A new variety of eateries opened their doors last month, from French creperies and fast-casual cookie chains, to pizzerias, Peruvian cuisine and more.
Helena PerrayDaytona Beach News-Journal
As the local dining scene continues to evolve in the Sunshine State, we are inevitably thrilled tosayhello to new restaurantsand disheartened to saygoodbye to old favorites.
Throughout the month, whilesome restaurants closed their doors, othersserving new and unique offeringsfrom deep-fried favorites andsauce-smothered bitesto sweet treats and so much more have opened here in theDaytona Beach area, keeping our stomachs full, spirits high and community thriving.
While we sadly say our goodbyes to some, we also welcome a plethora ofquickly growing, go-to spots. So, if you’re looking to stop insomewhere new for breakfast,lunch or dinner, check out the latest restaurants and cafés that have opened in Volusia-Flagler during the month of May.
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Cookie Plug
1307 Cornerstone Blvd., Unit G, Daytona Beach; 386-256-7451, cookieplug.com
This California-based cookie chain opened its first Volusia County location last month within Daytona Beach’s Tomoka Town Center. The pet-friendly, hip-hop-themed shop offers 12 made-fresh-daily flavors, including the O.G. chocolate chip cookie and Snooperdoodle snickerdoodle cookie, alongside four keto cookie selections and one mystery flavor that will change weekly.
Corleone’s Famous New York Pizza and Gyros
505 White St., Daytona Beach; 386-333-9996, corleonesny.com
Corleone’s Famous New York Pizza and Gyros re-opened shop at a brand-new Daytona Beach location earlier last month after closing its previous beachside shop on the ISB beach ramp in September. Owner Alex Fotiadis, better known as the “Pizza Don,” noted that the eatery offers “thin and crispy” old-fashioned New York-style pies, Sicilian pizza, “Old-World Napoletana” and New Haven-style pies, as well as lamb and beef gyros with homemade tzatziki and various hero sandwiches, among a plethora of other items.
Del Taco
3815 S. Nova Road, Port Orange; 386-301-5157, deltaco.com
Del Taco, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain with roughly 600 locations across the country, opened its first Volusia County location in Port Orange last month. The anticipated quick-service eatery takes “pride in chopping, grilling and shredding in our restaurants every day,” according to its website, and offers a packed menu of Mexican and American items, including various tacos; beef-, veggie- or bacon-loaded burritos; quesadillas; nachos meals; cheeseburgers; and fries.
Dill Schnitzel & Pierogi House
250 N. Atlantic Ave., Suite 251, Daytona Beach; 386-275-1348, Facebook.com
Dill Schnitzel & Pierogi House opened in the final days of May in Daytona Beach. Following the closure of Flagler Beach’s Oksa Cakes, its owners ventured to Daytona’s Ocean Walk Shoppes for the opening of the new restaurant, whose menu features a combination of Polish-, German- and Ukrainian-influenced cuisine, according to its Facebook page. Options include classic and stuffed schnitzel, pierogis, house-made desserts and more.
Drunken Duck Brewing
101 Second St., Unit 401, Holly Hill; 386-506-1788, facebook.com/drunkenduckbrewingco
Drunken Duck Brewing opened shop at a new Holly Hill location in the final week of May. According to the brewery’s Facebook, customers can enjoy “domestic, import and craft bottles, cans and draft. By the glass and bottle wine” and “Duckcuterie Boards.” The brewery noted in a recent post that it hopes to host its grand opening by Aug. 3 “with our brews on tap!!” The new shop offers happy hour six days a week and is closed on Mondays.
Panka Ceviche and Grill
1930 W. Granada Blvd., Suite 1, Ormond Beach; 386-301-5888, facebook.com
Panka Ceviche and Grill opened shop last month in Ormond Beach. The Peruvian restaurant neighbors Fresh Guacamole Tequila & Bar and Don Giovanni’s Contemporary Italian and Pizzeria and showcases a vast menu of various ceviche plates, pastas, seafood dinners and traditional steak dishes, among other items, including beer and wine.
Redneck Rick’s Cooking
602 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell; 386-313-6296, facebook.com/RednickRicksCooking
Redneck Rick’s Cooking re-located and re-opened shop at 602 E. Moody Blvd., the former location of the Bunnell’s longstanding Chicken Pantry Restaurant, in May. The Southern-style eatery offers homemade comfort foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including the Hawg Slop (pulled pork) Sammich;the Momma Tee’s Pond Cat Sammich; Kiss My Southern Biscuits (and gravy); and Big Rick’s Pork Loin Sandwich; as well as beer, wine and wine-based liquors.
Voo La Voo Café
829 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach; 954-310-7293, voolavoocafe.com
Voo La Voo Café opened for business in New Smyrna Beach in May. The new French gem, tucked away on Canal Street, provides guests with an authentic array of breakfast and lunch options — including scratch-made sweet and savory buckwheat crepes; French toast; croque monsieur; and paninis — as well a newly released dinner menu with land, sea and vegan options, like the ratatouille, roasted rosemary Cornish hens and pan-seared butter thyme filet mignon.
Becca’s Sweet Tooth
Becca’s Sweet Tooth announced on social media in the final weeks of last month that the Bunnell bakery had sold with plans to move to Minnesota, the owner’s home state.
“We will be closed for walk-in traffic during the transition, but don’t worry, any existing orders will still be fulfilled and ready for pickup on time!” the shop said in a Facebook post. “Thank you so much for your years of support. I’m so grateful for my community of Sweet Peeps and look forward to continued growth on the Minnesota end of this adventure!”
Becca’s Sweet Tooth was located at 2710 E. Moody Blvd., Unit B, in Bunnell. The bakery’s website further states, “We are currently in the process of moving from Florida to Minnesota! ... We expect to be ready to take orders in Rochester area beginning June 24!” Customers are encouraged to check beccassweettooth.com for updates.
Cajun Beach Boil and Sushi
Cajun Beach Boil and Sushi announced its abrupt closure on social media at the end of May, which seemed to shock its owners as much as commenting customers online.
“Upon arriving at Cajun Beach Boil and Sushi this morning we were informed that one of the partners without notice to the other partner, the employees or vendors had begun the process of closing the restaurant!” the post reads. “I want to thank all of the employees and loyal guest for believing in us through the struggles! If you're a fan of our food we will return!”
The restaurant is listed at “permanently closed” on Flaglerrestaruants.com, and no further information has been released. Cajun Beach Boil and Sushi was located at 1112 S. Ocean Shore Blvd. in Flagler Beach.
Cavatelli Pasta Kitchen
Cavatelli Pasta Kitchen permanently closed at the end of last month,after less than four months in business.
The Ormond Beach eatery originally opened as a fast-casual, Italian-American restaurant within The Nova Shoppes plaza, known for its house-made pasta, meatballs, sauces and more. The eatery offered “Panera-style” quick counter service, until recently transitioning to a full-service restaurant in the weeks leading up to its closure. Owner Phil Martin confirmed the restaurant's closure via text message to The News-Journal on Thursday afternoon, further stating "we love Ormond Beach and are saddened to leave."
Cavatelli Pasta Kitchen was located at 175 S. Nova Road, Suite 1, in Ormond Beach.
Delcato’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant
This family-owned and -operated Ormond Beach restaurant closed its doors for good last month after three decades in business, serving an indulgent selection of “home-style Italian” cuisine and New York-style pizzas.
“After more than 30 years serving Ormond Beach, the Delcato's family has made the decision to close our doors. We are so very grateful for the decades of loyalty, love and support that you all gave us as part of this wonderful Ormond community,” the restaurant said in a Facebook post, detailing the closure.
“All of us — our family, our friends, our staff — have memories that we will cherish forever from our time serving you all. Thank you all for making Delcato’s a part of your lives, for making yourselves part of ours.”
Delcato’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant was located at 1474 W. Granada Blvd., suite 445, in Ormond Beach.
Red Lobster
Red Lobster closed its Daytona Beach Shores location in May, one of two Volusia locations the chain holds, alongside more than a dozen other stores across the state and roughly 50 others nationwide. According to previousBloomberg reports, Red Lobster had considered filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection “to shed some long-term contracts and renegotiate a swath of leases,” and has since filed, according to a May 19 press release posted to the restaurant’s website.
“This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster,” Red Lobster CEO Jonathan Tibus said in the same release. “It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth.”
Red Lobster was located at 3162 S. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach Shores.
Did we miss any? Email hperray@gannett.com to be added to the list.
