Bolay restaurant opens in Winter Park

There’s a new restaurant in Winter Park looking to put a pep in your step. 

Bolay, a fast-casual restaurant  that had its start in South Florida, opened a location in Winter Park Friday, Feb. 15. The eatery specializes in serving up bowl-style meals with healthy, energizing ingredients. 

“Flavor is top of the line, but (founder Chris Gannon) also cares about the way people feel and what fuels their bodies,” Bolay Marketing Director Hannah Peterson said. “The idea was to make it appealing to everybody, but you’re leaving feeling great.”

Some of the bowl’s ingredients include seasonal veggies, spinach and kale, various proteins and herb roasted potatoes. Everything on the menu is gluten-free — something Bolay staff hopes will appeal to people who are watching their diets or have autoimmune issues. The menu has a number of vegan options as well.

The restaurant was founded by Chris and his father, Tim Gannon. Tim Gannon, founder of the Outback Steakhouse restaurant, groomed his son to follow in his footsteps. The restaurant’s name combines the “bol”signature dish with “olay” to generate excitement. 

The Winter Park location had more than 10 weeks of development before the doors opened. Bolay had a series of soft openings to get its 60 employees used to the restaurant experience, according to Danny Somaru, operating partner for Bolay in Winter Park. 

The restaurant’s interior has a light, modern design with a high ceiling and an open kitchen. Its walls have an assortment of artwork including a mural created by Peterson herself. 

Bolay has an internal ethos of improving themselves and the community around them that’s reflected in the restaurant’s aesthetic. Much of the artwork that covers the interior encourages self-improvement and physical activity, Peterson said.

“With our artwork, we’re trying to inspire an active, healthy lifestyle,” Peterson said. “Our corporate team does triathlons and 5K races. We close on the Fourth of July to run a four-mile race. … It’s a lot of athleticism and pushing your limits and yourself.”

Somaru said he and other staff are planning a series of community events and partnerships with sports teams, promotions with local gyms, and yoga and CrossFit programs on weekends.

“We’re a healthier option that’s not around this area,” Somaru said. “Believe me, people love their pizza and burgers and things like that, but we provide a healthy option.”

If You Go: Bolay

WHERE: 1971 Aloma Ave, Winter Park

HOURS: 11 a.m to 9:30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays

WEBSITE: https://www.loc8nearme.com/florida/winter-park/bolay/4967154/