11 minute read
FINAL THOUGHT
Destinations of good taste
dining IN YOUR CITY $: $5 – $14 $$: $15 – $24 $$$: $25 – $40 $$$$: $40+ Kid’s Menu Beer, Wine or Cocktails
Mount Dora
Anthony’s Pizza 17195 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.357.6668 $ Beauclaire Restaurant at Lakeside Inn 100 N. Alexander St. 352.383.4101 $$$ Blackbear Smokehouse 18750 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.2327 $$ Bocce Pizzeria 925 E. First Ave. 352.385.0067 $ Cecile’s French Corner 237 W. Fourth Ave. 352.383.7100 $$ Cody’s on 4th Cafe 111 E. 4th Ave. 352.735.8426 $ Copacabana Cuban Cafe 320 Dora Drawdy Way 352.385.9000 $$ Cupcake Delights 122 E. 4th Ave. 352.383.2200 $ Highland Street Café 185 S. Highland St. 352.383.1446 $ Incredible Edible Cakes 4295 W. Old Hwy. 441, Suite 2 352.223.3581 $ Ivory’s Take Out 1325 N. Grandview St. 352.735.6797 $ Jeremiah’s 500 N. Highland St. 352.383.7444 $ Lisa’s Kitchen 3201 N. Hwy. 19A 352.383.9338 $$ Mount Dora Pizza & Subs 2718 W. Old U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.5303 $ One Flight Up - Coffee, Dessert & Wine Bar 440 N. Donnelly St., Suite 100 352.758.9818 $ Operation Deep Freeze Custard 140A West 5 Avenue 352.735.8269 $ Palm Tree Grille 351 N. Donnelly St. 352.735.1936 $$ Pisces Rising 239 W. Fourth Ave. 352.385.2669 $$$ PizzAmore’ 722 E. 5th Ave. 352.383.0092 $ Saucy Spoon Catering & Bistro 427 S. Highland St. 352.383.1050 $$$ Sidelines Sport Eatery 315 N. Highland St. 352.735.7433 $ Sugarboo’s Bar-B-Que 1305 N. Grandview St. 352.735.7675 $ The Frog and Monkey Pub 411 N. Donnelly St. 352.383.1936 $$ The Garden Gate Tea Room 142 E. Fourth Ave. 352.735.2158 $$ The Goblin Market 331-B Donnely St. 352.735.0059 $$$ The Health Basket of Mount Dora 18834 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.735.1166 $$ The Windsor Rose English Tea Room 142 W. Fourth Ave. 352.735.2551 $$ Village Coffee Pot 425 Donnelly St. 352.383.3334 $ Wasabi Buffet 16700 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.383.7016 $$ Whales Tale Fish House 2720 W. Old. U.S. Hwy. 441 352.385.1500 $$ Zellie’s Pub 4025 N. U.S. Hwy. 19A 352.483.3855 $$
Sorrento
Del Franco Pizza Place 31436 County Rd. 437 352.383.8882 $ Gi Gi’s 25444 State Road 46 352.735.4000 $$ Lisa’s Country Cafe 23911 State Road 46 352.735.3380 $
Summerfi eld
Francesco’s Italian Ristorante and Stone Fire Pizza 16770 South U.S. Hwy. 441 352.693.2008 $$
Tavares
Angelo’s Italian Restaurant 2270 Vindale Rd. 352.343.2757 $$ Buzzard Beach Grill 12423 U.S. Hwy. 441 352.253.5267 $$ Casa Mia Cafe 505 W Main St 352.742.9940 $ Hurricane Dockside Grill 3351 W. Burleigh Blvd. 352.508.5137 $$ Lake Dora Sushi & Sake 227 E. Main St. 352.343.6313 $$ Mary’s Kountry Kitchen 15945 County Road 448 352.343.6823 $ Ruby Street Grille 221 E. Ruby St. 352.742.7829 $$ Sinbad’s of Lake County 1050 W. Burleigh Blvd. 352.343.6669 $$ Sunrise Grill 462 E. Burleigh Blvd. 352.343.7744 $ The Hideaway 11912 Lane Park Rd. 352.343.3585 $$ Zac’s Pressed for Time Cafe 110 S. New Hampshire Ave. 352.253.4663 $
Umatilla
Old Crow Real Pit Bar-B-Q 41100 State Road 19 352.669.3922 $ The Mason Jar 37534 State Rd. 19 352.589.2535 $$
The Villages
Bob Evans 2199 Parr Dr. 352.259.1224 $ Bonefi sh Grill 3580 Wedgewood Ln. 352.674.9292 $$ Bonifay Country Club 1033 Pinellas Place 352.205.7455 $$ Cane Garden Country Club 1726 Bailey Trail 352.750.0627 $$ Carrabba’s 650 U.S. Hwy. 441 N 352.430.1304 $$ Chengs Chinese and Sushi Restaurant 4050 Wedgewood Ln. 352.391.9678 $$ China Gourmet III 343 Colony Blvd 352.750.4965 $ City Fire Brownwood Paddock Square 352.561.2078 $$ Olive Garden 3680 Wedgewood Ln. 352.259.0304 $$ Evans Prairie Country Club 1825 Evans Prairie Trail 352.750.2225 $$ Fiesta Grande Mexican Grill 297 Colony Blvd 352.751.0400 $$ Glenview Champions Country Club 3194 Glenview Rd 352.753.0077 $$ Hemingway’s at Havana 2484 Odell Circle 352.753.1475 $$$ Las Tapas Brownwood Paddock Square 352.399.5516 $$ The Legacy Restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club 17135 Buena Vista Blvd. 352.753.1475 $$$ The Lighthouse Point Bar and Grille 925 Lakeshore Dr. 352.753.7800 $$ Mezza Luna Italian Restaurant and Bar 320 Colony Blvd. 352.753.3824 $$ NYPD Pizzeria 4046 Wedgwood Ln 352.750.1994 $$ Outback Steakhouse 710 N. Hwy 441 352.430.2590 $$ Palmer Legends Country Club 1635 Palmer Way 352.391.9939 $$ RedSauce 1000 Canal St. 352.750.2930 $$ Ricciardi’s Italian Table 3660 Kiessel Rd. 352.391.9938 $$ Sakura 265 Colony Blvd 352.205.7393 $$ Scooples 2718 Brownwood Blvd 352.750.6263 $ Square One Burgers & Bar 2542 Burnsed Blvd. 352.689.2191 $$ Takis Greek and Italian Restaurant 13761 U.S. Hwy. 441 N. 352.430.3630 $$ TooJay’s 1129 Canal St. 352.430.0410 $ Toscani’s Deli and Pizzeria 8760 SE Mulberry Ln. 352.693.2237 $$ VKI Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 1004 Old Mill Run 352.259.9887 $$
Wildwood
Aztec’s Mexican Restaurant 348 Shopping Center Dr. 352.748.2250 $ Beef O’ Bradys 840 S. Main St. 352.689.0048 $ Buddy’s BBQ 1210 N. Main St. 352.330.0338 $$ China Jade 420 W. CR 44 352.330.5913 $ Cotillion Southern Café 101 N. Main St. 352.748.1223 $$ Dickey’s Barbeque Pit 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.4288 $$ Mel’s Island Café 901 Industrial Dr. 352.748.4105 $$ O’Shucks! Oyster Bar and Grill 1016 S Main St. 352.399.2200 $$ Polly’s Pantry 819 S. Main St. 352.330.4002 $$ Rita’s Oyster Bar 346 Shopping Center Dr. 352.399.2987 $$ T Weston’s Smokehouse 1210 N. Main St. 352.748.9378 $$ Traditions Café 3107 Hwy. 44 352.748.1077 $$ Woody’s Bar-B-Q 1220 S. Main St. 352.748.1109 $$
Yalaha
Yalaha Bakery 8210 County Road 48 352.324.3366 $$
RHYTHMS
12 SOUTH BAY STREET, EUSTIS 352.308.8367 // WWW.RYTHMSBAREUSTIS.COM
RHYTHMS ….where fun dining, cold drinks and great entertainment meet! Rhythms is the place in Lake County to meet old and new friends over a cold drink and a great meal. The friendly staff is top notch, serving smiles along with your order. Enjoy a beautiful open air environment while feasting on a perfectly prepared meal at a price that won’t break the bank! Or simply enjoy a perfectly mixed drink from our full bar. After dinner the night is not over because the night life takes over at Rhythms! Move to the sounds of the best live dance/party bands and tribute bands in Florida! Take advantage of the biggest dance fl oor in Lake County and party as the cool night turns into a fever hot party and the energy never stops! Reserve a space for your own private party!
HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY–WEDNESDAY 4P.M.–11P.M. THURSDAY–SATURDAY 4P.M.–12:30A.M. SUNDAY 12P.M.–8P.M.
SUBWAY
WWW.SUBWAY.COM Custom-made, fresh sandwiches, salads, and fl atbreads made right before your eyes. The “healthy” alternative to fast food. LADY LAKE // 208 W. Guava St. // 352.750.4929 EUSTIS // 469 Plaza Dr. // 352.357.7827 MOUNT DORA // 18870 U.S. Hwy. 441 // 352.735.4376 LEESBURG // 2013 Citrus Blvd. // 352.787.6442 10135 U.S. Hwy. 441, Suite 4 // 352.326.3234 27405 U.S. Hwy. 27, Suite 4 // 352.314.8847 THE VILLAGES // 1580 Bella Cruz Drive // 352.750.9600 8796 S.E. 165th Mulberry Lane // 352.750.9991 1070 Lake Sumter Landing Drive // 352.205.8535 349 Colony Blvd. // 352.391.1657 WILDWOOD // 480 W. Gulf to Alantic Hwy. // 352.748.8800
HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY–SATURDAY 10A.M.–10P.M. SUNDAY 10A.M.–9P.M.
ZAC’S PRESSED FOR TIME CAFE
Situated in beautiful downtown Tavares across Main Street from the Lake County Courthouse, Zac’s Pressed for Time Café is a popular casual dining restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. Zac’s offers indoor and outdoor seating to accommodate every season and the widely diverse menu is fl avored to suit all tastes. Homemade biscuits with sausage gravy, breakfast skillets, burgers, Cuban sandwiches, quesadillas, turkey melts and fresh salads are a few of the customer favorites. Daily specials are available including the crowd-pleasing pot roast sandwich with mashed potatoes, black beans & rice and steak tacos! Have a group to feed? Zac’s has a private dining room, which can hold up to 20 of your closest friends or business associates.
HOURS OF OPERATION: OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. Destinations of good taste
MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT OF: • Bunions and Hammertoes • Corns • Morton’s Neuromas • Ingrown Nails and Warts • Heel and Arch Pain • Thick, Painful Toenails • Foot Injuries • Diabetic & Geriatric Foot Care • Sports Medicine • Orthotics • Diabetic Shoes • Numbness/Tingling of Feet
1585 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite B, The Villages tricountypodiatry.net // 352.259.1919
FOOTCARE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH ACTIVE LIFESTYLES.
MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED
SCAN HERE with your smart phone To learn more about Tri-County Podiatry
OFFERING ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE OFFERING ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE in LADY LAKE AND THE VILLAGES
• Spacious Apartment-Style Units • Restaurant Style Dining and Pub • Social Activities and Events Including
Community Outings • Meticulous Housekeeping and Laundry Service • 24 Hour Nursing Services • Extended Congregate Care (ECC) License • On-Stie Therapy Sevices • Transportation For Medical Appointments • Short Term, Furnished “Respite” Stay
Call today for a personal tour 352.259.8185
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
Winter is coming.
On any other day you could assume I was referencing Game of Thrones and you’d be right. But not today. Today I’m sitting at my local dog park. Today I’m sitting in the 94° heat at my local dog park sweating my freckles off.
Why? Because, as my wife, Shelly, reminded me, “Blue needs his play time.”
Of course she was right — she’s always right.
So I begrudgingly grabbed the leash, which signaled our Catahoula-mix hound out of his coma-like state into full-on berserker mode. He bounded from his pillowy perch on the couch — his tail whipping around seemingly of its own volition. While I struggled to get the leash attached, I spied a bogey from the corner of my eye. My son, Max! As he darted out of the room, the sly smile on his face told me this was a strategic retreat. Won’t be drafting him as my wingman to the park today. I couldn’t help but smile.
I opened the front door and the smile was slapped off my face by the sticky, humid backhand of the Florida summer heat.
Any hopes of a quick return to the cool embrace of modern air conditioning melted away as Blue stared up at me seemingly oblivious to the inferno we had just stepped into.
“Let’s go!” I said. But as he trotted forward, I couldn’t resist muttering, “Dumb dog!” under my breath.
Now as I watch Blue joyfully weaving in and out of the blurry patchwork of fur that are his instant park pack, I can feel the sweat running down my forehead. Beads, like the dogs running through the park, weave a trail down my neck and gather into a dark “pack” on the ring of my t-shirt collar.
Closing my eyes, I listen to the musical symphony of barks and yips and pray for a cool breeze.
I hate the summer heat! It’s not just that I dislike it — I’m not built for it. My ancestors all hail from Russia. I’m built of hearty peasant stock. I think of them in scenes right out of Dr. Zhivago. Crossing vast snow-covered wastelands. Drinking vodka and wrestling the occasional bear. I’m sure they could never have imagined that two generations later, one of their descendant boychiks would be crossing sweltering swamplands. Drinking iced tea and keeping an eye out for the occasional gator.
Even the dogs seem to be feeling it now. They run over to the water bowl for frequent drinks. A few of the smarter ones even attempt to use the bowl as a mini-pool with varying degrees of success.
I’m reminded of my brother-in-law, David, who is from South Florida. “Born and raised,” he says with pride.
I’ve watched that man shivering while wearing a thick down winter coat … in a Denny’s because he’s not used to these harsh Central Florida winters! He would love this dog park.
That’s when I see her. A beautiful white and grey ball of thick fur off to the side of the perimeter. A husky. She’s not interested in running around with the pack in this heat. She just lies there in the shade and the dirt, panting hard and trying to stay cool. She’s not made for this climate either!
I imagine somewhere in her family tree was a champion sled dog. Maybe they even lived in an igloo. She’s every bit as uncomfortable as I am. Especially with all that fur!
Suddenly she turns her head and looks straight at me — just for a moment. What I see in her eyes can only be described as … recognition. Two refugees from colder climates trying to acclimate to the impossible heat of summer in Florida.
“Don’t worry, girl,” I silently assure her. “Winter is coming.”
