Rubios Mexican Food Store

2319 W. Main St., Leesburg | 906 E. Myers Blvd., Mascotte

From the outside, and upon entering, Rubios Mexican Food Store does not scream “restaurant!” There are groceries galore, including breads, chips, canned food, cereal, pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread), cultural gift items, a meat market, payment center, and more. Walk past all that and you’ll discover a hidden gem in the back—a little restaurant huge on taste, portions, quality, and most of all, authenticity.

You order at the register under photos of the dishes offered, which proves helpful if you’re not accompanied by a Spanish speaking friend or you don’t speak the language. But it’s okay if you need to point to what you want to order. Once served, you’ll realize the extra effort was worth it.

Rubios offers all the Mexican staples (with choice of ground beef, chicken, steak, shredded pork, etc.) like tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, gorditas, huge stuffed burritos, quesadillas, and more. While waiting for your food, enjoy complimentary chips and a fresh-made salsa bar featuring mild to extra hot. And if you order guacamole, you’ll be blown away by the tastiest mix of freshly mashed avocados, chopped onions and tomatoes, cilantro, and lime served up in the very bowl it was made in just minutes earlier.

We can almost guarantee that if you try Rubios, you’ll inevitably dream about the food at some point and return immediately. There are two locations, both owned by the same ‘familia:’ one in Mascotte that’s been serving the South Lake community for 30 years, and one in Leesburg that opened in 2007.

For more information, call 352.429.4990, 352.365.2100, visit Rubios’ Facebook page, or stop in. 

Cal’s Kitchen 

17415 7th St., Montverde

If looking for pizza, pasta, salads, and subs, look no further than Cal’s Kitchen. The family-owned restaurant is run by a husband-wife team with a mutual passion for travel and pizza. The couple swears by a from-scratch approach to everything they cook, and the dishes they serve up look and taste fabulous. With that said, you’ll have visit Cal’s yourself, order, and let your taste buds do the talking. 

Starters include wings and fresh from the oven, delicious bruschetta. Italian inspired entrees include spaghetti and house made meatballs, baked cheesy gnocchi, freshly braised ragu Bolognese, and baked mac and cheese. Last and definitely not least, Cal’s specialty—pizza pies—are finger licking good and include ‘Uncle Tony’s Pizza,’ topped with white cream sauce, spinach, oven-roasted tomatoes, artichokes and breadcrumb gremolata, and ‘The Chief,’ topped with BBQ sauce, Boars Head ham and pepperoni, a colby jack cheese blend and fresh pineapple. If still hungry, a freshly baked pastry or the baked apple crumble served with a dollop of whipped cream is a must!

For more information, visit calstogo.com or call 407.544.2352.

Artman Country Smokehouse

6900 SE Hwy. 42, Summerfield

Artman Country Smokehouse prides itself on its BBQ and creating a friendly, family-like environment through stellar customer service.

Its owners—a mother-son duo passionate about keeping their father/grandfather’s legacy of smoking meats in Summerfield alive—make sure every plate is served hot, and with a sprinkle of love. That’s probably why people drive from miles away to eat here.

Artman works off old family recipes dating back to the 1920s and 30s, and its head smoker—whose grandpa taught him everything he knows—uses live oak to smoke their meats, which includes BBQ ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, burgers and more. Southern comfort foods like liver and onions, perfectly seasoned and cooked collard greens, meatloaf, and jalapeno poppers with just the right amount of creaminess and heat are also on the menu. The star of the show however, are the “moinks,” an Artman creation that comes from a combination of the words, ‘moo’ and ‘oink.’ The delectable little meatballs are made from pork sausage and beef, stuffed with pepper jack cheese, wrapped with bacon, and topped with a tangy mustard barbeque sauce—beware… you can’t eat just one.

For more information, visit artmancountrysmokehouse.com or call 352.307.6240.

Muse Bar+Bistro

2385 S. Hwy. 27, Clermont

Some people believe that a fine dining experience involves more than just excellent food. The folks at Muse Bar+Bistro agree. That’s why they focus on friends, company, community and presentation. If you feel the same, then Muse, which refers to itself as a “Community & Neighborhood Restaurant,” may be the place for you.

For starters, Muse, a farm to table restaurant, specializes in only the freshest ingredients from local farmers when possible. Additionally, its founders were intent on community outreach, so they implemented ‘Muse Fights Hunger’ and ‘Community Day Mondays.’ Every Monday, Muse’s Community Day invites guests to enjoy a delicious house-made, three-course feature on a ‘pay what you can’ basis, made possible with help from vendors, guest and website donations. 

The well thought-out and beautifully plated dishes start with appetizers like seasonal soups, lobster bisque, southern corn nuggets, Ahi tuna poke, crisp ginger & soy green beans, salads, and more. Entrees include delectable handhelds and huge burgers to 30-day, dry-aged ribeye, 30-day, wet-aged filet, prime rib, rock shrimp and grits, pan-seared salmon, crusted black grouper, and fried chicken. Some of entrees are picture worthy, so haters of Facebook food photos beware! Someone you know is bound to post about their visit to Muse Bar+Bistro sooner or later.

Muse also offers a children’s menu and a variety of yummy desserts.

For more information, visit musebarbistro.com or call 352.227.3020.

Red Wing Restaurant

12500 SR 33, Groveland

At Red Wing, originally opened in 1948, the menu is literally a game changer. And by that, we’re referring to “wild” choices including grilled or fried quail, wild boar/elk chops, game sausage, bison, fried venison, gator tails, frog legs, rabbit, and other seasonal picks. 

There are also more traditional choices, from appetizers like grilled portobello mushrooms with spinach, fried green tomatoes and fried dill pickles, to entrees including salads, burgers, pork chops, chicken, hand-cut steaks and seafood dishes. And don’t forget fruit cobbler for dessert; people swear by it!

On top of that, the restaurant’s ambiance, its location off the beaten path along State Road 33 in an old wooden house with beautiful wood floors and faced with stone, serve as a complement to one’s culinary experience. The country décor includes stuffed grizzly bears, deer, and turkey mounted on the wall, mason jar light fixtures, and cozy fireplaces in all three dining rooms that enhance a cozy, down-home feel. Before leaving, be sure to visit Red Wing’s special friends at a petting zoo outside where you can take pictures and feed the animals.

For more information, visit redwingrestaurant.com or call 352.429.2997.

Pisces Rising

239 W. 4th Ave., Mount Dora

Pisces Rising, established in 2003 by the Winters family from Key West, has become a popular must visit in downtown Mount Dora. It attracts couples, families, and large parties from all over the county interested in a fine dining experience, but in a comfortable, homey setting — a charming historic home built in 1919, transformed and renovated into a beautiful restaurant overlooking Lake Dora. 

An open kitchen considered the “heart-of-the-house,” and a menu of Southern Florida dishes with a focus on fresh, local ingredients commands your attention. Starters include calamari fries, Cubana mix spring rolls, avocado tacos, rosemary focaccia bread, peel and eat shrimp, Caribbean crab cakes, oysters, soup, salads, and more. Entrees include fresh catch seafood, shrimp and grits, crab stuffed salmon, filet mignon, New York Strip steak, herb marinated pork chops, mushroom ravioli, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and more. 

On top of that, Pisces Rising offers a full bar, Sunday Brunch, a group dining menu, and catering.

For more information, visit piscesrisingdining.com or call 352.385.2669.