Some newsy bits to close out January:
Anukul Hampton, the talented chef who most recently was cooking up a storm at Circa in Winter Park, has taken a position with Hilton Bonnet Creek.
Terrace 390 has named a chef for its impending opening. David Morrison, who has cooked at Gaylord Palms and in the
Florida Keys, will head the kitchen when the new bistro opens, probably in March. The 390 in the name is the address of the new restaurant in the Bank of America Building on Orange Avenue. By the way, those of you who were hoping a new restaurant would open at the top of the building in the space where Manuel’s on the 28th closed almost exactly two years ago (it was just after Valentine’s Day), you can stop holding your breath: that space is now an office. It was never meant to be a restaurant. When the building was originally constructed, in the late 1980s, it was supposed to be a board room. Does anyone remember the original name of the building? (Answer below.)
Of course the space where Terrace 390 will be was the longtime home of Harvey’s Bistro, one of the restaurants developed by Manny Garcia and his team. Garcia and company are currently putting the finishing touches on City Fire, the restaurant that will occupy the space previously held by an Urban Flats at the Dellagio plaza on Restaurant Row. The furnishings are in, the training is underway, and inspections are planned. A mid to late February opening is the target. Stand by.
We have two new Indian restaurants in the area, and neither is on International Drive. Moghul has taken up residence in a former fast food restaurant on Semoran Boulevard, just north of University Boulevard, in Winter Park. The early buzz is encouraging.
Heat Tandoor Lounge in the AmChurch District (Amway Center and Church Street) also opened recently. You can expect an upscale, trendy kind of space at Heat, which is at 55 W. Church St., and a menu that offers tapas size Indian fare.
Shipyard Emporium had its grand opening Friday. The brewpub, which also features a market and bakery, threw a huge party that had the space at 200 W. Fairbanks Ave. flowing out into the parking lot, eliminating what limited parking space existed. Couldn’t really get a feel for what the place will be like — unless it plans on being elbow-to-elbow every night, which I suppose would make the owners happy. I’ll look forward to visiting when I can actually attach my belly to the bar rather than yelling over the heads of others trying to get a bartender’s attention.
Coming in February: Mucho Liquors, the package liquor store from the folks slinging tacos at Mucho, 101 S. Eola Ave., Orlando. The same folks own Stardust at a couple of blocks away on Lake Eola and will open XL Gallery above that basement bar in March. I thought XL Gallery would be a place that sells plus-sized garments, but it will be an art gallery with a bar. I’m there. Also next month — these people are busy! — they’ll start construction on Sonoma Draft House in the former Beacon space, across the street from Mucho.
Answer to the question above: What is currently known as the Bank of America building was originally the duPont Centre, named for Bill duPont, who was also the first owner of the Orlando Magic. The building has also been known as First F.A., Barnett Bank Building and NationsBank. The restaurant space on the first floor was supposed to be a restaurant to be called Harvey’s (named for the statue of a large dancing rabbit that no longer sits outside the buidling) that someone besides Garcia was to own. It was a Bakerstreet and an Italian restaurant called Ettore’s (one of the worst dining experiences in my 23-year career as a critic) before it became Harvey’s Bistro.
{fblike}
