Rainforest Cafe - Orlando, FL

We actually ate here a couple of times while in Orlando. The food is better than average, however it is over priced. Unfortunately the kids really like it and they actually eat the food here. So after an uninteresting seafood meal the first time, I decided to just get the appetizer sampler. The best part about this meal was the eggrolls. The calamari wasn't that interesting and the chips and dip were average. Next time I will just get the eggrolls.

It's an tourist destination which kids enjoy.

Island Way Grill - Clearwater, FL

We ate here for Thanksgiving. This was a very nice restaurant in Clearwater. We ate the standard turkey dinner with trimmings. We also ordered a conch fritters for an appetizer. The conch was good, it have a pretty strong taste to it. The turkey and trimmings were very good and it came with a coconut pie. Overall, I really liked this restaurant.

The only gripe I have was the required valet parking.

Columbia Restaurant - Tampa, FL

We were in Florida for Thanksgiving and decided to try some Authentic Cuban food. This restaurant has been in Tampa since 1905. The building was very ornate. Beautifully decorated both inside and out. I ordered the Original "1905" Salad and the chicken with yellow rice. Everyone also got a huge piece of cuban bread. The bread was good and the salad was good. The chicken was good but was really pretty plain. Since this was the first time we had Cuban perhaps that is how it is supposed to be. Overall this was a nice dining experience. I would come here again, but probably order something different.

XO Taste - Falls Church

We went to this restaurant for lunch yesterday. After moving here after living in Boston for several years, we have been very disappointed in the Chinese food selections. We rarely eat Chinese food, until I heard about this restaurant. It was full and we had to wait for a table, but it wasn't jammed packed.

We ordered the double lobster with ginger and scallions, salty spicy squid, peapod stems with garlic, pan fried chicken noodles. The lobster was very good. The salty spicy squid was good also, however the batter was heavier than at most places we've had it before. The peapod stems were also very good. Overall I really liked this restaurant. It serves authentic Cantonese food, which is hard to find in this area.

Pho - 75 - Arlington, VA

Since my last posting, my work has relocated to Rosslyn. Unfortunately, the lunch selection in Rosslyn is lacking. So I will try to do my best at reviewing the better places.

Luckily for me there is a Pho restaurant within walking distance. Pho 75 in Arlington is the original Pho house in Northern Virginia. I remember coming here aboout 25 years ago. It pretty much looks the same and is still in the same location. It's a no frills Pho restaurant, however the Pho is very good.

Guapo's - Herndon, Va

I went here for lunch today. I had the 1/4 chicken with rice and salad. This is one of the restaurants I frequently go to. The service is quick, the food is good and the prices are decent. The chicken and rice were good as usual. The salad could have been a little better. I had some wilted lettuce and a lot of the hard ends of lettuce. Overall, it was still a good meal.

1042 Elden St
Herndon, VA 20170-3801
(703) 787-8887

Red Kabob - Leesburg, Va

This is a new restaurant that just opened a couple of months ago. It is part of the much needed improvement to the Leesburg Restaurant scene. We usually just do take-out since it's close by. It's a good restaurant. The salad is better than most kabob places. The chicken kabob is good, but the ground beef kabob is a little dry. The bread is not homemade, but still edible. The rice seemed a little buttery. Overall this is a good restaurant by Leesburg standards. The sizes are a little small compared to other restaurants, but still plenty for one serving. There are other kabob restaurants I like better, but I will still come here for convenience. The owners are very nice also.

521-A East Market St
Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 777-5277