In Winter Park, the well-worn Greek standby Andros Restaurant is being overhauled into Za Bella Ristorante (1234 Orange Ave.; 407-628-2333), opening this month. Over in the 400 block of Orlando Avenue, Jasmine's of Winter Park is closer to its long-anticipated June opening in the space vacated by Trastevere Ristorante. The owners closed Jasmine's on Lake Lily in Maitland last year to renovate this somewhat historic space in the New England Wharf shopping village that backs up to Lake Island Park.
In the north, Rosario Massimo's Terramia Wine Bar Trattoria (former owner of Allegria Wine Bar Cucina in Winter Park) will open any moment, pending passage of pesky paperwork. Massimo's Altamonte Springs address is a mouthful in itself, 1185 Spring Centre South Boulevard, (407) 774-8466.
The upscale Dexter's family is serving from Dexter's of Lake Mary (950 Market Promenade Ave., 407-805-3090), using the same formula as its original Dexter's in Winter Park and Dexter's in Thornton Park, in that the newcomer also has its own unique look, feel and menu.
Gone from Lake Mary is bright new star erBello from restaurant veteran Enzo Perlini. His flagship namesake on the shores of Lake Fairy in Longwood, Enzo's on the Lake, will remain open. Perlini's battle with leukemia proved too taxing for the demands of erBello. There's no confirmed date for a reopening.
Also gone is Jockamo's in Fern City -- a true purveyor of New Orleans-style cuisine. The second and relatively new Jockamo's site in south Orlando is the only one standing (3042 W. Sand Lake Road, 407-834-0220). It's a heck of a drive down there for the former clientele, but worth it, if you know what red beans and rice are supposed to taste like.
Closer to downtown, Wilfredo's (1421 N. Orange Ave., 407-228-0300) is undergoing unexpected renovations due to damage from a fire on the top floor. Owners say the Italian restaurant should be seating customers in three months.
