While I am someone that values good food and service over design and aesthetics, it's been a pleasure to watch a local restaurant group that excels at both. The owners of Good Salt Restaurant Group have given us some of Orlando's most pleasurable dining experiences over the years, allowing us to enjoy a feast for both the eyes and stomach.

Sue and Jason Chin have brought us an impressive mix of dining options starting with contemporary Asian cuisine at Seito Sushi, modern seafood at Osprey Tavern, inspired Mexican cuisine at Reyes Mezcaleria, and now the soon-to-open Monroe.

While you may have a favorite of their concepts, no matter which restaurant you visit, you are sure to be enamored with the thoughtful designs and arrangement of each space, thanks to Sue. She’s known for creating some of the most beautiful scenes for diners in the city, and The Monroe is no exception. You can check out an interview I shared with her a while back where she explained her background in design and how she and Jason met, and their restaurant journey began.

The Monroe is located in the same building as the Julian Apartments in downtown. It has a colorful mid-century modern feel, but as you take in each carefully curated corner, you’ll see bits of Florida history woven in.

The most important piece of history is in the name of the restaurant. Dr. William Monroe Wells was one of the first Black doctors in Orlando. He left a profound impact on our area by treating many people who often no one else would treat, even when they could not pay him. He dedicated his life to making sure other Black residents received the best medical care they could get and is often noted for delivering over 5,000 babies in Orlando during his time practicing medicine.

In addition to his credits as a physician, he also opened a hotel that would safely host other African Americans during a time of segregation. It also hosted some very prominent musicians and figures at the time. This hotel is now the Well’sBuilt Museum that you can visit to learn more about his and others important legacies.  

The menu at The Monroe will steer toward modern comfort foods. You may have already seen sneak peeks of fried peanuts, ceviche, corn dogs, and cocktails on their Instagram. Executive Chef Josh Oakley has also been perfecting his fried chicken recipe, which will hopefully help locals stop voting Publix as the best place to get fried chicken in Orlando.

Cocktails are guaranteed to be good for those that imbibe with Shawn Newman as the Bar Director, who has a long resume including Prato, Bitters & Brass, The Guesthouse, and The Robinson Room.

The Monroe also plans to have a coffee program featuring Counter Culture Coffee so residents, visitors, and students have a place to grab coffee on the other side of I-4. Signature coffees and a southern staple of sweet iced tea will rotate seasonally. Grab-and-go breakfast items will also be available so guests can enjoy the lounge and patio as they 'work from home' during the day.

If you are still uneasy about dining indoors there will be outdoor dining on the back patios surrounded by colorful murals, twinkle lights, and beautiful hand-poured tile that is eco-friendly from Mexico.

There is a lot of beautiful art to take in while you dine, from framed pieces of art, historic touches, and hand-painted scenes all done by Sue herself, not to mention some beautiful murals found outdoors by local artist Maureen Hudas. Make sure you spot them all when you visit.

The Monroe should be opening in the next few weeks, so follow their Instagram @themonroeorlando to stay in the know. They are also still currently hiring so if you are looking for a job go here.