In the Dr. Phillips area, I was scouting the area for a place to eat and asked the guys working Office Depot where to go. One of them recommended TooJays. TooJays was right around the corner, within walking distance. The spot sounded familiar enough that I was pretty sure it wasn’t a mere Florida staple.
Except it is.
Similar to Ale House, TooJays has many locations but remains a heavily-invested Florida institution. So inside I went. The most interesting thing about this particular restaurant was that the median age and average age was well above 50. I felt rather out of place. The menu can describe the reason for this: its soul food for the older Floridians. It’s a mix of Southern comfort food and Jewish deli blended together with a vast array of dessert options. Aside from the newborn in the corner, I was the youngest person there.
Some places get by simply because there are so many options that you have to come back a couple extra times. TooJays boasts a massive, massive menu that ranges from sandwiches to lunch items to heavy-hitting dinner choices---as well as a breakfast menu and a bakery-like area. At first I opted for one of their sandwiches, but instead went with a turkey dinner—since I never get those outside the Thanksgiving season or a trip to Mills Ave.
But, the appetizer I ordered was one of the best I have ever had the pleasure or consuming. Their Loaded Latkes, which is a potato pancake version of the typical potato skins, is a beautiful work of art that made every other item in the location look pretty dismal. Thick pancake bites covered in cheese, bacon, sour cream---it’s all a hungry American can possibly ask for.
The traditional turkey dinner left plenty to be desired. Surely it has all the elements: turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetables, but none of it was different or special or something you just couldn’t make at home. The turkey wasn’t really cooked with anything and depended on the gravy to provide the kick.
In other words, it was nothing like the beauty of those Latkes.
Bottom Line: TooJays is what happens when you blend a nice old-school Florida atmosphere with a New York deli and garnish it with some Southern twang. I am sure there’s plenty of good food to go around, as the bakery looked delicious and their sandwich options is extensive enough to make Paneras look bad. Although the turkey wasn’t that great, I see lots of potential within the restaurant. I think this works best with a nice big group of people so the variety of food can increase.
Or with some elderly retired person willing to pay for it all, because this place apparently caters quite well to them.
Final Verdict: Lightly Recommend
TooJays
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd #116
Orlando, Fl
No comments:
Post a Comment