Mary’s Kountry Kitchen Is a Place for Comfort Food, Friends and Family

Since 2007, Mary and Scott Cutlip have been making quality comfort food in a laid-back country setting, offering choices from fried chicken, southern style catfish filets, and fried green tomatoes to liver and onions. Captain Crunch French toast is also popular fare.

“You name it, we’ve got it,” says Mary. “I believe we have to continue to try new recipes so we have tastes and flavors that you can’t get anywhere else,” she says. 

As you drive along CR 448 through Tavares, Mary’s Kountry Kitchen sits on the side of the road in a quaint red brick building. While unassuming on the outside, once you enter, you know you’re in the perfect place for great hospitality and unique hand-crafted comfort food.  

No matter who comes to visit, Mary greets every table to say hi and make sure her beloved guests are happy.  

“I love my customers,” she says. “They’ve become family and I like that they can come here, be comfortable, and appreciate the love we put into our food.” 

The crowd could be a mixture of locals and visitors. Perhaps a couple that sticks to hash benedict every day, or Lake County Sherriff’s officers who are dedicated to the handmade Angus patties in the mouth-watering Mary’s double cheeseburger. Out of towners may need a place to stop for soup made from scratch or a “Mary’s Favorite” kickin’ chicken sandwich.

Many fans make the special trip for Mary’s famous baked goods, which she spends more than 40 hours per week to create. These include coconut cream pie, blueberry pie, chocolate cake, trifle, and banana pudding, among others. 

Customers also rave about fried chicken night on Thursdays, as well as fish fry and prime rib night on Fridays.

“I’m proud of it all,” says the veteran restaurateur. ”We’ve learned and gotten better by keeping our large portions and fair prices, plus we are dedicated to our
cherished community.”

Deservedly, Mary’s Kountry Kitchen has received multiple prestigious honors, including being named “Best Diner” in Lake and Sumter Style Magazine’s “Best of the Best” and The Orlando Sentinel’s “Foodie Awards.”

Even so, Mary insists that the best honor is serving her treasured guests.

“It’s the people and the relationships that keep me going,” she says. “And I believe that having the love in the food makes it all quite special.”