Chris and Leandra Gentry opened The Toast Café last June, bringing their beloved Anderson, Indiana, diner concept to Fruitland Park. These seasoned restaurateurs spent years slinging hash in the Hoosier State before deciding to trade in cold winters for Florida sunshine.

“We loved Indiana, but as we started visiting Florida more and more, we realized moving here just made sense,” says Leandra.

Their simple mission is to serve great food and create a welcoming space, a reflection of their Midwest roots. So far, it’s a hit.

“We are so blessed to have met so many wonderful people,” Leandra says. “From locals to fellow Indiana transplants who recognize the Midwest flavors, plenty have wandered in by chance and are now regulars.” 

Karen Young, a server who’s been with them since day one, says the customers make the place special. 

“People love the food, and they’re just polite, happy-go-lucky folks,” she says. “I came from a breakfast background, so this feels like home to me.”

The sign outside proudly declares them the Home of the Breakfast Manhattan, and a quick internet search might leave you with confusing classic cocktail recipes. Here on US Hwy. 441, however, it’s a variety of dishes with one thing in common: gravy.

The most popular style is with scrambled eggs, shredded potatoes, cheese and sausage, all piled onto a biscuit, which is enormous, golden and fluffy.

Some recipes are a community effort.

“Many of the dishes were created by people we know,” Leandra shares. “My father-in-law actually came up with the supreme omelet, and one of Chris’s friends created a Manhattan.”

The popular “Chicken Charlie” was named after a guy who lived across the street from their old restaurant back in Anderson.

Walking into The Toast Café feels like stepping into a sunrise. The bright lemon-colored walls, yellow gingham tablecloths and the smell of fresh coffee set the tone before you even sit down.

When our chief photographer Nicole and I visited, Chris was manning the griddle while Leandra folded napkins and answered phones. She cooks, too.

The menu is full of Midwest favorites, like the breaded tenderloin, a pounded-out pork filet smothered in mashed potatoes and gravy.

“This is a best seller,” Chris says. “It’s a huge hit, especially at lunch, but some folks can’t resist ordering it first thing in the morning.”

Another favorite is the Big Classic breakfast, often shared by couples, which has all the favorites—eggs any style, sausage, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy and your choice of toast. For lunch, crispy haddock is popular, as is the burger, a patty made with a three-meat blend and stacked with two cheeses and grilled sweet peppers on Texas toast.

“We make a lot of stuff homemade,” Leandra says. “For example, I made the meatloaf today.”

I tried her traditional meatloaf, which was moist with onions, seasonings and a crispy ketchup-topped crust with a hint of nostalgia. It reminded me of my childhood dinners.

Their specials change daily, so check the board upon entry. Some favorites include homemade corned beef hash, chicken poblano, pepper soup or cheeseburger soup. There are also big cinnamon rolls, fruit cobblers and cakes.

Early birds get a deal 7-9am, and men’s clubs, solo regulars and couples have made it a daily stop. Sundays bring in a flood of churchgoers or friends who need a hangover breakfast after a night of revelry.

“We go through a lot of coffee too, and I’m still trying to figure out how much to order, but at this point, it’s two cases at a time,” Leandra says.

I am a gravy fanatic, so I ordered the Breakfast Manhattan, which was cooked on a flat iron with a glorious amount of butter. Every bite was rich, savory and comforting. The corned beef hash was also perfection.

Leandra sent me home with an extra cobbler for my mom, who was delighted that it was packed with luscious blueberries and flaky pie crust.

Beyond the food, The Toast Café has a way of making people feel at home.

“One guy happened to be driving by, saw the sign, and thought it might be the same ‘Toast’ from Indiana,” Leandra says.

He is now a confirmed regular.

It’s that mix of family, community and good food that makes this transplanted café with Hoosier hospitality a new Fruitland Park favorite.

Photos: Nicole Hamel