Reyes Mezcaleria
Sue and Jason Chin of Seito Sushi and The Osprey Tavern operate this mezcal- and tequila-focused eatery in the North Quarter District. Designed by Sue Chin, the Yucatan-inspired interior is meant to be reminiscent of a “sassy abuela.” It features a playful, colorful and eclectic design with pops of forest green, bright yellow and gold. A wide variety of plants adorn the comfortable space inside and out. A sitting lounge near the front entrance features a hollowed-out vintage TV and mismatched furniture. Natural light pours into the dining room during the day via floor-to-ceiling glass walls. An eclectic mix of string lighting suspended from the ceiling and rope-tied Edison bulbs brightens the space in the evening. The bar was carved straight from the trunk of a tree. The backbar features a large painting of an agave plant, and draped burlap hangs from the ceiling, drawing attention to the bar area. Images courtesy of Reyes Mezcaleria
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ at Disney Springs
Designed by Rachel Crowl and Julie Fisher of fcSTUDIO, this 6,000-square-foot, 200-seat restaurant was meant to reflect celebrity chef Art Smith’s rural roots in Jasper, Fla. The traditional Florida cracker-style building features a wraparound, screened-in porch that overlooks a crystal clear spring. An outdoor mural recalls the barn paintings that were once prevalent on roads that linked the chef’s hometown to surrounding towns. Inside, the dining room evokes a 19th-century farmhouse, complete with natural timbers, masonry and colorful murals crafted by local artisans. The tables and parts of the bar were made using a camphor tree from Clarcona, Fla. A church pew banquette runs down the middle of the main dining room. This space also features handcrafted chandeliers softened with vintage burlap flanked by an open kitchen. Other design features include a “farmer’s wall” that pays homage to Florida’s farmers by sharing their stories with guests. An alcove features vintage wood farm crates filled with antiques as well as photos of Chef Smith’s life, career and two James Beard awards. Images courtesy of Homecomin’
Black Rooster Taqueria
This small, 40-seat restaurant from husband-and-wife owners John and Juliana Calloway features an anything-but-tiny vibe. The long, narrow space features stretches of black and wood tempered with pops of color. Design elements that brighten the space include string lighting hanging from the ceiling and colorful stools and tabletop elements. Art plays a big part in defining the space. Local artist Randall Smith painted the restaurant’s signature Black Rooster design on the wall near the entrance. Day of the Dead-themed art from artists Heather Calderon, Dave Sanchez and David Lozeau also adorn the walls. Reclaimed wood from an old mill, complete with 60-plus-year-old original markings, also gives a nod to the restaurant neighborhood’s name. John Calloway, who designed the space with Mark Bridewall of Loraal Construction, handmade the other wood furnishings throughout the space and washed metal pieces in acid for a rusty and rustic back wall design fixture. The open kitchen at the center of the restaurant churns out a variety of tacos served in tortillas made on premise. Images courtesy of Rob Bartlett
Crooked Can Brewing Company, LLC and Plant Street Market, LLC
This 12,000-square-foot artisan market and food hall, which opened in 2015 in nearby Winter Garden, is anchored by Crooked Can Brewery. Brewery founder Jared Czachorowski recruited Butler Moore Architects and Robin Brosmer Studios to make the new building look old. The result is a 1920s-style solid brick structure with ample landscaping that serves as a departure from Orlando’s newer buildings. Exposed brick, rafters and ductwork provide an industrial appearance for the brewery, which sits on one end of a long, narrow space, opening up to a row of local artisan food stalls. Inside the brewery, two bars feature 16 taps each, with one of the bars opening up to the outside patio where patrons can order from a to-go window. Framed antique photographs of Winter Garden line the brewery walls. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall offers a peek into the brewery’s production area. Food hall vendors include Press’d Juice Bar and Axom Coffee, a local company that roasts its beans on-site. The food hall also features a barbecue concept, a coal-fired pizza concept, a butcher counter and a sushi stall. Patrons can dine at the high-top chairs surrounding each stall, in the brewery, or even at the indoor beer garden’s communal picnic-style tables, handcrafted by a local furniture maker. Images courtesy of Crooked Can Brewing Company
