Orlando Fast Food Critic – Page 17 – Sharing my food experiences with you.

Brian’s Restaurant

Food Quality: 10/10
Food Quantity: 10/10
Cleanliness: 7/10
Atmosphere: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Price: $5-$8

I’ve driven by Brian’s more times than I can count, always wondering what this quaint little mom and pop diner had to offer. I finally stopped by for breakfast one day, and have been back several times in a matter of months. They serve breakfast and lunch every day, and breakfast is served all day. Their omelets are delicious and cover half the plate. I have not had a single unappetizing thing for breakfast here, be it pancakes, french toast, bacon, eggs, sausage, home fries, or even plain old toast. Their sweet rolls, mini cinnamon buns, are a delicious breakfast/dessert. Their portions are generous, even bacon, giving you 4 slices, rather than the usual 3, and sometimes even 2 compared to other restaurants. Their service is fast and very friendly, not hesitating to strike up a conversation with you.

I highly recommend Brian’s Restaurant. The food and service are great, and it is highly affordable.

Yordan Cafe

I was recently invited down to Yordan Cafe to sample their cuisine. Located on the corner of Silver Star Rd. and N Clarke Rd. in Ocoee, Yordan Cafe recently opened, just 7 months ago. I sat down with Isaac Cruz, the owner, who had me sample their Cuban sandwich, black beans and rice, and a garbanzo bean soup. I was really pleased with all of the food. The meat in the Cuban sandwich was tender, and the combination of mustard and pickles gave it the perfect tangy flavor. The black beans and rice, as well as the soup were excellent. Both were topped with fresh diced onions which gave them a unique flavor.

The staff was polite and helpful. The restaurant itself is small, but quiet. It’s a great place to have a nice, hot lunch without having to deal with a large crowd or noisy restaurant. They also have free Wi-Fi, so you could easily get some work done in this peaceful environment.

I’m really happy Isaac contacted me about reviewing Yordan Cafe. I don’t make it to this side of town too often, and probably never would have discovered this great place had he not done so. This really is a great place to eat.

California Burrito Express

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

California Burrito Express offers a variety of authentic Mexican food. Their portions are more than enough to satisfy your appetite and they are reasonably priced. I was surprised at how bland the food was considering their more authentic offerings compared to Taco Bell and other chains. The food isn’t bad, but it’s not great either. I’d go someplace else in town, since there are so many choices for Mexican food in Orlando. California Burrito Express has a few things going for it though, it is open 24 hours (a rare sight in Orlando), and they have great service. Their staff is courteous and eager to serve you.

Four Rivers Smokehouse

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

Four Rivers Smokehouse serves an amazing variety of barbecue. Their meats are tender and juicy, and you can taste the smoked flavor throughout. Their sides are great, offering fried pickles, smoked jalapeno peppers (wrapped in bacon, and stuffed with cheese), corn bread (with jalapeno pepper slices baked in), baked beans, fries, and a few others. I haven’t tried their dessert yet, as the meal itself is plenty filling, but they look delicious.

There’s a good chance you will have to wait in line for a little while to get your food, but it’s worth it, and obviously others think so too. While waiting in line, the staff will come by with ice water (great considering Florida heat), and I saw others offered ice cream while we were leaving. They often offer samples of sides and the meats themselves to, but this might only make it more difficult deciding what you want to order, since everything is so good

The service is great, the food is great, both in quantity and quality, and the price is right. The one gripe I have is that it is only outdoor seating, but they have fans with misting setups to keep you cool. It would be nice if they had a larger awning or pull down for when it’s raining though. Honestly, the food is so good you won’t care about the dining area at all. I’m almost hesitant to recommend Four Rivers because I want it all to myself, but seriously, you need to try this place if you haven’t already.

Baja Burrito Kitchen Revisited

In my previous post on Baja Burrito Kitchen, I wasn’t very impressed with them overall. After a few more visits, I have to say I was wrong. Baja Burrito Kitchen is great, if you order the right things. Go for their namesake, the Baja Burrito. This thing is delicious, juicy, tender, flavorful, and filling. The price is spot on for the quality and quantity, and the unlimited chips and salsa will guarantee you won’t go home hungry.

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