Mellow Mushroom Reader's Choice for Best Pizza in Orlando

Mellow Mushroom took top honors in Eating Orlando’s Best Pizza Poll. Readers chose the laid-back pizza parlor as their favorite spot for pizza in Orlando by a large margin. Anthony’s Pizza was a distant second, and Pizzeria Valdiano was third. American Pie received no votes.

I have to say I agree with the readers on this one. I can’t get enough of that fluffy crust and the plentiful toppings at Mellow Mushroom. It’s my favorite spot for pizza in all of Orlando.

Best Pizza in Orlando Results:

Mellow Mushroom 44%
Anthony’s Pizza 25%
Pizzeria Valdiano 18%
Gino’s Pizza 11%
American Pie 0%

Elvis-Sized Portions Redeem So-So Cheeburger Cheeburger

Can you imagine the thinking that went on to create Cheeburger Cheeburger? Name, name, hmmm... I’ve got it! Let’s name ourselves after a SNL skit that no one under 40 remembers. Food, food, hmm… We’ve gotta be different; let’s serve hamburgers, fries and milkshakes. Theme, theme, hmmm… Okay, get this: we’ll be like nothing else out there if we theme the place as a fifties diner!

No, I’m serious. That’s the concept behind Cheeburger Cheeburger. But I think there’s a little more to it than that. They’ve really tried to take a dated concept and take it to a new level. They don’t serve any old greasy spoon burger. Their burgers are huge and use Black Angus beef. They don’t just have milkshakes. They have 75 flavors of milkshakes that include some unique ones like watermelon, brownie batter, chocolate covered pretzel, Caribbean rum, and cinnamon bun. Even the wait staff is different from the norm. No sassy, middle-aged waitresses here. All the servers at Cheeburger Cheeburger are young, friendly and smiling. You won’t hear Elvis tunes blasting from the jukebox. Well, yea, you will hear that. Some things are sacred.

I ordered the ½ Pound (actually 10 oz.) “Serious” Cheeburger ($7.99) with Blue Cheese, onions and tomato. There are no burgers on the menu with pre-selected toppings. You get to choose whatever you want from a multitude of traditional and non-traditional toppings. All burgers come with cheese (you pick from American, Bleu, Swiss, Feta, Pepper Jack, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Provolone or a mix of Jack and Cheddar cheese). Some may enjoy this decision process, but I prefer to order from a pre-selected menu of choices. I’m not a burger cook. Shouldn’t the cook know how to put together toppings for burgers? My Cheeburger was served well done, not even close to the medium I ordered. It was gray throughout with no charring on the outside of the patty. It was a large patty, however, and was flavorful. The bun was fresh and the Bleu cheese was tangy and quite delicious. I wondered why I wasted my time selecting toppings. There were a couple of slender, tasteless onion slices and one wilted tomato slice the size of a half dollar. A single, toothpick-skewered olive atop the bun was a nice touch.

My guest’s “Semi-Serious” 1/3 pound (7 oz.) Cheeburger was also served well done instead of the medium as ordered. There were only 5 customers in the restaurant. Surely the cook wasn’t distracted by too many orders at once to cook our burgers as ordered.

We attempted to order a basket of “Frings” ($5.29), what Cheeburger Cheeburger calls a combination of French fries and onion rings. Our waiter stopped us by informing us that a half size order ($4.29) would be plenty and would save us a dollar. He was right. The half size was enormous. Both the fries and rings were cooked perfectly brown and were not greasy at all. The rings could have used a little more onion flavor and were not the kind where the onion pulls out of the breading when you bite into them. Those are the best.

I tried a cherry “Shake-a-Soda” ($2.29) for my beverage. It was a soda water and flavored syrup based drink shaken by hand. It sounded great but just wasn’t sweet enough for me. Also available was Egg Cream Soda. I may try that on my next visit.


For dessert we both tried milkshakes ($3.19 half size). With all the flavors available we couldn’t make up our minds right away. We finally decided on brownie batter and mint chocolate chip. They were both disappointing. We expected the mint to be a bright green. It was a pale shade of green. We expected the brownie batter to be a deep brown. It was pale brown. The mint chocolate chip shake tasted like vanilla and so did the brownie batter. Seriously. 75 flavors of shakes that all taste like vanilla? I hope that’s not the case but it was for the two flavors we tried.

Service was friendly and mostly attentive. Our waiter did disappear for a short spell after we ordered the milkshakes and a different server brought them over. Perhaps our server was too embarrassed to serve them? I would have been.

Cheeburger Cheeburger’s theme was a little dated, and the name was clever in the Reagan era. The food was hit or miss and fairly expensive, but the portions were Elvis-sized. The service was friendly and the restaurant was clean. A mixed bag, but overall, I enjoyed my visit. I’ll be back, but for now, Eating Orlando has left the building.

2 ½ Pelvises out of 5

Cheeburger Cheeburger
504 N. Alafaya Trail
Suite 105
Orlando, FL 32828

407-658-1001

http://www.cheeburger.com/

BK Burger Shots Quick Look

I’m a sucker for small burgers. I eat them like candy. I love Krystal hamburgers, especially late at night. I love White Castle hamburgers whenever I’m up north and can get my hands on them. I even buy the frozen ones at the grocery store on occasion. They’re perfect nuked and enjoyed as an impromptu late night snack. I’ve enjoyed quite a few little burgers at various restaurants in the area, usually called “sliders” on the menu. I like to make tiny little burgers at home using dinner rolls. When I saw Burger King offering new BK Burger Shots ($1.39 for two), I just had to check them out. Like I said, I’m a sucker for small burgers.

What was I thinking? They tasted just like a Burger King hamburger, only smaller. Duh. Think an overpowering taste of pickle, mustard, and ketchup - with only the hint of meat flavor in the artificial smoky aftertaste. Throw in a flavorless, dry bun and that’s the BK burger in a nutshell. I have to compare the tiny burgers at BK to the ones at Krystal and White Castle. There, the burgers have a delightful onion flavor, and the steamed bun almost melts in the mouth. Yea, there’s no actual meat taste, but no artificial aftertaste either. Burger Shots just do not compare.

Tiny burgers are easy to eat on the road. They each come in a little box, and one free hand can pop them right into the mouth. Well, not at Burger King. Both the burgers of my two-pack came tightly wrapped in wax paper, and the burger patties and buns were attached to each other. It took both hands, and quite a bit of pressure, to pull them apart. Gripping the burgers resulted in smashed buns and condiment spillage. If you order a six-pack, the Burger Shots come in a clamshell box. Better packaging, but they are still a pain to pull apart. And they'll still taste the same.

Do yourself a favor and skip the BK Burger Shots. Don’t be a sucker.

2 Tiny Stars out of 5

Quizno's Toasty Torpedo Quick Look

Stopped by a new Quiznos location in downtown Sanford to try one of the chain's new $4 Toasty Torpedo Subs. Long and slim, my “Beef Bacon and Cheddar” was a tasty sub. The sub was made with roast beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce and diced tomatoes, with mayonnaise and mustard on a toasted Ciabatta roll. I was surprised how filling it was being that it is so narrow. For $4, you can’t beat it. Seemed like a better value than the $5 Foot Long at Subway and tasted much better. Other $4 Torpedoes include the “Pesto Turkey,” “Italian,” “Turkey Club,” and “Big Kahuna Tuna.” I liked the way it was served in a paper sleeve. You can slide the sub out as you eat. Nice job Quiznos. I think you’ve got a winner here.

Wish I could say I was as impressed with the location as I was with the sub. I know they’ve just opened, but the staff seemed very disorganized and the dining room was in disarray. Looks like they need to keep training the staff further. I’ll try to check back with them in a few months to see if they’ve gotten their act together.

Torpedo: 4 WMDs out of 5
Location: 2 Training Sessions out of 5

Quiznos
129 W. 1st Street
Sanford, Florida 32771
407-688-0782

http://www.quiznos.com/

Mellow Mushroom: A Delicious Trip to Pizza Nirvana

My visit to the new Mellow Mushroom location in the UCF/Waterford Lakes area was exactly as I expected. And I was blown away. I expected a fun, hippie, psychedelic vibe in the atmosphere and décor. It was all that and so very well not over done. I expected the place to be full of raucous college kids and friendly, college-age servers. It surely was. I expected the pizza to be really good. The pizza was damn good. I’m always let down when I visit a restaurant with great expectations. The Mellow Mushroom lifted me up.

My companion and I split a 16” large Hawaiian Pizza ($15.00). The ham and pineapple toppings were sprinkled judiciously across the pie, and the mounds of ham were baked perfectly, attaining crispiness on the edges. This browning brought out the salty ham flavor to balance the sweetness of the pineapple. The sauce was nearly perfect: a little tang, a little sweetness, a little tomato bite. The whole wheat crust was perfectly handmade and baked perfectly throughout. The perimeter of the crust was so gooey thick, so soft and fluffy; it was as if the pie were ringed with bread sticks. Delicious bread sticks. We wished for a side of sauce to dip them in. The crust could have been an appetizer.

We chose, however, the Bruschetta ($5.50) for our appetizer, and it arrived moments after ordering. It was devoured moments after delivery. I would say this is the best order of Bruschetta I’ve ever had. French bread slices, toasted expertly and slathered with garlic butter and a drizzle of balsamic glaze, surrounded a mound of juicy, diced tomatoes, oregano and Feta cheese crumbles. The portion was right on for the price, but we could have eaten another plate or two.

When a place near a college is serving pizza and the stereo is rocking Led Zeppelin, you know beer will be flowing. It was flowing at Mellow Mushroom. They offer an impressive array of micro-brewed beers on tap and an impressive drink special: $2.95 pints 9 p.m. to close. However, they were out of six of the beers the night we dined. I sampled four of the micro-brews in a special 5 oz. per beer flight. Our waitress took the time to explain every beer I inquired about, and offered her suggestions. My favorites in order: Sea Dog Blueberry, Purple Haze, Boulder Beer Mojo, and Hazed and Infused.

Our server was very friendly, informative and attentive. She checked on us numerous times throughout the meal and always seemed to be within eyesight had we needed anything. A manager was seen numerous times walking the dining room. I can’t say enough about the excellent service.

The dining room was contemporarily styled with touches of sixties psychedelia splashed throughout. A cheerful place, the sixties look was not overdone, and it didn’t feel “themed,” although it certainly was. There’s a large bar at the back and an open patio area on the front. It’s a fun space to eat a meal or have some beers.

From everything I’d heard, I expected a lot from Mellow Mushroom. They delivered. The food, service and atmosphere were all great. This may now be my favorite place to eat pizza in Orlando.

Overall: 4 ½ Stuffed Hippies out of 5

Mellow Mushroom
11680 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32817

407-384-4455

Mellowmushroom.com

Heavenly Treat: Jeremiah's Italian Ice

Stopped by Jeremiah’s Italian Ice near UCF recently for dessert. Jeremiah’s is one of the most talked about “Ice Cream” restaurants in the area, and consistently ranks near the top of many review sites and reader polls for best dessert - and even best overall restaurant. I’m glad I stopped by. The desserts are heavenly.

I sampled a large Gelati ($3.75). It was a layered mix of “cookies and cream” Italian Ice and soft-serve vanilla ice cream. It was velvety smooth and rich, with a deep sweetness that didn’t overpower. It was like a lighter, smoother, Hagen Das-quality ice cream, without the buttery after taste. It was a real treat and a very large-sized portion for the price. Really more than a normal person could handle. I handled it.

There are too many flavors of Italian Ice, ice cream and gelati combinations to list. They have just about any flavor you can think of within reason. And a note to those watching their sugar intake: Several sugar-free flavors were available. That's nice to see.

My server was young, and pretty, and very nice. She suggested the gelati combination as I gave her a blank stare when asked what I would like. Thank you. Nice call.

Jeremiah’s is located in a strip center directly across Alafaya Trail from the UCF campus. It’s not a well-lighted place and it’s a little run down. College students were arriving and leaving by the car load and they seemed nonchalant about security. But do be careful if you go at night.

There are two other locations in town. One in Maitland, and one in Winter Park. I drive by the location in Maitland at the corner of 17-92 and Horatio all the time. There is always a long line of customers standing very close to the road as the traffic screams by on 17-92. I’ve wondered why so many people stand in line just inches from certain death. Now I know. What a heavenly way to go.

Overall: 4 Frozen Tongues out of 5

Jeremiah's Italian Ice
12271 University Blvd
Orlando, FL 32817

(407) 277-7769

http://www.jeremiahsice.com/

Seek and Ye Shall Find: Excellent Wings in Lake Mary

I like Buffalo Wings. Yes I do. And I know what kind of wings I like. They should be of medium to large size and come with a lot of meat on the bone. The meat should pull of easily. The sauce should thoroughly cover the mound of wings and the sauce should be spicy, but not too spicy to burn the mouth. The wings should be served with crunchy, curly fries on the side and come with plenty of them. Tony’s Original Wings and Grill serves my kind of wings in Lake Mary.

Tony’s is located in the Lake Mary Center, a shopping plaza at the corner of Lake Emma Road and Lake Mary Blvd. It’s tucked away in the corner between K-Mart and Albertsons. Nothing fancy inside but the dining room was spacious and clean. There are a few TVs about and an interesting mural of children playing sports covers the walls. You sit on padded, stackable chairs. A claw machine and a newer Galaga/Ms. Pac-Man game lined the back wall.

I’ve been at lunch and the place was filled with workers on their lunch breaks. On Saturday night we were the only customers in the restaurant until a family with four kids arrived. A few people came in for takeout orders.

I ordered 10 “hot” Chicken Wings ($7.25) and my guest ordered 10 “Lemon Pepper” Wings ($7.25). We split a large basket of Curly Fries ($3.75). The Fries arrived first and they were delicious. We devoured them immediately. Made from fresh potatoes cut in the store daily, they were fried perfectly and only needed a dash of salt. We both thought they had a wonderful potato flavor. Reminded me somewhat of the fries at 5 Guys.

My Hot Wings were served steaming hot with a small side of Bleu Cheese Dressing and two celery sticks on wax paper in a plastic basket. They were bright orange in color the way a wing should be. The sauce didn’t seem to have a lot of butter in it. The way I like it. My guest's Lemon Pepper Wings, on the other hand, were covered in butter. Butter seemed to be the main ingredient in the sauce, and the main flavor. I would pass on these again, but my guest liked them. Other wing flavors were mild, mild/medium, medium, “xtra” hot, garlic, BBQ, honey mustard, and teriyaki.

Other items on the menu included a selection of sandwiches, hamburgers, salads, and baby back ribs. I’d like to try their ribs next time. Wine, bottled and draft beer is served. Pricing was right in line for the quality of the food. The daily lunch specials look like a bargain. Monday, after 5 p.m. they have an all-you-can-eat wings and fries special for $12.50. The dining room seemed very clean but a persistent gnat buzzed us the entire meal.

Service wasn’t top notch but okay for this kind of place. The waitress was friendly and able to answer all my questions. She did do one thing I’ve never seen before: She took a take out order over the phone while she was at the table serving food to the family. Got to give her a hand for multi-tasking.

I recommend Tony’s Original Wings and Grill if you are looking for a low-key, family-friendly, locally-owned establishment that serves above-average wings and delicious curly fries.

Overall: 3 1/2 greasy fingers out of 5

Tony’s Original Wings & Grill
3689 Lake Emma Road
Lake Mary, FL 32746
407-333-4656

Don't Believe the Hype. Best Burger in Orlando not at Johnny's Fillin Station

Johnny’s Fillin Station does not have the best burger in Orlando. No way. No how. Do not be fooled by reader polls, your friends, the internet, the sign plastered on the side of the restaurant’s building, or the claim emblazoned on the front of the menus. Granted, they do have good burgers. Maybe top ten or top five in Orlando - but not the best. That out of the way, let me tell you I love a good burger. I’ve heard about this place for some time and always wanted to try it. I was excited to experience the place and taste the burgers there.

Johnny’s is located in a seedier section of what is now known as SoDo – south of downtown. It’s on the corner of Fern Creek and Michigan Ave. The building looks like a hole in the wall, with a much bigger parking lot than any old hole in the wall should need. And the lot was quite full. The inside is bigger than you would think from the outside. The walls are covered with discarded items – memorabilia, old signs, bicycles, posters, junk really. Large flat-screen TVs are everywhere. More TVs than I’ve ever seen in any restaurant of this size. There’s a large dining section with pool tables and the bar, a smaller dining section to the side, and a patio with seating and live music outside. We couldn’t find a hosts stand, so we sat ourselves down in the smaller dining section. The place was busy with only a table or two open.

This is a bar that serves food. A lot of food. A lot more than the average bar. The crowd seemed more of a bar crowd than a restaurant crowd, and they leaned toward the biker/rocker type. There were a few couples and one or two families with kids. A couple of folks had on business attire. I bet it gets a little more rowdy as the night goes on as more beer and less food is served. We didn’t feel entirely at home.

After about 10 minutes, a waitress finally spotted us and came over to see if we were ready to order. We were. My guest and I started with the Sweet Corn Nuggets ($5.10). The fried, cream corn nuggets were served on wax paper in a plastic basket with a generous layer of powdered sugar on top. They were tasty but nothing special. A few of the nuggets were cold on the inside.

I ordered the half-pound Bacon Cheeseburger ($7.65) with Steak Fries (99 cents extra) and my guest ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger ($7.40) with the same Steak Fries. Both burgers were a little north of medium-well as ordered. The patties were large and juicy but without a lot of flavor. The meat, however, seemed very fresh as were the lettuce, tomatoes and purple onions on the side. The toasted bun was a bit of a disappointment. It was nothing special – like one you would buy at the grocery store. The bun was just too small and too ordinary for what is supposed to be: a special burger. Upgrading the bun would do wonders for the best burger claim. My cheese was American. The kind that comes in the plastic wrapper you peel before eating. A cheese upgrade is recommended. The mushrooms on the Mushroom Swiss Burger were straight out of a can. The best burger in Orlando is not served with canned mushrooms, come on! I think I would have enjoyed the burger more had it not come with such lofty expectations.

Service was slow and inattentive. The waitresses were mostly young and most tattooed. Our waitress never came back to check on us after serving the burgers or to bring us the bill. The waitress for the table next to us saw us staring into space over empty baskets and glasses and kindly brought us refills and our check. Our bill came to 28.90 with two soft drinks.

Would I go back to Johnny’s Fillin Station? No, probably wouldn’t. Not for the service. Not for the atmosphere. Not for the pricing. Maybe for the food. I hear they deliver. Now, there’s an option.

Overall score: 2 ½ Generic Buns out of 5

Johnny’s Fillin Station
2631 S. Ferncreek Ave.
Orlando, FL 32806
407-894-6900
http://johnnysfillinstation.com/