Faiyaz Kara, Author at Orlando Weekly

Rye Row Olde Hearth restaurant opening

Rye Row by Olde Hearth finally open on Ivanhoe Row; The Moderne and Red Panda present a noodles and cocktails pop-up

Plus lots more Orlando restaurant openings, a few closings, and food news and events

by Faiyaz Kara October 2, 2026October 2, 2026

Orlando restaurant openings & closings: Rye Row by Olde Hearth has soft-opened at 1231 N. Orange Ave. in Ivanhoe Village, offering everything from fresh sourdough loaves and croissants to danishes and granola

Mordisco Steakhouse

Restaurant Reviews

Mordisco Steakhouse on I-Drive serves up ‘carne en vara’

Beef, fish, chicken and pork belly slow-roasted over open wood embers

by Faiyaz Kara October 1, 2026October 1, 2026

Aoba Omakase Chef Kenny Sze

Openings, Closings + Moves

Japanese wet-aged sushi spot comes to the North Quarter

The 12-seat Aoba Omakase opens Oct. 20 with chef Kenny Sze behind the counter.

by Faiyaz Kara September 30, 2026September 30, 2026

DiVino by Grappolo, a new concept from the owners of Grappolo Cucina Italiana in Winter Park, has opened in the space recently vacated by Pizza Bruno at the Maitland Social. DiVino serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas as well as dishes from Grappolo’s menu including bruschetta, antipasto boards, arancini, polpette al ragù, tiramisu, cannoli and pastiera Napoletana.

Openings, Closings + Moves

New restaurants taking over: DiVino by Grappolo in ex-Pizza Bruno spot, Koa Sushi in former Grilled Cheezus space …

Reeves Sports Bar has soft-opened in the old Swiggs space; Nếp Sài Gòn BBQ & Hot Pot to open in a former Moe’s Southwest Grill; Mae Tao & Son’s Kitchen has opened in the former Izziban Katsu space

by Faiyaz Kara September 28, 2026September 28, 2026

Jiang's Kitchen

Restaurant Reviews

Jiang’s Kitchen downtown folds ambition into every soup dumpling

Jiang unchained

by Faiyaz Kara September 25, 2026September 25, 2026

Budding restaurateur Harjit Shergill is set to usher in the space’s meatless era with Flamingo Vegan Cafe, a craft coffee shop and vegan restaurant poised to open along the shores of Lake San Susan. For Shergill, a lifelong vegan who’s lived in Orlando since 1980, the venue will reflect the values he was brought up with.

Openings, Closings + Moves

Flamingo Vegan Cafe promises to bring plant-based comfort, craft coffee and kindness to MetroWest

The venue on 2.5 acres of lakeside property will open by Thanksgiving

by Faiyaz Kara September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

cows n cabs bull tip jar

Orlando area restaurants open now, opening soon: Sujuo Korean Eatery, Hayashi Tarō, Humble Crumb and more

Plus Cows ‘n Cabs coming up and many more restaurant moves

by Faiyaz Kara September 11, 2026September 11, 2026

The newest concept from Thriving Hospitality, whose portfolio includes Thrive Cocktail Lounge, Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen, Packwoods and the soon-to-open Terra Modern American, won’t just offer a sophisticated sports bar experience with a proper craft cocktail program, but cheffy spins on classic pub grub courtesy of Thriving Hospitality chef-partner Ryan Stewart.

Drinking + Bars

Reeves Sports Bar brings craft cocktails, cheffy bar fare and a slice of history to the downtown core

The Thriving Hospitality concept soft-opens this weekend with a menu designed by chef Ryan Stewart

by Faiyaz Kara September 9, 2026September 14, 2026

Turci Panino

Openings, Closings + Moves

Turci Italian Deli opening across the street from Gabriel’s Sub Shop in College Park

The move by owners Vinicius Turci and Nathalia Kalil includes an expansion of Turci Pasta

by Faiyaz Kara September 8, 2026September 8, 2026

After 25 years as the Grand Bohemian Hotel, the boutique auberge in the heart of downtown Orlando has been rebranded as Hotel Beauden, a name inspired by the city’s designation as “The City Beautiful.” And as part of that rebrand, the hotel’s signature Euro-French restaurant, The Boheme, has been renamed Libra, while the Bosendorfer Lounge is now called Bar Libra. Together, the restaurant and lounge will celebrate Orlando’s diverse neighborhoods “through a culinary program shaped by Hispanic, Floridian and Asian influences.”

Openings, Closings + Moves

The Boheme restaurant at the rebranded Hotel Beauden downtown is now ‘Libra’

The name change is part of the Grand Bohemian Hotel’s new brand identity

by Faiyaz Kara September 1, 2026September 1, 2026

Openings, Closings + Moves

Pig Floyd’s is moving out of its Mills 50 space to shack up with Pigzza three blocks away

The move comes just five months after both concepts filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

by Faiyaz Kara August 29, 2026August 29, 2026

Openings, Closings + Moves

DiVino will replace Pizza Bruno inside Maitland Social and serve, yep, wood-fired pizzas

The sister concept to Grappolo Cucina Italiana in Winter Park will open next week

by Faiyaz Kara August 28, 2026August 28, 2026

Mills Night Market going permanent with new food stalls, cocktail bar and mahjong parlor

The latest from James Beard-nominated restaurateurs Johnny and Jimmy Tung is set to open early next year

by Faiyaz Kara August 15, 2026August 17, 2026

Orlando’s 24 most essential late-night eateries that aren’t big chains

Asian fusion, above-average pizza, Korean barbecue, smashburgers and more eats readily available to satisfy well into the night.

by Chloe Greenberg and Faiyaz Kara August 14, 2026August 14, 2026

Tamara Heritage

Tamara Heritage, an Indian restaurant promising ‘Michelin-star caliber’ fare, will open downtown on Church Street

The restaurant takes over the space previously occupied by The Rusty Spoon and Elize

by Faiyaz Kara August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

New Peruvian opens in Longwood; ‘Florida’s largest craft brewery’ opens in Minneola; more food news

Plus Red Lobster reopens their Kissimmee location just in time for Crabfest to kick off

by Faiyaz Kara August 4, 2026August 4, 2026

The facade of the commercial strip of businesses anchored by Bb.q Chicken along East Colonial Drive in Mills 50 is getting a proper facelift and with it, some new culinary destinations. Wavy Baby, offering Filipino-inspired breakfast and lunch sandwiches, a pastry program and non-alcoholic beverages, will open later this year or early next in the old LA Boiling Seafood Crab & Crawfish space.

Openings, Closings + Moves

Orlando’s coolest nabe welcomes Wavy Baby, Udon Fifty, Rews on Mills, Nomori and yes, more-y

Plus Charcoal Zyka rebrands as Beef Bae, Garp & Fuss is ~temporarily~ closed, and more food news

by Faiyaz Kara August 1, 2026August 4, 2026

The facade of the commercial strip of businesses anchored by Bb.q Chicken along East Colonial Drive in Mills 50 is getting a proper facelift and with it, some new culinary destinations. Wavy Baby, offering Filipino-inspired breakfast and lunch sandwiches, a pastry program and non-alcoholic beverages, will open later this year or early next in the old LA Boiling Seafood Crab & Crawfish space.

Orlando Area News

Over 20 new restaurants and businesses are moving into Mills 50

New in the neighborhood

by Chloe Greenberg and Faiyaz Kara July 31, 2026July 31, 2026

Openings, Closings + Moves

Jay Lucy’s will take over the Plantees space in Mills 50

Grass-fed burgers, tallow fries and ‘fun’ shakes will be served.

by Faiyaz Kara July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

Pho Bar Mills 50

Orlando gets another Pho Bar; more fine dining and a German Hawaiian cafe to open downtown

And a cafeteria-style, pork-free, veg-friendly, soul food restaurant opens in Altamonte Springs

by Faiyaz Kara July 15, 2026August 3, 2026