4 restaurants close, while 5 new open in Volusia-Flagler: Italian, Thai, seafood and more

As the local dining scene continues to evolve in the Sunshine State, we are inevitably thrilled to say hello to new restaurants and disheartened to say goodbye to old favorites.

Throughout the month, while some restaurants closed their doors, others serving new and unique offerings from deep-fried favorites and sauce-smothered bites to sweet treats and so much more have opened here in the Daytona Beach area, keeping our stomachs full, spirits high and community thriving.

While we sadly say our goodbyes to some, we also welcome a plethora of quickly growing, go-to spots. So, if you’re looking to stop in somewhere new for breakfast, lunch or dinner, check out the latest restaurants and cafés that have opened in Volusia-Flagler during the month of January.

Volusia-Flagler restaurants that opened in January

The Knot House

The Knot House co-owner Carling Ponder alongside the eatery's graffiti wall.
The Knot House co-owner Carling Ponder alongside the eatery's graffiti wall.

The Knot House, a food truck-turned-sit-down restaurant, opened its doors midway through January in New Smyrna Beach. Owners Carling Ponder and her husband, Hanni’El Gutierrez, offer a unique menu of Italian-inspired cuisine ranging from sweet, savory and seafood-layered garlic knot sliders, to breakfast sandwiches, pastries and pasta flights.

The Knot House is located at 1001 Canal St. in New Smyrna Beach and is open for lunch and dinner from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday – Friday, for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. For information, call 386-957-4170 or visit Facebook.com/theknothousensb.

Barnhill’s Café, Bar and Grill

Barnhill’s, a new café, bar and grill located in the heart of Flagler Beach, announced its soft opening during the final weeks of last month. The eatery has been open for breakfast and lunch, offering a “coastal all-American” menu with “a touch of Old-World influence,” according to its website. Barnhill has been serving a rotating, limited tasting menu that features specialty crepes, breakfast sandwiches, fresh baked goods, pasta, chicken and more, with plans to serve steak and seafood dinners in the future.

Barnhill’s Café, Bar and Grill is located at 202 S. Central Ave. next to the Gallery of Local Art and is open 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. daily. For information, call 386-338-3041 or visit barnhills.com.

Thai Mango

Thai Mango opened its doors at a long-awaited, brand-new location at the end of last month. The New Smyrna Beach eatery serves authentic Thai cuisine and offers a vast menu of noodle, curry, fried rice dishes and more, including the pad Thai, red curry, sweet and sour stir fry, cucumber salad and pineapple fried rice.

Thai mango is located at 1714 State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach and is open 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday – Friday and 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday. For information, call 386-428-0208 or visit Facebook.com/nsbthaimango.

Macker Seafood

The "Enough for Two" basket from Macker Seafood.
The "Enough for Two" basket from Macker Seafood.

This popular seafood restaurant closed the doors to its Mason Avenue eatery at the end of the year and re-opened shop at its new Bay Street location in Daytona Beach. The eatery offers an expansive menu of fried and grilled fresh seafood selections as well as steam pots, salads and raw seafood for those looking to cook at home.

Macker Seafood is located at 141 Bay St. in Daytona Beach and is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday – Saturday and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday. For information, call 386-253-9905 or visit Facebook.com/mackerseafood.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, a popular frozen treat chain, opened the doors to its new Palm Coast location earlier last month. The sweet stop offers 40 rotating, traditional and funky flavors of Italian ice that have included root beer, cookie butter, mango, black raspberry and more.

Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is located at 5890 State Road 100 in Palm Coast and is open from 1 – 9 p.m. Monday – Thursday, noon – 10 p.m. Friday – Saturday and noon – 9 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 386-529-0009 or visit jeremiahsice.com.

Volusia-Flagler restaurants that closed in January

TGI Fridays

TGI Fridays, known for its casual, family-friendly atmosphere and classic American fare, closed the doors to its longstanding Ormond Beach restaurant at the start of last month. The popular chain’s Ormond restaurant was one of 36 “underperforming” locations across the country that were forced to close their doors in the new year. TGI Fridays was located at 24 Ocean Shore Blvd.

Donnie’s Donuts

An employee applies icing to a batch of freshly made donuts at the Ormond Beach Donnie's Donuts on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.
An employee applies icing to a batch of freshly made donuts at the Ormond Beach Donnie's Donuts on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.

Donnie’s Donuts announced on social media earlier last month that it would be "consolidating" its homemade offerings by closing the doors to its 200 E. Granada Blvd. eatery in Ormond Beach, after seven years beachside. The eatery explained the decision to close in a Facebook post, stating, “We are heartbroken we can’t continue here but too many obstacles to continue. Unable to get proper business insurance and insuring our employees when disasters strike are deal breakers for us. Our lease is up and we are not able to move forward renewing our lease here.”

Donnie’s Donuts maintains its Daytona Beach shop, located within the One Daytona complex across from the Speedway at 225 Daytona Blvd. in Daytona Beach and is open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For information, call 386-868-3122 or visit Donniesdonuts.com.

Lilly Rose Café

Lilly Rose Café announced on social media that it would be closing the doors to its New Smyrna Beach eatery after 3.5 years at the end of January and opening shop at a brand new location. The local café is known for its popular homemade soups, wraps, smoothies, salads, juices and more. Upon request for comment, the eatery noted that its new location will be announced in the future, with tentative plans to re-open in April.

Lilly Rose Café was located at 211 Downing St. in New Smyrna Beach. For information, visit Facebook.com/lillyrosecafe.

Manny’s Pizza Beachside

Manny’s Pizza Beachside announced on social media last month that it would close down in the final days of January. The family-owned shop, known for its homemade pizza, Greek salad and more was a beachside staple that has long served the community, as well as local schools, in New Smyrna Beach.

“It is a very sad day for me and my family. Today we are closing Manny's Pizza Beachside,” Laura Mcknight-Boyd said in a Facebook post. “Manny's has been in New Smyrna since the '80s! I wish I had a penny for every customer who said they loved Manny's and this was their first stop when they got into town! Manny's has helped the community when it was in need! Manny's mostly supported the schools. I would deliver pizzas on Fridays so they could have Pizza with the Principal.”

Manny’s Pizza Beachside was located at 3318 S. Atlantic Ave. in New Smyrna Beach. This article will be updated as more details regarding the closure are provided.

Did we miss any? Email hperray@gannett.com to be added to the list.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 4 Daytona area restaurants closed while 5 opened in Volusia-Flagler