Food & drink in Central Florida.

Little Fin

Fast-casual seafood spot inside The Market at Sawgrass Grove specializing in sauteed (not fried) dishes including walleye, fish and chips, oyster po'boys, and bang bang shrimp.

Horse & Hounds Restaurant

A dog-friendly American and British pub fare restaurant with over 15 outdoor tables. Known for generous portions of fish and chips, burgers, and steaks in a welcoming atmosphere.

Darrel's Dinner # 23

St. Johns Tavern

Classic pub fare is served alongside beer & cocktails in this warm, wood-&-brick locale.

Franco's Italian Restaurant

18 South Restaurant and Saloon

Storming Crab

AK Pho & Boba Tea

Braised Onion

Family-owned and full of personality, Braised Onion serves comfort food done right — legendary crispy onion fritters, meatloaf, and chicken pot pie in a vibrant, art-filled space.

Don Ceviche Peru Mexico restaurant

Stavro's and Sons Pizza

Simple standby for classic Italian, Greek & Mediterranean cooking served in warm, homey environs.

Pisces Rising

Fresh seafood with a view of Lake Dora. Creative preparations and a lakefront setting that's hard to beat in this part of Florida.

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.

Campo Azul Mexican Kitchen

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.

ROYAL ORCHID THAI Cuisine

Various Thai favorites, plus beer & wine, are served in a traditional, wood-paneled setting.

COSA NOSTRA ITALIAN DELI

Italian deli in downtown Clermont

Pink and Sweet Bakery and Restaurant

The Friar's Table

Gastropub-style dining at Brownwood Paddock Square with elevated comfort food, craft cocktails, and a warm tavern atmosphere.

Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza - Trinity

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

Seagrass Waterfront

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

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.

Backwater Fins

Waterfront restaurant at the end of Ozello Trail serving fresh seafood and cold drinks with stunning Gulf views.

Cedar River Seafood

Local seafood chain in Inverness dishing out fried fish platters, shrimp baskets, and hushpuppies. Simple, satisfying seafood at honest prices.

Santiagos Restaurant

Restaurant at Cagan Crossing

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.

ZENSHI Handcrafted Sushi

Johnny Rockets

Burgers, shakes & fries arrive in a retro setting at this outpost of the international chain.

Montrose Street Market

Curated marketplace with culinary and retail experience in downtown Clermont

CAVA

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

THE FLAME

Reveille Cafe The Villages

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

Ocean Buffet

Asian buffet restaurant in Ocala with a wide spread of Chinese, Japanese, and seafood options including sushi, crab legs, and hibachi. All-you-can-eat at a fair price.

Guavate Puerto Rican Eatery & Bistro

Yum Yum Wings and Things

Garvino's

Wine bar, cigar lounge, and gift shop at Lake Sumter Landing featuring 24 wines by the glass, a walk-in humidor with 350+ cigar varieties, and live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday.

Los Magueyes Inverness

Regional Mexican restaurant chain location on Highway 41 near Inverness, serving fresh-made dishes including carne asada tacos, birria tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, and molcajete.

The Biscuit Barn

Highly rated Crystal River breakfast and lunch spot known for huge Southern-style biscuits with iron-skillet sausage gravy, steak and eggs, and classic lunch fare like reubens and burgers.

The Freezer Tiki Bar

Started as a literal bait freezer attached to a seafood market, now it's one of the most beloved dive bars on the Nature Coast. Cash only, peel-and-eat shrimp, and the kind of Old Florida atmosphere you can't manufacture. Bring cash.

Crump's Landing

Laid-back waterfront restaurant offering familiar seafood dishes, plus burgers & fried chicken.

The Fire Japanese Steak House

Japanese steakhouse in Leesburg featuring hibachi grills with teppanyaki chefs cooking tableside, plus sushi and traditional Japanese cuisine, family-owned and operated.

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.

The Brick & Barrel Public House

New American restaurant and bar on Main Street in Leesburg with a rustic-modern vibe, craft beer on tap, handmade cocktails, and live music Friday and Saturday evenings.

Little Something Different

Small-plates restaurant in the heart of Mount Dora offering globally inspired shareable dishes crafted with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, with 80% of the menu gluten-free friendly.

TooJay’s Deli • Bakery • Restaurant

Casual eatery serving up sandwiches, burgers & hearty comfort dishes, plus baked goods & desserts.

The Salted Fry

100% gluten-free European-style frite shop in downtown Mount Dora serving Belgian-style fries, fresh-made dipping sauces, panini sandwiches, and their own bourbon-cooked ketchup.

Cody's Original Roadhouse - Brownwood

Informal local chain serving hand-cut steaks, seafood & Southern BBQ in a roadhouse-themed setting.

Gio's Deli

Italian deli and market near The Villages in Oxford serving homemade pizza, fresh sandwiches, and scratch-made Italian specialties, with imported goods available for purchase.