new year, new food!
Another year, another new list of foodie finds! Orlando is quickly booming with the foodie scene and I am here to tell you which restaurants you need to visit to start the year off right!
Make sure to check them out and send me a message telling me how you liked it.
(Click on the pictures below for addresses and website links.)
In the centre of fun
One thing that central Florida is becoming extremely popular for is creating small communities within their living spaces. They not only have condos and apartments to rent, they have created close by shopping, salons, and restaurants for the residents to enjoy.
Maitland City Centre has followed suit with the following restaurants:
Take some time out to enjoy it. They also host fairs and Farmer Markets on specific days.
Let's.........#get naked
This past week, I had the pleasure of traveling down to Pompano for work. While being there for lunch, I decided to stop into this taco bar I was blown away with the aesthetics and decor of the place.
What I loved more than anything was that they had healthier options that still ended up being very tasty. Secretly - I wouldn't opt for something healthy but since I was on lunch and had a long day ahead of me, I wanted to try something that wasn't heavy. So I tried the Philly Cheese Steak Bowl - but I was frisky and made it.....naked (without a shell).
I definitely want to go back so I can try their Water My Melons Margarita and Super Creamy Crab Dip.....I suggest you do the same. I mean wtf wouldn't you?!?!
Visit my IG @wtfisfor to see more pictures and videos of the restaurant.
Insider Tip - Don't forget to go to the bathrooms. Believe me, it will give you butterflies when you go!
the hall on the yard
If I had to describe this restaurant in one word it would be....masterpiece.! There is so much that I can say about the restaurant so I will break it down into categories:
Decor: Absolutely Stunning! You can tell that the owner took a lot of time and effort to decorate the place. From the chandeliers to the chairs, tile, and even the art it was aestically pleasing to the eye.
Bar: Any drink you can think of....they can make. What I found interesting is that they had ingredients that took a simple cocktail to an artistic liquid vision to say the least.
Food: The concept of the restaurant is like the fanciest cafeteria with a collection of 9 diverse culinary offerings including:
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Poké Rose (Live and Raw Food)
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Fork & Hen (Southern)
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Wabi Sabi (Japanese Fusion)
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True Island Cuisine (Caribbean)
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Humbl (Plant-Based)
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Daily Bread Bakers (American Bakery)
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Pasion (Mexican Fusion)
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Spice Affair (Indian)
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Chef & I (American Fusion)
There are so many options! Honestly if you are with a group of friends, this will be a really great place to go because it has something for everyone.
Service: So this is where I would rate them lower. To be honest, I heard mixed reviews about the service here but I personally like to be my own judge especially for a place that is new and is still working out the kinks. To be clear, the service is not horrible, there just needs to be a training on standard.
Let me elaborate because I don't believe in trashing any business that has great promise. We went to the restaurant on a quieter day (weekday at about 2:00pm) and you can tell there were more residents of the apartments nearby and those that were just getting a quick bite. I went with my boo just to check it out. Walked in and was kind of confused at the set up of things and the host did not greet us so we continued throughout the restaurant (mostly cause I wanted to get pictures and check things out).
Afterwards, we came back to the "hostess" stand and I asked her what the process was so she explained it to us and we decided to sit at the bar and order our food. The bar staff had a few conversations amongst each other before coming over and then got our drink order. The bartender was nice enough. I typically make conversation with the staff just so I can get a feel of what the service is really like. She didn't ask if we wanted food so we eventually asked for the menus and as we were finishing our food and drinks, she disappeared for about 30-45 minutes lol. It looked like there was a staff change because 2 different bartenders showed up which did not introduce themselves or asked if we were ok so we in turn asked for the check, paid, and left.
While the restaurant was FABULOUS, the food was good, drinks were delicious, and the decor was appealing....customer service training needs to occur but in my opinion did not overshadow my experience at all. I can see this restaurant being my go to place.
But don't take my word for it, go experience it for yourself....because everyone is going to have a different outlook and this restaurant is definitely worth the experience.
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MEET THE OWNER
Meet Jamal Wilson...former pro athlete with a real estate background, who had an idea of opening up a food hall style restaurant known now as The Hall restaurant group.
With locations in now Orlando, Tampa, and soon to be St. Petersburg, you don't want to miss out on this unique concept and tasty options.
"My goals for the hall(s) are simple — change the expectations for dining by delivering a unique service in an elevated space. I don't consider us a food hall. I think that concept, though great, hasn't matured. Ultimately, people want to be able to craft their own food experience. Some want to sit down, others want to explore. Why not offer both in a space that is intimate and inviting?"
-CLTAMPA Article
FRESH FOOD IN THE "O"
More than often, there are new restaurants opening in the Orlando area.
Especially because of emerging areas such as the "Creative Village" and the "Maitland Centre."
Check out my current top 3 picks in the "O."
#1 THE MONROE
Enriched in history and their famous plate of Southern flavors, this is an amazing place to dine in the "Creative Village" before heading to see what the nightlife has to offer downtown.
#2 THE BRIDGE
This upscale restaurant in Winter Park is based on New York cuisine. While considered unique dining, they also offer Happy Hour Monday -Friday from 2-5pm with dishes including Buffalo Chicken Wraps and Panko Crispy Shrimp. Yum!
#3 THE TAVERN
This quaint bar open since March 2021 is known for their fresh food and hand crafted cocktails.
Don't miss out on their Thursday Night Football pitcher and food specials. They won't disappoint!
You're cut off.....or are you?!
Matcha house
Matcha, matcha......matcha!!!! Didn't realize how much I would love thee.
I'm not going to lie y'all, I had no idea what matcha was when I went. I didn't even know that there would be so many different flavors. So let me educate y'all real quick.....if you didn't know, Matcha is a finely grounded powder that is grown and processed from tea leaves. It helps prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even assists in weight loss.
So while I was going for some cute photo ops, it turned out to be something that was healthy and so flagrant with flavor that even the kiddos loved it.
Highly recommended this cute ice cream alternative in the Mills area.
Also shout out to the ladies behind the counter that let me taste almost all the flavors because I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
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