Some food is so good, it’s worth a tank of gas. It’s called a “destination meal,” and Central Florida has quite a few of them. From barbecue in Apopka, to historic Florida fare in Mount Dora, fill up the tank because these spots offer culinary masterpieces that you’ll be more than happy to make a weekend drive for.
Third Wave Cafe & Wine Bar
204 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach, 386-402-7864
Flagler Avenue’s offerings are growing by leaps and bounds, but this spot stands out. Though a hot pour-over might not sound like ideal après-beach fare, maybe a scoop of ice-cold gelato or a craft brew from the tap would do the trick? Stick around for dinner under the bistro lights on the patio and order kielbasa-spiced hanger steak with sweet mustard, fresh-crunchy kale salad or a charcuterie board to share. Maybe after dinner, with the drive home ahead of you, ordering that coffee will seem like the thing to do.
Photo via Orlando Weekly/InstagramWHAT TO GET: Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes
Being near the beach, it’s only appropriate to start off your meal at Third Wave with the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. Two Maryland style crab cakes made with blue fin and jumbo lump crab are served with a summer Napa cabbage and caper slaw.
Photo via thirdwavensb/InstagramNeighbors Artisan Taqueria
112 W. Georgia Ave., DeLand, 386-279-0394
Snuggled into an elbow of the Café DaVinci courtyard, Neighbors serves up tacos from tame to adventurous plus house-made guac, queso and salsa.
Photo via morginn_ashley/InstagramWHAT TO GET: Upstate Neighbor
We’re pretty sure you’ve never had a taco quite like this before. An order brings two flour tortillas filled with fried chicken, buffalo wing sauce, crumbled bleu cheese, carrots and chives, with homemade chips on the side.
Photo via neighborsartisantaqueria/InstagramPorkie’s Original BBQ
256 E. Main St., Apopka, 407-880-3351
A restaurant can’t go wrong with the tagline, “You can smell our butts a mile away.” This award-winning barbecue spot stands out not only for its delectable meat but also for its wide variety of sauces.
Photo via orlandofoodscene/InstagramWHAT TO GET: Rib-Eye Steak
For a filling feast, try out the juicy steak rib-eye in 8 or 12 ounce portions with your choice of two sides, like mac-and-cheese or brunswick stew, and garlic toasts.
Photo via tommy_gilligan/InstagramNineteen 61
1212 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, 863-688-1961
Chef Marcos Fernandez’s upscaled Latin cuisine (Spanish charcuterie, a “poutine” of braised short rib, seco gravy and goat cheese over papas fritas, scallops and linguiça over boniato mash) proves he’s serious about starting a food revolution in Lakeland.
Photo via nineteen_61WHAT TO GET: Paella
With saffron, scallops, clams, chicken, shrimp, calaspara and pork belly, with savory delight will have you wanting to visit Spain.
Photo via nineteen_61/InstagramPlant Street Market
426 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, 786-671-1748
Literally, there’s a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker all in one spot. Among the 20 vendors, you’ll find wood-fired pizzas from Michael’s Ali, farm-to-table cuisine at Five Thymes Five, expertly rolled sushi at Jodo, artisan chocolates from David Ramirez Chocolates, and craft coffee at Axum Coffee – all within steps of each other, so you can get all your shopping done and have lunch at the same time. The market is open seven days a week, and gets five-deep on weekends.
Photo via plantstreetmarket/InstagramWHAT TO GET: Five Thymes Dog
This is no food cart hot dog. A grilled all-beef frank is split on a bun with yellow mustard, dill spears, sweet house relish, banana peppers, onions, diced tomato, mint and celery salt, with your choice of hand-cut fries or couscous salad on the side.
Photo via ashtagfoodie/InstagramSmiling Bison
107 S. Magnolia Ave., Sanford, 407-915-6086
Chef Josh Oakley’s gastropub gets raves for good reason, with beer-friendly but upscale dishes like the duck-lover’s pizza and the shaved-beef sandwich on a smoked salt-caraway roll. Ask for mushroom ketchup on your fries.
Photo via jeffrey2.brown/InstagramWHAT TO GET: House Charcuterie Board
Spend an afternoon relaxing with friends as you share the House Charcuterie Board, which comes with toscano salami, beef summer sausage, black garlic chicken liver mousse, smoked blue cheese, pickles and house-made sourdough.
Photo via smilingbison/Instagram1921 by Norman Van Aken
142 E. 4th Ave., Mount Dora, 352-385-1921
In the picturesque, historic community of Mount Dora Norman Van Aken’s 1921 highlights Florida tradition. After writing Florida Kitchen, the James-Beard-Award-winning used his new knowledge of the Sunshine State’s rich diversity to develop a menu focused on hyperlocal ingredients from farmers, fishermen and artisanal suppliers. From the Titusville spiny lobster and rock shrimp dumplings with country ham dashi to whole Cape Canaveral white shrimp with Anson Mills grits dashed with spiced ‘nduja vinaigrette and ramp butter, the best of Florida’s fauna and flora is here.
Photo via laurie_gannon/InstagramWHAT TO GET: Korea Town Chicken and Waffles
1921 does this southern classic just right for brunch with crispy chicken and fluffy waffles topped with fragrant orange compote and maple butter.
Photo via 1921nva/InstagramIce Plant Bar
110 Riberia Street, Saint Augustine, 904-829-6553
Ice Plant Bar and Restaurant pays homage to St. Augustine’s long-standing history as the oldest town in America through serving locally grown ingredients in their delectable pressed juices, cocktails and entrees. Open for lunch and dinner and offering only grass-fed beef, burgers and local seafood, Ice Plant sets itself apart from most beachside restaurants. The building itself dates back to 1927 when it was originally utilized as an ice plant factory. This “Roaring Twenties” feel is complete with bridge cranes above the bar and three different options of ice cubes, a salute to the building’s history.
Photo via Ice Plant Bar/FacebookWHAT TO GET: Braised Beef Short Rib Provencal
Grass-fed beef short ribs are paired with whipped polenta, roasted eggplant and sweet peppers gremolata.
Photo via iceplantbar/InstagramThe Black Hammock
2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Rd, Oviedo, 407-365-2201
They say there’s nothing like fresh caught fish (or gator) and we agree after sampling this down-to-earth, backwoods Florida eatery. The humble wooden structure sits on the shores of Lake Jessup where we suggest you make a day out of it with an airboat ride — a sure-fire guarantee you’ll see countless alligators in Florida’s pure environment. When in Rome, do as the Romans, right? Well, to quench your appetite, we say, “When at Black Hammock, eat gator tacos.” If you can’t stomach the gator, go for the buffalo shrimp, which has a perfect wing-type spice that will go right to your toes.
Photo via
banana_fanna_fofaime/InstagramWHAT TO GET: Tacos
If your sense of adventure applies more to rides than food, pick the chicken, mahi mahi or shrimp options for tacos. Those of you who really want the swampland experience, gator is your go to option. No matter your choice of protein, your order comes with three servings on flour tortillas topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, and homemade chipotle mayo, all served with sides of sour cream and pico de gallo.
Photo via blackhammock/InstagramThe Crooked Spoon
200 Citrus Tower Blvd., Clermont, 352-404-7808
Formerly a food truck famous for the “420 Burger” and helmed by the well-loved chef Steve Saelg, who passed away last year, devotees of that gut-buster now have to travel to the outer edges of Clermont to get one at this gastropub in the Citrus Tower’s shadow. Sample innovative dishes like duck consommé ramen, coconut-crusted chicken over cardamom-spiced waffles with garam masala maple syrup, and probably the best homemade potato chips we’ve ever had. The customer service is as friendly and unctuous as the lobster grilled-cheese sandwich.
Photo via Google MapsWHAT TO GET: Shrimp & Grits
This traditional soul-food dish gets the Crooked Spoon special touch. Grilled gulf shrimp are piled on top smoked gouda hominy grits with smoked tomato coulis, sautéed spinach and pickled tomato.
Photo via travelingfoodista/Instagram
