food for thought
by mike halterman
Hamburger Mary’s Orlando
E
Everyone in Central Florida should try Hamburger Mary's Orlando, located in Church Street Station in downtown Orlando. In a place like this, a fun, playful atmospherereignssupreme,andit stays with you as soon as you are seated at Mary's. The restaurant is decorated in vibrant colors with lots of seating, including a very busybararea. Recently I stopped by for dinner and I was seated by one of my favorite waitresses, Brooke. The entire staff at Mary's is friendly and attentive, even during busy nights (which there are many!). I'm immediately asked by Brooke what I want to drink, even though she already knows. I ask for the sweet tea ($2.95, free refills) and she gets it formestraightawayasIlookover the menu options. I know that the portions are very large here (something I love), so I take it easy on the appetizer order. I put in a request for chips and queso
Leigh Shannon ($6.95), which is delivered to me in a flash. I find the queso to be spicy, but not overly so, and it is a great complement to the rainbow-colored tortilla chips. (If you need a few more chips, your waiterorwaitresswillaccommodate you; justask.) I can be a picky eater, which can be a roadblock at some restaurants. Not at Hamburger Mary's Orlando, because they allow for quite a few choices and some substitutions (consult your menu for specific substitution charges). I like the Spicy Mary Burger ($11.15) but sometimesI don't feel like having a beef patty. Lucky for me I can choose a black bean patty, a turkey patty, or a chicken breast (black bean patty $1 extra). I choose the chicken breast, have them add extra Mojo sauce, and order it without the jalapeĂąos. Also included with the Spicy Mary is pepper-jack cheese andranchdressing. I order seasoned fries with the
burger;coleslaw,potatosaladand mashed potatoes are other side options that are included in the priceoftheburger. Once I get my sandwich, I am already impressed with how big it is. I have to take a big bite to fit it into my mouth. The chicken was a great choice because the Mojo sauce and the melted cheese, right on top of the chicken breast, really allowed for all those extra taste sensations to come together very well. It is spicy, but at a level I can handle, so I appreciate that. Every time I order the fries, I notice they are