OPENINGS
At long last, Valkyrie Doughnuts has (soft) opened on Corporate Boulevard near UCF … Bitters & Brass, a cocktail bar and absinthe house, has opened in Sanford … Chuan Lu Garden has opened its second location near UCF on the northeast corner of Colonial Drive and Alafaya Trail … Hong Kong Rice Box, serving congee, dumplings and Hong Kong-style fare, has opened on Alafaya Woods Boulevard in Oviedo … Mesa21 will open in the old Gargi’s location in Ivanhoe Village March 17 … Another Teak Neighborhood Grill will open in the former Ran-Getsu space in Maitland by mid-April … Bates New England Seafood & Steakhouse opens this April near the West Oaks Mall in Ocoee … Bem Bom on Corrine hopes to complete renovations in the next four weeks and will soft open by mid-April, with a grand opening slated for Cinco de Mayo.
CLOSINGS
Pincho Factory in Dr. Phillips has shuttered. According to a statement released by the company, the franchisee “mismanaged the restaurant” and failed to meet Pincho Factory standards … After 80 years in business, Burton’s Bar in Thornton Park has closed, though look for them to reopen in a new location in the coming weeks.
NEWS/EVENTS
Scott Pizzo, former chef de cuisine at Cask & Larder, is now chef de cuisine at Highball & Harvest at the Ritz-Carlton … Raglan Road’s Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival runs March 16-19 with a bevy of Irish musicians, dancers and cuisine, including loin of bacon and cabbage, the quintessential St. Patrick’s Day dish. Visit raglanroad.com for more … Liam Fitzpatrick’s Restaurant in Lake Mary will stage its ninth annual St. Patrick’s Day block party. The event is free and open to all … Redlight Redlight, Ten10 Brewery and Cask & Larder team up for a Brewery Crawl March 17 starting at 5 p.m., with each releasing a special Irish-inspired beer … The St. Patrick’s Day Roast at the Ravenous Pig starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 18. For $18, guests can enjoy corned beef brisket, choucroute, potato salad, Irish soda bread and a chocolate-stout cupcake with Baileys buttercream … Crooked Can Brewery’s Celtic Festival March 17-19 includes Highland games, live music by Off-Kilter, and plenty of Irish grub. The festival is open to all ages.
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2017.
