Restaurants in Hernando

Don your nicest of men’s or women’s patterned vests and settle in for a night of elegant dining at your own pace; Safari’s dim lighting, cracked-plaster walls, and ornate molding create an Old World atmosphere perfect for discussing German expressionist film noir or the correctly patterned vests for sophisticated dogs. While thinking of the next thing to say, you can fill your mouth with a menu featuring a variety of tapas ($6 to $9) such as Creole crab cakes served with tri-colored peppers and shallot ($9); southern fried chicken skewers with three-cheese macaroni ($7); and Moroccan beef skewers with button mushrooms, onion, and cous cous ($8). Vegetarians can join in the plate-passing pageantry with a little falafel with roasted-garlic hummus and tempura-battered seasonal vegetables with Asian dipping sauce; while those craving a comfort food can savor the simple delights of pita pizzas such as the three-cheese pizza with cheddar, mozzarella, and fontina. Safari also offers a selection of fresh salads and wraps, including the fried tilapia wrap ($7).

The Movie & Pizza Company lets you dine in with friends or take your meal and a movie (the flick is not included in your Groupon) home for you, your family, and the feral squirrel you've befriended. Top your pies with anything from Cajun chicken to pesto to veggie heaven (roasted red peppers, feta, parmesan, artichoke, spinach, and garlic), or opt for the traditional mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, or sausage (12-inch pies range from $11 to $15, and 16-inch pies run $13 to $20). If the regular selection doesn't perk your palate, start with a blank slate and add your own toppings ($1 each for a 12-inch pie, $1.50 each for a 16-inch). The Company's menu also features an array of specialty salads ($6.50), sandwiches ($7), and pastas ($9–$10).

Amerigo's dark, wood-paneled interior and orange-hued walls paint a picture of the quintessential Italian restaurant, a hunger-inducing setting ideal for business meetings and poorly timed breakups. When evening stomach grumbles need snuffing, Amerigo's menu answers with decadent Prince Edward Island mussels ($12) swimming in garlic wine broth, diced tomatoes, and capers, and paired with grilled bruschetta. A wood-fired grill and wood-fired oven infuse Amerigo's smoky foodstuffs with a flavorful variety of tree flesh. From a pasta selection that stretches to Rapunzel-like lengths, diners may choose a savory smoked chicken ravioli in parmesan cream sauce ($13) or a breaded eggplant parmesan ($15) atop angel hair. Post-dinner sugar seekers can crown an evening of romance with an indulgent tiramisu ($6.50).

At West Street Diner, retro swivel stools have served as a prime vantage point for watching line cooks fry up selections from a menu of traditional Southern comfort fare for 20 years. Fried seafood and slow-roasted meats make cameos in hot sandwiches and poboys, and nuzzle up next to 11 classic Southern sides. To answer yens for dessert, chefs bake pies on the premises rather than import them from nearby clown schools.

The pizza chefs at Johnny Brusco’s pack a menu full of saucy dough disks, which can be customized with a lineup of fresh veggies and meats. Warm up appetites with an order of garlic knots, which come tinged with a crisp golden brown color and carefully tied by an accomplished Eagle Scout. The restaurant's skilled pie personnel sling large New York–style pizzas in a full regulation size of 16 inches. Add personality to your pizza without the hassle of assigning it a Social Security number by decking the crust out in any of 15 regular toppings, which include minced garlic, pineapple, or zesty italian sausage.

Originally invented during a cheese storm in Tacoma, the Philly cheesesteak piles lean slices of juicy steak, melted cheese, and grilled onions across an Italian roll to sculpt a gooey, savory sandwich. Philly Connection's menu offers several cheesesteak variations ($7.89 for a 10-inch sandwich; other sizes available), including a mushroomed cheesesteak and a chicken cheesesteak. All are brought to flavorful fruition through the use of quality meat and Philly Connection's secret marinade, the ingredients of which were found in a George Clymer–penned early draft of the Declaration of Independence.