TV Restaurants

Who Runs Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar Now? (Mount Dora, FL)

New owners reported

As of September 2026, realitytvupdates.com reports Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar changed ownership; reviewed by our team, not yet independently confirmed.

Primary source
realitytvupdates.com ·
Secondary source
menupix.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: The owner's Facebook post, cited by Reality TV Updates, says the bar sold and is being renamed Whiskey Kitchen; a MenuPix listing shows Whiskey Kitchen at the same address and phone number previously used by Lake House Bar and Grill.

  • Season / episode Season 5, Episode 27
  • Original air date
  • Address 315 N Highland St, Mount Dora, FL 32773
  • Current name Whiskey Kitchen

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What happened after Bar Rescue?

Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar in Mount Dora had been a buffet restaurant that owner Rich Marinacci converted into a sports bar in 2009 using proceeds from franchise businesses he had sold. The bar found early success, but Bar Rescue's "Daddy Dearest" episode, which aired in August 2017, depicted a business in decline, with long-standing tension between Rich and his two sons, Richie Jr. and Joey, compounded by Rich's drinking at the bar he was supposed to be managing. During a hidden-camera visit, cocktails arrived in the wrong glassware, and the kitchen crossed raw and cooked food, prompting the show's chef to stop customers from eating. Tension between father and sons boiled over into a physical altercation at the bar during filming.

Jon Taffer's team, including mixologist Phil Wills and chef Michael Ferraro, retrained the staff on cocktails such as a Bacardi mojito and a simplified shrimp-and-chips dish, and walked the family through a mediated conversation about the business and their relationships. As part of the renovation, the bar was renamed Lake House Bar and Grill, reflecting Mount Dora's lakeside setting, and was outfitted with new point-of-sale systems and soda guns.

The rebrand held for several years: at the standard six-week follow-up, sales were reported up more than 15 percent, and the family kept the Lake House name rather than reverting to Sidelines. In November or December 2023, according to a Facebook post from the owner, the bar closed after being sold to new owners who planned a full renovation and a further rename to Whiskey Kitchen. Business listings for Whiskey Kitchen at 315 North Highland Street list the same phone number previously used by Lake House Bar and Grill, and Yelp's own listing for Lake House at that address is marked closed as of a July 2026 update, consistent with the change in ownership and name.

A separate online listing for "Sidelines Sports Eatery" still circulates under the same address and phone number, appearing to be a leftover aggregator record carried over from the bar's original name rather than a currently operating business; no independent evidence was found of a business trading under that name at the location in 2026. The site today operates as Whiskey Kitchen under new ownership, serving breakfast, brunch, and sandwiches rather than the sports-bar concept Bar Rescue built for the space.

Featured on Bar Rescue

Season / episode
Season 5, Episode 27
Original air date
Episode title
Daddy Dearest
What was featured
family conflict, cross-contamination, and rescue rebrand to Lake House Bar and Grill
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar

Frequently asked questions

Is Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, realitytvupdates.com reports Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar changed ownership; reviewed by our team, not yet independently confirmed.

What happened to Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar after Bar Rescue?

Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar in Mount Dora had been a buffet restaurant that owner Rich Marinacci converted into a sports bar in 2009 using proceeds from franchise businesses he had sold. As of September 2026, realitytvupdates.com reports Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar changed ownership; reviewed by our team, not yet independently confirmed.

What is Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar called now?

Now: Whiskey Kitchen (formerly Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar). As of September 2026, realitytvupdates.com reports Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar changed ownership; reviewed by our team, not yet independently confirmed.

Where is Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar located?

315 N Highland St, Mount Dora, FL 32773. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Bar Rescue featured Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar?

Season 5, Episode 27 of Bar Rescue, first aired August 13, 2017. The episode is titled “Daddy Dearest”.

Who owns Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar now?

As of September 2026, realitytvupdates.com reports Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar changed ownership; reviewed by our team, not yet independently confirmed. We name individual owners only where a source we cite names them.

Did the makeover last at Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar?

The episode first aired August 13, 2017. Our most recent check was September 7, 2026 — 9 years later —: As of September 2026, realitytvupdates.com reports Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar changed ownership; reviewed by our team, not yet independently confirmed.

Is Sidelines Sports Grill & Bar still using the Bar Rescue menu or branding?

The rebrand held for several years: at the standard six-week follow-up, sales were reported up more than 15 percent, and the family kept the Lake House name rather than reverting to Sidelines. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.

Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.

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Visit info

Address
315 N Highland St, Mount Dora, FL 32773
Venue type
bar

Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources

  • realitytvupdates.com — https://realitytvupdates.com/bar-rescue/lake-house-sidelines-sports/
  • menupix.com — https://www.menupix.com/florida/restaurants/33410328/Whiskey-Kitchen-Mount-Dora-FL
  • menupix.com — https://www.menupix.com/florida/restaurants/380122402/Sidelines-Sports-Eatery-Mount-Dora-FL

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Record br-134 · last verified .