Dear Orlando Diners,
If you read my About page it says I am “open” to try different things or restaurants at times or occasions. One of these so called occasions came to fruition recently. On a recent Saturday for lunch I tried Eden’s Fresh Co. Yes, I was thinking like you are right now, what the heck is a Eden’s Fresh Co. Well, they serve fresh salads and wraps. If you are a vegetarian it works for you. If you are not a vegetarian like me, it still can work for you. This place is semi-hidden, tucked away in a small building off Fairbanks that turns into Orange Ave not far from Park Ave in the Winter Park area. When you walk in you might notice an unusual set up? They have high top tables in the front of the restaurant. In the back of the restaurant they have regular tables. They also had a nice big screen TV on for viewing in the back section of the restaurant. You order your food at the counter. A salad builder makes the fresh salads in front of you. On this day, they only had 1 guy making salads at lunch. Lucky for him people trickled in every few minutes. If everyone would have come in at the same time, it could have looked like I4 traffic at 5:30 pm in downtown Orlando. The menu has 11 salads/wraps to choose from. I had a salad, the Desperado $4.85 and I elected to add the Protein $2.00 extra, Boar’s Head smoke turkey was recommended in this salad. This Southwestern salad features Romaine, Black Bean and Corn Salsa, Tomatoes, Onions, Black Olives, Tortilla Strips and Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette. All the lettuce and toppings (tossings they call them) were very garden fresh and it tasted like a delicious salad. The Chipotle Vinaigrette was the perfect dressing for this salad. I am a meat person so I am glad I had the Smoked Turkey with my salad. The turkey went well on the Desperado. I am not the type of person that likes his salad to be the whole meal, however I was pleasantly surprised on how filling it was, but in a good healthy way. I left being comfortably full, this was a nice change and a healthy change. You are what you eat, right? On another note, if you feel you don’t like any of their 11 salads or wraps that’s on the menu you can request the salad builder to build a salad just the way you like it. They have around 37 different Tossings to choose from. You get 5 Tossings. Each additional Tossing is .40. Eden’s Fresh Co. has 12 dressings to choose from. They also have several Protein items to choose from like turkey, chicken and even tofu. Due to the size of the plaza parking lot, it can be limited and tight. Eden’s Fresh Co must be doing something right; they also opened another location in downtown Orlando. So grab your vegetarian friends or non vegetarian friends or a mixture of both and head over to Eden’s Fresh Co.
1330 Orange Ave
Winter Park, Fl
http://www.edensfresh.com
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Press 101 sandwich & wine bar 2
Dear Orlando Diners,
The local guy (me) was out eating once again in the Orlando market place. I was in the mood for a good hot tasty seasoned sandwich. I was also looking for a place that had atmosphere and the option to dine outside. Live entertainment would also be a plus. Is there a place like this in Orlando? Well, I am happy to report there is. Press 101 sandwich & wine bar is that place. They are located in the Dr. Phillips Marketplace area in SW Orlando, right off of Sand lake Rd. First off, they do have outside seating. If it’s cold out they have the heat lamps to keep the dining experience enjoyable. On Thru-Sat they normally have live entertainment. Another plus, of course, you don’t pay a cover. About Press 101, this place is known for their Pressed Sandwiches. I opted for the French dip ($10.5). My wife opted for the Turkey and Brie ($9). My French dip pressed sandwich consisted of slow roasted prime rib, served on a warm baguette with provolone cheese, home made au jus and horseradish sauce that had the right spiciness or kick to it. I loved having both sauces to choose from. I even opted for the spicy flavorful jardinière for $1 more. The added jardinière side really kicked it up a notch, basically you just spread it on or inside the sandwich. Wow, what a kick! The meat, the cheese, the bread, the sauces all flowed so well together. The sandwich also came with a side salad on the dish. It was just ok. I wish it was on a different plate but it did not take away from the well prepared French Dip. I guess I am old school but I just like my salads separate, totally separate on its own plate. My wife ordered the Turkey and Brie. It came with smoked turkey, granny smith apples, and brie cheese and honey mustard on a ciabatta bread. Of course with the salad on the plate. She loved her Turkey and Brie. The flavors flowed nicely with turkey, fruit and cheese. Sounds a little odd in my opinion but it’s actually quite good, I tried it and loved it. On another visit I tried the Havana ($8.5). It comes with marinated pork, ham, swiss, pickle, dijonaise on a baguette. It was not like the Cuban sandwich I had recently in Little Havana in Miami, but it was good! Very tasty! I really did like how Press 101 serves this one up. We also tried the Grilled Cheese ($8.5). It comes with Gruyere, fontina and sharp cheddar, apple wood bacon, and ripe tomatoes on wheat bread. This is by far the best grilled cheese sandwich in Orlando in my opinion. It does not get better than this. I was in grilled cheese heaven awhile eating this wonderful sandwich. Press 101 has also a nice comfortable bar. Beer and wine only is served. I like the TVs at the bar as well, nice way to catch up on scores and other things awhile dining there or just sitting at the bar itself is also pleasant. Plenty of parking is always available, parking is free. Press 101 does a great job with sandwiches overall. I just can’t wait for them to add some more menu items. I give Press 101 a good review and recommend this fine dining establishment.
Address:
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd # 22
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 351-2101
NYPD Pizza in Metro West Reply
Dear Orlando Diners,
I am now writing my second review or post. This review is going to be about one of the most popular dishes world wide we all enjoy to eat. Yes, I am talking about pizza!! We usually have “pizza nite” at least 1-2x a month. I have eaten at many pizza places in Orlando. I must say we don’t have very good quality here in our fine city. However, we do have fine few decent pizza places that make a good pie. I am just spoiled. I have had pizza in New Haven, CT numerous of times. It’s to die for. New Haven has the best pizza on planet earth in my opinion. Pepe’s, Sally’s, Modern Apizza, and even Bar are great. Some of these places were there when my dad was growing up and they are still there to this day. These places are institutions. If you are ever in the New Haven area, try them, you will not be disappointed. However, back to the Orlando scene regarding pizza. Our latest visit was to NYPD Pizza in Metro West. We ordered a Margherita style pizza. It had sauce, cheese, basil, garlic, etc. Noting wrong with a basic style pizza once in a while. We specially ordered it to be thin and crispy, and slightly well done. NYPD Pizza delivered on all accounts. It was thin and crispy and done just like we like it. It was perfectly thin.
It was flavorful. It even seemed like a lite pizza if there is such a thing? It definitely was not heavy or thick, but just to our liking. You could taste the minced garlic and mozzarella cheese in its flavorful italian style sauce. Yum! You also can’t beat the beer special. 5 ice cold beers in a very cold bucket for $6 bucks, what a deal. We love ice cold beer with pizza; they really do go hand in hand in my opinion. Pizza and beer is a match made in heaven. NYPD has a variety of pizzas, wings, salads on its menu. It has TVs for viewing, but they need to invest in larger TVs in my opinion. But most people don’t go to watch TV they go for their tasty pizza. The service was attentive, friendly, and caring. Parking was easy and plenty of it. Prices- $ reasonably priced. Well it’s not pizza from New Haven but its very good pizza in Orlando. My bottom-line review, NYPD Pizza in Metro West gets a “Good” review. Go check it out!
Address:
2589 South Hiawassee Road
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 293-8880
Del Frisco’s Steak House 3
My last visit was early Jan 2011. Our visit always starts out with the valet crew. I am not a huge valet fan but I have never had issues with the valet staff at Del Frisco’s. Valet seems to be almost mandatory but I am sure free parking is close or near? However, the valet team always seems to do a great job. Before I start, reservations are recommended. We always call the night we are going and we always seem to get in somehow, just lucky I guess. I like that. They are always very accommodating for the most part. This particular night I ordered the house salad with blue cheese dressing. The salad is always fresh not pre made in my opinion. The dressing seems to homemade not bottled in my opinion. I just absolutely love the real fresh slices of bacon they put in there. Did I say I was a pork fan? Sometimes my wife and I share the salad, it’s a healthy size, and it should be for the price. I ordered the NY strip that comes with a side of potatoes. Yes, this high end steak house has a couple of dishes and I mean a couple that comes with a side. I asked my steak to be prepared Pittsburg Pink. This means seared on the outside and red on the inside. I like mine medium. When I go into most places and when I order a steak Pittsburg Pink, I usually get the dear in the headlights look or a blank stare, and then I have to tell the whole Pittsburg Pink story. Not at Del Frisco’s. Its normal terminology there. We also ordered the Peppercorn sauce. I have had peppercorn sauce all over the country and in many other high end restaurants and they don’t compare. I will never forget stopping by there once and taking the pepper corn sauce to go and I used it on my own grilled steaks. If you want to impress your family and friends try it! We also ordered the side of baked broccoli with cheese. It’s to die for. Yes it has tons of calories but who is counting not me when I am in Del Frisco’s. Its one of my favorite vegetable dishes of all time, it serves 2 people very easy. Of course I forget to mention the fresh bread at the start of the meal. This is my wife’s favorite bread ever. Its very home made ultra fresh. I told you guys I was not a pro at this, sorry not to put things in not a professional order so to speak. My wife had a filet, she asked for it well done, dead as usual she says, and she always tells them to butter fly it, which they do anyway when ordered well done. Well, it did not come out well done, it was medium and red all in. She sent it back. Out of about 20 visits there or so, this was a first for her. I guess 19/20 is a good track record. We did not get dessert we rarely do but my wife will on occasions. I am an appetizer guy by the way for the most part not a desert fan, but I do get a sweet tooth on rare occasions. You are probably wondering why I did not quote the prices, it’s expensive or it’s in the category of a typical High End steak house. Be prepared to drop some cash. Average bill for 2 is $125-$150 give or take depending on how many adult beverages you guys consume. To sum this experience up, I have eaten at Morton’s, Shula’s, Flemings, Berns in Tampa, Capital Grill just to name a few and I still think ole Del Frisco’s beats them every single time. Just my opinion. My personal ratings going forward will be Great, Good, Not so good, and Awful. I give Del Frisco’s a “Great” review. Enjoy food Orlando!
729 Lee Road
Orlando, FL 32810-5621
(407) 645-4443
www.delfriscosorlando.com
The Unofficial Restaurant Review of Orlando Florida 