Around Town: New Spots Opening Up All Over Punta Gorda

While walking around town this past weekend, we checked out the status of the Orange House Wine Bar on Sullivan -- the new wine bar in the building where Closer to the Vine once was.  The new owner, a friendly local, told us that she plans to open in early February and at first will be offering wine by the glass, imported beers, light bites and desserts.  We peaked in and the place looks inviting.  We will definitely be checking it out the first week of February or thereabouts.

Another sweet spot that we are hearing great things about is Simply Sweet at the Village serving New Orleans style breakfast and lunch including beignets, New Orlean's version of donuts that from memory are to die for... I'm told they taste just like the ones at Cafe du Monde and if you close your eyes, sip the Louisanna-style coffee you are there.   At lunchtime other NOLA favorites are offered including Gumbo.  Simply Sweet is also a retail store selling among other goodies Norman Love Chocolates... sorely missed after the closing of the Swiss Chocolate store last year. 

 

We also poked our heads into the Big Cheese on Olympia during our wanderabout on Saturday and checked out the menu.  Presellers on steroids...  Many of our favorite speciality sandwiches are back including the Georgia O'Keeffe (hot pastrami and swiss on rye piled high), the Monet and Chicken Charlotte (Chicken pieces lighted breaded and sauteed in garlice butter, drizzled with hollandaize on a grilled baguette)... plus much more and newer choices like "La Brie" which is described as a triple cream brie and turkey on a grilled baguette OMG.   The new place has a lovely dining room more reminiscent of the building's most recent occupant Table 209. The garden is also a more spruced up space from Presseller's day without loss of charm.   More to come when we visit to actually eat there... which I promise will be very soon. 

Breakfast at the Bagel Bungalow at Manatees was also part of the itinerary this weekend, and we were impressed with the quality of the bagel sandwiches. (We will have more to say in our annual Breakfast in Punta Gorda post... next month.)

A must check-out is the new porch area of the Ice-House, which is a tastefully done outside covered deck with its own large bar.