Orlando Fast Food Critic » Bar and Grill

Copper Canyon

Seth Cardoza — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:05:45 +0000

I first came across Copper Canyon looking for a place for my family to have Easter dinner. While we didn’t eat there that day, the menu looked really appealing. Months later I purchased a Groupon for Copper Canyon and couldn’t wait to finally try this restaurant. While it is more upscale dining, since it is in Pointe Orlando, an area high in tourist traffic, you can really get away with wearing anything here. Although, smart casual would probably make you feel more comfortable in this atmosphere.

We were greeted by our server, who was very welcoming and highly knowledgeable of the menu. He was able to fully answer all of our questions about the menu, and I felt like he knew as much about the food as the chef cooking the meal would. The food was excellent. I had the pork chop, while my fiance had the flank steak. Both were absolutely delicious, as were the sides. The price is a little higher than I generally like to spend on a meal, but the food, service, and atmosphere make up for it. While I wouldn’t eat here on a regular basis (due to the price), I would definitely make this a top spot for special occasions.

Price: $15 – $30

Fat Fish Blue

Seth Cardoza — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 14:08:32 +0000

Food Quality: 8/10
Food Quantity: 8/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Price: $8-$12

Fat Fish Blue, located in Pointe Orlando, offers New Orleans style food, but not necessarily authentic New Orleans cuisine (not that this is a bad thing). Start off with some appetizers because they have some excellent options. I tried the fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, and corn bread, they were all great. I was surprised that the fried pickles were spears rather than slices. I have to say I like slices more, but these were still good. I enjoyed the fried green tomatoes, but it was my first time ever having them, so I don’t have anything to draw for comparison. The corn bread was like a cake, and I could just as easily have had it for dessert.

Their burgers and sandwiches are pretty good. They come with sweet potato chips, sprinkled with brown sugar, a much welcomed change compared to the french fries or potato chips you get at most places. The chips were sweet, and a great compliment to the sandwiches.

Fat Fish Blue is attached to the new Orlando Improv, which makes it a great place to have dinner and a show. They have a full bar, so you can have dinner, a couple drinks, and a show, making a full night of it. Prices are slightly higher than what you would pay at similar establishments, but that’s mainly because of it being in Pointe Orlando. This is still a great place to eat, and an easy place to make an event of the night.

Gift Card Bonuses 2010

Seth Cardoza — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:53:34 +0000

Here’s the 2010 round up for restaurants offering bonus gift cards with purchases. If you know of any I missed, leave a comment, and I’ll add it to the list. Keep checking this page for updates as well.

Texas de Brazil: purchase $60 and get a $10 bonus, or purchase $100 and get a $25 bonus. Use code HOLIDAY214. Extended through December 24.
Taco Bell: get a free large drink with the purchase of a gift card.
Outback Steakhouse offers a $20 bonus card for every $100 purchased.
Sonny’s Bar-B-Q offers $10 in bonus cards (looks like they give you two $5 cards) free with a $50 gift card purchase.
Carrabba’s: get a $20 bonus card for every $100 gift card purchase.
Applebee’s: get a $10 bonus card with a $50 gift card purchase.
Charley’s Steakhouse: get a $50 bottle of wine with a $100 gift card purchase.
Del Taco
- Buy a $10 gift card, get 2 regular tacos free.
- Buy a $15 gift card, get 2 chicken soft tacos free.
- Buy a $20 gift card, get 1 free menu item.
Fuddruckers: purchase a $25 gift card and get a bonus $5 gift card
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice: Black Friday, November 26th only, get a free small item voucher with every $10 gift card purchase
Arby’s: get a free combo meal with a $20 gift card purchase.
Denny’s: get a free $5 gift card with the purchase of a $25 gift card, online or in the restaurant.
Smokey Bones: buy a $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card, make it a $10 bonus card if you are a Bones Club member. Bonus cards only good between certain dates, details here.
Chipotle: buy $25 in gift cards, and get a free burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse: get 10% back in holiday bonus cards with every gift card purchase of $250 or more
Tijuana Flats: purchase a $25 gift card, and get a bonus $5 gift card.
Friendly’s: get a $5 bonus card for every $25 gift card purchase, must be purchased in store.
Buffalo Wild Wings: buy a $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card. Bonus card good from January 1, 2001 – February 28, 2011.
Jason’s Deli: purchase a $50 gift card, get a $5 bonus card.
Panera Bread: purchase a $100 gift card, get a $10 bonus card.
Logan’s Roadhouse: get $10 in Logan’s Bucks for every $30 gift card you purchase.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza: get 10% for yourself with gift card purchase of $100 or more.

While I do try to include any of the fine print details I can find, you should pay close attention to the deals listed here and elsewhere. Bonus gift cards often are only good between certain dates, have a minimum purchase necessary, or cannot be used with other gift cards.

Veterans’ Day 2010

Seth Cardoza — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:12:09 +0000

Many restaurants offer free or discounted meals to retired and active duty military on Veterans’ Day. Here is a list of all the deals in your area. And, for those of you eligible, thank you for your service.

Chili’s offers a choice of 1 of 6 entrees to all veterans and active duty military.
Outback Steakhouse offers a free Bloomin’ Onion and non-alcoholic beverage.
Applebee’s offers 1 of 7 free meals to all active duty or retired military.
Golden Corral offers a free meal on Monday November 15th to all military personnel. This year marks their 10th anniversary in honoring our troops.
Pizzeria Uno offers 1 free entree with the purchase of another entree.
Hooters offers a free meal, from selected menu items.
Grab a free doughnut at Krispy Kreme on Veteran’s Day.
Subway is giving away one six inch sub to veterans. Check with the location beforehand, because many locations are franchises and it is up to the owner to participate in this promotion.

If you know of any other restaurants offering deals on Veterans’ Day, leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list.

Ember

Seth Cardoza — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:28:28 +0000

Food Quality: 7/10
Food Quantity: 8/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Price: $8-$12

At night, Ember is a full scale bar/night club. But, during the day, Ember is an excellent casual dining restaurant. It has a very large indoor and outdoor dining area. Most of the restaurant opens up, so this is the perfect place for a fall or spring Florida day. The food is good, with generous portions, but the atmosphere is what did it for me. I definitely recommend this place for a refreshing, relaxing meal.

Mom Eats Free at Smokey Bones on Mother’s Day

Seth Cardoza — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:28:12 +0000

Smokey Bones is giving mom a free meal on Mother’s Day with this coupon. Mom only eats free with the purchase of another meal, so no dropping her off for a free meal while you eat somewhere else.

Smokey Bones Buy One Get One Free Entree Coupon

Seth Cardoza — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:38:02 +0000

Smokey Bones has a buy one get one free entree coupon, good for only 3 days, April 8 through the 10th.

Smokey Bones $3 Guinness Pints Throughout the Month of March

Seth Cardoza — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:55:35 +0000

Smokey Bones has pints of Guinness for $3 through the entire month of March, including St. Patrick’s Day.

Buffalo Wild Wings – Waterford Lakes

Seth Cardoza — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 03:38:30 +0000

Buffalo Wild Wings has a large variety of flavors of wings, and has an excellent beer selection, as well as a full bar. Aside from that, there isn’t much else positive to say about the place. Most of the appetizers are sub par, either being very bland, overly salty, or just generally bad. In particular, the nachos should be avoided at all costs. The chips are flavorless and stale, and the salsa is worse than most salsas you can purchase in a store. The wings are rather expensive, starting at around $8 for 12 wings.

The atmosphere at this particular location is often so loud you cannot hear the people at your table talk. It is often overcrowded, to the point where you usually bump into people at nearby tables if you move around at all. The service is some of the worst I have had anywhere on several occasions, and the only reason I continue going is generally because it is a convenient location and something most people can agree upon. If you are looking for a nice place to sit down and have a meal, avoid this location at all costs.