Now in its second decade in the address that is also its name, this Park Avenue casual restaurant recently expanded into the space next door (yes, they had permission). They also opened a second location on Central Boulevard across from Lake Eola in downtown Orlando. Oddly, that one is called 310 Lakeside, even though that is not its address. Oh, well, there’s only one Saks on Fifth Avenue, too.
The key to its longevity is something of a mystery to me, although I suspect that most of its fans like that its food, though nothing special, is reliable. I guess there’s something to be said for that. And to last more than 11 years in Central Florida, a restaurant has to be doing something right. Right?

It’s easy to spot Four Rivers when you’re driving down Fairbanks Avenue; just look for the place with the line outside. Folks are happy to queue up for this ‘cue, especially the brisket. But the pulled pork is pretty darned tasty, too. There is no indoor seating, just some picnic tables on a covered patio. But no one seems to mind.

A second location for this Mex (with a lot of Tex). The food is inventive and flavorful if not entirely authentic.

Añejo calls its food “modern Mexican,” which means it isn’t traditional Mexican. In many ways, it isn’t traditional Tex-Mex, either. And that’s just fine. The food I sampled – some familiar, some creatively different – was all good, and the surroundings were pleasant and the service amiable.

Anna’s marks a return of Polish cuisine to this location, which was the original home of Polonia. Once again the kitchen here is turning out stuffed cabbage, pierogis, kielbasas and goulash. The cabbage is especially good.

It might as well be called Another Average Breakfast Chain. Think First Watch, think Peach Valley, think the Egg & I. Someone needs to break this mold instead of an egg. Such as it is, the food is fine.

Antonella’s Pizzeria is owned by members of the LaCommare family. If the LaCommare name is familiar to you it’s probably because you knew Stefano’s Trattoria in Winter Springs when the brother and sister’s parents, Stefano and Marie, were the owners. The older LaCommare’s sold the restaurant, including the name, and so the younger family members, who all had worked at the popular trattoria for many years, decided to get their own place.

But they didn’t want a large full-service restaurant. A pizzeria that focuses more on takeout and delivery seemed manageable, so that is what Antonella’s is.

Unfortunately — for me, anyway — the delivery area only extends in a five-mile radius from the restaurant, so I made my own pizza runs to try out the pies.

A new offering from Armando Martorelli, owner of Trattoria Toscana on Park Avenue, Armando’s is a more casual Italian restaurant. Pizzas are a focus, but there are also full entrees, such as veal Milanese, and the price point is very good, with most entrees in the mid teens.
It’s a big bright space with doors and windows that open wide to the outdoors. There is plenty of seating outside, too.

It’s a beautiful restaurant but it’s deafeningly loud. Both food and service are subpar.

Bosphorus is a delightful restaurant with stylized Turkish classics.
My favorite from the list of entrees was the hunkar begendi, or sultan’s delight, a classic Ottoman dish. It featured hunks of seasoned beef sauteed with onions and tomatoes in the center of the plate surrounded by a moat of creamy-textured puree of smoked eggplant.
The etli guvec was good too. It was a meat casserole with cubes of lamb mixed with green beans, eggplant,zucchini, potatoes, okra, carrots, bell peppers and tomatoes. It all blended into a wonderful, richly seasoned stew that was served over rice.
The desserts are worth sampling. Winner of the 2007 Foodie Award for Best Middle Eastern.