Florida Alert

Over thirty years ago, we dined at Bern's because a colleague had told me about their legendary wine collection. It was so impressive that I asked for and was given a copy of the wine list to take home.

The dream that I have often harbored in my evil mind is to go back there, and when the waiter asks:

"Would you like to see our winelist?"

I would then pull out my copy and say:

"No, I already have a copy and would rather order from this one." ;-)

Godzilla

Joe, You might want to contact the sometime contributor to afw Leo Bueno. His blog

Mark Lipton

Joe "Beppe"Rosenberg wrote: Wine Warehouse, is for better or worse, my go to place for wine although from time to time I have frequented ABC (good selections) The Wine Warehouse is a small franchise operation with local ownership. My guy in Jacksonville is quite good and knows his inventory well.

Total Wine is total switch and bait, not bad if you know exactly what you want, but heaven help the person who asks for the Duckass!

Just remember that when crossing the GA FLA line you will give up your vote and forever be served "sweet tea" when you ask for iced.

There used to be a Kosher place in jax but it may be closed. Ruth's Chris is my bet for steaks but there are a growing number of good continental restaurants in Florida.

my sister is in Bayonet Pt since '87 so I've been to Tarpon Springs---Italian food very southern has made its way as far North as Hudson, Expat Boston, NY, Chi have opened (& closed) pizzerias... Best food in Spring Hill is Perkins Pancakes---Too Jays had a good deli in Orlando 0n Rt 50 succeeded a real deli----DC's best deli-- Krupins, was a Two-Jays---now still Krupins but new less generous owners from Bombay---Corned Beef Vindaloo. Chopped Liver on Naan etc

Shopped at B-21s---would rank as the #5 store in Atlanta, #15 in Baltimore/DC---Again the stuff I like; non industrial-producers just does come into the state--Except for Hotlanta, that's the south. Sold some chianti to wholesaler in Biloxi--asked if they made it in straw. Told me Italians should start planting sangiovese.

Never been to Berns---taking my family would bust me---I'm a Palm fan(Atlantic City, Atlanta, DC, Falls Church and the Original--Only Peter Lugar's is better---if I was looking for a big piece of meat I'd go to a Ponderosa---that's Shula's Ponderosa on steroids. Ruth Chris in Baltimore's Inner Harbor & Atlanta very good.

I've seen the Berns list but still th> Wine Warehouse, is for better or worse, my go to place for wine although

Too Jays in Orlando was on Hwy 436 in Altamonte Springs. The one of Hwy 50 was Ronnies deli. Been there for probably 50 years now.

I lived in Longwood/Altamonte Springs before moving to NC.

Try Amira's on 436 (1351 East Altamonte Drive). Kosher. The food is great. The latkes are incredible. The dairy-free baked goods are forgettable. If you can get a bacon cheeseburger there, not a deli. Toojay's is great too. But it is not a deli.

Fred.

"Richard Neidich" wrote in news:P3WUh.22358$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net:

Fred, they consider themselves a deli....See their web site. Their banner is TooJays (Orignal Gourmet Deli).

And I could care less of they have bacon cheesburger...not all delis need to be kosher to have kosher style. Sorry.

I have been to both types.

Sorry, ommited web link.

Did not realize that. Well, I like Too Jays better anyway!!!

A bit of corrected history, if you don't mind: TooJays did not replace Ronnie's. Ronnie's was closed by its owner, Larry Leckhart, in 1995 in preparation for the destruction of what was then Colonial Plaza. A year or so later TooJays, a small chain of deli- style restaurants that originated in Palm Beach, set up its Route 50/Colonial Drive location in a newly-built property behind where Ronnie's had been located. The only thing in common is the waitress Anita, who migrated from Ronnie's to TooJays and is one of the best in the area. A few years after that, TooJays set up the Altamonte Springs location. There are now about 5 of the restaurants in the Orlando area, all about the same in food quality and so forth. Not bad, but you wouldn't call FedEx to overnight one of their sandwiches to you if you lived in New York (or Atlanta.) Amira's is much better and more authentic but it still lacks the excitement, smell and general schmaltz of a real deli. It is truly Kosher but isn't even open for dinner. There just doesn't seem to be the demand around here.

pavane

OK. Since you may know did Al and lindas Cantina remain...old steakhouse on Colonial I think.

I used to eat there..been many years and I thought Al and linda split and then it was Lindas?

It remains. After the divorce Linda got custody of the place and renamed it "Linda's La Cantina Steakhouse," thus eliminating Al's name. Same place, same steaks, same funkiness, same plastic bowls for the salads. The other remarkable survivor is Barney's Steakhouse much further in towards town. I, unfortunately for historical correctness, have developed a liking for Houston's and Flemings.

pavane

Understood!!!

I lived in Orlando 2x in my adult life. Once after college in 1979, then again in 1984-1993.

Initially had a small place in "The Springs" of Longwood. We had a great undergound blue spring there that was great in summer/winter...temp always the same.

Then when I returned about 1984 bought a place in Tuscawilla Forest off 2 blocks Red Bug and Tuscawilla Road.

What I miss living in NC is the Dueling Piano places like Howl at the moon or Dueling Pianos. We don't have that here.

Also, Born/Raised in Fla. Fort Pierce and then moved with family as kid to Pompano Bch. After college moved to Orlando. Used to love living there.

I used to love the steaks at Bill's Elbow Room in Oviedo, which later moved into the mall there. I hear that Bill died a few years ago.

Dave