As we brave the current spate of closure announcements coming from several longstanding and locally loved Orlando eateries, Orlando Weekly thought it best to highlight the major shutdowns of the past years.
We’ve now lived the final days of Pom Pom’s, Farm + Haus, Ethos Vegan Kitchen, Hamburger Mary’s and Graffiti Junktion (to name a few) but there’s plenty more shuttered spots we just can’t seem to forget.
Here are some iconic Orlando restaurants closed since 2022 that we’ll sorely miss.
Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria
67 N. Bumby Ave., OrlandoLongstanding sandwich spot Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria will close its Milk District outpost in October, after nearly 20 years of business. Pom Pom’s opened in 2005 and has since become a staple eatery in Orlando. It’s been known for “East Meets West” themed sandwiches, unique salads, sides and teas, with an entire menu under $16. Credit: Photo via Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria/Facebook
DaJen Eats
323 E. Kennedy Blvd., EatonvilleDaJen Eats Cafe & Creamery was a Jamaican vegan restaurant in Eatonville. Chef-owner Jenn Ross left Jamaica and came to America at 16 years old, developed an appreciation for cooking and embarked on a vegan lifestyle. Credit: Photo by Rob Bartlett
Garden Bistro
712 E. Washington St., OrlandoGarden Bistro, the Thornton Park eatery formerly known as Island Time, closed in June — saying that their landlord decided to not renew the business’ lease. Garden Bistro/Island Time has been a mainstay of Thornton Park on Washington Street since 2019, particularly for their rollicking (and oft-sold out) Drag Brunches — kickstarted by local drag star Trinity the Tuck — on weekends. Credit: Photo via Garden Bistro/Google Maps
V’s Vegan Diner
908 State Road 436, CasselberryV’s Vegan diner, first a food truck, opened its brick-and-mortar outpost in Casselberry. The long-awaited restaurant specialized in plant-based, scratch-made diner classics like burgers, gyros and cheesesteaks. The non-carnivorous dining destination V’s Vegan Diner announced in March it will be shutting down for good. Credit: Photo via V's Vegan Diner/Facebook
Bem Bom
3101 Corrine Drive, OrlandoPopular Portuguese restaurant Bem Bom on Corrine closed in February after five years of sharing authentic food with the Orlando area.The news came three years after the concept lost its co-owner, late chef Francisco “Chico” Mendonça. Bem Bom, co-owned by Mendonça and A.J. Campofiore, got its start as a food truck before its brick-and-mortar location opened in 2018 at 3101 Corrine Drive. Bem Bom, which is Portuguese for “very good,” had a reputation of being just that. Credit: Photo via Bem Bom on Corrine/Instagram
Financier Cafe & Bistro
212 N. Park Ave., Winter ParkThe Winter Park counter-service eatery has halted service. Open for brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks, the New York City-based eatery offered both indoor and outdoor seating in a casual cafe environment. Credit: Photo via Financier Cafe & Bistro
Linda’s Winter Park Diner
1800 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter ParkLinda’s Winter Park Diner, a landmark local restaurant since the 1950s, closed its doors for the final time in July, 2023 nearly two months after the owner announced its forthcoming closure. The iconic eatery was known for its comforting array of homemade, old-fashioned diner fare, as well as the memories that local regulars made and shared along the way, from the opening of its doors decades ago to its final days on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. Credit: Linda's Winter Park Diner/Facebook
Thai Basil
5800 Red Bug Lake Road, Winter SpringsLong-standing Winter Springs restaurant Thai Basil closed in January after two decades of service. Thai Basil offered lunch and dinner, with menu items like curry fried rice, noodles, stir fry dishes, desserts and more. Credit: photo: Google Street View
1881 Dubai Restaurant
315 Pleasant St., OrlandoThe Uzbek/Turkish restaurant in Kissimmee has been (18)86’ed, albeit “temporarily,” according to representatives of the restaurant. 1881 Dubai Restaurant, subject of a highly positive review by OW food critic Faiyaz Kara, was home to both 1881 Restaurant (fronting Broadway) and 1881 Dubai Restaurant (on Pleasant). Both offered the exact same menu spotlighting the crossroads cuisine of Central Asia. Credit: photo by Rob Bartlett
