Category: Florida

Boca Kitchen – Sarasota, FL

Downtown Sarasota has a ton of restaurants that I was not aware of. When I was invited out to dinner I had to decide about where to go. After looking at several menu’s online I narrowed it down to Boca Kitchen.

It is a small restaurant inside but with the lighting and high ceilings it felt much larger.

They had a full bar and a large wine selection. I kept it simple and just went for a vodka tonic. It was refreshing while I looked over the menu.

The table started off with the cheese and charcuterie board. It was an assortment of cheeses that included bleu cheese, parmesan, and feta. The homemade meats included two different salamis, chorizo, and sausage.  

It was great to eat the meat and cheese by themselves. However, they also served some jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, pickles, and pickled onions on the side.

They also brought out toasted bread and pretzel bread, mustard, and a fruit jam. These were perfect to spread onto the bread and layer on cheese and meat. The jam was my favorite and I loved eating it with the bleu cheese. The tangy taste of the cheese complemented the sweetness of the jam.

The appetizer that we ordered was the fried green tomatoes. I have not had these in years. It is hard to find them when you are not in the South. These tart tomatoes were sliced slightly thick, breaded, and fried up till crispy. Then they layered on pimento cheese, tomato jam, and bacon.

The toppings were amazing. I would have never thought that these three unique flavors would go well together, but they absolutely do. The cheese was salty, the tomato jam was slightly sour and sweet, and the bacon added crunch with a hint of smoke. These flavors accented the tangy tomato perfectly. These were nice to share but they could have been eaten as a meal.

For my dinner I ordered the Yellowfin Tuna. The tuna was cooked to a nice medium, where is was still punk on the inside. The tuna came on top of a kimchi purple rice, baby bok choy, coconut broth, and a sweet soy sauce reduction.

The tuna had a light crust on it that had chorizo mixed in with the breading. It gave each bite a nice spicy crunch. The purple rice was sweet and crunchy. It was unique but full of flavor from the coconut broth and soy sauce. The bok choy added some crunchy freshness.

As a side for the table we did order the maple and bacon glazed Brussels sprouts. While the sweet and salty flavor was great, the Brussel sprouts were sautéed and had a slight amount of char on them to give some crispiness. The maple syrup that they used added a pleasant sweetness. The bacon added crunch.

The dishes that I tried at Boca Kitchen were delicious. I really enjoyed my visit. I would definitely want to go back. Check out their menu at www.bocasarasota.com

Enjoy!

T

3 Keys Brewing – Bradenton, FL

I went with a group of friends to a local brewery after a long day of meetings. This brewery goes by the name 3 Keys Brewing.

They had a nice assortment of beers on tap.

I went for one of their sour beers called Fruit Flayer. This beer was aged with raspberries in a wine barrel. Even though it was aged with raspberries it was not as sweet or tart as a Framboise Belgian beer. It was not overly sour either. It was refreshing on a hot Florida afternoon.

For my lunch I ordered something I have never seen before, a grilled cheese waffle sandwich. This sandwich litterly was two small waffles with slices of melted cheddar cheese and fresh tomato in the middle.

The waffle was slightly sweet and was crispy from being grilled up. They used a generous amount of cheese that just oozed out when I took a bite. The tomato added a little texture and helped cut some of the creaminess from the cheese.

And what goes better with a grilled cheese sandwich than a warm bowl of soup. I chose “The Soup”, that is what it’s called. It is a chicken soup with cauliflower, orange and yellow carrots, and broccoli all in a creamy Buffalo broth.

It was an interesting soup, starting with the ingredients. I normally do not see soups with cauliflower and broccoli in them. The texture of the soup was like a chili. The flavor from the Buffalo sauce that was in it was nothing like a chicken wing. It had a slight sour taste with slight heat.

This was a nice place to hang out and grab a beer. Their food menu was pretty extensive. I enjoyed my sandwich. Other people in my group got burgers, nachos, pizza, and even a homemade mac and cheese.

If you are in the Bradenton area stop by and check them out. Visit their website at www.3keysbrewing.com

Enjoy!

T

Vines Grille – Orlando, FL

I was visiting Orlando when they were having their restaurant week that they call Magical Dining. This was a nice surprise. There were so many restaurants on the list, but I did not have time to visit all of them. I decided to check out what Vines Grille had to offer. They were having a 3-course meal with an appetizer, entrée and dessert.

I started with the Yuca Croquettes. The Yuca was mashed like potatoes and had bacon and cheese mixed in. Then they were breaded and deep fried till crispy on the outside. They served a jalapeno cilantro aioli on the side, but I did not feel I needed to use it.

The filling was extremely creamy. It had a nice smoky taste because of the bacon.

For my entrée I went for the Faroe Island Salmon. This fresh Atlantic salmon was cooked perfectly, with a little crispiness on the outside skin. It was flakey and fell apart as I cut it with my fork. There was a lemon-dill sauce poured on top. It added a little tangy taste.

For a side they served up delicious fingerling potatoes, asparagus, and confit tomatoes. These also had the dill sauce on them. The asparagus was tender. The potatoes were my favorite. They were tender and sweet.

For my dessert I chose the cheesecake. It was a classic NY style. There was a strawberry sauce that they decorated the plate with. This allowed me to take a little of the sauce and not overwhelm the taste of the cheesecake, which was nice and creamy. It was the perfect ending to the meal.

I am so glad I got to not only experience Vines Grille but that it was part of the Orlando’s Magical Dining. Plus, the restaurant donated some money from my dinner to local charities. If you are visiting Orlando and want to try somewhere other than a chain, the Vines Grille is for you.

Visit their website at www.VinesGrille.com and see what they have to offer.

Enjoy!

T

The Terrace Grille – Lakeland, FL

Lakeland is located in Central Florida in between Tampa and Orlando. It is home to many lakes, hence the name. Downtown you will find Lake Mirror, breweries, cigar bars, food trucks, craft shops, and so many other great things to see and do.

The Terrace Hotel is one of those places that is a must visit in downtown Lakeland. It is a hotel from 1924 that has been restored to its former glory.

   

Located inside the hotel is the Terrace Grille. They serve a nice Sunday brunch.

  

Naturally I started off with a mimosa. If you have read my blog before, anytime I have brunch, having a mimosa is a must.

There were several items on the menu that peaked my interest, including a quiche. I was feeling like pancakes so I ordered their classic breakfast because it came with pancakes.

I got my eggs scrambled with a side of crispy bacon. The pancakes were the perfect petite size. I tried them before I put maple syrup on them. They were very sweet. I have never tasted a batter like this before. Adding butter to them put a salty complement to the taste. I put a little maple syrup  on some bites to add even more sweetness.

This was a really nice place to have brunch with friends. Whether you are staying at the hotel or not, the Terrace Grille is a great spot to get a bite to eat.

Check them out at http://www.terracehotel.com/

Enjoy!

T

The Whole Enchilada – Winter Garden, FL

The town of Winter Garden has a cute downtown main street. There are several places to sit in Centennial Park and enjoy music or people watching. There are walking and biking trails, and several shops and restaurants.

It was around lunch time and I went to check out The Whole Enchilada.

The restaurant has a walk-up counter to order. Then they bring the food to your table. It is a great set up. It really allows for customers to come and go quickly.

I placed my order and headed over to their salsa bar. They have four different salsas ro choose from. I made sure I tried all of them with my chips.

  • Smooth Pico – a mild salsa full of chopped up tomatoes and onions with cilantro
  • Verde – a green salsa with a tangy flavor
  • Roasted Tomato – crushed tomatoes with a smoky taste
  • Mango Salsa – sweet flavor with chunks of fresh mango. This was my favorite.

The chips and queso were the perfect starter. The queso was creamy with no spice at all. I did combine a little of the pico with the queso to add some texture.

The tacos I ordered were brought to the table. I ordered the Hasselhoff. These are classic tacos filled with ground beef and topped with jack and cheddar cheeses. I got them in a crunchy shell, but a soft shell is also an option.

The beef on the taco needed a little extra seasoning. I added the mango salsa to them as well as some of the queso. This created a combination of sweet and salty.

The Whole Enchilada was a great place for lunch. They have a nice roof top bar and seating area that is perfect for a nice summer evening.

Check them out at www.TWEFreshmex.com

Enjoy!

T

Break Awayz – Flagler Beach, FL

When visiting a town or city I have never been to sometimes it is a challenge to know where the good hang outs and restaurants are. I find that asking the locals is a great way to start. But there is something even better to try, ask a local bartender. Why? They will know the hot spots that stay open late. Bartenders and kitchen staff from other restaurants want to go out and party too, unfortunately they have to wait till their places close. I have discovered tons of places that stay open late just to make sure they can serve their peers.

That is the exact reason that I went to Break Awayz. My bartender at Tortugas recommended this restaurant. She said she goes here all the time after work.

  

What people love about Break Awayz is the huge assortment of beer and wine options plus their food selection. So I pulled a seat up to the bar and started looking over their beers. I wanted a beer that was more on the lighter side that had a fruity taste. That is exactly what I found in the Watermelon Dorado Ballast Povant. I could smell the watermelon when I held the glass to my nose. And sure enough, this beer was full of watermelon flavor. It was a sweet taste that was very refreshing.

Now it was time for food. There were a few things that caught my attention – tacos, hummus dip, and several tuna dishes.

I settled on the Ahi tuna plate. It was a huge tuna that was seared perfectly on the outside and a soft pink on the inside. They sprinkled sesame seeds on the outside that added crunch. As soon as I took a bite I could taste the flavor of the sesame oil that they cooked the tuna in. It added a nutty flavor to the fish. It was amazing.

It also came with a side of freshly steamed Jasmine rice and a seaweed salad. The seaweed was chilled and it had a sweet taste not salty. It paired well with the sesame accents from the tuna.

This stop to Break Awayz was the perfect ending to a fun night. If you are looking for a great spot you need to visit. Check them out at http://www.break-awayz.com/

Enjoy!

T

 

 

Tortugas – Flagler Beach, FL

When people think about Florida beaches I am sure that Daytona Beach is top of mind. However, about 30 minutes north is a small community called Flagler Beach. This beach was named after Henry Flagler who was an oil tycoon and a Florida railroad developer. Do not think that this is a quiet beach town because there are several hot spots that I found on my most recent visit.

One of those spots was Tortugas. Located right across the street from the beautiful Atlantic Ocean sits this two story restaurant.

This place was hopping with a live music and tons of fire pits to keep yourself warm from the ocean breeze.

  

The music the band was playing was energizing and it got me in the mood for a fun cocktail. I went for a “Painkiller”. It was rum mixed with orange and pineapple juices plus fresh coconut cream. It was not overly sweet which surprised me. The refreshing taste paired well with the salty ocean breeze.

I was not super hungry when I got there but I did want to try something off their menu. I went for the conch chowder. It was a big bowl filled with a tomato based broth and fresh vegetables, including big chunks of potato. The chowder was loaded with pieces of fresh conch. It was very hearty and filling.

If you are looking for a fun beach bar for during the day or at night, Tortugas is the spot. With their live music and fun drinks you can easily spend all day there.

Check out their seafood menu at http://www.tortugasflorida.com/

Enjoy!

T

Palace Italian Restaurant – Lakeland, FL

Italian food is very comforting with all the cheeses and sauces that cover everything from pastas to meats. After a busy day, I was in the mood for some comfort food. I thought that Palace Italian Restaurant would satisfy that mood.

I had never actually eaten inside the restaurant. In the past I have gotten take out. This time I wanted to eat there. They have amazing murals painted on the walls, many are of famous landmarks around Italy.

Once I sat down my waitress brought over some homemade bread. This was a flat bread that was topped with butter, garlic salt, and Italian seasonings. They also served it with a side of olive oil / chili oil mixture. This gave it a little heat. I preferred the bread by itself because of the great seasoning that it had.

The tortellini soup was the homemade soup of the day when I visited. They change it up every day. The soup was a great chicken broth base that was filled with vegetables, sausage crumbles, and large tortellini. It was a very filling soup; there was a nice comfort feeling to it.

For an appetizer I got the calamari fritti. These fresh calamari were breaded and fried up. The breading was light and crunchy. The calamari were extremely tender. They tasted amazing with the homemade marinara sauce that was served on the side. The bread absorbed the sauce well without making it soggy.

For my dinner I got the Chicken Sorrento. They served a huge chicken breast that was topped with sautéed eggplant, prosciutto, and mozzarella cheese. They covered everything with a plum tomato sauce and fresh leaves of basil.

The chicken was tender and still moist. The eggplant was still slightly firm which made it easy to cut. The prosciutto added a nice salty taste to the chicken, while the cheese added a creaminess.

As if the chicken and eggplant were not enough, this dish also came with a side of spaghetti tossed in their fresh marinara sauce. I tried it while I was there but naturally I could not finish it. It went straight to the doggie bag so that I could eat it for lunch the next day.

I also was able to try my friend’s dinner. He got the Veal Saltimbocca. The thinly sliced veal was topped with sautéed prosciutto, spinach, and fontina cheese. Then it was covered in a white wine sauce.

The sauce was extremely creamy and had an amazing flavor. They also put the same sauce on a side of spaghetti. The veal was very tender. The spinach added an earthy taste while the prosciutto added saltiness and texture. I am really glad I got to try this.

The dinner portions are large at Palace Italian Restaurant. They can easily be shared almost family style. The flavors were wonderful. Next time I visit I want to make sure I try one of their pizzas.

Check them out at www.palacerestaurantlakeland.com

Enjoy!

T

Boggy Bottom BBQ – Kissimmee, FL

I was helping my sister celebrate her birthday. We decided to go on an airboat ride to explore the Florida Everglades. We chose Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures since it was pretty close to her house (www.bcairboats.com).

While we waited for out time, we checked out their restaurant right there on the grounds. It was called Boggy Bottom BBQ.

It was a cute little restaurant, complete with a gift shop.

I went for the BBQ beef brisket plate. It came with one side, so I chose the sweet corn.

The brisket was extremely lean and very tender. It pulled apart easily with my fork.

They had six different BBQ sauces to choose from. I made sure I tasted them all.

  • Original BBQ – had a slight peppery taste
  • Mango Habanero – sweet and spicy
  • Texas BBQ – had a smoky taste
  • Sweet BBQ – very sweet with a small hint of smoke. This was my favorite
  • Hickory BBQ – had a smoke aroma of hickory wood
  • Mustard BBQ – had a strong mustard taste. This was not my favorite because I am not a huge fan of mustard.

This was a great, quick meal before the airboat ride, which was extremely fun. We got to see four alligators along the ride. Go enjoy a ride for yourself and grab some homemade BBQ either before or after.

Visit their website at www.boggybottombbq.com

Enjoy!

T

716 Burgers & Brew – Lakeland, FL

There is a great neighborhood bar in Lakeland, Florida called 716 Burgers & Brew. This bar is tucked away off the main road, in between neighborhoods and golf courses. This is the type of place where all the locals go to hang out. Everyone knows each other.

If you are a Buffalo Bills fan (or any team from Buffalo) this is the perfect hangout for you. See the owners of the bar, Bo and Lisa, are from Buffalo. This is why it is called 716 – it is the area code for Buffalo. I think it is a clever name and really helps it stand out from all those chains out there.

  

Keeping with the Buffalo theme, their happy hour is offered from 3:11-7:16. Again, these are both area codes for Buffalo.

To enjoy the football games on TV, I ordered a few things off their menu. I started with the chili cheese fries.

The crispy fries were covered with salty chili that was loaded with beans. Then smothered on top was melted nacho cheese. I love it when cheese fries use liquid cheese. It makes the fries so much better because every bite is covered in cheese. What put these fries over the top was the crispy pieces of bacon that were sprinkled all over.

To wash down these fries, I enjoyed some new Malibu Rum cocktails. They came in cans but I drank mine over ice. They were really refreshing. I tried two flavors:

(1) Pineapple

(2) Strawberry Kiwi

  

When halftime for the game rolled around it was time to order some chicken wings. I was able to et them naked and extra crispy. I like my wings to be cooked well done so the skin is crispy. I ordered all flats (also another one of my personal preferences). They cost a little extra but that is typical. I got two different flavors:

(1) Bourbon BBQ

(2) Traditional Buffalo Hot sauce

The Bourbon BBQ sauce was nice and sweet. It almost reminded me of a Thai chili sauce, only a little darker and thicker.

I could not go to a Buffalo bar without getting traditional Buffalo wings. I got them hot because I like a little heat. It had a great ting as I ate them.

716 is a fun and friendly place to check out. Their food was great and the menu is much larger than a typical bar. I definitely plan on checking them out again. You should make a stop to 716 to watch a football game or on a Wednesday to check out karaoke night.

Follow them on Facebook at 716burgersandbrew because their website is still being built.

Enjoy!

T