Ah, BBQ, how i love you... at least when done right.
In my life, while living in the state of Florida, I have endured an endless struggle to find a quality BBQ joint. I have tried many, some based on rave reviews from other review sites, and tried others based on hope alone only to be let down time after time after time. Well, let me tell you my friends, based on my experience with places such as Sonny's, Dickey's, and {shudder} Woody's BBQ, if there is one thing Florida has been lacking, it is good BBQ. Now some have said to me, Hey if you keep trying BBQ and being disappointed, maybe you just don't like BBQ. To those people I say, Go to Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and you will understand my pain. BBQ is one of my favorite foods (perhaps I was a gun toting, football slinging, cowboy boot wearing Texan in a past life)....
DISCLAIMER ALERT: I do not mean to offend any Texans out there as I just tend to use ignorance and stupidity to get my points across.
Regardless, maybe I should get on with the review.
O'Boys BBQ: Well for those of you who know, you will understand why I am about to make the statement you will find below. For those of you who don't know me, I apologize and you will eventually catch on and see the bad jokes coming..
So what did I eat on my latest (yes I returned already before being able to post this) visit? I guess the better question is what didn't i try. I ordered a massive plate consisting of Ribs, Sliced Beef and Sliced Pork, with sides of Garlic Bread, baked beans and French Fries. So how was it you ask? well (BAD JOKE ALERT!!) when I finished tearing through the mass of wonderful meat on plate i simply felt the urge to stand and shout OBOY!!.....
APOLOGY ALERT!! OK, so warnings or not, I would like to apologize for that horrendously bad joke.. The BBQ at O'Boys deserved better.
Back to the point. The Ribs were tender, juicy and full of flavor and not just from the BBQ sauce (which was quite tasty itself). The pork was sliced to perfection, moist and delicious, and the Sliced beef was no slouch. Service was friendly and helpful, and walking into the restaurant, it felt like what a true BBQ joint should feel like. Over all, it might be the best BBQ I have found in Florida. And while based on experience, that might not always say much. In this case, it does..
FooManJews Final Thought: If you like BBQ, real BBQ, and not the imitation crap that is being forced down our throats by the other horrifyingly bad chain joints out there, then drive, walk, bike or teleport your way over to O"Boys for some quality, REAL BBQ.
FooManJew Rating: Geshmak
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Rooster's Club N' Global Grille - Winter Park, FL
Ahh Roosters. I passed by you many times, until a night out with friends brought you to mind. So, a Saturday Night Dinner you were destined to be. We ventured out, my wife and good friend (and blog favorite) Matt, hoping for a meal to satisfy our immense hunger. Now when I say we were hungry, this is an understatement. We were all starving, which in turn should have boded well for the folks down at ole Roosters. Sadly, they failed us and the rest of the FooManJew Nation.
Upon entering the establishment and having a look around at the decor, I was struck with the initial impression that they were trying to overcompensate for something, much like a guy driving a civic with a special tailpipe to make it sound like a Ducati motorcycle. There were items that seemed to attempt to portray the "Global" aspect of their name and menu, but it wound up looking cheesy and overdone. Strike 1.
We then waited approximately 5 minutes before we were greeted and finally seated in one of the many open tables. This was followed by a ten minute wait for someone to come by and ask if we had been helped. We of course said no, prompting a "I will get your waiter right over" reply. Another 7 or 8 minutes passed before a waiter approached to take a drink order. The drinks were promptly delivered 5 minutes later. Strike 2
Then when it came time to order, we had a few questions about the extremely expansive menu. There was food from numerous countries throughout and the choices were exciting. Ranging from Indian food, to Italian food, to Asian varieties. We asked the waiter our questions about recommendations and such and found his answers cocky and condescending. Not good. Well, despite the waiter and his "personality" I settled on the Chicken Piccata, my wife the Soltani (a type of thin steak), and Matt the Pasta Marinara. Then we waited... Matt's food came first, after an approximate 20 minute wait. Then we waited again. 3 times the waiter came by to say the food would be right out, and three times we were left waiting. In total another 20 minutes passed before our food arrived. Remember how hungry we were? well, double it. The food should have tasted amazing under the circumstances.
It wasn't......
The chicken was dry and sauce flavorless... The same goes for the Soltani. Matt, being the patient and well mannered fellow he is, had waited for our food to arrive before digging in. His pasta, which he described as average and nothing special, was also cold. Strike 3.
Once finishing this most unsatisfying meal, the thought of desert crossed our mind, however being that we did not want to sleep there, we decided against waiting any longer. We asked for the check, which was speedily delivered, 10 minutes later. We paid and left, never to return. So should I attempt to visit Roosters, you ask? Well if your options are that and gas station hot dogs, sure why not. But if any other respectable options are available, do yourself a favor and take door number 2, 3, 4, or 1157.
FooManJew Rating: Oye Vay
Upon entering the establishment and having a look around at the decor, I was struck with the initial impression that they were trying to overcompensate for something, much like a guy driving a civic with a special tailpipe to make it sound like a Ducati motorcycle. There were items that seemed to attempt to portray the "Global" aspect of their name and menu, but it wound up looking cheesy and overdone. Strike 1.
We then waited approximately 5 minutes before we were greeted and finally seated in one of the many open tables. This was followed by a ten minute wait for someone to come by and ask if we had been helped. We of course said no, prompting a "I will get your waiter right over" reply. Another 7 or 8 minutes passed before a waiter approached to take a drink order. The drinks were promptly delivered 5 minutes later. Strike 2
Then when it came time to order, we had a few questions about the extremely expansive menu. There was food from numerous countries throughout and the choices were exciting. Ranging from Indian food, to Italian food, to Asian varieties. We asked the waiter our questions about recommendations and such and found his answers cocky and condescending. Not good. Well, despite the waiter and his "personality" I settled on the Chicken Piccata, my wife the Soltani (a type of thin steak), and Matt the Pasta Marinara. Then we waited... Matt's food came first, after an approximate 20 minute wait. Then we waited again. 3 times the waiter came by to say the food would be right out, and three times we were left waiting. In total another 20 minutes passed before our food arrived. Remember how hungry we were? well, double it. The food should have tasted amazing under the circumstances.
It wasn't......
The chicken was dry and sauce flavorless... The same goes for the Soltani. Matt, being the patient and well mannered fellow he is, had waited for our food to arrive before digging in. His pasta, which he described as average and nothing special, was also cold. Strike 3.
Once finishing this most unsatisfying meal, the thought of desert crossed our mind, however being that we did not want to sleep there, we decided against waiting any longer. We asked for the check, which was speedily delivered, 10 minutes later. We paid and left, never to return. So should I attempt to visit Roosters, you ask? Well if your options are that and gas station hot dogs, sure why not. But if any other respectable options are available, do yourself a favor and take door number 2, 3, 4, or 1157.
FooManJew Rating: Oye Vay
Lubrano's Pizza - Orlando, FL
Hello my FooJew Crew. I bid you good morning and welcome you back to my world. Today we will touch on a favorite of this critic. Both in food and restaurant. Pizza. Something we all love and sometimes take for granted. For those of us that live in areas where good NY Style pizza is readily available, thank your god, who or whatever he/she/it may be. For those of you like famed writer/director and blogger Shawn Tracey that do not have that luxury, I truly feel for you.
So, what makes for a good pizza you ask? Well, for starters, bread, cheese and tomato sauce, but that can be misleading as shops of true horror like Pizza Hut, Hungry Howie's and Mad Hatters Pizza of Oviedo, FL, use these ingredients as a recipe for failure. Today though, we worry not of the scourge on the beloved name of Pizza and focus on one of its saviors. Lubrano's Pizza, located directly across from the new Amway Arena in downtown Orlando barges into the pizza scene and directs a giant foam middle finger to mediocre pizza that some Floridians have become accustomed to. Owned and operated by local legend Paul Lubrano, the pizza does not disappoint. With its thin crust, quality ingredients, and secret recipe, this pizza lands at the top of this bloggers list of quality pizza. Holding fast to the true New York Style of pizza, you need two hands and a few napkins to enjoy each slice. The outside seating (it is a small location) lends to a already authentic feel, and allows you to enjoy the elements of Florida's weather. So for those of you that like quality, real pizza, and even for those like Domino's, make your way to Lubrano's, they will treat you right and feed you even better.
FooManJew Rating: Lechaim!
So, what makes for a good pizza you ask? Well, for starters, bread, cheese and tomato sauce, but that can be misleading as shops of true horror like Pizza Hut, Hungry Howie's and Mad Hatters Pizza of Oviedo, FL, use these ingredients as a recipe for failure. Today though, we worry not of the scourge on the beloved name of Pizza and focus on one of its saviors. Lubrano's Pizza, located directly across from the new Amway Arena in downtown Orlando barges into the pizza scene and directs a giant foam middle finger to mediocre pizza that some Floridians have become accustomed to. Owned and operated by local legend Paul Lubrano, the pizza does not disappoint. With its thin crust, quality ingredients, and secret recipe, this pizza lands at the top of this bloggers list of quality pizza. Holding fast to the true New York Style of pizza, you need two hands and a few napkins to enjoy each slice. The outside seating (it is a small location) lends to a already authentic feel, and allows you to enjoy the elements of Florida's weather. So for those of you that like quality, real pizza, and even for those like Domino's, make your way to Lubrano's, they will treat you right and feed you even better.
FooManJew Rating: Lechaim!
22 Pine - Orlando, FL
Cheeseburgers... A staple of the American diet, one of the greatest inventions in the realm of food and yet, with all the fast food and chain garbage in our world, many places just can't get them right. Thankfully, 22 Pine says "Kiss my Buns" to all the crappy burgers out there....
OK, so I would officially like to apologize for the "kiss my buns" comment. It was lame, silly and just plain uncalled for. I cannot promise I wont make any further bad jokes, in fact it is probably a guarantee that I will. But nonetheless, I would like to let you know I do not condone my own actions.
OK, so back to the review.
Let me set the scene for you.. Its Saturday night, Wife and another good friend by my side, dinner awaits. But what to eat? "Lets find someplace new that we have never tried before" Matt proclaims. So we did some online research and stumbled upon 22 Pine. A place claiming to have excellent burgers and an eclectic atmosphere. We looked at each other and everyone agreed. Now i must also let you know that Matt is a vegetarian on most days, so I just figured he was hoping for a good ole fashioned disgrace to burgers everywhere, or as you may call them, veggie burgers. Well, when we arrived at downtown Orlando, at the corner of Pine Street and Orange, we entered the building awaiting another good friend and one that will be joining me on my quest, whatever that may be, on this enchanting blog. Anyways, since I have rambled enough, I will finally get to the review.
Atmosphere
A laid back and comfortable, yet modern feel awaits you. The service was great as they are more than willing to offer suggestions and help to those in need. The menu is different from most, so there is somewhat of an adjustment period. Of course that period lasts about 30 seconds.
Food
Now to the important part. The burgers. The menu is expansive in its own right, but only due to the process. 22 Pine offers several different types of burgers, ranging from 100% Angus Beef, to Black Bean burgers and a plethora of toppings, sauces and cheeses for you to build your masterpiece. I went simple, yet different by having a burger donning a Herb Goat Cheese spread and Bacon. A mouthwatering combo that these burger loving eyes have not yet seen. The rest of my crew got a variety of their own, including Matt, who if you remember is a vegetarian most of the time, got an actual Angus beef burger. The reactions from each of us, from start to finish, was the same. Excellent. The burgers were juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. The toppings were placed and used in a way for maximum burger coverage. The verdict? An excellent burger, the best this fiend has had in the state of Florida. 22 Pine is highly recommended and will not disappoint. So go my burger loving friends, bypass the so called burgers of McDonald's and Burger King, move on from the mediocre chains like Chili's and Friday and discover the greatness of 22 Pine. You can trust me, because after all, I am the FooManJew.
FooManJew Rating: Lechaim!
OK, so I would officially like to apologize for the "kiss my buns" comment. It was lame, silly and just plain uncalled for. I cannot promise I wont make any further bad jokes, in fact it is probably a guarantee that I will. But nonetheless, I would like to let you know I do not condone my own actions.
OK, so back to the review.
Let me set the scene for you.. Its Saturday night, Wife and another good friend by my side, dinner awaits. But what to eat? "Lets find someplace new that we have never tried before" Matt proclaims. So we did some online research and stumbled upon 22 Pine. A place claiming to have excellent burgers and an eclectic atmosphere. We looked at each other and everyone agreed. Now i must also let you know that Matt is a vegetarian on most days, so I just figured he was hoping for a good ole fashioned disgrace to burgers everywhere, or as you may call them, veggie burgers. Well, when we arrived at downtown Orlando, at the corner of Pine Street and Orange, we entered the building awaiting another good friend and one that will be joining me on my quest, whatever that may be, on this enchanting blog. Anyways, since I have rambled enough, I will finally get to the review.
Atmosphere
A laid back and comfortable, yet modern feel awaits you. The service was great as they are more than willing to offer suggestions and help to those in need. The menu is different from most, so there is somewhat of an adjustment period. Of course that period lasts about 30 seconds.
Food
Now to the important part. The burgers. The menu is expansive in its own right, but only due to the process. 22 Pine offers several different types of burgers, ranging from 100% Angus Beef, to Black Bean burgers and a plethora of toppings, sauces and cheeses for you to build your masterpiece. I went simple, yet different by having a burger donning a Herb Goat Cheese spread and Bacon. A mouthwatering combo that these burger loving eyes have not yet seen. The rest of my crew got a variety of their own, including Matt, who if you remember is a vegetarian most of the time, got an actual Angus beef burger. The reactions from each of us, from start to finish, was the same. Excellent. The burgers were juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. The toppings were placed and used in a way for maximum burger coverage. The verdict? An excellent burger, the best this fiend has had in the state of Florida. 22 Pine is highly recommended and will not disappoint. So go my burger loving friends, bypass the so called burgers of McDonald's and Burger King, move on from the mediocre chains like Chili's and Friday and discover the greatness of 22 Pine. You can trust me, because after all, I am the FooManJew.
FooManJew Rating: Lechaim!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Dickey's BBQ - Oviedo, FL
OK, so before I get started talking about Dickey's "BBQ". Let me just say that my standards for BBQ are high. I am a firm believer that good BBQ starts with the meat and ends with the BBQ sauce. Basically that means that the beef, chicken, pork, etc. should be good enough to eat without adding BBQ sauce. Adding a quality BBQ sauce from there just adds to the spectrum of flavor that is there for your enjoyment. You see I don't care how good the BBQ sauce is, because if the meat is dry, rubbery, or low quality, the meal is a gigantic failure. Now on to Dickey's.
I was spending an evening with my lovely wife and we made the decision to venture out for dinner on the night in question. What are you in the mood for? she asked... I told her BBQ sounded really enticing, and she concurred. But where to go, that was the question. The closest option was Woody's BBQ, which I made the mistake of eating at once before. I will not waste your time reviewing Woody's, as it does not even belong in the same conversation of BBQ. So that was out, then I remembered this new place we had passed out on Aloma ave one evening a few weeks prior. I went to "trusty" ole yelp.com and checked for reviews. People said good things. "Best BBQ I've ever had", "All the food is great and the Baked Potato Casserole is amazing". Well, I took their word for it. We made our way to Dickeys and perused the menu. I decided on their 2 meat dinner plate. I ordered the sliced brisket and the ribs, with fries and the famous and highly recommended baked potato casserole on the side. My wife ordered the chicken with potato salad.
So, with a head full of good reviews and heart set on some tasty BBQ, I dug in. I started with the brisket and made my way to the ribs. The brisket was somehow overcooked, yet mush. Still not quite sure how that is even possible, but they made it happen. Brisket should have a nice char on the outside and be tender and juicy on the inside. This brisket however had a char that was rubbery and soggy, while the inside was flavorless and pure mush. I was, to say the least, not impressed. Now to the ribs. They were not bad, and not nearly as bad as the brisket, but I certainly would not classify them as good. the meat fell off the bone, which is a plus, but lacked the flavor that makes us all love pork ribs. The chicken was dry, but average and the famous baked potato casserole was simply a scoop of mashed potatoes with some bacon bits and shredded cheese thrown in. Amazing is not the word i would use here.
So, to sum it all up. Dickey's BBQ, while a better alterantive to Woody's BBQ and the McRib sandwich, was an overall mediocre experience. Now, while the service was friendly and very good as a whole, it was not nearly enough to make up for the below average food.
FooManJew Rating: Untn-Durkshnit
Til next time my friends, I bid you Shalom.
I was spending an evening with my lovely wife and we made the decision to venture out for dinner on the night in question. What are you in the mood for? she asked... I told her BBQ sounded really enticing, and she concurred. But where to go, that was the question. The closest option was Woody's BBQ, which I made the mistake of eating at once before. I will not waste your time reviewing Woody's, as it does not even belong in the same conversation of BBQ. So that was out, then I remembered this new place we had passed out on Aloma ave one evening a few weeks prior. I went to "trusty" ole yelp.com and checked for reviews. People said good things. "Best BBQ I've ever had", "All the food is great and the Baked Potato Casserole is amazing". Well, I took their word for it. We made our way to Dickeys and perused the menu. I decided on their 2 meat dinner plate. I ordered the sliced brisket and the ribs, with fries and the famous and highly recommended baked potato casserole on the side. My wife ordered the chicken with potato salad.
So, with a head full of good reviews and heart set on some tasty BBQ, I dug in. I started with the brisket and made my way to the ribs. The brisket was somehow overcooked, yet mush. Still not quite sure how that is even possible, but they made it happen. Brisket should have a nice char on the outside and be tender and juicy on the inside. This brisket however had a char that was rubbery and soggy, while the inside was flavorless and pure mush. I was, to say the least, not impressed. Now to the ribs. They were not bad, and not nearly as bad as the brisket, but I certainly would not classify them as good. the meat fell off the bone, which is a plus, but lacked the flavor that makes us all love pork ribs. The chicken was dry, but average and the famous baked potato casserole was simply a scoop of mashed potatoes with some bacon bits and shredded cheese thrown in. Amazing is not the word i would use here.
So, to sum it all up. Dickey's BBQ, while a better alterantive to Woody's BBQ and the McRib sandwich, was an overall mediocre experience. Now, while the service was friendly and very good as a whole, it was not nearly enough to make up for the below average food.
FooManJew Rating: Untn-Durkshnit
Til next time my friends, I bid you Shalom.
Rating's Scale
Throughout the course of our time together, you may see different ratings for the restaurants I decide to review. I have outlined them for you in a neat little, handy dandy, Jewriffic key for you below. Why dont I just use the regular old 5 star or bad to great ratings? Well, there is no real reason other than I dont want to. You see, I tend to do things slightly differnt then other people in most cases. That is not to say that I am eccentric or weird in any way, then again it's not to say that I am not either. So here you go. Enjoy the FooManJew Scale of Food Ratings......
Lechaim! - Top of the Line, Excellent Food, Great Atmosphere, A Must Eat
Geshmak - Tasty, Good, Above Average
Durkshnit - Average, Not Bad, Not Great, No Need to Rush, No Need to Avoid
Untn-Durkshnit - Below Average, Don't Waste Your Time
Oye Vay - A Disgrace, A Travesty, An Embarrasment to Food
Lechaim! - Top of the Line, Excellent Food, Great Atmosphere, A Must Eat
Geshmak - Tasty, Good, Above Average
Durkshnit - Average, Not Bad, Not Great, No Need to Rush, No Need to Avoid
Untn-Durkshnit - Below Average, Don't Waste Your Time
Oye Vay - A Disgrace, A Travesty, An Embarrasment to Food
Intro to FooManJew
Wondering what this is all about? Wondering why you should care what i have to say? Well, i dont have an answer to that.. all I can tell you is that I cant tell you a thing. However, I can offer you an unbiased opinion on places to eat. I have what my wife likes to call "High Expectations" for where and what I eat. Now that is not to say that I only eat at 4 star, high class, expensive as hell restaurants, not even close. But I am of the belief that i would rather pay slightly more for better food. For instance, I would much rather drop $18 on a quality NY style pizza from a local joint, then spend $10 a pizza style product, that tastes like carboard covered with vegan cheese from Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, or any other worthless pizza chain. I just like good food. Make sense? Good. Now, through the course of my lifespan here, whether that be years, or millenia, I will offer my unedited, unswayed and 100% honest opinion of any food joint I eat at and feel the need to share my feelings on. Now does this mean I will eat at every restaurant I stumble across? No, it doesn't. Does it mean I will review places like McDonalds that this world already knows to have things on their menu that shouldnt even be classified as food? No, it doesn't. Does it mean I misplaced my shoe this morning? Yes, it does. So sit back, and keep checking back for more updates from the FooManJew.
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