Dunedin is not exactly a city that screams “Tulum-inspired fine dining.” It’s a charming town famous for its Scottish heritage, its craft beer scene, and its walkable downtown. And yet, here we are. Origen just opened at 923 Broadway, and it’s the kind of place that makes you feel slightly underdressed for not having a linen blazer on hand.
The concept is simple enough: take the aesthetic energy of Tulum, the culinary firepower of a Food Network champion, and drop it into a former Señor Rita’s location on Broadway. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing, apparently.
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Leading the kitchen is Executive Chef Jordan Arcuri, winner of both Chopped and Supermarket Stakeout on Food Network, and known in certain circles as “The Beef Queen.” That nickname, by the way, is not something she gave herself in a moment of weakness. It’s earned. The steaks at Origen come from Chicago-based premium butcher Purely Meat Co., aged a minimum of 21 days, sourced from naturally raised cattle, and served with all the ceremony that kind of provenance deserves. The 30-ounce tomahawk ribeye is carved tableside, finished with an agave demi-glace, and priced to match the experience. Committing to it is basically a religious act.
But steaks aren’t the whole story. The menu at Origen leans hard into coastal Mexican flavors: fresh Gulf oysters topped with guava-lime mignonette, tableside guacamole made with ripe Hass avocados crushed by hand right in front of you, and a filet and bone marrow taco that costs $30 and is almost certainly worth every penny. There’s ceviche, there’s tartare, there’s blackened salmon, and there’s a tres leches butter cake soaked in tequila dulce de leche that sounds like it was designed specifically to make you forget you have responsibilities.
And if you somehow want to keep the night going after dinner, there’s a rooftop. An actual rooftop bar in Dunedin, with agave cocktails, open air, and presumably at least one person taking a very considered photo of their mezcal for Instagram. And honestly? Good for them.
Photos via Origen
Origen is open Wednesday through Friday from 4-10 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am to 10 pm. Reservations are already open on OpenTable, and honestly, if the soft opening buzz is any indication, you’ll want them.
It’s early days for Origen, and restaurants live or die by consistency over time. But the bones here are exceptional. Dunedin just got even more interesting.
Call (727) 223-8308 or visit their website for reservations and more information.
