Seasons 52

Since this will be my last post, I decided to take it in a different direction. Instead of reviewing a restaurant, I decided I should discuss a restaurant that I have yet to go to.

Seasons 52 has two locations close by: one at the Plaza Venezia on Sand Lake Road and another by the Altamonte Mall on East Altamonte Drive.


Seasons 52 changes its menu every season, (hence the name), and has no menu item over 475 calories.


Here is a quote from the restaurant's site: "Rediscover the authentic tastes of freshly harvested food. Every week of the year as different foods reach their seasonal peak of taste, we seek out the best market-fresh products, such as vine-ripened heirloom tomatoes in summer, crisp apples in autumn, hearty root vegetables in winter and tender green asparagus in spring."

Sounds good, right? I know. That's why I want to go (not to mention the fact that they have over 140 wines to pair with your meal).

Obviously when reviewing restaurants the person normally eats the food, chooses their likes and dislikes and gives you advice on what to eat. Since I-and probably you-have not been to aforementioned restaurant, I thought we could explore the menu together.

Let's begin with the starters, shall we?

I think the Housemade Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli with sweet basil chiffonnade in a light garlic tomato broth sounds like the best choice. They also have flatbreads. I'm leaning toward the Ripe Plum Tomato Flatbread with roasted garlic essence, sweet basil and melted Parmesan cheese.

Moving on to the entrees. Now, seeing as I'm a vegetarian and being that this is a vegetarian blog, eating at a place like Seasons 52 where the menu changes often could present a problem. This season there is only one vegetarian entree, but, I'm OK with that because it sounds delicious. And it is...
The Chef’s Market Vegetable Plate with roasted vegetables, grilled tofu and cracked wheat tabbouleh. I think the crack wheat tabbouleh is what sold me.

Normally I don't get dessert, but remember, nothing on the item is over 475 calories so why the hell not. I think I'll go with the German Chocolate Cake.

903 Mills Market

I've passed by Mills Market multiple times, but never had the courage to stop.
I don't know why, it's not like it's a scary place--actually, it looks quite inviting.

Situated right in the middle of the Thorton Park neighborhood on the corner of Gore Street and Mills, the market is a cute little one-stop shop with a surprise--a full menu! Maybe that's why I was so nervous to stop in; I mean, the sign advertises food and beer, but it's not like I needed milk and eggs, so I felt like if I wasn't picking up the necessities, then I didn't have a right to enter.

I soon figured out how wrong I was when my boyfriend moved in just down the street.
Now Mills Market is the place we walk to and waste hours talking and drinking beer. It's really quite nice; all the locals stop by after work and do the same. They bring their dogs and friends and converse for hours at one of the many outside patio tables. It's a super relaxed atmosphere and if you don't stay for at least an hour, the owner might be offended.

I found out some interesting history about the building on the market's website . It was once a house built in 1920 that, over the years, was transformed into a food market, a meat market, and produce market, a dry cleaners, and even a restaurant. Now, it is simply, Mills Market.

But enough about the history, let's talk about the menu. Besides having a bunch of speciality beer, the market also has a great vegetarian (and non-vegetarian) menu. Last Friday I had the Falafel wrap ($6.39) topped with red onion, tons of fresh spinach and an interesting sesame mayo sauce. It was awesome, but what made it so awesome was that it was wrapped in a soft tortilla.

The grilled cheese ($4.29) is of course a classic, but I've yet to try the Lake Emerald vegetarian ($6.39.) It sounds pretty delicious--roasted peppers, pesto mayo, tomato, onion and spring mix on wheat bread.

You can also make your meal a combo for only $1.50 more. The combo comes with a drink and your choice of chips, potato salad, fruit salad Tomazza salad or Cole slaw. I always opt for the Tomazza--it's great and refreshing on a hot day.

So, if you have a whole day to waste I would suggest heading over to Mills Market. Trust me, you won't want to leave.