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Former Cane Brandon Meriweather's restaurant in Orlando

TheOriginalCane said:
Good lord.

Columbia is excellent, it is a Florida institution, they've been around for about 100 years (no joke, first one was in St. Augustine). Nikki's Place is excellent too, but I believe it burned down, and they are rebuilding.

1. Teak (Maitland)
2. Beth's Burger Bar
3. Gringos Locos
4. Underground Public House
5. Tin & Taco
6. RusTeak (College Park)
7. Artisan's Table
8. The Rusty Spoon
9. 1921 by Norman Van Aken
10. Christner's
11. Antonio's La Fiamma (Maitland)
12. Luma
13. Ravenous Pig
14. Pig Floyd's
15. Tako Cheena
16. Seven Bites
17. The Tap Room at Dubsdread
18. Nona Blue
19. Boheme
20. DoveCote
21. The Strand
22. Avenue
23. Chela
24. Linda's La Cantina
25. blu
26. Dexter's (Winter Park)
27. Prato
28. The Coop
29. East Side Market
30. Santiago's Bodega
31. KeKe's
32. Briar Patch
33. Graffiti Junktion
34. Yellow Dog Eats
35. Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe
36. Hawker's Asian Street Fare
37. Blue Bird Bake Shop
38. Pickles
39. La Coq Au Vin
40. Kres Chophouse
41. Enzo's on the Lake
42. Domu
43. Pizza Bruno
44. Cocina 214
45. Better Than ***
46. Amura
47. Seito
48. Black Rooster Taqueria
49. Hunger Street
50. Fishbones (no, not Bonefish)

And that is without even mentioning any national chains (Capital Grille, even though they are based in Orlando), local chains, like 4Rivers, and completely leaving out all of the places on Disney property, Universal property, I-Drive, and Restaurant Row. Seriously, have you ever been to Victoria & Albert's in the Grand Floridian or The California Grill in the Contemporary?

There are more good restaurants on Disney property than there are in all of South Tampa.
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Good List; I've been to about 30-40 of those 50 but I couldn't recall at the time.
I will add Peach Valley Cafe since you put KeKe's on there.
 
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SayWhat said:
That it is.

The best thing you can do is basically get a restaurant up anfld going well, we'll it, and start all over. Besides not generating business, most restaurateurs next mistake doing the same thing and getting attached to their place while others pass then by.
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I assume you meant “sell it”. If so, I agree.
 
South Side Chi Cane said:
And everybody thought you couldn’t be positive !
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Especially for a New Yorker. Most are sure there is no good pizza outside the city. For me the best pizza and garlic rolls I ever ate was from Marcella’s in Dade county. Momma had a couple spots but the one on NW 183rd was home base. Ruined me for pizza and rolls ever since.
 
TheOriginalCane said:
Good lord.

Columbia is excellent, it is a Florida institution, they've been around for about 100 years (no joke, first one was in St. Augustine). Nikki's Place is excellent too, but I believe it burned down, and they are rebuilding.

There are more good restaurants on Disney property than there are in all of South Tampa.

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You Eastcoastsentric guys are funny with your food list, because you live in an area and think you know all the best food places, but then you visit an area and some Yo Lo takes you out to one or two places and that's it, you're an expert on that coast too.

First F--- Orlando and that gangster rat - if you eat there, that says all you need to know about your culinary tastes.

And Oh by the way, The Columbia, Florida's oldest restaurant started in Ybor City, not in St Augustine. It was a mix of Spanish, Italian and Cuban that the enclave is famous for. There used to be another great one there across the street, Los Novedades - that Teddy Roosevelt rode his Rough Riders through on horseback before they loaded the ship and left for their rendeavous with San Juan Hill.

One final thing, I loved BMs play but that doughy pizza doesn't look very appealing to this Canes fan who learned what good Pizza was on family visits to Brooklynn back when the Sicilians ran pizza shops as a front for the mob - before Rudy Giuliani busted up that pipeline. They could all throw the dough (its the water), make the best sauce and cook a thin crust pizza that would make you genuflect. Unfortunately they were good at heroine distribution too, and the Pizza industry in America suffered ever since Rudy cleaned that connection up.
 
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Gatorhater said:
Especially for a New Yorker. Most are sure there is no good pizza outside the city. For me the best pizza and garlic rolls I ever ate was from Marcella’s in Dade county. Momma had a couple spots but the one on NW 183rd was home base. Ruined me for pizza and rolls ever since.
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You need to get to Chicago and eat some pizza my friend !! I agree that Florida is way underrated when it comes to food.
 
Dude let me be clear, I wasn't talking deep dish, NOBODY in the country can come close to that. I would put a Chicago Flat up against anything, And I hope every New Yorker on this board reads this post.
 
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South Side Chi Cane said:
Maybe one day I will be in New York and put your perspective to the test, and you can make your way to the best city for food in America and do the same.
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I've been to Chicago many times....And being a Corporate Chef who's mother was born in Italy...I'd say my perspective is spot on...As far as Chi town being the best food town in America...I disagree.....I'd put San Francisco over them...and nobody touches NYC for food.....
 
CashMoneyCane said:
If you're using your head for business, the LAST business you start is a restaurant. 90% failure rate within three years across the industry.

Burning a pile of cash is at least more time efficient.
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I live near a popular and well-known restaurant district in Bethesda, Maryland. The amount of closures/turnover I've seen over the years is amazing. It seems to be getting hard work and is usually a very small businessman or woman, who invests a lot and probably ends up losing it. My impression if that business. Don't know anybody in the business so don't really know.
 
Looks like Brandon has been sampling some of his pizza. Can't blame him - it looks pretty good.

Anyway, hope he's doing well with the business and in all else he's been up to.

And still hope we somehow get Tyler Davis (unlikely).

Time for another big-time player from the Apopka area.
 
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caneinorlando said:
I've been to Chicago many times....And being a Corporate Chef who's mother was born in Italy...I'd say my perspective is spot on...As far as Chi town being the best food town in America...I disagree.....I'd put San Francisco over them...and nobody touches NYC for food.....
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Sorry for the late reply, You obviously have eaten better than me in your life considering the career and pedigree. But I have to ask why Frisco ?? Was your assessment based off fine dining? I probably wasn't clear, I was coming from a more pedestrian perspective such as Burgers, Brats, Gyros and the like.
 
caneinorlando said:
I've been to Chicago many times....And being a Corporate Chef who's mother was born in Italy...I'd say my perspective is spot on...As far as Chi town being the best food town in America...I disagree.....I'd put San Francisco over them...and nobody touches NYC for food.....
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Where does Vegas rate on your list? They have some primo restaurants and top level chefs all over that city.
 
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Cane Dynasty said:
Taste of Chicago is fantastic! I go every chance I get. (only 4 times)

Bomb *** food as far as the eye can see!
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Glad you had a good experience the times you went, The taste has always had an uneven reputation, One year it's out of this world, and the next year you can see a buger king venue. Hope you have continued success on future trips.
 
South Side Chi Cane said:
Glad you had a good experience the times you went, The taste has always had an uneven reputation, One year it's out of this world, and the next year you can see a buger king venue. Hope you have continued success on future trips.
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I lived on 83rd and Morgan for a couple years.

Good times. I miss Leon's BBQ. Especially the wings.
 
CANEMC said:
university-of-miamis-brandon-meriweather-celebrates-the-miami-victory-picture-id112942413
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The background completely nostalgic. Excuse me, I need a tissue.
 
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