Vino Tinto

Since I moved here from Chicago I have loved Kissimmee. These mom and pop shops are hard to find, but truly worth searching for.

I was greeted immediately with a smile and a good morning. Good customer service is hard to find. I was told what the specials were. They had a variety of hot food (not pictured). They also have made to order sandwiches.

Pollo guisado, yellow rice, and sweet plantains. The chicken came right off the bone when I picked it up. The flavors were perfect. The yellow rice was nice. Mixed veggies and sausage pieces in the rice. It was very good.

Hours of operation. I will have to come early one morning and see what breakfast items they have. Definitely a nice place to come for lunch.

Two Thumbs Up!! Great customer service. Great food. Nice variety. Place is clean and they have specialty coffees as well. As I always say, I will be back again for more.
Vino Tinto Restaurant

1409 E Vine Street

Kissimmee, FL 34744

(407) 944-0942

Cafe Caobana

Today work took me to Orlando. Welcome to the busiest street I have ever experienced, Semoran. This little gem is a bit hard to spot, but worth making U-turns and dealing with traffic.

(Photo courtesy of Mike P)

Nice interior decor. The one issue was entering and not being greeted in a friendly way. The woman seemed to be in a bad mood when I came in the restaurant.

(Photo of courtesy Mike P)

The sweet section. This is a sugar coma waiting to happen. These look to be worth the migraine. Couldn’t do any of the desserts today. I was on a mission to get a good sandwich.

Cafe con leche. Those little vanilla wafers are a great touch to this drink. While I am typing I am still feeling that caffeine in my veins. My actual server was very friendly and very helpful.

Media Noche. Ham, cheese, pork, pickles, mayo, and mustard. This was the suggestion from the server and a great one at that.

Two Thumbs Up!!  Lacking in the friendly gretting department when you walk in, but overall a very clean and nice looking place. To my server, gracias por todo. Un placer de conocerla.

Cafe Caobana

73 S Semoran Blvd

Orlando, FL 32807

(407)243-9140
Monday to Thursday

6:30am to 8:00pm
Friday and Saturday

6:30am to 10:00pm
Sunday

6:30am to 4:30pm

Mutt’s on 13th

Finally made it. @Burgerbeast had told me about this place a while back and I had forgotten about it. My buddy Isaac reminded me of it and here I am. Located in St Cloud Florida.

The customer service was excellent. I won’t lie, I felt like an outsider, but that was my own personal feeling. Locals come here for lunch and everyone knew each other.

The place is clean and it smelled great as soon as I walked in. I was greeted immediately and had to ask for help in ordering. The staff suggested their award winning burgers, but I saw the pork tenderloin sandwich and had to do it.

When you are done ordering you take a seat and they bring your food to your table. Love the fact that they bring your food and ask if you want ketchup or mustard. It’s the little things that mean so much.

Pork tenderloin sandwich. I do not regret my decision at all. I should have had the burger since that’s what they are known for. Couldn’t pass up on a good pork sandwich.

Two Thumbs Up!!  Going back for that burger for sure. Had some locals sitting near me and their burgers looked really good. They also have a variety of shakes. I will be back!!
Mutt’s on 13th

1517 13th street

St. Cloud, FL 34769

(407) 891-1595
10am to 8pm

Closed on Sundays

Homemade Food

Oh yes you did read that correctly. The name of the restaurant is Homemade Food and it’s name suits it well.

The decor caught my eye immediately. The salsa music in the background was a nice touch as well. The place is very clean.

Empanadas. They have typical breakfast specials in the morning. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner Rider Ferreira. He has very proud of his restaurant and told me that he had been open for less than a month.

The ground beef was my dish for the day. The owner was nice enough to let me sample some of the soup they had for today. It was a chicken and beef soup. Very tasty.

Each day they have three proteins: shredded chicken, shredded beef, and Pernil (pork). In addition they will have another protein depending on the day. The option of black beans and red beans made me happy. They also had vegetables.

Love the hours of operations. Hard to find a place that opens early morning. The young lady who served me was very friendly and very helpful. She says they have a great breakfast in the mornings.

Carne Molida with black beans and white rice. This ground beef was amazing. It has been a long time since I have had a good tasting picadillo.

Mango Juice. They have several natural juices to choose from. Regular and Latin sodas are served as well.

Tres Leches. Very good. Not too sweet. It was a good way to end my meal.

Two Thumbs Up!! Rider, gracias por todo. Espero regressed pronto con mi familia. Sorry that I forgot your staff persons name. She was great. Always nice to get excellent customer service.

Homemade Food

1322 John Young Parkway

Kissimmee, FL 34741

(407) 978-6509
http://www.1800homemadefood.com

ChimiKing Food Truck (192)

After coming back from Celebration Hospital I found this beauty just waiting for me. Now, I have tasted them before when I first met @droolius and @eatlocalorlando in South Orlando. Good times. But now they have a permanent location on 192 in front of Old Town in Kissimmee. Just look  for the Visitors Flea Market.

Empanada de Carne. I had to start out with this one while I waited for my Chimi Burger. They have all kinds of frituras. Do not be fooled by the limited menu. These dishes will knock your socks off.

And you can never do without a Country Club. El refresco nacional Dominicano. This drink is not for everyone. It’s sweet, but very good. I have mentioned that sugar coma before.

Beef Chimi. Dominican burger, cabbage, tomato, and mayo-ketchup. I have to admit I was shocked by seeing the tourist from different races ordering the Chimi. They are open until 3am on Friday and Saturday.

Two Thumbs Up!! This is the place to be over the weekend. Heck, its the place to be during the week as well. Great customer service.

 
ChimiKing Food Truck (192)

5811 W. Highway 192

Kissimmee, FL  34746

(407) 255-5109

www. chimikingrestaurant.com

Pizza A Cone (Pizza A Kono)

Or better known to the folks around here at Pizza A Kono.

(Photo courtesy of Pizza A Kono)

Have been wanting to come here for a long time. Strange because I pass it up every so often. Today was the day to give it a try.

The place is spotless. Very clean and has a very contemporary look. They had a lasagna special today and have garlic bread as well. Lots of choices.

Now I have to warn my American friends. This is a Puerto Rican establishment. Do not be ashamed to use the little Spanish you know or point to their menu on the counter. A smile goes a long way too.

Ferrero Rocher Frappe. I had asked the staff what he suggested. Wow. This is what life is all about. The perfect frappe. I am coming back very soon for another one. Best sugar coma I have had in years.

Italian Sausage pizza in a cone. I love this concept. It’s very new to me. The sausage was perfect and the way the cheese melts all the way down inside the cone is amazing. This is well worth the drive to check this place out.

Two Thumbs Up!!  Great customer service. Came for lunch and it was a bit slow. I would love to see this place on the weekends. Very good.
Pizza A Cone

1928 Fortune Road

Kissimmee, FL 34744

(407) 483-5703

Don Pepe Taqueria and Mexican Grill

This was definitely a pleasant surprise. I never thought I would see the day when Poinciana had a Mexican restaurant. I guess dreams do come true. Don Pepe is located on Cypress Parkway and Doverplum. In The Promenade plaza. Known to many as the Publix plaza. A bit hard to find, but well worth the search.

When I entered I was greeted by Daphne. She filled me in on the protocol. You come to the counter, you order, she gives you a number, you have a seat, and she brings the food out to you. Nice and simple. The authentic Mexican music playing in the background reminded me of my Dad singing early Saturday mornings. Most places in Kissimmee play any regular Spanish music.

Chips and Salsa were very good. The salsa was not as spicy as I expected it to be, but flavorful. The chips were nice and crunchy. Had way too many of them. Nice. The folks who seem to be the owners were not very welcoming. Mind you, they were working hard in the back, but in no moment asked how everything was going and how the food tasted. Daphne seemed to be the only one making the magic happen.

You can’t ever go wrong with Jarritos. Tamarind was the way to go today. Yes, you are reading that correctly. 100 percent sugar.

Enchiladas Verdes with cheese. I had asked Daphne what she suggested and this was her choice. I like ordering them with cheese. Was expecting white cheese, but the yellow did not disappoint. I noticed people of different races coming in. That makes me happy to know food crosses all cultures.

It was a very generous portion. The prices are not bad at Don Pepe’s. While siting there several locals ordered the natural juices. That will be my choice for the next time.

The decor was amazing. I am a fan of Mexican restaurants since I grew up in Chicago, but have never seen this type of set up. Love it. I am hoping to come back with @vbterp and try some of their tacos. That tends to be our go to order in any new Mexican restaurant.

Operating hours are pretty good.  Open late. They have only been opened for a year, but I see them being successful in this area. I am hoping the community will be open to a Mexican restaurant. Don Pepe has found a niche here and should be here to stay. Daphne, gracias por todo. The service was awesome and the food was great.

Definite TWO THUMBS UP!!
Don Pepe Taqueria and Mexican Grill

853 Cypress Parkway

Kissimmee, FL 34759

(407) 978-6550

 

King O Falafel

My baby @vbterp and I finally made it. I have been seeing reviews and hearing from @droolius that this was the place to be for Mediterranean food.

The place was clean. To be honest, not at all what I expected. I thought it was a fast food joint. Wow. Was I wrong. We were greeted by two gentleman as we entered. One of the guys did the cooking and the serving. He was explaining what was good on the menu.

Great looking menu and free wifi is always a plus.

Lebanese House Salad. @Vbterp had this one. I got to taste a few bites. Great tasting salad. As many of you know I and not a salad lover, but this was spot on.

Lentil Soup. This was mine. By the way, I forgot to mention that this is included with the meal. You have your choice of soup or salad.

@Droolius had mentioned they had some good Falafel so @vbterp and I had to order half a dozen. Very nice. First time @vbterp had tasted Falafel. I would say that was a good introduction to it.

Chicken Ticka. This was mine. Loved it. I was warned by the staff that it was spicy. I had to let him know I was Latino and I love me some spice.

Kifta Kabob Platter. @Vbterp loved this dish. She was a big fan of the veggies on the side. I have to say it’s hard to find veggies that are cooked well. King O Falafel does a great job with these dishes.

Was hoping to taste their Baklava, but @vbterp and I were too full. We will be going again.

@Vbterp and Foodbidden: TWO THUMBS UP!! Make that FOUR thumbs up!!  Amazing food at a decent price. Good portions. Clean restaurant. Friendly staff. Great menu items. I would say Kissimmee has a winner here.

5045 Irlo Bronson Memorial

Kissimmee, FL 34746

407 979 4940

St John’s Vianney Fish Fry

This was a special night for @vbterp and I. @aabreu had been mentioning for a few years now that her church had a Fish Fry.

The delicious event happens every Friday after Ash Wednesday at the end of February and continues for six weeks. 

Tonight was the last evening of the fish fry until next year. @Vbterp and I were not scheduled to work so we made our way to St. John’s to meet up with @aabreu and @luiabreu. 

Our first question was. Do we have to be part of the church? You do not. Anyone and everyone is welcomed to the Fish Fry. It’s held in the gym, so there is plenty of leg room. 

These people were not scared off by the rain tonight. Everyone was here to get their fried fish fix. The priest said a quick prayer and announced, “START YOUR ENGINES!!” I won’t lie, as soon as he said that my stomach started to growl.

 

Yes. Beer and wine are served for a nominal fee. They have complimentary coffee, lemonade, and iced tea. 

So many items to choose from and so little time. @aabreu had forewarned us that the portions were huge. The problem with me is that my eyes were bigger than my stomach so I had to be careful when I ordered. I wanted a little bit of everything. 

The event has been held for the past 12 years with great success because of its variety of volunteers. Adults and young adults make this event come to life.

The process is very simple. You line up, a person approaches you and asks what you want, you order, you arrive to a table, you pay with cash or personal check, (no credit cards), and they give you a number. The volunteers walk around and look for your number and serve you at your table.

We sat with some of @aabreu’s friends from the church. I noticed these people sitting against the bleachers. These are the people who have ordered to go. That line got longer as the evening progressed.

 

@luiabreu ordered the Clam Chowder. The chunks inside made this chowder look so good. 

 

@vbterp had the Fried Shrimp with yellow rice. The yellow rice was provided by La Fuente and Taka Taka’s Cafe.

My dish was the Fried North Atlantic Cod Fish with slaw and French fries. They had hot sauce packets as well which made me a happy man. The fish melted in my mouth. It was exquisite. 

 

Homemade Mac and cheese made by members of the Women’s Council. This was very good. 

 

The place started getting crowded as the evening went by.

 

Proof that the rain didn’t stop anyone from showing up. Rihanna did pop in my head though.

Overall, amazing Fish Fry. Big Gracias to @aabreu for the invite. We are still full and probably will be for the next week. The funds collected are put back into the church and the school. It was nice to see people come together for a good cause.

@vbterp and I will be back next year and I plan to bring @droolius and @eatlocalorlando with me.

 

Foodbidden Two Thumbs

 

St. John Vianney Catholic Church

6200 S Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando, Florida 32809

(407) 855-5391

Susan’s Courtside Cafe

Another hard day at work and as soon as court was done I ran to Susan’s Courtside Cafe. I have been here before, but have never blogged about it.

It’s a nice place. Love the look and feel of it. It feels like you are entering Susan’s home.
 

The decor is outstanding. There is an article in the Orlando Sentinel regarding the house being haunted. Very interesting.

I really do feel like I am in someone’s home just hanging out. It says to be one of the stops on the Haunted House tours in Kissimmee. You should check it out.

Unsweetened Tea with lemon. This is a great way to finish a spring time day.

Reviews raved about the personal pizza so I had to go for it. A bit sad they didn’t have sausage. They use breakfast sausage patties. So, I decided to get the bacon and onions pizza. I am sure http://watch-me-eat.blogspot.com would love this.
 
 Overall, nice staff. Pizza took a bit but not too bad. Great looking place, good food. Great prices. Check them out when you are heading to court. : )
 
 

Foodbidden Two Thumbs!
 
 
 Susan’s Courtside Cafe
 18 South Orlando Ave.
 Kissimmee, FL 34741
 
 
 

Location:18 South Orlando Ave. Kissimmee, FL 34741