forums

Off-Topic The Melting Pot: a Food Thread

hoops156 said:
Orlandos food scene is def meh at best. they have some decent asian food bc of their asian town area but overall, nothing to write home about. I kinda feel that way about the rest of the state too. Tampa has some decent spots here and there but nothing crazy. miami prolly has the best food in the state and its okay still.
Click to expand...
Tampa has a wayyyy better food scene than Orlando. One of my All time favorite sandwich spots is Brocato's on E. Columbus Dr.....
 
Advertisement
JD08 said:
Define SFL. I'm in northern PBC and I can find great places between WPB and Stuart. Usually my wife can usually find a decent non-chain restaurant just about anywhere in FL, GA, and SC along the major routes. I can't say that up north. I'm not really talking about one stoplight towns, but places like Worcester and Hartford should have a couple of go-to places.

Nothing is going to compare to going to NYC and stopping in any random place in Little Italy and having a fantastic shrimp fra diaviolo. You're not going to get that kind of kitchen staff cross-pollination in a lot of places.
Click to expand...

Dade Broward and id say about half of WPB then you start really getting into treasure coast past that more than SFL (even the tv and radio stations are different lol).
 
SWFLHurricane said:
Tampa has a wayyyy better food scene than Orlando. One of my All time favorite sandwich spots is Brocato's on E. Columbus Dr.....
Click to expand...
tampa is def better imo.

I recently went to counter culture last time I was there (wife's family is from there). let me know if you ever end up there.

tampa is ahead of orlando in terms of food culture though. I think it has to do w a larger NE presence and orlando will always cater to tourists bc it makes sense to
 
SWFLHurricane said:
Chicago Beef sandwiches in Chi-town deserve a culinary award every yr. Orlando's food scene, (aside from a few) is mediocre at best. I'm close friends with Chefs/owners Jim & Julie Petrakis....in my opinion, best restaurant in Orlando, and has been for a dozen yrs.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Check out the Fat Snook in satellite and Hideaway Cafe in new symrna.
 
Advertisement
hoops156 said:
Orlandos food scene is def meh at best. they have some decent asian food bc of their asian town area but overall, nothing to write home about. I kinda feel that way about the rest of the state too. Tampa has some decent spots here and there but nothing crazy. miami prolly has the best food in the state and its okay still.

I will say w orlando, its def more than just chain spots but you actually have to leave the Disney area to get there
Click to expand...
The Food scene in Fl has changed dramatically, and negatively from 30-35 yrs ago.....in the 80s and early 90s Fl had some insanely good restaurants. I'm talking Grade A.....not so much anymore.
 
SWFLHurricane said:
Memphis AND Kansas City both lay waste to Texas Barbecue, except ONE thing....Brisket, where Texas is King. Go to Rendezvous in Memphis for their Dry-Rub ribs, and Thank me later.
Click to expand...
I don't think it's accurate to say lay waste, I've had pulled pork to die for in Texas. I think it's a preference thing but if you're talking whole hog? Yes, when it comes to pork Kansas City and Memphis are the go-to's. Anything beef though goes to Texas. Also, a technicality but Memphis and Kansas City I would consider both South in a North vs South debate.
 
JamesQuall said:
I don't think it's accurate to say lay waste, I've had pulled pork to die for in Texas. I think it's a preference thing but if you're talking whole hog? Yes, when it comes to pork Kansas City and Memphis are the go-to's. Anything beef though goes to Texas. Also, a technicality but Memphis and Kansas City I would consider both South in a North vs South debate.
Click to expand...
Memphis Barbecue is GOAT.....no F's given...I've eaten Barbecue all over this country. (Texas as well) but Memphis reigns supreme.....
 
SWFLHurricane said:
The Food scene in Fl has changed dramatically, and negatively from 30-35 yrs ago.....in the 80s and early 90s Fl had some insanely good restaurants. I'm talking Grade A.....not so much anymore.
Click to expand...
I think part of it has a lot to do with the rising cost of living and the killer mom-and-pop shop not being able to keep up with chain restaurants and the cost of rent, especially in S FL.
 
Advertisement
SWFLHurricane said:
Memphis Barbecue is GOAT.....no F's given...I've eaten Barbecue all over this country. (Texas as well) but Memphis reigns supreme.....
Click to expand...
What place/s would you recommend in Memphis? I've only been twice and had quite a bit of BBQ and it was definitely really good but it was not the best that I've had.
 
Advertisement
Advertisement
djnellz said:
I never disagree with you on anything....

Until now.

Wawa, esp. in the Philadelphia area, puts Sheetz to shame imo.
🤷🏿‍♂️

You still my guy, though.
I'm sorry, an Italian with a bag of Herr's flaming hot chip, tastykake butterscotch krimpets and a Wawa peach tea....
Click to expand...
You can get all that stuff at sheetz lol At least the sheetz by me.
 
SWFLHurricane said:
The Food scene in Fl has changed dramatically, and negatively from 30-35 yrs ago.....in the 80s and early 90s Fl had some insanely good restaurants. I'm talking Grade A.....not so much anymore.
Click to expand...
One of the things that has frustrated me is the trend of NY restaurants opening in Florida and not putting their top talent. 80s and 90s you had the Mango Gang with Van Aiken and others. Michael Schwartz at Pacific Time. Some good spots. Then the 00s brought all of the steakhouses like Scott Conant. Then the 2008 to Covid time had a massive number of local restaurants, with local talent, and local ingredients explode.

Now the city is back to an outpost of NYC restaurants, this time courtesy of the Major Food Group (Carbone, Dirty French, etc.), which is taking up capital, real estate, and opportunities from those local folks. You need to go to Allapattah, Gables, Little Haiti, MiMo, etc to get local concepts these days.
 
JD08 said:
Yup, but drive East from NYC and you'll struggle to find a great place. My relatives in CT and MA come down and marvel at the selection we have.
Click to expand...
That's everywhere now. Prices of food soaring...and in turn, prices on menus soaring as well. Hard time finding reliable Staffs is another dilemma. People are eating out less & less, and in all honesty, I don't blame them.
 
Advertisement
Back
Top