Orlando Fast Food Critic

Give Kids the World and Jersey Mike’s Subs Team Up for Month of Giving in March

Seth Cardoza — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:55:20 +0000

Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is joining forces with 10 Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants throughout the Orlando area for the 2^nd Annual March “Month of Giving” fundraising campaign to help make a difference in children’s lives. The campaign will culminate in the nationwide event, Jersey Mike’s “Make A Difference Day” on Wednesday, March 28.

During the month of March, customers can make a donation to Give Kids The World at any area Jersey Mike’s restaurant. Then on March 28, a special nationwide celebration, “Make A Difference Day,” will take place at all Jersey Mike’s locations to benefit 74 different charities with a mission to help children.

On that day, Orlando area residents are invited to come in to a local Jersey Mike’s restaurant and enjoy a delicious sub meal. All area Jersey Mike’s restaurants will donate 50 percent of the day’s sales to Give Kids The World and there will be special festivities at one of the stores in Altamonte Springs. For a list of participating restaurants in your area and for more information on our charity partners, please visit http://www.jerseymikes.com/news/read.php?id=428.

“We are delighted that Jersey Mike’s has selected Give Kids The World as the beneficiary charity in Central Florida for its Month of Giving Campaign,” said GKTW President Pamela Landwirth. “The donations collected through this fundraiser will help to provide cost-free, magical vacations for children with life-threatening illnesses from around the world.”

The inaugural Month of Giving campaign last year raised more than $600,000 for 66 charities nationwide and the hope is this year’s campaign will raise even more. In total last year, Jersey Mike’s locations throughout the country raised more than $2 million for worthy local charities and distributed more than 200,000 free sub sandwiches to help numerous causes.

“Our commitment to the core Jersey Mike’s value of giving back to the communities we serve has never been stronger,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO, who started the company when he was only 17 years old. “We know our customers share this passion and, with their help, we hope to make a big difference in the lives of children throughout this country.”

Charcoal Joe Grill & More

Seth Cardoza — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 18:34:51 +0000

Food Quality: 5/10
Food Quantity: 7/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 7/10
Price: $6-$12

I’ve been to Charcoal Joe’s several times, and had really inconsistent experiences. I had a very average sandwich the first time, which I felt I could make the same at home, probably even a better one. The second time I went, I really liked the jerked chicken sandwich and the fries that came with it. The third time I went, I had the Portuguese style chicken. The chicken itself was good, but the mashed potatoes were horrible. It was clear they were instant mashed potatoes, and they were very poorly made. They were runny and bland. Just because a food is instant, doesn’t mean you can’t add your own spices to it.

The staff is friendly, and you can tell they’re busting their butts to get your food out quickly. The restaurant is nice, clean, and simple. I really can’t recommend going here, given my mixed experiences, but I wouldn’t tell you to avoid it at all costs either.

Philly Cheese Steaks & Gyros

Seth Cardoza — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:51:45 +0000

Philly Cheese Steaks & Gyros is located in an old strip mall on the northeast corner of Semoran Blvd. and East Colonial Drive. The interior is kind of dark and run down. Once you get past the outer appearance, you’ll be greeted by a friendly staff. I had the gyro with french fries. I only ordered the fries because it was my first time here, and I wasn’t sure how filling the gyro by itself would be. The fries were alright, but the gyro was plenty, so I would probably pass on the fries next time. The gyro was good, but definitely not the best in town. Given the appearance, the price is a little surprising. I don’t mind paying for a nice meal in a nice restaurant, but the place looks like a dump. I just find it hard to justify the price based on the appearance.

Price: $7 – $11

Big Brunos Bites Food Truck

Seth Cardoza — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:38:07 +0000

Big Brunos Bites is a food truck regularly parked outside Red Light Red Light. They offer a variety of food, from bacon wrapped hot dogs, to calamari, to sandwiches and pizza. The calamari was excellent. I don’t care much for seafood, but this was cooked to perfection. It had a great flavor and texture, and was not fishy nor chewy at all. I had a personal white pizza as well, and it was recommended with pepperoni, which I couldn’t turn down. The pepperoni gave it that extra pop that I usually feel a white pizza needs. The food is great and the staff is friendly, you can’t ask for much more.

Price: $4 – $11

Drunken Monkey

Seth Cardoza — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:06:58 +0000

I’ve driven by Drunken Monkey countless times on my way to Beefy King, and, given how I am attracted to eateries with unique names, I was often curious. As a coffee and tea house, I didn’t know what to expect in the way of food. Food-wise, they mostly have sandwiches and soups. Their soup options change daily, but the few times I have been, they always have the same sandwich options. The have options for both vegetarian and vegan diets, but they do have some meaty sandwiches as well. I really like the Dwight Howard special, and a portion of each sale goes to Dwight’s charity. While every sandwich I’ve had there is very good, and generally unique, I’d like to see more options, even if it meant they were on rotation.

The atmosphere is quiet and local art covers the walls. All the art is for sale, and you can contact them to display/sell your own art as well. While it isn’t really my thing, I think it is a great contribution to the community.

Price: $3 – $8

Cheeburger Cheeburger

Seth Cardoza — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:45:25 +0000

Cheeburger Cheeburger is a custom cheeseburger restaurant with a 50s diner vibe. I say cheeseburger, and not hamburger because they do cheeseburgers. If you want cheese, you got it, if not, they may be willing to bend the rules for you. When ordering, you start by picking the size of the burger you want, from 5.5 to 20 ounces. Then you pick from their enormous list of toppings, most of which are free, with only a few you have to pay extra for. They offer several different kinds of peppers, lettuce, tomato, onion, onion rings, guacamole, pickles, garlic, numerous sauces, and much more. The burgers are pretty greasy, but, WOW, are they good.

Their french fries and onion rings are amazing as well, and almost as greasy as the burgers. While they do offer other items on the menu besides cheeseburgers, I admit I haven’t tried any of them. I feel like it would be going to a steakhouse and ordering a salad.

Price: $5 – $9

Urban Hibachi

Seth Cardoza — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:36:39 +0000

Urban Hibachi is a surprisingly great restaurant, given its location and simple exterior. The appearance inside is nice, nothing special, but appealing and clean. The food is great though, and the service is excellent.

I got a steak teriyaki bento box at dinner for about $12. The bento box comes with 4 pieces of a California roll, ginger salad, miso soup, steamed white rice, an egg roll, and 4 small dumplings. It is an excellent amount of food, especially for the price. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Both servers working that evening were having a good time singing and dancing to some cheesy 90s techno/party music.

The atmosphere was nice, and laid back. The place wasn’t crowded either. On a Saturday night around 6-7pm, there were only a few tables taken. Both the atmosphere and price were a welcome change from similar restaurants in the area, like Seito Sushi, which I feel you’re paying more for a “high class” restaurant than anything else.

Price: $10 – $15

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

Metro Burger

Seth Cardoza — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:59:10 +0000

Metro Burger serves custom burgers in a relaxed atmosphere. The burgers are tasty and juicy, and the numerous options to customize should give everyone a burger they can enjoy. While you are free to choose your toppings, you are limited to the number of toppings unless you want to pay extra. As far as sides go, both the onion rings and fried pickles are very good. The fried pickles are spears rather than slices, and I prefer the slices, but these are still good. The fried pickles are very expensive for the amount you get considering the cost of the raw materials. Metro Burger is good overall, but I’d probably stick to the burger and skip the sides next time due to their price.

The restaurant was clean and the service was friendly. You can even enjoy a few beers at World of Beer just around the corner and have your meal delivered if they have enough staff on hand. Craft beer and greasy food always make for a great pair.

Price: $5 – $10

Top 10 Meals in Orlando for $10 or Less

Seth Cardoza — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:32:28 +0000

Orlando offers a variety of food options, both in quality and in price. Below are the top 10 meals for $10 or less, to help you get the most bang for your buck.

Pad Thai at Thai Place. There’s many great Thai restaurants in Orlando, this just happens to be my favorite. I like the free salad with peanut dressing here too.
Baja Burrito at Baja Burrito. Their namesake, it’s delicious.
Gyro platter (includes a bag of chips and a drink) at New York Deli. They’ve been doing it for more than 30 years.
1/3lb. or 1/2lb. Burger at Fuddrucker’s
Lunch Special Chicken Teriyaki Bento Box at Seito Sushi – does not include a soft drink or tip, but you can have the complimentary green tea.
Beef Brisket platter at 4 Rivers Smokehouse
Jumbo Chicago Dog with fries and a drink at Hot Dog Heaven
Wings and Things Meal at Zaxby’s, at lot of food for the money. It includes 3 chicken fingers, 5 chicken wings, fries and a slice of Texas toast for under $7. It does not include a drink though.
Boxcar Willy (1 slice of pizza and a pint of Pabst Blue Ribbon) at Lazy Moon Pizza. This one is actually under $5.
The extra large BBQ beef combo meal (includes tater tots and a drink) at Beefy King

Let us know your favorite meal in Orlando for under $10.