Food & drink in Central Florida.

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.

Bull Smokehouse

Papa J's Diner

One of the longest-running breakfast and lunch diners in Inverness since 1986, serving all-day breakfast with Southern-style cooking, generous portions, and competitive prices.

Eden Abbey Brewing Community

Family-owned Mount Dora brewpub with 14 taps of Belgian-inspired house-brewed beers, scratch-made empanadas, Wagyu burgers, and a backyard where kids can run free. Sunday brunch comes with live music — the whole package.

Red Crab - Juicy Seafood (Eustis)

Red Crab Juicy Seafood Restaurant in Eustis, FL, offers mouthwatering seafood served fresh and bursting with flavor, featuring Cajun-inspired dishes and customizable seafood boils.

Prime 3

Upscale steak and wine restaurant in downtown Leesburg

Hibachi Express

Darrell's Diner

Sol De Mexico

Family-run Mexican cantina decked out with South American furniture & artworks, open since 2009.

The Forge Ocala

Ocala's newest culinary destination featuring six distinct concept restaurants under one roof, including Asian fusion, Mediterranean tapas, a speakeasy, a brewery, and a dessert bar.

Marguerita Grill

Mexican & American fare in a relaxed setting with sports TV, fishbowl Margaritas & patio seating.

China Lee Buffet

All-you-can-eat Chinese buffet on Silver Springs Boulevard with a rotating selection of classic Chinese-American dishes, sushi, and desserts. A budget-friendly option for big appetites.

Taco 'N Madre

This petite Mexican eatery whips up tacos, burritos & other traditional fare in a casual setting.

Amore Italian Ristorante

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.

Seagrass Waterfront

Riverfront property offering casual condos with kitchens, plus a restaurant, tiki bar & boat ramp.

Yamas

Mediterranean shared plates with a waterfront setting at Hotel Eastport. Aromatic spices, locally sourced seasonal ingredients, and a casual but elevated atmosphere.

Vintage on 5th

Upscale dining in a historic Crystal River building. Refined atmosphere and a menu that rewards a leisurely evening.

Artman Country Smokehouse

Barbecue smokehouse in Summerfield, FL, serving Southern smoked meats.

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.

Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant

Popular family-owned Mexican restaurant in a charming converted house in Dunnellon, serving authentic Tex-Mex cuisine with generous portions and beer and wine.

CAVA

Mediterranean restaurant for thoughtful food with customizable greens & grains bowls, pitas & salad.

Lady lake pizza & pasta

Lupitas

Calypso

Caribbean-inspired restaurant at The Waterfront Inn on Lake Sumter Landing, serving island-flavored dishes and rum-infused cocktails with indoor-outdoor dining, live music, and lakeside breezes.

Lakis Restaurant

Popular Greek & Italian dishes served in a casual space with murals of quaint Aegean scenes.

Tiki Bar & Grill

Easygoing hangout on Lake Minneloa featuring American eats, brews & scenic outdoor seating.

Coastal Del Mar

Seafood with flair at Spanish Springs. A popular spot for dinner right on the square with live music steps away.

Front Porch Restaurant

Home-style restaurant in Dunnellon serving comfort food classics — think fried chicken, meatloaf, and biscuits. The kind of place where the food tastes like somebody's grandma made it.

Ivy on the Square

Southern-inspired cuisine is the specialty of this elegant restaurant in a circa-1890 building.

THE FLAME

The Lazy Maid Crêperie

Highly rated French creperie in downtown Brooksville serving both sweet and savory crepes in a charming setting with indoor and outdoor seating, open for breakfast and lunch.

The Deli Llama, Cafe.- Espresso & Sandwiches

Creative cafe in downtown Mount Dora serving crafted pressed sandwiches with house-made meats and espresso by day, transforming into The Llama Lounge evenings with small bites, beer, wine, and sake cocktails.

Wallace's at the Greenhouse

A chef-owned scratch kitchen in Homosassa where the love of fresh, local ingredients shows in every dish. The setting inside a converted greenhouse is unique, and the menu changes with what's available. Worth planning around their limited schedule.

Casa Agave Mexican Grill

The Bavarian Haus

Casual eatery with a homey vibe & outdoor patio seating serving traditional German food & beer.

Cantina Tex Mex Tequila Bar

Fujiyama Japanese Steak House

Family-owned Japanese steakhouse in Bushnell offering hibachi dinners, sushi rolls, and traditional entrees, with reservations, takeout, and delivery available.

Fifth Avenue Streatery

Full-service restaurant in Mount Dora serving Southern fusion and down-home cooking made from scratch, featuring open-air dining, a pet-friendly atmosphere, and a dedicated dog menu.

Big Cypress Lakefront Pizzeria

Experience handmade Italian perfection by the water, where rustic charm meets vibrant style at BIG CYPRESS LAKEFRONT PIZZERIA.

The Grille & Tiki Bar at Citrus Hills

Restaurant and tiki bar at Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club.

Fat Chef Authentic Jamaican Cuisine

Authentic Jamaican food

Taco Norteno

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.

El Ranchito Mexican Cuban Cuisine

Mexican and Cuban cuisine restaurant

Root & Branch Bistro + Bar

A labor of love from proprietors Jason and Casey Baruch, Root & Branch has won multiple Taste of South Lake awards for good reason. The fried green tomatoes are legendary, and the upscale-but-casual vibe hits that sweet spot for a special night out.

Waterfront Social

Indoor/outdoor gathering spot on Kings Bay in Crystal River serving southern coastal dishes from scratch, with a tiki bar offering 180-degree bay views and sunset cocktails.

Suncreek Cafe