Showing posts with label Restaurant Review. Show all posts

Park Pizza & Brewing Company


I haven't done a restaurant review in a while but a trendy new spot recently opened up close to home and I love the concept. I know there's nothing new about a brewery or a pizza restaurant but Park Pizza & Brewing Company's menu is eclectic with a delicious variety of rotating beers brewed in-house.

Islamorada: Final Favorites


Last week I shared the details of the beautiful resort we stayed at in Islamorada called The Postcard Inn and then did another post about the Rain Barrel Artisan's Village which was full of color and creativity. Today I have some final tidbits to share mainly some "must try" restaurants/sports bars and things to do.


I mentioned that we spent most of our time relaxing at the resort but we did venture out a few times. On Saturday, after exploring the Rain Barrel Market, we stopped in at Hog Heaven Oceanfront Sports Bar to grab a drink and watch some sports. I loved being outside on the waterfront while K enjoyed all the various games on the TVs around the bar.


 

 
When we booked our trip to Islamorada almost everyone recommended Lorelei's Cabana Bar & Restaurant for brunch so we made our way there on Sunday. It's a casual place with great food and mimosa specials for brunch and the waterfront patio seating is always my favorite kind of setting especially in the Keys.



We spotted this "Limo Boat" in the marina at Lorelei's which I thought was interesting. After doing some research, I found out this Nautilimo does cruise tours along the shoreline of the Florida Keys which would be cool but quite amusing at the same time.


K and I tasted, for the first time, and fell in love with frozen key lime daiquiris. What we didn't know was that the most popular place that makes them was at the World Famous Tiki Bar located on our resort, just a few steps from our hotel room. We had friends texting us saying "you have to try the Key Lime Daiquiris - they are amazing!" and we thought "Oh how convenient!" 

And amazing they were.



On Monday it was time to make the road trip back home so we had to fuel up before the 5-hour drive. We didn't have a place in mind but drove past The Island Grill and made a U-turn because it looked like the perfect spot for one last meal. This restaurant's claim to fame is "Home of the original tuna nachos" so we ordered the nachos along with some conch fritters to share  I've never tried anything more delicious. The restaurant was empty because it was 11am on a Monday but waterfront seating (once again) with good food was the perfect way to end the trip.




We did have one last stop on our bucket list and it was to visit The Original Key Lime Factory. Neither of us were in the mood for dessert so we bought a whole pie (frozen) to bring home to enjoy later in the week. K ate most of it but it definitely was an amazing treat!





So this wraps up everything about our Islamorada trip with all the extra favorites we indulged in and of course I'm dreaming of returning one day to explore more of the Florida Keys!

Favorite Brunch Spots in the US


When we travel for quick weekend trips within the US, I usually pick a must-try brunch spot ahead of time so we can eat and experience brunch in new settings. I'm sure the list of excellent brunch spots within the US is very lengthy but these are my favorite gems that offered an amazing experience. Titles are clickable if you want to read my reviews.

Bridge House Tavern - Chicago
 



Mr. B's Bistro - New Orleans




Pinewood Social - Nashville




Ophelia's Electric Soapbox - Denver




Maxine's on Shine - Orlando

image source





Ok now I'm craving brunch. Is it the weekend yet?

Best Resaurants in Orlando


There are so many amazing restaurants in Orlando beyond this list but these are some of my favorite places to visit for lunch, dinner, and brunch. I figured it would be a helpful guide for visitors or even locals looking to dine out and enjoy some of the best cuisine in the Central Florida area.

Shari Sushi Lounge
 Shari is my all-time favorite sushi restaurant located downtown Orlando. They have happy hour on sushi rolls and drinks everyday from 5-7pm so I frequent here often with my girl friends to catch up.


Santiago's Bodega
I'm a huge fan of Spanish tapas. Santiago's has an amazing tapas dinner menu and also one of the best all-inclusive brunches in town.

Dinner

Brunch


Known for their incredibly huge portion sizes and delicious food. I went for brunch recently with some coworkers and we felt like it was a Man vs Food challenge. Definitely a must if you want to indulge!


This French restaurant is located in Epcot's France pavilion. We went for Valentine's day on a double date with some friends and had a nice view of the fireworks over the lake. K said it was the best steak he's ever had and my roasted duck was pretty fantastic. 




Cafe Tutu Tango
An art-inspired tapas restaurant featuring local artwork and live entertainment including belly dancing, magicians and live music. Located in the heart of International drive, this place is a must!



Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
K and I had a lunch date at Bosphorous located on Park Avenue in Winter Park and I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. The food did take quite long to come out but it was well worth the wait. A family-owned Turkish gem in Central Florida.


Pom Pom's Teahouse
I absolutely love this Teahouse and Sandwicheria located downtown Orlando for some eclectic sandwiches and amazing teas. The chef is originally from Thailand and she has created very unique sandwiches plus soups and sides that are just out of this world!

 
Maxine's On Shine
One of my absolute favorite brunch spots located in a neighborhood street in the heart of Orlando featuring live music, amazing food and fabulous drinks. Maxine herself makes an appearance often and stops by your table to chat.

Brunch


Dinner


Taverna Opa
I rang in my 30th birthday a few years ago with a bunch of friends at Taverna Opa. The Greek food and entertainment makes this restaurant a fun spot to visit to celebrate. Dancing on the tables also happened because they encourage it. Expect to have a good time here located in Pointe Orlando.


We've been back since my birthday to take my BFF visiting from Trinidad to have a nice dinner out since the environment and food are amazing! 

 
Spice Modern Steakhouse
Spice offers a nice atmosphere for a date night with steak and sushi being their specialty. I'm a big fan of their brunch and lakefront scenery.




Sushi and burgers seem like a strange combination for a restaurant but we decided on this spot for a blate with Ashley and I was so pleasantly surprised. Naturally I went for the sushi and it's so different from the typical sushi restaurant but absolutely delicious in it's own way. 




Tell me about your favorite restaurants so I can come visit some day!