3 minute read
Fork on the Road
5
Forks
(Out of a possible 5)
Wave Asian Bistro & Sushi
301 N. Baker, Suite 106, Mount Dora
352.383.9283
Hours: 11am-8pm daily; closed Mondays.
Fork Report:
Casual dining. $$ Seated immediately (lunch hour) Wait for meal: 15 minutes
OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY STARTERS: ($2.50-$8): Edamame, seaweed salad, dumplings, fried calamari, chicken lettuce wraps.
ENTREES: ($8$20): Bulgogi, Mi Xao, Tuna Tataki, Wave Sushi Burrito, Wave Sushi Donuts, variety of sushi rolls, Hibachi noodle bowl, and create-yourown bento box.
How Fork On The Road Works Our reviewers are objective and unbiased. This is not a paid feature. Our reviewer makes one unannounced visit and we pay for our meals.
WAVE ASIAN BISTRO & SUSHI
Raves at the Wave
STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL // PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ
The look of amazement on my sushiloving friend’s face said it all.
James was delighted when our sweet server, Courtney, of the Wave Asian Bistro & Sushi in Mount Dora, brought out his Wave Sushi Burrito, two oversized sushi rolls with tempura shrimp, marinated spicy tuna, lettuce, carrots, cucumber, avocado, masago, eel sauce, and spicy mayo.
“It’s an artistic culinary masterpiece; this is a sushi lover’s dream,” says James.
The Wave Asian Bistro & Sushi, open only a few months, is generating fans with its clean and simple ambiance, great service, and creative menu offerings, including Sushi Donuts (doughnut-shaped sushi rice stuffed with shredded krab mix and topped with thin slices of tuna, salmon, cucumber, and avocado). For those who prefer smaller traditional sushi rolls, the Wave has 22 varieties.
Chef Johnathan deserves credit for his innovative ability to fuse modern touches in traditional Asian dishes. The egg rolls and fried calamari appetizers were impressive visual attractions, and we loved that Courtney gave us “cheater” chopsticks (held in place at the top with a rubber band) to enhance our dining experience and make it more fun.
My friend Leigh chose the Tempura Bowl with lightly battered fried chicken over fried rice, and I savored large pieces of grilled shrimp in a bright red bowl fi lled with fried rice and crisp-tender steamed vegetables. We both found our generously portioned entrées delicious.
Our overall goal was to save room for dessert! Leigh and I enjoyed the fried ice cream, which unlike the Mexican version, featured vanilla ice cream wrapped with pound cake lightly dipped in tempura batter and fried to golden brown goodness. James
JAMES BARBEQUE
Love me tender
STORY: JAMES COMBS // PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ
There are few things more Southern than a heaping plate of barbecue.
That’s why I was happy to take my growling stomach to James Barbeque in Groveland, a restaurant that proudly claims patrons don’t need teeth to enjoy their ribs, chicken, and brisket. Chew on that bold statement for a couple of seconds.
Indeed, the restaurant’s smoked, slowcooked meats are, as my lunch partner so elegantly stated, “fall-off-the-bone tender.” So tender, in fact, that I would not hesitate to make the 25-minute drive from Leesburg to Groveland a second time.
Owner Gregory James opened the restaurant a year ago inside a home that once belonged to his grandmother. The ranch-style décor— wooden tables, wooden blinds, and a cow skull and lasso hanging prominently on the wall—adds a touch of Texas fl are.
James Barbeque’s relatively slim menu is full of standards, ranging from chicken and rib sandwiches to pulled pork and beef brisket dinners.
I ordered the chicken dinner along with two sides, potato salad and baked beans.
The tender, juicy chicken was covered in a special barbecue sauce that had a perfect blend of smoky, spicy, and sweet. I equally enjoyed the black beans thanks to the mild smoky fl avor.
My lunch partner ordered the rib platter. She complimented the outstanding taste and texture, calling them “some of the best ribs I’ve ever eaten.” Equal praise was given to her side dish, macaroni and cheese, which she referred to as “creamy, hearty, and delicious.”
Somehow, I think J.J. Evans, the outgoing character on the sitcom “Good Times,” would refer to this restaurant as “Swine-o-mite!”
James Barbeque //262 W. Orange St., Groveland // 352.557.4050
