Big new bites are on their way to Orlando, and we’re keeping track of all of them. Authentic Italian pasta, “nonconformist” pizzas, teppanyaki concepts and massive food halls are all slated to pop up around town in 2025. Let’s ring in the new year with an empty stomach and a hefty appetite.
Here are the 20 most anticipated new restaurants coming to Orlando in 2025.
Turci Osteria Italiana
190 Independence Lane, Maitland
Vinicius Turci of Turci Panino and Turci Pasta will open Turci Osteria Italiana in the former Midici space at Maitland City Centre in mid-2025. It promises a unique take on Italian cuisine, based on the foundation laid by Turci Pasta. Credit: Photo by Matt Keller Lehman
150 Central Blvd., Orlando Eola Food Hall, promising a speakeasy bar and a global roster of food vendors, will open downtown directly across from the Orlando Public Library. The hall will consist of a two-story, 15,000-square-foot venue full of the “best of” local eats. It’s set to open late 2025. Credit: Image via Eola Food HallFuture home of Black Coffee/Cafe Negro Bistro Credit: Faiyaz KaraJune will draw inspiration from Ki’is in Riviera Maya Credit: Image via kiiskanai.comChef William Shen Credit: photo by Faiyaz Kara
807 N. Orange Ave., Orlando Sparrow, a 1,978-square-foot wine bar and lounge, will be located about 100 feet away from Reyes Mezcaleria and will present a focused menu drawing on executive chef/partner Wendy Lopez’s heritage (her great grandfather, “Papa Chema,” was Spanish). But flavors and techniques from Portugal, Italy and France will also pepper the bill of fare with continental classics like tortilla Española, patatas bravas, jamón ibérico and conservas served alongside bacalhau croquetas, cacio e pepe and prawn de bourgogne. Credit: courtesy Sue ChinCity Food Hall
1412 Alden Road, Orlando
City Food Hall in Ivanhoe Village is poised to open late September where The Hall on the Yard once stood, and Danilo’s Pasta Bar chef DJ Tagalin is joining forces with Soseki’s Michael Collantes on three concepts inside the two-story space: Chez Les Copains, a classic French brasserie, Asin – a Filipino chef’s tasting counter, and a reboot of Collantes’ Taglish but with a whole new menu overseen by Tagalin. Other vendors setting up shop inside the two-story food hall are Ramen Takagi and egg sandwich outfit Egg Dose. Credit: Image via Google MapsBurrow Cafe and Play
618 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
This new spot combines an adult space and child-friendly play areas in the former Russian Ballet space near Colonial Photo & Hobby. Designed by the team behind Mosonori and Tori Tori, the Mills 50 café serves Lineage coffee, beer, wine, seltzers, non-alcoholic beverages and grab-and-go snacks. Co-owners Morgan Claytor and Jovana Bratonozic aim to provide a welcoming environment for families to connect, work and play in one spot. Burrow Cafe and Play offers imaginative outdoor kids’ play areas and is expected to host regular food truck events. Credit: rendering by GDP Design Build/via The Burrow Cafe and Play, InstagramTaffer’s Tavern
9101 International Drive, Orlando
Taffer’s Tavern, a full-service restaurant and bar concept by Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer, is coming to Orlando’s International Drive this winter. The new outpost, which will be the chain’s very first Florida location, will offer signature drinks, comfort food and tavern classics, and an “inviting and warm ambience.” Credit: Photo via Taffer's Tavern/FacebookPepper Lunch
TBA
Pepper Lunch — a teppanyaki concept where customers grill their own meats and veggies on an iron griddle — is headed to Orlando in 2024. On offer at the restaurant are steaks, curry rice dishes, teriyaki and even pasta. The chain prides itself on diners being able to get in, cook their meal, chow down and head back out the door in 20 minutes (if they so choose) with a price point under $20. Credit: Courtesy photoLorelei Wine Bar
737 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando
Arthur Boothe and Julian Burgos built their reputation on cocktail bars (Death in the Afternoon, Suffering Bastard and the now-shuttered Bitters & Brass), but the dynamic duo of drink is getting into the grape game and will soon open a wine bar in Mills 50. Lorelei, named after the German siren of lore, will open this February across the street from Edoboy. Credit: photo courtesy Arthur Boothe
959 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park Michael Collantes is resuscitating Perla’s Pizza, the pie concept he started with Christian Ziegler in February 2021 before dissolving shortly after. Ziegler took over Perla’s space on Virginia Drive and reopened it as Ziggie’s Pizza. But, later this year, Collantes will open Perla’s Pizza v2.0 two doors down from his omakase house Soseki, and next door to his sake lounge Bar Kada, in Winter Park. The spot specialized in nonconformist pies, featuring unconventional toppings like pineapple jam and bananas. Credit: Photo via LoopNet
500 S. Park Ave., Orlando The Chapman & Chase Lounge will open at 500 S. Park Ave. and celebrate the history of Winter Park. The name is a reference to Winter Park founders Loring Augustus Chase and Oliver Everett Chapman, and the restaurant will present a menu of the best Florida has to offer — fresh fish and seafood as well as locally raised beef and plenty of citrus — in a space inspired by fin de siècle style. Credit: Faiyaz KaraNoir Bar
861 N. Orange Ave., Orlando
Noir Bar will open in the old Bitters & Bottles space in the North Quarter at 861 N. Orange Ave., next door to seafood-leaning Thai restaurant Talay. Noir will offer Thai-inspired cocktails and tapas. Talay will offer a menu of seafood-leaning Thai fare from the old City Pub space. Both restaurant and cocktail/tapas bar are owned by the same folks who run Isan Zaap. Credit: Image via Noir Bar/Facebook
729 N. Mills Ave., Orlando A Japanese teppanyaki concept akin to the wildly popular Pepper Lunch (which is also slated to open this year in the city) will tender their do-it-yourself dishes on the site of the now-demolished 7-Eleven near the intersection of Mills Avenue and Colonial Drive. Credit: Photo via Hot as Rice Japanese Kitchen/InstagramOrlando’s H Mart (whenever it opens) will now host a food hall too Credit: Photo via AdobeHui Lau Shan
831 N. Mills Ave., Orlando
An Orlando outpost of Hong Kong-based dessert chain Hui Lau Shan is expected to open later this fall. The shop, with locations all over the world, specializes in all things mango and all things sweet. Credit: Photo via Hui Lau Shan/InstagramHikiniku to Sumi
Juju, 700 Maguire Blvd., Orlando
Chef Lewis Lin will introduce Japanese Hamburg steaks, or hambagu, in a lunchtime subconcept at Juju’s kappo bar called Hikiniku to Sumi. The ground Japanese wagyu will be grilled over binchotan coals and served over steamed koshi-hikari rice that Lin says will be made in a traditional clay donabe pot. Credit: Photo via Lewis Lin
7988 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando Lewis Lin (Susuru, Juju) will have a busy year ahead of him with Mao Mao opening in the fall but, prior to the handroll eatery, he and investor partners Khoa Nguyen and Keren Swanson will open this 100-seater specializing in wagyu shabu-shabu next door to Peperoncino in the Dellagio Town Center. Nabe will also offer premium seafood, as well as cocktails and a sake program. Nola’s Ice Cream will be situated in front of the almost 3,000-square-foot space. Credit: Image via Google MapsMason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
2 S. Orange Ave., Orlando
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, the Maryland-based chain, will serve both Maine- and Connecticut-style lobster rolls from the former Embassy Irish Bar space downtown. Credit: Photo via Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls/Facebook