Note: This article has been amended to show that Kim Wu Chinese Restaurant has not yet closed; it will close on Jan. 30, 2020.
- Orlando’s Bull & Bear Steakhouse has been named to OpenTable’s 2019 Top 100 Restaurants list. The Waldorf Astoria fine dining restaurant had a 92 percent recommendation from more than 2,029 reviews. Bull & Bear is a finalist for the 2019 Best Restaurant Overall Foodster Award.
- Chris Vitanza has been named executive pastry chef of Rosen Shingle Creek. Vitanza, a native of Philadelphia, has baked for presidents and was previously executive pastry chef at The Franklin Plaza Hotel, Hershey Hotel, Union League of Philadelphia, and Bookbinders Restaurant. He also owned a dessert restaurant called The Painted Parrot Cafe in Philly’s Old City. Vitanza replaces David Ramirez who left the resort earlier this year to focus on his popular David Ramirez Chocolates.
- Simply Gyros on Sand Lake Road is complicating its menu with the addition of empanadas, arepas and other South American dishes.
- Cavo’s Bar & Kitchen has softly opened in Thornton Park in the space that was previously FelipeRodriguezTequilaHouseTruckStopRestaurantGraffitiJunktionMidnightBlueLaFontanellaThorntonParkCafe. Best of luck to Cavo’s.
- Speaking of Graffiti Junktion (it’s in there somewhere), the outlet on Church Street in downtown Orlando has closed.
- Kim Wu Chinese Restaurant has closed will close Jan. 30, 2020, after a 37 year run on Kirkman Road.
- Kyoto Sushi & Grill will open in Colonial Plaza sometime next year, moving into the space from which Baja Burrito bolted.
- Kona Poke has opened a second location in Sanford.
- Bao’s Castle plans to set its buns down in the Sodo Shopping Center in 2020.
- And Bellicoso Cigars and Cafe has opened at Mills Park in the duplex space previously occupied by FourRebelsAmericanTacoKitchenandBarandSegafredo. Bellicoso moved from a Park Avenue address and added Cafe to its name through an arragement with Smoke and Donuts to provide food. Hmmm, cigars and pastries with holes. Even Freud would have to agree that sometimes a cigar is not just a cigar.
