Dexter’s Winter Park will soon have a new name, new location, new menu, and a renewed focus on wine and live music.
The Daily City was invited to sit down with the restaurant’s new managing partner Nathan Landwer and the restaurant’s wine consultant Erin Allport to learn all about it.
New Name:
The new name will be “Dexter’s New Standard" (Facebook).
New Location:
The new location will be Ravaudage Plaza located at the corner of North Orlando Avenue & Lee Road at 1035 N Orlando Ave, Ste 101 (MAP). The restaurant is taking over the space formerly occupied by the Tony Roma's owned experiment called TR Fire Grills. Remember their Waffle Donuts?
The grand opening is expected to take place in October according to Managing Partner Nathan Landwer. The current location of Dexters of Winter Park will close in October as well. Both locations will not be operating at the same time.
The new space will contain several new features:
More seating
Private dining
An Oyster bar
A space for live bands to play
Outdoor seating facing the Ravadauge fountains and courtyard
New Menu:
The new menu will be created by Executive Chef Ryan McLaughlin and Executive Chef de Cuisine Jason Wolfe – both formerly of K Restaurant. Sous Chef’s Ben Rouche and Jamal Lahiani round out out the kitchen team.
Chef Ryan told The Daily City the new menu would be “seasonable, modern American, and locally sourced.”
In addition, the kitchen will be taking some classic Dexter's menu items like the Cha Cha Chips, Pressed Duck Sandwich, Eggplant Napoleon, and "adding in their own interpretations."
Desserts will be handled by Pastry Chef Lydia Murphy. (Sidenote: You can purchase Chef Murphy's line of fresh baked breads October 6th at the Downtown Orlando Indoor Farmers Market)
The coffee will be supplied by Get Roasted.
New Wine Program:
The wine program is being completely overhauled, hardening back to the days when the restaurant first opened as a wine bar in 1984. Erin Allport told us, “The wine menu will be approachable and friendly.” Customers can expect an expanded by-the-glass program, a reserve wine list, unique craft cocktails and the offering of interactive wine and spirits tasting events.
New Live Music Focus:
There will be a new major focus on live music. New Standard will have extended operating hours for national touring artists, some of which are already booked to perform. And there will be a dedicated space in which the bands will perform.
New Managing Partner:
New managing partner, Nathan Landwer, says: “We knew there was an opportunity to take a brand that is a household name in the community and take it to a much higher level.”
What About That Fish Restaurant?
A year ago it was announced the space would be taken up by a restaurant called East Hampton Bait & Tackle, but it never happened. However, what did happen was that fish restaurant team installed sliding pass thru doors allowing access from the interior bar to the outdoor patio.
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