The culinary scene in Central Florida has exploded in recent years. We have everything from exquisite fine dining to cozy mom n pop diners and flavortown burger joints.
There are countless places to eat in Orlando. Plus a multitude of restaurants in Kissimmee and the rest of the Four Corners vacation areas.
But let’s key in on some of our favorite off-the-beaten-path local favorites.
These are our “Go To’s” when we have friends and family visiting.
Some are local favorites close to our vacation rental homes, some are hidden gems smack bang in the middle of nowhere. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Local Gems in Central Florida:
Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak, Lake Wales
The Louisiana influenced Cherry Pocket is one of our favorite hidden gem restaurants in Central Florida. It offers waterside dining located on the shores of Lake Wales.
As you travel there from the Four Corners vacation zone, you’ll get a taste of real Florida.
Cherry Pocket is homey, comfortable and totally atmospheric.
Seating is available indoors in the cool inside or outside on the deck/bar. Nothing beats overlooking the calm waters of a lake for a spot of dining.
What’s on The Menu at Cherry Pocket?
The Cracker Platter, for 2 or 4, gives you a selection to sample and nibble. Perfect if you’ve never tried Gator Bites. And a side of fried green tomatoes with the homemade hazel sauce is always a must every time we visit.
There’s a Raw Bar for steamed or raw oysters, by the dozen or by the bucket.
Seafood includes Dungeness or Snow Crabs and peel n eat shrimp. For meat lovers there’s steak, chicken and ribs.
The Blackened Menu several choices including blackened catfish, grouper, gator and shrimp. Louisiana Specials include Cajun Stir Fry, Catfish or Chicken New Orleans and Lousianna Crab Cake Dinner.
Fried Coastal Specials include beer battered shrimp, fried catfish, fried scallops and oysters and, one of our favorities, the Bayou Platter.
You can even ditch the guilt a little. All fried food is cooked in zero trans fat oil.
Funkylicious Desserts
Save room! Elsies handmade desserts are legendary. The Carrot Cake is mouth-wateringly tasty and the Key Lime Pie is to die for.
Admittedly it’s absolutely nothing like Key Lime Pie at all, but it’s green and delicious and huge. Who cares?
There’s Chocolate Cake, Cheese Cake, Hot Fudge Brownie & Peanut Butter Pie too.
Is Cherry Pocket Suitable for Kids?
Absolutely! Kids are more than welcome and there’s plenty to choose from including chicken fingers, fish nuggets, pasta, mac n cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, burgers and hot dogs.
No doubt they will love the Hot Fudge Brownie & Peanut Butter Pie! It’s huge though so they’ll need to share.
Cherry Pocket is right in the middle of a fish camp. Which means there’s plenty of space for kids to run around after dinner. There’s a sea plane you may see take off too.
Get Your Dance On
If you go at weekends, you’ll be entertained with the live music. The resident singer croons away with 60s and 70s hits and lots of Country thrown in.
He takes requests and even sang “Flower of Scotland” when our friends from Scotland visited. Maybe he didn’t know all the words, but he certainly got everyone clapping along.
Locals usually jump up and line dance to popular hits amid a cacophony of hootin’ and hollerin’.
If you like off-the-beaten-path-away-from-the-tourist-trap, you’ll love this hidden gem.
Where: 3100 Canal Road Lake Wales, FL 33898
Phone: 863-439-2031
Web: Cherry Pocket, Florida
Reviews: TripAdvisor | Google
Tiki Bar & Grill at Lake Minneola Inn, Clermont
If you’re looking for laid back and rustic restaurants in Central Florida, The Tiki Bar and Grill at Lake Minneola is about as Floridian as it gets.
It’s been a local favorite hole-in-the-wall for almost 25 years. If you’re looking for fine dining, this isn’t the place. We are talking pretty basic.
An old wooden shack with wooden pull up windows. The few bar stools will almost certainly be occupied by friendly locals, relaxing Florida style and whiling away the day with a beer.
Tables on the lakeside patio are protected from the afternoon sun by large umbrellas. The view of the lake from here is as peaceful as it gets.
Sit back, unwind and soak up the silence.
Until a speedboat or jet ski pulls up to dock that is. They might shatter the peace for a moment or two, but what a great way to travel to lunch!
There might be a short wait for tables, especially if you want lakefront, but even sitting in line is a relaxed pleasure. Take a seat facing the lake and enjoy the view while you wait.
Can you think of a more peaceful wait line?
What’s on the Menu at Tiki Hut?
Burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, corn dogs, specialty wings, volcano wings or wings flavored in garlic Teriyaki, mango and BBQ sauce. Chicken, fish and salads complete the small menu. All served in baskets with fries or tots.
For dessert, the homemade Key Lime Pie is delicious.
What’s for Kids at Lake Minneola?
There’s no specific set kids menu but they do have corn dogs, hot dogs and chicken fingers or the kids could share a burger or fish sandwich.
If you decide to pay it a visit for an evening meal and watch the sun go down, don’t forget to take some Deet to ward off any pesky mozzies.
Where: 508 S Main Ave, Minneola, FL 34715
Phone: 352-394-2232
Web: Lake Minneola Tiki Bar & Grill
Reviews: TripAdvisor | Google
Crabby Bill’s Seafood Restaurant, St Cloud
Crabby Bill’s is one of our favorite restaurants in Central Florida. It’s a little off the beaten path. Tucked away in St Cloud, a pretty lakeside residential area away from the hustle and bustle of tourism.
Crabby Bill’s is all about Casual Dining
Sit inside in the cool air-conditioned dining room or take a seat outside on the deck overlooking the marina. At the weekends, there’s an all day Happy Hour and Live Music.
The staff are knowledgeable about the menu. And the choice is awesome.
Although landlubber food pays a fleeting visit to the menu, Crabby Bill’s is all about seafood.
There’s a great variety of appetizers including Killer Conch Fritters, Crabby’s Calamari and Creamy Crab & Spinach Dip.
For main course, there’s a huge choice including Crabby’s Grouper which is always caught fresh the same day. It’s served as a dinner, sandwich, poy boy or melt.
Oysters, Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Snow Crab, Bairdi Crab, Lobster, Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Scallops and Tuna.
What Are Our Favorites?
The Florida Alligator Bites, battered, fried and served with Crabby’s stone sauce are Awesome with a Capital A.
We always intend to try the Volcano Gator with Inferno Sauce (‘made with the world’s hottest pepper’) but we’ve ducked out every time.
I know. Total wimps.
Green Bean Fries are divine, served with lemon aioli for dipping. Oooh, and Amazing Shrimp & Feta Toast.
Coconut Shrimp comes with a sweet and spicy marmalade dip. Killer Conch Fritters are pretty hard to beat too.
Entrées include Island Mahi Mahi cooked with cajun spices key lime honey mustard then topped with mango salsa. Sweet and spicy. Mmmmm.
We’re always on the hunt for awesome Shrimp & Grits and Crabby’s is pretty near the top of our list.
The Key West Combo is another favorite – shrimp and mahi mahi Caribbean with conch fritters style served over rice.
A pitcher of Yuengling beer to wash it all down with works out at a derisory $2 per glass.
Is Crabby Bill’s for Kids?
Absolutely! There’s plenty on offer for the little ones. If they like seafood, they can choose fried shrimp, mahi mahi fingers or grilled, Bairdi crab Legs or coconut shrimp.
There’s also chicken fingers, burger sliders, pasta, grilled chicken and chicken quesadilla.
Oh, and you might want to take a towel and change of clothes for the kids. There’s a great Splash Park right next door, so you might want to take a change of clothes. That thing is a magnet for kids, they’ll love it.
There’s a pathway running along the lake which makes it perfect for a relaxing stroll after dining. It’s peaceful, quiet and so pretty. The moss covered trees lining the streets are the perfect backdrop for a beautiful area that makes you feel a million miles away from the theme parks.
Where: 1104 Lakeshore Blvd, St Cloud, FL 34769
Phone: 407 979-4001
Web: Crabby Bills
Reviews: TripAdvisor | Google
Crabby Bill’s are also located in Clearwater if you’re heading over to the Coast for a day.
37 Causeway Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33767
Manny’s Chop House
Manny’s is one of the restaurants in Central Florida that is a huge favorite with locals and visitors.
If it’s a quiet romantic dinner you’re looking for, this place isn’t for you. The noisy, buzzing vibe creates a fun atmosphere. The decor is bright, colorful and nostalgic.
What’s on The Menu at Manny’s?
Appetizers include all the usual suspects like wings, onion rings, fried mushrooms, loaded fries, stuffed potato skins and a Big ‘Ole Basket of Chips & Salsa to share.
The Endless Salad Bowl, dressed tableside with Manny’s Secret Recipe Ranch Dressing, is one of our favorites. It is so moreish, you need to remember to leave some room for your entree. The salad is included with most entrees, but it can be added for a small charge.
Manny’s pride themselves on steaks that are hand cut daily and aged for 4 to 6 weeks. Manny’s Guarantee: “We Promise You The Best Steak In Town, Cooked Just Right And Served Up In A Fun, Friendly And Courteous Atmosphere”.
Other entrees include pork chops, ribs, country fried steak, rack of lamb, salmon, mahi mahi, chicken several ways and a great selection of burgers made with fresh steak trimmings ground in-house.
Fajitas sizzle as they make their way to tables. Especially every Wednesday when it’s Buy One Get One Free.
For a sweet finish, check out the Chocolate Brownie Overdose, HUGE NY Cheesecake and 3 Layer Carrot or Chocolate Cake. There’s nothing small about any of these, so leave plenty of room. Or share.
What do We Love at Manny’s?
We’ve eaten here too many times to count, so our list of favorites keeps growing.
The fall-off-the-bone-melt-in-the-mouth Baby Back Ribs are glazed with Manny’s award winning BBQ sauce.
Slow Roasted Prime Rib comes in 8oz, 12oz and 24oz, but they do sometimes sell out, so order early. The Prime Rib Dip is a great alternative.
The Loaded Baked Potato Soup is a bowl of steaming deliciousness.
Manny’s Signature 8oz Burger is juicy and super tasty.
Is Manny’s for Kids?
Heck yeah! They love kids at Manny’s. Parents will love it too on Mondays and Tuesdays when kids under 10 EAT FREE. 2 kids per adult so it’s a pretty generous limit too. Manny’s have FREE Fajitas for adults and kids on Wednesdays too – buy one get one free. The Kids Corner Menu at Manny’s includes Burger, Corn Dog, Mac n Cheese, Chicken Fingers, Pepperoni Pizza and Steak on a Stick.
Call Ahead
Depending on the time of year, the wait at Manny’s can be well over an hour, so it’s always best to call ahead. You can’t make reservations, but if you call just before you leave the house, they’ll add you to the wait list then to give you a head start. Let them know when you arrive and they’ll tell you how long is remaining.
Where: 3 Locations: Haines City, Lake Wales and Winter Haven
Phone: Haines City: 863-422-3910 | Lake Wales: 863-678-0370 | Winter Haven: 863-293-0069
Web: Manny’s Original Chop House
Reviews: TripAdvisor | Google
Columbia Restaurant, Celebration
Established in 1905, Columbia is Florida’s oldest restaurant business boasting a localized mini-chain of 7 destinations. We are extremely fortunate to have one right on our doorstep in the pretty Town of Celebration.
With a Mediterranean style setting, diners can feast on Spanish/Cuban cuisine in an olde worlde surround. The theme at Columbia Restaurant is smart /casual with three separate dining areas. The interior, which definitely leans towards the smart. The Tapas Bar favoring the casual, but stipulating that sleeveless shirts on men is a no-no. Finally, the outside courtyard which runs alongside the sidewalk, giving diners a view of the lake..
And, being in Florida, it is obviously home to some of the local alligators. Which should not be harassed, according to the wooden sign stuck into the grass at the water’s edge.
Who in their right mind would harass an alligator?
The menu is interesting and extensive starting with soups, salads and tapas. Entrees offer seafood, steaks, chicken and either seafood or meat paella. A selection of combination meals and vegetarian alternatives are also available.
There’s a full liquor bar and an astounding selection of fine wines. With over 1000 to choose from, it’s probably sensible to have an idea what you want to drink before you sit down.
Clockwise: 1905 Salad prepared tableside, delicious homemade warm bread, chocolate bread pudding, Columbia exterior
What are Our Picks at Columbia?
The Original “1905” Salad, chopped and dressed with flair tableside, is delicious. It’s won awards and stood the test of time.
Cuban Sandwich is made using the original 1915 family recipe and toasted to perfection.
Spanish Bean Soup still uses the original recipe of Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. It’s a delicious mix of garbanzo beans simmered with chrorizo sausage, potatoes and ham.
Filet Mignon “Chacho” is flambéed tableside using a shot of aged oak 121 proof bourbon. Mouthwateringly tender and delicious.
The traditionally prepared Paella is baked with Valencia rice, extra virgin
olive oil, green peppers, Spanish onions, ripe tomatoes, garlic, spices and splashed with white wine. It comes as vegetarian, seafood or meat.
Finally, you must leave room for dessert.
Flan, made from the traditional 1935 recipe is sooooo tasty.
Mango Mousse Cake – moist with a super tropical and tangy taste
Bread Pudding topped with Don Casimiro Classic Silver rum sauce is rich, indulgent and a chocolate lovers version of heaven.
When the family moved from Key West to Ybor City, they took the prized Key lime tree with them so they could still create authentic Key Lime Pie. Using a secret graham cracker crust and “Nellie & Joes” Key lime juice, this is as authentic as it gets.
Is Columbia Restaurant for Kids?
Columbia Restaurant offer a kids menu that includes Cuban Sandwich, Mac n Cheese, Chicken Fingers and Steak. It’s a pretty formal dining area inside, so the kids might be more relaxed dining on the outside deck.
The fountain is a Magnet for Kids!
It’s right across the street and the kids will love splashing and jumping through the jets, so a change of clothes and a towel is well worth throwing in the car.
The kids will LOVE playing in the Celebration fountain
After you’ve eaten, take a stroll along the walking trails and boardwalks surrounding the peaceful lake. Or pull up a rocking chair and watch the world go by. For a little retail therapy, browse the beautiful boutiques on Market Street.
Check out our Guide to Dining in Celebration for other great eateries.
Where: 649 Front Street, Celebration, FL 34747
Phone: 407 566-1505
Web: Columbia Restaurant, Celebration
Reviews: TripAdvisor | Google
Celebration Town Tavern, Celebration
A 200 yard stroll away from the Columbia Restaurant is the Celebration Town Tavern. This New England style restaurant and tavern opened in 2000 and is a beer drinker’s paradise.
With 99 bottled varieties and 12 on draft, it would take a Bah, Humbug Scrooge of incredible magnitude not to find a beer to suit. Cocktails, margaritas, martinis and daiquiris are on display behind the bar, as are non-alcoholic cocktails and soft drinks for the youngsters.
RESTUBeing a tavern, the meals tend to be filling and wholesome without the frills. Special Boston Favorites include fish-n-chips, Maine lobster roll, meatloaf stacker, turkey stacker and franks and beans. ½ lb. burgers such as the black and blue burger, spicy black bean burger and bison burger can all be heard sizzling in the kitchen.
What On Earth Is Boston Scrod?
Is what we thought when we walked in. A quick google tells us it’s young white fish such as cod and haddock.
They also offer clams, oysters, salmon, mahi mahi.
For land lubbers’ there’s steak, ribs, filet mignon and chicken.
Kids Menu at Celebration Town Tavern
Plenty on offer for kids under 12. Sliders, Chicken Fingers, Hot Dogs, Clam Strips, Pasta, Fish & Chips, Turkey or Chicken Dinner and Tenderloin Tips.
Take note of the fountain above featured under Columbia Restaurant – a change of clothes might be needed here too, that fountain magnet is only a minute away!
Where: 721 Front St, Celebration, Florida, 34747
Phone: 407 566 2526
Web: Celebration Town Tavern
Reviews: TripAdvisor | Google
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