Lewis Escobar has a long history in the hospitality industry. He worked for over 20 years as the food and beverage manager at the World Center Marriott and was very passionate about bringing the best experiences to guests there.
When COVID hit and Lewis was furloughed he had a lot of time on his hands, time that he used to unpack a long-held passion he’d had for Asian cuisine, especially sushi, and for the Puerto Rican food he grew up with.
From there it was a team effort with his family to make it a reality. It started with Escobar watching hours of YouTube videos to hone his sushi-making skills. When he felt confident enough, Escobar converted one of his rooms at his house into a restaurant, with just six tables. Because it was such a small operation, his whole family helped him out. He relied on his nieces and nephews to take care of deliveries.
It was thriving and he realized that he needed a bigger operation. That’s when a golden opportunity arose. A friend mentioned that Bravo Markets in Lake Nona had vendor counter space available so Escobar snapped it up and that’s when Escobar Kitchen (Instagram) really started cooking. Soon the line was out the door to try his sushi with a Boricua twist.
Earlier this year, Escobar wanted to expand his business and decided downtown Orlando deserved a taste of what he had to offer. The second Escobar kitchen spot is in soft opening this week. The restaurant has shacked up with Wine and Corks and is sharing a storefront, so there’s still plenty of good wine to choose from along with a full bar. The Escobar Kitchen is located in the Camden Thornton Park building, 420 E. Church Street [GMap], Unit 108, right in front of the Snap! Gallery. The grand opening is currently scheduled for September 6.
Escobar shared that if there’s one thing you must try on the menu, it’s the Escobar Roll, in honor of his father. It combines Spanish yellow rice, shrimp tempura, churrasco, and cream cheese and is topped with avocado and sweet plantains, with a touch of chimichurri sauce, eel sauce, and spicy mayo.
It has been Escobar’s dream for a long time to open this restaurant but it almost didn’t happen. He remembers one time he thought he might give up, but he called his daughter and she encouraged him to keep fighting. And I’m so glad he did.
