Clifford Alejos
Goodbye, midnight breakfast.
If you were like us, you might have lauded the coming of a late-night, sit-down restaurant coming to downtown when Red Mug Diner opened in 2015.
Other than Steak 'n Shake, Denny's and Perkins, Orlando doesn't offer much in the post-booze diner category (one can only live off vegan hotdogs,
double Ds and stand-up slices for so long).
We loved the USB charging ports at each booth, the impossible-to-finish portions and the ability to pre-emptively stave off that hangover with an order of sausage biscuits and white gravy after last call. The service — well, not so much.
Looks like that was our last Not Your Father's Root Beer Float served under the fluorescent lights.
We had a feeling something might be up when it was revealed that Ono Poke was taking over half the space (what restaurant owner gives up half of a profitable restaurant, right?), but a full closure comes as somewhat of a surprise after Red Mug released its new menu in early May.
In the past, the space on Pine Street was also home to ill-fated Breakfast Club and Zillybee Cafe diner operations. RIP.
According to
Bungalower, Ono Poke is still moving into half of the space now-formerly occupied by Red Mug, and the owner is willing to rent the other half to a diner concept if the right tenant comes along.