Yellow Dog Eats, located on Hempel Ave. in Gotha, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this Friday evening with a wine tasting party starting at 7pm. For about $20 per person, you’ll get to sample a selection of wines and enjoy some of the expertly prepared foods that make this restaurant a local treasure.

If you’ve never been to a wine tasting at Yellow Dog, it’s a chance to see the restaurant’s true personality. Normally a casual, easy-going restaurant that piles in the locals for lunch and dinner, the parties at Yellow Dog are as unique as the chef/owner, Fish Morgan. With a DJ spinning some vinyl favorites, the ages-old interior is packed with people of all ages enjoying the wine, food, music and each-other’s company.

When not holding anniversary celebrations, Yellow Dog serves up fantastic flavors in its sandwiches, salads and slow-smoked barbecue. One of my wife’s favorites is the “Puppy Love” sandwich that takes the standard PB&J up a few notches. My favorites include the pulled-pork sandwich, half chicken, “Are You Chicken” salad, “Black Forest Hambone” sandwich and the tomato and mozzarella salad.

The BBQ sauce that covers the pulled-pork and chicken is unparalleled in flavor. The slight tinge of sweet citrus balances out the dense heat of a typical tomato-based sauce. Thankfully, the restaurant has bottles of it for sale, although it’s been a while since one has been available.

The restaurant is truly one of my favorites in the area. Every small town should (and probably does) have a place that locals can rely on for good food and good times. In Gotha, that place is Yellow Dog Eats.

If you’re not planning a trip already, I highly recommend a visit (or two) to Yellow Dog. Whether it’s for the wine tasting this Friday night (6/27), or just a quiet dinner during the week, you won’t find a more local-friendly location in Orlando.

Popularity: 7% [?]