The space on Lake Eola now occupied by the curiously named Osphere – previously the home of Spice Modern and, more famously, Lake Eola Yacht Club – has one of the best patios in town, an even more covetous feature in these days of outdoor-preferred dining.

Oudom, a Thai and sushi restaurant, is the latest to take over the Graze/Prickly Pear/ Lotus/Mingos space in the Sanctuary condominium building in downtown Orlando. Five restaurants in seven years isn’t too bad, is it?

Maybe Thai will be the magic sauce for this place. Or curry. Or whatever. A restaurant in this location needs to count on frequent vists from neighbors. A menu with a lower price point can help in that regard.

Pho means beef noodle soup and that’s the specialty here. The menu is a bit daunting with over a hundred items, but take your time and choose something that intrigues you.
Vietnamese soups are full meals and you’ll have a hard time eating everything. No need to bother with appetizers, but try the red bean “pudding” for dessert.

There’s a lot to like about Pig Floyd’s, the self described Urban Barbakoa, beginning with the whimsical name. I also like what they’ve done to the place. The tiny freestanding building at 1326 N. Mills Ave. has never looked better.
And I liked most of the food I sampled, though I have to tell you that I have no idea what the speciality is here.
It was only the ribs that truly disappointed. The half slab, served on a pig-shaped cutting board, I had on my first visit had a heavily charred crust, which is not necessarily a bad thing when we’re talking about barbecue. But beneath the char the meat had turned nearly to mush.

From the owners of Osprey Tavern and Seito Sushi in Baldwin Park, this Citrus replacement makes ample use of the patio space, but the inside is just as nice. Stick with the basic Mexican offerings.

I probably hear about this restaurant from more people than any other because for many years they’ve posted a quote from me on the large sign in front of the restaurant — Thai food fit for a king, by Scott Joseph — which, to be honest are actually the words of a Sentinel copy writer who wrote the headline. Whatever, I’ve never felt compelled to quibble about the accuracy of the quote.
Terrific Thai dishes are presented with great pride by a small staff. Not an elegant restaurant but wonderful food. Try the pad Thai or the lemon fish (but only if you like it really, really hot). Have the tom kha gai soup for a starter. Most dishes are less than $12; very reasonable.

The menu does not read as French but there is classic Frenchness in its execution, as you might expect from executive chef Emmanuel Clement.

You won’t see any of the stereotypical trappings usually associated with German restaurants in America, or Germany for that matter, at Schmankerl Stub’n in Downtown Orlando. With a tagline that reads “German scratch kitchen,” it is meant to present a more modern approach to German cuisine.

The Sea in the name is an acronym for Southeast Asia, but there are also some good seafood selections among the traditional Thai dishes. Try one of the curry dishes or ask if the whole snapper is available. If not, the tilapia fillets are a good substitute.
I sampled two of the curry dishes: yellow with chicken; and a massaman with beef. I enjoyed the subtle spiciness of the yellow curry, the heat of the spices tempered by the creaminess of coconut milk. Besides the pieces of chicken, the sauce had peas, carrots, onions and big chunks of well-cooked potatoes to spoon over rice. I am in starch heaven when I can enjoy rice and potatoes in one dish.
Both were included in the massaman curry, too. And it also had a base of coconut milk, but in this one had a slight gravylike texture that coated the mouth with each bite. The pieces of beef were rather negligible but the dish was otherwise enjoyable.
Spicy basil duck was something of a floorshow in its presentation.

The quality of the food has improved, and that quality and the price charged for it are more closely aligned.

My guest and I ordered some edamame to nibble on for a starter. I ordered the Shin lunch set and my friend chose a combination of three rolls from a list of about 15 options, a pretty good deal for $15.