Restaurants in Orange City

At Ivy Lane Bistro, chefs blend international recipes into a uniquely American menu. At breakfast, they design daily quiches, crust french toast with Frosted Flakes, scoop mascarpone into crepes, and customize eggs benedicts to order. At lunch and dinner, they draw from European and Asian culinary styles to layer flatbreads with duck and hoisin sauce, hand cut 8-ounce fillets, and roll up lasagna noodles with prosciutto and ricotta. The aromas of their simmering and baking fill the café-like space, bouncing off the chalkboards on the bright-red walls and wafting out to greet guests dining alfresco on the historic brick-paved sidewalks. These aromas join the complex bouquets of wines from North and South America, Europe, and New Zealand and mingle with music during evenings with local musicians, Sunday jazz brunches, and Whistle-to-Yourself Wednesdays.

Though Clubhouse Restaurant’s wall-size windows look out on the rolling greens and fairways of Daytona Beach Golf Club, the steady stream of regulars often have a difficult time prying their eyes away from the plates in front of them. Locally renowned for its juicy steaks and handmade, all-beef burgers, Glen Leizear’s restaurant has become a community staple since he moved to Daytona Beach from Maryland more than a decade ago. The key to his success, as he once told the Daytona Beach News-Journal only begins with the food—he works more than 100 hours a week to ensure that prices stay reasonable and his customers feel welcome, whether stopping in for full meals or friendly games of cards. Though the restaurant’s familial atmosphere encourages guests to drop their guard and relax, Glen keeps things interesting by routinely hosting catered banquets, old-fashioned cookouts on holidays, and indoor driving-range practice.

In 170 feet of water, running from the east coast of Fort Pierce, Florida, to the Carolinas, lies a reef populated by game fish, dubbed 27 Fathoms by local fishermen. Chefs in the kitchens of 27 Fathoms, named for the reef, cook locally caught wild fish and seafood such as the pan-roasted diver scallops with smoked gouda and crushed macadamia nuts. For the culinary prowess they display in doing so, they have earned a 2012 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor. Their sushi menu includes signature rolls such as the ultimate maine lobster—a tempura whole lobster with smoked bacon, avocado, and baked seafood volcano sauce. In addition to seafood, the staff pan roasts venison tenderloin and blackens elk steak by hiding it in a darkroom. They also add their own spin to chicken and waffles with sweet-potato-infused waffles, brussels sprouts, and peppercorn mélange syrup.

Gentle breezes ripple through the palm leaves on the outdoor patio, where glasses of fine wines and craft beers clink along with the sounds of nature. Friday and Saturday nights feature late hours and live entertainment for diners seated indoors at the high-topped wood tables.

Warm orange walls decked with traditional Indian tapestries ensconce guests at Flavors of India. Within that setting, high-backed leather booths and white-linen clothed tables set the scene for authentic feasts of Indian fare. The restaurant's chefs prepare traditional dishes flavored with Indian herbs and spices, such as boti kebab and chicken vindaloo, for dinner. The daily lunch buffet, meanwhile, enables guests to enjoy an all-you-can-eat feast without the endless supply of disguises and six fake mustache varieties needed to make a full lunch out of the grocery store's samples.

The smell of sizzling Vienna Beef dogs emanates from a cheerful Chicago-style stand. Frankfurters showcase mustard, relish, tomato, chopped onions, sport peppers, pickles, and celery salt in the renowned Chicago tradition, as 12 other hot-dog variations boast hearty condiments of chili, cheese, or creamy coleslaw. Customers can feast upon their wienerwursts upon the stand's stools and countertops, or carry them out to enjoy in the comforts of home or the privacy of a neighbor's broom closet.

Darbar Indian Cuisine takes its name from the traditional darbar—a magnificent hall that held ceremonial gatherings and royal feasts. The restaurant lives up to its name by offering an extensive menu of northern and southern Indian delicacies, as well as a lunch buffet piled with vegetarian, lamb, and seafood dishes. Most nonbuffet dishes include long-grain basmati rice, and can be prepared mild, medium, spicy, or extra spicy. Each day, chefs bake fresh loaves of naan, roti, and Wonder bread on the walls of sizzling clay ovens.