Great food

1. travelerfoodie.wordpress.com
http://travelerfoodie.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/there-is-a-neighborly-gathering-at-elliotts-public-house-in-ivanhoe-village/
There is a neighborly gathering at Elliott’s Public House in
Ivanhoe Village
Traveler Foodie
Ivanhoe Village may be known for it’s many antique stores and quaint businesses, but a new neighbor has moved in.
Well not so new. Brian’s Restaurant was the long standing keeper of where the newly opened Elliot’s Public House
now occupies. The Orlando Sentinel Newspaper carried an article which stated that the former Executive Chef of
Rollins College bought Brian’s Restaurant and will be the new keeper of this neighborhood space.
Recently in Orlando, the new buzz words in restaurant names are Gastro Pubs and Public Houses. But these names
or references are not new. These are old English terms which depicted establishments in the ole country. Granted,
the new generation of restaurateurs are actually trying to build a business around the concepts after their names.
Most of these businesses seem to be doing well. If there is anyone out there who thinks that a Gastro Pub or Public
House should be an exact replica of Great Britain, then so be it. As evolution would have it, everything old is new and
everything new is old. Where that lies, Elliott’s Public House takes a bold step catering to this neighborhood.
The current restaurant space is two interior rooms and an outdoor patio. The patio faces busy North Orange Ave.
Some may be bothered by this, but look across the road to beautiful Lake Ivanhoe and watch kayakers slide across
pristine waters. Or enjoy the energy movement brings. There is a fantastic wine bottle wall art on the patio that
immediately starts a conversation. Both interior rooms are well appointed with nostalgic art. The ornate lighting sets
the mood and almost brings the space to another era, if that is possible with light. Soft modern colors warms and
wraps the space as a good neighbor would. There is a work permit on the outside wall facing the parking lot, which
suggest more expansion. Could an actual bar be in the making?
Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served here. The menu hints of European in keeping with the Public House nod.
Portions are ample and enough to share or gobble down alone. Having to serve three meals, of course, there are
items available for dinner only. There is even a Happy Hour from 3pm -7pm daily. I’d venture to say that drop in
anytime there is something that will quench your beak.
I was fortunate to be dining with the Sages. So I got to sample many dishes.
Roasted Tomato & Red pepper Bisque – Roasted Red Peppers, Plum Tomatoes, Cream, Basil, Goat Cheese
Toast. Flavors blended well together. Very creamy and rich.
Oxtail & Barley – Root Vegetables, Hearty Broth, Fresh Herbs. Very wholesome soup. Bursting with flavors.
Conch Chowder – Potatoes, Vegetables, Ham Hocks, Saffron Tomato Broth. Delicately balanced with subtle flavors
shining through.
Public House Burger – Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Aged Cheddar, Brioche Bun, Pickles, Fried Egg. Moist patty,
once that egg is broken, oh heavens where are thou! I have never seen my little sage back down from grabbing a
burger and go until it is all done. On this burger, there were alot of breaks and smaller portions. This was really hard to
finish.
Potato Pancakes with Smoked Salmon – Crispy Potato Pancakes, Old Fashion Apple Sauce and Sour Cream.
Medium density with nice crunch on the outside. Salmon was not too salty.
Fish & Chips – Crispy Beer Battered Grouper, Fries, Malt Vinegar, Tartar Sauce. Now that is a huge fish portion. The

2. fish was crunchy, tender and flaky. Loved it.
Country Fried Chicken & Eggs – Potatoes or Grits, Milk Gravy, Toast. Oh my! Everything was spot on. But if I had
to pick a star for all of these dishes, this would be it. That chicken was moist, tender bursting with flavors. Yes, the
flavors were literally coming out of the chicken. Potatoes were dazzling. Overboard? You taste it and let me know.
Corned Beef Hash & Eggs – Griddle Fried Hash Patty, two Eggs, Potatoes or Grits, Toast. Nicely done corned beef
hash. Not too over done, but with the right crisp. Grits was creamy.
Irish Style Benedict – Corned Beef, Poached Eggs, Hollandaise, Home style Potatoes. Hollandaise stayed intact
and did not break apart. Corned Beef was nicely done. Everything else was spot on.
Apart from little service glitches, this was a wonderful meal. As in every new place there will be misteps. That’s
expected. How they make adjustments in the future will be the true test. Nothing to go crazy about, just a little
polishing. Parking in the little lot is tricky. Not a lot of room to maneuver. Business around Ivanhoe Village and Mills
50 seems on a rise. With construction at Mills Park on Mills Ave in full swing, there is a big boom in development. I
can’t wait to see what else is going to paint the dining scene in this area. All the sages left full and happy.