Drunken Monkey Coffee Bar

Located on the corner of Bumby and Amelia, the Drunken Monkey is taking coffee shops back to their roots by giving a big "f you" to Starbucks.

It's rare that you find a successful coffee shop that isn't Starbucks, but Drunken Monkey has beaten the odds; but I can't say I didn't have my doubts.

I remember stopping by the first week they opened, and to be honest, I was not impressed. There were no "vegan and vegetarian snacks" like the sign promised, and the owner, well, he wasn't much to rave about either. I got my coffee (without a snack, obviously) and was on my way. They have a drive-thru, which I should have used, but I wanted to see what the inside had to offer. That was a mistake.

The coffee was decent, but still, the place left a sour taste in my mouth.

So a few months later I decided to try again. I went recently and my experience was MUCH better. For starters, they had food! I tried one of their vegan paninis which wasn't half bad. The only downside is the food is VERY expensive. I think I spent about $25 on two sandwiches and two drinks.

Also the service I received was much friendlier than the service I had a few months back. The girls who work there are super nice and are always willing to help choose the right drink for you. I also liked the fact that they had like, 4839274982 types of milk (soy, hemp, almond, etc.) while Starbucks only has two. TAKE THAT CORPORATE AMERICA!

Let's not forget the fact that they have game nights, open mic, poetry readings and everything a locally owned coffee shop should have.

Kudos to you Drunken Monkey. Kudos.

Woodlands USA

With locations in Charlotte, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, Woodlands Indian restaurant seems to be doing quite well. The one in Orlando is quite tricky to find, mostly for the fact that they keep changing the location of it. Now located on south OBT, I think they are here to stay.

My suggestion is to go for the lunch buffet (11:30am-3, Tuesday-Friday). All you can eat samosas and curries for like, 8 bucks.

Like Garden Cafe, Woodlands is all vegetarian, so you don't have to worry about accidentally picking an item with meat in it.

Start with the mixed vegetable pakora for the normal menu price of $5.95. Potatoes, cauliflower, onions and chilies mixed with Besan and spices and then deep friend. WHAT? We all know everything is better deep fried.

Next I would suggest a Dosai. I've never had one, but this cheese one looks so delicious. And it's only $8.50.



For the main course, I would suggest a house specialty, because like they say, house knows best. But if you're not quite comfortable with Indian food, Woodlands offers traditional Chinese specialties which I found to be quite odd. Hmmm.

After you've sufficiently stuffed your face with Dosai and all the Nan bread possible, try indulging in an Indian dessert. A Rasmalai perhaps? That's homemade cottage cheese is a speical condensed milk sauce topped with flavored Rose Water and Pistachio nuts. (They have ice cream if you're not up to the challenge.)

All in all Woodlands is a great place to eat if you love traditional Indian food with a vegetarian flare.

Vegan Hot Dog Stand

It's Spring Break and I'm sick so I'm going to do a short post today.

I'm running out of ideas of good vegetarian places to eat in Orlando (as there really aren't that many) but I could never go wrong when talking about the vegan hot dog stand.

Now, the vegan hot dog stand is the most nomadic of all the vegan restaurants in Orlando. You never know where it will be downtown or at what time it will be there. Originally owned and operated by Kelly Shockley of Ethos fame, well, who knows who operated it now--like I said, it's pretty illusive.

Every time I've enjoyed a hot dog from the stand I've been a.) drunk b.) previously at a bar c.) not sure of what I've just ordered.

Which I'm sure is the case for most of the customers, considering the stand gets most of their business from the hours of 12 a.m- 3a.m outside bars and clubs like bbq bar and i-bar on Orange.

The guys who work there are super nice and understand you are drunk and hungry. I usually get a vegan dog on wheat bread with everything on it- including vegan chili. All in all, I think that normally runs me about $4 with a water and man, is it worth the mess.

If you're not in the mood for a dog, I would suggest the vegan nachos. Also a nice drunken treat.

But really, these people know how to run a business. They target the drunk hipsters (who are normally vegan/veg) as they stumble out of the bars drunk and hungry. They really do have all the right strategies, and if that little cart did not exist, I doubt I would step foot in one of those bars for fear of not enjoying a vegan hot dog drunk and after the fact.

Garden Cafe

I'm not really sure why it has taken me until the fourth post to write about Garden Cafe; I guess it slipped my mind, which is odd considering Garden Cafe is one of the first all vegetarian restaurants established in Orlando.

Just think-- traditional Chinese dishes except all vegetarian; and they have every traditional Chinese dish you can think of:

• Sweet and sour ribs? Check.
  
• Pepper steak? Check.
  
• Sweet and Sour Chicken? Check.
  
• Kung Po Squid? Check.

Obviously these are all types of meat, but you wont find a single bone in dem ribs, why you ask? Cause it's all made from soy protein!

Yeah, soy protein. I'm not a huge fan; it sort of tastes like funnel cake batter to me, which isn't exactly what I want my sweet and sour ribs to taste like. But, for people like me (who is considered a sinner among the legion of devote Garden Cafe soy protein lovin' followers) there are plenty of menu options that are more traditional.

My absolute favorite dish of all time is the stuffed bell peppers. It's a simple mix of tofu, carrots and mushrooms packed into green peppers but the combination creates something magical; and it's only $8.50!

But, the great thing about Garden Cafe is its awesome lunch special. From open to 3:00 you can enjoy just about everything on the menu for almost half the price.

If you really want to try a meal made from soy protein (which I would suggest), try General Tso’s chicken. This is a favorite among my friends, so much so that they tend to order it each time we go. You can purchase General Tso's chicken for the normal dinner price of $8.95.

All in all, Garden Cafe is an experience that any vegetarian (or non-vegetarian for that matter) needs to have. The food is great and the atmosphere is as traditional as traditional Chinese can get in America.

Garden Cafe is located at 810 W. Colonial Drive.