tip jar

BY FAIYAZ KARA

OPENINGS+CLOSINGS:

Joking aside, I think Weinstein would approve of seeing crispy wings ($16 for 10; $30 for 20) served in traditional Buffalo style with celery, carrots and blue cheese. NYBP will even make them extra crispy if you ask, but the Eyewitness News legend would certainly fault serving them virtually dry instead of wet. We had to ask for extra sauce to enjoy them, though enjoy them we ultimately did. Same goes for the beef on weck ($16), another Queen City classic with luscious roast beef served in a kummelweck roll properly crackly with caraway seeds and coarse salt. It’s served with jus, a pickle and a batch of forgettable truffle-Parmesan fries that tasted neither like truffle nor Parmesan and spent too long in the fryer. An item NYBP does cheese up right are the mozzarella logs ($12). Not sticks, mind you, but logs, each a veritable superfreak (to use the term coined by Buffalo native Rick James).

American and Swiss cheeses goo up the patty melt ($17), arguably the best item we ordered thanks to 10 ounces of burger, caramelized onions and honey mustard on buttery grilled sourdough. Pairing the sandwich with sweet potato fries, a whole lot better than the truff-parm misfires, was a good choice. Pairing it with NYBP’s Coconut IPA was even better. Which brings me to the beers: Many are brewed on-site in the massive brewery, and you’d do well to get a flight of four 5-ounce pours for a very reasonable $10 — the Destination IPA, snowbird Florida stout and strawberry shortcake cream ale being faves of ours. fkara@orlandoweekly.com

There’s beer in the cheese sauce of the “Manhattan Mac” ($14), and a buttery crumb topping too. A shame there wasn’t any salt. There are also seasonal specials on the menu and seeing it was still technically winter, we went with the winter stew ($18), a hearty plate of slow-roasted beef, baby carrots and blistered corn plopped onto whipped potatoes. Swigs of the Destination IPA made the meal all the heartier.

Did we need to end with a warm chocolate chip cookie skillet ($9)? No, but like I said, it was still technically winter, and we were all getting in touch with our own private Buffalos. BTW, the NYBP brand is growing — our very capable server mentioned to us that the fourth location will open in Orchard Park, New York, home of the Buffalo Bills, later this year. By the looks of it, it would appear that Kelly and Kevin Krupski, the New York owners of the mammoth beer and grub house, are in an empire-building state of mind.

Tommy Bahama and Winter Park go together like old money and bad fashion, so no surprise that Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, a restaurant, bar and retail store embracing the brand’s “easy, relaxed spirit,” will open in the revamped Winter Park Village later this year, just in time for the holidays. There was a Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar & Store at Pointe Orlando, but it closed in 2018 … Look for Simply Capri, a new venture by former Patina Restaurant Group CEO Nick Valenti, to open at Disney’s Flamingo Crossings this May. The restaurant promises the best from the Amalfi Coast (minus the views) including wood-fired pizzas, house-made pastas, classic meat and seafood dishes, salads and modern cocktails … Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails, the new concept from Thriving Hospitality, will serve its Asian-influenced, tapas-style menu and tiki-inspired cocktails starting May 15 at 1336 N. Mills Ave. in Mills 50 … Shipley Do-Nuts, the Houstonbased shop specializing in handcrafted doughnuts, kolaches and other fried dough goodies, will open April 30 at 5919 S. Orange Blossom Trail and May 31 at 2255 S. Semoran Blvd. … Cafe La Tasca, offering imported Iberian meats, cheeses, beer and wine, will open April 1 in the MetroWest Village at 2459 S. Hiawassee Road … High-end whiskey distillery Forward/Slash, featuring a tasting room and full cocktail bar, will also open April 1 at 650 S. Capen Ave. in Winter Park. No joke.

NEWS+EVENTS:

After 15 years with Tabla, executive chef Sajan Prem is leaving the Indian restaurant to pursue an opportunity with 5th Element Indian Restaurant in Sanford … More Indian food news: Aashirwad, from the same folks behind Bombay Street Kitchen, has launched a new menu highlighting slow-cooking methods and modern presentations, with a focus on “unique and complex spice blends” and “made-from-scratch preparations.” Some of the new dishes: Maharashtrian eggplant koliwada, chicken Chettinad served on crepe-like rava kal dosa, and braised lamb shank rogan josh … It’s that time of year again! Orlando Burger Week kicks off March 29 and runs through April 12 with a host of restaurants offering special burgers for $10 and under. Visit orlandoburgerweek.com for more.