Is it just me or did spring go by very fast? If you read my Spring 2018 Restaurant & Bar Bucket List, you’d see that I did not hold back in regards to the number of places I hoped to go. I was successful in winter, after all. Unfortunately, spring proved to be a bit more challenging. I found myself going back to old favorites (see below!) when I could’ve gone somewhere on my bucket list, which made me realize that maybe I wasn’t excited enough about some of these places after all. The few places I did have a chance to visit included one of my favorite chocolate desserts, a twist on some of my favorite ingredients I’ve never seen before, and a bar I know I’ll be going back to a lot this summer!
West Palm Beach, FL
- Barcello in Palm Beach Gardens – Visited
When I had dinner at Barcello with my parents, I was surprised by the atmosphere. It was a bit of an older crowd, quiet, and candlelit inside. They have a small covered patio seating out front, but it was a bit too warm and humid outside for that. The service was excellent, and the food did not disappoint. I ordered the Tuna Sashimi Pizza, which was one of the server’s recommendations. It features some of my favorite ingredients in a way I’ve never seen before! Pizza + truffle + sushi? I’m in. More specifically, it was made with Ahi Tuna, Truffled Ponzu Sauce, Red Onion, Chive, Sesame Seeds, Wasabi Drizzle. The pizza crust was very thin, light and crunchy – they nailed it. My mom ordered the Pad Thai, which was good but nothing out of the ordinary. My dad ordered a special, which I rarely like to include in reviews. I have mixed feelings on how soon I’ll return, but their 50% off entrees daily from 5-6pm deal this summer is pretty enticing for another Tuna Sashimi Pizza!
- Brick and Barrel in Lake Park – Visited
I went here THREE times this spring, so clearly you know I liked it! It is by far the best place to go in Lake Park, in my opinion. They have bar seating, table seating or outdoor seating. They have plenty of menu options from gastropub-style bar bites to full-size entrees like burgers or salmon. And, they serve liquor, beer and wine. In my experiences visiting, they are never too busy to have to worry about seating, and the service has been consistently good. My favorite items I’ve ordered so far are the Beet The Mule, Crispy Paprika Pig Ears, Charred Shishito Peppers (not too spicy, yay!), and the And Beyond Vegan Burger. I’ve tried two of the focaccia pizzas and while enjoyable, they could be slightly better.
- Imoto in Palm Beach – Visited
Lucky you – I already reviewed this one here!
Some of the places I returned to this season from my winter bucket list were Chez L’Epicier (still can’t beat that 5-6pm 50% all entrees deal), The Parched Pig (always on Mondays for $1 oysters, and they now serve cocktails too!), and The Brass Ring (too conveniently located, cheap and open late).
Orlando, FL
- The Glass Knife in Winter Park
First of all, this place is so beautifully designed and decorated. Obsessed! I love that they have an outdoor patio too, which is where we sat when we visited. I appreciated that while the patio is on the main road, they have a nice greenery to serve as a divider and cut out some of the noise. The ordering process is a little confusing, only because it’s not what you expect from a traditional bakery. You order and pay at the counter, then they bring it to you with plates, utensils, a glass of water, cup of coffee, etc. All the desserts were so beautiful – it was difficult to decide! I went with the item that caught my eye first, a classic German Chocolate Cake. It was soooo good, and took me three separate occasions to finish it! I rarely go out for dessert to be honest, but if I wanted to in Orlando, this would be high up on the list.
- Deadly Sins Brewing in Winter Park
Once I finally went to this brewery, I couldn’t believe it I hadn’t been there before. It’s tucked away but conveniently located right off of Mills Avenue. They always have about 12-15 options on tap, which is plenty to choose from. So many appealed to me that I ordered a flight and loved all four beers, especially their IPA (surprisingly)! They have board games, which I also took part in during my visit. They do not serve food, but they hire food trucks that park in the lot. I was there when a poke truck was scheduled, so I stuck around for a bite! I will definitely be back soon.
Stay tuned for more reviews of restaurants and bars I’ve tried recently in the Palm Beaches and Orlando, as well as a summer bucket list!