New York New York — Restaurant in Titusville

After hearing and reading mixed reviews, my friend and I decided to try New York New York for lunch. I was not impressed in the slightest. Being somewhat familiar with the location, I was expecting something very casual, which it certainly is. What I was not expecting was everything else. We walked in the door to the bar area where about 4 people were seated. The bartender glanced up and went back to breaking down a cardboard box without speaking a word. Not sure what to do from there, we kept walking into the dining area where a few people were seated. The server looked at us with a blank face and said nothing as she walked through the room. I smiled at her and said hello. She gave a quick, tight smile and said hello back but didn't follow up with "Can I help you?" or "I'll be right with you" or anything. I said, "We'd like to sit outside, if that's ok?" She said, "Right through that door," with a wave in a general direction and turned her back on us. My friend and I went out to the outdoor area where another woman was behind the bar. She didn't look up or greet us, so we found a table and sat down. After a few minutes, the bartender went back into the restaurant, so I got up and grabbed two menus off the bar and brought them back to the table. The server eventually came back out and asked what we'd like to drink. We ordered Cokes, with my friend requesting "I'd like the largest size you have," to which the bartender/server replied, "It only comes in one size, honey." She brought back two styrofoam cups and one can of Coke and told us to share that until she had time to go grab more from inside. Shortly afterward, we ordered food. I ordered the "Philly Cheese Bomb" with cole slaw and fries, and she ordered the Italian Sub with potato salad and a pickle. When the food arrived, it was two Philly Cheese Bombs. My friend decided not to point it out to the server as by that time we just wanted to eat and leave. Since the server/bartender dropped the food off and dashed away, we had to wait a bit before my friend could ask for a condiment. The reason we had to wait was because she turned her back to us and had her cigarette break in spite of our attempts to get her attention. The food was fair, but not good. The sandwich had way too many huge slices of jalapeno, the entire thing was soggy on the bottom, the cole slaw was flavorless and the potato salad was awful. The server brought us another Coke when we were done eating, but by then we just wanted the check. We chose not to pass through the restaurant on the way out, but instead cut across the grass back to the car because it really didn't seem like anyone would have cared if we complained. It should be said that while we were eating, a group of four people came and sat down outside at a table next to ours. It was obvious they were regulars because the employee knew their names and they knew hers. Her treatment of her regulars was completely different than her treatment of us. Our overall impression was that outsiders aren't welcome or...

New York New York Tiki Bar and Grille- South Titusville, FL- 4.5 Stars

Local legend has it that one night, the owner of the new hotel as well as a great deal of surrounding land, Henry Titus, challenged Capt. Clark Rice to the naming rights of the burgeoning metropolitan area originally called Sand Point. Mr. Titus' choice of weapons for this historical duel? A rousing game of lethal dominoes! Well, OK. So it wasn't all that “lethal” and the final score of this legendary game of tiles was lost in time, the outcome is not, thus, in 1873 the place was re-named Titusville.

Why did I mention the naming myth of Titusville, you ask? Well, I was in the neighborhood killing time between meals and thought a little local research would speed up the wait, besides, who doesn't find creation myths interesting? All that aside, it was time for my next meal and according to the genie in the name generator, I was going to be dining at New York New York Tiki Bar and Grille. Well, now I'm sad I left my grass skirt at home, but somehow, I'll manage.

After being seated and shown a menu, including their specials, Tom introduced himself as our waiter and I must say that right out of the gate, I thought he was a creep at first but he rallied late and became a Big Boy Top 10 waiter. I put in an order for some Ropa Vieja, Braised Cabbage, and what the menu touted as “homemade” Blueberry Cobbler and a juicy burger (medium rare) for my guest.

It wasn't all that long before Tom was returning with our grub. After snapping a few pictures (just look at that salad!), I eagerly dug into the spread before me. I found the Ropa Vieja (a Cuban-inspired stew) delectable the seasoning was spot on. The fresh pulled beef (read steak) tomatoes, peppers, onions and black beans blended superbly over some deliciously seasoned yellow rice.

The Braised Cabbage was spectacular. It was braised to perfection and served with sauteed onions and real bacon bits. Extraordinary!! Once again, I ask you to turn your attention to the picture of that side salad. Fresh Spring Green mix, fresh cherry tomato along with a garden-fresh sliced red onion. This is how a side salad should be done. This is why I do this.

The Juicy Burger was grilled to a perfect medium-rare, served on a nice toasted bun and it was just as scrumptious as the rest of the food.

Forget the name. Forget how it looks. If the rest of the menu is as good as these specials are, it's a total treat!

The Big Boy says, “If you want delicious food made with obvious care and pride, put this place on your list!”...

This is a hidden gem! You know that show with Guy on the Food Network, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"? This restaurant should be on it! The food is good home cooking! Fresh fish! Outside, you'd want to turn around, but you got to go in. People may say it needs to be updated, but I think it has charm. It gives a vacation feel but looks like a local hangout type restaurant. And oh, when you go in the back, where the tiki bar is...gorgeous! The staff is very friendly! Our waitress was a sweet lady. She made us feel comfortable and put a smile on our faces. Felt like we had a lovin' momma. 💓 I even went to her during enjoying our meals for some milk. I had heartburn before I got there, and I was having trouble enjoying our meal. She told me they didn't have milk, and I told her why I was asking. She offered up to go to her car and get some Tums for me. I didn't want to bother her, plus I thought it was raining. But she insisted, and she did! What a waitress! Talk about going above and beyond! I enjoyed my tuna melt, Cole slaw, and potatoes salad. I really wanted to try their famous sweet potato fries, but they were out. That, to me, says they're good! We'll have to go back and try again next time we're in Titusville. My bf had the chicken gizzard, Mac & Cheese, and French fries. Everything is delicious!! I forgot to take pics of our food, but I did get good pics of the back! You can actually see NASA's launch pad and tower building. Would be a great place to have drinks at the Tiki Bar and watch a launch! We would have eaten outside, but it was thundering. What a great hidden gem!! Go there and feel old vacation Florida. Don't judge it, enjoy the treasure! You...