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Newsy Nuggets: New rooftop bar at Bonnet Creek, milestones for Tap Room and Saffron

Written By Scott Joseph On May 14, 2021

Illume bar

JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa has announced May 27 for the opening of its new rooftop restaurant and bar, Illume. The venue will offer panoramic views of the surrounding area, including the various nightly Disney fireworks shows.

The ninth-floor space was designed my Street Sense to take full advantage of the views, with glass walls, a 360-degree bar and an outdoor space that is larger than indoor. Illume will feature a sushi bar led by chef Myra Burkle. Heliana Bartlett is the general manager.

Illume deck

Illume joins the JW’s well-received Sear + Sea restaurant. Reservations for Illume are now being accepted at OpenTable.

taproom 20

Tap Room at Dubsdread celebrated its twentieth anniversary Monday by closing. Just for the evening. Owner and operator Steve Gunter and Barbara Teal wanted to celebrate the staff and not make them work – Tim Webber Catering sent over staff – and started the evening off recognizing those who have been on the team the longest, including Erick Ortiz, pictured above with Gunter and Teal, who’s been with Tap Room for the entire 20 years, joining shortly after the restaurant opened. He now is the senior banquet captain.

With this milestone, Tap Room at Dubsdread becomes an official Orlando Classic.

Saffron, the Indian restaurant on Sand Lake Road, is halfway there. It is commemorating 10 years on Restaurant Row. Chef/owner Sunny Corda recently shared his recipe for Goan Prawns Xacutti for a Scott’s Kitchen segment. Even if you don’t want to cook it, watch the video to get an appreciation for the complexities of Indian cuisine.

South Steel SJO March AD copy

Speaking of Restaurant Row, the previously announced Nick Filet is set to open Friday at the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips. Mr. Filet – may I call you Nick? – is out of Paoli, Penn. and specializes in steak sandwiches. It’s a relatively new business, started in 2018 by father and son Keith and Nick Kline. The Orlando restaurant will be operated by Tracy and Frank Barone, who knew the Klines when they lived in Pennsylvania before moving to Winter Garden when their daughter enrolled at UCF. There are plans to open other Nick Filets in Florida including another corporate-owned restaurant in Orlando.

By almost no demand – popular or otherwise – Bojangles (no, not Mr.) is returning to the area. The Southern chicken chain came to town briefly before closing all of its Central Florida locations in 2015. Expect them to start Bojangling in 2022.

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.

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