On The Waterfront

These days, the best seat in the house is outdoors. So why not take advantage of a cool breeze off of one of our local waterways?

By Dean Blinkhorn

Blue Gill’s Bait Shop & Eatery

The newest restaurant on this list is also one of the best. Veteran owners Shane and Tara Williamson’s of Red’s and The Burger Station fame now have a trio of outstanding places—all in Hernando, who knew?—that have each found their niche in the marketplace by offering a slice of something different. Only the friendly service and focus on food quality is the same at each place.

Blue Gill’s has a nicer menu than you’d probably expect. Sure, they have the standard fried shrimp and fried catfish, but also look at their specials board for parmesan-crusted grouper, almond-crusted salmon with a mango sauce, their delicious taco trio, or the low country boil. We also ordered the gator bites as an appetizer and the overstuffed bowl featured a unique breading that we couldn’t get enough of.

With picnic tables and a few hightops gathered around the sandy shore, Blue Gill’s feels more like a backyard picnic, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Stay for a color-streaked sunset that one of The Highwaymen could’ve painted and the band will probably just be getting started. Order a draft IPA from the bar and it sounds like a pretty good night.

Info: 2727 North Carl G. Rose Highway, Hernando, 419-5408

Gator Joe’s

At Gator Joe’s, an Ocala beachside hot spot for more than three decades, the menu is vast, the drinks are cold, and the sand-soaked volleyball matches can get heated. This is what summertime in Central Florida is all about.

First, let’s talk about where to sit. Sure, if a thunderstorm is rolling in across the lake, sit inside at the huge dining room that used to be an arcade when I was a kid. But even better is the covered outdoor seating, which will feel like your own beachside IMAX theater with panoramic views in every direction.

Food-wise, it’s probably what you’d expect—lots of excellent fried dishes, fish tacos, and heaping sandwiches—but the devil is in the details. We always order a big basket of fried mushrooms and usually alternate between the jambalaya or the smoked fish dip before digging into a big plate of fried something. Despite taking home lots for later, we never have room to even think of dessert.

Info: 12431 Southeast 135 Avenue, Ocklawaha, 288-3100, gatorjoesocala.com

Eaton’s Beach Sandbar & Grill

Lake Weir in the blink-and-you’ll-missit burg of Weirsdale, Eaton’s Beach is the kind of local charmer that out-oftowners would easily drive right past without thinking twice.

Unlike its Lake Weir neighbor, Eaton’s Beach features a unique “Florisiana” menu, which is inspired by both Florida and Louisiana cuisine and combines wonderful influences from both of these Southern states. Louisiana reflects the Cajun/Creole piece based on the Spanish, French, and Italian cultures, and Florida’s melting pot of Spanish, Italian, Caribbean, and Cracker cultures come into the “country” barbeque, hush puppies, and collard greens.

The menu is large, impressive, and inspired, so choosing will be very difficult. The Catfish & Grits was southern fried and served with hush puppies the size of golf balls and a generous helping of fried okra. The Charleston Shrimp Platter boasted two lengthy skewers of fire-grilled shrimp with Balaya rice and a low country succotash. The presentation was beautiful and the crispy edges of the shrimp crunched with each memorable bite.

Dessert is probably best shared or taken home for later but is no afterthought. The Spanish Donuts are light puffs rolled in cinnamon sugar with a warm dipping sauce and the Sunset Orange Cake is a thick wedge of orange mousse covered in a thick butter cream frosting. Divine!

For a different take on Eaton’s Beach, go downstairs and take one of the outdoor tables overlooking the pier and enjoy crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp, a bowl of gumbo, and a cold glass of some local craft brew. The vibe is relaxing and you won’t compete for the often hour-long wait upstairs.

Info: 15790 SE 134th Avenue, Weirsdale, 259-2444, eatonsbeach.com

The Blue Gator

Nestled under the twisting trunks of a pair of Live Oak trees and overlooking the Withlacoochee River after it joins the Rainbow River on its arm-in-arm journey through Dunnellon, The Blue Gator is an ideal location for dining under the stars or below the shade of a generous awning on a sunny Central Florida afternoon.

It’s super-easy to find. Once you get to Dunnellon, turn south on US Hwy. 41 and look for it on the left, the perfect spot for food, friends, and fun.

When looking over the menu, a few things jumped out at me. The hushpuppies are the kind I like, slightly sweet and freshly made onsite every day, and the grouper sandwich, a hefty chunk of fresh fish on an oversized roll. Add either a thick slice of peanut butter chocolate pie or the key lime pie, a Florida staple, and they’ll be well worth the extra calories.

But The Blue Gator is best paired with a great song. Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons feature live local musicians, perfect for the expansive outdoor deck and the ideal backdrop for a beautiful weekend evening in Central Florida.

Info: 12189 South Williams Street, Dunnellon, 465-1635, blue-gator.com

Blackwater Inn

This iconic eatery overlooking the St. Johns has been a Central Florida fixture for more than 50 years. For most new patrons, it only takes one meal—or perhaps a trip up river on an eco-adventure cruise—to understand the decades-old attraction.

So how do you get there? Head east on SR40 and don’t stop until you’re about to cross the draw bridge over the St. Johns. The unmistakable rattle of the steel mesh will be a major clue that you’ve gone too far. Blackwater Inn is the large building on the right-hand shore. Inside, the surprisingly spacious dining room features dramatic, floor-to-ceiling glass panels.

Expect to spend a few minutes deciding what to select. Beef options include a tempting Prime Rib of Beef au Jus or two differing cuts of filet mignon, but the fresh seafood selections are probably the reason for your drive and they won’t disappoint. Catfish, shrimp, oysters, sea scallops, frog legs, snow crab, gator tail—good luck trying to decide! Or just order a combo plate instead.

To start, the catfish nuggets featured a light breading and were very chunky and meaty, and the alligator bites weren’t tough or fishy and came with a honey mustard dipping sauce. Then our meals arrived. The Grouper Reuben was piled high and came with hushpuppies and thinly sliced onion rings, and the Chicken Cordon Bleu, the lunch special, was a hefty delight. I enjoyed that the cole slaw was more tangy than creamy.

Try timing your meal around one of the two daily river cruises. What better way to work up an appetite than by seeing Florida the way it used to be?

Info: 55716 Front Street, Astor, 759-2802, blackwaterinn.com

Swampy’s Bar & Grille

Before this word count runs out, there is one other place we’d like to mention which, like The Blue Gator, is also in Dunnellon. Located right on the Rainbow River, it just feels like summer when you go there. Be sure to consider their larger-than-normal wings, the deliciously chunky gumbo, or the fried cheesecake. And if you decide to rent a kayak or an inner tube for a leisurely run down the spring-fed river either before or after your meal, even better.

Info: 19773 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Dunnellon, 547-4777, swampys. restaurant.com