Orlando’s dining-out scene is moving and changing, and the past couple of months have been no exception. This winter, the city has rolled out the red carpet for new culinary stars including poke counters, Greek tavernas, French brasseries, Latin brunch concepts and more.
Here are 19 new restaurants that opened in Orlando this winter.
390 N. Orange Ave., Orlando “We visited this new Greek restaurant on its second day of opening to celebrate a birthday, and it was absolutely amazing! The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, with beautifully curated decor that transported us straight to the Mediterranean. The food? Incredible. Every dish was bursting with authentic flavors, from the perfectly seasoned gyros to the freshest tzatziki we’ve ever had. The service was equally outstanding — friendly, attentive, and eager to ensure we had a memorable experience.” — Luis M. Credit: Photo via Google MapsArden, across from the soon-to-open City Food Hall, offers biodynamic wines, low-ABV cocktails and a food menu from Red Panda Noodle’s Eliot Hillis and Seth Parker Credit: photo courtesy Arden/InstagramMosonori
1100 Orlando Ave., Winter Park
“Now, the idea behind hand roll bars is to enjoy a quick meal and get out. But most of Mosonori’s patrons have been lingering for upward of an hour, and I don’t blame them one bit. The driving soundtrack, handsome digs and people-watching-friendly layout makes it hard to just dine and dart out of there. Hell, I too have been guilty of parking my seat at the bar for bit too long. I’ve even felt bad about it, considering Mosonori has a no reservation policy. What can I say? Eating for me is often an exercise in endurance, and hardly ever a race.” Read the full review. Credit: photo by Matt Keller Lehman
East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando Sonny Nguyen, the man behind highly lauded ramen-ya Domu and kushiyaki house Tori Tori, is launching a new restaurant collective dubbed the Small Food Group that will unveil a two-in-one restaurant concept in three phases later this year. First up and open now is Rion’s Ocean Room, a casual seafood counter named after Nguyen’s first-born daughter, specializing in poke-by-the-pound similar to the poke joints found on Oahu. The second concept, Gyukatsu Rose, will introduce gyukatsu, or Japanese fried beef cutlets, to the masses at the end of the year. Credit: Photo via Rion's Ocean Room/FacebookPalm Tree Club at Pointe Orlando Credit: photo by Seth KuberskyParea Greek Taverna takes over the former Outpost space in Maitland City Centre Credit: courtesy imageBlack Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro
761 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park
Black Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro, a Latin-ish concept by Univision personality Jose “El Negro” Figueroa, now serves cheffy breakfast, lunch and early dinner fare as well as weekend brunch. Ángel Serrano, a fixture in Puerto Rico’s food landscape, oversees the menu. Credit: Photo via Black Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro/Facebook
500 S. Park Ave., Winter Park The Chapman and the Chase Lounge aim to celebrate the history of Winter Park. The name is a reference to Winter Park founders Loring Augustus Chase and Oliver Everett Chapman, and the restaurant presents a menu of the best Florida has to offer — fresh fish and seafood as well as locally raised beef and plenty of citrus — in a space inspired by fin de siècle style. Credit: Photo via Chapman Restaurant/FacebookPalm Beach Meats
3421 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
“When owners Eric and Meghan San Pedro moved here from Palm Beach and opened an outpost in SoDo, they brought the only business in the nation licensed to sell Kobe beef in a retail, wholesale and restaurant setting. Yes, it’ll cost you $300 a pound, but there are other top-grade, or A5, wagyu varieties here. Takamori, or ‘drunken wagyu,’ comes from cows that are finished on a sake mash. Ribeyes are $199 per pound, and picanha $99 per pound. You’ll also find Kirameki, Miyazaki and Kagoshima wagyu for $130.99 per pound.” Read the full review. Credit: Photo via Palm Beach Meats/Facebook
724 Brookhaven Drive, Orlando BarkHaven Dog Bar, an oasis for humans and furry friends alike, is now open in Ivanhoe Village. Boasting a full bar with local brews, coffee station, live music, grooming services and food trucks, BarkHaven aims to provide a space for humans to gather and bring their tail-wagging comrades with them. The 3,600-square-foot bar space with an attached off-leash turf park also offers high-speed internet service for those looking to connect without having to leave the canine companions behind. Credit: photo by Matt Keller LehmanPortillo’s comes to Waterford Lakes Credit: Photo via Portillo's/FacebookGyukatsu Rose
3201 Corrine Drive, Orlando
Gyukatsu Rose, now open in East End Market, is the latest concept from Domu founder Sonny Nguyen, serving gyukatsu, or Japanese fried beef cutlets. Wagyu is typically used, which is seasoned, coated in breadcrumbs, and given a quick fry before being sliced rare and served alongside a mini stone grill for diners to sear to their liking. Credit: Photo via Google MapsBurrow Cafe and Play
618 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
This new spot combines an adult space and child-friendly play areas in the former Russian Ballet space near Colonial Photo & Hobby. Designed by the team behind Mosonori and Tori Tori, the Mills 50 café serves Lineage coffee, beer, wine, seltzers, non-alcoholic beverages and grab-and-go snacks. Co-owners Morgan Claytor and Jovana Bratonozic aim to provide a welcoming environment for families to connect, work and play in one spot. Burrow Cafe and Play offers imaginative outdoor kids’ play areas and is expected to host regular food truck events. Credit: rendering by GDP Design Build/via The Burrow Cafe and Play, InstagramNuri’s Tavern
63 E. Pine St., Orlando
“‘Nuri’s is like modern Pizza Hut for millennials and I’m in love,’ says my friend and fellow food writer Adam Erace, and he’s spot-on. Only the pies hearken back to the pre-personal-pan-pizza era, when the Hut’s hand-tossed, thin-crust wonders ruled the land. And the tavern-style pies devised by Team Market Group chef-scientists Jason Campbell and Nick Grecco are instant classics.” Read the full review. Credit: Photo via Nuri's Tavern/Facebook
1412 Alden Road, Orlando The French brasserie is now open and is a collaborative project by chefs Michael Collantes (Soseki, Bar Kada, Sushi Saint) and DJ Tangalin (Danilo’s Pasta Bar), with a menu that features a raw seafood bar and a selection of entrees from land and sea, including locally sourced fish. Credit: Photo via Chez Les Copains
7840 W. Irlo Bronson Highway, Orlando The Charleston-based pickleball “eatertainment” venue Crush Yard will open toward the end of the year near Disney. In addition to indoor pickleball courts, the boob-tube-heavy space will house a modern restaurant plating “elevated comfort food” and will offer 36 beers on tap as well as wine and cocktails. Credit: Photo via avenueeventgroup.com
861 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Talay, offering seafood-leaning Thai fare, from the folks behind Isan Zaap, is now open in NoDo. Credit: Photo via Google MapsGolden Hour owner Heather LaVine is concerned about proposed tariffs, but is ready to face whatever comes next. Credit: Courtesy photo/Jamie GriffinLuca Turci Italian Restaurant
153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park
Luca Turci Italian Restaurant, from Turci Pasta and Turci Panino owner Vinicius Turci, has replaced Braccia Ristorante on Morse Boulevard in Winter Park. It comes from the team behind Turci Pasta in College Park, likely all part of Turci’s aggressive growth plan, which also includes Turci Panini and Turci Osteria Italiana (slated to open mid-2025 at Maitland City Centre). Credit: Photo via Google Maps
