That said, I do want to mention that you can never go wrong with the Outback (Hwy 44-Inverness) chain restaurants as far as I am concerned--food very consistently good (bloomin onion, great steak, tilapia, salmon,  happy hour, etc.) And Ipanema (Pine St) and Bonefish Grill ( Hwy 200)  SKY (Fusion) (Holiday Inn 200 &I-75) and Mi Mi Cafe's (Hwy 200 by Dick's) in Ocala are worth the drive there. But back to our local restaurants; what we have found in some restaurants is that the food and/or service is inconsistent. If you experience bad service or food at one restaurant and keep hearing good about it from someone else —find out what they ordered and maybe give the place a second chance.

I don't usually order more than seafood when I am out…I do not like cooking fish at home, so I order it out, but I do pay attention to others who order meat dishes...so my opinions include their enjoyment of their meals also. (And my friends will tell you… I am kind of a health nut when it come to meats—I want to know where the meat came from, I don't want to consume meats from animals injected with hormones and antibiotics…thus I order seafood.)

One of my favorite restaurants is Café on the Avenue in Crystal River. The atmosphere is classy and  can be a quiet-romantic setting with the right company. The food is always delicious. Call for reservations and to find out their hours of operation.It's always a nice place to eat lunch and visit the small shops in the area-especially with girlfriends. The grouper dishes are delicious. The desserts are large enough to share-especially the hummingbird cake.

Vintage on 5th (5th Ave-Crystal River) is a  favorite restaurant.   Service and food exceptional plus the prices are good including the wine choices and ahi tuna. Congrats tot he Vintage for being chosen as one of Wine Spectator Magazine's choice restaurants!  VanDerValks in Inverness (Lakeside Golf Club) has a classy atmosphere and the food is usually excellent.  They have a large item menu and a happy hour.

Mango's Grill ( Country Club Dr-Citrus Springs area) in Dunnellon is a newer restaurant in the area. The menu at this restaurant is large and the food is good. The mango salad dressing is delish! The atmosphere in the restaurant is one of energy and this lends to a lively dining experience.

Love to take out-of-town guests out to eat “on the water” Seagrass Grill (Halls River Road-Homosassa) has a boat cruise and then dinner following. You can also just eat dinner there. Typical Florida bar atmosphere but the boat and dinner package is hard to beat. We saw the manatees returning with their babies! Crackers (Hwy 19) in Crystal River has a menu that leans more toward bar food although they do offer other choices you wouldn't find in your local pub. I like to order a salad with grilled fish. If it's a nice day or night, eat on the water--outside! Marguerita Grill (Halls River Road-Homosassa) a local favorite-was curiously empty last visit. The grouper is gone from the menu but others love the large margaritas and fried food(mostly)! Crystal River Ale House (near a dive resort off Hwy 19) has a typical bar type menu; eat outside if weather permits. Plantation Inn (Fort Island Trail off Hwy 19) used to have a great 2 for $22 early bird special that goes to 6:00 pm. If ordering the grouper, ask if it is fresh. Nice atmosphere. Stumpknockers on the River (200 on the way to Ocala from 491) has a lot of fried foods including catfish and hushpuppies. The downtown Inverness branch (off 44-41) of the restaurant has a nicer atmosphere. The Riverside Crab House-formerly Charlie Brown's (Halls River Road-Homosassa) in addition to regular restaurant hours has a cruise and dinner package. For a resort area eatery, the food is okay and it is fun to be on the water and to also see “Monkey Island.” Yes—real monkeys! Charlie's Fish House in Crystal River offers a dining experience on the water but the real “catch” is the retail fish store. It is a great place to buy fish and lump crab meat! Peck's Old Port (Homosassa). If you are looking for stone crab, Peck's is your place, it is a little out of the way so be prepared to drive a little while to get there.  Down the street from Riverside Crab is a warehouse atmospere restaurant called The Freezer.  A favorite of locals prices are good($2 for a beer or wine and $.75 for a soda)--Menu is limited:  cole slaw, chips and salsa,  hotdogs... but great peel and eat shrimp and Alaskan King Crab legs and Stone Crabs in season or catch the steak night on Wednesday.   Don't dress up to dine here; this is a warehouse on a water pier with boaters coming to enjoy the fun-a local's favorite!

New Crystal River, FL restaurant is Cozy Country Kitchen on Hwy 44.  We have had lunch and breakfast there today. It was good, plenty of food but lunch cost us $20+.  I had the seafood salad ($9) and husband had a cup of delicious chicken noodle soup and a generous BLT.  Simple and ample breakfasts.

Other local favorite places to eat include several bars. Cody's Original Roadhouse  (Hwy 19-Crystal River) is a local favorite-call ahead seating usually a must. It has early bird specials, a large item menu and a nice salad and happy hour. Daily specials include the popular Wednesday 2 for 1 Fajitas.  Cody's has good ribs, steak & salmon. Like wings or “Big Ass” burgers? Try The Cove in Inverness (off Hwy 44 on the way to I-75) no need to dress up and lots of local color to view. Dan's Clam Stand (Hwy 19-Crystal River)…grouper fingers basket and shrimp & lobster specials are a real value. The Rusty Duck (Hwy 44 Lecanto) is suspicious looking from the curb but the inside is better. You must call ahead for one of the two seating times. It has an extensive menu, food usually good and you do need to bring your own wine or spirits. Steak is their specialty. Jimmy T's New York Deli ( 486-Hernando) is a great place for breakfast and lunch (I like their wraps)—they do serve a several course dinner once a week on Tuesdays (reservations only) and you can bring your wine and spirits. A nice place for coffee or lunch is Rob's Café (491-Lecanto) in the Brashear's Pharmacy (not much atmosphere) which has a nice lunch menu including my favorite Café Poulet-a chicken fontina panini.  Z-Chef  moved back to (Hwy 19) Sugarmill Woods area) is a good restaurant. They serve real grouper (supposedly some restaurants are claiming to serve "grouper” when grouper is really a controlled catch of fish and therefore, expensive). They serve good entrees, great cheesecake and fun conversation with the owner! Have not been to Bentley's (Hwy 41 going to Citrus Springs-Dunnellon) in years, found the food and service inconsistent –but try it! Olive Tree in Crystal River(Hwy 19 near the airport)  has Greek and American dishes—they won an award for the Taste of Citrus for casual dining. Oysters (Hwy 19 Crystal River) seafood buffet was okay. Colorful New Orleans decor restaurant is Neon Leon's Zydeco Steakhouse (Hwy 490-on the way to Homosassa).  The menu had a nice selection and the food and service were very good-worth another trip there.  Live music on the weekends!

Every area seems to have a large number of Italian restaurants. I am not a real fan of the cuisine because it usually includes pastas-which I eat only once in a while (forever watching my weight!) But I like Rocco's in (Hwy 44) Crystal River. Great antipasto salad and thin crust pizza. These places are okay and some people's favorites:  Enrico's (Hwy 41-Inverness), and Sal's (491-Beverly Hills). Ferrara's (491) in Beverly Hills makes a wonderful take-out pizza. Schiano's (Hwy 41-on the way to Inverness)-mixed reviews. Everyone has his/or her taste buds when it comes to pizza; try them all and then make your decision which are your favorites. La Casa Di Norma (Hwy 19 in shopping plaza-Crystal River) is called Italian with a Spanish influence. It is a favorite of our friends and you do need to make reservations because it is a cozy size.

I occasionally crave Mexican, Oriental and Cuban sandwiches. So we go to Mr. King's (off Hwy 19) in Crystal River for a nice oriental menu and great fried rice & wontons and good wonton soup. Fuji Asian Bistro is also nice and recently one the 3rd place Taste of Citrus award for fine dining.  (VanDerValk's was 1st, Plantation Inn 2nd) Good Mexican: El Ranchito has two locations, Crystal River (19) and Inverness, (44 in Bealls shopping Center)  great chips and salsa-nice selection and good service. The Cuban Grocery Store on 44 next to the Mobil Gas Station & Dunkin Donuts, Havana House (491-Lecanto, near the Red Cross Blood Donation Center) and Cravings on the Water (Hwy 19-Crystal River) have the best Cubans.  We have had a couple of nice dinners at Thai Phoon (Hwy 19) in Crystal River and the Bankok Thai Restaurant (Beverly Hills, 491-Dollar Tree Plaza) Bankok Thai has the best wonton soup! BBQ?  Champions (Hwy 19-Homosassa) has opened--formerly Fat Freddies and owner  had a place in Tampa-his food always wins awards--try a combo plate for a real taste treat.

Last, but not least are some restaurants that have been in business quite a while and I have tried them for breakfast or lunch—these are no frills restaurants, (i.e. fried eggs, bacon, ham, etc. for breakfast—omelets are plain or standard). They include: Fat Boy's Barbeque (19-Crystal River), Beverly Hills Hotel Restaurant (491) and New England Café (491-Beverly Hills).  The Boathouse (Crystal River on 44) has opened in a new location- a local favorite for many years; food is good and priced reasonably.  I'll continue to update this report as I experience new and/or undiscovered place to eat in Citrus
County Going to the big city?  My favorites include Columbia (Tampa-St.Pete, Sarasota) best 1905 salad and Cuban! Special occasion? Cafe Europa-St. Armands Circle (Sarasota)  Also a fun place is Marina Jacks in Sarasota. Orlando? We loved Seasons 52 (Sand Lake Rd)  and also in Tampa:  Capital Grille (International Plaza); Mitchells' Seafood (Westshore) and Pane Rustica (MacDill). Pane has a great and different menu, delicious food and wonderful bake shop and desserts. My new favorite for location and food is Oyster Catchers (Hyatt Hotel)

If you have an opportunity to attend the "Taste of Citrus"--fundraiser for the local community college CFCC it is worth the presale ticket price of $25 each (held in the fall of the year). Be patient--it is crowded!

Bon Appetite!
Linda Thomas 

revised: 2/15/10