Teak Neighborhood Grill: Hidden Delicacy in Hidden Neighborhood Area

Orlando (like most of the larger Florida cities from Central to South) is like a gigantic spider web: lots of hidden locations, lots of open space, and it’s all eventually somehow connected. The MetroWest section of Orlando does not hold the best reputation, but right in the outskirts is a nice cluster of apartment complexes and neighborhoods close to the Universal Studios area that is hidden from practically the rest of the area. It is embedded quite deep in a random street that seemingly goes nowhere, and also holds one of the best secrets of Central Florida:




Teak Neighborhood Grill.

This place is in the heart of the hidden neighborhood cluster, and was built specifically for the core group living here. The scene is youthful, the space is huge, the bars are massive, and it looks to be the perfect spot to meet up with friends residing in the area. During my stay here I saw several encounters of people coming in and knowing the folks that were already dining/drinking inside. But I was not here for the ambiance; I was here for one specific reason:


Their burgers.




After finding the ultimate burger in the history of Earth, I was determined to find one that can match the happiness I encounter every time I fight the work of art in Hollywood (about four hours away). I was told of a specific burger (The Pig) that features pulled pork, ham, bacon, herb mayonnaise, white cheddar, and onion jam. All their burgers sound delicious and anti-nutritious, and some absolutely outrageous (One of them features cronuts as buns). But The Pig and I have a date.



Although this one.........someday...someday....

Their menu is extremely diverse and has lots of interesting options outside their legion of burgers. I almost opted to try one of their flatbreads (Shrimp, corn, alfredo sauce, mozzarella cheese, bacon) as well as their burger but the waitress gave me a look like I was going to have a heart attack that night if I attempted it. So I went with shrimp fritters and The Pig.

The shrimp fritters were absolutely fantastic. All the ingredients blended in together fantastically to create a savory and sweet burst of flavor and went along perfectly with the two dipping sauces: old bay aioli and musters seed honey. Nothing stood out individually; it was just a great filling appetizer in general.

The Pig is a mighty big deal. It is a plethora, a medley, a tossed jumble of savory, salty, and sweet that dances well with the taste buds and is a pure delight from start to finish. The mayonnaise and onion jam combination provided the chill sweet, while the heat was delivered from the meaty mix of burger and pig. As you continue fighting the burger, you’ll quickly realize that the bun struggles to hold in all the toppings. That is a sign of a good burger: the bun isn’t part of the experience; it’s just there to contain it.

Easily one of the best burgers in Central Florida, ranking way up there with Margaritaville’s Cheeseburger in Paradise and the underrated burgers in Beaches n’ Cream. It got me pumped for a return visit to tackle another one of their behemoths. The entire experience was pleasant, as it’s a quiet neighborhood bar on steroids in terms of size, scope, and quality.



Oh, the fries were darn good too...



Bottom Line: Teak Neighborhood Grill is a gem from start to finish. This place is perfectly located, snug in the middle of the youthful scene, and has a menu daring enough to take on the youngsters that are sick of the touristy usual fare. The portions are no joke, and neither is the menu which has a grand variety of foods and alcoholic options. This place deserves its success, and deserves multiple visits from me, from you, and from our friends and families. Easily one of the best places to dine in Orlando.



Final Verdict: Highly Recommend


Teak Neighborhood Grill
6400 Times Square Avenue
Orlando, FL 32835

Tu Casa Restaurant: Decent Dominican Food On-the-Go

The 27th of February is the day of independence for the Dominican Republic. In honor of this occasion I decided to set out and find a Dominican restaurant. One spot that had been frequently mentioned was Tu Casa on Orange Blossom Trail. Two reasons why: good prices, and because well you don’t have many other options in Central Florida. You won’t find as many Dominicans in Central Florida when compared to Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and even Columbians.

The location is smack dab in the middle of an industrial section of Orange Blossom Trail that features a small multitude of neighborhoods and an ishload of spots for trucks to make their deliveries. It is not very close to any major neighborhoods, instead being close to extended stay resorts. Nonetheless, the place was absolutely packed on the inside. It was the lunch rush and it got so bad all the tables had been occupied and people that walked in the door walked out seconds later because they don’t want to handle the crowd.

You can approach this restaurant in two ways: order a la carte (by far the more popular option since 80% of the customers were ordering, paying, then leaving) or just order from the menu something fresh(er) and wait 10-15 minutes. I chose the latter since I was in no hurry. I went with the yucca mofongo, and their chicharrones de pollo (Hispanic fried chicken). To top it off, I also ordered a bottle of country club soda, the greatest brand of soda in existence. I got rice, mofongo, chicken, soda, and it overall cost just north of $12. Not bad at all.

The chicken was the best part by far. It was juicy, fresh, smoking hot, and the skin had the right Caribbean crunch of salty and sweet. And they don’t skim the portions either, as you get plenty to handle. The mofongo works with the chicken, especially with the garlic sauce that comes with the meal. That being said, yucca here is multiple floors below the yucca in the Caribbean. You can only do so much with the yucca in the United States. The rice served was decent, but ultimately plain. Hispanic rice usually has an abundance of flavor that stems from the garlic, salt, olive oil, butter, and sometimes meat stock that makes it nearly an entrée as opposed to just a side dish. The rice here tastes like a side dish—nothing more, nothing less.

The claustrophobic nature of the place didn’t allow me to sit around and relax, as more people continued to pour in. It is the sign of a place that is generally accepted by the Orlando public. That being said, a few extra tables outside the restaurant could help them a bit. Their tres leches cake looked incredible however. I did walk out with one final item:




A morir soñando. Milk, orange juice, sometimes vanilla, evaporated milk, cane sugar. Pure heaven in a cup. And my friends, if there is a reason to come back to this place, it’s for their morir sonando. Just saying.



Bottom Line: Tu Casa seems to be the perfect Plan B for a Dominican family on the go or just looking for a decent homestyle meal without paying too much. What this place lacks in decoration, ambiance, and theming is made up for with a vast menu with many different options of Dominican/Caribbean-style food. Although their essentials don’t hit home like South Beach Hispanic cuisine, it gets the job done and doesn’t cost you an insane amount either. I wouldn’t make it an eternal mission to return millions of times, but if I am close, and I am hungry, I would definitely give this place another spin.


Final Verdict: Lightly Recommend

Tu Casa Restaurant
9251 S Orange Blossom Trail #10
Orlando, Florida 32837