Kappy’s is a 50′s style diner that I don’t think has changed since it was build. They’re known for their cheesesteaks and ground beef cheesesteaks. I figured I would try the cheesesteak. It tasted good, but the meat was really chewy. I had a side of waffle fries that absolutely sucked. They were undercooked, which left them cold and doughy, and they were unsalted leaving them with no flavor. I didn’t find the staff to be too friendly, and they didn’t seem to care about how long it took to place your order or make your food.

Kappy’s does have a nice atmosphere with the classic diner look and feel. There were some items on the menu that I found interesting, and wouldn’t mind going back to try them, but overall, I was unimpressed.

Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen serves a variety of Cajun and New Orleans style foods, including jambalaya, creole, gumbo, and po’ boys. I’ve have the blackened chicken po’ boy and the Andouille sausage po’ boy. Honestly, I wasn’t really impressed with either sandwich. Both had more of a charred flavor from the grill than any flavor from the meat. Their fried pickles are good, as are their regular and sweet potato fries.

Their beer is served in giant goblets, that look and feel a lot biggger than they are. I believe they’re only a pint, but feel like they are 20oz or more. My first time here, I placed a to-go order, and the bartender offered my fiance and I 2 free beers while we wait because one of them had poured extra by mistake. It was a great gesture, and won me over. Free beer is one of the quickest ways to my heart.

There’s a nice atmosphere with New Orleans style decorations and pictures of the area. It is family friendly. I had expected it to be more of a bar-restaurant type atmosphere, but it is not. I’d like to see live music here given the style of the place, and since New Orleans is known for live music, but I’m not sure if they have the room.

The B-Line Diner, located in the Peabody Hotel, is modeled after an old fashioned diner, but with an upscale twist. The atmosphere and decor are nice, but the food and service are a completely different experience. I ordered a burger, cooked medium. I was served a very dry, very well done burger. On top of that, the burger was supposed to be a 1/2lb., but looked much smaller. The french fries were good, but a side cannot save a meal. I wouldn’t have had such high expectations for the food had I not spent $13 on a hamburger and fries.

The service was bad. Not only was my burger overcooked, but my friends’ as well. We only saw our waiter a couple times. I would understand if the restaurant were busy, but it wasn’t at the time, and there was no reason that I could see that we were not better attended to. It’s even more difficult to eat a dry burger when your water glass is empty.

The dessert case to the side as you enter the restaurant is the only reason I would go back there. While I was not able to sample any of the desserts, I would go back to try them, but only if I were in the area. While they did look amazing, they were still rather expensive, and there’s other places in town offering similarly good dessert.

Mama B’s serves a variety of subs and sandwiches. I had their house special, the Italian sub. The food was good, but nothing special. Mama B’s is cash or check only. I found that out after I ordered my food. They informed me that there was a Bank of America a few blocks south (I don’t particularly care to walk a few blocks in the Florida heat). Luckily I remembered I just so happened to have my checkbook on me that day. I had to make out a check for a sandwich and soda. The only thing I ever write a check for is to pay rent and utilities. It’s a big hassle writing a check for a retailer/restaurant. They had to check my ID, and then questioned me about my address since the address on my license doesn’t match the address on my checks. I assured them I was who I said I was and that I was good for the $8. I’ll probably never go back there again since I normally don’t carry cash or my checkbook. This is the 21st century, get a credit card machine already. The only way you can get away with cash only is if you really have something compelling to offer. Red Light Red Light is a good example of that, they have a laid back atmosphere, and a great beer selection, but even then, I have to plan ahead to bring cash. Mama B’s isn’t good enough to plan on going there, and I’ll never stop by since I rarely have cash. Go across the street to New York deli instead for an excellent gyro.

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.

Smokehouse BBQ is in the old Blackwater BBQ location on south Orange Ave. There has been a change of ownership, management, and a bulk of the staff. During the transition, something must have been lost, because Smokehouse BBQ does not hold up to it’s predecessor. I had the beef brisket, which was a bit dry, unlike Blackwater BBQ. The sides are still good, and the sauce is delicious, enough to make up for the dry meat. It’s still a decent place to get some barbecue, but not what it once was.

Subs and Such is a nice place to grab a quick sandwich. It’s not crowded at all, and the service is quick. The prices are reasonable, and the service is good. Stop by if you’re in the area, but don’t go out of your way to give this place a try.

Havana Bistro & Cafe serves up a variety of Cuban style food. The sandwiches are alright, but don’t taste as fresh as other places in town. When I visited, they weren’t very crowded, but it took a while to make my Cuban sandwich, something that is usually pretty quick. The atmosphere gives the vibe that they are trying to be higher scale than they need to be for the type of food they’re serving. If I had the option, I’d drive a few minutes down the road to Amazonas Latin Grill, but Havana Bistro is good enough if you are in the area.

The bread is baked daily, and the meat is sliced fresh as your sub is made. It doesn’t get much fresher than this. There isn’t a wide variety of toppings, but what they have is great. Subs come in regular, large, and giant sizes. The giant sub (priced accordingly) is much larger than a foot long. They have excellent service. One day, the owner could tell I was having a rough day. I had just come out of a bridal show. He gave us 10% off just because. I highly recommend you try Jersey Mike’s Subs, especially their Philly cheese steak. They make it with sweet peppers, instead of the usual bell peppers.

The staff was polite and helpful. The restaurant itself is small, but quiet. It’s a great place to have a nice, hot lunch without having to deal with a large crowd or noisy restaurant. They also have free Wi-Fi, so you could easily get some work done in this peaceful environment.

I’m really happy Isaac contacted me about reviewing Yordan Cafe. I don’t make it to this side of town too often, and probably never would have discovered this great place had he not done so. This really is a great place to eat.