CITRUS COUNTY

I can't say enough great things about this amazing restaurant!  Rarely do you find a place that has the most amazing food along with the most amazing drinks, atmosphere, and service!   This is my absolute favorite place to go in Citrus County!  Waterfront dining with  a coastal surf and turf elegance vibe and seafood & farm to table creations!  

Below are my picks (healthier options has an *).   baysidecr.com 

While you're in Crystal River it's a must to walk down Citrus Avenue that has so many adorable, quant, historic boutiques and places to eat!  This is referred to as The Shoppes of Heritage Village. Fun spots during the day would be Amy's on the Avenue, Cattledog cafe, The Tea house, and Dockside to get the best ice cream!  There's a lot of cute shops that have unique 1 of a kind gift ideas or things to buy for yourself!  Abound is a Christian based place that offers:  specialty coffee, organic smoothies/smoothie bowls, and fresh baked goods baked daily!  At night -you can try Kanes or KC Wine.  We usually end up at St John's Tavern (#1 smashburger) & Martini bar since they have live music, good food/drinks, and lots of fun! It's our home town version of Cheers! When at the Martini bar ask for Hadley -she is something special!  Healthier picks with an *

A few more of our favorite spots are: The Vintage, Waterfront Social, Beans & Greens, Tangerine Tree, and Aggregation distillery.  Vintage on 5th is a popular fine dining restaurant where reservations is a must. The  kitchen specializes in fresh seafood, hand-cut steaks and regional Southern favorites.   Waterfront social is a  Indoor/outdoor gathering spot for informal lunch, sunset cocktails and evening cocktails. Enjoy a menu of southern coastal dishes with a focus on from scratch recipes (Salmon Poke bowl is the BEST!!).  Bean & Greens has  all your favorite coffees, lattes, iced tea, special teas, fresh baked pastries, muffins & cookies.    

Tangerine Tree Luncheonette stands as a beacon of health-conscious dining that embodies a commitment to wellness and wholesome eating. As a dietitian, I'm always excited to promote places like this! Aggregation distilling company is a  a small-scale distillery specializing in the production of craft spirits & amazing drinks! *healthier options

To say this place is impressive is an understatement! This amazing restaurant offers creative, inspirational, unique plates from all over the world!  ALL of their food is delicious and a work of art! They are YEARS ahead of their time! Cutting edge and spectacular!  This is also another great place to get both amazing food AND beverages!  If you sit at the bar you must ask for Jaqueline, she is the BEST! 

See some of my favorite picks  below (healthier items with a *).  

World Fusion (worldfusionsushi.com) 

 Crump's Landing is a waterfront restaurant with tons of fun and the food is freaking amazing!! My absolute favorite is the Mahi tacos and coconut mojito -#1 in citrus county by far!  They also have weekly live entertainment and a pirate ship themed kid's playground! A few other things they have: 30+ boat slips + boat dining options, Huge Variety of Tiki Style Cocktails & Local Craft Beer, Waterfront Views of the Homosassa River & Monkey Island, & a gift shop. Across the water is The Monkey Bar  which is an open-air restaurant and bar overlooking Historic Monkey Island  where you can  have a crafted cocktail or yummy dish  while watching the monkeys play! 

The Homosassa Distillery is a very unique and special place!  You can tell that the owners put a lot of passion and heart into designing this distillery and every inch shows!  They take well deserved pride in their wide variety of  handcrafted cocktails that are unique and amazing!!  They also do a fun tasting & tour anytime and live entertainment on the weekends! This is a must see when visiting citrus county!   

Wallace's at the Greenhouse is another special place that is unique in many ways!  The atmosphere is one-of-a-kind with a very cozy, homey vibe!  They use fresh, natural ingredients and the food is amazing!!  They offer a wide variety of delicious dishes and have many healthy options too!  I love to stand behind & show support for any business like this! So blessed to have both of these places in citrus County!  *for healthier picks! 

#1 pick is Twysted Vyne which is a  trendy establishment, serving food, wine and beer, wine based cocktails, live entertainment and fun events each week!  During the day make sure you visit Liberty Park.  It has breathtaking lake views, the best park for kids, fun events year round. And the Train Station has mini bowling (with adult beverages), an ice cream shop, and the best pizza around!! Another favorite is the Storm Distillery which has a speakeasy vibe!  They make their own products with organic ingredients and pride themselves on creative unique flavors/drinks.  Around the corner is Nine State Brewery which has tasty, unique beer options and the best sangria I've had in my life!!  All of these are in the same downtown area and walking distance. *For the healthier picks.

Glory Days is a chain restaurant but I had to include it since there are some tasty options!  Copp Brewery & Winery  (used to be known as Prohibition grill) has a cool Tudor/craftsman style vibe and award winning beer since 2011 but also amazing food and great outdoor live entertainment! Some other features are: fireplace sitting, a secret room behind bookshelves, onsite distillery and wine room! Papa Willie's is a sports bar with great food and drinks (deep dish pizza is great!).  Our buddy DJ Trae does his thing on Thursday nights!  * for the healthier picks.