12 minute read
Fork on the road
SAIGON FUSION
Saigon meets Mount Dora
STORY: DEBBI KIDDY // PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
Mount Dora now has a great place to enjoy authentic Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine. Saigon Fusion, conveniently located at 16700 U.S. Highway 441, offers a variety of quality Asian dishes including pho, hibachi, and sushi. My daughter, grandson, and I decided to have dinner here after working up an appetite with a morning of shopping. We were not disappointed.
We arrived mid-lunch hour and were seated quickly with no waiting at one of the many tables beneath a beautiful chandelier. The décor is upscale and inviting. Upon entering, we were greeted warmly and provided menus from our server, Sandy. The menu is quite extensive, so we took a while deciding which dishes appealed to us. My daughter had the greatest diffi culty, as she wanted sushi, and there were many delicious options.
We began our meal with Garlic Wings and Fried Gyoza. The appetizers came out soon after our order. The wings were seasoned with just the right amount of garlic, and we all agreed the pork dumplings (Gyoza) were tender and tasty.
My grandson, Kelly, is a picky eater, as are many children. He chose the noodles with a scrambled egg. He heartily scooped them up, enjoying every mouthful.
The sushi was fresh and delicious—the Mt. Fuji Roll and the Ninja Roll were great, and the salmon and tuna seasoned perfectly and colorfully presented—just the way you want your sushi—accompanied by wasabi and soy sauce.
Of the many options on the lunch menu, I chose the Hibachi sirloin steak and shrimp combination, which included fried rice, noodles, mixed vegetable, onion soup, and salad with ginger dressing. My salad was served with the appetizers, giving me ample time to fi nish before the main meal arrived. The full-fl avored soup was excellent. Both dishes were small portions, and left room for the main meal. The rice and noodles were both tender and complemented the delicate shrimp and cooked-to-order sirloin steak.
If you are in the mood for great Asian food with reasonable prices and friendly and attentive service, visit Saigon Fusion-it is sure to please!
Saigon Fusion // 16700 U S 441, Mount Dora // 352. 800.4052
CANE GARDEN COUNTRY CLUB
Better than sex country club fare
STORY: DEBBI KIDDY // PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
If you are hungry (or thirsty) after 18 holes of golf or taking a break from the ample shopping in The Villages, there’s a great place to go. The Cane Garden Country Club scores a holein-one for a varied menu, quality food, and friendly, fast service!
Whether you sit on the sunny patio overlooking the golf course, or enjoy the tropical cane décor inside, one thing is certain—the menu options are numerous—salads, wraps, soups, burgers, pizzas, and entrees such as Rustic Baked Pasta or Pecan Tilapia.
My friend and I were warmly welcomed, and rather than wait for the coveted patio seating on this gorgeous day, we chose a booth inside.
Our server answered questions about the menu and I chose the Chicken Marsala Sorrentino while my friend opted for the Ambrosia Chicken Salad Wrap. My chicken dish was hot and delicious as we were served promptly. The chicken breast was tender and covered with a combination of the Marsala butter sauce, mushrooms, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, and fresh tomatoes that had my taste buds begging for more! Served with tender spaghetti and mixed vegetables, the dish was defi nitely a wise and fl avorful choice.
My friend’s healthy chicken wrap was also a hit. The spinach tortilla was fi lled with diced chicken, mandarin oranges, pecans, craisins, coconut, spinach leaves, and tomatoes with a delicate raspberry dressing. The wrap was served with a mix of fresh strawberries, cantaloupe, and red grapes.
Though portions were ample, we decided to share a dessert. We enjoyed the decadent Choc’Late Lovin’ Spoon Cake—melt-in-yourmouth chocolate pudding between two layers of moist chocolate cake. Dining at Cane Garden Country Club for breakfast, lunch, or dinner is near to perfection!
5
Forks
(Out of a possible 5)
Cane Garden Country Club
1726 Bailey Trail, The Villages 352.750.0627 Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Breakfast: Monday to Saturday until 11 a.m., Sunday until 11:30 a.m.
Fork Report:
Casual dining // $$ Seated immediately (lunch hour) WAIT FOR MEAL: 15 minutes OUT-OF-THEORDINARY STARTERS: ($6-$10.99) crab cakes, coconut shrimp, half pound boiled shrimp, crab and lobster smothered mushrooms, signature soups including lobster bisque. ENTREES: ($7.29$19.99): Quiche, Pan Asian Coconut Shrimp Salad, Lobster BLT Croissant, Grecian Pizza, and weekly specials of Prime Rib, Lamb shank, Ribeye, Ham, and Roasted Turkey.
How Fork On The Road works Our reviewers are objective and unbiased. This is not a paid feature. Our reviewer makes one unannounced visit and we pay for our meals.
ONE FLIGHT UP CAFÉ
Taking food to new heights
STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL // PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
One Flight Up Café is a delightful eatery in downtown Mount Dora noted for its balcony patio as well as little indoor nooks and crannies with a coffeehouse feel.
It’s the ideal café spot to relax and enjoy people watching, especially when Mount Dora has its art and craft festivals that are fun to attend, and the café offers breakfast fare, sandwiches, salads, specialty soups, frozen drinks, espresso bar, wine, beer, and several wonderful desserts.
It has become one of my favorite places to take visiting guests for evening drinks and desserts, and it’s also the “go-to place” when my daughters Julia of San Francisco, and Emily of Austin, Texas, come to Lake County, and that speaks well of the café since both are avid travelers who love dining at trendy places.
Among One Flight Up’s specialties of the house are a brie plate, cheese plate, black bean and queso dip, and quiche of the day. The delicious desserts range from its award-winning warm homemade bread pudding, chocolate fudge cake, carrot cake, blueberry cheesecake crumble, coconut cake, apple pie a la mode, lemon cake, and brownie sundae.
During a recent lunch outing, I enjoyed a Harvest Chicken Salad served as a wrap sandwich with tender chicken breast tossed with craisins, celery, and onions served with tortilla chips and a fresh houseblend tomato salsa.
My dining companion raved over a sandwich combo of lobster bisque soup with honey ham and Swiss cheese sandwich with lettuce and tomato, and of course we couldn’t resist ordering dessert and found the lemon cake and bread pudding to be heavenly.
One Flight Up is a Lake County gem that continues to win me over as a charming café.
One Flight Up Café // 440 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora // 352.394.6911
24 TAP ROOM THE ‘GO-TO’ PLACE FOR BREWS AND FOODS
The TV sitcom “Cheers” was a popular pub “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” and luckily that fun vibe is very much alive at 24 Tap Room, a new craft beer, and wine bar, at 1107 W. North Blvd., Suite 26 in Leesburg.
“Everybody that comes in says they absolutely love this place, and there is nothing like it around. They’re happy that we are here,” says proprietor Alberto Cisneros. “The best compliments have been on our beer selections and that our atmosphere is very cozy. All of the comments have been positive, so we are defi nitely doing something right!”
Along with serving the best locally brewed beer in the state and other brews from across the country to discerning beer lovers, 24 Tap Room also is the “go-to” place for a variety of delicious appetizers, including Sweet Potato Tots, Pulled Pork Sliders, Pub Pretzels, Grilled Chicken Quesadillas, Pork Shanks, Burger Sliders, and one of Alberto’s favorites, the Black Bean and Chicken Nachos, featuring tortilla chips topped with grilled chicken, black beans, queso blanco, tomatoes, red onions and cilantro.
Of course it’s beer from Florida breweries that attracts locals and visitors.
At the time of the interview, fourteen of the 24 brews came from breweries in Boca Raton, Bradenton, Jacksonville, Ocala, Tampa, Winter Garden, and Boynton Beach. Among the most favorite of regulars are the beers from Swamp Head Brewery in Gainesville, and Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park.
The 24 Tap Room quickly became a popular hangout soon after opening that Alberto provided a battery back-up system for customers to charge their cell phones. “We have people who want to stay here for four or fi ve hours!”
Many of regulars love the weekly live entertainment, board games, darts, corn hole, and they enjoy watching football, and other sports on four 48-inch TV’s inside or on the outdoor patio. The room seats 36 people inside and more outdoors.
“Now that the weather has cooled down a bit, we defi nitely have a lot more people outside,” says Alberto. He encourages people to “like” and follow 24 Tap Room on Facebook to be updated on upcoming events, such as visits from breweries with new attractions and to give away free merchandise throughout the year. Come check out 24 Tap Room during the hours 3 p.m.-12 a.m. Monday to Thursday; 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday; and 12 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Sunday. To learn more, call 352.315.0198 or visit www.the24taproom.com.
BBQ THAT STICKS TO YOUR RIBS
Tender meat, great sauce, and homemade desserts mean good eatin’.
Hungry for the best barbeque in all of Lake County? Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs, succulent pulled pork and melt-in-your-mouth moist chicken describes the barbeque patrons fi nd at Sully’s Smokehouse in Leesburg. Raised in Lake County, Trent “Sully” Sullivan has been serving fresh, fantastic barbecue ribs, chicken, smoked sausage, and pulled pork for more than nine years. Currently located just off County Road 44, this family-owned business is well known for great barbeque and friendly, fast service at a reasonable price.
Sully’s is rated No. 7 out of 98 restaurants in Leesburg on Trip Advisor, and diners rave about the friendliness and service. One recent reviewer, Sayler K., gave Sully’s high praise, “An excellent place to grab lunch or a take-out dinner! Pork sandwich is melt-in-your-mouth good especially with the mustard BBQ sauce. Chicken cannot be beat either! Excellent staff, very friendly and attentive. Highly recommended!”
Additional outstanding reviews are available on Yelp.
Trent rises early in the morning to begin the natural smoking process on Black Jack oak, and after hours of low and slow barbeque, the scrumptious meats are ready. He uses three special homemade sauces to complement the meats: Southern Sweet, award-winning Spicy Red, and Hot Mustard Vinegar. You can also purchase them to take home to enjoy!
Lunch customers often call in advance to order Sully’s Jumbo Pulled Pork Sandwich (enough for two) and choose from homemade sides of baked beans, pasta salad, collard greens, coleslaw, Brunswick stew, along with mayo red-skinned potato salad or mustard and relish potato salad to make sure the food doesn’t sell out, as it does sometimes. Be sure to take home an order of your family’s favorites for dinner to score big points with mama and the kids!
Now don’t forget dessert. Sully’s Smokehouse offers the perfect way to end your meal with a choice of decadent cakes: chocolate, carrot, or coconut.
Want your next backyard bash, offi ce party, or special event to be a smashing success? Sully’s Smokehouse will happily prepare meals for your next barbeque or catered event from as few as 20 people up to 500 people. Your guests will thank you!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
SULLY’S SMOKEHOUSE
10820 County Road 44, Leesburg 352.483.RIBS (7427) Hours of operation: Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
UN GRAN LUGAR PARA COMER
La Palma Mexican Grill is “a great place to eat” and enjoy great food with family and friends!
Unique is what comes to mind when the family-owned and operated La Palma Mexican Grill is mentioned—for many reasons. First, owner Raudel Torres is a rare individual constantly working toward the future. When Raudel opened the restaurant at 1690 Citrus Blvd. in Leesburg three years ago, he heard several other businesses had been there and failed. Instead of worrying, Raudel immediately thought of his customers and determined how he could provide a fantastic eating experience that meant they would return again and again. He succeeded.
One way Raudel knew his customers would be delighted was by unique food. The recipes used to create the delicious cuisine served at La Palma Mexican Grill are an exclusive blend of old-fashioned traditions originating from the families’ past generations in Zacatecas, Mexico, combined with culinary inspirations and trends from California and Louisiana learned along the way. Flavorful, homemade Mexican entrees such as Tacos Azteca, Carnitas, Fajitas, Tamales, and much more are timeless and prepared with only the freshest ingredients. Fast and friendly service, reasonable prices, and three-for-one margaritas all day every day add to customer satisfaction.
Beyond the quality food and reasonable prices, the environment is unique—diners have a variety of comfortable eating areas to choose from: inside around the inviting bar, ample booths and tables with a tropical view in the dining room, or outside on the new patio deck. “Outside, customers can feel free to smoke and even bring their pets,” Raudel says.
Groups of 45 to 50 people can be accommodated in a private room with a smart TV. Catering is available for large parties or meetings. Daily specials are available on the website, www.lapalmagrill.com, and you can enjoy a Mariachi band the fi rst and third Sunday of each month.
Always contemplating the next great idea, Raudel has more than 20 unique fruit trees and wants to share them with customers by building a winding path through the beautiful grounds. La Palma Mexican Grill is defi nitely an exotic and unique eating experience.
FOR MORE INFORMATION LA PALMA MEXICAN GRILL
