In its 66-year history, the sizable lakefront property at 6129 Old Winter Garden Road has been a bastion for meat lovers, with such restaurants as Hilltop Barbecue, Frontier Cattle Co., Cattle Ranch Family Steakhouse and Chaparral Steakhouse having occupied the space.
But 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.
“I see it more as an extension of our principles, as a way to spread kindness,” he says. “Being vegan isn’t just about a diet, but a way of kind living.”
So, in addition to offering a plant-based roster of house-made burgers, flatbreads, soups, salads, vegan sushi and vegan desserts, Shergill plans on making the restaurant and its 2.5-acre grounds an inclusive space for the community where night markets, Saturday morning yoga and even silent discos will enhance the feel-good vibes.
Shergill says he’s also working with Nathan Fields of Credo Coffee Roasters to develop a house roast for their coffee program and adds that all their beverage syrups will be fashioned in-house.
Flamingo Vegan Cafe will open by Thanksgiving, so get a leg up by following @flamingovegancafe for all the latest.
