Food & drink in Central Florida.

Live Fire Chefs

1890 Tea House

An Everyday Retreat in Downtown Ocala

City Fire

Upscale-casual American grill at Lake Sumter Landing featuring wood-fired pizzas, craft cocktails, and a vibrant patio overlooking the square.

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 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.

Florida Cracker Cook Shack - BBQ Joint

Southern soul food restaurant in downtown Brooksville smoking BBQ and hot chicken, with signature items including brisket, chipped pork, gator sausage, and Brooksvagas Hot Chicken.

Red Crab Juicy Seafood

Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar

Family-friendly hub for steamed & raw shellfish, wings & beers served in a no-frills setting.

1921 Mount Dora

Housed in what was once the town doctor's home, 1921 is owned by the Modernism Museum and features rotating art alongside locally sourced, contemporary American cuisine. The setting is as memorable as the food.

Darrell's Diner

BTW - Burgers Tacos Waffles

From the folks behind Bru Tap House comes this food-truck-concept-turned-brick-and-mortar. The name tells you exactly what to expect -- burgers, tacos, and waffles -- and they do all three well. The waffle fries are dangerously good.

Cody's Original Roadhouse - Brownwood

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

Big Bass Grill

Indulge in delicious seafood dishes and more with a tiki-style lakefront view at Big Bass Grill in Lake Panasoffkee.

18 South Restaurant and Saloon

Kungfu Chef Asian Restaurant

The Crazy Gator

Relaxed lakeside tavern with patio seating dishing up signature wings, steaks & housemade desserts.

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.

Old Time Diner

1950s-themed diner in Leesburg serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with live entertainment featuring the village cowboy on Tuesday evenings.

Tiki West Raw Bar and Grill

A family-owned seafood spot and oyster bar that puts a Caribbean twist on Southern classics. The raw bar is the main event, but the whole menu delivers. Casual enough for a Tuesday lunch, fun enough for a Saturday night out.

Lighthouse Point Bar & Grill

Waterfront dining at Lake Sumter Landing with solid food, gorgeous views, and live music. The kind of place where lunch turns into an afternoon.

Stavros and Sons Fruitland Park

Informal Italian eatery serving pizza, pasta, calzones & sandwiches, plus beer & wine.

Brick & Iron Cafe

A health-conscious cafe in downtown Ocala specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, and grab-and-go meals. If you're looking for something lighter than the usual comfort food options, this is your spot. Great coffee, too.

Harry and The Natives

An over-water tiki hut serving American fare with a seafood slant. No reservations, first come first served -- which somehow makes snagging a table feel like a small victory. The waterfront setting alone is worth the trip.

WAVE - Asian Bistro & Sushi

Fusion fare such as sushi burritos & donuts, create-your-own bento boxes & poke bowls plus beer.

Swampy's Bar & Grille

Nestled right on the Rainbow River, Swampy's has been a Dunnellon favorite for over a decade. The Cajun-inspired menu pairs perfectly with the riverfront setting, and it's the kind of place where you linger longer than you planned.

Cracker's Bar, Grill and Tiki

Familiar seafood choices served in a casual setting with a spacious waterfront bar & deck.

Los Magueyes Mexican Restaurant - Wildwood

Informal strip-mall setting for traditional Mexican comfort foods with margaritas & piña coladas.

Daniel's Cheesesteak Express

Philly cheesesteak restaurant in downtown Clermont

Cane Garden Country Club

Casual option with golf-course views providing seafood & other light fare along with American mains.

Cheeser's Palace Cafe and Catering

Specialty cheese cafe and catering in downtown Clermont

Todd and Shelly's Farm Fresh Restaurant

El patrón Grill & Bar

Great Chicago Fire Brewery & Tap Room

Chicago and firefighter-themed craft brewery in historic downtown Leesburg brewing 10 beers on premise, serving authentic Chicago-style eats including Italian beef, hot dogs, and thin crust pizza, with a live music beer garden.

Chop House at Lake Sumter

Elegant place with a terrace serving steaks, meat dishes & cocktails, plus weekend brunch.

Cajun Jimmy's Seafood Seller & Cafe

Cajun-style seafood restaurant and fish market in Crystal River. Buy fresh seafood to take home or sit down for boiled crawfish, fried shrimp, and po'boys with a Louisiana kick.

Ironworks Steaks and Fine Cocktails

Downtown Tavares finally got the upscale steakhouse it deserved. Ironworks brings aged steaks and craft cocktails to Ruby Street with a vibe that's polished but not stuffy. Limited hours mean you plan your visit -- and that's part of the appeal.

Bubba's Crab & Seafood

Casual seafood restaurant in Leesburg serving crab legs, shrimp, fish and chips, and other ocean favorites. A straightforward spot for a seafood fix without the fuss.

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.

El Patio Bushnell

Authentic Mexican restaurant in Bushnell known for scratch-made fajitas, burritos, street tacos, and barbacoa using fresh ingredients, with a 4.7-star rating.

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.

Kurosumi Kitchen

Japanese kitchen restaurant

Ramshackle Cafe

Burgers, fish 'n' chips & other American comfort food in a cozy, kitsch-filled setting with a patio.

La Cuisine Academy Restaurant

Restaurant in Ocala.

Thai Ruby

Authentic Thai cuisine at Lake Sumter Landing that goes well beyond the usual pad thai. The curries are properly spiced, the Tom Kha is aromatic and rich, and the location makes it easy to combine dinner with a stroll around the square.

Tap House Social

Sports-forward restaurant and bar in The Villages with scratch-made smash burgers, fish and chips, and a deep craft beer list. Plenty of TVs for game day and a lively vibe on weekends.

WingHouse Bar & Grill

Sports bar known for chicken wings, games on TV & scantily clad servers, plus event nights.

Copp Brewery & Winery

Crystal River brewery, winery, and full-service restaurant producing handcrafted beer and wine on-site since 2006, featuring a wood-fire oven and The Prohibition Grill.

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.