Me vs. Yoders. Round Two

One of my first restaurant visits ever since I decided to start blogging about my travels to far-off lands in search of the ultimate food was Yoder’s in Sarasota. I was hunting after their extremely popular chicken that was prominently featured in Man vs. Food. But apparently I arrived there on a Friday, which was the one day of the week they didn’t serve the chicken. Well, since I was in the area recently, I wanted to make a second trip to the spot (on a Monday) in order to finally try the pressure-cooked chicken. And I wanted to bring my brother and cousin along to introduce them to their pies, which are a Floridian legend.





As I had previously stated in my last visit, Yoder’s is a very popular restaurant in the Amish side of Sarasota that has gotten the attention of locals and tourists from around the country. This is less of a cuisine secret when compared to other places I had mentioned because Yoders is already well-known in Travel Channel. Nonetheless, Man vs. Food has disappointed me before (Munchies 420 anyone?) so I returned to see if the show was incorrect…again.

I ordered their pressure-fried chicken, with some macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. Josh orders the fried shrimp with fries and mashed potatoes. Michael orders the chicken as well with fries and mashed potatoes. Luckily, none of the things we wanted were restricted—unlike last time when the sweet potato, dumplings, and chicken were not available because it was Friday. While we waited, we were treated to the same bread I got from last time. It was fresh bread, and it’s complimented very well with their apple butter—which is an addiction by itself.










The chicken arrived in all its massive glory. The chicken was surprisingly not as warm as I wanted it to be, but luckily it was still a pure delight to eat. There was tons of meat, and it separates from the bone quite easily without much of a mess being made. The outer shell was crisp, juicy, and tender, while the meat inside (although not hot) was thick and among the best I’ve ever had. It was far better than the pan-roasted chicken I had before. The sides were also superb, as the mashed potatoes hit the spot just right and the macaroni and cheese was bursting with cheesy flavor.




Josh’s fried shrimp had the Gulf Coast taste and special touch, and was not disappointing at all. Despite that, he really would have preferred my chicken. The French fries were nothing to brag about but the portions were mighty in size so we were stuffed without the help of an appetizer. But this review is split into two categories: their pretty decent lunch and their spectacular dessert.

The second half of our experience here is what shines the most. Just like last time, the dessert is what stands out the most while dining here. I ordered the chocolate peanut butter pie, while Josh orders the chocolate cream pie and Mike orders their most popular dessert—the original peanut butter cream. For some odd reason they were given to us in to-go containers, limiting a bit the presentation of the pies. But, the flavor was still intact, as each pie delivers a heavy dosage of sugary freshness and quality ingredients.






The peanut butter cream pie is still hands-down the best one, as its pure heaven and the best pie I’ve ever consumed. But the other pies delivered in their own special way, whether it’s the chocolate-on-chocolate sinning Josh experienced, or the sprinkled peanut bitter pieces blending with the chocolate cream I got to taste. All potential flaws from the lunch were erased as our feet momentarily left the ground while consuming the dessert.

Bottom Line: While I will forever have a grudge with this place for restricting a slew of their menu items, I can forgive them temporarily as they deliver good food at decent prices backed by their mammothly inconceivably delightful dessert (made up word in the sentence, I know). Their chicken was not up to par with freshness standards, but was still a treat. Their sides were good, the shrimp was good, even their bread was good. But all that has to step aside for the real reason people come to this place: their pies. With among the most delicious pies this side of the planet, Yoder’s will become an eternal staple of Sarasota for as long as their pies continue delivering in the way they delivered on that fateful afternoon I arrived. If you are anywhere near Sarasota, this is a spot you must visit, as their fresh food and relaxed atmosphere makes this one of the better restaurants in the West Coast of Florida—despite all its menu limitations.

P.S. The fruit market next door is a must-visit. A lot of wonderful-looking food there.

Verdict: Recommend

Yoder's
3434 Bahia Vista Street
Sarasota, FL 34239
(941) 955-7771

The 10 Best Cuisine Secrets in Disney World (Part 2)

Yes, this came quite a bit late, but better late than never, correct?

Walt Disney World is chock full of restaurants and places to eat—some good, some bad, and some amazingly excellent. However, in busier times (and even not-so-busy times) it gets hard sometimes to find a good place with minimal wait time. But, since its Disney, there are still dozens of secrets in terms of food that is only known by the veterans and those that visit Disney often. Being that I’ve been around the parks since I was 4, I feel like I am entitled to make a list of places that secretly and quietly serve amazing food, and usually don’t involve a heavy wait time. What I’ve done is assembled a list of 10 places located inside Disney World that quietly has great food, great prices, and usually doesn’t involve waiting 30 minutes to get your food (Like in Starlight Café , Pecos Bill, Sunshine Seasons, Tamu Tamu, etc.). Here are my 10 picks for top pleasant quick-service secrets in Disney World.

Part 1 Can Be Found Right Here.





#5: Harambe Fruit Market
Location: Africa in Animal Kingdom
Specialty Item: Jalapeno Cheese Pretzels
This place gets #5 because of its sheer necessity in the park grounds. Animal Kingdom is not only the weakest of the four parks, but culinary-wise its by far less exciting and varied when compared to the other parks. Yak and Yeti is overpriced, Restaurantasourous (spelling?) isn’t the same after the McDonalds contract ended, and let’s not even get started on Tamu Tamu and Tusker House’s abominating decision to become buffet. But with the fruit market, you can eat healthy, eat cheap, stock up on necessary water, and you never have to deal with the Animal Kingdom restaurants. It opens with the park, and closes with the park, and is definitely a better choice for food as opposed to the other eateries.


#4: Starring Rolls Café
Location: Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood Studios
Specialty Item: Éclair
Disney has never been that-that great with breakfast, because it’s a specific grouping of foods that loses its charm once noon hits. So, why place effort into making a nice breakfast place when two hours after the park opens you’d rather have a burger? Starring Rolls solves this problem by being a highly-necessary breakfast place, bakery, and even a spot to get sushi. To add to that, their bakery is darn impressive with intimidating muffins, endless assortment of danishes and cinnamon rolls, and the best éclairs this side of town. No visit to Hollywood is complete without a visit here for some coffee and excellent sweets.




#3: Columbia Fish House
Location: Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square
Specialty Item: Fried Fish
Of all the quick-service spots in the Kingdom, this one is the emptiest, best valued, has the most space, has the most variety amongst the food offerings, and is the safest haven from the bumptious crowds in the park. This place has fried fish, fried shrimp, fried chicken, healthier sandwiches, clam chowder, soups, and different types of salad. This place not only makes up for the lack of seafood in Magic Kingdom, but has an impressive grouping of good foods that can fit the budget and make the tummy happy. All this place needs is hush puppies….




#2: Aloha Isle
Location: Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland
Specialty Item: Pineapple Float
Granted this place is busy sometimes, it’s mightily high on the list because of sheer value, and the mightily phenomenal dole whip pineapple ice cream that (shockingly) is not as popular as you may think. If guests truly knew the true worth and amazingness of this ice cream, then their lines would stretch from the entrance of Adventureland to the castle. It might be better this way, because this ice cream is hands-down the best in Disney World, and among the best I’ve ever had in my life. And that’s JUST the pineapple. Add the orange sherbet, incredible floats, shockingly cheap prices (Around $4 for a mix of fresh pineapple juice and pineapple ice cream), and excellent atmosphere and we have here one of the best secrets in Magic Kingdom.









#1: Captain Cooks
Location: Polynesian Resort
Specialty Item: Turkey Club
I rank this #1 because most of the guests that actually STAY in the resort don’t know about it. I rank this #1 because it’s the ONLY other spot not Magic Kingdom that has the pineapple dole whip ice cream. And I rank this #1 because while on the second floor of the resort lobby there’s two extremely popular restaurants that are always busy, this is a spot that despite the excellent salad, excellent sandwiches, superb pizza, and of course, the dole whip, never really has a crowd. This is one of the best quick services places you’ll ever find anywhere, from the addicting Polynesian chips, to the wonderfully varied main items, to the grand finale dessert (which consists of a small bakery and plenty of ice cream).

Know of any secretly awesome eateries around Disney World? Please reveal them. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed this list.