Sometimes on our travels we come across unique old Florida restaurants or diners offering a unique Florida menu. Other times we hear about them and make it a destination dining location. Unfortunately, some of these restaurants are closed for good.
Andy’s Drive-In, Winter Haven
Andy’s has been serving up meals for more than 70 years. Roger “Andy” Anderson opened the restaurant as a Dairy Queen in 1951, when it was surrounded by orange groves. As the city grew, the landscape changed, and Andy’s now occupies a corner at the busy intersection of Avenue G Southwest and 3rd Street Southwest. It was, and still is, a favorite gathering place for folks living in Winter Haven.
Angel’s Dining Car, Palatka
Angel’s has been serving customers since 1932, when Porter Angel took an old train dining car and converted it into a restaurant. Situated along busy Highway 17 in the heart of Palatka, the pink and green awnings, the bright silver chrome exterior, and its neon sign rising up into the sky make Angel’s easy to find. True to its history, the diner still offers curb service. Simply park your car, honk your horn, and a waitress will come out and take your order. Of course, there is indoor seating as well, even though it is limited.
Beefy King, Orlando
Beefy King served its first roast beef sandwiches in 1968 in Orlando. The restaurant’s founder, Tom Viegle, came up with the idea during a trip to New York City where he visited a similar restaurant and decided it could be the next big hit for the restaurant industry. Within a year of opening, Viegle sold the business to Freeman and Margaret Smith, whose grandchildren now run the restaurant. Although the company expanded and went public, it never took off as a franchise. Only one Beefy King remained open – the original restaurant on Bumby Avenue.
Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak, Lake Wales
From their décor to their newspaper-style menu, Cherry Pocket is one of Florida’s hidden gems. The restaurant’s website touts the efforts by the current owners to keep it a unique “old Florida” place to visit. The name Cherry Pocket, as legend tells it, comes from the two original property owners in the late 1940s, one of whom was named Cherry. The “Pocket” part of the name was derived from the way the property sat on the canal (the owners thought it looked like a pocket). Indoor and outdoor dining is available.
Desert Inn, Yeehaw Junction (Closed)
What’s left of the Desert Inn sits at the busy intersection of Highway 60 and U.S. 441 about 65 miles south of Orlando. It was established as a trading post in the late 1880s, with what’s left of the current building traced to before 1925 when it served as a respite for cattlemen and lumbermen after long days of hard work. In December 2019, a semi-trailer truck carrying orange juice careened off the road and crashed into the front of the building. Many of the artifacts inside had been removed prior to the crash in preparation for restoration by the Osceola County Historical Society. Unfortunately, that restoration never took place. Read about The Desert Inn from our visit in 2018.
Farmer’s Market Restaurant, Webster (Closed)
Small town restaurants serve up more than just food – they offer hospitality with a touch of home. Before closing down, the Farmer’s Market Restaurant in Webster was no different. It was a place to sit down for a meal and hear the locals around you talking about their week or asking about each other’s families. It was a place where you can enjoy a meal without being rushed to make room for the next customer. We had the opportunity to visit many times before it closed. This is our post from 2018.
Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House, Oak Hill
Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House may not be a century-old restaurant, its seafood business goes back nine generations. It sits off the beaten path and offers up a menu that truly represents the Sunshine State. Located on River Road on Mosquito Lagoon, Goodrich’s offers good food and a relaxing view. If you’re ever in the Oak Hill area, stop by a give it a try.
Kappy’s Subs, Maitland
Kappy’s Subs has been a Maitland icon for more than 50 years, serving Central Florida customers since 1967. (It’s one of our favorites!) This unpretentious diner backs up to the railroad tracks and sits at the busy intersection of Sybelia and North Orlando Avenue. This is fifties dining at its finest – inside or out.