In November of 2022, Conni and Jim Berry, with partner and restaurateur Daniel DiVenanzo, opened Lake Eustis Waterfront Grille for people who wanted to enjoy a great meal while admiring a beautiful view.

Turns out their instincts were right on the money. The charm of the waterfront restaurant has made loyal fans of local residents and visiting newcomers alike. 

“We bought the property about six years ago and began to rehab the docks,” Jim says. “As we spent time on the site it became apparent to us that this was a very special place.”

Opening an adjoining tiki-themed bar was always in the plan, but the team wanted to get the Waterfront Grille up and running before branching out with Coco Locos, which was inspired by the couple’s 40-plus years of traveling together. 

“We frequent bars and restaurants when we travel and have been all over Florida, Mexico and the Bahamas,” Conni says. “We especially love tiki bars and thought it would add something special for the boaters.”

At Coco Locos, it feels like the spirit of Jimmy Buffet could appear to encourage you to kick off your shoes, eat a cheeseburger and sip on a margarita. The island décor and buzzing little dragonflies help set the scene, but the actual scene stealer is Alice, the baby gator that holds court underneath the water-logged trees.

The outdoor bar seats around 20 and there is plenty more seating near the lake. TVs and piped-in tunes add to the variety of live music available on weekends. 

“We like beachy-themed music but we want to have something for everyone, so our plan is to invite lots of different types of musicians,” Jim says.

The food is served out of the main restaurant, but the Berrys wanted to create a more casual island theme for Coco Locos. Menu items include Reuben spring rolls, swamp fries, strawberry avocado salad, Old Bay peel & eat shrimp and crafted “handhelds” like the haddock filet or mahi sandwich. 

Also offered are boneless and bone-in wings with your choice of sauce — garlic parmesan, jerk dry rub, Nashville hot or mango habanero. 

Photographer Nicole and I shared the cedar-plank salmon, which was fresh and cooked to a perfect medium. It came with a mango salsa that had tiny bits of chopped red onion and bright jalapeños to add some heat. The dish was served with sides of creamy baby red mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus.

I also tried the hangover burger, which was nicely seasoned and topped with a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg, lettuce, pickle, tomato and red onion on a Kaiser bun. The well-seasoned fries that accompanied it were hard to put down. 

The award for most imaginative menu item was the clever take on a charcuterie board. Instead of a block of wood, the chef used a giant Bavarian-style soft pretzel as a base topped with cubed pepper jack, cheddar, Swiss and Colby cheeses. Rolled prosciutto, salami and pepperoni were snuggled inside the pretzel caverns. It was finished with olives, fresh tri-colored mini sweet peppers, celery, gherkins, cherry tomatoes and spicy grain mustard as a dip for the remaining gooey treat.

Local resident John Pace, who has been boating the Chain of Lakes for almost 40 years, says he is glad to have something like Coco Locos to visit. 

“I think it’s refreshing to have this option,” John says. “It’s the only beach bar that I know of which is currently in operation on Lake Eustis. The sunset view is just phenomenal.” 

John is also a cold beer drinker who says he’s very happy that they have the brands of beer he drinks, including many domestic lites, plus Yuengling, Corona, Heineken and Bud Zero.  Frozen drinks range from the Miami Vice and hurricane to the rum runner and classic piña colada.

The vibe at Coco Locos also reminds John of his favorite type of music. 

“I’m a Trop Rock kind of guy, so it’s nice to have the live music,” he says. “There is something special and appealing here because of the location, sunset views, my cold beer and accessibility to the boating community.”

Conni and Jim are looking forward to providing their guests with both indoor and outdoor experiences.

“I think our popularity is going to just keep getting better because from what I hear, there is no other place on Lake Eustis quite like Coco Locos, which is really cool,” Conni says. 

While Conni and Jim still have their day jobs, they plan to retire together and enjoy the sunsets and lakeshore breezes full-time. 

“The waterfront on Lake Eustis is really inspiring and a place to relax to enjoy the panoramic view of the lake and the beautiful sunsets,” Jim says. “It never gets old.” 

Photos: Nicole Hamel