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 & Martini bar since they have live music, good food/drinks, and lots of fun! It's our home town version of Cheers!

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

World Fusion (worldfusionsushi.com) 

 Waterfront with beach dining areas and a beachside walk up bar.  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 offer at  Crumps' Landing 

-Huge Variety of Tiki Style Cocktails & Local Craft Beer

- Waterfront Views of the Homosassa River & Monkey Island

- 30+ Boat Slips with On-Your-Boat Dining Options

- Gift Shop

#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, 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.

In addition to Crumps you must visit: Wallace's at the Greenhouse which is another place that uses fresh, natural ingredients and promotes health and wellness and the food is amazing!!  I love to stand behind & show support for any business like this!   The Homosassa Distillery makes a wide variety of  handcrafted cocktails that are unique and amazing!  They also do tours and tastings.  *for healthier picks!