For many non-Floridians, there is this stereotypical image of swamp-people eating gator tail and air-boating everywhere. And if your dream is to have this kind of experience, there are tons of nearby places where you can make that happen, or at least soak in the “Florida” ambiance. From fish camps where you can take airboat rides and eat gator tail, to oceanside seafood restaurants, there are plenty of places in the Orlando area to get that stereotypical Florida dining experience.
The Black Hammock
2316 Black Hammock Fish Camp Rd, Oviedo; 407-365-1244
This restaurant located near Lake Jesup meets all your gator needs. The Black Hammock makes gator in a bunch of ways, such as gator tacos or burgers sprinkled with gator bites.
Photo via Black Hammock Restaurant/FacebookBoondocks Restaurant
3948 S Peninsula Dr, Port Orange; 407-293-3587
Right by a Halifax River marina lies this small seafood restaurant with a variety of fish dinners. Also, you can’t miss out on their famous cheesy garlic bread.
Photo via Boondocks RestaurantJB’s Fish Camp
859 Pompano Ave, New Smyrna Beach; 386-427-5747
With a beachside location, this fish camp offers a variety of activities such as fishing pole, kayak and paddleboard rentals in addition to their spicy Cajun-style food. Enjoy fried or blackened fish, sandwiches, shellfish, award-winning soups and more.
Photo via JB’s Fish Camp/Facebook Credit: Photo via JB's Fish Camp/FacebookSwamp House Riverfront Grill
488 W Highbanks Rd, DeBary; 386-668-8891
Overlooking the St. Johns River, eat southern food upstairs, with options like gator tail, Louisiana-style crab cakes, Key West mahi and more. Downstairs, take in the river view while sipping some drinks at the tiki bar. Live music plays every weekend.
Photo via Swamp House Riverfront Grill and Happy Snapper Tiki Bar/FacebookCrabby Joe’s Deck & Grill
3701 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores; 386-788-3364
Dine right over the ocean on this Sunglow Pier restaurant. Here you can enjoy all the seafood classics while watching others fish on the pier.
Photo via Crabby Joe’s Deck & Grill/FacebookHidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill
4940 S Peninsula Dr, Ponce Inlet; 386-761-9271
With one of the largest collections of unique vintages in Florida and a Key-West-style atmosphere, this Ponce Inlet restaurant is worth a visit. It serves everything from steamed mussels and oysters to a surf-and-turf burger with an ocean view.
Photo via Hidden Treasure Rum Bar & Grill on Ponce Inlet/FacebookLena’s Seafood
18478 E Highway 40, Silver Springs; 352-625-6489
Lena’s menu promises that they serve “New England seafood with southern hospitality” and they definitely deliver, serving up a simple menu of fish nuggets, shrimp, clams and more.
Photo via Lena’s Seafood Florida/FacebookTiki Bar & Grill
508 S Main Ave, Minneola; 352-394-2232
Located in Lake Minneola Inn, devour some burgers, sandwiches and hot dogs while taking in the view of the lake. Pontoon boat rentals are also available for guests to cruise around the lake.
Photo via Lake Minneola Inn/ the Tiki Bar & Grill/FacebookAunt Catfish’s on the River
4009 Halifax Dr, Port Orange; 386-767-4768
Promising a “unique old Florida” atmosphere, this riverfront restaurant provides southern seafood goodness. Features a salad, fruit and relish buffet, “Fish Camp Fixin’s” bar and an actual full bar.
Photo via Aunt Catfish’s on the River/FacebookLee & Rick’s Oyster Bar
5621 Old Winter Garden Rd; 407-293-3587
This restaurant has been open since 1950, bringing many types of seafood to Orlando. With everything from oyster buckets to calamari rings to corn dogs, this nautically-themed restaurant has something for everyone.
Photo via lee and ricks oyster bar/FacebookGrills Seafood Deck and Tiki Bar
500 Glen Cheek Drive, Cape Canaveral; 321-868-2226
With breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, this seaside restaurant offers a wide variety of food with a “unique island atmosphere.” Experience everything from Tsunami Shrimp to New England Clam Chowder with a view of passing cruise ships, rocket launches and more.
Photo via Grills Seafood Deck and Tiki BarShady Oak Restaurant
2984 Old New York Ave, DeLand; 386-734-9715
Enjoy some American seafood on the St. John’s river with patio seating and boat docking space at this hole-in-the-wall restaurant.
Photo via Shady Oak Restaurant/FacebookLone Cabbage Fish Camp
8199 SR 520, Cocoa; 321-632-4199
This old-style Florida fish camp is located on the St. John’s River, offering their famous gator tail, frog legs, turtle and catfish, among other seafood staples. While you’re there, you can also try their airboat rides.
Photo via Lone Cabbage Fish Camp/FacebookFish On Fire
7937 Daetwyler Dr; 407-812-6881
This restaurant offers a wide variety of foods, with a focus on seafood. Options include baskets, tacos, flatbreads, burgers, fish sandwiches and more. Fish On Fire is also Orlando’s only “cook your catch” location, where you can bring in a fresh, cleaned fish you caught and they will cook it however you want.
Photo via Fish On Fire/FacebookOutriggers Tiki Bar and Grille
200 Boat Yard St, New Smyrna Beach; 386-428-6888
Get the full oceanside experience at this seafood restaurant on the New Smyrna Marina. Outriggers prides itself on being one of the only restaurants in Central Florida that has a license to buy fresh fish from the docks. They also provide an “extensive drinks menu.”
Photo via Outriggers Tiki Bar and Grille/FacebookThe Catfish Place of St. Cloud
2324 13th St, St. Cloud; 407-892-5771
This family restaurant has been around since 1973, with its catfish being caught daily in Lake Okeechobee. The food and atmosphere fuse classic seafood with southern comfort.
Photo via THE CATFISH PLACE OF ST. CLOUD/FacebookDixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant
1475 Garden St, Titusville; 407-892-5771
Known as a “seafood restaurant and more,” this place has food for land and sea lovers alike, such as fish sandwiches, baskets, wild ocean shrimp, steaks and more. This restaurants provides everything from low-cost to high-end foods.
Photo via Dixie Crossroads Seafood RestaurantEast Lake Fish Camp
3702 Big Bass Rd, Kissimmee; 407-892-5771
In addition to some seafood with a lake view, experience an airboat ride, go fishing or rent a boat at this East Lake Tohopekaliga fish camp.
Photo via Billie E.on YelpGators Riverside Grille
4255 Peninsula Point, Sanford; 407-688-9700
Not to be confused with Gator’s Dockside, this Sanford outdoor restaurant is “accessible by car or boat.” Here you can try fried gator as well as seafood, wraps, jalapeno poppers, deep fried pickles and more.
Photo via Gators Riverside Grill/FacebookThe Breakers Restaurant
518 Flagler Ave, New Smyrna Beach; 386-428-2019
This pink restaurant is the place to go if you want to eat some burgers on the beach. Breakers offers every kind of burger you can think of from the Hawaiian Burger to the Pizza Burger to the Inferno Burger.
Photo via The Breakers Restaurant/Facebook
