Beautiful waterside views greet visitors at every turn among our 1,000 lakes in Lake County. So it should come as no surprise that there are some great waterside restaurants to choose from along our shores. Plan an unforgettable meal along our lakes at these seven waterside restaurants with amazing views.
Pisces Rising, Mount Dora
For waterside dining with a touch of historic charm, try Pisces Rising, a mainstay along Lake Dora since 2003. This restaurant incorporated a century-old bungalow along the lakeshore into its design and features an expansive patio with great views for enjoying specialties like the fresh catch of the day, crab-stuffed salmon, and tableside bananas foster for dessert.
Puddle Jumpers, Tavares
No Lake County visit is complete without a visit to Tavares, America’s Seaplane City. Puddle Jumpers bar and restaurant offers the perfect spot by the lake to watch aircraft take off and land at the seaplane marina right next door. Enjoy menu staples like shrimp tacos and the Puddle Jumpers Slider as seaplanes gracefully glide over the water.
JB Boondocks, Howey-in-the-Hills
Visitors have been flocking to the edge of Little Lake Harris for a bite to eat for more than a century, dating back to the days when a fishing camp occupied these shores. J.B. Boondocks is the latest culinary landmark to call this pristine spot in Howey-in-theHills home, serving up gator bites, shrimp and grits and cajun mahi mahi in this cozy restaurant with lakeside views since 2008.
Fish Camp on Lake Eustis, Tavares
Does the Fish Camp on Lake Eustis serve Central Florida’s best margarita? It just might be in the running, as this Tavares mainstay crafts renowned fresh-squeezed margaritas like the “prickly pear” alongside menu items like frog legs n’ fries and a blackened grouper reuben. Grab a margarita, take a seat next to Lake Eustis, and stay awhile.
Lilly’s on the Lake, Clermont
This Caribbean restaurant on Lake Minneola is one of the best spots to enjoy a side of live music with your meal; check Lily’s event calendar for the roster of musicians playing here nearly every night of the week. Walk off your dinner of Jamaican curry chicken or spicy creole jambalaya with a stroll out to the pier at Clermont Waterfront Park next door, one of the region’s best lakeside promenades.
The Crazy Gator, Eustis
Step back into Lake County’s history with a meal at the Crazy Gator. This Eustis institution opened in 2001 inside a nearly century old building that once housed a feed and supply store; a dock behind the restaurant still stands where boats anchored and offloaded the store’s supplies. Menu staples at The Crazy Gator include deep-fried, marinated Cajun flavored gator and the famous two-piece fish dinner.
Lake Harris Hideaway, Tavares
This Tavares mainstay lives up to its name and features a waterside bar with one of the best lakeside sunsets in the area, and pub fare like the Biker Billy’s Chili Burger and the Pittsburgh Patty Melt. A burger, a cold beer, and a Lake County sunset – what could be better?
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