Don Pepe’s Owner Iris Santiago is drawing on her experience operating restaurants in the Virgin Islands to bring Orlando a full-service Cuban and Virgin Island steakhouse. This is her first restaurant in the continental United States.
Santiago will make room for her new concept by utilizing the space she ran a former business in.
The restaurant will appear at 11240 S Orange Blossom Trail, where Medical Express Depot used to operate. According to Santiago, during the pandemic, it made more sense to close down the medical equipment business and open a family-owned restaurant, which had been a dream of theirs for 7 years.
They are currently remodeling the space to accommodate the Don Pepe’s. Santiago doesn’t have a firm opening date, but she is hoping for “late February.”
The location will be in a plaza with other restaurants offering various cuisines, such as El Tenampa Mexican Restaurant and Bakery, Ají Ceviche Bar and Bahama Buck’s Shaved Ice.
A plan review filing with the state was approved with provisions last month.
