I know I am not the only one out there with an odd addiction to the Food Network. To be more specific, I’m addicted to the show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. That show just makes you hungry watching it. The host, Guy Fieri, has even been spoofed by SNL because of his spiky, bleached hair and vivacious personality. For those who are not familiar with the show, Guy travels around the country visiting popular local restaurants and eating amazingly large amounts of food while assisting to make their specialties. (I am riddled with jealousy of Guy’s job position.) I have personally been to a few of the places he has visited, but “Triple D” has not yet made it to O-Town. So, therefore, I have decided to do my own exploring of Orlando to find its own hidden gems that are Food Network-worthy.
The first place on my list is Yellow Dog Eats. Just take a little drive outside of main Orlando and you will find the Windermere/Gotha area. Here you will find what used to be an old country store painted with a yellow dog. It is very cute and funky and is said to have the “best pulled pork in the South.” Yellow Dog Eats is a nationally acclaimed deli and eatery. Do not let its quirkiness fool you; the menu is filled with BBQ and signature sandwiches, and you WILL get ample amounts of food.
Next stop: Ethos Vegan Kitchen. Do not let the name fool you; I am probably the polar opposite of vegan. In fact, I prefer big, juicy steaks over just about anything. That’s what makes this restaurant unique; it makes everyone happy, herbivores and carnivores. Ethos has a live Jazz band and amazing blueberry pancakes. They also have foods that you would not expect from a vegan place, such as a meatball sub. Ethos has won many awards and they still keep improving. Their menu is very diverse and is always changing, but there is one constant: you will leave full and happy.
And we’re off! To number three on my food adventure, Johnny’s Fillin’ Station and Johnny’s Other Side. These two have combined forces to make the best neighborhood sports bar in Orlando. As the name suggests, the Fillin’ Station is a bar, and its counterpart, The Other Side, apparently has the best burger in O-town. Johnny’s has enough TVs to please everyone’s sports needs. Also there to satisfy your sports bar cravings are pool tables, dartboards and a jukebox. Getting a Johnny’s burger has never been easier; they are open until 2 a.m. and deliver until 1 a.m.
Last but certainly not least is Pine 22. It’s another burger joint but with a very unique experience. All of the food served at Pine 22 is local, humanely handled, hand-formed, and hormone-free. What makes this place unique is that there are over 300,000 different varieties of how to order your burger. Because of this, they do offer frequent buyer cards. When you arrive, you are given a checklist and you choose exactly what you want from bread, meat, toppings, and cheese. The possibilities are literally endless.
These are only four of the amazingly appetizing restaurants in the Orlando area. There are many more ready to be discovered. I plan on finding them and I hope you all do, too. Happy Eating!