Cuisine Queen

More New Eateries!

By Paula

Two unique and exciting eateries have opened in Ocala, Cantina TexMex & Tequila and Juniper General Store, both offering casual dining in fine dining atmospheres.

Cantina Tex-Mex & Tequila, 325-8226, opened on Southeast 1st Avenue in the two-story building that once housed Bank of America. The interior is indescribable with windows that give a gorgeous view of the Downtown area. If you’re looking for romantic, chic, or stylish, this restaurant offers all three. The artwork, the wall of lumber, and the stylish lighting will have you and your guests moving your head like an oscillating fan rather than just focusing on the delicious and healthy options from the menu. Visit their Facebook page or website, cantinaocala. com, for hours, menu, and pictures.

Juniper General Store, 509-4006, is deep and roomy, located in the same plaza as Horse & Hounds. One side is a beautiful bar and the other has merchandise designed from local and national artisans. View a beautiful selection of jewelry, unique leather purses made from cowboy boots, candles, hats, pillows, and more. The bar has a comfortable couch area, a very long bar with ample seating, and a few long community tables. You can enjoy coffees, cold or hot, espresso, beer, and wine. The beer selection is twelve delectable flavors on tap curated from local breweries around Florida. Spanish wines are sold by the glass or bottle.

Ocala’s Good Life magazine had our Christmas party there where you can order in, bring your own food, or purchase many of the charcuterie items on the shelves and in the fridge to be arranged on a board for you. Find their Facebook page or YouTube them for a very nice video of the whole unit.

A few columns ago, I had written about Symmetry Coffee Crepes, 657-1177, merging and moving. They are happily staying in the Sovereign Building on North Magnolia and have opened a second cafe in Ocala Regional Medical Center. Symmetry has become a treat to my daughter and me on Saturday mornings downtown where coffee is served in very large coffee mugs, real not styrofoam. Our favorite is the everything bagel with egg, goat cheese, and a meat of your choice. It’s a wonderful place to wind down, check your emails, or (ahem) write a column.

Dina’s Place, 355-2118, is known for what most call some of the best New York-style pizza in the area. Operating in the southeast part of Ocala for many years, Dina’s has relocated next to the Ocala Police Department where other pizza places have tried. The restaurant offers dine-in, takeout, and catering and serves classic and specialty pizzas as well as Italian dishes. See their menu and hours on their Facebook page.

Tidbits: Ocala City staff is ironing out the rules for an open-container law in Downtown Ocala. This law would not allow businesses to sell alcohol yearround, just during special events approved by the city council. Discussions will resume in the new year. Also on the table is reestablishing the ordinance to allow dogs in outdoor seating areas.

Betty Cakes Cafe, 622-3727, has opened a second location in the Ocala Courthouse. Restaurants including The Lion & The Bull and Big Lee’s Serious About Barbecue, 304-9105, have put in bids to take over the five-year city lease of Dee Dee’s Diner on Northeast 1st Avenue by the railroad tracks.

When will Cody’s Original Roadhouse and The Mellow Mushroom open? Hopefully I’ll have those dates for you, next issue. Happy New Year! .

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E-mail me at paula@ocalasgoodlife.com