From custom-aged skirt steak fajitas to spice-laced tortilla soup, the flavors of this popular Orlando-based restaurant concept are making their way to the coast.
F&D Cantina, located at 1864 Victory Circle in Daytona Beach, is preparing to launch by fall 2026 at One Daytona’s former Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, which closed in August.
The restaurant, described as “Old World meets fresh, young and hip,” by F&D Restaurant Concepts CEO and Founder Charly Robinson, will operate as a scratch kitchen, serving a combination of Tex-Mex and California-style Mexican cuisine.
“The feel is going to be very authentic but with a very strong, fun element to it. We do everything more traditional in the sense that — with a lot of energy and life,” Robinson told The News-Journal. “… So, it’s going to be pretty special. We try to give you that feel like you’re really in Mexico.”
What to expect at F&D Cantina in Daytona Beach
With about 15,000 square feet of space, F&D Cantina plans to divide the venue into several distinct areas, designed to appeal to different crowds. In addition to the standard dining room, the concept will feature outdoor patio seating, a speakeasy tequila bar and a spacious rooftop bar accommodating around 100 guests.
“We think there’s a big market (at One Daytona) for group business, for weddings, parties and all that. So, the rooftop can be used for that,” likely opening on weekends and for special occasions at the start, Robinson explained, while the second-floor speakeasy, “very lounge-y,” will likely seat around 50 and open on designated days of the week.
Downstairs, alongside the main dining room and expansive full bar, F&D Cantina will house a gift shop with authentic Mexican items for purchase, as well as private dining rooms, each seating at least 12, in the same spaces that once held brewery equipment, according to Robinson.
“Welcoming F&D Cantina to One Daytona is a win for the Daytona Beach community,” Kelly Dispennette, NASCAR’s managing director, corporate development, said in a news release. “Their decision to make One Daytona home for their first Volusia County location reflects the strength of our destination and our ability to support brands that drive economic impact, create jobs and enhance the overall guest experience for both residents and visitors.”
What’s on the menu at F&D Cantina?
Though this will be Daytona’s first taste of F&D Cantina, its sizzling fajitas and tasty street tacos have already been a hit at its two existing locations in Lake Mary and Thorton Park, Florida.
“Everything is a scratch kitchen … We pride ourselves on not only that, but on (using) the highest quality ingredients,” Robinson said, noting the use of Prime skirt steak for the restaurant’s bestselling fajitas.
“I’ve always been a food guy. So, it’s important to me that we put out a really good product, and that’s important, too, for us as a company,” he continued.
Alongside the steak, shrimp and chicken fajita trio, served with charred peppers and onions, flour tortillas, sour cream, pico, lettuce and cheese, the restaurant’s quesadillas are always popular, Robinson noted —particularly the marinated steak and sweet plantain quesadilla and the lobster and shrimp quesadilla with black bean corn salsa, mozzarella and cotija cheese.
Birria tacos, barbacoa burritos, bowls and other items can also be found on the menu, as well as a slew of vegetarian and vegan items, from chimichangas to enchiladas, according to its website.
What is F&D Restaurant Concepts?
Founded in 2015, the Central Florida-based company is the force behind numerous restaurant concepts in the Orlando area, including F&D Prime Modern Steakhouse, F&D Woodfired Italian Kitchen, F&D Cantina, and Hooked Fish Camp.
After the launch of F&D Cantina in 2017, One Daytona later became a top contender for expansion, though the pandemic temporarily halted plans, according to Robinson.
“Later then, One Daytona came back to us; they liked our concept, and we always did like One Daytona as an environment,” he said, likening its appeal to that of Disney Springs — a destination that draws its own crowds and functions almost as an attraction itself, encouraging more ambitious, experience-driven concepts.
“We’re trying to do something over there that is going to have a really a huge impact, you know, physically to where it’s an attraction for the entire city of Daytona and people that are traveling there,” Robinson said.
“We don’t want it to just be a restaurant; we want it to be a destination … Nothing over there will even remotely compare to what we are building,” he continued. “So, we’re just excited to be part of One Daytona … We think it’s going to be a great opportunity for us, and we can’t wait to get in there.”
For information, visit fdcantina.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Orlando-based restaurant concept expands Mexican eats to One Daytona
Reporting by Helena Perray, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
