Mingos Downtown is Closed; UCF Mingos Uncertain
In news that will surprise no one, Mingos in downtown Orlando is closed. The restaurant, in the former Graze and Prickly Pear space in the Sanctuary condominium building, was largely financed by Nik Patel, who is under indictment for fraud. A second Mingos, in the Doubletree by Hilton near UCF that opened a few months ago, is under new management. A woman who answered the phone there Friday evening said she didn't know if it would continue to be known as Mingos or would be called something else.
I'm guessing something else.
On its Facebook page, Mingos in downtown Orlando said it was closing because of "an inability to reach an agreement in lease negotiations within a timely manner..."
The restaurant was not poorly reviewed, but having a partner embroiled in a messy legal issue that has seen him selling off homes and cars doesn't bode well.
H/T Joe Sarrubbo.
Kevin Dundon, master chef and co-owner of Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Downtown Disney, has been nominated for a Taste Award from the Lifestyle Entertainment Industry for his PBS and Create TV series, "Kevin Dundon's Modern Irish Food." Dundon is nominated in two categories: Best Food travel Series and Best Chef in a Series.
Just yesterday I told you about Art Smith perhaps opening a restaurant at the still-under-construction Disney Springs at Downtown Disney. Now I'm hearing that Rick Bayless, another Chicago area chef, is also in the negotiations phase. Bayless's restaurants include Mexican flavored Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, but according to my sources, he would bring a new brand to Central Florida. The arrangement would be made under a licensing agreement, but, I'm told, Bayless would be hands on with the development and ongoing operations of the restaurant.