One of my favorite shows on the Food Network is Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I was excited to find out when I was visiting Orlando that there was a restaurant nearby that was featured on the show – The Meatball Stoppe. I got such a warm welcoming when I walked through the door. The entire staff said hello. I saw right away the signed poster of Guy hanging on the wall. I also found the colorful stencil that the show puts on the wall of every restaurant they visit. This restaurant lives up to their name. In…
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I have eaten at several restaurants around Lakeland, Florida. There was one placed located downtown that I had been wanting to try for a long time called Frescos. They are known for their weekend brunches and I was excited to get to experience it for myself. One of the best things about brunch at Frescos is their bottomless mimosas. These are not just your standard orange juice and champagne mimosas. They offer a variety of different flavors and you can try them all. There were champagne glasses being served all around the restaurant. The first mimosa I ordered was the…
Leave a CommentIf you have ever driven on Interstate 4 between Tampa and Orlando you have certainly seen a giant industrial building with a big sign that says Brew Hub. I finally decided to check them out and see what they were all about. When I walked in I was overwhelmed with the size if the tasting room. There were tables all around and a nice huge bar. I pulled up a seat and started talking with the bartender. What makes Brew Hub different is they offer brewing machinery, space, and bottling to local craft breweries. This allows these local businesses to…
Leave a CommentA brand new restaurant recently opened up in downtown Lakeland called Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits. It is actually located in an old post office building. It was really cool how they incorporated the old look of the post office into an updated chic hangout. What patrons may not realize when they walk into this restaurant is it’s actually a BBQ joint. They smoke all of their own meats in the back. When they run out of a meat, then that is it for the day. While I decided what food to try I glanced over their drink menu.…
Leave a CommentI was hungry for a homemade empanada. If you have never had one empanadas are a stuffed pastry that is filled with a savory or sweet filling and deep fried. I had asked some friends where they recommended I go when I was visiting Tampa. They all suggested Mr. Empanada. Tucked away in the corner of a shopping center sits Mr. Empanada. If I did not have the address of where to go I would never have seen this place from the street. However, based on the line of people inside, no one else had any problems finding this place.…
Leave a CommentIt was a wonderful evening in Florida. There was a new restaurant that was recommended for me to try called Tanners Lakeside. It is located between Lake Mary and Lake Howard in Winter Haven, Florida. Since it was such a nice evening I wanted to make sure that I sat outside. They had a great deck that was over the water. I had great seats so that I could watch the boats go back and forth between the two lakes. I also watched all the cute little turtles swimming around and popping their heads…
Leave a CommentThere is a cute bar I found in Winter Haven, Florida called Ave Bar. It is located between Arabella’s and Bistro Pizza. Inside you can either sit at the bar or enjoy a seat in one of their leather chairs. It is a great place to go with friends to enjoy drinks and conversation. The other thing I learned about Ave Bar is that it is owned by the same company that owns Arabella’s and Bistro Pizza. So patrons can actually order food from either of those restaurants and have it delivered to the bar. I started…
Leave a CommentFlorida has a rich history that many visitors do not realize. Back at the turn of the 20th century, Ybor City was thriving with Cuban cigar factories. With all those factories, there was a need for restaurants to feed all those workers. The Columbia Restaurant was one of those places. It is officially known as the oldest restaurant in Florida, founded in 1905. They have a few locations around Florida now, but I was thrilled to be getting to go to the original location in Ybor City. The restaurant takes up an entire block (if not more). They also have…
Leave a CommentLocated in the building next door to Datz is a wonderful sweets shop called Dough. They are both owned by the same company. When I walked into this brightly colored and playful shop, I was greeted by the sweet smell of sugar. Their cases are loaded with homemade treats from donuts, cupcakes, and cookies. They have a machine on the counter where they will make 12 fresh mini donuts right in front of you. If you are not in the mood for donuts, then you can try one of their many homemade ice creams flavors. They are…
Leave a CommentThey say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having breakfast at Datz proves that statement to be absolutely true. Based on the crowd of customers that I saw, they all felt the same way. While looking over the menu of creative breakfast dishes, I ordered a Prickly Pear Mimosa. This was a unique take on a mimosa. They used mandarin-tangerine puree, prickly pear, and champagne. On top it is garnished with candied prickly pear. I enjoyed the sweetness of this mimosa. But be warned the candied prickly pear is extremely sweet. For breakfast I ordered the…
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