Newfound Love for Asian Cuisine at Tabla

There are some Indian dishes that we never knew we liked until the skilled chefs at Tabla
Cuisine made them for us with the highest quality ingredients, including meat, herbs and peppers. The Chinese and Thai dishes at this restaurant are also spot-on.

But, before I address food, I must brag that Tabla displayed the magical trifecta of a quality restaurant: great service, atmosphere and food. The hospitality displayed by management and servers was outstanding, taking care of our every need - including food sensitivities. The atmosphere - the restaurant recently underwent a major renovation - is gorgeous. We loved the modern decor and the artistic china that our delicious food was served on.

Here are the top dishes you should try at Tabla:

1. Tabla Lamb Chops. The flavor and cook was perfect on these juicy, tender chops, which were served over a serving pot with burning charcoals. The presentation was impressive.

2. Lamb Biryani. The succulent Tandoori lamb is mixed in with a deeply-flavored rice, steeped in saffron and other herbs and served with quail egg.

3. Hara Murgh Kabob. Marinated with green chilies, mint and cilantro, I could eat these chicken kabobs every day.

4. Red Curry with Fish. The fish was cooked perfectly and the flavorful red curry sauce was much lighter than other Thai curries I have had. I would have enjoyed this dish a bit spicier. 

Sugar-free Kheer

5. Chocolate Samosa with Masala Chai Latte Ice Cream. We wanted to lick the plate.

6. Pineapple Kheer. A sugar-free rice pudding with cardamom and pineapple. This was such a nice, refreshing treat to end our meal.

7. Mango Lassi. The mango yogurt drink was well-balanced, light and refreshing.

8. Naan and Garlic Cilantro Naan. The breads were toasted to perfection and had a wonderful flavor.

We loved our experience at Tabla, and cannot wait for our next meal there. The best part was this classy introduction to certain Indian dishes which we now love.

Where: 5827 Caravan Ct., Orlando.

Why Pay More When You Can Pei Wei?

I heard loud and clear from Flavorful Excursions' readers earlier this year: you love Pei Wei. After finally getting a chance to eat there myself, I understand why! I can order some of the same dishes that I would order at P.F. Chang's for a great value. The prices are reasonable, the portions are big, and the food is made to order, just like at a full-service restaurant. 

Did I mention that Pei Wei's food is pretty tasty, too? We ordered the Kung Pao Chicken ($6.69 for a small portion, $8.69 for original) and really liked the flavor. It was not the best Kung Pao Chicken we have ever had, but it was good. We also liked the Ginger Broccoli Chicken, which we ordered without the sauce. It is great that you can modify dishes at Pei Wei if you are gluten-intolerant or have food allergies. Plus, there are several vegetarian options. 

The Thai Wonton Soup was not as flavorful as we would have liked, considering it contains scallions, lemongrass and Thai basil. It was also way too salty. The best part of the soup was the chicken wonton.

I ordered the Asian Chopped Chicken Salad to go, and thought the flavor and portion size were great. So, while it is not the best Chinese food I have had, I would recommend Pei Wei for a quick and enjoyable meal out. Plus, there are many healthy menu options. Let us know: do you like to order there?

Golden China Buffet: Decent Food, Great Prices!

I never expect to get the best Chinese food of my life when I visit a Chinese buffet. But I do know that I will have a chance to try a wide array of apps, entrees, and desserts for a great price. Instead of ordering take-out, next time I would suggest having a night out at Golden China Buffet. We recently visited the company's Lake Mary location for dinner. 

I was surprised and impressed by the variety offered at this fairly small restaurant, but was most happy with the prices. $10.95 for all you can eat dinner for adults and $3.99 for kids? Perfect for families!

We wanted to try everything, but settled on a few options including the traditional fried rice (very good!), sushi (pretty yummy!), and Shrimp with Onions and Bell peppers, which was also very tasty. Our crab rangoon was just okay, but I wouldn't expect this restaurant to have the best crab rangoon ever; that distinction goes to Imperial Dynasty in Longwood. The French fries were actually pretty good, as well as the pigs in a blanket-style hot dogs for kids.

Because I have food allergies, my favorite offering at this location is the made-to-order Hibachi grill. You can choose rice, rice noodles, or Soba noodles along with pork, shrimp, or chicken. Then you can choose from a wide variety of veggies. Give your plate to the chef and he will grill a fresh meal in front of you. This is a great way for people on special diets - including vegan or vegetarian - to eat out with friends.

Have you tried Golden China Buffet? If so, I want to hear from you. Please leave your comments below!

Where: 4225 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary, Fla.

Check Out Cheesecake Factory's New Food - and Classic Favorites

While The Cheesecake Factory has been around for awhile, I was reminded of how deep and varied the menu is, as well as the many new items the restaurant chain has added, on a recent visit to its Winter Park, Fla., location.

You can basically order any type of food you can conceive of - any time of day. This includes omelettes, Chinese food, pasta, salads, desserts, and entrees centered around vegetables, beef, chicken, or seafood. I always get my favorite appetizer - the Avocado Egg Rolls. This is the yummiest gooey-ness I can imagine: they take my favorite fruit, season it, and deep fry it in egg roll wrappers. On my recent visit, I also ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad, which comes with rice noodles, green onions, wontons, oranges and a plum dressing. I appreciated the fact that every single ingredient in the salad was very fresh.

I was also impressed at the price of the salads - around $10 to $12 each. Perusing the menu, I realized that people on a budget can really eat at Cheesecake. There are so many small plates and appetizers, along with soup & salad or sandwich & salad specials. Of course, the price of each slice of cheesecake - around $6 - is totally worth it. My favorite flavor so far is Adam's Peanut Butter Cup. What is yours?

New Shrimp Creole

On my next visit, I am excited to try more of the food on Cheesecake's new Winter Menu and its SkinnyLicious menu. New food items at its Winter Park location include: Shrimp Creole, Skinnylicious Chicken Enchiladas, Island Grilled Chicken, Shrimp and Grits, Shrimp Toast Lollipops, Over the Top Meatloaf Sandwich, and Nutty Chocolate Marshmallow Shake.

Hawkers Sports Cheap, Tasty Asian Food

Only open a few months, Hawkers Asian Street Fare is delighting the downtown Orlando restaurant-going crowd with something different. Hawkers, 1103 North Mills Ave., is named after street vendors throughout Asia who “hawk” their hand-made wares. Essentially, you are eating delicious Asian street food in appetizer-sized portions, priced much cheaper than entrees at most restaurants around town. You can order two small plates and unique beers and wines for $3 to $5 for a total bill of $15 to $20 each.

Among our favorite dishes at this fun, casual spot are:  Char Kway Teo (Malaysian stir-fried noodles with shrimp, chicken and scallions), pot stickers, and Hawkers Five Spice Fish Tacos.

However, if you are expecting great service and the best Asian food you have ever had, don’t hold your breath. Hawkers is still working out its serving and communication kinks. I had a bad experience trying to order entrees without certain ingredients I am allergic to. It was impossible for Hawkers to alter recipes or get the order correct.

Still, I believe that Hawkers provides something new to the city, and will be around for a long time.