The Hidden Sandwiches Of Downtown Orlando

Of all the locations I have visited since I started this blog, this location is easily the friendliest for the locals. It was a pain to find, a pain to get to, and was embedded nicely in the center of a beautiful neighborhood that looks (and feels like) is miles upon miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city—when its actually right next door. This building was made purely for the surrounding neighbors, not to attract outside visitors. I almost felt like an outsider finding the spot and occupying one of its half-dozen parking spaces. 903 Mills Market has been part of Orlando since 2003, but the building has stood around since 1903, carrying a heavy history amongst the locals.



I mention the difficulty of finding the spot because Downtown Orlando’s notorious assortment of one-way streets and constant construction within them. As you can tell, I am not the biggest fan of the Downtown area when compared to the southern end of Orlando---which features the edges of Kissimmee, Sea World, International Drive, and the Disney area. I had to rely on a guess-and-check method and weaving in-and-out of the Downtown area in order to find this spot. A bit irritating, but I am sure this is beneficial to the locals, as they don’t want too many people finding this place and realizing its worth. Le Tub in Hollywood, Florida suffered this fate after a popular magazine announced that it has the best cheeseburger in the country—resulting in visitors traveling from around the United States and forcing 2-hour waits to get their meals.




903 Mills Market is in a beautiful location. The neighborhood is gorgeous, as it has nice houses, and visually delightful lakes. The local scene contained a bit of eye candy, which is always an added plus. Dogs are allowed in the outdoor area, just not inside the building. Inside the restaurant is where you order, and you get to se its extensive lineup of alcohol. In a mature manner, they present the variety of wines that they offer as well as a few options of beer. The other coolers contain a great variety of drinks, ranging from your typical sodas to healthier options, to the classic Yoo-Hoo. The menu itself is quite extensive, as they offer breakfast as well as lunch, and over 60 items.


It was quite difficult selecting just one sandwich, so I decided my luck on two of them. I ordered the Grateful Bread, which was their most popular item. This sandwich is the handheld version of Thanksgiving, as it offers turkey, cranberry mayonnaise, bleu cheese stuffing, and red onion. That is all on wheat bread. The other item I ordered was the 903 Club, simply because I am such a big fan of sourdough bread (Why Burger King, why did you get rid of that burger?). The 903 Club features ham, turkey, bacon, swiss, lettuce, and tomato on good ol’ sourdough bread. Both sandwiches cost $6.89 each, excluding the sides.

Michael and Josh ordered the same sandwich, which was the Roger Dodger ($6.89). The Roger Dodger consists of roast and corned beef mixed with swiss cheese and thousand-island dressing; topped off with lettuce and tomato. The other sandwiches that sounded awesome included the Crazy Bird, the Italian, and the Tuna Salad Chocky. We sit outside, and were greeted by bees. They seem to like the food too. After about seven minutes of waiting, we all receive our sandwiches.






The Grateful Bread was spectacular by all means. I did not have onions on mine, but it definitely did not need it. The sandwich was very tall, but when you hold it altogether and take a bite, it doesn’t feel thick. It was very soft, and very easy to chew. The turkey was plentiful, the cranberry mayo was interestingly delicious, and the stuffing was a great addition to the sandwich. I’m not even a fan of stuffing, but the bleu stuffing was incredible. I was temporarily transported to mid-November, when the leaves start fall----never mind, I live in Florida, nothing major happens. It was clearly one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had; no ingredient was out of place. Michael and Josh enjoyed their Roger Dodgers, as it was a warm and gooey heavenly mix of meat, cheese, and dressing. It was a super-powerful Reuben, with more flavor (and no sauerkraut).



Moving on to the 903 Club, that was also a magnificent sandwich. Before 903 Mills Market, I was a bit hesitant to pay nearly 7 bucks for a sandwich, a type of food that is among the easiest to make at home (My grilled cheese sandwich is the greatest you’ll ever eat). But the Grateful and the Club convinced me that you can get a good deal for a sandwich outside of home. The Club was packed with meats, there was no cutting back. And, most importantly, it has bacon (Therefore continuing the Golden Rule of Bacon). The mix with mayo and sourdough bread made this is a success for the taste buds. Josh shared the Club with me, and also loved the combination. We were all thoroughly satisfied, with the overall meal and the overall experience. There were even some friendly dogs that wanted to join in on our meal.

Bottom Line: While I might be delivering more harm than good in mentioning this hidden treasure to the masses outside of Downtown Orlando, 903 Mills Market is a must-visit if you are a fan of sandwiches. They have among the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten outside my household. The Grateful Bread was definitely interesting, as it’s literally Thanksgiving packed in between two pieces of wheat bread. While I am not a drinker, the crazy assortment of wine and beer is an added bonus as you can sit back outside, relax, observe the nice scenery, and partake in a glass of red wine and let the day pass by. That, my friends, is a total contrast to the neighboring atmosphere of Downtown Orlando. If you live closeby and want a true escape from the modern-day Orlando and temporarily experience a calmer, older Orlando, this is the place to visit.







Just beware the #(*&#&@@ one-way streets.



903 Mills Market
903 South Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 898-4392

While the calorie stock will skyrocket visiting this place, so will the happiness

Man vs. Food has done an incredible job in introducing local joints around the country to the viewers. During one visit to Sarasota, he introduced the world to a delight known as the salty dog, which was a fried hot dog. That’s right guys, a fried hot dog. As if the hot dog isn’t enough calories, now we are going to dip it in batter and fry it to a crisp. Sounds spectacular nonetheless. The Old Salty Dog has been serving food to Sarasota locals and tourists for over 20 years. Being close to the beach also helps its success. While a second location opened recently (and is on the much better location---right next to the ocean water), I decided to go with the original.




The original location is on a bustling street full of bars, restaurants, and nice-looking houses that are inches from the ocean. The parking lot was very small, and full to the brim. So I had to park in an abandoned building next door. According to one of the employees though, the bank and the building closeby don’t mind the extra customers. Inside, the place seemingly had more people than the cars parked outside could physically handle. Looks like the locals walk far to eat there too.

I ordered a salty dog and thinking that the dog would not be enough, also ordered a blackened grouper sandwich. Josh orders clam chowder and the killer dog, which is the salty dog combined with multiple cheeses, sauerkraut, mushrooms, and bacon. So applying the Golden Rule of Bacon (anything with bacon has to be good—no matter what the surrounding items are), the killer dog was going to be killer in flavor and in calories. Michael orders the fried mahi-mahi sandwich, which came with fries. We waited around 7-15 minutes for our food while we watch the Mariners play the Yankees.

(Also good---the clam chowder)

(This is heaven. I swear)




The salty dog was brilliantly brilliant. Words cannot describe the incredibleness that was contained between the hot dog buns. It was a thick juicy hot dog, and then was enhanced by a crunchy, juicy outer core that for a moment takes you to heaven. Unlike the failure that was Munchies 420 (where Adam Richman did his Sarasota challenge), the salty dog was worth every single penny. Fried hot dog is definitely something I wish I had discovered years before, because it was an out-of-the-ordinary experience, a perfect combination. I really wanted to eat at least three of them, but I know my heart would stop if I did such a thing. Luckily, I have the grouper sandwich to calm my nerves. It was a little spicy, but very rich in flavor. The fries resembled those from Wendys before they switched recipes—not the best, but still enjoyable.





While the grouper sandwich was good, Michael’s fried mahi-mahi sandwich was the sandwich of the hour. It wasn’t as thick as most spectacular mahi-mahi I’ve had before, but it was still a delicious delight because of the fried outer core and richness of the fish. Josh’s killer dog was massive, vicious, and all-around a treat. While the hot dog does not become the dominating flavor, its mixture with all the cheese and extra ingredients made it more a meal than a snack—unlike your usual hot dog. We were all heavily satisfied with our meals. And then came dessert.






I ordered the only dessert item they make at the Old Salty Dog, which was their Key Lime Pie. Michael orders the peanut butter pie, and Josh ordered the triple chocolate cake. All three desserts were fantastic; the triple chocolate nearly made Josh melt, the peanut butter pie was heavy on the flavor, and the key lime pie was among the best I’ve ever had outside the South Florida area. It is very odd that a place known for fried food delivers such good dessert, but the old Salty Dog is definitely full of surprises.

Bottom Line: This place is a must-visit by all means necessary. I know I have become almost a cliché with these places, but I seem to be very lucky at picking the spots to visit. That or the west coast of Florida really knows how to make good food. The fried hot dog known as the Salty Dog is one of the best foods I have ever had in my life, honestly. Everything else about this place stands out, from the food to the service to the dessert. I have nothing more to say. Whenever you have the chance, come here immediately.



You can thank me later.



P.S. Your guilt streak about your health will skyrocket after this meal. You’ve been warned.


The Old Salty Dog
(The Original)
5023 Ocean Boulevard,
Sarasota, FL 34242

The owner might be crabby, but you won't be when you visit his place

The history of Clearwater Beach presents two stories, depending on where you are. Personally, I have been to Clearwater since the 2nd grade, so we are looking at over 14 years of west coach beach visits. The resort we to the first time is the same resort we went to this previous weekend. Back in the 90s; this hotel was a 4-star quality hotel with beautiful 2-room suites, a restaurant, a hot tub, a port, an outdoor bar, and an Italian ice joint. Now, it only has the pool, and lost half its property (unfortunately the half with the beautiful suites). Most of the resorts in one side of Clearwater Beach have aged rather horrifically like the one I was describing, and some of them even disappeared. One of them surprisingly was a resort built right next to the beach….....how did that fail?


On the other hand, the Clearwater Beach itself transformed from a typical beach with nothing special to a well-maintained beach with a massive tourist-friendly plaza, a long pier full of shops and places to fish, a long beach path to walk, and even a park with an outdoor theater. They were playing Pirates of the Caribbean when I visited. I think the downgrading of Daytona Beach and other Atlantic coast beaches have paved the way for an influx of tourists in the Tampa Bay area. But one of the few features of Clearwater Beach that has maintained unchanged despite the surroundings changing drastically is Crabby Bills.



Crabby Bills survived the olden days of Clearwater Beach, and is surviving well on modern times. While across the street totally changed, the roads next to it have totally changed, and the entire outlook of Clearwater Beach from a distance drastically improved, Crabby Bills have remained the same. Surviving over 27 years of changes and oil spills (**** you BP, seriously, **** you), Crabby Bills has become a major favorite amongst the locals and the tourists, much to the disdain of the competition. Every single time I passed by the place is packed with a mix of good-looking food, eye candy (tee-hee), happy families, and older couples. I finally decided to give this place a shot after years of curiosity.



The location is quite big; two floors, an outdoor patio, multiple bars. I went to the second floor and was met with quite a diverse crowd of customers. On one side, we had a very young crowd eating, and then a few families scattered throughout. Lastly there were a couple old couples (pun intended) sitting towards the windows. Not a single frown can be found, amongst the staff or amongst the people eating. I asked for what their most popular item was, and the manager recommended one of the crab dishes, while my waitress recommended the Key West Grilled Combination. The selling point was that the Key West dish has mahi-mahi, which is always a victory.

(**** you BP)


The Key West dish has island rice, mahi-mahi, shrimp, and fritters. The fish and shrimp were glazed with key lime honey mustard. I ordered the plate without the rice, and chose mashed potatoes and hush puppies as my sides. The meal in total was somewhere in the $17 range. The appetizers sounded great, especially their coconut shrimp, but I was restraining on calories because of my meal the following day (The Salty Dog, which I will review eventually). The dish came in and the size was mildly overwhelming. The shrimp and the fish were of a bigger size, no cutting back here.


The mahi-mahi was spectacular in every possible way. Most mahi-mahi I’ve had despite tasty, were rather small and light. This one however packed a heavy punch, as it was thick, and juicy in flavor. Some of the best fish I’ve ever had, much better than what I am used to. The sauce wasn’t much of a supporter, but it was still tasty. But the mahi-mahi itself was definitely the highlight of the meal. I don’t know what it is about Tampa Bay and their shrimp, but they have some excellent shrimp in the west coast. First Whiskey Joes and now Crabby Bills. The shrimp here isn’t as big as Whiskey, but it’s just as flavorful and enjoyable. The fritters were the best I’ve ever had, since I am not a fritter fan. The last one I had was in a Crab House on International Drive, which was rather crappy. The hush puppies were huge, tough on the outside, and soft on the inside. They were good, and mixed well with the side of honey mustard that came with the meal. Lastly, the mashed potatoes were decent, a bit crunchier than I wanted but nothing disappointing.







I was nearly full and ready to pay the bill, until the waitress mentions a sunkissed cheesecake, which was a New York style cheesecake with an orange creamsicle kick. My weakness for cheesecake gave in, as in my life I’ve had only one bad cheesecake (pizza place in Orlando). This one came out incredible. It was a very unique cheesecake, easily amongst the most interesting cheesecake I’ve ever had (Italian cheesecake in a Royal Caribbean cruise takes the cake----another pun intended). It tasted like a very soft orange cream saver, with the usual cake kick. The entire meal was very good, and while $22 is a bit high for dinner, I got a lot of food, and a lot of good food. Not to mention, with the oil spill forcing the restaurant to find some of their seafood in other parts of the state, their high prices are definitely justified. **** you BP. **** you.


Bottom Line: Please everybody; support your local seafood joints in Florida. While most of the seafood chains receive their seafood mostly from the upper east coast regardless (according to one source), the local joints get their food mostly from around Florida and the Gulf Coast. Nonetheless, Crabby Joes is a great place with a lot of history, a lot of great food, and a wonderful atmosphere. While I originally entered this place to support my local seafood restaurants in Florida, I came out very happy and very satisfied. From the amazing mahi-mahi to the delicious dessert, Crabby Joes will have you leaving this place in a mood far from crabby.

P.S. Melanie was a great server. She was very helpful.




Crabby Bills
37 Causeway Boulevard
Clearwater, FL 33767-2003
(727) 210-1313

Best Burgers in Quick-Service/Full-Service Food Chains (The Zugat Reaction)

Alright, it is time to fight! Zugat, a restaurant review company, came out with a list of what Americans consider to be the best burgers and best fries in the planet (in terms of hamburger chains). The #1 spot was occupied by Five Guys, which came as a total upset since it wasn’t even listed the year before. In-n-Out fans are disgusted that a chain out of nowhere rises to the top, knocking down the fan favorite. Now, being that I am sort-of-sort-of a food critic, have decided to list the top burgers amongst the chains in Florida. Now, I mention Florida because some chains are much better in other states than in mine—with the best example being Sonic. Sonic in Florida sucks, bad. But, I’ve been told in Tennessee they are much better and actually bearable.

Now, before I actually begin this list, I want to point out why it will become harder for In-n-Out to become #1: lack of locations. When you are strictly West Coast, in a nationwide survey, how on earth can you gain the most votes? I demand that In-n-Out stop complaining, and try some expansion in order to reclaim its crown. With that being said, In-n-Out, White Castle, Backyard Burger, and Red Robin will not be on this list simply because I have not been in these places. This is partially not my fault, as each of these places does not have many locations, and some of them aren’t even in Florida (yet).

One other final note, Steak n’ Shake is on this list with other quick-service cheeseburger chains, but that’s because Five Guys takes around the same time to make their food as most sit-down spots like Steak n’ Shake.

The Bottom Three: The Worst Burgers in Florida

1) Sonic

I don’t have to say anymore. They suck. They will most likely always suck. This place has no hope, has no chance, and will not ever jump into the top 10 unless there is a miracle of a turnaround within the next couple of years. I’ve been to three of them, and they all fail. I will no longer dwell in this conversation.

2) Krystal’s

They say this is Florida’s answer to White Castle. I would hope not because I am not a fan of their wimpy flavor-less burgers.


3) Wendy’s

This place has changed their menu so many times, improving products, getting rid of failures, and adding some alternatives to burgers. However, when something called the Baconator fails to impress, its an insult to baconhood.



Now, on to the Top 10 Burgers in burger chains around Florida!

10) A&W
9) McDonalds
8) Dairy Queen
7) Johnny Rockets
6) Checkers/Rallys



5) Steak n’ Shake
The burgers are indeed small, they are not filling, but they are little treasures that definitely make up for the sharty-ass fries.



(Oh sourdough burgers, how I miss thee.......)

4) Burger King
Of the Big Three (McDonalds, BK, Wendys) this spot has the best variety of burgers, and also has the best-tasting morsels. Their recent inventions, like the phenomenal steakhouse burgers, are slowly pushing it towards the top 3 in overall burgers.



3) Whataburger
This place was not a success story in Central Florida. Nonetheless, its 24-hour availability and mammoth heaven-in-a-buns made this place a must-visit, no matter what time it might be.



2) Fuddruckers
Ostrich burgers? Not an option available in most places, but I applaud this place for its heavy variety amongst its burgers. If that is not enough reason to be #2, well then I introduce you to their awesome bacon cheddar burger. Nuff’ said.




1) Five Guys

If you have visited one of these places, then you know why this place is #1. While their burgers take a while to make, its only to preserve every last ounce of their award-winning flavor. They are thick, they are juicy, and they are mildly expensive yet worth every single penny. In-n-Out, I have not tried your burgers yet, but you better come up with some pure magic to top these works of art.

Now, for your reading pleasure, more lists!!



Zagat’s List of best French Fries
1. McDonald's
2. Five Guys
3. In-N-Out Burger
4. Wendy's
5. Burger King

My Personal List
1) Checkers
2) Five Guys
3) McDonalds
4) Fuddruckers
5) Burger King
=============
Best Ice Cream:
1. Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops
2. Häagen-Dazs
3. Bruster's Real Ice Cream
4. Rita's
5. Baskin-Robbins

My Personal List
1) Twistee Treat
2) Haagen-Dazs
3) Rita’s
4) Baskin-Robbins
5) Cold Stone
===============
Best Milkshakes
1. Dairy Queen
2. Cold Stone Creamery
3. Sonic Drive-In
4. Chick-fil-A
5. Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops

My Personal List
1) Dairy Queen
2) Steak n’ Shake
3) Cold Stone
4) McDonalds
5) Chik-Fil-A


Argue away!