<div id="fb-root"></div>
<script async defer crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v17.0&appId=1360880647827568&autoLogAppEvents=1" nonce="nOICdQjC"></script>

Blended Cafe Bar

Written By Scott Joseph On January 8, 2019

Blended interior

Blended Cafe Bar is an intimate little eatery in a massively large space. It’s funny, Juliana’s Fine Tuscan Cuisine, which held this space previously, never struck me as occupying an airplane hangar-sized room. Perhaps the owners plan on holding line-dancing lessons or renting the extra space out for corporate meetings.

It’s distractingly large is what I’m trying to say.

Blended bench

But it’s bright and tidy —though oddly there’s a plastic carpet protector on the bench that serves as a banquette along the wall — and there’s no reason you can’t have a private conversation without being overheard by the people at the next table, which may or may not be in a different zip code.

South Steel SJO March AD copy

There isn’t anything about the name to indicate that Blended is primarily a Vietnamese restaurant. But its menu consists primarily of bánh mìs and baos. Nice ones, too.

Blended banh

I ordered the Grilled Pork bánh mì, which had the requisite pickled vegetables (carrots, daikon) plus Vietnamese mayo and a wonderful stash of fresh cilantro. At first glance I thought the roll was going to be hard and crunchy but in fact it was soft and tasted fresh.

Blended bao

I also got a bao filled with Crispy Tofu. The nonmeat was breaded and fried and tucked into the steamed buns with a slice of cucumber, vegetables and a sprig or two of cilantro. Nice flavors.

Blended dumplings

The only thing I didn’t care for was the Chicken Dumplings. They were deep fried and greasy, and they tasted as though the fryer was due for an oil change.

The young women staffing the place — just two, as far as I could tell — were cheerful and welcoming. I didn’t hear anyone thank me as I left, but it could be that the sound just didn’t travel that far.

Blended Cafe Bar is at 2306 Edgewater Drive, Orlando. It is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday and for early dinner (7 p.m. closing) Tuesday through Saturday. The phone number is 407-868-9836.

 

 

We hope you find our reviews and news articles useful and entertaining. It has always been our goal to assist you in making informed decisions when spending your dining dollars. If we’ve helped you in any way, please consider making a contribution to help us continue our journalism. Thank you.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
<div class="fb-comments" data-href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" data-width="100%" data-numposts="5"></div>
Scott's Newsletter