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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jul 19, 2023 14:25:41 GMT -5
Even if the Crossroads survived, Sweet Tomatoes filed for bankruptcy and closed all locations. That's true, but at least I'd still have Fuddruckers... Wait, what? |
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Post by dlwdwdvc on Jul 21, 2023 3:42:58 GMT -5
That place was so popular..every school and sport group would be at Sweet Tomatoes .and every senior citizen for early bird deals.
You are right they are definitely building something new .
I keep wondering about the Golden Corral for replacement That parking lot is always busy… I guess new hot spot for seniors and tour groups? And they are open for Thanksgiving last year…
Anyway I rarely eat out anymore Boy did Covid teach me it’s faster to cook at home !
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Post by Eeyorelover22 on Jul 24, 2023 12:58:30 GMT -5
Sickies Garage. It’s next to the Circle K on 192 at the intersection with Sherbeth Road. DH did a food challenge there yesterday with a guy who also graduated from Michigan Tech University. They were visiting Disney so the guys wanted to meet. We all actually graduated from there which was interesting. They live in the Kalamazoo area in Michigan. Their kids enjoyed it too.
Good food but not a better deal than Disney. Great variety on their menu, fun shakes and good service. The theming of the place was fun too. It’s at the back door of AKV so if burgers etc are wanted, I recommend it. Traffic isn’t terrible but at rush hour it would be!
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Post by Lamima on Jul 30, 2023 15:43:14 GMT -5
Couple of our faves...
We love Mulligan's in Celebration for the best happy hour anywhere. Cheap cheap cheap drinks. And bonus is they have really good wings. DH sings the song 'I love this bar' about this place.
Fave nicer place is Columbia in Celebration. Could go just for the salad and sangria! Best ever!
Fave super fancy for special occasions is Bull and Bear. That brioche is to die for not to mention steaks and cocktails. The deviled eggs app is soooo good. And the lemon dessert, wow. Chefs kiss, great meal!
We also love a little place called Volcano in Celebration that is a Korean hot pot and BBQ place. Not everyone's cup of tea but is delish to us and our kids.
We live super close to the Margartiaville houses and water park off 192. Their Plaza is called Sunset Walk and it has tons of places but we just don't love love any of them. There is a killer happy hour at Game Time so the DH always wants to go there. But food is just so so (Rainforest Cafe like). Happy hour, though, is half off all drinks. Can't complain about that.
Seems like we like Celebration dining more than stuff closer to our way. One I like but DH hates is Island Wing Company. It is an all baked menu so I like to get wings and fries. DH likes the greasy fried wings way more so he poo poos it. But once in a while I can convince him to go. It's never busy there so he does like that and we can take the doggo on the patio there (he likes baked fries a lot too).
We have driven to other areas within about 20 mins ish. And nothing too wowing. We enjoyed Beef O'Bradys for a nice affordable meal and a very low key atmosphere. We like Miller's Ale House and there are many around. Don't have a fave Italian. I liked Reggianos in Celebration but DH didn't. And it's pricey for him to not like it. Honestly just had a great meal at Via Napoli that even DH enjoyed. And also ate at IL Mulino not long ago and loved that. Same with Chinese take away. Not really found a great one around us. Nor an Indian place. Greek, Sarah Greek in Cagan Crossing (on 27) is good. Steak, aside from Bull and Bear, Charley's is excellent. There are a couple locations. One in Celebration.
Will post as I think of more.
Oh, Mexican. We don't do often because DH HATES it and I am so so about it. But we happened into Chuy's not long ago and liked it a lot. Love the white dip with the fresh tortilla chips and they give a ton of it. As much as you want. We had it door dashed once too and still got a ton of the chips and dip. They are across from Margaritaville water park on 192.
There is a new place near Chuy's there called Lazy Dog that just opened this week. We have heard nothing but great things about it. And you, not only, can take the dog on the patio there but they have a dog menu. Our old little fella might get a dinner there soon. Lol.
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Post by Lamima on Jul 30, 2023 17:32:14 GMT -5
Sickies Garage. It’s next to the Circle K on 192 at the intersection with Sherbeth Road. DH did a food challenge there yesterday with a guy who also graduated from Michigan Tech University. They were visiting Disney so the guys wanted to meet. We all actually graduated from there which was interesting. They live in the Kalamazoo area in Michigan. Their kids enjoyed it too. Good food but not a better deal than Disney. Great variety on their menu, fun shakes and good service. The theming of the place was fun too. It’s at the back door of AKV so if burgers etc are wanted, I recommend it. Traffic isn’t terrible but at rush hour it would be! We live near there and go every so often. We have had hit or miss meals here with some terrible service a couple times. But worth a visit. Same with Rock N Brews and Fords Garage. |
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Post by Lamima on Jul 30, 2023 18:07:25 GMT -5
Another place worth a mention is Four Corners Tavern in the Champions Gate area. Just hard for us to get there during traffic times so we go when DH is done work early or maybe on the weekend.
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Post by Joeli on Jul 30, 2023 18:26:11 GMT -5
Another place worth a mention is Four Corners Tavern in the Champions Gate area. Just hard for us to get there during traffic times so we go when DH is done work early or maybe on the weekend. Is there ever not Traffic on I-4 by champion gate? We were hoping with the expansion it would help…we should have hoped harder! Lol |
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Post by Lamima on Jul 30, 2023 21:30:32 GMT -5
Another place worth a mention is Four Corners Tavern in the Champions Gate area. Just hard for us to get there during traffic times so we go when DH is done work early or maybe on the weekend. Is there ever not Traffic on I-4 by champion gate? We were hoping with the expansion it would help…we should have hoped harder! Lol We avoid 4 at alllllllll costs. We live off Old Lake Wilson and can take that down through Reunion to Champions Gate area. But it gets all backed up. Anything that shoots off 4 can be such a mess. Heck this whole area is tough. Got to time everything just right. And all the lights have failed and take like 18 minutes....lol. One of the biggest complaints about living here but you learn to time things just right and/or take back roads. So it's workable. |
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Post by disney54us on Jul 30, 2023 21:36:43 GMT -5
Fave nicer place is Columbia in Celebration. Could go just for the salad and sangria! Best ever! We live super close to the Margartiaville houses and water park of 192. Their Plaza is called Sunset Walk and it has tons of places but we just don't love love any of them. Seems like we like Celebration dining more than our way. One I like but DH hates is Island Wing Company. It is an all baked menu so I like to get wings and fries. DH likes the greasy fried wings way more so he poo poos it. But once in a while I can convince him It's never busy there so he does like that and we can take the doggo on the patio there (he likes baked fries a lot). We have driven to other areas within about 20 mins ish. And nothing too wowing. We enjoyed Beef O'Bradys for a nice affordable meal and a very low key atmosphere. We like Miller's Ale House and there are many around. Don't have a fave Italian. I liked Reggianos in Celebration but DH didn't. And it's pricey for him to not like it. Honestly just had a great meal at Via Napoli that even DH enjoyed. And also ate at IL Mulino not long ago and loved that. Same with Chinese take away. Not really found a great one around us. Nor an Indian place. Greek, Sarah Greek in Cagan Crossing (on 27) is good. Steak, aside from Bull and Bear, Charley's is excellent. There are a couple locations. When you say Columbia are you talking about Columbia House and their famous 1905 salad? They started in Tampa I believe but have several locations in FL. If so that salad is the best! When we lived in S Jersey we would day trip to OCNJ. It was a hour ride and easy. Our week at the beach we preferred the Delmarva beaches. On our way home many times we would stop at a restaurant in Egg Harbour, NJ. They had that salad but called it Sarasota Salad. When I inquired about the salad I was told it was a secret recipe that the chef who used to work in Sarasota Fl, brought with him from a restaurant he worked in. Years gone by… the place closed and I still wanted that salad. I remembered the chef and Sarasota and through the internet ( it sometimes serves for something good) sure enough there was the Sarasota salad except it’s the Columbia house salad that they are famous for. Margaritaville. Funny the development complex less having a resort and radio studio, in Daytona. The restaurant they have in their complex was very good. It’s a gated community, no hotel just residential. We stayed in one of the townhomes, when we were considering buying there and the restaurant was actually very good. I’m not a dessert eater at all but they had something that was out of this world. The prices were ridiculously reasonable. Wings… not sure about baked but where we used to live a restaurant had coal fired dry rub wings. Order them well done, both sides ( I don’t do soggy skin) they were the best. I easily could pick those over fried wing in sauce. Though I can be torn at times. Wish more places did a nice dry rub wing, same feelings for ribs. Give me a dry rub rib over ribs oozing in sauce and I’m good. So I get both sides between you and your husband. Though Wally Wings! The best. At Houligans not to be confused with the chain Houlihans. Privately owned I think four places. One in Daytona, Port orange and another few in the Volusa county area. If you order them Wally they are fried but then grilled. You can order them well done and be asked… well fried or Wally or both. The sauces are a mix as you can order 10 and it’s not half and half. Create your sauce Mix and they are done with both mixed together. Anytime no matter how short a stay when we would visit son in Daytona during college years. We had to have them at least twice. We would go from having fine dining at Hyde Park Steak house to must have Wally wings, lol. Millers, though a chain depending on which one can be a hit or miss. They have now moved into the NE. Our first time there was when son was touring college, asked the hotel maintenance engineer where to go. We were right off of intl speedway drive in Daytona which had every corporate owned chain I every heard of and some I did not. I prefer local owned even when I was home. He did give us a great local owned place but suggested Millers. He said they had good fish and chips and a good happy hour. Our visit there actually was great for a chain. That was because of the server. Her recommendations because she knew which chef was on and did what dishes well. We’re not to disappoint. She was friendly, and of course you interact well in some places, usually the south. So she knew what school my son was there to see. Asked if he was part of their ROTC he has the look due to him being a first responder. So great meal but at the end as she knew many at the college he was going to attend and was a first responder herself. Gave him her number. No not like that she had a bf and said I usually don’t do this but here, if you decide to come here and want to do pt runs with us to keep your certs up to date with us or if you need to know anything for real here (she was a born and raised local) give me a call. So Millers was a great experience because to this day they are still friends since 2016 and while he lived there were there for each other. And still stay in touch. I did go there not to long after with my daughter she no longer worked there. The experience was not the same. Service poor, food not as good. Guess wrong chef that night. My husband and I tried it when they ventured north aka SJ. That was a once done. So if you have a well managed Millers it’s a good thing. As in any corporate owned places they really aren’t created equal. Though they should be. |
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Post by Lamima on Jul 30, 2023 21:50:07 GMT -5
Fave nicer place is Columbia in Celebration. Could go just for the salad and sangria! Best ever! We live super close to the Margartiaville houses and water park of 192. Their Plaza is called Sunset Walk and it has tons of places but we just don't love love any of them. Seems like we like Celebration dining more than our way. One I like but DH hates is Island Wing Company. It is an all baked menu so I like to get wings and fries. DH likes the greasy fried wings way more so he poo poos it. But once in a while I can convince him It's never busy there so he does like that and we can take the doggo on the patio there (he likes baked fries a lot). We have driven to other areas within about 20 mins ish. And nothing too wowing. We enjoyed Beef O'Bradys for a nice affordable meal and a very low key atmosphere. We like Miller's Ale House and there are many around. Don't have a fave Italian. I liked Reggianos in Celebration but DH didn't. And it's pricey for him to not like it. Honestly just had a great meal at Via Napoli that even DH enjoyed. And also ate at IL Mulino not long ago and loved that. Same with Chinese take away. Not really found a great one around us. Nor an Indian place. Greek, Sarah Greek in Cagan Crossing (on 27) is good. Steak, aside from Bull and Bear, Charley's is excellent. There are a couple locations. When you say Columbia are you talking about Columbia House and their famous 1905 salad? They started in Tampa I believe but have several locations in FL. If so that salad is the best! When we lived in S Jersey we would day trip to OCNJ. It was a hour ride and easy. Our week at the beach we preferred the Delmarva beaches. On our way home many times we would stop at a restaurant in Egg Harbour, NJ. They had that salad but called it Sarasota Salad. When I inquired about the salad I was told it was a secret recipe that the chef who used to work in Sarasota Fl, brought with him from a restaurant he worked in. Years gone by… the place closed and I still wanted that salad. I remembered the chef and Sarasota and through the internet ( it sometimes serves for something good) sure enough there was the Sarasota salad except it’s the Columbia house salad that they are famous for. Margaritaville. Funny the development complex less having a resort and radio studio, in Daytona. The restaurant they have in their complex was very good. It’s a gated community, no hotel just residential. We stayed in one of the townhomes, when we were considering buying there and the restaurant was actually very good. I’m not a dessert eater at all but they had something that was out of this world. The prices were ridiculously reasonable. Wings… not sure about baked but where we used to live a restaurant had coal fired dry rub wings. Order them well done, both sides ( I don’t do soggy skin) they were the best. I easily could pick those over fried wing in sauce. Though I can be torn at times. Wish more places did a nice dry rub wing, same feelings for ribs. Give me a dry rub rib over ribs oozing in sauce and I’m good. So I get both sides between you and your husband. Though Wally Wings! The best. At Houligans not to be confused with the chain Houlihans. Privately owned I think four places. One in Daytona, Port orange and another few in the Volusa county area. If you order them Wally they are fried but then grilled. You can order them well done and be asked… well fried or Wally or both. The sauces are a mix as you can order 10 and it’s not half and half. Create your sauce Mix and they are done with both mixed together. Anytime no matter how short a stay when we would visit son in Daytona during college years. We had to have them at least twice. We would go from having fine dining at Hyde Park Steak house to must have Wally wings, lol. Millers, though a chain depending on which one can be a hit or miss. They have now moved into the NE. Our first time there was when son was touring college, asked the hotel maintenance engineer where to go. We were right off of intl speedway drive in Daytona which had every corporate owned chain I every heard of and some I did not. I prefer local owned even when I was home. He did give us a great local owned place but suggested Millers. He said they had good fish and chips and a good happy hour. Our visit there actually was great for a chain. That was because of the server. Her recommendations because she knew which chef was on and did what dishes well. We’re not to disappoint. She was friendly, and of course you interact well in some places, usually the south. So she knew what school my son was there to see. Asked if he was part of their ROTC he has the look due to him being a first responder. So great meal but at the end as she knew many at the college he was going to attend and was a first responder herself. Gave him her number. No not like that she had a bf and said I usually don’t do this but here, if you decide to come here and want to do pt runs with us to keep your certs up to date with us or if you need to know anything for real here (she was a born and raised local) give me a call. So Millers was a great experience because to this day they are still friends since 2016 and while he lived there were there for each other. And still stay in touch. I did go there not to long after with my daughter she no longer worked there. The experience was not the same. Service poor, food not as good. Guess wrong chef that night. My husband and I tried it when they ventured north aka SJ. That was a once done. So if you have a well managed Millers it’s a good thing. As in any corporate owned places they really aren’t created equal. Though they should be. Yes, that salad at Columbia House. It is so good. They also have a bread pudding that rivals Ohana. Miller's can be hit or miss. We have one real close to us and then several within our 20-25 min radius we typically stick to. We prefer sitting at the bar there and tend to get more attentive service as opposed to a table. Food is pretty average. Also kinda like Rainforest Cafe. |
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Post by wdwnomad on Jul 31, 2023 7:40:03 GMT -5
I like Celebration Town Tavern. Another restaurant in Celebration. I can get very busy. You can make reservations on Yelp.
I also really like 4 Rivers BBQ. It is a local chain with locations around the Orlando area. Some of the best bbq I have had.
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Post by disney54us on Jul 31, 2023 9:54:54 GMT -5
[/quote]Yes, that salad at Columbia House. It is so good. They also have a bread pudding that rivals Ohana.
Miller's can be hit or miss. We have one real close to us and then several within our 20-25 min radius we typically stick to. We prefer sitting at the bar there and tend to get more attentive service as opposed to a table. Food is pretty average. Also kinda like Rainforest Cafe.
[/quote]
Love that salad, they have the recipe on their website if you ever want to make at home.
I think most corporate places can be hit or miss. We are bar seat people too. During the Summer it’s just easier with the tourists to get a seat. During the winter we just fell into still sitting at the bar. You meet a lot of interesting people, find out about other restaurants. So it works for us.
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Post by maxsdad on Jul 31, 2023 11:16:40 GMT -5
The only meal we ate off property during our trip was Portillos. We have one near us, but we wanted to try it near WDW. It was up to the standards of what you would get in the Chicago area. Italian Beef was no different (I like mine dipped with the hot peppers).
It wasn't too crowded, either. Service was quicker than I usually get back home. So, highly recommended.
As a side note, I was shocked at how quickly the apartment complex, Madison Waterstar, that is just north of the Portillo's has gone up. You can see it very clearly from the road that connects Jambo and Kidani, which is a bit off-putting, since part of the charm of AKL was how isolated it seemed.
I do, however, wish that AKL guests could take the shortcut road they have to Black Lake Road. It would be so much more convenient than Sherbeth, which has become more and more congested, particularly in the late afternoon.
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