By Kyle Coppola
Tony’s Chowder House In Mount Dora Is A Hidden Gem
In historic downtown Mount Dora, chowder lovers have found a new home. Located inside a 1925-era building on North Donnelly Street, Tony’s Chowder House is a small but mighty destination that brings with it a big-time reputation: home to a three-time world champion clam chowder.
Opened in February 2019, Tony’s Chowder House is the Central Florida outpost of the original Tony’s Seafood Restaurant, which made its mark in Cedar Key after debuting in 2005. The Mount Dora location was founded by Chef Eric Jungklaus, Chef Sam and Bill Martin to pay homage to the famous chowder that captured the attention of food lovers across the nation.
(This right here is possibly one of the best Clam Chowder bowls you will find in Central Florida. Photo Credit – Joe Pezzulich.)
The story of Tony’s chowder legend began when Chef Eric, who spent over a decade in New England sampling the region’s best bowls, crafted a secret recipe in a tiny Cedar Key kitchen. Just one month after opening, customers were raving about the rich, creamy clam chowder, which eventually earned Tony’s top honors at the prestigious Great Chowder Cook-Off in Newport, Rhode Island.
(Tony’s also does fried clams along with fish and it’s delicious.)
Tony’s went on to win the Clam Chowder World Championship three years in a row in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and was retired into the Cook-Off Hall of Fame, securing its place in culinary history.
Today, Mount Dora locals and tourists visit Tony’s Chowder House for a taste of what Dan DeWitt of the St. Petersburg Times called “the best bowl of clam chowder I ever dipped a spoon into.”
(Chef Eric’s Clam Chowder made it into the Hall of Fame.)
Though small in size with limited indoor seating and no reservations accepted. Tony’s offers a cozy, nostalgic experience. Inside, guests are greeted with a whimsical collection of vintage decor, including a century-old Mona Lisa print, nautical relics, and photographs of old New England chowder houses.
Casual in tone and service, the restaurant features beer and wine offerings, seasonal hours, and outdoor seating for those wanting to soak up the downtown vibe. While parking is limited, the food and experience often make it worth the wait.
(Clam Chowder so good it will have you licking the bowl wishing for more. Photo Credit – Kim Daugherty.)
The Mount Dora location is an absolute must try destination for chowder and seafood enthusiasts. Gift certificates are available for those who want to share the taste of tradition. It’s a great destination for lunch.
And if for some reason you can’t wait or Tony’s gets too busy, you can always order the clam chowder online. The Clam Chowder has a 2 year shelf life and is non-perishable until you open the can. Orders are shipped within 4 days of payment. You can order here:
(You can order Tony’s Clam Chowder online.)
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
