Floridiana Magazine

History. Heritage. Home.

Florida Eats: Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House

One of the perks about visiting “old Florida” places on the weekends, is finding restaurants that are off the beaten path or offer fare that truly represents the Sunshine State.  On a recent trip to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County, we found one such restaurant:  Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House in Oak Hill. Located on River Road on Mosquito Lagoon, Goodrich’s offers good food and a relaxing view.

Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House

Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House has its own storied past that you need to read to understand how the restaurant started and how it has evolved into what it is today.  Although this isn’t a restaurant that goes back a hundred years, the Goodrich family has been in Oak Hill for nine generations.  Started in 1910 by two brothers, Jeff and Clarence Goodrich, Goodrich Seafood did not include a restaurant.  Instead, it consisted of a wholesale retail seafood house and blue crab processing facility about 300 feet south of the current restaurant. The pilings can still be seen today. The original seafood house was destroyed by fire in the late 30s, and the crab house fell from its pilings into the water.

To find out how they rebuilt the business, check out their website here.

Ambience

The restaurant offers up a spectacular view of the Mosquito Lagoon.  You can watch as boats glide by, birds skim above the water and, if you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a dolphin or two. Nautical décor can be found throughout the restaurant, including the shark hanging on the wall outside, and a wooden model of a ship resting on a piling on the deck. Whether you are inside the dining room or outside on the deck, Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House provides a casual atmosphere for good Florida eats.

On the Menu

Let’s face it.  Everything on the menu looks extremely appetizing.  There are daily specials to choose from or you can try one of their seafood plates.  How about fried alligator or frog legs?  If that doesn’t interest you, there are always oysters, shrimp, scallops or the local catch.

Appetizers

First, the appetizers. The smoked fish dip offered up just the right quantity to hold us over until the meal arrived. It was served with crackers, tomatoes and banana peppers and was fresh and flavorful.

A trip to the chowder bar didn’t disappoint either.  The Florida chowder was made with tomatoes and potatoes and was a spoonful of heaven in every bite.

Main Course

On to the main course.  As is the usual routine, we each tried something different.  I ordered the shrimp and grits, which were the epitome of perfection.  Grilled shrimp over cheese grits, topped with savory bacon.  What a great combination.

Lee chose the oyster po’ boy with golden fried oysters on a toasted hoagie roll, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and a tangy sauce.  Hush puppies and two sides rounded out the meal.

Location and Hours

Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House is located at:

253 River Road

Oak Hill, Florida

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.  On Sunday, the hours are 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House is closed on Monday.

Recommendations

If you are there when the weather is just right, try for a coveted table outside.  If there isn’t one, a table on the enclosed porch works just as well.  Make sure you walk along the deck and take in the views of the lagoon and the birds.

Year in Review: Florida Eats

One good thing about traveling the state, visiting small towns is discovering old Florida restaurants.  We’ve had the chance to dine at some great places that served up not only good food, but good old Florida character!

Farmer’s Market Restaurant, Webster

Small town restaurants serve up more than just food – they offer hospitality with a touch of home. The Farmer’s Market Restaurant in Webster is no different.  It is a place to sit down for a meal and hear the locals around you talking about their week or asking about each other’s families.  It’s a place where you can enjoy a meal without being rushed to make room for the next customer.

This is a no-frills restaurant. A variety of kitchen gadgets adorn the walls. Shelves along the top of the walls hold plates and cups. A mixture of booths and tables provide seating in the dining area.

The buffet appears to be the more popular choice and, whether you are there for breakfast, lunch or dinner, provides enough culinary options to satisfy anyone’s cravings. And the best part is you can fill your plate and go back for seconds. From one end of the buffet to the other, it’s a diner’s dream. Oh, and the desserts?  One word: scrumptious!

The Farmer’s Market Restaurant is open Monday – Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Desert Inn, Yeehaw Junction (CLOSED)

The Desert Inn sits at the busy intersection of Highway 60 and U.S. 441 and had been a favorite lunch and dinner spot for locals, tourists and bikers out for their weekend rides, until it closed this past year.

The Desert Inn was established as a trading post in the late 1880s.  The current building can be traced to before 1925 when it served as a respite for cattlemen and lumbermen after long days of hard work. With the construction of roads in the 1930s, the Desert Inn saw an increase in the number of tourists who stopped by.  Then in the 50s, the turnpike was built, an exit added, and the name officially became Yeehaw Junction. (The area was known by several names in its early years: Crossroads, Jackass Crossing, and the Crossing.)  In 1994, the Desert Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

If you want to read more about it before it closed, The Desert Inn was featured last March.

Kappy’s Subs, Maitland

Kappy’s Subs has been a Maitland icon for more than 50 years, serving Central Florida customers since 1967.  (It’s one of our favorites!)  This unpretentious diner backs up to the railroad tracks and sits at the busy intersection of Sybelia and North Orlando Avenue.

This is fifties dining at its finest – inside or out. Place your order at the walk-up window, then sit in your car in the limited covered parking outside or have a seat at one of the picnic tables for that true outdoor Florida feel.  The menu offers up typical diner food – everything from burgers to chicken nuggets to sandwiches, hot dogs and subs.

Kappy’s is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Beefy King, Orlando

Beefy King served its first roast beef sandwiches in 1968 in Orlando. The restaurant’s founder, Tom Viegle, came up with the idea during a trip to New York City where he visited a similar restaurant and decided it could be the next big hit for the restaurant industry.  Within a year of opening, Viegle sold the business to Freeman and Margaret Smith, whose grandchildren now run the restaurant. Although the company expanded and went public, it never took off as a franchise.  Only one Beefy King remained open – the original restaurant on Bumby Avenue.

The menu boasts being the “Home of the Real Roast Beef Sandwich,” but over the years has expanded to include ham, turkey, pastrami and corned beef.  The sandwiches come with just meat and a bun, but can be made to order with lettuce, onions, cheese and tomatoes.

Beefy King is located at 424 North Bumby Avenue, between Colonial Drive and Robinson Street.  It is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Beefy King is closed on Sunday.

Angel’s Dining Car, Palatka

Angel’s has been serving customers since 1932, when Porter Angel took an old train dining car and converted it into a restaurant.  Situated along busy Highway 17 in the heart of Palatka, the pink and green awnings, the bright silver chrome exterior and its neon sign rising up into the sky make Angel’s easy to find.  True to its history, the diner still offers curb service. Simply park your car, honk your horn, and a waitress will come out and take your order.  Of course, there is indoor seating as well, even though it is limited.

Although we have not been there for breakfast, the menu features a variety of pancakes and omelets. Like other restaurants, Angel’s has its specialties.  Their onion rings are a must-have.  Other favorite menu items include the Black Bottom – scrambled eggs, bacon and ground beef on a bun and the Pusalow – a chocolate frosty drink that tastes a lot like a Yoo-hoo.

Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant, Winter Haven

Andy’s has been serving up meals for nearly 70 years.  Roger “Andy” Anderson opened the restaurant as a Dairy Queen in 1951, when it was surrounded by orange groves.  As the city grew, the landscape changed, and Andy’s now occupies a corner at the busy intersection of Avenue G Southwest and 3rd Street Southwest.  It was, and still is, a favorite gathering place for folks living in Winter Haven.

The menu says it all.  “Hungry? You’re in the Right Place!”  Andy’s describes its menu as “American standard fare featuring burgers, seafood, steaks & ice cream in a simple setting.”  Although there is a wide variety on the menu, the cheeseburger basket is to die for – a juicy burger served with crinkle cut fries and slaw.  Of course, don’t forget to top off your meal with one of their delicious award-winning milkshakes.

FM Notes: 

We have a list of additional diners to visit in 2019.  If you know of one, please leave us a comment so we can check it out!

Florida Eats: Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant

Just like visiting some of Florida’s quaint old towns requires that you get away from the interstates and major highways, so too does finding places to experience some of the state’s best food in an old Florida atmosphere.  In the center of the state, about 12 miles south of Interstate 4 in Polk County is one of those places – Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant and Igloo in Winter Haven.  This landmark diner is on the menu in this installment of Florida Eats.

Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant and Igloo

Andy’s has been serving up meals for nearly 70 years.  Roger “Andy” Anderson opened the restaurant as a Dairy Queen in 1951, when it was surrounded by orange groves.  As the city grew, the landscape changed, and Andy’s now occupies a corner at the busy intersection of Avenue G Southwest and 3rd Street Southwest.  It was, and still is, a favorite gathering place for folks living in Winter Haven and the surrounding communities.

The day of our visit, the restaurant filled up quickly.  On the way to their tables, guests stopped at other booths to say hello to their neighbors.  That friendly attitude extended beyond the diners, as the servers were just as friendly. From the time we sat down, until the time we were handed our check, service was prompt, polite and precise.

Ambience

From the iconic sign in the parking lot to the retro interior, Andy’s serves up a comfortable, home-like atmosphere.  Booths with turquoise seat cushions and Formica table tops wrap around the main dining area. Tables and chairs fill the center of the room.  Near the kitchen area, stools line a lunch counter and provide additional seating. Everywhere you look, painted signs on the walls carry out the retro theme – from breakfast to burgers.  And on the wall by the register, autographed photos of some of those who have dined at Andy’s.

On the Menu

The menu says it all.  “Hungry? You’re in the Right Place!”  Even though there’s a chunk taken out of the upper right-hand corner, don’t worry, the menu offerings are much tastier.  Andy’s describes its menu as “American standard fare featuring burgers, seafood, steaks & ice cream in a simple setting.”  Although there is a wide variety on the menu, the cheeseburger basket is to die for – a juicy burger served with crinkle cut fries and slaw.  Of course, don’t forget to top off your meal with one of their delicious award-winning milkshakes.  If you’re just stopping by for a cold ice cream or milkshake, Andy’s Igloo offers a walk-up counter.  And the prices?  Very reasonable.

If you are anywhere near Winter Haven, Andy’s is definitely worth the drive! Great food.  Great prices.  Great service.  What more can you ask for?

Location and Hours

Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant & Igloo

703 3rd St SW Winter Haven, Florida 33880

863-293-0019

Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant

Sunday                 Noon–11PM

Monday               8AM–11PM

Tuesday               8AM–11PM

Wednesday         8AM–11PM

Thursday             8AM–11PM

Friday                  8AM–11PM

Saturday              8AM–11PM

Andy’s Igloo

Sunday                 2PM–11PM

Monday               9AM–11PM

Tuesday               9AM–11PM

Wednesday        9AM–11PM

Thursday             9AM–11PM

Friday                   9AM–11PM

Saturday              9AM–11PM

Floridiana Magazine (FM) Notes

Make sure you take along cash with you when you go.  Andy’s does not accept credit cards.  If you forget, there is an ATM inside.

Florida Eats: Angel’s Dining Car

What do you look for in a restaurant?  Something that’s tried and true?  A chain restaurant? Or are you adventurous and seek out interesting eateries?  A side benefit of traveling around the state looking for “old Florida” stories, is finding “old Florida” diners.  In this installment of Florida Eats, a trip to Palatka reveals the state’s oldest diner – Angel’s Dining Car.

Angel’s Diner

Angel’s has been serving customers since 1932, when Porter Angel took an old train dining car and converted it into a restaurant.  When Porter died, John and Diane Browning purchased the property.  Even though they are now divorced, the two still run it together.

Situated along busy Highway 17 in the heart of Palatka, the pink and green awnings, the bright silver chrome exterior and its neon sign rising up into the sky make Angel’s easy to find.  True to its history, the diner still offers curb service. Simply park your car, honk your horn, and a waitress will come out and take your order.  Of course, there is indoor seating as well, even though it is limited.

Ambience

Walking inside the dining car is like taking a step back to a time when diners were popular, when car hops skated from car to car taking orders, and when tunes from the jukebox filled the air. Cooks are busy keeping up with the orders and ring a bell to alert the waitresses that there’s an “order up!”

Pull up a chair at one of the pink tabletops or find a stool along the yellow counter.  As a dining car, the inside is narrow, with limited space to walk.

On the Menu

The black and white laminated menu includes both a breakfast menu and a lunch menu.  Although we have not been there for breakfast, the menu features a variety of pancakes and omelets. Like other restaurants, Angel’s has its specialties.  Their onion rings are a must-have.  From a vantage point at the counter, you can see the kitchen, where freshly cut onions sizzle in a vat of oil.  They are, without a doubt, some of the best onion rings we’ve ever had. Other favorite menu items include the Black Bottom – scrambled eggs, bacon and ground beef on a bun and the Pusalow – a chocolate frosty drink that tastes a lot like a Yoo-hoo.

Onion rings are a must-have!

Black Bottom – Scrambled eggs, bacon and ground beef. A winning combination!

Pusalow – a signature drink on the menu

Angel’s is a favorite of regulars and visitors alike.  A steady stream of guests come and go.  Some for the food, others for the nostalgia.  There are no frills.  It’s dated.  It’s old.  But it’s doing what it does best – cooking up great hamburgers and great memories.

Hours

Monday: 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Tuesday: 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Wednesday: 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Thursday: 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Friday: 6:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

Saturday: 6:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

Sunday: 6:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Floridiana Magazine (FM) Notes:  Palatka is about an hour east of Gainesville and about half an hour southwest of St. Augustine.  Click here to find out more things to see and do in Palatka.

Florida Eats: Beefy King – Serving Roast Beef Sandwiches for 50 Years

At a time when fast food and chain restaurants offer dining options for nearly every preference, family-owned and operated establishments can get overlooked.  Unless, of course, they are part of a community’s culture.

One such eatery has established itself as an Orlando landmark and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month: Beefy King.

History of Beefy King

Beefy King served its first roast beef sandwiches in 1968 in Orlando. The restaurant’s founder, Tom Viegle, came up with the idea during a trip to New York City where he visited a similar restaurant and decided it could be the next big hit for the restaurant industry.  Within a year of opening, Viegle sold the business to Freeman and Margaret Smith, whose grandchildren now run the restaurant. Although the company expanded and went public, it never took off as a franchise.  Only one Beefy King remained open – the original restaurant on Bumby Avenue.

The Ambience

The inside of Beefy King is what you’d expect for a sandwich shop.  A stainless-steel counter just inside the door serves as the hub of the restaurant and a large menu board hangs on the paneled back wall. Booths and tables offer an informal place to sit, and sauces and other condiments at a do-it-yourself station provide variety for diners. Service is typically fast and employees are friendly.

On the Menu

The menu boasts being the “Home of the Real Roast Beef Sandwich,” but over the years has expanded to include ham, turkey, pastrami and corned beef.  The sandwiches come with just meat and a bun, but can be made to order with lettuce, onions, cheese and tomatoes.  Meal deals and platters come with spuds (tater tots) and a drink. Other options are available, whether it’s combo sandwiches with two meats, or salads.  If you can’t figure out what to order, go with the roast beef.  It’s the star attraction and the recommendation for all first-timers to the restaurant.  The meat is fresh and delicious, and the spuds are crunchy.

Beefy King’s Hours

Beefy King is located at 424 North Bumby Avenue, between Colonial Drive and Robinson Street.  It is open Monday through Friday fro 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.  Beefy King is closed on Sunday.

FM Notes: For its 50th anniversary, Saturday, June 2, Beefy King is offering a 50% discount for the original beef and ham sandwiches, tater tots and soda. Given the popularity of this restaurant on a regular day, you can expect to stand in line or wait in the drive through a little longer.  Fifty years is a big deal, so if you’ve got the time, stop by and join the celebration.

Florida Eats: Kappy’s Subs

Part of the fun of exploring Florida is finding interesting places to dine or visit.  Sometimes you find them just by driving the back roads.  Other times they appear in unlikely places.  Who would have thought one of those locations sits in the shadows of new development in Maitland?

Kappy’s History

Kappy’s Subs has been a Maitland icon for more than 50 years, serving Central Florida customers since 1967.  This unpretentious diner backs up to the railroad tracks and sits at the busy intersection of Sybelia and 17-92.  New construction flanks two of the corners, a 7-11 sits on the third. The environment around this diner have changed, but the owners (it has been in the same family since 1972) haven’t changed a thing.

The Ambiance

Part of the allure of Kappy’s is its ambiance. Don’t go if you’re expecting a fine dining experience.  This is fifties dining at its finest – inside or out. Place your order at the walk-up window, then sit in your car in the limited covered parking outside or have a seat at one of the picnic tables for that true outdoor Florida feel.

Inside, an L-shaped counter lined with 12 swiveling stainless bar stools with burgundy vinyl seats welcome a limited number of guests.  The sound of grease bubbling in the deep fryer indicates a fresh batch of onion rings is being cooked. A waitress yells out “burger” to the cook.  No matter where you sit at the counter, you can view of the grill as your food selection is cooked.

On the Menu

The menu offers up typical diner food – everything from burgers to chicken nuggets to sandwiches, hot dogs and subs.

For me, the Philly Cheesesteak piqued my culinary curiosity (on both recent visits).  It’s one of Kappy’s specialties and it didn’t disappoint.  In all honesty, I didn’t experience the true cheesesteak.  I’m not much on peppers, so I went with the cheese and onions and added on mushrooms.  My dining companion tried the Fatima’s Sensation, with roast beef, grilled onions and mushrooms, plus melted Swiss cheese and a tangy BBQ sauce. On another occasion, he tried The Rodney, with pastrami, onions, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato.  Coupled with onion rings, our lunches were, as the sign outside says, “yummy.”

Philly Cheesesteak

Fatima’s Sensation

The Rodney

Onion Rings

We both topped off our meals with a chocolate milk shake, made fresh in front of us.  It was creamy, and it was delicious.

Kappy’s Hours

If you’re looking for a change from fast food restaurants and want something more authentic, Kappy’s is the place to go. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

If you visit, let us know what you think.

Floridiana Magazine (FM) Note: After publication we received additional information from the family about Kappy’s.  It operated as a Valentine Diner in 1964. (In case you’re interested, a Valentine Diner was a small diner that seated eight to twelve people with a limited menu, making it possible for one or two people to run with limited capital.) The establishment also operated as a What-A-Burger for two years and, after closing, reopened as Kappy’s by Isadore Kaplan around 1967 . Bob Caplan (with a “C”) purchased Kappy’s in 1972 and the diner has been in the family ever since.

Florida Eats: Desert Inn (CLOSED)

If you’ve ever traveled the Florida turnpike, you’ve likely seen the sign for Yeehaw Junction about 65 miles south of Orlando.  The question is, have you ever been curious enough to venture off the highway to see what’s there?  If not, you should.  If you have, then you already know about the Desert Inn – once a must see for those looking for a taste of old Florida.

Unfortunately, the building was demolished last year after extensive damages caused by a semi tractor-trailer crashing into it in 2019.

The Desert Inn once sat at the busy intersection of Highway 60 and U.S. 441 and was a favorite lunch and dinner spot for locals, tourists and bikers out for their weekend rides. The Inn also offered rentals for those looking for a place to stay in the area.

Desert Inn History

The Desert Inn was established as a trading post in the late 1880s.  The current building can be traced to before 1925 when it served as a respite for cattlemen and lumbermen after long days of hard work. With the construction of roads in the 1930s, the Desert Inn saw an increase in the number of tourists who stopped by.  Then in the 50s, the turnpike was built, an exit added, and the name officially became Yeehaw Junction. (The area was known by several names in its early years: Crossroads, Jackass Crossing, and the Crossing.)  In 1994, the Desert Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ambience

The minute you walk up to the Desert Inn, its unique character is apparent, an old gas pump on one side, a “Jackass Crossing” sign on the other.  Inside, it’s just as eclectic – from the dollar bills attached to the U-shaped bar, to the old fortune telling machine in one corner and the Native American family in another.

If you visit the women’s bathroom, don’t be surprised to see a life-size male mannequin, his shirt signed by visitors to the restaurant.  (I had heard about the mannequin but was still taken aback when I walked in!)

On the Menu

A menu board is propped up in one of the windows and offers some tasty dining options. When asked for a recommendation, the waitress said the hamburgers and the fried green tomatoes are favorite dishes.

We chose the burgers – a plain burger and a bacon burger – both of which were cooked to perfection.  A nice change to a traditional burger was the bread.  Fresh ciabatta bread kept the burger together and mess-free. (I don’t know how many times I’ve had a burger and it has fallen apart because of the hamburger bun.)  Crisp hot fries rounded out our lunch, along with a cold beer.

Paying the bill is just as unique as the restaurant itself.  A mouse trap holding your tab is delivered to your table.  As for the prices?  Comparable to other restaurants this size, but worth the atmosphere.  We were able to eat for less than $40 before a tip.

If you are looking for fast food, this is not the place.  A sign outside lets you know before you walk in that if you’re in a hurry, a Mickey D’s can be found 30 – 50 miles in any direction!  The service was prompt but laid back.  The meal was tasty, and the experience was worth venturing off the highway.

 

Florida Eats: Farmer’s Market Restaurant, Webster, FL (CLOSED)

“Florida home cooking” conjures up an image of a Sunday afternoon meal.  Fried chicken or meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, creamy macaroni and cheese.  Add to that a variety of vegetables and greens, cornbread or biscuit and a tall glass of sweet tea. Then top it all off with a homemade dessert.

Brings back memories, doesn’t it?

Where can you find such a feast without having to don an apron and dust off the cookbook?  The Farmer’s Market Restaurant in Webster, Florida of course.

Farmer’s Market Restaurant Webster, Florida

The Ambiance

The restaurant sits in the middle of the Webster Farmer’s Market on Highway 471 and is open seven days a week.  Wooden rockers on the front porch reach out and welcome you to the restaurant.  Diners use it as a gathering place – whether they are waiting for someone to join them or relaxing after their home cooked meal.

This is a no-frills restaurant. A variety of kitchen gadgets adorn the walls. Shelves along the top of the walls hold plates and cups. A mixture of booths and tables provide seating in the dining area.

A second dining room has been added since our first visit a year ago. One of the waitresses says the room was needed to accommodate the large number of diners, especially on Mondays when thousands of people converge on the Webster Flea Market.

Second Dining Area

Home Cooking

After seating yourself, the waitstaff is quick to take your drink order and direct you to the buffet or offer a menu. The buffet appears to be the more popular choice and, whether you are there for breakfast, lunch or dinner, provides enough culinary options to satisfy anyone’s cravings. And the best part is you can fill your plate and go back for seconds. From one end of the buffet to the other, it’s a diner’s dream. Oh, and the desserts?  One word: scrumptious!

Small town restaurants serve up more than just food – they offer hospitality with a touch of home. The Farmer’s Market Restaurant is no different.  It is a place to sit down for a meal and hear the locals around you talking about their week or asking about each other’s families.  It’s a place where you can enjoy a meal without being rushed to make room for the next customer.

Hours of Operation

The Farmer’s Market Restaurant is open Monday – Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

How to Get There

If you’re ever in the area, stop by for a bite to eat or make a special trip.  If you’re traveling on Interstate 75, get off at exit 309 (County Road 673) and drive west about 10 minutes.

Whatever your reason for visiting, you can count on home cooking the way your mother used to make it.

Florida Eats: Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak

There are times when we are out and about that we run into some interesting places to eat.  Some are off the beaten track and known mostly by locals, where word of mouth draws in curious visitors.  Others are located on the main roads and hold some historic distinction. In this week’s Florida Eats, we made a stop at Cherry Pocket on the banks of Lake Pierce in Lake Wales.

From their décor to their newspaper-style menu, Cherry Pocket is one of those hidden gems.  The restaurant’s website touts the efforts by the current owners to keep it a unique “old Florida” place to visit.  The name Cherry Pocket, as legend tells it, comes from the two original property owners in the late 1940s, one of whom was named Cherry.  The “Pocket” part of the name was derived from the way the property sat on the canal (the owners thought it looked like a pocket).

The Ambiance

For folks who live in the area, Cherry Pocket is one of those laid-back kinds of restaurants they frequent regularly.  It’s a place for them to drop in for lunch or dinner or even just a drink.  The décor is comfortable and unassuming.  Dollar bills are attached to the walls along with license plates from around the country.  Fishing poles hang from the ceiling. Posted signs offer diners a suggestion or two – one in particular indicates the restaurant is a “No Whining Zone.”

If the weather is nice and you prefer to sit outside, there is an outdoor deck overlooking the canal.  In the center, a boat shaped bar.  Grab a stool and enjoy a drink.

The Menu

The restaurant bills itself as a “steak, seafood shak and oyster bar.”  From the appetizers to the entrees, the food is made from fresh ingredients and is cooked to order. The desserts are all homemade.

On our visit, we tried a few of the starters – the Cracker Platter and the Seafood Nachos.  Let’s just say the nachos were to die for!

A word of advice for newbies to the restaurant.  Don’t be in a hurry.  Since the food is made to order, it may take a little longer.  Just sit back, enjoy a drink, an appetizer and a friendly conversation.

Fish Camp

Cherry Pocket is not just a restaurant.  It is also a fishing “resort” offering rental cabins, RV hookups and boat slips.  Stay for a night, a week, or a month.  The cabins are fully furnished and include utilities and cable TV.  Make sure to call ahead to make reservations.

If you’ve never been to Cherry Pocket, just a reminder this restaurant truly is off the beaten path.  Rather than providing directions, it’s best for you to map it out from your location.  When you get there, make sure to ask for the Cherry Pocket Times.  Not only does it have the menu, but also a few “fish stories” you’ll want to read.

Cherry Pocket is located at:

3100 Canal Road
Lake Wales, FL 33898
863-439-2031