Chains We Really Need In Orlando

[spenser1058]

What chains do you find yourself living without here in the Home of Chains?

I’d really like a Wegmans, an LLBean and a Biscuitville. Sadly, no sign so far of any of them? 

https://amp.usatoday.com/amp/1442985001

From USA Today 

[dcluley98]

In-n-Out Burger

Acme Oyster House

 

[spenser1058]

Just now, dcluley98 said:

In-n-Out Burger

Acme Oyster House

 

Mmmm oysters. Not a fan of Orlando’s diviest dive, Lee & Rick’s?

While we’re on seafood, I wish Ted Peters’ from over in St. Pete would open a second place over here with smoked fish.

Norwood’s in NSB used to do it but then they got high-falutin’ and I’ve been jonesing for some smoked mullet ever since.

 

[dcluley98]

Lee and Rick's is Okay. Best Oysters I have had in town are at Luke's.  There was a little place in NQ called Two Chefs that was good while it lasted. 

Also, smoked mullet is so Florida.  It is just one of those things that other people don't get.  

One of the best "dives" from my home-town area that is worth a visit:  https://www.starfishcompany.com/starfishcompany/index.html

(definitely not a chain)

Cortez Kitchen is famous too. 

[spenser1058]

7 minutes ago, dcluley98 said:

Lee and Rick's is Okay. Best Oysters I have had in town are at Luke's.  There was a little place in NQ called Two Chef's that was good while it lasted. 

Also, smoked mullet is so Florida.  It is just one of those things that other people don't get.  

One of the best "dives" from my home-town area that is worth a visit:  https://www.starfishcompany.com/starfishcompany/index.html

(definitely not a chain)

Cortez Kitchen is famous too. 

Road Trip!

[jgardnerucf]

Boathouse downtown disney oysters happy hour at sunset. Scrumptious.

[nite owℓ]

We gave Canada 7-eleven so it's only fair they give us a few Tim Hortons lol

[dcluley98]

I was gonna say Tim Horton's too, eh? So much better than Starbucks.

[aent]

On 6/14/2019 at 11:53 AM, dcluley98 said:

In-n-Out Burger

Acme Oyster House

 

I'm super surprised they haven't expanded further. Itsv definitely the chain I've heard the most of people saying they want in Orlando

[HankStrong]

On ‎6‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 10:17 PM, nite owℓ said:

We gave Canada 7-eleven so it's only fair they give us a few Tim Hortons lol

There are plenty of Tim Hortons in the US, just up North.

[spenser1058]

3 minutes ago, HankStrong said:

There are plenty of Tim Hortons in the US, just up North.

Tim Hortons is now owned by the same evil conglomerate that owns Burger King.

[nite owℓ]

42 minutes ago, HankStrong said:

There are plenty of Tim Hortons in the US, just up North.

Yeah I saw there's a Timmies in Tampa as well, but we still don't have any in Orlando...

[AndyPok1]

Whataburger

Raisin Canes

Taco Bueno

Jack in the Box

[spenser1058]

1 minute ago, AndyPok1 said:

Whataburger

Raisin Canes

Taco Bueno

Jack in the Box

We had Whataburger once upon a time but it was one of those weird deals like Aldi and Trader Joe’s that are sort of related but sort of not to the ones in Texas. The ones we had were forgettable.

We also had Jack In the Box in the ‘70’s. At the time they were owned by Ralston Purina and seeing the little Checkerboard Square logo on the bottom of the fry boxes was a little scary. Again, I’m told the ones out west are much better than what we got.

[HankStrong]

I'll second Taco Bueno and add some more tacos:

• Taco John's
• Taco Mayo
• Taco Cabana

I haven't been to one, but Zantigo's exists again.  I loved some Zantigo's back in the day.

 

I want Orlando to one day become the taco capitol of the world.

[AndyPok1]

5 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

We had Whataburger once upon a time but it was one of those weird deals like Aldi and Trader Joe’s that are sort of related but sort of not to the ones in Texas. The ones we had were forgettable.

Oh I'm aware.  When I was an intern I would stop on my way to/from the airport.    Late night breakfast taquitos?!  Yesss

[sunshine]

TopShop, Club Monaco, Espirit, Crate and Barrel, Room and Board, Lidl, Netto, Legal Seafood.

[HankStrong]

7 minutes ago, sunshine said:

Crate and Barrel, Lidl

Lidl, absolutely.

I don't know any of the rest of your list.

Crate & Barrel has come and gone like 3x in the past 20 years.  It obviously doesn't work here.  Twice in Mall at Millenia and once somewhere in WP.

[Jernigan]

Wouldn’t mind more Huey Magoos (only one technically in Orlando is near Millenia), a Corner Bakery or similar to put some pressure on Panera to at least try to be average, and I could go for some LaSpadas (the South Florida variety) and Big Daddy Flanagan’s.

[jgardnerucf]

Isn't McAlisters the answer to boring panera?

[spenser1058]

Here’s a blast from the past: The NY Times posts a video about the rise and fall of H. Salt Fish & Chips.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a big fan of fast-food seafood. There was an H. Salt at Pine Hills Rd. and Silver Star growing up - it was my first shot at fish and chips.

I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time but the batter was lighter than places like Arthur Treacher’s or, later, LJS and Captain D’s. What I was wild about was the chips, which were made from scratch in the store instead of being frozen. Just Wow.

At the time, I didn’t much like the fact they had no tartar sauce for the fish so I cajoled mom to go to Treacher’s up by the Kmart on W. Colonial.

It was moot, though, as shortly after KFC bought the chain, started taking shortcuts and, before long, it succumbed.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/opinion/haddon-salt.html

[mdeancherry]

Crate & Barrel is no more? Shows how often I go to the mall. 

I liked the Whataburger in Tallahassee long ago. Caveat, drinking was typically involved before eating there though. 

 

[orlandoguy]

Crate & Barrel is no more? Shows how often I go to the mall. 
I liked the Whataburger in Tallahassee long ago. Caveat, drinking was typically involved before eating there though. 
 

The Millenia C&B closed roughly a year ago. Apparently Millenia didn’t renew their lease. Hermès opened in that space in the last several months. Now the closest C&B is Tampa.

[JFW657]

I'd like to see a return of Del Taco.

There are a couple, but I'd like to see a few more.

[jgardnerucf]

Bring back Taco Tico!