Citrus County Summer Restaurant UPDATE 2023

Time to check out the area restaurants.  Some new ones to report on too! (Check the Crystal River/Citrus Ave restaurants (like Amy’s) are till closed from last hurricane.)  I also include full directory by area in pdf format for ease in printing.

NEW:

Crystal River,  A J ’s Deli and Catering:789 NE 5th St,  “An Epicurean Experience involving specialty meats, breads and side dishes that is sure to delight”   352-228-8171; //ajsdeli1.com/;  Trying this place soon. Not open Saturday or Sunday.

Lecanto, Cafe Do now called Cafe Aromas in Lecanto on Hwy 44: Former Little Italy Chef opened his new business. Always good food!  Now serve wine and beer.  They have a facebook page with connection to daily specials. (also featured in Chronicle this week).

299 Hwy 44,   353-503–9940; Lecanto

Mikang Sushi, Hernando,  2492 N Heritage Oaks Path, Mon-Sat 11-9; Closed Sunday; Have not been there yet.   https://www.mikangsushi.com/ 352-513-3588

Darrell’s Diner (former Johnny Cakes n Steaks Homestyle Restaurant.) It’s just south of Inverness before you get to Floral City. A brightly decorated restaurant, it is a typical neighborhood diner. We previously split a club sandwich and it was good. 859 S US Highway 41; (352) 765-3326;

Dinners: 

Crab Plant, Crystal River. Nice view.  Food okay.  Spicy clam chowder,  good grilled grouper,  deep fried crab cakes good; also good beans, cole slaw, and potato salad. I hear the fish reuben is good. They also have a seafood store. Check their hours of operation. 

BD Club: Fine Friday night dining: Almost everyone complained that the food was too salty. I had the cheese ravioli and there was enough to bring home for leftovers. The special that night was, shrimp ettouffe with crawfish okay.  The braised beef, although a good portion, again was very salty. Service was slow and food lukewarm for most part. 

Small Bites night-  Good: Chicken quesadilla, hot dog, peel and eat shrimp.

Oscar Penn’s: one of our favorite restaurants:  several people had the delicious Chilean Seabass (it is pricey at $42.) A seafood pasta was very good and enough to bring leftovers home. I had that she crab soup and Dungeness crab cakes were excellent.  Joan had the soup and caprese salad. Inverness.

Dan’s Clam:  I had the 1 pound lobster (priced at $32). Several people had the fried shrimp (one orders it with light batter)  and I think Dan’s has best fried shrimp round here. The burgers are good.. Two had the fried haddock basket and said it was good including the french fries and coleslaw.  Crystal River

Charlies Fish House: This restaurant is now owned by someone new. Eventually, the chef from Katch Twenty Two will be returning to the area to be the chef there. We did have a good dinner there this week. Three people had the grouper with different sides and it was excellent. I had the seafood platter with a broiled scallops, shrimp. catfish, fried clams…with the sides,  it was a lot of food. The restaurant will eventually close for remodeling. It has a nice waterview. Crystal River

 

 

 

Seafood Seller (Cajun Jimmy’s): Fresh seafood to buy in their store,  but the hit is their restaurant with its cajun influence.  Art always has mahi. I love the clam chowder and crab cakes:spicy but good. Joan had a salad and peel and eat shrimp. Lloyd likes the grouper sandwich and gumbo. Crystal River

Lunches:

New England Cafe : Yummy lobster seafood salad (hold the bun).  Best tuna melt around. Beverly Hills

Jimmy T’s : Excellent chicken soup everyday…best Reuben and good chicken salad. Hernando

Crystal River Coney Island : several kinds of hotdogs. Art likes coney sauce and I like the traditional chili sauce. Chopped pork sandwich is very good and comes with grilled corn on the cob.

Cattledogs Roasters: We like their cranberry pecan chicken salad on fresh pumpernickel. Inverness, Hernando, Crystal River

Black Diamond: I like the quesadilla. Brunch on Sunday is good. Breakfast includes muffin, fruit and then several entree choices. I have them create an omelet for me each Sunday.

RETURNING:  

Joe’s Family Restaurant: Will reopen this fall 2023 at 1741 Hwy 41 (next to the skating rink.) It is a very popular restaurant for all meals and we have had great lunches-never been there for breakfast or dinner. 352-726-1688; https://www.facebook.com/joesfamilyrestaurant  Inverness

 

 

Links to full restaurant directory  by area:

Inverness 10:2023 up Restaurant

Homosassa Eatries 2023

Crystal River2 06:23 Restaurants

Lecanto, Bev Hills, Hernando Restaunts 2023