As anyone knows who has gone on a group golf trip the only thing secondary to the course venues in the eating establishments for dinner. If you are vacationing in Orlando then you owe it to yourself to check out Nona Blue-Modern Tavern just a pitching wedge from the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.

This place was opened in the Spring of 2013 by restauranteurs Joe Davi and Bill Bona who tactically attracted Graeme McDowell to invest in the venture and give it some PGA Tour allure. These guys had a focused concept to create a casual tavern with a robust menu of comfort food-a little piece of Killarney heaven in South Florida.

People kickin’ back at the outdoor and indoor bars.

The smell of hickory grilled offerings and golf memorabilia welcome you as you step through the door. The bar centric arrangement of the place with surrounding booths and tables relate a hamish feeling that this is a place for some Craic (Irish for revelry) and to hang with friends.

The Graeme McDowell influence hovers above the bar.

And greets you buy the door.

Lest not forget the Major!

In spite of the GMac association the decor of the place is not over-golfed. Black and white photos adorn the walls of generational icons like George Burns, Steve McQueen, Rodney Dangerfield, and many others of blessed memory.

Quotes from old favorites from our past.

Einstein said…tried it once…too complicated.

Posters and maps of the British Isles and other Irish memorabilia give it the place the flavor of the old country.

We sat down and they handed us the menu…..comfort food sensory overload.

(Click to see a PDF of the Nona Blue Menu)

We started with an array of mouth watering Shareables-Blue Cheese Kettle Chips, Love Me Tenders, Fire Grilled Artichokes, and Fire Cracker Shrimp. Needless to say they did not last long and it just set us up for the next act.

How about this for starters….chips and blue cheese drizzle.

The Handwiches were particularly creative and tasty.

BLT Grilled Cheese got the thumbs up from Double-D…lobster salad/applewood bacon/havarati cheese/texas toast with a side of cheesy creamed corn.

Country Club-ham/turkey/bacon/cheddar cheese/monterey jack on multi-grain….health food..New York Deli portion.

Some went for the Nona Blue Plate Specials like Momma’s Double Stacked Meat Loaf and GMAC and Cheese or Off The Grill Entrees like Steak Frites or Pork Chops.

“Cider Brined” Double Cut Pork Chop…you better be hungry.

Steak Frites for those with less exotic tastes.

We weren’t leaving without testing the Sweet Endings. More sharing of the White Chocolate Cheesecake, the Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae, and, my personal favorite, the Banoffee Pie (Bananas/Toffee/Whipped Cream Shaved Chocolate Flakes).

In the true Irish Pub tradition they even threw in some live music with audience participation.

Just “Two Fat Guys” for the acoustic entertainment.

As you can see our folks were satisfied….

Fortunately none of us needed the Urgent Care facility upstairs….these guys thought of everything.

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January, 2015