Thursday, December 30, 2010

Julians Dining Room and Lounge: Delicious food unexplainably let down

Cold and wintry, Jullians was only open in the Zebra Room Lounge this December. With seating capacity of 6 tables, it was directly adjacent to the bar festered with rowdy rednecks with blown-up egos. I was within an earshot of their whiskey-laden machismo-convo for my entire dining experience. And the waiter’s service was NOT helping…

But the menu definitely was. Refined and simple- a sign that Jullian’s has seen many, many moons. It still carried choices of salads, burgers, pastas, and seafood items. The price points for martinis (on the first page) were astounding- $5.95 for anything from a signature Jullian’s martini to a key-lime concoction that was very tempting. But with other plans ahead, I delved right into main course- Chicken Marsala ($16.95), Jullian’s Classic Roast Beef dip ($8.95), and sides of garlic mashed potatoes ($3.50) and (for piquing my curiosity) a Gorgonzola cheese sauce ($3.50). To round things off, a savory-sweet Pumpkin cheesecake ($5.95) was ordered at the end.

My malady started when service became spotty- failure to replenish water (he had just 2 tables to attend), a fork for dessert, or a plastic bag for the carry-out. His saving grace was that he was personable and well-mannered. The food was surprisingly good and showcased the tenure of whoever was cooking it in the kitchen. The Marsala had a great range of earthy flavors that the button mushrooms just catapulted out of the ballpark. The chicken was moist and was cooked to perfection. Another notable feature was the humble looking cheese sauce served in a small side bowl. It was so flavorful and rich that I ended up using it as a versatile garnish on both the entrées. CALLING ALL CHEESE LOVERS! I highly recommend this one. The roast beef dip was nothing extraordinary, unfortunately. It needed something extra to really call it one of the restaurants signature dish. What was a toss-up was how scalding hot the mashed (actually, creamed) potatoes were. I liked them that way- better than served cold, right?

As dessert arrived, I realized that this place really needed to focus on ambiance and service- the food just happens to be half the equation of a dining experience. Exhibit A- Stonewood, a chain restaurant directly adjacent, had a completely packed parking lot. Exhibit B- I can concede that this wasn’t the main restaurant, but Steve even forgot to turn on the front sign light the evening we went.

IN A NUTSHELL: Go for the food. The ambiance and service match the tide of the ocean a block away. Chef, I am sorry that you don’t come out of the kitchen and see how well your food is being received and note how everything else could be improved.
Julian's Dining Room and Lounge on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Tomasita's: Finally, a Cuban Delight

This humble-looking spot is right beside the gaudy Red Barn Drive-thru-only Beverage Station (yes, use it as a landmark). I opened the door and found it to be a small restaurant (10 tables max) with the smell of pork undulating everywhere. While I briefly waited to be seated, I cracked open the menu and broke into a deep grin. I knew I was in for a treat.

So many choices


that were well priced. How many times do you find that these days? From ceviche ($7) to empanadas to Cuban bbq pork platter (their signature dish for $10), the menu showcased a focused-array of Cuban specialties. After much deliberation (trust me, my stomach went schizoid on making a final decision) I decided on the Pan Con Lechon ($6.95) and for an appetizer, the Tortas de Frijolles Negros ($5.95) and rounding it off with Flan ($4) for dessert.

The Tortas were okay. I’m saying this because of a skewed preconception that the Tortas would be soft and gooey on the inside. The black beans were cooked but not to a creamy slop that would’ve complemented the lake of sour cream that it sat in. The cakes were crisp on the exterior (which I loved) but the cilantro, key lime, and serrano pepper flavors that were promised on the menu description were obviously absent. If I hadn’t preconceived it, or become temporarily illiterate, this dish would have fared very well on my tongue.

On the other hand, the Pan Con Lechon ($6.95) was wonderfully done. A perfectly crusty Cuban bun hugged the moist pork. Moreover, the pork was especially loved by everyone on the table (same pork butt, served different ways, in different dishes). Comments flew back and forth about how chunky the Cuban-style bbq pork as well as being equally moist and juicy. What I particularly liked, however, was that I could SUBSTITUTE the plantain chips (which came automatically with the sandwich) for a more flavorful combination of Yucca fries with a mojo dip for NO EXTRA CHARGE!

For dessert, we opted for flan AND bread pudding ($4 each). The crowd pleaser turned out to be the bread pudding, which was more like an undercooked chocolate brownie served with a drizzle of butter! It was charmingly unexpected- a definite surprise for bread pudding lovers. Again, being the lone wolf of the group, I was all over the flan. Superior in its caramel flavor, it also had a forward orange taste that only subtly hinted at vanilla at the back palate. It was good, different, and definitely something I’ll remember of Tomasita’s.

IN A NUTSHELL: A delicious new place in Deland. Go before the lore of the good Cuban food brings throngs and a long waiting time. Different and varied choices of beef, pork, chicken, and shrimp will want you coming back for more than just a Cuban sandwich. Ask to be waited-on by Jodie to top good food off with equally good service.

Tomasita's on Urbanspoon

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