signature Sandwiches and Salads, and each day they also feature about 8 different Soups. I often order the “Pick Two” special where I usually get half of their famous Turkey Bacon Bravo (Smoked Turkey Breast, Bacon, Smoked Gouda, Lettuce, Tomatoes and Signature Dressing on our Tomato Basil Bread) and half of one of their Signature Salads.

The Chopped Chicken Cobb with Avocado (All-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, Applewood-smoked bacon, Gorgonzola, hard-boiled eggs, all chopped and tossed with herb vinaigrette, topped with fresh avocado)

and the BBQ Chopped Chicken (All-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, romaine lettuce, roasted corn, black beans, tortilla strips & BBQ ranch dressing, drizzled with BBQ sauce) are two of my favorites!

Also when you get a Combo meal with a drink you can add a Bakery Item (Any!) for 99 cents. What a bargain! I usually get either Pecan Roll or a Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Panera Bread – Always Fresh, Always Delicious, and Always plenty of choices!

Il Pescatore

Il Pescatore is a Mom and Pop style Italian Restaurant located near the corner of Primrose and Colonial. A friend turned me on to it several years ago, and I have been there a handful of times over the years and always left satisfied.

In this quaint little treasure you will find several tables and booths, with an additional dining room for when it is busy. The service will be courteous, and most importantly the Food will be fresh and delicious.

On my last visit we went for lunch and the place was packed.

They brought out toasty Garlic Bread for us as we looked over the menu and decided what we wanted to order.

Then they brought us each a Salad, very standard but with fresh ingredients and a nice House Dressing.

My friend ordered the Pescatore Special Stromboli (Pepperoni, Sausage, Onions, Green Peppers and Mushrooms $10.95). It was enormous, but somehow he managed to eat the whole thing. 

I ordered the Melanzane Rolatini (Breaded Eggplants stuffed with Ricotta Cheese, Baked in Marinara Sauce topped with Mozzarella Cheese $9.95) This dish is also served with a side of Pasta. It was really, really good. Start with a plate full of Pasta, add two large Eggplant Cutlets that were breaded and stuffed with Cheese, then slather in Sauce, then completely cover the whole plate with more Cheese, then Bake until the cheese is melted and starts to get crispy.

Not only was it absolutely delicious, but the portion was also very large. I ate until I was full and took the rest home with me, and it honestly made two more complete meals for me to enjoy for my next two days of lunches. I couldn’t believe the amount of food they give for such a low price.

As if we weren’t already loving this place, we decided to each have a Cannoli (Crispy Pastry Shell with Sweet Ricotta Cream Filling) for dessert. This is one of the most decadent desserts that I have had in a while, so good!

If you are in Orlando and are wanting home cooked Italian food then please give Il Pescatore a try.

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!