La Fiesta

     Well if I followed the very sage advice to not say anything if I can't say something nice at all this post would read something like this: Kabir B is a very nice server.  (I am assuming this from my receipt, while he was very nice, he never told us his name.) 
     I will preface this review by saying I have tried this place once before and had a truly horrible experience.  I don't know if that prejudiced me for this trip or made my expectations so low that they couldn't do anything but better.  Either way, it was not a good enough meal to make me waste a third visit.
     I noticed right away that the wall by our table was splattered with some red type sauce.  I think, the people before us were slobs and I will not hold this against them.  I had asked for a high chair.  After standing there waiting for it, I finally asked again.  I am browsing the menus left on the table by the host and I notice all of them are sticky, and some are down right filthy.  Ok...  The high chair finally puts in an appearance and it is greasy and gross looking.  I am trying to not let my gross o meter get into the red, so I ignore the issues and wait. 
     Our server appears to be the only one working.  Everyone else is walking and/or talking but not to customers.  Our server was nice, friendly and helpful.  (the total opposite from the last time I was here.)  My friend liked her food ok; my son said the kid's taco was "gross" and while my skirt steak was nice and tender, everything else was either ok to not so good.  The wost thing was the meat, the only truly good thing on the plate, was covered in a travesty of a chimichuri sauce that ruined the steak. Oh and while I was asked for a temperature for my steak (to which I said medium rare), it still came out well done.
     Bottom line: I hear they have a good happy hour, but other than that, I see no reason to waste time and money on a place that serves mediocre food, has a staff that appears that 99% of it could care less that you are there, and doesn't even try to appear like a clean place.  My vote is to pass this place up.

La Fiesta
348 N Nova Rd
Ormond Beach Fl 32174
256-4829
www.lafiestaormondbeach.com

Saigon Bistro

Roast Pork Bahn Mi

     Let me begin by saying that I am still fairly new to Vietnamese cuisine.  I have made Bhan Mi and Pho at home, and I have eaten at a few Vietnamese restaurants, but I am not an expert on the traditional cuisine of Vietnam.  I am however an experienced eater and have eaten at many high quality restaurants and am a pretty good cook, so I do still feel qualified to judge the inherent tastiness of the food.
     I first found this place by looking at which local restaurants participate in the Upromise dining rewards.  ( For those who are saying Upromise? They offer 4%-8% of your bill into a saving account for you child's college)  On my first trip, I ordered a variety of appetizers.  I found them to be on the whole good with some misses.  Again, I don't want to criticize at this point because I am still becoming accustomed to the flavors.  Unfamiliarity can put you off a flavor combination;  you just have to give you self time to learn what to expect.

Beef Pho

     I have been back several time since that initial visit, and I do really like the food,but be advised there are some big misses on the menu.  The one huge miss I am thinking of is the Pad Thai.  I know what you are thinking, or at least what I would be thinking if I were you, why in the heck would you order Thai food at a Vietnamese place? The truth, my brain must have decided at just that moment to take a well deserved break and assumed my body could hold down the fort in its absence.  It couldn't and it was really not good.
     Keeping the fact that the menu has some misses, I have found more good dishes than bad.  On this last trip, we got the Bahn Mi with the BBQ roast pork and the beef pho.  The roast pork is amazingly tasty and tender. This is from someone who is not the biggest fan of pork.  The sandwich is a beautiful thing that despite the fact I can barely breathe from being so full from lunch, I want another.   The pho was good too but took second place to the sandwich for me. Now for the really amazing part; this giant sandwich and cauldron of soup only cost $12.

Pho Garnish

     The biggest thing that is keeping this restaurant from really taking off is the service issues.  The place is owned by a husband and wife; I have only met the wife.  She is the sweetest woman around but she is only one woman and can not do the job of several.  On the days I have been in there and the place is mostly empty, everything has been fine.  On the days when there are quite a bit of tables, there is a super long wait.  She is so apologetic about the wait and I sympathize.  It has got to be a staffing nightmare to try and insure you have the staff to handle your business when you have no idea what that might be.  Also being a family business, you don't have the $$$ a large company can spend to keep staff until you do build a regular business. 
     My recommendation, please go and try it at a time you can spend a while there.  This place is a good one that needs to stay around.  Don't let the fact that things are taking a long time put you off the food before it even gets there.

Saigon Bistro
600 S Yonge St
Ormond Beach Fl 32174
(386) 615-7302
www.saigon-bistro.com

I had to add one more of my perfect sandwich:)

Chucherias Hondurenas

Chucherias Hondurenas is a hidden treasure.  I discovered this place a couple of years ago.  I often want to go there for my weekly lunch outings, but I find some of the moms (not all) I know are a bit hesitant to go when I tell them the location.  Yes it is not in  the best area in town but it is hardly dangerous. (suburban prejudice?) Well this past Wednesday I finally talked my dearest friend in to taking the plunge.  I arrived at 12:30 and all (eight I think) tables are full.  As I am waiting, I see a brisk business of take out happening.  I am happy to see that while the cozy and humble building has been painted and there have been some nice touch ups here and there, it was still relatively unchanged from the last time I was here sadly over a year ago. Not only did I like the feel of the place, (think of what you would imagine a small cafe in central America would look like and you are pretty close to the mark.) I love the feeling that I have found a place that others may skip over.  I did have a bit of a wait for a table, but I knew it was worth it.
      As I snag a table, I see my friend walking in.  I can tell she is a bit apprehensive about the whole thing.  She asks me if I have ever seen them on my weekly checks of restaurant's health inspections, and I tell her never on the fail list.  She relaxes a bit.  I am looking at the menu, but I know what I want: the Cuban Sandwich.  I have had several things here, but I don't know if it is the fact that it is in all likelyhood the best Cuban I have every had, the AMAZING chimichuri and spicy sauce they serve with it or the fact that this sandwich takes me back to my childhood in Miami, but whatever it is,  it's what I HAVE to order.  I have never seen chimichuri served with a Cuban Sandwich (nor the spicy sauce for that matter) but it is superb. The menu is fairly small: 2 soups,a salad, a "main dish" that you choose your meat (beef, pork chops or chicken or the vegetarian option which seems to have a salad as the "meat") and that comes with  beans, rice and your choice of plantain.  (I say go for the tostones!), 4 hot sandwiches (Cuban, Turkey and Ham, Chicken and Cheese and Beef) and the 3 Chucherias or finger food options. (Beans and Cheese wraped in a tortilla, a meat turnover and Pupusas, or griddled corn cakes with cheese filling. All 3 are plenty for a meal) They also have a large variety of drinks and a couple of deserts.  The amazing thing, to me anyways, it that the food is wonderful, plentiful and mindblowingly affordable.  The Cuban Sandwich is plenty for two yet it still costs the same $6 it cost a year ago.
     So my friend opts for the Pollo y Queso hot sandwich because she won't touch pork.  We both love that they use lime rather than lemon in the beverages; it is a very nice touch. The waiter then brings us a small cup of a delicious homemade soup. We didn't order it so it must come with the meals.  My friend is impressed. She gobbles her soup down as I nurse mine;  as good as it is, I want as much room as possible for the monster sandwich that is soon to be in front of me. The sandwiches arrive and my friend is blown away at the size of the sandwich that is set down in front of her.  She thinks that she will be taking most of it home.  (I'm thinking not so fast sweetie, taste it first;)  After the first bite she looks at me and says "oh my God!" Really. Needless to say she ate most of it.  As we left, the chef gave us each a tasty little cookie as we paid.  The warmth and friendliness of the entire staff is like being in a friends house.
     So what should you know before you go?  Well since I believe that we are more angered by something  when we find our expectations are to the contrary of reality then we would be if we didn't have those expectations, let me clue you in on what to expect.  The server, who is a darling and supremely nice, is slow.  As a former server, all I can think is you could have done both in the same trip.  He is friendly and helpful and totally wants to make your experience great; it just won't be super speedy.  Part of me likes the forced relaxation.  You will find parking to be tight.  If you are the type of person who values style over substance, you may  be put off. However most importantly, you will like your food.  Part of me yearns for a grand opening of a huge Chucherias Hondurenas near me, but I am afraid that would ruin its unique and beautiful character that makes it a local gem.

Located at 722 Mason Ave in Daytona Beach
Hours are 10:30-5:00 M-F & 10:00-5:00 on Saturday
Closed Sundays
(386) 239-0548