Restaurants near Forest City

“Papa Llama, 2840 Curry Ford Road, Orlando- 4-Stars Michelin Recommended- Bib Gourmand! Peruvian immigrants, Kevin and Maria Ruiz, say they founded Papa Llama in 2016 as an experimental pop up and opened the doors of this location in August 2020. In 2022, they earned the Michelin Guide's coveted "Bib Gourmand" award for establishments that serve good food at reasonable prices so naturally, I got excited. Paulina, my server, was well prepared and knowledgeable, making for an auspicious beginning in a gorgeous environment featuring good prices for dishes that could be made to satisfy both carnivores and herbivores alike. I ordered the entire family style menu which was, according to Papa Llama, "designed to be tasted together, shared, and fought over." So much food for just over a hundred dollars. The prices may have been cheap but the taste and quality of (most) victuals valieron un Perú! A hearty Big Boy Thank You (Sulpayki!) to Kevin and Maria and the culinary dactylograms of their ancestors, on this amazing cuisine (Somaq Mihuna!). The first item on the menu was Olives--whole green Castelvetrano olives marinated in house with aji panca--which were so delectable I could eat them all day. Next, the Red + Gold Beets, a minty beet salad with honey ají amarillo vinaigrette, queso fresco, and candied pistachio, which started out smooth and creamy and ended with a pleasantly piquant bite. Papas a la Huancaína followed, a fingerling potato dish with spicy aji amarillo cream, wakatay (black mint) salsa verde, and beef chicharron, topped with a fried egg. The potatoes themselves were not the star, but the combination of flavors in the sauce were amazing, unctuous but smooth. Papa Llama carries a long list of natural wines, more wines than food items, actually. That evening, I chose the Yuzu Sake, and may I say, "Holy smokes!" How refreshing after consuming so many peppers. The rest of the dishes I would give 4.5 to 5-Stars, EXCEPT for the side of frozen Sysco French fries which almost ruined an otherwise stellar meal. There are over 300 kinds of potatoes in Peru. Over 300! Perhaps in the United States we don't have the same abundance as found in El Valle Sagrado (the Sacred Valley) but, por favor, do not stoop to this! The Big Boy says, "Eat here. All the authentic Peruvian flavors at Papa Llama are 5-Star, but skip the fries, which are a corporate conglomerate frozen food disappointment."”

“We had the most amazing dining experience for our anniversary!!! Some of the best food in the Orlando area!”

“What appears to be a hole in the wall from the outside, turns out on the inside it’s very eclectic with an amazing vibe. Very welcoming, friendly service with great food! Definitely recommend.”

“Wanted a memorable Anniversary dinner and we definitely got it at Maxine's on Shine. It is nestled in a residential neighborhood so parking during peak times can be a bit tricky. We did make a reservation and arrived shortly after they opened at 5pm. Our immediate feel was that we were entering a speakeasy. Cool decorations,intimate yet casual indoor/outdoor seating, private dining area in rear and plenty of staff. Tables and bar were starting to fill up for their happy hour. Mia our server made her introduction and took great care of us throughout. They had a three course magical special along with regular dinner menu. We started with libations then onto a caprese salad appetizer. Our entrees were Maxines Chicken and Pasta and Beef Lasagna (a recipe taken from the former Italian restaurant that occupied the same space).
Both were delicious! We passed on dessert but one of the owners (Mr. Maxine) cane to our table and personally toasted us with a limerick and champagne. We truly welcome the opportunity to return with or without an occasion. Enjoy!”

“parking could be better, only been here twice but husband LOVES the meatball sub. I get their American sub and it is delicious! it is always packed. I wish they have another location besides just this one. The food, you just cannot go wrong no matter what you get. whether it's fresh or not. and the staff is amazing, they are all on top of everything!!!”

“Love Prato! So much fun! Great food! ❤️🍷”

“Really cool place with a rustic vibe and interior. The food is very tasty and healthy. Cocktails were delicious. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly. Great spot for a date night.”

“Joselle changed my life. The drinks and the food were incredible, the service was incredibly fast! I will return here on every trip to Florida. A Hoosier for Kabooki!!”

“The best Italian restaurant in central Florida!”

“Love! Best truly Mexican food in a long while!”

“Pros
- Food is amazing about as close to sushi in Japan as you’re going to get.
- Matcha S’more is a great way to end the meal.

Cons:
- The time window is a little short. Feels like a 70 minute experience that has to be completed in 60.
- The standing sushi concept is a bit strange. If it’s to try to mimic standing sushi spots in Japan…those are often causal $5-$10 meals in small markets with space for stools/chairs. This is a $100+ dinner in a building that has plenty of space for seats.

Overall though, I’d definitely recommend and come back.”

“What a unique restaurant! Awesome food, great service and a very cool vibe! Thanks Chef Niko!”

“Last night's visit to Hawkers was a truly exceptional experience, with every one of the five appetizers and three meals exceeding expectations. The creative drinks were an added bonus, making this a highly recommended destination for anyone seeking outstanding cuisine.”

“The food was amazing, the service not so much! I will definitely go back again and pray I get a different waiter!”

“the food is great and the Tequila selection even better!!!!”

“We went with our group of Dutch Ladies to meet up and it was great! Servers, food & atmosphere. Will definitely come back again.”

“We love coming here to eat. Food is excellent”

“The Brunch is great and the appetizer are delicious”

“thank you for making my birthday excellent twice this month and being so hospitable to requests for the birthday girl. love you guys always worth the 1.5hour drive 🎀💓”

“The Staff is Super Friendly,from the Greeters to the Kitchen, Especially the Manager and Waiters, Waitresses, Food is really Tasty and well presented. Over all, I can not say anything against this Restaurant. 💯, We go there every week.”

“excellent restaurant in every way 😎👍 highly recommend”

“Probably the best date my fiancé and I ever had. Brandon truly made it special, from the food suggestions to the cocktails. The food was delicious, the lobster croquettes, the lechon asado, and the ropa vieja - just wow! It was like taking a trip to Cuba! We also had one drink that had a piece of a key lime pie at top and every sip of that cocktail was like a taking a bite of a real key lime pie. This man was a true chemist behind the bar. Felt like he came right out the show “The Bear”. 10/10 experience and would 100% go back.”

“Amazing carrot cake! Delicious cupcakes. Highly recommend.”

“Linh and Wawa Great time and service”

“Excellent food, wait staff and over all service. Great experience every time I visit”

“We went there for father's day. Food was awesome so was the service. Coming back soon. Loved the brisket.”

“Great atmosphere and workers. Amazing food. They just added pineapple to their Al Pastor tacos and they are great!!”

“👍 Food was very good quality, freshness, and taste.”

“This was by far the most impressive dining experience I’ve ever had. Fabulous food, amazing people.”