AM Hot Chicken’s famous sandwiches always hit the spot. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
CENTRAL FLORIDA IS SURROUNDED BY CHARMING TOWNS WHERE YOU CAN FIND EXCEPTIONAL DINING EXPERIENCES FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, EACH OFFERING THEIR OWN DISTINCT CHARACTER AND CULINARY SCENE. Whether you’re looking for a day trip or planning a weekend escape, these four destinations provide compelling reasons to venture beyond the city limits. From riverfront dining in DeBary and Sanford to the historic spring-fed charm of De Leon Springs, the walkable downtown of Winter Garden, and the laid-back beach vibes of New Smyrna Beach, each location offers a full day of memorable meals. These towns prove that some of the region’s best restaurants aren’t in the tourist corridors but in the communities where locals have been gathering for generations.
DE LEON SPRINGS
De Leon Springs is located about 47 miles north of Orlando, roughly an hour’s drive via Interstate 4. The town sits in Volusia County and is home to De Leon Springs State Park. The halfway point between Orlando and De Leon Springs is DeBary, making it an easy day trip for Central Florida residents looking to escape the city.
The Old Sugar Mill Pancake House let’s you make your own pancakes. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez.
Breakfast
Old Sugar Mill Pancake House
The Old Sugar Mill Pancake House at De Leon Springs State Park offers a unique breakfast experience where you cook your own pancakes at your table. You’ve probably heard about it because every local influencer makes at least one video about it during their career. It’s ubiquitously Central Florida. Located in a replica of an 1830s sugar mill, the restaurant seats guests at tables with built-in griddles in the center. For $9, you get all-you-can-eat pancakes with pitchers of homemade batter delivered to your table in two varieties: classic buttermilk and a five-grain blend made with stone-ground wheat, rye, buckwheat, corn, and whole wheat. You pour the batter, flip your pancakes, and top them with maple syrup, molasses, or raw honey. Mix-ins like fresh blueberries, peanut butter, and banana slices are available for an extra charge. Get on that waitlist. It’s popular.
Brendan enjoys a taco from Taqueria y Panaderia La Calentana. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
Lunch
Taqueria y Panaderia La Calentana
Taqueria y Panaderia La Calentana in De Leon Springs specializes in fresh-baked goods ranging from donuts to pretty pink polvorones cookies alongside traditional Mexican dishes. Taco Tuesday features $2 tacos on most meats, with buche, chivo, borrego, and lengua available at full price if you’re lonely and hungry for a little tongue. Torta Thursday offers a choice of asada, chicharroon, chorizo, jamon, or pollo, but it doesn’t matter, because in this strange instance, it’s just a bread delivery system. I’m aware that I’ve described things as “pillowy” before, but this bread is like one of those fancy hotel pillows that holds you like you wish your mom did when you were a baby. Be sure to add an asada gordita to round out your order, too, while you’re at it. The staff is helpful with recommendations and happy to guide first-time gringo visitors through the menu. Be sure to ask about their Agua Frescas or just grab a drink of something from the many fridges lining the far wall. There’s a table full of day-old pastries, too, if you want to treat it like a surprise bag and sample as many things as possible.
Dinner
Country Line Saloon
New boot goofin’, live music, cheap wings, and daisy dukes; Country Line Saloon has it all. Country Line Saloon in De Leon Springs offers a fun spot for a light dinner with live music and a casual atmosphere where daisy dukes are part of the dress code. But I tell myself that about going to Fresh Market, too. The bar features cheap wings and a lineup of country bands throughout the week. Ladies’ Night brings a $20 “girl dinner” special which features a glass of house wine, a side Caesar salad, and a basket of truffle fries to share with your hangry friends.
DEBARY
DeBary is located 26 miles north of Orlando, about a 30-minute drive via Interstate 4. The city sits in Volusia County on the northern shore of the St. Johns River, just up the street from its somewhat flashier neighbor, Sanford. Accessible via I-4 and US Highway 17/92, DeBary offers convenient access to Orlando attractions while maintaining a quieter, suburban/rural Florida atmosphere. SunRail operates hourly train service from DeBary to downtown Orlando, with the journey taking approximately 55 minutes and costing $3 to $4.
The Salted Goat’s breakfast sandwiches are a must, plus look at that smoker. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
Breakfast
The Salted Goat
The Salted Goat is a farmer-driven gastropub in DeBary owned by Cedar Key clam farmer Kathryn Aymar, who also co-owns Physis Farms. The restaurant focuses on hyper-local ingredients sourced from Florida producers, including Cedar Key clams from the owner’s farm, beef from Webster’s HM Cattle Company, goat and goat cheese from Slow Turtle Farm in Eustis, eggs and rabbit from Meadow Lane Farms in De Leon Springs, and pork from HertaBerkSchwein Farm in Groveland.
The menu features fresh seafood, steak, sandwiches, and salads alongside craft beer, wine, and cocktails. The restaurant offers brunch and lunch Thursday through Sunday until 3 p.m., happy hour Wednesday through Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m., and dinner starting at 5 p.m. A spacious, dog-friendly patio provides outdoor seating.
I had “Catherine The Crepe,” a nod to the owner, which changes from savory to sweet each day, depending on what sort of mood she’s in when she shows up to work. She was feeling savory when I was there last and stuffed her crepes with a mashed potato and chicken sausage mix that made it almost like an open-face pierogi. So good.
My gay boyfriend had “The Third Best F@#?ing Breakfast Sandwich Ever,” which is served on toasted ciabatta bread, a perfectly cooked and oozy sunny side up egg, candied brisket from the happy pigs of HertaBerkSchwein Farm, garlic aioli, local greens, cheddar jack cheese, shoestring potato, and a side of fruit salad or home fries.
We ordered a mini skillet of breakfast potatoes that were crunchy, delicious, and well-seasoned. They tasted like they may have been fried in some sort of tallow, but I was too full and happy to ask the server and just kind of rolled my way back to the car.
Don’t sleep on the creme brulee French toast. They do $20 mimosa carafes and $14 loaded bloody mary “experiences” on the weekend, too. The experience is apparently a whole breakfast dish stacked on top of your drink.
Swamp House Riverfront Grill’s Nightmare at the Swamp Burger. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
Lunch
Swamp House Riverfront Grill
Swamp House Riverfront Grill is perched along the St. Johns River at Highbanks Marina in DeBary, offering diners scenic water views from its rustic dining room/patio. The two-story restaurant features large windows overlooking the historic river, allowing guests to watch boats and cresting manatee butts pass by while shoving food in their burger holes. Established in 2006, the restaurant serves fresh seafood and Florida cuisine, including local specialties like blackened gator tail, fried St. Johns catfish, and Key West mahi topped with pineapple pico and key lime shrimp.
The riverfront location provides a relaxed, old-Florida atmosphere with the added bonus of boat access for those arriving by water, which I think is the best way to visit, especially if you put in over in Sanford and make your way up to Blue Springs. Outdoor seating is also available at The Happy Snapper Tiki Bar downstairs on weekends, and they often have live music outside.
During my last visit, we pounded back some cold beers while enjoying the beautiful view of the river. You can’t go wrong with the classic St. Johns Catfish BLT with bacon, lettuce, and tomato on white toast. Get a side of their coleslaw if you’re feeling bad about eating something fried for lunch.
They’re also home to the particularly massive burger, the “Nightmare at the Swamp”, which sports two ½ lb patties, sauteed onions, mushrooms, bacon, BBQ sauce, cheddar, and Swiss. It’s ambitious for sure, but you can also opt for the smaller version if you’re afraid of commitments, which is understandable. Because it’s massive.
On your way back to the interstate from Swamp House, you have an opportunity for a fun side quest that ends in cold beer, if you choose to hop over to Central 28 Brewery. They’re tucked away in a warehouse park, where they’ve been crafting Belgian-inspired and American ales since 2015, including their flagship Up River Pale Ale and award-winning beers like Show Pigeon IPA.
Dive into some Nawlins’ redfish at The District Eatery. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
Dinner
The District Eatery Tap & Barrel
The District Eatery Tap & Barrel is a popular upscale New American dining hub in Sanford’s Historic District at 112 W 2nd Street. I know we started in DeBary, but this is just across the lake, and it’s won so many dining awards through the years, you’d be a monster not to pop in. At least for dessert. The kitchen crafts scratch-made dishes using locally sourced ingredients, combining classic American fare with contemporary seasonal twists. The menu includes standout dishes like blackened redfish with crawfish, Nawlins Snapper, and sesame-crusted sashimi tuna.
The Nawlins Blackened Redfish comes with a bed of decadent andouille cheddar grits, crawfish, and capers that taste just like a Nola chef made it, if they came by way of the St. Johns. The pork chop is a classic. It’s bright and easy, and a fattier cut that poaches a lot of flavor from their grill and comes with a tasty dollop of fig jam.
The road out front is currently being redone, and in true Sanford style, it could take a while, so don’t be deterred by all the machinery. It’s worth the hike from around the block.
WINTER GARDEN
Most of you know where Winter Garden is, but if you don’t … Winter Garden sits just west of Orlando. Its historic downtown mixes old-Florida charm with trendy eateries, while the West Orange Trail delivers a steady parade of cyclists, joggers, and dogs who clearly believe they own the place.
Breakfast
Rosalie French Café
Rosalie French Cafe in Winter Garden offers a refined “ladies who brunch” type breakfast experience with fresh pastries and rotating quiche selections alongside heartier morning fare to eat in your car when your friends aren’t watching. The standout for me is the brisket breakfast, featuring slow-cooked brisket topped with a poached egg, chipotle sauce, and red onions served on homemade sourdough bread. The cafe sources fresh ingredients and bakes daily, with pastries typically selling out by mid-morning. The space is small and filled with random shelves and knick-knacks, and it fills up quickly on weekends, so arriving early is recommended. I love sitting on the patio watching kids fall off their bikes on the bike trail.
Pammie’s Sammies’ Italianesque sandwich. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
Lunch
Pammie’s Sammies
Pammie’s Sammies at 121 S. Boyd Street in downtown Winter Garden is more than just a sandwich shop; it’s a bit of a slice of the inner life of owner Pam Thomas and her husband Thorp, both die-hard musicians who channeled their love of music into every detail of the restaurant. Vintage photos over the windows show Pam singing while Thorp plays drums from their performing days. The walls are covered with guitars, vinyl records, posters of music legends like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix, and even the menu comes presented on a record player and a series of decorated vinyl records.
Pam opened the restaurant in 2020 during the pandemic, describing herself as a maker who loves crafting, repurposing, and inventing things. The menu blends old family recipes from her Southern upbringing with creative twists on classics, offering sandwiches with names like Cubanesque, Rubenesque, and Who’s Your Daddy? alongside sides like hashbrown casserole, tater tots, and sweet potato fries. The restaurant operates Tuesday through Saturday with both indoor seating and a spacious outdoor patio.
An inside look at Plant Street Market. Photo by Brendan O’Connor.
Dinner
Plant Street Market
Plant Street Market in downtown Winter Garden has become the local community food hub, with Crooked Can Brewing Company at the heart of the food hall. Plant Street offers multiple dining options under one roof, including JAM Hot Chicken, which brings Nashville-style heat with crowd favorites like The Sando, The Box, and crispy tenders featuring their signature spice levels, which you should definitely pay attention to when making your order. The Local Butcher & Market doubles as both a butcher shop selling premium meats and a deli counter serving Boar’s Head sandwiches, including a Cuban piled high with ham, pork, Swiss cheese, and pickles. The standout at this food hall may be Norigami, an eight-seat omakase sushi bar where Chef David Tsan, formerly of Kabooki Sushi and Morimoto Asia, serves high-quality nigiri featuring lesser-known seafood like geoduck, needlefish, and blackthroat sea perch. The ten-piece omakase runs around $65. The market is located at 428 W. Plant Street.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH
New Smyrna Beach is one of Orlando’s closest beach towns. Known for its laid-back vibe, artsy Flagler Avenue, and famously active shark population, it’s the rare beach town where “watch the water” is both scenic advice and practical guidance.
The Rock Shrimp Scramble is a perfect Florida beach breakfast. Photo by Catherine Walters.
Breakfast
Third Wave
Third Wave Cafe sits at 204 Flagler Avenue in downtown New Smyrna Beach, featuring an outdoor cafe courtyard dining area surrounded by greenery and canopy trees. They also offer indoor seating in their newly renovated interior space, adjacent to the Café. The cafe was featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and serves breakfast, brunch, and dinner daily except Tuesday. The Santa Fe crepe showcases the restaurant’s creative approach to classic dishes with Southwestern-inspired flavors, but the Rock Shrimp Scramble stands out as the local favorite, with Florida rock shrimp scrambled with eggs, typically served with roasted potatoes, highlighting the briny seafood from nearby Mosquito Lagoon. The menu ranges from wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta to French toast and various savory and sweet crepes, all made with fresh ingredients.
Lunch
Yellow Dog Eats
Yellow Dog Eats at 147 Canal Street in downtown New Smyrna Beach has a particularly funky atmosphere, inspired by its original sister restaurant just outside of Orlando. Chef Fish Morgan, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, opened the original location in Gotha’s 1910 Brockman House and expanded to New Smyrna Beach with the same commitment to quality ingredients and house-smoked meats. “The Holy Crap” is one of their signature sandwiches, originally a weekly special that earned permanent menu status. It features honey mesquite roasted turkey piled high and pressed with avocado, pecan-smoked bacon, goat cheese, red onions, and basil mayo on thick multigrain bread. The “Roast Malone” showcases house-smoked roast beef topped with homemade pimento cheese, crispy fried jalapeños, vine-ripened tomatoes, caramelized onions, and watercress on pressed multigrain bread. The restaurant smokes its own bacon, pork, and roast beef on site and uses 15 varieties of locally grown greens.
Dinner
Norwood’s Restaurant and Treehouse Bar
Norwood’s Restaurant and Treehouse Bar at 400 E. 2nd Avenue in New Smyrna Beach has been a local institution since 1946, offering fresh seafood and scratch-made dishes. But despite the strong kitchen and service staff, the restaurant is best known for its Treehouse Bar, literally built around live trees with outdoor seating elevated above the ground. The restaurant offers multiple dining spaces, including the main dining room, a lower patio, and the signature treehouse level.
The spinach ricotta dumplings are a standout appetizer, baked with vodka sauce and mozzarella cheese and served with grilled bread. The pimento mac and cheese earns rave reviews as a side or entree option, featuring penne pasta tossed with house-smoked bacon and creamy pimento cheese. The menu spans fresh seafood like the Captain’s Platter with mahi, shrimp, scallops, and crab cake, alongside steaks, pastas, and creative dishes that showcase locally sourced ingredients.
Every time I’m in New Smyrna Beach, I like to ask service industry peeps where they’re eating. And while I often hear about something trendy and new that way, the constant standout that most of them mention is Paco Submarine. So it should be no surprise that when I put the same question to Amy Drew, from the Orlando Sentinel, she had this to say.”Chef Brian Cieskak’s posh pedigree merges with his appreciation for the vehicle everyone relates to: the sandwich! Details matter, too, taking everything from basic smashburgers to shredded lamb wraps to smoked, house made pastrami to the next level.”