Duck Lovers Pizza The Smiling Bison, 745 Bennett Road, 407-898-8580; thesmilingbison.com thesmilingbison.com A garlic puree-dressed crust quacks under the weight of duck confit, duck ham and duck sausage, topped with Monterey Jack, scattered with pea tendrils, drizzled with 10-year balsamic and crowned with a fried duck egg. Pic via Hannah Glogower Credit: photo by Hannah Glogower

Seminole County blog The Bokey reports that the owners of the Smiling Bison gastropub plan a second location in downtown Sanford, to occupy the Magnolia Square spot formerly home to Marco Dino Ristorante.

Chef Josh Oakley was quoted as saying that he and his business partner, Ron Thomas, have not yet decided whether the Sanford restaurant will carry the Smiling Bison moniker or another name. Oakley and Thomas are also trying to finalize the menu concept.

“It will be similar to what we’re doing now – a focus on the craft of cooking using the freshest ingredients and making everything from scratch,” Oakley said. The new restaurant will offer several craft beers as well as a full liquor bar.

One of Oakley’s signature dishes, the Duck Lover’s pizza, recently claimed a spot in our June 3 cover story, “The 20 local dishes we absolutely love right now.” The Smiling Bison will also represent at Bite Night on Monday, June 29.

Chef Josh Oakley in his kitchen on Bennett Road Credit: photo by Rob Bartlett

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This article appears in Jun 24-30, 2015.

Jessica Bryce Young has been working with Orlando Weekly since 2003, serving as copy editor, dining editor and arts editor before becoming editor in chief in 2016.