I just returned from a week-long trip to Central Florida for some Mount Dora eats. Have you never heard of it? If Marcela and I hadn’t hit up antique shops, we probably wouldn’t have either.
Mount Dora is a great little town, filled with the friendliest folks you’ll find and plenty of independently owned shops that the community supports.
This post was done a little differently from how I usually do things. It was updated over a few days while I added more information about my weeklong trip.
Monday
Our check-in is for Noon, but that’s not possible. Every Monday Night, I curate a food truck event in Broward County, which means we can’t be on our way until the food trucks are set up and ready to go.
The event starts at 5:30 PM, which means we’ve got a 4-hour trip right after that, and we can expect to be there by 9:30 PM. I know I have to be in the Orlando area before 9 PM, which is when That One Spot in Ocoee closes.
So, with a heavy foot, I make it happen.
That One Spot Burger – Ocoee, Florida
We’ve got our two dogs (Max and Elsa) with us, so we must sit outside for this round. Marcela goes with her favorite Greek spinach veggie burger. At the same time, I have the huge Crunch Burger: horseradish sauce, bleu cheese, pecan smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, and onion rings.
That One Spot Burger is not precisely the ideal late-night meal if you want to get to sleep soon after. We wash those down with fresh-cut fries and some of their unique mac ‘n cheese with corn, jalapeños & bacon.
That One Spot Burger
10968 W Colonial Drive
Ocoee, FL
(407) 877-7575
We’re staying at Dora Cottage, in the middle of town and right across the street from Village Antique Mall, which we always visit when in Central Florida.
We arrive at around 10:15 PM, and after we unload, I sit down and plan out exactly what I’d like to do all week (which is relax). And eat.
Tuesday
Cody’s on 4th – Mount Dora, Florida
As usual, on my first night at any new place I’m staying, I can not sleep. I was up early, so a drive around Downtown Mount Dora was in order. I end up at Cody’s on 4th.
Cody’s on 4th could be described as a cozy hometown breakfast and lunch spot. It’s right around 9 AM when I arrive, and I’m the only person here. It starts filling up while I’m waiting for my to-go order.
I did consider eating here, but I didn’t think Marcela would like to wake up to find out I went and had breakfast without her. So they asked if I wouldn’t mind waiting a little longer for freshly brewed coffee, and I’m okay with that.
Everyone who works and is taking seats near me seems to know each other; ah…the perks of living in a small town.
Along with the two coffees, I ordered some French Toast, an English muffin breakfast sandwich (egg, cheddar cheese & sausage), and their Farmer Quiche (mushroom, broccoli). Each of the three dishes comes with a fruit salad. Luckily, she was already awake when I got back.
She’s Alive!
Marcela loves her French toast and fruit salad. My breakfast sandwich was just like what you imagine a fast food version should taste like. It wasn’t greasy, and the English muffin was slightly larger than you’ll find in the bread aisle at your local supermarket.
The cheddar cheese stood out on this; if I had to guess, it was probably an aged sharp cheddar. The Farmer Quiche was a five-biter and worth having. Finally, I picked out the pieces of banana from the fruit salad and polished off my coffee. Cody’s on 4th was a great start to my first morning in Mount Dora.
P.S. Believe it or not, I took no pictures.
Cody’s on 4th
111 East 4th Avenue
Mount Dora, FL
(352) 735-8426
Ken’s Amish Deli & Bakery – Mount Dora, Florida
Marcela headed out to check out the shops downtown while I stayed in and watched some TruTv. Unfortunately, I watched TruTV so much that those fake reality shows began to look realistic.
I had to get out and clear my head for a bit, so I went down to Ken’s Amish Deli & Bakery, where I encountered Big Olaf Amish Ice Cream. They also have Amish Pies, Cincinnati-style Chili, and New York-style Bagels.
I’m unsure how I ended up with four pints of ice cream since it usually takes me over a week to get through just one pint.
The Big Olaf brand is from an Amish community near Sarasota, and it’s been around for 25 years. If you’re an ice cream fan, you should check it out.
The vanilla was nice and creamy. Marcela ate hers over the next few days. I can’t remember the flavor, but it was a mix of things like Heath, M&Ms, chocolate, etc. She loved it.
Ken’s Amish Deli & Bakery is PERMANENTLY CLOSED335 S Highland Street
Mount Dora, FL
(888) 399-5002
She had bought me a Coca-Cola Plane at one of the shops for my collection. To clarify, I don’t have a Coca-Cola plane collection but a Coca-Cola collection, lol.
Taste of Chicago and More – Mount Dora, Florida
But before I tried the ice cream, I ordered a burger at Taste of Chicago and More. I had been there a few weeks earlier and had their chili cheese dog, which was pretty good.
They had just run out of burgers, so I was out of luck that day. However, I got to eat their fresh-cut fries, which were reminiscent of Five Guys-style.
The burger came with cheese melted on a fluffy bun and bacon cooked to order, not earlier, and sitting in a grease stew. The only problem was that the burger itself was not good.
I ended up having a bacon, cheese, and french fry sandwich.
Taste of Chicago and More is PERMANENTLY CLOSED846 E. 5th Avenue
Mount Dora, FL
(352) 383-3647
Jeremiah’s – Mount Dora, Florida
Jeremiah’s was right across from where I was staying, maybe a 30-foot walk tops. It’s Ultimate Fighter night, so I can’t miss it.
We walk across the street and encounter a Bennigan’s flashback (tchotchkes and all). Jeremiah’s has been around for 25 years, which put its creation right around the time those types of joints (Bennigan’s, Chili’s, T.G.I. Fridays) spread throughout the U.S.
Oddly enough, it felt great to walk in there. It reminded me of the countless dinners I ate in places like this when I was in my teens with my sister, parents, and my late grandparents.
I knew what to expect when ordering, so I started with the French onion soup, which was right on point, exactly what you’d expect. I didn’t back then and still don’t eat those crackers.
You’ve seen this platter before in a million other places. I’m a sucker for potato skins, and the wings were good. The chicken strips were excellent.
I should have substituted the onion rings and egg rolls for something else. They weren’t bad; they were just average.
Patty Melt Talk
One of the safest bets on any menu is the Patty Melt. There is only one way to execute this, and I never recall having a horrible Patty Melt in my lifetime.
Jeremiah’s Patty Melt was a fresh beef patty with double cheese (that never hurt anybody).
Jeremiah’s closes at 9 PM (except on Friday and Saturday, when it’s 10 PM), but if you want to keep the drinks flowing, next door is McGregor’s, which is open until 2 AM every night.
Jeremiah’s
500 N Highland Street
Mount Dora, FL
(352) 383-7444
Wednesday
PizzaAmore’ – Mount Dora, Florida
I had been coughing up a storm, so I really wasn’t up to going out early. I stayed in, and Marcela brought us some lunch from PizzAmore.
The garlic knots were baked, but what I liked best was the fresh chopped garlic on top. They weren’t oily, as some joints love drowning them in a garlic oil mixture; the slivers did the talking here.
The pizza was a mix of Domino’s and Papa John’s but with better sauce. I wasn’t feeling the crust either.
Marcela generally sticks to cheese or pepperoni, which is why we ended up with a halfsie pie. I wish she would have ordered the Margherita instead.
PizzAmore’
622 N. Donnelly Street
Mount Dora, FL
(352) 383-0092
Curio: A Curiosity Shoppe – Orlando, Florida
If you watch the show Oddities as we do, then you would definitely dig Curio: A Curiosity Shoppe. However, they’re only open Wednesday through Saturday from 3:30 to 6 PM., which makes it impossible to make it there most of the time.
It’s even more difficult when they don’t show up or decide to open, which happened on this occasion. There’s a number on the door for texting about hours of operation or for setting up private visits.
They ended up replying an hour later that they’re out of town today but will be back tomorrow (Thursday), we’ll be back.
Curio: A Curiosity Shoppe is PERMANENTLY CLOSED1809 N Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL
(407) 620-6181
Twisted Bliss – Orlando, Florida
To drown our sorrows over Curio’s hours, we walk a couple of shops over and get some dessert from Twisted Bliss Ice Cream. They sell gelatos, Italian ice, and a mix of both called gelati.
I settle for the Blue Raspberry Gelati. We sit in their hipster outdoor area and enjoy the nice weather while having our desserts. There really is nothing like being on vacation.
Twisted Bliss is PERMANENTLY CLOSED1807 N. Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL
(407) 252-0454
Oblivion Taproom – Orlando, Florida
If I hadn’t stopped at Oblivion Taproom, I would not have been able to live with myself. They open at 4 PM, so I wisely don’t finish my dessert because, c’mon, I need some real food.
The wings are a must, and today is Wing Wednesday, so of course, there’s a wing deal. The burgers are great, and you really shouldn’t miss their fresh-cut potato wedges; they are so f’n good.
I had never tried their Philly cheese steak, so tonight was the night. You have the choice of cheese or whiz. I went wit whiz and onions.
To add authenticity, the cheesesteak comes on an Amoroso roll. It was excellent and will be worked into my rotation of things I like to eat here.
Oblivion Taproom is PERMANENTLY CLOSED5101 E. Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL
(407) 802-4800
Thursday
We were in luck since our stay coincided with the monthly Food Truck Bazaar event on the third Thursday of the month.
Bem Bom Food Truck
While Marcela ordered the Udon Noodles from the Bem Bom Food Truck, I waited for the Twisted Cuban, who was running a little behind; insert Cuban-timeliness joke here.
Bem Bom is PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Twisted Cuban Food Truck
I didn’t wait very long, but eventually, I was able to enjoy the GBD Balls. These beauties are deep-fried arroz con pollo (Cuban-seasoned yellow rice and shredded chicken) balls.
Twisted Cuban Food Truck is PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Friday
C&S Brisket Bus Food Truck
C&S Brisket Bus has this Black N Blue, which was unbelievable. Its blackened brisket, roasted garlic and blue cheese mayo, and thick-cut bacon were incredible. I pretty much inhaled this sandwich; I’ll leave it at that.
You MUST seek this mother out! I would marry this sandwich if I could.
C&S Brisket Bus is PERMANENTLY CLOSED
Uncle Kenny’s BBQ – Clermont, Florida
We met up with food bud Droolius at Uncle Kenny’s BBQ, one of his favorite spots in Clermont. He insists that I’ll love the loaded baked potato with brisket, shredded cheese, sour cream, and butter.
Well, he was right! We also shared the BBQ pulled pork egg rolls, which were surprisingly large. Both are definitely must-eats.
Marcela was all about the ribs, while I was hyper-focused on the jalapeño sausages. While we’re trying to figure out what else to order, Droolius suggests we leave some space for Donut King.
And just like that, we were ready to move on.
Uncle Kenny’s BBQ is PERMANENTLY CLOSED157 S Hwy 27
Clermont, FL
(352) 394-1225
Donut King – Minneola, Florida
Walking into Donut King is like stepping into an old friend’s home. As usual, I’m overwhelmed, yet I always seem to order the same thing.
The sour cream and glazed donuts were mine all mine, and I had no plans to share them.
Donut King
208 S Hwy 27
Minneola, FL
(352) 243-4046
Saturday
Dairy Ranch – Leesburg, Florida
I drove past the Dairy Ranch on the way to drop Marcela off at an antique shop. Well, I went right back to the Dairy Ranch, and the first thing I noticed was the prices.
Usually, I give an old-school spot like this the benefit of the doubt. In this case, it was just so bad overall that I have nothing positive thing to say other than they were very friendly.
Dairy Ranch is PERMANENTLY CLOSED1317 S 14th Street
Leesburg, FL
(352) 787-5806
Porkie’s Original BBQ – Apopka, Florida
I loved that sassy pig statue at Porkie’s Original BBQ. Now, looking back on it, I should snap a selfie with it; I’m just kidding.
Adam’s Tater Hash has delicious cubed potatoes that remind me of the ones my Mom makes for me. These fellas came smothered in chopped pork and cheese with a side of sour cream, and I loved ’em!
Marcela’s platter with beef tips, onions, peppers, and tomatoes fit nicely within her comfort food wheelhouse.
They were of the 1/3-pound Porkie Burger, so I had to settle for a pic of this adorable sparkly Santa piglet.
Porkie’s Original BBQ is PERMANENTLY CLOSED256 E Main Street
Apopka, FL
(407) 880-3351
Mi Mexico Carniceria Y Taqueria – Apopka, Florida
So, Mi Mexico was calling, but we stuffed. We did check out the spot and hope to come back for tacos someday.
On my way out, I spotted a Mistico ceramic bank. It made me think of El Jefe Luchador since that’s my favorite taco at their spot.
The following week, I went to El Jefe Luchador and gifted them this beauty!
Mi Mexico Carneceria Y Taqueria
387 E Main Street
Apopka, FL
(407) 884-7062
Sugarboo Bar-B-Q – Mount Dora, Florida
Droolius came over to hang out at dinner time since we were leaving in the morning. While we were waiting outside at Sugarboo Bar-B-Q, it smelled so good.
There is no seating, so you’re eating using the drive-thru or waiting at the order window like we were. We couldn’t make up our minds, so we ordered garlic bread, sweet potato casserole, smoked wings, a brisket sandwich, a chopped pork sandwich, and smoked ribs.
Everything was delicious, but the standout, as far as I’m concerned, was the chopped pork sandwich. And while I’m generally against this type of behavior, dipping it in their homemade BBQ sauce made it that much better.
We also ate a slice of Key lime pie, but I’m pretty sure they didn’t make it.
Sugarboo Bar-B-Q is PERMANENTLY CLOSED1305 N Grandview Street
Mount Dora, FL
(352) 735-7675
Sunday
Taste of Chicago – Round 2
I couldn’t leave Mount Dora without having chili dogs and fries with Marcela. She agreed; these babies were freakin’ delicious.