Orlando Fast Food Critic – Page 10 – Sharing my food experiences with you.

B-Line Diner

Food Quality: 4/10
Food Quantity: 7/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 5/10
Price: $10-$18

The B-Line Diner, located in the Peabody Hotel, is modeled after an old fashioned diner, but with an upscale twist. The atmosphere and decor are nice, but the food and service are a completely different experience. I ordered a burger, cooked medium. I was served a very dry, very well done burger. On top of that, the burger was supposed to be a 1/2lb., but looked much smaller. The french fries were good, but a side cannot save a meal. I wouldn’t have had such high expectations for the food had I not spent $13 on a hamburger and fries.

The service was bad. Not only was my burger overcooked, but my friends’ as well. We only saw our waiter a couple times. I would understand if the restaurant were busy, but it wasn’t at the time, and there was no reason that I could see that we were not better attended to. It’s even more difficult to eat a dry burger when your water glass is empty.

The dessert case to the side as you enter the restaurant is the only reason I would go back there. While I was not able to sample any of the desserts, I would go back to try them, but only if I were in the area. While they did look amazing, they were still rather expensive, and there’s other places in town offering similarly good dessert.

Amigos Original Tex-Mex Restaurant & Cantina

Food Quality: 8/10
Food Quantity: 9/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Price: $6-$12

Amigos serves hearty portions of great Mexican cuisine. The meat is tender, juicy and flavorful. The beans and rice were excellent, and didn’t just feel like a filler. As with any good Mexican restaurant, they provide complimentary chips and salsa. I was surprised that the jalepeno salsa was bland, but the regular salsa is very good. The staff is friend, and one thing I loved about the place was that there was plenty of room at and around your table. You didn’t feel cramped within your party, and you didn’t feel like you were imposing on your neighbors (or vice versa). I would say this is one of the best all around Mexican places in town, from the food to the staff and the atmosphere.

Mama B’s Giant Subs

Food Quality: 7/10
Food Quantity: 8/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 6/10
Price: $6-$8

Mama B’s serves a variety of subs and sandwiches. I had their house special, the Italian sub. The food was good, but nothing special. Mama B’s is cash or check only. I found that out after I ordered my food. They informed me that there was a Bank of America a few blocks south (I don’t particularly care to walk a few blocks in the Florida heat). Luckily I remembered I just so happened to have my checkbook on me that day. I had to make out a check for a sandwich and soda. The only thing I ever write a check for is to pay rent and utilities. It’s a big hassle writing a check for a retailer/restaurant. They had to check my ID, and then questioned me about my address since the address on my license doesn’t match the address on my checks. I assured them I was who I said I was and that I was good for the $8. I’ll probably never go back there again since I normally don’t carry cash or my checkbook. This is the 21st century, get a credit card machine already. The only way you can get away with cash only is if you really have something compelling to offer. Red Light Red Light is a good example of that, they have a laid back atmosphere, and a great beer selection, but even then, I have to plan ahead to bring cash. Mama B’s isn’t good enough to plan on going there, and I’ll never stop by since I rarely have cash. Go across the street to New York deli instead for an excellent gyro.

Cecil’s Texas Style BBQ

Food Quality: 8/10
Food Quantity: 9/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Service: 8/10
Price: $8-$12

Cecil’s serves up some delicious barbecue. They have very generous portions, I was able to stretch my meal into 2 meals. I had the beef brisket, which was good, albeit a little dry. The sides were excellent. The staff was friendly and very polite. I would definitely recommend Cecil’s to anyone looking for good barbecue in town.

ShakeOut

ShakeOut is a new gourmet milk shake shop in the Orlando Fashion Square Mall which opened this past February. I was invited to try out their milk shakes, and learn about what they have to offer. The owner, James Stadelman, hails from England where I’ve been told gourmet milk shakes are all the rage. Rather than smoothies or ice cream parlors, they have gourmet milk shake shops. James, and his father hope to bring the craze to the US, and from what I’ve experienced, they’ve got a great chance in doing so.

While you can get milk shakes in several different flavors at Steak and Shake, McDonald’s, Arby’s, Sonic, and many other places, no one other than ShakeOut offers 120 flavors. They only offer French vanilla ice cream, but that is so that the ice cream does not take away from the added flavors themselves. To flavor your milkshake, you pick from over 120 options, including candy, cookies, cakes, cereal, and fruit (view their menu). The fruit they use is fresh, the cakes, cookies and pies are real, not just flavor shots, and the candies are right from the package you would get at the store, rather than bulk generic candies. They also offer boosters like, bran, energy or muscle builder, and toppings like whipped cream, sprinkles, or chocolate chips.

For $3.99 for a regular shake (16oz) or $4.99 for a large (20oz), you get to pick one flavor. If you want to create your own combination, it’s only $1 more per flavor. Or, you could try one of their custom blends created by and voted on by customers ($4.95 for a regular and $5.95 for a large). They have a customer loyalty program offering 1 free milk shake after your 10th purchase, and they also offer 10% off to military and service employees.

I really liked ShakeOut and think it has a great, unique offering. I would recommend it to anyone that likes ice cream or milk shakes. I can see them thriving, and spreading all over, much like the froyo shops you see popping up everywhere now.