Storming the downtown jungle as the Funky Monkey Wine Company’s Bananas Modern American Diner on Mills Ave in Orlando, their penchant for great food using fresh, local ingredients has earned them street cred among downtown foodies.  Not just a great wine bar, their affordable fine dining along with the success of Funky Monkey’s follow-up location Bananas Diner at Pointe Orlando, Nicholas Oliveri and Eddie Nickell (president of the Tasters Guild of Orlando) are branching out from the “modern American diner with a culinary twist” to a new venture.  Opening soon (I’m talking Monday, Jul 11) is Nick’s Italian Kitchen and Prickly Pear, both distinctly different and both located in downtown Orlando at 100 South Eola Dr. in the old Sanctuary Building.   In the Nick’s Italian Kitchen, Chef Juan Mercado will be offering fresh hand-made pasta, scratch-made sauce, homemade breads and soups.  “We have spared no expense to bring Orlando the best at affordable prices” says the veteran chef who has been working in the restaurant business since he was 13 years old.  In the dining room at Prickly Pear, also in the old Sanctuary Building at 100 South Eola Dr., you’ll find Lobster Quesadillas, Smoked Duck Quesadillas, 22oz Cowboy Steak with a Coffee and Ancho Chile Rubbed Crust, Chile & Sugar Cured Duck Breast with White Beans and Applewood Smoked Bacon served with Dried Cherry Jam.  You can see that this “Cuisine of the American Southwest” isn’t Chili’s or Tex-Mex.  Don’t expect unfrozen appetizers and onion blossoms.  These guys are the real deal.  It’s high time local purveyors with a “make it, don’t buy it” attitude came to town.

 Oh, about twenty miles.  I don't know if I'd make a special trip but if you're in the downtown area of Orlando, it's worth a go.

 I wrote this article, thanks. ;)  I've been to the Mills 50 location, quite by accident actually.  I was looking for, um, someplace else when I ran across it.  It's truly something special.