Things to Do

Check out these restaurants in the Sunshine State

The grapefruit pie is the signature dessert at Lang’s Taste of Florida Cafe in Haines City, Fla. (Visit Central Florida)
The grapefruit pie is the signature dessert at Lang’s Taste of Florida Cafe in Haines City, Fla. (Visit Central Florida)
By Lori Johnston
Jan 23, 2016

Daytona Beach

Azure: For oceanfront fine dining, there's Azure in the Shores Resort and Spa, a AAA Four Diamond property, with dishes such as grouper seared in a cast-iron skillet. 2637 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, Fla. 386-767-7350, shoresresort.com, @TheShoresResort.

Haines City

Lang's Taste of Florida Cafe: Quirky dishes include grapefruit pie at Sun Country Groves in central Florida. 5900 U.S. Highway 17 92 W, Haines City, Fla. 863-956-1460, langsuncountry.com.

Miami

Cena by Michy: James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein's revamped eatery (formerly Michy) offers veggies, including a cauliflower steak starter, and entrees such as a whole boneless snapper. 6927 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. 305-759-2001, cenabymichy.com, @cenabymichy.

Naples

The Turtle Club: Dine on the patio and applaud the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico as well as your meal. Must-try dishes include seafood chowder, grouper topped with lump crab and perfect pan-seared scallops. Located at the Vanderbilt Beach Resort. 9225 Gulf Shore Drive, Naples, Fla. 239-592-6557, windwardhospitality.com/naples.

Orlando area

Moriomoto Asia: “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto’s pan-Asian eatery in Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) opened in 2015, featuring exhibition kitchens, a sushi bar, dim sum and dishes such as Peking duck. 1600 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 407-939-6686, morimotoasia.com, @MorimotoAsia.

Tampa

Columbia: Florida’s oldest restaurant was founded in 1905 in Tampa’s Ybor City and has expanded (four in Tampa plus St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach/Sand Key, Orlando-Celebration and Sarasota-St. Armands Circle). The 1905 Salad is tossed at the table; also try the salteado with shrimp or chicken sauteed with peppers, sausage and potatoes. Various locations. columbiarestaurant.com, @Columbia1905.

Seaside

Great Southern Cafe: This cafe and wine bar serves grits; grilled, blackened or fried seafood; and classic desserts such as key lime pie. 83 Central Square, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 850-231-7327, thegreatsoutherncafe.com.

St. Augustine

Ice Plant Bar and Restaurant: Take your pick of ice options, from shaved to pebbled, at this spot in a former ice factory. Serves farm-to-table fare. 110 Riberia St., St. Augustine, Fla. 904-829-6553, iceplantbar.com, @IcePlantBar.

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Lori Johnston

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