<div id="fb-root"></div>
<script async defer crossorigin="anonymous" src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v17.0&appId=1360880647827568&autoLogAppEvents=1" nonce="nOICdQjC"></script>

Newsy Nuggets: More openings at Disney Springs, more closings elsewhere, and other stuff

Written By Scott Joseph On August 14, 2020

Maria and Enzos balcony still

Three more restaurants have opened at Disney Springs, and some substantial ones at that. The Edison, Maria & Enzo’s and Enzo’s Hideaway, all operated by Patina Restaurant Group, reopened Thursday under a trademarked Dine Safe Commitment to Care program. The restaurants’ websites list the particulars of the Dine Safe protocols, which honestly don’t seem any more stringent than what most other restaurants are doing: distancing, table reconfigurations; enhanced cleaning of touched surfaces, one-use menus, etc. All three restaurants are well suited for distance dining, especially Edison and M&E’s.

Smoke donuts exterior

Belicoso Cigars and Cafe is ending its brief stay at Mills Park after Saturday’s service. What was that, eight months? Nine? Rather than the pandemic, blame is being placed on rent dispute. Hardly seems the time to being arguing over rent. And at a time when bars are scrambling to offer food so that they can call themselves a restaurant, Belicoso had it built in. Food trucker Smoke and Donuts was doing the food when I reviewed it back in March, which seems impossibly long ago, but neither entity’s website mentions the other. Belicoso will be offering specials until it closes Saturday at 10 p.m. Even the furniture is for sale. This space, if you’re keeping score, has been home to Four Rebels American Taco Kitchen & Bar and Segafredo Coffee, each of which counted its occupancy in months rather than years. I guess the landlord likes revolving doors.

South Steel SJO March AD copy

Dandelion closed

It also seems a strange time to be involved in employer/employee disputes, but that would seem to be what’s going on at Dandelion Community Cafe, the plant-based restaurant on Thornton Avenue in the Mills 50 district. From what I can gather, an employee was fired last week and the remaining staff decided to form a union, which, ok. But instead of getting involved in contract negotiation, the owner on Tuesday decided to close it at least through the end of the week, a move that the employees are characterizing as a lockout. Dandelion’s website says that the cafe is closed until further notice and to click the link for Dandelion’s website for updates, which when you click on it goes to Dandelion’s website telling you to check the website.

Cholo Dogs, the Mexican hot dogger, will close its stand at Market On Magnolia on Sept. 1, a victim of the pandemic. The hot dogs, known as weens, will still be slung – the preferred term – out of the cart from whence it all began. Seeing as how the cart was usually found outside of bars – Wally’s was a favorite spot – it’s hard to say where the cart may be found after Sept. 1.

Speaking of bars, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears will be in Orlando on Sunday to chitchat with bar owners about the possibility of reopening. Sometime. Maybe. Beshears will meet separately with microbrewery owners the same day.

Restaurants are starting to show up on the Visit Orlando Magical Dining website, but, oddly, they appear randomly as you click from page to page. VOMD is scheduled to begin in just two weeks.

We hope you find our reviews and news articles useful and entertaining. It has always been our goal to assist you in making informed decisions when spending your dining dollars. If we’ve helped you in any way, please consider making a contribution to help us continue our journalism. Thank you.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
<div class="fb-comments" data-href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" data-width="100%" data-numposts="5"></div>
Scott's Newsletter