Top 10 Tastes of Florida

Hands up anyone who likes to sample the local food on holiday – Yes, as we thought, that looks like a lot of you. And, if you’re heading to Florida anytime soon, you may well want to know about some of the best Sunshine State flavours on offer, too.

Of course, there are no shortage of restaurants and cafes in the greater Orlando area. From steakhouses to fast food outlets, there is an overwhelming array of chain restaurants, many of which will already be familiar to UK visitors. In fact, it’s hard to go more than a mile in any direction without encountering a McDonald’s, Wendy’s or Burger King!

But you haven’t come all this way to try something you can get just about anywhere. Not if our regular feedback is anything to go by. Our visitors want an authentic Floridian experience, and are happy to travel a bit further than most to get a genuine local meal.

With a rich variety of seafood and shellfish, including crab, oysters and scallops, plus sizzling steaks, brilliant barbecue and even the outright specialities of catfish, frog’s legs and alligator, this is definitely the place to indulge your tastebuds. So, with that in mind, we thought we’d highlight 10 outstanding Central Florida area eateries that all provide that essential original flavour.

Lee and Rick’s Oyster Bar

Dating back to 1950 in the suburb of Orlovista, this truly is where the locals go when they’re looking for fresh Florida oysters and more besides. The rustic nature of the place, genuine boat-to-table ingredients – including mussels, shrimp, crawfish and snow crab – and their own individual style mark this out as a true Sunshine State original, with all the sea tastes you could possibly wish for.

Beefy King

While fast food isn’t why you’re reading this blog, you can make an exception for this downtown Orlando landmark, which has been serving up its tasty roast beef sandwiches in iconic style since 1968, and continues to be an individual highlight among the mass-market chains. Still owned by the third generation of the Smith family, who continue to deal in hot, fresh and made-to-order fare, it is a one-of-a-kind treat when you need a serious sandwich.

A Land Remembered

Tucked away inside the ultra-smart Rosen Shingle Creek Resort on Universal Boulevard is this golf-club standout, which is named for a classic Floridian novel and seeks to add a dash of frontier charm to its high-quality menu. This is definitely the place to come for a memorable steak and chops – something the Sunshine state is definitely noteworthy for, thanks to its long cattle-ranching heritage – plus fine seafood, including sea bass and salmon.

The Black Hammock

Here’s another rural masterpiece on pretty Lake Jesup in Seminole County (just to the north of Orlando). The down-home style and menu are just what you’d hope to find in a setting like this, hence it is THE place to go when you want to try fried gator tail and catfish. It features the Lazy Gator Bar and has live music at weekends, hence it provides a thorough Floridian experience from start to finish.

Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza

OK, so Florida is a long way from Italy and the home of pizza (as well as being pretty distant from New York and Chicago, and their versions of it, too), but it does boast another original offering in the form of Anthony’s, with its distinctive coal-fired ovens and authentic recipes. The first restaurant opened in Fort Lauderdale in 2002, and quickly spread to Orlando, with its Sand Lake Road location (in the Dr Phillips Plaza). Now in 50 locations across six states, it has become as much a local staple as any of its neighbours.

The Nauti Lobstah

Head up to the city suburb of Apopka, and, on a quiet side-road of Main Street you’ll find this delightful family-owned restaurant that really knows how to cook its seafood. Never mind the quirky/amusing/perplexing name (it’s based on the New England pronunciation of Naughty Lobster), just enjoy the relaxed ambience and fabulous dishes that come out of Chef Mike’s kitchen. Oysters, clams and lump crabcakes are other specialities we can say are well worth trying.

Salt Shack on the Lake

Here’s another genuine Sunshine State offering that started on the coast and has opened up a second front locally, in historic downtown Clermont (close to our villa territory). Originally a rustic-refined beach getaway featuring fresh seafood, seasonal cuisine and tropical cocktails, the Salt Shack’s Central Florida location is beautifully situated on Lake Minneola and boasts the same wild-caught seafood menu, which offers the likes of fish tacos, coconut shrimp, crab cakes and a fresh daily dish that can be grilled or pan seared.

4 Rivers Smokehouse

Nearly all southern states have their own version of barbecued meats, so it stands to reason Orlando should have one, too, and it’s a real treasure. Pioneered in Winter Park and now in 15 locations throughout the state (including Kissimmee, Winter Garden, Daytona Beach and Lakeland), 4 Rivers is a magnificent homage to all manner of richly smoked and barbecued dishes, from pulled pork and smoked turkey to pork ribs and signature Angus brisket. Our tip? Try the Burnt Ends for a deeply smoky flavour.

Swamp House Riverfront Grill

Travel north of Orlando into Volusia County and the cute town of DeBary, and you’ll find this classic all-Floridian experience on the banks of the St John’s River. The natural setting and rustic style offer a step back in time, but the food is bang up to date, with the full range of state specialities, from gator tail and home-made Gumbo to fried green tomatoes and Key West mahi-mahi. Just about anything on this menu has the Sunshine State stamped all the way through it, and the gorgeous views are worth making the journey for on their own.

The Catfish Place

It’s been around for 54 years and it’s still as laid-back and low-key as Florida in the 1950s, but don’t let the unprepossessing looks put you off. This St Cloud icon is THE place to try that Southern staple of delicious fried catfish, and at a great price, too (11am-8pm daily). From clam chowder to the signature hand-breaded shrimp, and those Florida delicacies frog’s legs and fried gator, this will definitely give your tastebuds the full Sunshine State treatment, Many of the servers have been here for decades, and it has that true local flavour that only small-town America can generate.

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