At the northeastern corner of Lake County, in between Ocala and Daytona Beach, sits Castaways, Astor’s favorite homegrown hangout and travelers’ stop.

It isn’t flashy, but it’s a native’s dream with unassuming art, fresh seafood and owners who show up and greet diners when they come in. Since opening in 2008, the restaurant has been the kind of place where neighbors and visitors mingle and enjoy baskets of freshly fried food, cold beer and a familiar welcome.

The building is unpretentious, a low-slung structure with a spread of tables and a full-bar at the center of the room that also serves draft beers and a variety of non-alcoholic choices. 

Servers welcome regulars by name, including longtime resident Brenda McCormack, who has lived in Astor for more than 50 years. “I was here when it was just dirt,” she says. She calls Astor a drinking village with a fishing problem, holding up a bumper sticker that sums it up: “Astor… it’s not for amateurs.”

For those just passing through after a hike in the Ocala National Forest or a day fishing the St. Johns River, Castaways makes for an easy stop. Local server Ashly Bremer might steer newcomers toward the bacon-wrapped shrimp, lobster bisque or the Blacken-Blue salmon and shrimp special. The fried seafood platter is a favorite, stacked with shrimp, clam strips and fish alongside fries and hush puppies. Other appetizers lean Southern, from hand-battered pickles to bang bang shrimp.

Burgers are another mainstay and are hand-smashed. Triple cheeseburgers, patty melts and French dips hold their own next to steaks and prime rib. Crab-stuffed grouper and shrimp scampi add range, while bowls of clam chowder land on many tables before entrées.

“Everything is made here in-house,” says co-owner Brian Martin, who runs the restaurant with his wife Pam. “We really don’t serve anything frozen, from the fries to the battered fish.”

Pam also makes the popular meatloaf, which frequently returns as a special.

The floating dock that once extended into the river is gone, but Castaways has kept its welcoming spirit. The patio is dog-friendly, with heaters in cooler months and water bowls for pets. On social media, the restaurant shares snapshots of stuffed mushrooms, seafood combos and nightly specials, more like a neighbor’s reminder than a polished ad.

Castaways is a steady anchor in Astor and a great way to make friends or bring family after a day on the river or a drive down Lake County’s backroads.

Castaways: 23525 State Road 40 W, Astor
Facebook.com/Castaways2494
352.759.2494 

Photos by Gina Horan