ORLANDO, Fla. – Ovais Jalil used to work for a Fortune 500 company, living partly in North Carolina and Las Vegas – constantly on a plane going back and forth, and itching for more.
The ambitious millionaire then had his son, which in a way changed his perception of life. Wanting to settle down, he and the mother of his child chose Orlando. The two love the city and have now lived there for five years as co-parents.
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Meanwhile, since 2021, Jalil and his dedicated team of 10 have worked on creating a new space for the community Jalil has grown to love – Debonair Supper Club. It is set to open on New Year’s Eve and will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in mid-January.
Before even stepping inside the Debonair Supper Club, there is a large moss arch, black gate , and a large sculpture looking like Te-Fiti that welcomes you.
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Now inside the 4,500 square foot space located at 183 S. Orange Ave., there are so many unique elements to this eatery, such as Versace flooring, themed bathrooms and a 13-foot giraffe.
Jalil has designed the space with every detail in mind from thinking about the different range of guests by offering a private VIP room to fluffy bar stools in its lounge.
To add, he also thought of his 60 employees by ensuring bright lights give life to the back-of-house to the chefs having a library in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Jalil also acknowledged that it is difficult to run a restaurant, so he hired two head chefs to lessen the load. The duo and Jalil have worked on the menu for the past two years. The whole menu is not released yet, but Jalil said it is elevated comfort food.
Menu items such as a chicken wellington (not a beef one; think of it as an elevated chicken pot pie) truffle corn soup, bread service with fondue, and a $1,000 steak will be available.
The steak will be an experience. Jalil said it can serve six to seven people and will be worth it.
Jalil’s mantra is about cooking with intent and ensuring the worth of all the items and experiences at Debonair.
All in all, Jalil said this is the happiest he’s ever been, and he hasn’t even made any money yet. He is just glad to open something in Orlando for everyone to enjoy, create art and to mentor his employees into becoming successful.
To check out what is being served on New Year’s Eve and make reservations, click here.
Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below: