Wednesday 23 January 2008

Strip Mall Oasis Found at Mr. K's Chinese Cuisine

Mr K's Chinese Cuisine and Sushi
10395 Narcoossee Rd
Orlando, FL USA 32832

Where is it?

The place is small, so the toilets aren't hard to find. From the entrance, pass through the modest dining room towards the back left of the restaurant. The bathrooms are located there.

What's it like?

Mr. K's is one of those cut-above neighborhood joints -- both worth a drive and worth a visit. The food, a mixture of standard Chinese restaurant fare with some unique original dishes thrown in, is fresh and expertly prepared. The service is fast, friendly and efficient. The decor is muted and elegant, yet never ostentatious (you'll find some traditional paintings and wall hangings, and one lavish painting on the ceiling, but nothing overbearing or overtly tacky). And the prices are low. What more could you want?

The bathrooms follow suit, offering small, tidy environment that houses some understated decor and modern design touches -- some of which you wouldn't expect from a strip mall restaurant bathroom.

Beige-patterned marble tile covers the floors and walls, as do a handful of oriental items, like a bamboo wall hanging. The highlight is the ornate sink and vanity area. The sink is one of those trendy glass-wash-bowl units set atop a marble vanity counter. The mirror hanging above that station is framed by an ornate metalwork combining glass and bits of silver. The toilet is your standard white Porcelain model -- clean and functional, nothing more.

The only flaw I found was the air freshener, which was positioned atop the towel dispenser as if it were part of the decor. Placing it out of view (like Tacos El Rancho, for example) might have been a better option here, since its current position kind of disrupts the flow of the decor.

Still, this is an impressive strip all bathroom -- one that the owners truly tried to make different, unique and comfortable -- and for that they should be commended.

Marks out of 10:

9. Realistically it should be an 8, but they tried hard to offer something unique to customers and succeeded. They have to be rewarded for that!

Comments to the Management:

Store that air freshener somewhere else and you've got a near-perfect strip mall bathroom. Kudos to you!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The sushi and shashimi here are mediocore. We live nearby and have 4 other option that we will frequent before Mr. K's with a mile. They have horrible customer service. There biggest plus is their beef and garlic. Other than that I will eat at Nona Sushi or Plum near Publix. Skip Mr. K's!!!!

Anonymous said...

I totally disagree. Their food is much fresher and more flavorful than Plum Tree, which is pretty bottom end. Yes, their sushi isn't on the same level as Nona Sushi, also reviewed here, but then again it's more a Chinese restaurant than a sushi place. And it's more affordable than Nona Sushi. Plus, they've got a cool bathroom! (Then again, so does Nona Sushi.)