Grand Palm
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the Mid $400s
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the Mid $400s
Custom & Semi-Custom Single-Family Homes from the High $600s - 1.8m+
Vibrant 55+ Living - Single-Family Homes & Paired Villas from the Low $400s
Single-Family Homes from the Low $400s
Single-Family Homes from the Low $900s
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the Low $400s
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the Low $400s
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the High $300s
Single-Family Homes from the Mid $600s
Condominiums and Coach Homes from the High $200s & Single-Family Homes from the Mid $600s
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the Low $400s
Paired Villas & Single-Family Homes from the Mid $400s
Single-Family Homes from the Low $400s
In honor of The Banyan House’s official opening, we spoke with David Valentino, one of the owners of this all-new waterfront restaurant, to give you a peek into the restaurant’s design approach, intentional menu, and family-owned aspect.
[David]: In many ways, The Banyan House is a marked departure from our previous projects. In most of our other restaurants, the design goal was to allow the guest to almost forget where they are. By strictly controlling lines of sight, lighting, etc., we distracted and diminished the outside world and created an escape for the guest. By the time the appetizers reach the table, they might imagine being in any city in the world. The Banyan House is something else entirely.
Thanks to the architectural and natural beauty of Downtown Wellen, plus our position on the [Grand Lake], we have leaned into the surrounding environment. Not only is the restaurant building itself dominated by large windows, but we have (quite literally) invited nature inside. Besides the obvious addition of our beautiful Banyan trees, we have also strived to emphasize natural colors, materials, and tree and leaf motifs throughout the interior design.
[David]: Yes. Again, this was a first for our group. We were aided by the building’s design team in selecting many of the basic design elements, such as wall coverings.
However, I am quite proud of the fact that many of the most dramatic pieces, such as the trees themselves and the stunning bar top were discovered by our restaurant team.
[David]: While the design of the physical space is quite comfortable, the cuisine is elevated and the menu very chef-driven… In this particular context, I am trying to express how thoughtfully the menu has been curated. How well each dish has been balanced. Be its ingredient sourcing, presentation, texture, warmth, brightness… I could go on. Almost nothing has been left to chance.
People are in for a treat, to say the least, and with no false modesty, I predict The Banyan House will quickly become a destination restaurant.
[David]: You are going to have to accept the reader’s digest version here. My brother Dennis and I have been partners in the restaurant business for over 20 years. We quite literally grew up in a hotel/restaurant in Scotland owned by our parents — although we are New Jersey Italians by birth. We both left the industry for a time.
Dennis was a lieutenant with the local fire department in his youth, and I became a corporate lawyer in Atlanta. Ultimately, we took over our small family restaurant in Port Charlotte, called Donato’s, which just celebrated its 27th anniversary.
Along our journey, about 12 years ago now, we met and hired another lifelong restaurant guy, named Mark Costanzo. Mark became our great friend and business partner and, together, our group has thrived and expanded. By year’s end, we will own nine popular local restaurants, plus our new catering company. It’s been a wonderful ride, as they say.
[David]: Brick and mortars don’t make a community. Buildings are just structures. Even the loveliest of them can be empty shells. So, what does make a community? What distinguishes one small town or city from the hundreds and thousands just like it? One stretch of US 41 from the next? Here’s a hint: it’s not Walgreens.
It’s the people, of course. The churches and the charities. The little league teams and Girl Scouts, and certainly the small “mom and pop” businesses. And at the very forefront of that, is the local restaurants. They quite literally (and figuratively) give a community its flavor. Its vibe.
It’s where we celebrate and seek solace. It’s where we find sustenance and kinship. It is often the first thing we think of when we think of where we come from… We want to be that place in the community.
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West Villages is now more amazing than ever. We’re proud to announce a new name and a new chapter for our vibrant community along Florida’s West Coast. Welcome to Wellen Park, where distinctive districts — including West Villages — offer new homes, shops, restaurants, amenities, and more.
CHECK OUT OUR FAQSee for yourself how Wellen Park is even better than you ever imagined.
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