Gladys Knight & Ron Winans’ Chicken and Waffles gladysandron.net 529 Peachtree Street NE | Atlanta, GA 30308 404-874-9393 For years I’ve wanted to try the famous Gladys and Ron’s chicken and waffles in downtown Atlanta. I’ve heard so much about it and since it’s such a different mixture of tastes in one sitting, I felt like I had to have it. Well, today I finally had the chance to go,  and I’m sad to say that it was a little bit of a let down in terms of what I was expecting. Granted, the food was very good in that my buckwheat waffle was very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the chicken wings were perfectly fried, but I just wanted more from it. From the itty bitty parking lot, to the seating for two where the four of us were forced to sit, to the greasy spoon-esque bathroom (complete with a can… [Read more]

Aqua Bar and Grille 813.675.8700 7627 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, Florida 33607 THE WESTIN TAMPA BAY aquabarandgrille.com Primarily a seafood restaurant, the name speaks for itself. Set inside the Westin Hotel on the water of Tampa Bay, Aqua has beautiful scenery both inside and outside of the restaurant. Walking in the first thing you notice is the low green lighting which slowly changes to a clear marine blue. The color change adds the necessary ambiance to impress a first date, as well as the fun lighting for happy hour with your coworkers. The service at Aqua is very good when you are sitting in the dining room. The staff is very attentive and knowledgeable about the wine list. All three times I visited they were able to help me select a perfect wine with my meal choices. The food is divine down to the bread and honey butter they serve with every meal. I recommend… [Read more]

Eggstyle 3980 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, FL 34677 813-855-EGGS(3447) www.eggstlyeusa.com Eggstyle is located just west of the Tampa city limits in Oldsmar Florida.  The dining room serves breakfast, brunch and lunch. The atmosphere is casual and friendly with an err of sophistication.  The décor is warm and upbeat.  The dining area is very open with comfortable booth seating just far enough apart that you are not bothered by other conversations.  I immediately felt good as soon as I walked through the door, as we were greeted with a friendly smile and a genuine feeling of being welcomed.  Aside from being a breakfast restaurant, there is also a separate juice bar area where they prepare smoothies made to order with fresh fruit, honey, yogurt and fruit juices, which is a great for those just passing through for a healthy fix. Side note: I usually do not comment, but I find it imperative to mention this.. I did… [Read more]

Origami Sushi 3647 W Hillsborough Ave Tampa, FL 33614 origamisushitampa.com This small restaurant presents just the right mixture of authentic Japanese cuisine and American style dining.  There is ample seating along the windows and dining room, and a full bar with flat screen televisions that runs across the length of the dining room. Great for a date night, or just being out with friends or family, Origami is a great place to frequent.  The staff is friendly, the bar is stocked, and the food is worth the wait. I love the menu at Origami as it has pictures of every dish they serve, so there is no guess work in what your food will look like or what ingredients will be included. I ordered the “Scorched Earth”, a cooked roll with salmon and asparagus.  The kicker is the assortment of fish and seafood in a spicy mayonnaise on top, flame cooked sort of like how… [Read more]

The Ravenous Pig 1234 N. Orange Ave. (between Orlando and Denning) Winter Park, FL 32789 www.theravenouspig.com The Ravinous Pig is located a few blocks off the strip of Winter Park in the Orlando area. The place was awarded Best Restaurant Overall in Orlando Home and Leisure Magazine’s Silver Spoon Awards, however, I failed to see what the big deal was. Granted, the food was not bad, but the it was not exceptional either. And the wine list was very, how should I say…unimpressive. Don’t get me wrong, the food was edible, but if I did not subscribe to the magazine I would never have thought the place would be nominated, much less win. I ordered a salad with goat cheese, beets, pistachio’s, avocado, and an herb vinaigrette. For my entree I ordered mussels in a witte beer, fennel, and orange type juice, and it came with truffle oil fries. It says a lot that my friend enjoyed the fries… [Read more]

Brick and Fire (f/k/a Brick and Fire Pizza and Wine Company) 1621 South Orange Ave Orlando, FL  32806 www.brickandfire.com www.facebook.com/brickandfire Having followed the owner, Chef Mark Dollard, from the original location at Church Street Station in downtown Orlando, I thought I knew exactly what to expect from the new location on Orange Avenue.  Still located downtown, but not quite in the heart where it once was, Brick and Fire continues to be a hotspot for both date night and family night.  Upon arrival you will be greeted with a smile, and have the opportunity to watch Chef Mark and his assistants make the famous pizza from start to finish through a glass wall.  This is especially helpful when you are accompanied by hungry children who may otherwise pitch a fit when waiting for a table. On my visit, the staff was very attentive and friendly which was amazing considering they were actually short staffed at… [Read more]

Izziban Sushi 1700 Sand Lake Road Orlando, FL 32809 www.izzibansushioforlando.net This restaurant is cozy with the friendliest staff I have met in a long time. There is also a full bar if you would like to enjoy the evening with friends, or try their catering service if you would like to dine in the comfort of your own home. The décor has a very fresh and contemporary feel but not to the point where you cannot enjoy a low key dinner.  Even if you bring the kids it’s a great place to enjoy a family meal as they have something for all palates. The menu is very extensive; there are no less than five pages. The sushi menu is separate and has more than 30 different rolls to choose from.  I cannot say enough about the presentation and I encourage anyone to try something new – you will not be disappointed.  I tried the mango… [Read more]

Vino Libro 933 Garrett Street Atlanta, GA  30316 www.vinolibro.com Beauty and the Eats is catered to the state of Florida, however, I must share my experience at Vino Libro, a wine bar in downtown Atlanta.  If ever I came across a website with false advertising, it’s this one.  Because they obviously had someone with a large vocabulary (and clearly has never been a patron) write their “about us” on their home page, I thought I would take the time to break down the flaws in my experience. “By night, Vino Libro transforms into a sophisticated lounge. Patrons will come to enjoy all the qualities of fine living while listening to soothing music, conversing with friends or participating in our frequent wine tasting…” We arrived around 8pm and there was no soothing music.  There was a flat screen TV in the corner and a projector in the other corner, both showing some local meeting of the… [Read more]