Monday, October 15, 2007

Relaxed island feeling

Thai Island
210 E Davis Blvd
Tampa, FL 33606
813-251-9111

Overall: A quaint mom-and-pop Thai restaurant with a smattering of unusual (and usual) options and a quiet casual ambiance. Nothing special to look at during the day that transforms to a sidewalk cafe with romantic lights strewn through the trees overlooking the sidewalk of what seems a town forgotten in time. However, while full of character and typically positive reviews, the restaurant only delivers average flavor.

Who's Who
Around 9pm on a Saturday evening, the only other patrons were an older couple that had clearly befriended one of the Thai Island owners. As a table of four 30-somethings, we seemed to be the most action the restaurant received that night. Next door, an Italian restaurant with a similar type of ambiance seemed the more popular choice on the street for younger patrons and families. Of course, this translated in a no-wait sit-anywhere alternative to waiting for a table at a more popular chain.

Cost Factor
Average prices overall, with each of us sharing an entree and a sampler platter of seafood and chicken satay we only spent about $12 a piece. Wine appeared to be the primary alcohol option and ran between 5-7 dollars a glass.

Flirtabilty
Although the neighborhood encouraged a casual walk-about atmosphere and the restaurant offered side-walk seating, the patrons nor the walk-bys offered any 'curb appeal' for the average 30 something. I'd give this place a complete zilch for pick-up potentials for a Saturday evening.

Atmosphere
I'm a sucker for white twinkle lights and this place certainly had them in addition to some more traditional paper covered lights strewn throughout the tree-lined sidewalk. To add to the Davis Island feel and general character of the place, the ceilings were covered with a few sails that made one think of the island and nearby bay shore. Along these same lines, the restaurant struck me as somewhere that could be an intimate date or a casual evening after a day at the beach or nearby Bayshore paths. The service overall was relatively attentive and friendly - but my guess was that our server might have been one of the owners that was sharing time in the kitchen.

Tastey
A few unique options that caught my eye were a chicken-noodle-esque soup with clear/glass noodles (I looove glass noodles) and an assortment of different types of curry. Being a big fan of red curry myself, I was surprised to see 4-5 different types of curry offered. Playing it safe by ordering the red curry, I was a bit disappointed with it generally had watered down taste. I wondered if the other curry options might have been better. Also playing it safe with some crab ragoons, chicken satay, and another item on the sampler platter, I was again disappointed with a pretty average flavor. Finally, a dinner-mate that opted for some shrimp and vegetable-based soup found hers to be too spicy to be tastey.

Liquid Courage
Although we leaned towards the non-alcohol choice of Thai tea due to our day of game-day tailgating, there was a satisfactory listing of affordable wine options that fit nicely with the equally affordable and causal food pairings.

Funness
The fun in this particular restaurant is limited to whatever fun you bring to the table. With no live music or other sources of entertainment, if fun isn't walking by on the sidewalk I sure hope you brought someone with you that can hold up their side in a conversation.

Inside Scoop Tidbits
For those looking for a non-chain mom-and-pop local, this is your place. From what I can tell the owners are a husband and wife couple that plays a huge - if not exclusive - role in running the restaurant. Cheap with no wait on a Saturday night, I'd recommend this place for a new couple that's more interested in each other and conversation or a casual girl's night out to catch-up on each other's lives - but not necessarily for its lack-luster take on the traditional Thai plates.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Up for a Night of Fright?

Halloween Horror Nights
Orlando, FL
September 28, 2007 - November 3, 2007

Overall:
Once a year Universal Studios decks out their park with blood and guts galore to commemorate the holiday where candy is a must, Halloween. (Note: This is not for the weak.) This year is the Carnival of Carnage with all the classic murderous maniacs, so be prepared to meet Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface head on. Oh, and watch out for the guys with chainsaws. There are 8 haunted houses, 4 shows, and midway of the bizarre as well as all of the traditional rides offered year round.

Who's Who:
Everyone is there! This place is packed. I would say that the majority of the patrons are in their 20's and 30's. Some people are screaming their lungs out and others are cool as a cucumber. I think it all depends on how easily you scare.

Cost Factor:
The price of tickets depend upon the day of the week you go. Florida residents can get special rates. The cheapest option is to go on Thursdays and Sundays. There is also an option to buy a frequent fear pass for those days. Saturday is the priciest night to attend with Friday in the middle. Universal also offers an express pass for an additional charge where you can bypass all of the lines.

Atmosphere:
Employees are in full costume gear (no costumes for patrons allowed) ready to pounce on unsuspecting bystanders, and the smoke in the air definitely makes it easier for them to hide, so look out behind you. It is chalk full of energy even up to the very end. The music is blasting and the people are screaming! They must be havin' a good time though because most people don't head out of there until they shut the park down.

Tastey:
The food is typical theme park food. They focus all of their energy into the entertainment, so I wouldn't plan on eating anything exciting. Actually, I ate before I even got to the park. It's cheaper and tastes better. I wouldn't waste the time or the money.

Liquid Courage:
Boy oh boy! They are not stingy with the booze. There is practically a bar at every corner. A few select beers are offered at most of the stands. For select bars, there is hard liquor for those of you looking for something with a bit more kick. They even offer liquid shots as well as jell-o shots in a syringe. I recommend their signature drink in the souvenir cup. It's a bit pricey, but you can refill it at a discount. It's got flashing lights too!

Flirtability:
Although there are a lot of people there, most come in a big group of friends making one-on-one time extremely difficult. The environment isn't very conducive to flirting unless you can convince a hottie that you need to be protected. I wouldn't count on meeting anyone there. Have fun with your friends and save the romance for another night.

Funness:
If you loved to be scared or just love the props, this is definitely a place to check out. I think it's enjoyable regardless if you scare or not. The more people you can rally up the better. Theme parks always seemed more eventful with a bigger crowd. Everyone else must agree with me because this thing just seems to grow larger every year.

Insider Scoops:
Lines are long! Be prepared to wait. Most of the lines are at least 60 minutes for the haunted houses. Definitely check out Jack's Funhouse in clown-o-vision. Even if it doesn't scare you, it sure looks cool. If you're short on time, skip The Thing and Vampyr. The Thing is just plain boring and Vampyr is flat out confused (stick to one them in the same house please). If you're not willing to wait, regular rides have a wait time of less than 15 minutes. Or check out one of their four shows. I didn't have time to see one, so sorry, no recommendations here. Oh, and no smoking in line.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Who said Mondays can't be fun?

Cafe Tu Tu Tango
8625 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
407-248-2222

Overall:
A funky joint on I-drive with brightly painted walls covered with artwork from local artists (available for purchasing if so desired). This place was buzzing with tons of energy from the patrons sharing tapas style food, live music, a painter, and a balloon guy entertaining the kids - goes over well with the young ones ;)

Who's who:
Wow! This place was busy, and it was a Monday. With a packed house, the group of people was very mixed. I saw all ages; looked like everyone was having a good time watching the entertainment, sipping on some sangria.

Cost Factor:
Items were relatively inexpensive. Dishes ranged from around $6 - $10. Because they are appetizer portions, I would recommend getting a few options and splitting them among y0ur friends to really try all of the different flavors.

Atmosphere:
It's upbeat, energetic and definitely a twist from your standard chains. The exotic flavor combinations and funky artwork give it a new and fresh feel. The waiter was a little slow and somewhat hard to hear, but I'm a sucker for a good mojitos, so I'll be coming back. Hey, maybe next time I'll see some art I want to buy. (I'm a sucker for artwork too.)

Tastey:
A tapas style restaurant. They offer a diverse selection of cold and hot items including marinated skewers, glazed ribs, and duck quesadillas. If you're looking for something a bit different try their brick oven pizzas. Some of my favorites were the beef and cheese empanadas and the potstickers. For dessert, I recommend the chocolate calzone. The best item on the menu, roasted pear on pecan crisps. Fruit never tasted so good!

Liquid Courage:
The bar was fully stocked with a long list of of wine options to choose from including award winning sangrias, and I definitely can't forget to mention the margaritas and mojitos. They're offered in both traditional flavor and several specialty flavors. I highly recommend the traditional mojito. It was definitely one of the best I've ever had.

Flirtability:
With so many people and of all different ages, I think this is a good place to mingle. This place is on international drive, so it's near a lot of the action. Besides, just looking at the walls, it's an instant conversation starter regardless if you like it or not.

Funness:
I just love this place! I think it's a blast. Live music, fun food, and cold drinks. It was the beginning of the week and the place was filled. A live painter, a guitar player, and a balloon guy - what more could there be? (and that was on a Monday) I'm sure with the weekend comes even more excitement and entertainment.

Insider Scoops:
If you're like me, check it out on a Wednesday for Mojito Madness. If you're looking for some entertainment and want something different, try Friday for a Caberet show (starts at 10:30).

Friday, September 28, 2007

Happy Hour Anyone?

Dexter's
558 W. New England Ave.
Winter Park, Florida
407-629-1150

Overall:
A trendy little place in Winter Park with great location, interesting decor, and unusual dishes. A good option if you're looking for a happy-hour location and live music on a Friday night. Although an appealing happy hour location for co-workers, I can't say I'm rushing back any time soo.

Who's who:
A mixed crowd of both young and older professionals. Relatively busy for Friday at 6pm but not too busy to get a table with just a short wait. I would have expected that the well-known happy hour location would have been busier but maybe the rain kept the usual crowd away.

Cost Factor:
Not terribly high-priced given I was able to get a chicken and shrimp salad for less than $20. Overall, I'd consider them moderately priced.

Atmosphere:
Overall, I think they were going for the trendy, artsy look and accomplished it. Local artists displayed their pieces on the walls which not only made for non-classic art but also showed obvious support for the community that I can appreciate. The server, however, did not go out of her way to make us feel welcome and in fact, gave us the distinct impression that we were bothering her. We had to reorder appetizers after waiting and never receiving them. I'm not sure if that's the expected attitude in this particular restaurant but admittedly left a bad taste in my mouth for the restaurant as a whole.

Tastey:
The food options were a little more unusual than the typical chain restaurant. I debated on a coconut curried chicken with jasmine rice dish but eventually opted for a blackened chicken and shrimp salad with the feta ranch dressing. The presentation of the salad was appealing but ultimately the blackened chicken was a bit dried out. In trying a couple different appetizers of baked asiago, artichoke and crab dip, grilled salmon sate skewers over vegetable lo mein noodles, and buffalo mozzarella & plum tomato flatbread, I can't say that any of them were overly outstanding . The dip wasn't overly creamy, the 'skewers' were actually just one skewer, and the flatbread looked dried out.

Liquid Courage:
A full liquor bar with a few limited happy hour options. The drinks were slow to arrive - though the server claimed that the bar was backed up. One of my dinner-mates went up to the bar to order and had no wait at all so we're not sure where the service breakdown actually occurred.

Flirtability:
The crowd looked like one that was open to mingling and overall was an attractive group. I'd give the place a 10 in pick-up possibilities given that I watched two people meet (the woman had been at a table of four initially), make-out unabashedly at the bar, and quickly exit. Heck, given the amount of time and drinks needed to hook up at a club...this would be pretty good place for a quick and cheap pick-up.

Funness:
Around 7:30pm a hip rock band set up and played some well known covers such as Oasis and Dave Matthews. I imagine as the night wore on and the liquid courage continued to flow, dancing would be inevitable.

Insider Scoops:
Parking is kind of tough and requires a patron to park in the residential areas. Keep an eye out for no parking zones in these areas...I was lucky not to have been ticketed myself when I later realized I had inadvertently parked in a No Parking Zone.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

It's late, it's Friday, where do you go?

Mellow Mushroom
2015 Aloma Ave
Winter Park, FL 32792
(407) 657-7755

Overall
The restaurant was not spectacular in appearance when you walk in but the food was good, hot, and abundant in regards to portions. Not to mention both classic and unique options when it comes to pizza. A good option when you want late-night food and a drink in the Winter Park area.

Who’s Who
Dana Says: For a Friday night at 11pm, the place was pretty empty with more servers than patrons. My guess is that despite the availability of both bar-space and alcohol, the place isn’t known as a weekend hotspot. The general crowd tended to look like edgy college kids from local Rollins College.
Liz Says: Even though it was a Friday night (and a UCF football was the next day), the place was near deserted. We were one of the few tables along with several young, funky college kids. This place definitely looks like it would be a college hotspot when it does get busy.

Cost Factor
Dana Says: Depends on whether you consider a gourmet personal-pan sized pizza at $11 expensive. Although wine and beer were available, I was quite pleased with a reasonably priced hard apple cider option.
Liz Says: For a personal gourmet pizza and a pitcher of hard cider, my pocket was only $16 lighter. My tummy definitely thought it was worth it.

Atmosphere
Dana Says: The place was definitely going for the quirky look with a bit of grunge, not to be confused with dirty. It had a relaxed collegy-feel. Our server was super friendly, knowledgeable, and personable.
Liz Says: The environment was fun, casual, and easy going along with our server's personality. She was quirky, informative and very attentive to our needs (No waiting...Yay!).

Tastey
Dana Says: A gourmet pizza of pesto, feta, sun-dried tomatoes, and other various things was good. What was most outstanding I thought was the crust. Not being a pizza-crust kind of girl I usually avoid it. However, this crust was a lot like garlic cheesy bread that would have been good for dipping if given the option (hint, hint MM).
Liz Says: I had the gourmet white pizza consisting of aromatic garlic, flavorful sun dried tomatoes, and smothered with an abundance of different cheeses. And last but not least...the Parmesan crust (Yummy!)

Liquid Courage
Dana Says: We chose a pitcher of hard apple cider. Cold, crisp, and pretty good match for pizza when if you’re like me and not a big fan of beer. Reasonably priced at only about $4.50 per glass in the pitcher. Personally, I really appreciate a server that will tell you it’s cheaper to go by pitcher than by glass. Plus, how often does a non-beer-drinker ever get to order a pitcher anyway? There was a pretty extensive selection of unusal and seasonal beers, wines, and liquor.
Liz Says: Both of us being cider drinkers, we decided to go with the cheaper version and split a pitcher; however, if we were so inclined, there was a variety of beer, wine, and liquor to choose from. And had we been more observant, we would have noticed the martini special being offered that night. (Maybe next time)


Flirtability
Dana Says: I’d vote this an absolute zero in regards to available men (or women I suppose) or even the set up for mingling if you were so inclined.
Liz Says: I'd have to stay that I certainly wouldn't be looking for a date at the MM anytime soon. Keep looking ladies...and gents.

Funness
Dana Says: Wasn’t a super-fun place but it looks like it could be or wanted to be at one point. I did love the quirky food names like Kosmic Karma pizza and the play on the drug culture (um hello, mellow mushroom…no, totally not drug related at all. Right.).
Liz Says: Although it wasn't the place to be that night, there is certainly some potential. Being a laid back kinda place, it's perfect for a big, loud group of people. There are even a couple of televisions at the bar for those T.V. watchin types.

Insider Scoop Tidbits
Dana Says: If I’d have noticed before I ordered, I might have gone with their Friday night $3 martini special. Looks like there was patio seating too for once the weather cools down.
Liz Says: If you're looking for a quick slice of cheese pizza, go during the week not on the weekend (Can't order by the slice Friday, Saturday, or Sunday)

Welcome!

Let's say it's a Tuesday evening and you've got something to celebrate. Or, let's say it's a Saturday night and you've got a hot date. Or, let's say you've got a couple of pals that just want to go somewhere a little different.

Where would you go? What would you do?

We don't know the answers either but we're taking a stab at going to some of the run of the mill places as well as some of the lesser known places. We'll try out restaurants, happy-hours, and any other night time activity. We will provide you reviews of what we think is special and not so special and you can make your own decisions.

Why?

Cause we're the Ladies on the Town!

We've picked some general criteria for rating a place but plan to add our own special flare to each review. Depending on our mood you may get one-sided reviews by Dana or Liz, and other times we'll provide a Dana Says/Liz Says perspective.

We don't promise to be objective or sober in our reviews, just genuine and entertaining.
 

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