23 new restaurants coming to the Orlando area this spring

OK, they were supposed to open in February ... of 2017, but we're pretty sure it'll be worth the wait to gorge on chef Francisco "Chico" Mendonça's creations now that he has a full kitchen in which to work. Portuguese fare, with French and Mexican influences, is his specialty and it's what made the Bem Bom food truck a popular draw. The gut-rehab of the old BB&T Bank building on Corrine Drive has taken much longer than expected, but we're almost there, folks.

(Opening February; 3101 Corrine Drive, bembomfood.com)

The bacon confectioners known for such gems as chocolate-praline bacon brownies and bourbon brown-sugar bacon roses will add barbecue to the mix when they move into the wee space next to Tamale & Co. Take-Out in Altamonte Springs. Yeah, you read right – bacon and barbecue.

(Opening spring; 1006 E. Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs; facebook.com/thesugarsow)

"The Magic Is in the Hole" is Voodoo Doughnut's credo, and the pair behind the cult fave – Kenneth "Cat Daddy" Pogson and Tres Shannon – are set to penetrate the very penetrable market of Orlando. They'll set up shop in family-friendly Universal CityWalk so expect to see their less risqué-named, yet still thoroughly sinful, creations such as the "Dirt Doughnut" and "Bacon Maple Bar."

(Opening spring; Universal CityWalk; voodoodoughnut.com)

The azure-hued taqueria has been somewhat of a favorite in Metrowest, but how will the Winter Park set take to it? Likely pretty well (this is accessible Mexican fare, after all) but, then again, burgers are accessible too and that didn't help the space's predecessor – Square 1 Burgers – all too much.

(Opening March; 900 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park; agaveazulorlando.com)

An upscale restaurant opening in the Parramore District is just a sign of how much the downtown neighborhood has changed. Come spring, the District Gastrobar & Social Eating House will serve dishes like panko-crusted jalapeño oysters, mussels in saffron broth and, be still your millennial hearts, okonomiyaki. A top-flight whiskey program is being developed as well.

(Opening spring; 532 W. Church St.)

In their relentless, ahem, drive to expand across the state, the self-described "neighborhood burger and beer joint" is poised to put it into park at the Hamlin Town Center in the Windermere/Winter Garden corridor this summer. In addition to the pricey burgers (their standard burger will run you close to $11), there's plenty of classic comfort fare to be had amid a Prohibition-era, service station motif.

(Opening summer; Hamlin Town Center, Winter Garden; fordsgarageusa.com)

While slightly behind schedule, owner Danny Alvarez hopes to commence brewing inside the way-cool building that once housed the Just Drive car repair shop sometime between now and March. Until then, sample his coffee at one of the many pop-ups Alvarez stages in the Mills 50 District.

(Opening March; 1050 N. Mills Ave.; vitalunacafe.com)

The location for the all-vegan eatery by former Blink-182 road chef Mary Mattern and A Day to Remember guitarist Neil Westfall has yet to be determined, but we do know Heirloom Deli will be styled after the Jewish delis Mattern frequented as a child in Suffern, New York, as well as the now-closed Cermak's Subs in Leesburg, a personal favorite of Westfall's.

(Opening April; instagram.com/heirloomdeli)

The celeb chef carousel at Disney Springs continues to go 'round and 'round with Jose Andres now joining the fray. Jaleo's extensive menu of traditional and contemporary Spanish fare (yes, jamón Ibérico de bellota will be offered) will reflect Spain's regional diversity. There are four other Jaleos, but the Disney Springs outpost will be the "biggest and most spectacular Jaleo yet."

(Opening spring; Disney Springs; jaleo.com)

The new owners of Cavanaugh's Fine Wines will give the College Park mainstay a thorough rebrand and a concept tweak. After some exterior and interior work, Cavanaugh's will transform into Digress and, praise Dionysus, offer wines by the glass.

(Opening March; 1215 Edgewater Drive)

Thornton Park will be home to the first Florida locale of the popular ramen bar chain known for their tonkotsu. The menu also promises rice bowls, Japanese curries, mini tacos and a host of small plates.

(Opening spring; 8 N. Summerlin Ave.; jinya-ramenbar.com)

After a dispute ended Leguminati's foray into the Milk District, the trio behind the vegan operation have teamed up with Foxtail Coffee Co. and will open inside the beanery's new space in the Hourglass District. Breakfast, lunch and dinner options will be served seven days a week and will include everything from their CrunchMacs to breakfast sandwiches.

(Opening April; 2401 Curry Ford Road; bean-team.com)

We all shed a tear when Scratch shuttered last summer, but those frowns turned upside down when Little Blue Donut Co. announced they were rolling into the Fairbanks Avenue space. Yes, we just can't seem to get enough of doughnuts. It's yet another example of a popular food truck setting up a permanent shop.

(Opening March; 223 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park;facebook.com/littlebluedonuttruck)

The SoDo outpost of Tin & Taco will be much larger than the downtown original and offer more menu items like chorizo, carnitas, grilled sirloin, empanadas and churros. To wash all that food down, the taqueria will incorporate a beer package store on site.

(Opening April; 419 E. Michigan St.; tinandtaco.com)

Permitting delays (what else is new?) prevented this New Smyrna Beach fixture from opening late last year on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park, but we'll be gorging on their notoriously big sandwiches and subs – made with bread flown in from artisan bakers Tribeca Oven in New Jersey – in a matter of weeks.

(Opening March; 221 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park; manzanosdeli.com)

Two doctors walk into a bar and decide to open a restaurant. No joke. Dr. Tom Winters and wife Dr. Becky Moroose will open a "Cheers-style restaurant and bar" inside the new Delaney Hotel on the site of the old Doc's on South Orange Avenue. As far as the food, expect "international cuisine" in small plates and shareable portions. Liquid scrips can be enjoyed inside a 360-degree bar.

(Opening May; 1315 S. Orange Ave.; eatdt.com)

A café with European flair and fresh-made pastries in College Park. Sound familiar? Well, Tartine Café & Eatery will have some competition when Johnson & Wales grads Michael Brito and Christina Gribkowsky open their Café Linger in the old NYPD Pizza space this spring. The pair plan on serving weekend brunch, and vegan options won't be mere afterthoughts either. Linger we will.

(Opening spring; 2912 Edgewater Drive; cafelinger.com)

Sure, it's six months behind schedule, but when master sommelier George Miliotes' namesake wine bar finally opens in Disney Springs, it'll take on the look of a "winemaker's home estate" and offer more than 100 selections by the bottle and glass in a range of varietals, vintages and prices. A menu of small plates will be offered to complement the wine list.

(Opening spring; Disney Springs; winebargeorge.com)

Top Chef Master and James Beard Award winner Tony Mantuano will have a heavier hand in the goings-on at Disney Springs' Terralina than he did with the space's predecessor, Portobello Country Italian Trattoria. The fare, however, will be somewhat similar (we're told it's inspired by Italy's Lake District) with the wood-fired oven front and center.

(Opening spring; Disney Springs; terralinacrafteditalian.com)

Giovanni Fernandez and Elise Sabatino are the power couple behind the Hourglass District project, but they also own the building on the corner of Bumby Avenue and Robinson Street where Stasio's Italian Deli & Market will open. Grab-and-go items like sandwiches and pizza will be offered, as will espresso. The market component will hawk sundry imported Italian goodies.

(Opening April; 2320 E. Robinson St.)