D’Amico & Sons Italian Market & Bakery

D’Amico & Sons Italian Market & Bakery at Oviedo Mall

D’Amico & Sons Italian Market & Bakery is located inside the Oviedo Mall and combines a café, deli, and grocery in one space. The environment is bright, clean, and well-stocked, making it easy to explore everything they offer.

The market includes a coffee bar and deli where customers can order breakfast sandwiches, subs, and coffee drinks. 

For those looking to take food home, there’s a selection of premade Italian entrées ready to heat and serve. 

Shelves are filled with various pastas, Italian cookies, biscotti, and snacks, along with a modest but diverse wine selection.

A covered outdoor seating area offers a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a drink or meal. Longtime locals may remember the location from when it was home to Chamberlin’s.

During a recent visit I had a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and a latte both were very good.

Prices for both grocery and food were fair, and staff were kind and attentive.

Details:

Address: 1700 Oviedo Mall Boulevard, Oviedo, FL 32765  

Google Maps

Hours:

- Monday–Saturday: 8 AM – 8 PM  

- Sunday: 8 AM – 6 PM  

Website:  https://damicoandsonsmarket.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damicoandsons 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damicoandsonsmarket

Chez Vincent and Hannibal’s Lounge to close

Venerable fine dining Winter Park restaurants to close. 

Details at Link: https://orlandoshine.com/chez-vincent-and-hannibals-lounge-to-close-in-winter-park-after-28-years/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOSynpjbGNrA5LKc2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHjFXYc5T65mD0qz5emKBDbNQnhOnxsapBlx3jXHnJDeLkp3pr2TpXqdwQKyj_aem_SAaJZVyoF58SN6RBIitoIA

The Glass Knife Park Avenue

Recently I attended the preview for new location of The Glass Knife on Park Avenue in Winter Park. We were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine. 

During the event, servers walked around with the chicken salad croissant and pimento croissant sandwiches. I also got to try the whipped feta spread on a house made focaccia with roasted tomatoes and an olive oil drizzle. All of those were very tasty.

The Glass Knife is known for their sweet treats. The sweets table had gourmet chocolate macaroons and tiramisu. They offer the tiramisu seasonally.

The Park Avenue location will be focusing more on savory foods. They served Royal Ossera Caviar on blinis with crème fraiche which is always a favorite of mine. Another favorite of mine is cheese and charcuterie board which was provided by Simply Cheese. Simply Cheese on Aloma along with Winter Park Honey are female owned business that will be supplying The Glass Knife.

The Glass Knife is the exclusive provider in Florida of Onyx Coffee Labs out of Arkansas. Besides the traditional coffee beverages, they have delicious specialty drinks such as a S’more Cortado which is a 4oz cortado with toasted marshmallow syrup, a hint of chocolate, and topped with crushed graham cracker. The drink is paired with a freshly torched mini s’more.

The have variety of wine-based cocktails using Klir wine-based vodka. Some of their offering include an espresso and passionfruit martinis. The passionfruit martini was a popular choice at the preview.

The wine list is reasonably priced. They offer several of the Wagner family portfolio such as Sea Sun, Caymus, Conundrum, and Mer Solei. Other notable wines on list include Miraval Rose, Far Niente Chardonnay, Mumm Brut Rose and Veuve Clicquot. Wine is available both by the glass or bottle.

Both locations of The Glass Knife are open until 10pm weekdays and 11pm weekends.

212 N Park Ave

Winter Park, FL 32789

Sun–Thurs 7:30am-10pm

Fri & Sat 7:30am-11pm

https://theglassknife.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theglassknifewp

Sparrow Wine Bar

Sparrow is a small, cozy restaurant in the North Quarter District, a short distance from downtown Orlando. Serving thoughtful, creative dishes in a relaxed setting. It is part of the Good Salt restaurant group, known for creating approachable and inventive dining experiences. Chef Wendy Lopez leads the kitchen, bringing fresh and seasonal flavors to each plate.

Sparrow offers a welcoming atmosphere with dark lighting and stylish décor that feels a bit like a library where you can enjoy a drink. There are a few tables outside by the sidewalk and bar seating inside, where you might get lucky and grab a spot without a reservation.

The staff are friendly and attentive, making for good service. Their cocktails are creative, especially the Tomato Gimlet, with bright tomato and lime flavors finished by basil, it was refreshing and unique. I also ordered an off-menu drink which was excellent.

Appetizers like the Pan con Tomate with the option to add Boquerones are tasty and creative. The Deconstructed Endive Salad with pecans, cheese and pickled onions offers a strong flavor, which some may love and others find a bit strong.

For entrees, try the Rigatoni Verde with a delicious meaty ragu or the Lumache Alla Vodka, which has vodka sauce, chorizo, and Sobrasada iberica with a little heat from Calabrian chilis. The pasta holds the sauce perfectly, a sign of careful preparation.

Desserts include Basque Cheesecake with Valencia orange and Burnt Vanilla Ice Cream with hot chocolate fudge. They are good but not especially memorable.

Overall, Sparrow is a solid choice for a relaxed night out with well-made food and drinks in a comfortable setting. It's a place worth visiting again.

For more details or reservations, visit their website sparroworlando.com. You can also find them on social media through their website.

Phone: (407) 614-9521

Address: 807 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801

https://www.sparroworlando.com/

Instagram

Baffone Italian Bakery & Restaurant Casselberry

I recently had the chance to visit Baffone, a new Italian bakery and restaurant in Casselberry, twice shortly after their opening, and I'm glad I did. Open for about a month, Baffone already stands out for its inviting, straightforward approach: handmade pasta, pizza, and a creative selection of pastries and gelato—all made in-house.

Baffone operates as a bakery and all-day eatery, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a relaxed, bright space. Their menu spotlights Italian classics, but with the added bonus of their own breads, cakes, and gelato. Prices for plates of pasta are notably lower than the average at other Orlando-area Italian spots, especially for this quality; the pasta is made in house.

On my first visit, I started with the bruschetta, topped with pesto and mozzarella—a fresh, herbal mix over crusty bread, with melted cheese. My second visit, I opted for the bruschetta with zucchini and mozzarella. Both versions were simple, satisfying, and generously portioned.

For my entree, I went with the carbonara on my first visit: ribbons of pasta tossed with egg, pecorino, guanciale, and cracked pepper. The sauce was creamy and the pork was crisp, making for a solid, straightforward version of this Roman classic. On my return, I tried the sausage and mushroom pasta, housemade pasta with a hearty, savory combination of sausage and sautéed mushrooms, I enjoyed this one as well.

On both visits, the staff was welcoming. The owner is genuinely invested in the guests' experience, often present and available to chat. The team of young servers is friendly and eager to help.

Baffone is new but already has ambitious plans: the owners hope to expand soon into the space next door with a wine bar and fine dining room, including occasional live music. This expansion should bring even more depth to what’s already a noteworthy addition to the local dining scene.

We enjoyed our food, and for the price, it really can’t be beat. After all, you know a place is good if the silverware is golden.

Baffone – Autentico Italiano 

188 Sausalito Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707  

Located next to Planet Fitness

Hours:

Monday–Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM  

Thursday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM  

Closed Sundays

Website: baffone.us  

Instagram: @baffone_italian

If you’re looking for housemade pasta, honest prices, and a neighborhood spot with friendly service, Baffone is worth a visit. Keep an eye out for their upcoming wine bar and special events!