Orange Blossom Pilsner’s tap room won’t be moving into the space at 1010 Virginia Drive after all. Disappointed OBP owner Tom Moench said the move was “a little premature,” but holds out hopes for a future OBP tap room in the city. See our Salivation Army blog post for more.
Also recently on our blog, Darden Restaurants announced last week that they’d sold Red Lobster for $2.1 billion. The seafood restaurant was Darden’s oldest, but as of late, it was also the group’s worst performer.
One of my favorite hoagie joints – Philly-based Primo Hoagies on South John Young Parkway – closed its doors last week with no apparent warning. This comes on the heels of the sudden closing of Crave near the Millenia Mall.
On a happier note, La Fiesta Mexican Grill will open in the former Lima 41 space on Curry Ford Road due to their “overwhelming popularity.” Look for a mid-May move-in. And those who’ve patiently awaited the opening of Gringos Locos No. 2 in the Milk District – well, keep waiting; they missed last week’s projected open date.
A Patagonia Marketplace will be the latest addition to this year’s Epcot Food & Wine Fest (Sept. 19-Nov. 10). Expect fare from Argentina and Chile like sustainably raised Verlasso salmon and arugula chimichurri.
Celeb chef Kevin Dundon returns to Orlando with his Summer Solstice Signature Dinner June 19 at Raglan Road. The five-course meal features items like spit-roasted baby lamb with a rosemary salt crust and fresh strawberries with white chocolate mousse. Cost is $95 per person, but reserve soon, as seats sell out quickly.
Extreme makeover alert: Elliott’s Public House (formerly Brian’s Restaurant) will undergo an extensive renovation this summer. Chef-owner Karl Elliott will employ the services of Robert Henry Thompson, who worked on the interior design of Santiago’s Bodega in Key West and Orlando.
BRIEFLY:
Look for the Fresh Market in Lake Mary to open May 28. The first 1,000 customers get a free bag of Fresh Market coffee … Also in Lake Mary, the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. has opened on Lake Mary Boulevard … Pig Floyd’s Smokehouse received their permit to start building, so expect a lot of construction at the former Attila’s Turkish Kitchen locale.
