As I have previously posted, I love Tripadvisor and the entire concept of vacationers - guests having all questions answered to have a “plan” prior to arrival to get the most out of every travel opportunity !! However, with the Tripadvisor Forum, the reviews soon get buried by other questions and posted information. Because I think that these independent reviews are so important — I decided to post them here so they can live in and also can be easily found… and besides I appreciate the help!! This was originally posted May 12, 2008 by Ms. Bernadette Glee of the UK who has done a fabulous job with recommendations here::

Thank you Bernadette for your permission to re-post !!

Here is our review of the wings, ribs etc as promised. Didn’t get to try all of places recommended on my initial post.

But how many meals can you eat on vacation? So thanks for all your reply’s, next time we’ll try some more places.

Sonny’s BBQ pit, this was our first night in DB. We ordered 20 wings, not crispy enough - 2 types of ribs, little ones were yummy, larger ribs not as delicious, and fries - loads of food!

Hog heaven , Fabulous - half rack special, their ribs fell off the bone - I used a fork to eat these, no fingers or knife.

Hooters - probably the best wings we had, ‘naked’ with no breadcrumbs, lovely and crispy, curly fries were lovely and we even ordered another 5 wings. yum yum.

Ormand Steak house, definitely the best ribs - we split a whole rack between us, soooo delicious.

Charlie’s Horse - So many wings and they were huge!! Hubby tried a steak, his mistake, my ribs were gorgeous. Great staff, great atmosphere.

Ruby Tuesdays, last night in DB, I had steak this time, disappointed - not that nice, not sure of the cuts though. So I ordered sirloin.

Racings north turn, we had lunch in this beautiful setting - patio on the beach, not too hungry so we had a hot dog, with kraut, it was very nice too, I never eat hot dogs, so it was a treat.

Pats waterfront cafe for lunch - the biggest patty melt in the world, I only managed a couple of bites, very delicious though, on black bread, my first introduction to black bread, Rye!! Jury’s still out on that one!

The Outback, we ordered ribs, which we had to wait ages for, I didn’t get my baked potato ‘loaded’ just butter and sour cream, or the ketchup he was going to bring, never turned up.

The Olive garden - probably the worst meal of our time here. The pasta wasn’t great, Also the waiter should have given us $20.49 change, but we never saw the 49 cents, shame he would have got a bigger tip if he’d left it to us!!!

(I am actually joking, lol - he got the usual gratuity) but wouldn’t go back there, or recommend it.

Breakfast (definitely the best meal of the day IMO)

Before I start, I must say we are ‘breakfast people’ at home in the UK, and because we are fortunate enough to live by the lovely Sussex coast, there are loads of places to breakfast.

But… the eggs in the US are really fabulous, they are wonderfully ‘eggy’ and creamy. Reminds me of how eggs tasted when I was a little girl.

What is it about the way you guys do eggs, they are without doubt the best ‘easy over’ eggs in the world. The sausage is tasty, bacon leaves a lot to be desired (sorry), and the potatoes are not for us for breakfast. Far too early in the day. Well, in the beginning of our vacation anyway, but we did succumb in the end. And gritsL we did try them - a one off I’m afraid, never again.

The following only differ by a very narrow margin…

Our hotel had the best breakfast (Tropical Wind resort) it’s only got about a dozen tables but it was delicious - eggs are fantastic!

Peach valley cafe,

Another great breakfast and this time we did have ‘home fries’ We actually went here a second time, it was so good, this is our 2nd favourite.

Denny’s, Very nice, straight forward breakfast. Good service, great coffee.

Starlite diner, fantastic breakfast, great little diner, got very busy as we were leaving at 8:45am.

IHop, disgusting breakfast - it was dirty and there were hair like things on my toast, yuk yuk!

Bob Evans - another fantastic breakfast, very clean, great service.

I’m now a vegetarian;-) lol

That’s all folks!

Thanks Bernadette !! I could not have said it better myself !!

Daytona Beach Travel Info - Tripadvisor

Tripadvisor is a great way to get your questions answered while planning your Daytona Beach vacation.

There are hotel reviews and trip photos, and the best little travel game that will keep you busy for hours and hours…

http://www.tripadvisor.com/TIQGame

It comes recommended from me (Travel Score :: 132..!!)

I also highly recommend the Daytona Beach travel forum. There are 10+ people that regularly answer any and all traveler questions related to Daytona Beach and surrounding area. At any given time the questions will range from best Sunday brunch locations to the best places for wings to the best locations to stay and visit.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g34172-i128-Daytona_Beach_Florida.html

I am a regular contributor there–and I look forward to hearing from you there !!

Originally Published in ::

Yes, this is one of my favorite on-line columns and I pay close attention to this from home , as I am always on the lookout for a new and exciting place to hang out….. to catch this column yourself, I whole heartedly recommend

http://www.news-journalonline.com for Daytona Beach News and current events.

May 14th, 2008

Food revved up at new biker venue Destination Daytona Houligan’s

LUNCH BUNCH

Two can eat out for less than $20A massive new $3 million pub — with 20 10-foot screens, 10 52-inch plasma TVs and a dozen 32-inch wide-screen HDTVs, even in the bathrooms — doesn’t diminish the hometown flavor locals have come to know from Houligan’s A Spirited Sports Grille in Ormond Beach. The original pub still sits at the corner of Clyde Morris and West Granada boulevards, but Tim Curtis recently opened a second Houligan’s at Destination Daytona on U.S. 1 north of Interstate 95. And as staff writer Audrey Parente tells us, lunch at the new location on a recent Saturday with her buddy Laurence Bennett was worth bullying through the biker traffic.

Q. How did the place look?
The massive main dining room is thunderous with all those skyscraping screens, tuned mostly to major sports. But there’s plenty of elbowroom and a bustling bar.

Q. What about the
atmosphere?
I bet it’d be loud and boisterous during football season or game nights, but the noise level was moderate when we were there. Helpful, friendly wait staff included servers and runners who knew as much about the food and operation as our

order taker.
Q. What was on the menu?
From wings, ribs, nachos and cheesy garlic bread to fresh veggies and fried zucchini, the appetizers are traditional pub food at Houligan’s. The burgers, sandwiches and dinner platters range from bacon and Swiss and mushroom and provolone to “BBQ and Hawaiian chicken.”

Q. What entrees did you
order?
Bennett chose the fried grouper sandwich platter — after our server made a trip back to the kitchen to assure us the grouper was not a substitute fish. I had to have the Wally Wings, because my son David used to bring them home during high school, when he was the cook at the original Houligan’s. Problem was choosing a flavor and hotness degree, so the server returned with several sauces.

Q. So how was it?
Bennett said the grouper was juicy, and the wings were delightful, especially with the garlic teriyaki sauce. The wings were as good as I remembered. Bennett helped me finish the last celery stalks and blue cheese.

Q. What was the total?
Wally Wings, $7.75; grouper sandwich, $7.95; iced tea, $1.85, totaling $18.70 with tax. A $4 tip brought the total tab to $22.70.

WHERE: 1643 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach
ACCESSIBILITY: There is ample parking and wheelchair accessibility.
HOURS: Open at 11 a.m. daily; closes at 10:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. Sunday

MISCELLANEOUS: Cash or major credit cards accepted.
PHONE: (386) 671-2285
News-Journal

Thank you News Journal !!

I feel like I just got a day off !!~

Today is my daughter’s 25th birthday…

Happy Birthday Baby — I am soooo proud of you !!! (I feel old…)

Love,

Mom

Early Days in Daytona Beach, Florida - How a City was Founded — Part II

The story of Mattias Day continued….

“Day and two companions spent several days looking around the Halifax Country, cruising up and down both sides of the river. In his diary, Day noted there were ‘10 million fleas to the square yard.’ He took a before-breakfast dip in the ocean and shouted upon the waves, ‘Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll.’
“Then he came upon the little Tomoka settlement and saw what he wanted - an old sugar and orange plantation now abandoned and covered with second growth timber. This was the Spanish Crown’s royal grant to Samuel Williams in 1790. Williams had settled it in 1800, developed it by 1812 with slave labor, dug canals and built a manor house on the river near where Loomis Avenue is now.”
“The land - 3,000 acres - descended to his son, Samuel Hill Williams, who, in 1835, hid behind a palmetto tree and watched the Seminoles destroy his home and the plantation, then at night swam the river and escaped to St. Augustine.

“Day bought 2,142 acres of this grant from Samuel H. Williams and his daughter, Christina Relf, of St. Augustine. The story is he put $1,200 down and gave a mortgage of $800. Then he went back to Mansfield, Ohio, assembled men and machinery to start a colony, and returned to Florida. In his party were his cousin, Calvin Day, and two men named Webber and Skelton, who brought along sawmill machinery.
“The sawmill was set up on Beach Street, near where Cedar Street is now, and the cutting of building lumber began.
“As his first colonizing step, Day began construction on the ‘Colony House’ - a roomy hotel on Beach Street, near the street later named ‘Loomis’ for his son. The building’s name stated its purpose: to house newcomers until they could build their own homes.
“The schooner from Jacksonville failed to bring roofing shingles on time, so a thatched roof made from palmetto fronds was put on the building. Thereafter, until it burned in 1922, ‘Colony House’ was known as the ‘Palmetto House.’”
“By the end of 1871, Mathias Day’s aims were known. They were taking shape under an engineer’s surveying chain as well as in the big lodging house (The Palmetto House) where many of the colonists lived.
“He had come to build a town - a city. Whatever plans he may have had for orange groves and sugar cane plantings were to come later.
“Engineers were engaged- J.H. Fowler and then Romanus Hodgman, whose name still sticks to deeds and plats - to lay the lines of a dream town, later to be a dream city.
“Day laid out Ridgewood Avenue - wide, with broad parkways where great live oaks spread their mighty limbs, and palm trees shot up toward the sun. He laid out the streets that now lie near the middle of the mainland part of the city.
“He platted large lots. He had in mind a spacious city where there would be ample room for houses, trees, shrubbery and gardens in which to enjoy the sun in the winter and the breeze in the summer.
“Meanwhile, another large tract was under settlement - on the Mrs. Frances Kerr grant north of the Williams grant. Alfred Johnson of New Jersey had settled on 1,800 acres of this land in 1868. Johnson and James Sawyer had bought it from Oliver Swift, whose father Elijah had owned it and cut the live oak from it to ship north.
“Johnson’s home was on Beach Street, near where First Avenue now is. Here with him also lived his son-in-law, Dr. George E. Coleman, one of the two doctors in the settlement.”

And here’s where Marian Tomblin interjects a note. The dates Mr. Booth has referenced are immediately after the end of our country’s bloody Civil War. Many people moved to Florida willing to endure life in this wilderness in order to achieve a fresh start for their families. “Live Oaker,” Oliver Swift, probably sold his acreage to Mssrs. Johnson and Sawyer because the market for that lumber (primarily for the building of warships) bottomed out after peace was declared.

Day trip: The (new) Palmetto Club at 1000 S. Beach St. has some wonderful pictures on its wall showing the original building. Call (386) 253-6163 and ask for a convenient time to see them.

For more information on Mrs. Tomblin’s books or to have her speak at your next meeting, contact her at www.MarianSTomblin.com or at (386) 615-0493.
Copies of Mrs. Tomblin’s books and others of local interest can be purchased at The Book Store and So Much More!, 410 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach; (386) 615-8320.

Remember, you can’t put a price on a Good Time!!

Renata

“Early Days in Daytona Beach, Florida - How a City was Founded,” Part 1

This article is compliments of Mrs. Marian Tomblin. I was doing some research on Daytona Beach’s founding father Mathias Day and was stumbled upon this story and my new favorite local writer in Daytona Beach.

“Early Days in Daytona Beach, Florida - How a City was Founded,” written in 1951 by Fred Booth to commemorate the city’s (then) 75th anniversary, takes us back to the beginning.
“Seventy five years ago today (1876), Daytona became a town. Early in the afternoon, the chief men of the settlement gathered at an appointed place on the Halifax River shore. They trudged down the sandy trail they called Beach Street, along lanes and paths under the shadowing live oaks and tall palmettos.
“In twos and threes, talking, smoking, sweating, batting at mosquitoes and complaining against the blazing sun, they came together at William Jackson’s little store.
“They were a handful of men in a wilderness. There were some 70 souls in the little settlement of about 20 houses. Only water and sand trails let to the outside world.
“Earlier that summer - once on June 14 and again a week later - these men had met, and after long talks, they had voted to ‘take steps’ toward incorporating.”
Then public notices were posted in three places asking all qualified voters to meet at William Jackson’s store “On Wednesday, the 26th of July at 2 o’clock p.m. to determine whether we shall incorporate said town and, if so, to determine the name and seal of said incorporation and its metes and bounds and also to select officers and organize a municipal government.”
“So this was the day. There was little doubt what the settlement’s name would be. Once it had been Tomoka -a pretty name.
“Then came another man from the north, whence had come many of these settlers. His name - Matthias Day. His home was Mansfield, Ohio. He had made his living selling sugar mill machinery and farm implements.
But he was a man of imagination. He sought new ventures. He wanted to do something big. He wanted to come to Florida and help resettle and rebuild this once magical land of sunshine and flowers, oranges, indigo, sugar cane and rice - once the land of vast plantations and great living
Mathias Day was a man of imagination. He sought new ventures. He wanted to do something big. He wanted to come to Florida and help resettle and help rebuild this once magic land of sunshine and flowers, oranges, indigo, sugar cane and rice - once the land of vast plantations and great living.
“He knew Florida’s story. How colonies and great plantings had risen and then decayed under the rule of Spain and Britain and the War for Independence. How they had grown great again after the U.S. flag was unfurled over Florida in 1821, then again had been ruined by the Seminole Indian War of 1835 and the great freeze that year. How, after that, the War of Secession had repeated the devastation of earlier times.
“Mathias Day knew Florida was starting all over again, and he wanted to start all over again with it.
“So, in 1870, he came to Jacksonville. There he met Dr. John M. Hawks, founder of Hawks Park, which is now Edgewater. Hawks easily persuaded Day to come down the coast with him on the schooner ‘Rover,’ a six-ton vessel captained by Simmons Bennett.
“Day and two companions spent several days looking around the Halifax Country, cruising up and down both sides of the river. In his diary, Day noted there were ‘10 million fleas to the square yard.’ He took a before-breakfast dip in the ocean and shouted upon the waves, ‘Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll.’
“Then he came upon the little Tomoka settlement and saw what he wanted - an old sugar and orange plantation now abandoned and covered with second growth timber. This was the Spanish Crown’s royal grant to Samuel Williams in 1790. Williams had settled it in 1800, developed it by 1812 with slave labor, dug canals and built a manor house on the river near where Loomis Avenue is now.”
“The land - 3,000 acres - descended to his son, Samuel Hill Williams, who, in 1835, hid behind a palmetto tree and watched the Seminoles destroy his home and the plantation, then at night swam the river and escaped to St. Augustine.

For more information on Mrs. Tomblin’s books or to have her speak at your next meeting, contact her at www.MarianSTomblin.com or at (386) 615-0493.
Copies of Mrs. Tomblin’s books and others of local interest can be purchased at The Book Store and So Much More!, 410 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach; (386) 615-8320.

Marian Tomblin

People you should know in Daytona Beach, Florida

While researching Daytona Beach Florida history, I came across a most fascinating lady!!

Marian Tomblin is one of the most gracious of women. She is warm, wonderful and a great writer. Once I found her stories I had to continue reading until I read them all!!

She has truly unearthed some great reads, and she has been gracious enough to give permission for me to share them with you!!

She is a frequent contributor to::

http://www.myhometownnews.net/ which I find to be a “lighter” version of the Daytona Beach Journal News.

She is also a published author with the following titles to her credit:

* “The Mystery at Hotel Ormond,”
* “Where’s Capone’s Cash?”
* “Manatee Moon,”
* “Bull on the Beach!”

“Bull on the Beach” is her latest book, and is a compilation of historical anecdotes discovered while researching her novels. All of her works have been selected for community-wide literacy campaigns.
Marian’s works can be found at the book store below. I recommend this store if you are looking for a great book to enjoy while you are working on your tan !!

The Book Store and So Much More!, 410 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach; (386) 615-8320.

For more information on Mrs. Tomblin’s books or to have her speak at your next meeting, contact her at www.MarianSTomblin.com or at (386) 615-0493.

Originally Published in ::

Yes, this is one of my favorite on-line columns and I pay close attention to this from home , as I am always on the lookout for a new and exciting place to hang out….. to catch this column yourself, I whole heartedly recommend

http://www.news-journalonline.com for Daytona Beach News and current events.

Sushi pops in peaceful setting
Raku Sushi & Asian Cuisine is tucked inside the Riverwood Shopping Center on Nova Road in Port Orange between a frame shop and the future Goodwill thrift store. The atmosphere is relaxed, casual and friendly. Recently, Daytona Beach News-Journal Staff Writer Victoria Aldrich and friend Mike Ramsey shared dinner there.

Q. Describe the place.
This quietly elegant restaurant serves Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese dishes with a New York flair on a Daytona Beach budget. It blends low lighting, dark wooden furniture and softly piped modern music without the usual garish decorations.

Q. What’s on the menu?
A full selection of sushi, sashimi and all sorts of chicken, beef, pork and fish appetizers including gyoza (dumplings ), tempura and Japanese fried rice. The lunch menu includes bento boxes, chicken sandwiches and pad thai dishes. Drinks include an assortment of hot and cold teas, regular and French press coffees, sake and saketinis. Dinner is a selection of pad thai dishes, chicken, steak and fish recipes served with vegetables and jasmine rice.

Q. How was it?
I was intrigued when owners The and Anne Nguyen opened this restaurant because several restaurants had gone out of business there. We waited for several months to visit Raku, and it was worth every minute.
The hostess immediately seated us in a booth near a small waterfall. We marveled at the simple decor, which proves the virtues of microplanning and good taste.
Every detail is attractive and understated, from the swirls of color above the ceiling light fixtures to the white square dishes and the booths, which are just tall enough to muffle outside conversation. Even the tiny red sake menus on each table perfectly complement the colorful food.
The sushi chef works in front of patrons in an immaculate, eye-catching bubble-shaped booth that made me feel more as if we were in Tokyo than a Florida strip mall.
Our server, Jinky, was cheerful but didn’t hover over us, letting us eat in peace.
The food was meticulously prepared. We started with a miso soup with scallions, tofu and seaweed ($2) that was the thickest and tastiest I’ve ever eaten. The green iced tea ($2) was delicious.
Though we are both small eaters, we splurged on a huge Thai beef salad ($8) with carrots, greens, a sweet basil aioli sauce and a delicately flavored mayonnaise-based dressing that perfectly complemented the tender meat.
For dinner, Mike thoroughly enjoyed his chicken udon bowl with baby bok choy, carrots and bean sprouts ($10). It was big enough for three people. Luckily, he was man enough for the task.
I ordered the green curry chicken with rice and the aptly named snake beans ($13). The tender chunks tasted like coconut and spice, and it easily was one of the best meals I have ever eaten.
For dessert, we split a delicious Vietnamese bananas Foster that paired a dollop of vanilla ice cream with spiced bananas fried in pastries ($4). It was an innovative end to a perfect meal.

Q. Cost?
$45.80 plus tip.

Raku Sushi & Asian Cuisine
WHERE: 4001 S. Nova Road, Port Orange
ACCESSIBILITY: Ample parking is available in front. The restaurant is handicapped-accessible.
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
MISCELLANEOUS: Lunch includes bento boxes, chicken sandwiches, fish and pad thai, $6 to $11. A dinner menu features varied Asian cuisine, $9 to $22. A wide variety of sushi and sashimi is served. Take-out available; cash or major credit cards accepted
PHONE: (386) 788-4150

Thank you News Journal !!

I feel like I just got a day off !!~

Originally Published in ::

Yes, this is one of my favorite on-line columns and I pay close attention to this from home , as I am always on the lookout for a new and exciting place to hang out….. to catch this column yourself, I whole heartedly recommend

http://www.news-journalonline.com for Daytona Beach News and current events.

May 07, 2008

http://www.fishcitygrill.com

Chalkboard specials reel them in
Kathy Page, Accent’s editorial assistant, enjoyed dinner on a recent Sunday evening with her husband, Robert, and their 15-year-old son, Jimmy, at Fish City Grill.

Q. What type of place is Fish City Grill?
It’s part of a chain that originated in Dallas under another name. The atmosphere is casual, with brick walls, dark wood and colorful prints and lighting. Black-and-white photos of fishermen decorate the walls.

Q. Did you have to wait long to be seated?
No, we were seated right away with our choice of a booth or table. We chose a booth in the back room. Amanda, our server, explained the specials on the chalkboard feature the catches of the day. Five to six different fresh fish and shellfish items are offered, and they change twice daily for lunch and dinner.

Q. What kind of appetizer
did you order?
We decided on the coconut shrimp. Five jumbo shrimp were served with Thai chili dipping sauce. We all love squid, so we had to try the crispy calamari. It was served with olive aioli and Thai chili sauce. Both were delicious and priced at $6.99 each. Robert also sampled a bowl of gumbo ($5.29), loaded with shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage and okra. It had good flavor, but he added a shot of hot sauce to kick it up a notch.

Q. And what were your
entrees?
Each of us ordered a chalkboard special. I decided on the sauteed grouper and shrimp marinara with cheese tortellini ($13.99). Robert had the seared salmon with cashew-honey butter ($14.99). It was served with freshly cooked squash and zucchini with rice. Jimmy chose the barbecue-grilled corvina (a mild, flaky, white fish similar to mahi-mahi), with andouille mashed potatoes and green beans ($18.99). We were all very happy with our selections. I was the only one who had any left to take home to enjoy the next day.

Q. What else is on the
menu?
There are several Cajun steamer platters and “Fish City favorites” like the shrimp basket for $6.99. Oyster, crab cake, catfish and shrimp dinners range from $8.99 to $12.99. “Things that don’t swim” include Cajun chicken pasta ($10.79), red beans and rice ($3.99 cup), grilled or blackened chicken breast dinner ($8.99), chipotle chicken ($9.99) and Hugo’s Louisiana pot roast ($8.59). There are also salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, a kids’ menu and a burger.

Q. Was there room for dessert?
We chose the chocolate lava cake and added a hot apple crisp, also served a la mode with vanilla ice cream ($4.49). Amanda brought us three spoons and we savored every bite.

Q. How was the service?
Their motto is “Friendly folks. Serious seafood,” and it showed with friendly service from an energetic staff.
Q. Would you dine there again?
Anytime.
Q. What was the total?
$83.62 for the three of us, plus tip.
Fish City Grill
WHERE: 348 N. Nova Road, (The Trails Shopping Center, behind Coldwater Creek), Ormond Beach
ACCESSIBILITY: There is plenty of close parking; handicapped accessible
HOURS: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
MISCELLANEOUS: Major credit cards accepted, full bar and wine list, including frozen margaritas, take-out available, outdoor seating

PHONE: 386-677-8484

News-Journal

Thank you News Journal !!

I feel like I just got a day off !!~

Originally Published in ::

Yes, this is one of my favorite on-line columns and I pay close attention to this from home , as I am always on the lookout for a new and exciting place to hang out….. to catch this column yourself, I whole heartedly recommend

http://www.news-journalonline.com for Daytona Beach News and current events.

Island taste takes hold in Daytona
News-Journal editorial assistant Susan Irwin recently dined with friend David Bethea at the Taste of the Tropics Seafood & Grill in Daytona Beach.

Q. How did it look?
The tropical neon sign and spacious-looking A-frame building led me to imagine I was going to walk into a lush subtropical island. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, and it reminded me of an IHOP. It wasn’t the atmosphere we were after, though, but the delicious taste of island food. Anyhow, the restaurant was very clean, as were the restrooms, and that’s a good sign in my book. It’s been in business almost eight months.

Q. What time and day of the week did you visit?
We picked a Monday and arrived at about 7 p.m. Beforehand, a coworker who is from Trinidad and Tobago told me the food was very authentic and homemade.

Q. How easy or difficult would it be to negotiate the restaurant in a wheelchair?
The parking lot, with ample parking for all, has handicapped slots situated on both sides of the front doors. The doorways are adequate to accommodate a wheelchair. The bathrooms also seem to be spacious and equipped for anyone’s needs.

Q. How long did you have to wait before you were seated?
We walked in the front door, and a man (later we found out he’s the manager) motioned us to tables to our left. Dinner seemed a bit quiet, and we found out later the restaurant is thriving on its lunch crowd with high hopes for the dinner crowd.

Q. How long before you were served?
The manager, serving as waiter, took drink orders and we started checking out the menu. David wanted to wait for him to explain the foods that were foreign to us, which turned out to be the best notion. Most of the foods, such as chicken, king fish, snapper, roast beef, pork chops and T-bone and sirloin steaks, also are served in American restaurants. It’s how they are prepared that is so different.
Two unfamiliar meats were goat and oxtail.

Q. What kind of appetizer did you order?
After talking the manager’s ear off, we decided to try the Caribbean pattie ($1.50). He compared it to a Mexican empanada, and it is pastry dough filled with a choice of ground meat, chicken or veggies with spices, then baked. We also tried and enjoyed coco bread ($1.50), a somewhat sweet and very soft bread.

Q. What kind of entrees did you order?
I ordered the small curried goat dinner ($7.25), which comes with red beans and rice and another side; I chose a fresh and tasty garden salad. I liked the goat brown stewed — similar to American beef stew — and, no, it didn’t taste like chicken, but instead a cross between lamb and beef. You have to be very careful eating this dish as it has a lot of bones. David chose the small portion of curried shrimp dinner ($9.45) and mashed potatoes — which we both agreed were delicious and were truly homemade, not from a box — and macaroni salad.

Q. What did you order to drink?
We had draft beer and a glass of pinot grigio. They also offer other wines and regional specilaties like Irish moss (Magnum), Nutrament, carrot juice, sorrel and ginger root and the usual sodas and coffee. Happy hour is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; draft beer is buy one, get one free, and wine is buy one, get one half-price.

Q. How were the desserts?
Four desserts are offered: Jamaican fruitcake, carrot cake sweet potato pie and sweet potato pudding, but the pudding ($3.50) was the only one available that night. We both ordered it, and it was very tasty.

Q. What was your total?
With tax, $36.59, plus $9 and change for our drinks, plus a $10 tip.

Taste of the Tropics
WHERE: 933 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday. Lunch specials are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MISCELLANEOUS: Cash or major credit cards accepted; no checks
PHONE: (386) 254-7556

News-Journal

Thank you News Journal !!

I feel like I just got a day off !!~