Under the Sea (in Orlando, FL) - Sharks Underwater Grill

Price: Pricey
Atmosphere: 5 out of 5
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5

As this was my birthday weekend, the wife and I made plans to have lunch at a key attraction in Sea World (our park of choice this trip to Orlando). I'd read about it before, but I really had to experience it for myself. I mean, Jaws IS my favorite movie.

Where, you ask? Sharks Underwater Grill inside the Sea World park. Unfortunately they don't take phone reservations, but you can head over to the booth right at the front gate to reserve a lunch or dinner time here. So that's what we did, and I spent the day wandering through the park and anxiously awaiting 12:30pm.

Like with my Paris (Las Vegas) review, this one is primarily about the atmosphere. When you walk in, you are led down a short flight of stairs and then you see it: The entire restaurant is underwater, surrounded by a tremendous tank filled with large fish and SHARKS. Big, hungry looking, gliding monsters swimming around as you dine and stare in wonder.

It was...amazing. But ambiance aside, the food was definitely worth sinking your teeth into (pun intended). The picture above is of the Shark's Romaine Salad, which is kind of a play on your traditional Wedge.

It's a large heart of romaine, covered with crumbled gorgonzola, crisp bacon pieces, freshly diced red onion and a raspberry ranch that was just phenominal. That set the tone for the main dish, which was (in my case) a Chicken Portabello: Grilled chicken breast, juicy and flavorful, topped with portabello mushroom slices marinated in a blasamic glaze, and served with sweet potato fries.

It was a (semi) health conscious meal, and didn't bog me down, so I could get back to my thrill rides in the park. I seriously recommend dining here if you're in the Sea World park. The food is spectacular, and the view is worth dying for. Luckily, there's several feet of glass between you and the sharks, so you won't have to.

After all, it's just Da(m)n Good Food.

Sharks Underwater Grill
Sea World Theme Park
Orlando, FL
http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Dine-and-Shop/Dining/Sharks-Underwater-Grill

Under the Sea in Orlando, FL - Flipper's Pizzeria

Price: Affordable
Atmosphere: 2 out of 5
Quality of Service: 3 out of 5
Food Overall: 3 out of 5

Our first food stop on a recent trip to Orlando, Flipper's Pizzeria is no doubt a chain restaurant. I mention this because, if you share my wife's opinion, you're not real big on chain eateries. I'm not sure why; the logic has never been explained to me.

Now don't get me wrong: I'm a big fan of unique, 'there's only one of these' type places. It's kind of special, like 'This is MY place, and I found it." However, there's an appreciation I share with most Americans on the chain/franchise restaurant.

It's convienient. It's cheap. And best of all, there's usually one 5 minutes away in any direction. Now I'd never been to Flipper's before, but they are apparently popular in the Orlando area, and we were walking around Old Town killing time until we could check into the timeshare.

Pizza sounded good, as it often does when the mood strikes, so we gave it a shot. To be honest, it was a very good pizza. Was it unique? No, not particularly. Was it comparable to an Anthony's Coal Fire or Amore? Don't think so. But that being said, it was quite delicious.

We ordered a medium pie with baby bella mushrooms and 1/2 with smoked bacon. The sauce is always key in any pie, and here it didn't disappoint. It was a little sweeter than I'm used to (this happens with chains), but it did have strong notes of basil and oregano which toned down the sweet factor quite a bit.

The mushrooms were interesting, as I usually cook with them, but never see baby bellas at your everyday pizza joint (hell, not even at some of the 'stand alones'). They provided a subtle earthiness to the meal, which was a welcome change from teh norm.

The bacon was indeed as described: Smoked. You really got that bite in the pork, and it was crisped up for a great crunch in each chomp. And sitting outside enjoying the fall weather with a good pie, a great woman, and a vacation to boot? Well it doesn't get better than that, friends.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place, and I think you will be too. They offer your typical pizzeria/bar type food as well, if you're not feeling a pie: Wings, calzones, salads. Give it a try if you're out that way.

After all, it's just Da(m)n Good Food.

Flipper's Pizzeria
5770 W. Highway 192
Kissimmee, FL 34746
(407) 397-9509
http://flipperspizzeria.com/Locations/OldTownCelebration/tabid/107/Default.aspx

Under the Sea in Orlando, FL - Cap'n Jack's Restaurant

Price: Affordable
Atmosphere: 3 out of 5
Quality of Service: 4 out of 5
Food Overall: 4 out of 5

On a recent mini-vacation to Orlando, FL. my wife and I had spent all day at a themepark and by the time we left, we were starving. Chalk it up to all the rollrcoasters, shows and outdoor excitement, but we needed to feast...and soon.

We drove over to Downtown Disney, which if you've never been, is probably the coolest open air 'shopping center' in the US of A. Disney themed shops where you can buy anything from the parks without dropping the dough for admission, a Lego store that you have to see to believe, candy shops, even a resident Cirque Du Soliel.

And the restaurants. House of Blues, Bongos (Gloria Esteffan's cuban inspired joint), and this place: Cap'n Jack's on the water. It was late, and everywhere else was booked solid.The hostess was able to get us a seat at the bar, which was fine by us, and we began perusing the menu.

As it is on the water, Cap'n Jack's hosts a good amount of seafood dishes, ranging from large crabcakes to a baked tilapia filet served with a cool mango salsa. However, this night I was in the mood for some comfort food. And what's more comforting than pot roast?

Old Fashioned Beef Pot Roast, served in a bath of onion ragut, with a heaping side of red skin mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. The pot roast was fall-apart tender (of course it was; how else do you expect to eat it?), but the sauce was simply divine. You instantly get the tang from the onion, with that red wine sharpness and of course that singing slow cooked beef flavor.

The potatoes had that perfect hint of garlic to them, and were just velvetly enough to be good mashed potatoes, and not overly creamy. The green beans had that 'fresh picked' snap to them, but were cooked all the way through.

If you're ever out that way and need that warm 'only-momma's-cooking-will-do' meal, stop in on Cap'n Jack. (Note: Although it is a part of Disney World, there was no sign of Johnny Depp or affiliations with this restaurant. Yeah, I was disappointed too.)

After all, it's just Da(m)n Good Food.

Cap'n Jack's Restaurant
Downton Disney
Orlando, FL.
(407) 827-2253
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/capn-jacks-restaurant/