Mount Dora, Florida was recently added to USA Today’s list of 10 best small town food scenes in the US. The small city in Central Florida’s Lake County has long been a destination for tourists, travelers, and those with insatiable tastebuds. The globally inspired food scene is impressive, ranging from British pubs to authentic Cuban eateries.
From breakfast to lunch and dinner, here is a look at the area’s most notable dining options and how visitors can incorporate a meal into their travels in Lake County. It is not just our word, many of these establishments are highly recommended by locals.
Pisces Rising
Mount Dora’s ultimate dining experience is Pisces Rising; this is the date night spot, the romantic outdoor dinner in the cool Florida air, the spot to celebrate life’s milestones. In 2003, owners added to Mount Dora’s historic charm by renovating a circa-1919 bungalow into a restaurant with Lake Dora views.
Inspired by ownership’s Key West past, the restaurant offers a Caribbean flair with items like smoked fish dip and avocado tacos. The water’s bounty is a focus at Pisces Rising, with starters like a seafood Cobb salad and entrees where fish are served whole and dusted with Caribbean seasoning.
Cody’s on 4th Café
But before dinner, starting the day at Cody’s on 4th Café is a wise option. This sunny, ’50s style-meets-contemporary café is bigger than it looks—with seating indoors and out. It is the perfect way to start a day of adventuring on Lake Dora—check out a CatBoats tour!
Owner and head cook Cody Spitzig opened the spot in 2011. All items are made in house at Cody’s, and this eatery has been named a top spot by locals for breakfast and coffee several times over the years. Popular breakfast items include crustless quiche, salmon sandwiches, and champagne cocktails!
Copacabana
In 2009, a little bit of Havana arrived in Mount Dora when the flashy and festive lunch and dinner spot Copacabana opened its doors. Along with staying simple and savory, Copacabana is an affordable dining option. Afterwards a scenic, .5 mile walk to Grantham Pointe Lighthouse will help burn off an extra order of chips.
Copacabana’s menu is everything anyone would expect from a Cuban restaurant, starting with plantain chips to ceviche. The dinner menu elevates the lunch offerings by including whole red snapper, pernil, and seasoned, deep fried flank steak.
Eden Abbey Brewing Co.
Eden Abbey is not an average craft brewery. With half the establishment dedicated to dining and the other half to a spirited bar scene, visitors should make sure to arrive early for special events like live music or trivia. This place fills up fast.
The brewery, as expected, serves pub style grub but with a bit of elevation. Empanadas (in five different styles), burgers, and “Abbey Skewers” are popular items. However, Eden Abbey encourages diners to be creative and concoct their own “pile” of food—fries, tots, rice, salad, or mac n cheese topped with pork, chicken, beef, or tofu protein options.
BTW – Ramen Fries
Burgers, tacos, and waffles all sound like items a successful food truck would serve. And this is the idea spawned by owners Craig and Rebecca Williamson in 2018 when they wanted a food truck vibe in a brick-and-mortar setting and opened BTW.
Everyone has had at least one great idea in their lives. The great idea (and great is an understatement) at BTW has nothing to do with its food-eponym. Ramen. Fries. Ramen fries, need I say more? (This restaurant is located in Mount Dora’s lake-neighbor Tavares.)
Goblin Market
The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge opened in 1996 and continues to be loved by the community. Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner. Book-lined dining areas add a unique bit of charm making this restaurant stand out from other Mount Dora options.
Here, refined dining meets lake life with a menu blending classic and contemporary flavors. Signature dishes include a honey-lavender duck breast, the seasonal Cheshire pork chop, and Yorkshire pudding with filet tips. Complementing the main courses are starters like the Irish whiskey onion soup and locally sourced Deviled Eggs spirited with white truffle-parmesan.
Puddle Jumper’s
And not to save the least for last but instead end with the best view, Puddle Jumper’s offers in-flight entertainment from the patio. (This restaurant is also in Tavares.) Capitalizing on Tavares being the “seaplane capital of the world,” Puddle Jumper’s has a front row view to take offs and landings as flights hop from lake to lake around Central Florida.
The menu at Puddle Jumper’s is everything a diner would expect from a sports bar, with a selection of seven wing flavors and a list of appetizers. But the stars here are the certified angus beef steak burgers with names like El Diablo, Tavares Bulldog Burger, and Gosh Jam It!