We went over to Salsa’s for lunch today.  Loren got some chicken fajitas and I went for the shrimp chimichanga.

The chimichanga was cooked well this time.  It had a nice, crispy shell, even after being drenched in cheese sauce.  Loren said the fajitas were pretty good too.  Simple, filling lunch for $19.

Salsas Mexican Restaurant
3970 Tampa Road
Oldsmar, FL
813-749-7159

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We didn’t realize there was an art festival going on in Dunedin today, so we had to drive around to find parking before we could get to Café Alfresco.   Luckily, they still had some tables available for dinner.  Loren decided to try the Cajun seafood pasta tonight.

The dish had mussels, scallops and shrimp in a tangy, spicy sauce.  He said it was tasty.  I tasted it and it was a bit too spicy for me.  I went for the chicken marsala.

Though the marsala sauce had good flavor, the chicken itself was very under seasoned.   I rarely add salt to my food, but this had to have some.  The pasta was good with the sauce, but the veggies were a bit on the crunchy side.  We both ended up with some leftovers.  Total bill with a drink was $34.

Cafe Alfresco
344 Main St
Dunedin, FL
813-736-4299

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When we were at Sabai Thai last night we noticed that a new Greek restaurant just opened up next door called Taverna Skara.  It’s a light and airy looking restaurant and they weren’t busy at all when we got there.  They brought pita and olives to the table while we looked at the menus.

Loren said the olives were really good and I enjoyed the pita, though I would have liked something to dip it in.  We decided to try the fried calamari for an appetizer.

This was a mixed bag of tender and chewy pieces of calamari.  It seemed as though the pieces that kept their coating were fairly tender, but other pieces ended up being overcooked.  The dish definitely needed salt and I didn’t like the way it was served in the cone.  It made it very hard to get pieces out and dripped oil and crumbs all over the table.

For his entrée, Loren got the pork souvlaki platter.

It had pork, rice, pita, Greek salad and tzatziki sauce.  He enjoyed it and ended up with way more pita and rice than he could eat.  The tzatziki sauce had an interesting flavor to it.  I can’t quite put my finger on what was different about it, but there was something.  I tried the pastitsio.

This was a very good version of the dish.  The flavors were all there, the pasta was tender and the béchamel sauce was creamy and had good flavor.   My only criticism was that they melted some cheese on top that formed a hard crust.  I just didn’t care for that.  I also would have liked if it had been served with a small Greek salad.   Most of the other entrees on the menu were served with a side or salad, so it seemed odd that the items on the Traditional Greek Entree list were not.

Service was very attentive, almost too attentive, but I’m guessing it’s because they’re new and there weren’t too many customers in the restaurant.   Overall, the food was good and we’ll probably be back again to try some other dishes.   Total bill with a drink was $43.

Taverna Skara
2454 McMullen Booth Rd
Clearwater, FL
727-726-9000

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Our first visit to Sabai Thai was all about sushi, so we decided to try their Thai offerings today.  I really liked the dumplings last time, so we had to get another order of those.

They’re very dense, but full of flavor.  I could eat a plate full of them and be quite contented.  The food comes out really fast here.  I’m not sure if it’s because there weren’t very many customers or the kitchen is just on super speed.  Loren got the ginger chicken.

He said it was very good, but didn’t have any heat to it even though he ordered it medium spicy.   He said the reason he normally orders this dish is because it comes with lots of fresh veggies.   I went for the Pad Lad Na.

The flavors were very mellow, but that’s pretty much what I expect from this dish.  I would have liked the broccoli to have been cooked a little more, but overall, it was tasty.  There was definitely a lot more sauce in this version than what I’ve gotten at other places.  It was almost like eating a noodle soup.  We both ended up with leftovers.  Total bill with a drink was $28.

Sabai Thai Cuisine
2454 McMullen Booth Road
Clearwater, FL
(727) 330-7630

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We haven’t been eating out much lately, mostly because both Loren & I caught a nasty little cold.  Chicken soup, the occasional take out, and the couch were about as far as either of us wanted to go.  But, now we’re back among the living and had a quick lunch at Cuban Breezes.

Loren got the masitas with a side of ultimate rice and beans.

Tender and tasty as always.  I went for a mahi Cuban with a side of rice & beans.

The mahi was pretty thick today which made the sandwich a little difficult to eat.  It just kept wanting to fall out of the Cuban bread.  Nonetheless, it was cooked perfectly and with a side of rice and beans filled me right up.  Total bill with a drink was $21.

Cuban Breezes
13980 W. Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL
813-814-9939

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We went down to Dunedin to take an end of year sunset photo and ended up at Casa Tina for dinner.  We got there fairly early and they were too busy.  Loren munched on the chips & salsa while we waited for our nachos to arrive.

The Monterrey nachos definitely were appealing to look at when they arrived at the table.  All of the chips around the edges were burnt to a crisp.  As far as I’m concerned, it never should have left the kitchen.  We ate around the burnt parts and when our waiter finally stopped by the table to ask if we wanted to take the rest home, I showed him how burnt it was and he took it off the check for us.

For his entree, Loren got the chicken fajitas.

The fajitas were tender, but the veggies, especially the onions, weren’t cooked enough.  For $18, it also seemed like a rather small portion.   I got the chicken flutes.

They were less than great this time.  They just weren’t crispy enough.  The guac was really spicy this time too.  Overall, the prices just seem to be getting higher here, but the food quality isn’t.  Total bill with a drink was $36.

Oh, and here’s that final sunset of 2012.  Good eatings to all for 2013!

Casa Tina’s 
365 Main Street
Dunedin, FL
727-734-9226

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It was around 2pm when we got out of the movies and Loren suggested we give Ozona Pig another try.  Unfortunately, we walked in and were told they closed at 2pm, so we walked across the street to Molly Goodheads instead.

We split a bowl of clam chowder.

This was so thick and rich and yummy.  Definitely one of the better versions in the area.  For his lunch, Loren went for a blackened mahi sandwich.

He said the mahi was cooked perfectly and the fries were nice & crunchy.  I decided on an avocado burger and onion rings.

The burger was very thick & juicy, though not quite cooked to the medium I asked for.  The onion rings were a bit on the salty side and needed to be a bit crunchier.  The only thing I really dislike about Molly’s is that they allow smoking on the patio and even though we were inside, as people walked in & out the door, you could still smell the smoke.  Total bill with a drink was $26.

Molly Goodheads 
400 Orange Street
Ozona, FL
727-786-6255

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If you read this blog regularly, you know we’re incapable of ordering a little bit of sushi.  We tend to go overboard and I’ll admit, it’s always me that says, let’s order one more.  But, leftover sushi is good too.  ;-)  We went back to Mike’s Sushi tonight.

Let’s see, we got a Rainbow roll, a Mexican roll, Blue Moon roll, a scallop roll, a spicy tuna for Loren and a make your own with salmon, avocado and tuna.  The Blue Moon is a fried crab roll that’s really tasty.  There was something about the scallop roll that I didn’t like this time though, it had a strong vinegary flavor.  The waitress also forgot to bring it to the table, but I was sure we had ordered six rolls.  Overall, it was pretty good and we had some to eat the next day.  Loren also got a salad & a drink and the total bill ended up being $52.

Mike’s Sushi 
33855 Us-19 N
Palm Harbor, FL
(727) 410-3234

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We had a AAA coupon for 25% off at Olive Garden that expired today, so we headed over there for a late lunch.  We weren’t sure how busy they were going to be on Christmas Eve, but when we got there at 1pm, we didn’t have to wait for a table.   We started off with soup, salad and breadsticks.

I think we could have stopped right here and been very full and very contented.  The breadsticks were fresh and soft and both the salad and soup were yummy.  I like the pasta fagioli soup here.  It has a nice blend of flavors and textures.  For some reason, we felt the need to order an appetizer.

Calamari & stuffed mushrooms… oh so good!  They prepare a really tender calamari here.  The mushrooms were also flavorful and filling.  As if this wasn’t enough food, we ordered entrees as well.  Loren got the braised beef tortelloni.

It was definitely more tortelloni than beef, but he said it was very good.  I ordered the fettucine alfredo.

This is my favorite dish here, though it could have used a little more sauce on it.  It’s very creamy and the noodles are cooked perfectly.   There’s a reason we don’t come here very often; we eat too much.  We both took home some leftovers.  For a chain restaurant, they really do prepare the food very well.  After the coupon, the total bill was $26.

Olive Garden
29461 Us-19 N
Clearwater, FL
(727) 787-3988

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When I’m in the mood for tater tots, we head over to Pete & Shorty’s.  Loren got a pork tenderloin and I got the Chalet burger, both with tots, of course.

At first Loren said he didn’t really want tots, but he ate every last one of them in his basket.  As usual, the pork tenderloin was way bigger than the bun and the burger was nice & juicy.  For $18, my tot craving was satisfied and my taste buds were happy.

Pete & Shorty’s Tavern
2820 Gulf to Bay Blvd
Clearwater, FL
(727) 799-0580

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We went to a holiday dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Westshore Plaza with about a dozen people.  The only reservation they could get was at 4:30pm, but we didn’t get out of there until around 8:30pm.  I didn’t take any photos during the meal, but still wanted to comment on the food.

The bread on the table was soft and chewy and very good.  We also got the fried calamari, fried zucchini, stuffed mushrooms and mussels for appetizers.  I didn’t try the mussels, but the people who did seemed to really enjoy them.  The zucchini was very good.  Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.  I’d definitely order it again.  Both the stuffed mushrooms and calamari were good too.  I think everyone at the table was full before our entrees came out.

Loren got the salmon oscar and really liked it.  The salmon was cooked well and the crab and sauce on top had some wonderful flavors.  I ordered the mushroom ravioli with braised veal in a marsala cream sauce.  It was delicious.  From the first bite to the last, the textures and flavors just danced in my mouth.  It was yummy.  Everyone at the table seemed to really enjoy the food.  We also got dessert which I ended up taking over half of it home because it was huge.

This is what was left after Loren & I ate some and we gave some to another person at the table.  It was a huge piece of chocolate cake with a Sambuca mousse.  It was moist and rich and very chocolatety; however, I probably wouldn’t order it again.  I didn’t know what Sambuca was before I ordered it (an anise flavored liqueur), but it seems that both Loren & I had the same reaction to it.  It numbed the roof of my mouth and my tongue.  It was a very odd feeling.

There were a few issues with the evening.  There was one entree that didn’t come out until almost everyone was halfway through eating.  I guess it got overcooked in the kitchen, so they had to prepare a new one.  The restaurant is very loud and parking is a small nightmare, but granted this was the Friday before Christmas.  I don’t know what the final bill was, but it wasn’t cheap.  The prices are a bit on the high side, but the food was really good.  We don’t get over to that part of Tampa very often, but we’d definitely eat at Maggiano’s again.

Maggiano’s Little Italy
203 Westshore Plz
Tampa, FL
813-288-9000

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Our last few ventures to Cody’s Original Roadhouse have been less than satisfying.  Though we usually enjoy the salad and yeast rolls, the entrees have been hit or miss.  Tonight’s dinner, though, was much improved.  The salad and rolls were fresh and tasty.

This is usually the best part of the meal for us.  I was good this time though and didn’t order a second basket of rolls.  It was tempting though.  Loren went for the chef select NY Strip with a loaded baked potato.

The steak was cooked a perfect medium and was very tender.  He only ate half of it and took the rest home.  This was definitely one of the better steaks he’s had here.  I went for the 1/2 rack of baby back ribs.

They were very tender tonight and the portion seemed larger than usual.  Fall off the bone with a sweet and tangy bbq sauce.  I actually had some leftovers as well.  This is the first time in a while that we actually left here satisfied.  Total bill with a drink was $35.

Cody’s Original Roadhouse 
26210 US 19 Clearwater, FL
(727) 726-6800

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A friend and I went to lunch at Big Bok Choy today for her birthday.  We both got the wonton soup and chicken dishes.

I got the honey garlic chicken which is so tender and tasty.  I don’t know how they get the chicken so tender.  The sauce on it is both sweet and tangy.  So delicious.  Total bill for the two of us was $20.

Big Bok Choy Bistro
3730 Tampa Road #6
Oldsmar, FL
813-854-1961

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We ate dinner at Lager Haus in Palm Harbor tonight.  The front bar area was pretty busy and loud, but we were able to get a relatively quiet table in the back.  I come here specifically for the Jaegerschnitzel when we don’t feel like driving up to the German Restaurant in Holiday.

I got the half portion tonight, which was plenty of food along with a side of spaetzl.  The chicken was tender and the mushroom sauce had a nice flavor.  The spaetzl was completely flavorless and needed salt and pepper at the least.  Loren tried the rosemary chicken tonight with a side salad that was brought with the meal instead of before.

He said the chicken had no flavor whatsoever.  Not a hint of rosemary to be found.  He had to liberally salt & pepper it just to get a hint of flavor.  It was tender, but not something he’d order again.  Total bill with a drink was $25.

Lagerhaus Brewery & Grill
3438 East Lake Road
Palm Harbor, FL
813-343-2449

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I stopped off at Georgia Boys BBQ on the way home from work today & picked up a rack of ribs for dinner.

There isn’t a lot of seasoning on their ribs, but they do have a nice smoky flavor.  These were a bit on the greasy side though.  For $23, we’ve got enough to feed us dinner & lunch tomorrow.

Georgia Boy’s BBQ
205 E St Petersburg Dr
Oldsmar, FL
(813) 854-4498

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We ate lunch at Eve’s Family Restaurant in Oldsmar today.  We haven’t eaten here in quite a while.  I decided to go for some breakfast and got an omelet.

I ordered the Florentine omelet which had spinach, tomatoes, feta and hollandaise sauce.  The hollandaise sauce was a bit overwhelming, but overall the omelet was ok.  There was a lot of spinach in it and the feta gave it a subtle salty flavor.  The hashbrowns were crispy and though toast didn’t look burnt, it had a burnt flavor to it.  Loren went for soup & salad.

The cream of potato soup was thick and creamy and had a nice flavor to it.  The salad wasn’t anything special.   Total bill with a drink was $16.

Eve’s Family Restaurant
3150 Tampa Road
Oldsmar, FL
727-787-6886

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I attended a luncheon at Oystercatchers with a group of about 20 people.  The restaurant is very pretty, overlooking the bay, but the service was lacking and although the food was good, it seemed very overpriced for the quantity of food on each plate.

We started off with some calamari fries & crabcakes, though I forgot to take a photo.  Both were very tasty.  The calamari wasn’t cut in rings, but rather long, thick pieces.  It was tender and the breading was good.  The crab cakes had lots of crab in them.

For my entrée, I ordered the sautéed scallops and side salad.

I guess I was just a little surprised that there were only 3 scallops in the dish.  They were tender and sautéed nicely in garlic and butter; but for the price, the serving size seemed rather small.  They actually serve a single fried oyster with the dish, and I’d have been happy with a plate of those, though I didn’t see them on the menu.  I also ordered the Godiva Chocolate mousse for dessert.

When I think of mousse, I imagine a very light, fluffy chocolaty dish.  This was more like a piece of fudge.  It was thick and rich and yummy, but not exactly what I was expecting.

As for the service, I think a lot of us were unimpressed.  The wait staff for our table seemed very abrupt and unfriendly, even rude at times.  When our entrees came out, they placed the wrong plates in front of several people and one lady had to send hers back because her salmon was undercooked.  I believe every entree was $20+ each, so for those prices you expect better service.  Several people told me they’ve enjoyed the Sunday brunch here, but many of them said they wouldn’t come back for lunch.

Oystercatchers
2900 Bayport Dr
Tampa, FL
813-207-6815

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We ate dinner at Cuban Breezes.  Luckily we got there just as the crowd started coming in, so we didn’t have to wait for a table.  I know they’re usually busy at lunchtime, but I didn’t realize they were so busy on weekend nights as well.   Loren started off with the soup they had on special, the caldo gallego.

It was a Cuban bean soup with lots of good flavors and ingredients.   He also got the mahi wrap.

I’ve always thought Cuban Breezes had really good mahi and tonight’s lived up to the reputation.  They just cook it very well; it’s never dry and always tastes fresh.   I got the fricase de pollo.

This is one of my favorite dishes here.  Flavorful chicken, potatoes, herbs, and spices with rice and a side of beans.  There was enough for two on the plate and I ended up bringing half of it home.  I love the mix of flavors in this dish.  Total bill with a drink was $25.

Cuban Breezes
13980 W. Hillsborough Ave.
Tampa, FL
813-814-9939

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We normally eat lunch at Daddy’s Grill, but decided to try it for dinner tonight.  They were pretty busy, but we didn’t have to wait for a table.  Loren’s meal came with a salad & I got some clam chowder to start off with.

That clam chowder was really good.  It had lots of clams and potatoes plus a nice thick, creamy texture.  Loren thought we were going to share it, but I think I scarfed most of it.  Loren ordered off of the specials menu and got the chicken stuffed with veal, spinach and cheese.

He really liked it.  The chicken was very tender and the fillings and gravy just made it that much more scrumptious.  He’s not a big fan of carrots, but he said these were cooked very well.   I ordered a mushroom cheeseburger and macaroni salad.

I actually ended up bringing half of it home because I ate so much of the chowder.  It was a well cooked burger though.  Nice & juicy with just the right amount of seasoning.  Total bill with a drink was $27.

Daddy’s Grill
3682 Tampa Road
Oldsmar, FL
(813) 891-6556

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We ate dinner at Pappas Ranch down on Gulf to Bay tonight.  It wasn’t very busy for a Saturday night, but it was so loud that it made it difficult to carry on a conversation.  Although their appetizers are good, we decided to skip them tonight and go straight on to dinner.  Loren got the 6oz sirloin with a baked potato.

He enjoyed the steak and said it had good seasoning.  The baked potato was fresh and tasty too.   I got the catfish tacos.

These were very difficult to eat because of the sweet mango cole slaw and chipotle-lime mayo.  They just got to be too goopy after a while.  The fish wasn’t crispy either, so that just added to the mushiness.  The fries were pretty good though.  Total bill with a drink was $26.

Pappas Ranch Steakhouse
2630 Gulf to Bay Blvd
Clearwater, FL
(727) 797-9800

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