‘No MSG’ restaurant gets busted with tub of MSG

A restaurant at the Oviedo Mall food court was dinged for not abiding by a no MSG promise and shut down by a health inspector who found roaches.

The inspector noted that Asian Express was not abiding by its own advertising promises, according to a June 21 report from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

“Operator advertises no MSG and has a large tub of MSG (15 lbs) in the restaurant,” the report said. Granulated chicken stock also contained MSG.

The inspector also observed about 20 roaches at Asian Express.

The roaches and MSG were among 27 violations the eatery tallied during the inspection.

It was also cited for food held at unsafe temperatures, food stored improperly and dirty conditions.

The eatery did not answer calls.

Asian Express did reopen and the problem was fixed quickly, said a spokeswoman for Oviedo Mall.

Elsewhere, Golden Dynasty Chinese on South Orange Blossom Trail was closed for the second time in a month as the ethnic eatery again had roaches.

Owner Asad Faruqui said that only a few roaches were found after a thorough inspection and that the restaurant staff has been treating the kitchen frequently after the eatery was shut down June 1.

Clothing store closes downtown

One of downtown Orlando’s few retailers, Siegel’s Clothing Co., has closed.

It’s keeping its Winter Park location, said owner John Siegel, but after 18 years, there aren’t enough customers to support the downtown store at 120 S. Orange Ave. that focused on professional attire.

“After 18 years we were exhausted in that location,” Siegel said. “The market has changed considerably.”

“The demographic shrinks and shrinks and you just don’t have the support any longer,” he said. “Our customers that were downtown no longer work downtown.”

Siegel’s Clothing has been in Winter Park for 32 years, selling dress shirts, ties and jackets as well as women’s and children’s clothing. That store is at 330 Park Ave. South.

Bavaro’s closes

Pizza spot Bavaro’s Napoletana & Pastaria is closing after two years in Winter Springs. The Naples, Italy-style pizza restaurant served its last pie Friday.

“Considering the location’s walk-in traffic and the owners looking to sell the building, we felt it was best to close it at this time,” owner Dan Bavaro said in an email. “That market was not trending to be a long term success for Bavaro’s.”

Tampa-based Bavaro’s makes brick-oven fired pizza and pasta at its location at 1468 Tuskawilla Road in Winter Springs.

But Bavaro said he isn’t giving up on Central Florida for his pizza chain.

“Bavaro’s will reopen in the Orlando market in the future,” he said.