Food & drink in Central Florida.

The Thirsty Cobbler

Ocala's first speakeasy. Password-required entry, handcrafted cocktails around $12, vintage Prohibition-era decor, and intimate seating for about 20. No food served. Opens at 6pm nightly.

El Azteca Mexican Cocina

If you haven't found El Azteca Mexican Cocina yet, you're missing out on one of Bushnell's best-kept secrets — though with a 4.7-star Google rating and a loyal following, the secret is getting out fast. Tucked into Bushnell Plaza off SR 48, this family-run spot serves authentic Mexican cuisine that goes well beyond the typical Tex-Mex playbook. The enchiladas are rich and saucy, the fajitas come out sizzling, and the tamales taste like someone's abuela made them that morning. Don't skip the sangria — regulars call it spectacular, and they're not exaggerating. What sets El Azteca apart isn't just the food, though. It's the warmth. Reviewers consistently rave about the staff — attentive, genuine, the kind of service that makes you feel like family from the first visit. The dining room is clean and inviting, the kind of place you'd bring your parents or take the kids on a Tuesday night just as easily as a Friday date night. Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the fresh, thin tortillas alone are worth the trip. Whether you're stopping in for a quick lunch combo, ordering takeout through Toast or DoorDash, or settling in for a full dinner with margaritas, El Azteca delivers every time. It's the kind of neighborhood restaurant that makes you glad you live here — and if you're visiting the area, it's reason enough to get off the interstate.

CFS Coffee

Colombian-inspired coffee shop at Spanish Springs Town Square serving authentic coffee from the Cocora Valley alongside empanadas, pancakes, and breakfast bowls in a cozy atmosphere.

The Coffee Corral

Coffee shop in Floral City serving specialty coffees and light bites in a relaxed setting.

Latinos Y Mas

Outstanding Latin cuisine in Ocala. A local favorite for authentic flavors and generous portions.

Oakwood Express Smokehouse

Local BBQ chain serving ribs, steakburgers, seafood & Southern sides in a relaxed atmosphere.

Stagger Inn

Downtown bar with a cozy interior and sidewalk seating on Donnelly Street. Known for craft cocktails, local beers, and a laid-back evening atmosphere.

Hong Kong Restaurants

Chinese restaurant in Bushnell offering Cantonese dishes, dim sum, noodle soups, and American-Chinese favorites including General Tso's chicken, with dine-in and takeout.

Ralph’s Burger & Sandwich Shop

The Warehouse Social Club operated by the Military Fire Police Support Association

Community social club in downtown Leesburg operated by the Military Fire Police Support Association, hosting events, gatherings, and entertainment for members and guests.

Beans and Greens Coffee House

Cozy coffee house in Crystal River serving craft coffee drinks, smoothies, and light bites. A local favorite for a chill morning cup or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill & Bar

Lakeside dining with front-row views of Lake Dora and the seaplane base -- which means you might watch a plane land while you eat your burger. The seafood is fresh, the drinks are strong, and the outdoor patio is where you want to be at sunset.

Bru Tap House

Thirty craft taps with a local focus, live music, board games, and the kind of laid-back energy that makes downtown Tavares feel like it's having a moment. If you're looking for the heartbeat of the local craft beer scene, this is it.

Amrit Palace

The best Indian food within 50 miles, and it's not close. The lunch buffet is a steal, the naan comes out of the tandoor perfectly blistered, and the menu is deep enough that regulars are still discovering new favorites after years of visits.

Suncreek Brewery

Clermont's first craft brewery, established in 2018 on the Legacy Loop Trail near Lake Minneola, sharing a complex with coal-fired pizza and mac-and-cheese restaurant partners.

Serendipity Brews

Artisan coffee shop and craft beer bar in downtown Mount Dora with 14 draft beers, 150+ packaged options, retro decor, and regular live music adding to the town's nightlife.

Sweet Alps Ice Cream

La Cuisine Academy Restaurant

Restaurant in Ocala.

Island Fin Poke

Hawaiian-style poke restaurant at Brownwood serving fresh, sustainably sourced sushi and cooked proteins in customizable bowls with over 25 toppings, plus beer, wine, and Dole Whip.

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza - Trinity

Local Italian chain serving stone-fired pizzas, plus pasta, entrees & subs, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Mystic Ice Cream

All-natural ice cream shop in downtown Mount Dora with 30+ rotating flavors including alcohol-infused varieties like Kahlua Fudge Brownie and Bailey's, all made on premises with natural ingredients.

Kalua Beach Bar

A lakefront bar with Hawaiian-inspired food, Lake Dora views, and live music on weekends. The vibe is Jimmy Buffett meets lake town Florida -- laid back, sandy-footed, and exactly where you want to be on a Friday night.

Rutabagas Natural Food Market & Café

Family-owned natural food store and cafe in Inverness offering organic produce, vitamins, supplements, and a cafe menu of smoothies, acai bowls, wraps, and soups for special diets.

Mary's Kountry Kitchen

The kind of breakfast spot where the portions are enormous, the coffee stays full, and the regulars know the staff by name. Mary's has been feeding Tavares for years with no-frills comfort food that hits exactly right at 7am.

Evans Prairie - Country Club Restaurant

Country club dining at Evans Prairie in The Villages, offering a relaxed meal with golf course views. Open to residents and their guests for lunch and dinner.

Marmaduke's Lodge

Multi-concept venue in downtown Leesburg featuring Americana food, craft beer, Burns Drugstore Speakeasy, and SLICE pizza by the slice, with live entertainment and outdoor seating.

Twistee Treat Ocala

Dessert chain serving soft serve ice cream, malts & more from a stand shaped like an ice cream cone.

J & T Smokehouse

Smokehouse restaurant in Leesburg, FL.

Pinesmoke Bee Co.

Mac’d Out

Prime 3

Upscale steak and wine restaurant in downtown Leesburg

Uncorked

Square 1 Burgers & Bar

Craft burger joint in The Villages building smash burgers with creative toppings and a solid craft beer selection. The kind of place where the burgers are messy in the best way.

The Bell Clermont

Franco's Italian Restaurant

Reveille Cafe The Villages

Comfortable daytime diner serving coffee & brunch favorites, including pancakes & omelets.

PizzAmore

Family-friendly parlor serving specialty pizzas, hot entrees, plus beer & wine in a casual space.

Twisted Biscuit Diner

Popular Tavares diner serving traditional Southern comfort food with a twist, built around flavored, made-from-scratch biscuits, open daily from 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM for breakfast and lunch.

Maw's Mountain Moonshine

Family-owned craft distillery in Mount Dora featuring hand-crafted moonshine made from Appalachian Mountain family recipes passed down through generations, with tastings and a retail shop.

EDO Sushi

Modern Japanese steakhouse offering sushi, noodle dishes & entertaining hibachi chefs.

McCracken’s Irish Pub

Irish pub on Main Street in downtown Leesburg serving Irish-inspired dishes, cocktails, and draft beers including Guinness, with daily happy hour from 2-6 PM.

Maramay

RJ Gator's Florida Sea Grill & Bar

Florida-themed bar and grill at Lake Sumter Landing with seafood, burgers, and tropical cocktails. The outdoor seating puts you right in the middle of the nightly entertainment scene.

Oak & Stone

Craft beer and artisan pizza restaurant at Eastport Town Center featuring a self-serve tap wall with 50+ rotating beers using touchless RFID technology, plus oven-baked wings and create-your-own pizzas.

Wolf Branch Brewing - Mount Dora

A Lake County craft brewery with locations in Mount Dora, Leesburg, and Eustis. The Mount Dora taproom sits right downtown and pours some of the best craft beers in the region alongside comfort food that pairs perfectly.

Santiagos Restaurant

Restaurant at Cagan Crossing

Ski Beach Bar and Grill

Waterfront restaurant on Lake Harris in Leesburg offering American favorites and fresh seafood with stunning lake views, plus a Sunday brunch buffet.

The Brave Burger