Recent Reviews and Restaurant News

Goff’s Drive In, the South Orange Blossom Trail ice cream shop that opened in 1948, has apparently closed permanently. A post on its Facebook page Tuesday said: “Goff’s has always been more than just a cinder block ice cream shop and we refer to our customers as Orlando’s Finest for a reason. No matter the weather or temperature, you showed up. When there was a pandemic, you showed up. When there was adversity, you showed up. When we asked for your help, you showed up, big.”

Its latest bit of adversity was in May when an arsonist caused enough damage to force the shop to close down for repairs. It never fully recovered.

Although the Facebook post is not signed, Todd Peacock was the most recent owner. The post detailed the trail of ownership from Edwin Goff to “my grandfather William Truesdell” when Goff retired, then Truesdell’s wife, Joanne, after he died. Peacock has been the owner for the past 13 years.

The post concluded: “This isn’t goodbye. This is see you later. We feel your love Orlando. And I hope you feel ours.”

When Downtown Credo opens its new location inside the Downtown YMCA, it will debut a new food program that has not been part of the other locations.

Avery Fields, one of the fair-trade coffeeshop’s seven owners, said they recognized that being in a fitness facility would mean moving beyond the baked goods they offer at the two current locations, in the North Quarter and Health Village.

“We’re excited to be in there,” Fields said of the Y. Credo will be taking over the space that had previously been a Tropical Smoothie.

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It’s the holidays at Grande Lakes Orlando and the offerings are so large and lavish that have to spell Grand with an extra e.

Grande Lakes, of course, is the sprawling resort that includes the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels and their myriad food and beverage venues that will have special dinners. But for the holidays, many exclusive events are also planned beyond the restaurants.

For example, the annual Gingerbread School at the Ritz, in which beginning construction students learn how to build their very own cookie condo using the life-sized gingerbread house in the lobby constructed by the resorts’ pastry masters for inspiration. The good news is that you get to take your creation home with you without it having to go through City of Orlando permitting. Gingerbread School has multiple sessions on weekends through Dec. 24. See the Grande Lakes Holiday brochure for times and tuition.