The Current Seafood Counter, the fast-casual fish concept with a stall inside Henry’s Depot in Sanford, will open its College Park location this week. It’s planning a few nights, beginning Tuesday, of soft-opening sessions that are by reservation only, a unique idea for a restaurant that probably won’t take reservations after it opens. (As the name implies, it’s a counter-service operation.) Management explains in a social media post that the reservations-only soft-opening policy is to avoid “the classic ‘Grand Opening Gone Wrong’ scenario.” It’s kind of a convoluted system – prime for a soft opening goes wrong outcome – but you can visit the Facebook page and try to follow the instructions if it’s important for you to be among the first to try it.
Also coming soon: Primrose Lanes, the “restaurant and bowling club” in the Milk District from Team Market Group. According to general manager Ryan Legg, staff training will begin on July 20 and the now de rigueur soft opening Aug. 7 through 9; open to the public on the 10th. Primrose Lanes occupies the former Colonial Lanes, which opened in 1959, back when you could say “bowling alley” without upsetting the owners. The building originally had 32 lanes, or alleys, if you will, but some were destroyed by developers before TMG took it over. The new place will have eight lanes for what it describes as “boutique bowling.” The restaurant will feature a menu from executive chef Jason Campbell.
All this week (through Friday, July 14), Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen is featuring two items from Hemingway’s, the restaurant that formerly occupied the space at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Hemingway’s crab cakes and Papa Doble cocktail are being offered in observance of the San Fermin Festival, which is taking place this week in Pamploma, Spain. The festival is known for its running of the bulls, the event that is an effective cure for those with too much testosterone. Four Flamingos is open for dinner nightly.
The International Vegan Food Festival is Saturday, July 15, at Wall Street Plaza in downtown Orlando from 3 to 8 p.m. It will feature vendors offering plant-based foods that according to information from the organizers is “prepared by renowned chefs from all over the world.” It’s free, but if you pay $35 you can get in an hour earlier and have a private seating area with a dedicated bar. (Most cocktails are plant-based.) Information here. The event is listed as “family and pet friendly.” Although it’s rare that a pet might be eaten by a festival goer at any food event, it’s almost unheard of at vegan food fests.
On Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to noon, Subway is giving away “up to one million” six-inch Deli Heroes subs at locations across the country. (That “up to” qualifier always gives me pause.) The giveaway is to tout the chain’s new deli slicers that allow the sandwiches to be made with freshly sliced meats, resulting in what the press release says is “a way better Subway.” So essentially up until now they’ve been offering a sub par Subway?
