Let's Do Lunch!
Let us know your favorite lunch spot: E-mail Ernie Neff
ARCADIA
UPDATE Dec 2006: Slim's
BBQ (formerly "Deep
South BBQ) 319 S. Brevard Ave. (In the northbound lane on U.S. 17 just
south of town). Originally
submitted for this list by Steven Rogers of Highland City, this local BBQ
favorite changed its name in recent years but nothing else. The food's
still great and it's still a local lunch hotspot for growers and other
citrus business people in this area of Florida's 'heartland'.
AUBURNDALE
UPDATE Dec. 2006: Peebles Bar-B-Q - suggested by Jim
Ellis of Bartow who says Peebles is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. "Great
food run by the son and family members of late father who started the
business. Come early, the line gets long at noon time."
CALLAHAN
UPDATE Jan. 2007: For citrus people off the beaten path
heading up through northeast Florida, there's a great little BBQ place
in downtown Callahan, a smallcommunity north of Jacksonville just a few
miles from the Georgia border, on the
corner of US 301 and US 1. Callahan BBQ, known by the locals as "The Chicken
House" has the best sweet tea in town! Time your visit just right, because
with enough seating for only 20 people the place fills
up fast at lunch hour!
FORT PIERCE
Tropical Wave Restaurant
211 Avenue A
Downtown Ft Pierce, FL
UPDATE Jan. 2007: Downtown Ft. Pierce
is getting a much needed facelift, and along with the improvements a number
of family-owned shops and restaurants are popping up along the
waterfront downtown area. One we especially enjoyed on a recent visit
is Tropical Wave Restaurant, a small but comfortable little place a couple
blocks from the waterfront that will make you feel like you're spending
the evening in the islands. The
chef is said to have worked at the Breakers in Palm Beach before venturing
out on his own at Tropical Wave.
Asked where he learned to cook like that, he replied with a smile, "by
watching my Mama." The Orange Sunshine cake is a must for dessert,
so save rooom. Restaurant Contact: Carline Lubin 772-429-1551
FROSTPROOF
Frostproof Family Restaurant, 133 South Scenic Highway in downtown Frostproof.
Submitted by UAP representative Glenn Brown. "Great food with super
prices," Brown says. "Many of the citrus industry production
managers, caretakers, growers,
processors, along with fruit buyers, already know about Frostproof Family
Restaurant and eat there regularly. A great place with plenty of room for
meetings."
HAINES CITY
Johns Restaurant, 1504 U.S. Highway 27 south in Haines City. Submitted
by Drystal Wren, sales engineer for Watkins Engineers and Constructors
HAINES CITY
Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q, U.S. 27 in Haines City. Submitted to Citrus Industry
Magazine's Citrus Lunch Contest in 1997 by Richard Lingenfelter of Haines
City and Larry Parsons of
the Lake Alfred Citrus Research and Education Center. They said many citrus
people go there for a great lunch.
IMMOKALEE
Lozano's Restaurant and Sports Bar at 405 New Market Road. Lozano's serving
Mexican and American food, was recommended by several people in the citrus
industry. They said it serves good food and you can be in and out in
45 minutes at lunchtime.
INDIANTOWN
The Good Times Cafe on Highway 710. Submitted in 2002 by Marsha Powers
of Owen's Grove Corp. "In Indiantown the biz is done at Good Times
Cafe," Powers wrote."This is for both breakfast and lunch.
The food and service are excellent."
LABELLE
UPDATE Dec. 2006: Flora & Ella's, on State Road
80 west of downtown. This one has also been on this list for years and
it continues to be favorite of ours while on the road in Southwest Florida. It's
a local lunch spot favorite of growers and industry folks from throughout
the Gulf Citrus production region.
LAKE ALFRED
Jerry's Family Restaurant. Submitted in 2003 by University of Florida food
microbiology professor Mickey Parish. "Scientists and visitors at
the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center can often be seen at
Jerry's ... a half block east of the traffic light on Haines Boulevard
in downtown LA (Lake Alfred)," Parish wrote. "Jerry
has a daily list of specials ... just good down home cooking."
LAKE PLACID
Pat's BBQ, 123 U.S. 27 South (in the middle of town). Submitted by Steven
Rogers of
Highland City.
Family Restaurant, also known as 'the truck stop,' on U.S. 27 two miles south of Lake Placid. Mike Waldron of AgChemical.com called it "one of my favorite home cookin' restaurants."
LAKE WALES
Woody's Bar-B-Q on Highway 27. Recommended by Todd Motis of
Chemical Containers, Inc. "There are many growers, sales professionals
and bankers that take the time out of a busy day to eat at Woody's," Motis
writes. "Wonderful place to catch up on the 'citrus pickins' of the
week."
LAKE WALES
Fat Boy's south of Lake Wales on Highway 27. "Find a number of citrus
people having a nice lunch," suggests Jim Ellis of Bartow.
MINNEOLA
Jack's Bar B Que, on U.S. 27. Submitted to Citrus Industry Magazine's Citrus
Lunch Contest in 1997 by Jerry Chicone of Orlando. "Excellent ribs" and
a "great citrus meeting spot for all segments," according to
Chicone.
ORLANDO
Citrus Restaurant, 821 North Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando,was recommended
by Orlando grower Jerry Chicone. "Upscale. Serve red Florida citrus
in salads!" Chicone wrote. The restaurant's phone is 407-373-0622;
the web site is www.citrusorlando.com
SEBRING
Annie's Club 98 seven miles east of Sebring on U.S. 98. Mike Waldron of
AgChemical.com said this"great spot for lunch" is "just
a little bit past the Arbuckle Creek Bridge."
WAUCHULA
Nicholas' Family Restaurant on U.S. 17. Submitted to Citrus Industry Magazine's
Citrus Lunch Contest in 1997 by grower/bird dog Mark Manuel. Manuel said
the restaurant
"is where I earn my Continuing Education credits in Citrus-culture." On
most weekdays, several growers have a good lunch there and discuss production
practices, fruit deals and current topics, he added.
WEBSTER
UPDATE Jan. 2007: The Speckled Butterbean is located
on Highway 471 in Webster by the Sumter County Livestock Market. With
a full buffet offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a full menu
as well, it's a guarantee you wonn't leave hungry, and the service gets
you in and out in 30 minutes.
WINTER GARDEN
UPDATE Feb. 2007: The Grove in the Edgewater Hotel,
99 Plant Street downtown. Grower Jerry Chicone says the Grove is one
of the lunch spots frequented by his citrus crowd.