Restaurants in Palatka

A massive big-screen television casts a festive glow across Wing City’s dining room. Pitchers of beer slosh atop tables next to sizzling plates of finger food, including wings doused in 20 types of sauce. Specialty sandwiches, such as classic burgers and philly cheesesteaks, provide filling meals or tasty footballs in case patrons are inspired to go long.

As they pass under the hanging gilded sign that's wrapped in climbing vines, visitors to The Tasting Room begin their journey into Florida's Spanish history. Upon entering, the sounds of live Spanish guitar fill the dining room, from its wrought-iron chandeliers and crimson walls to the heavy wooden tables and Spanish murals in vivid colors. Behind these rooms, wine racks displaying more than 1,000 international wines stretch from floor to ceiling, and Marseilles-born chef Matthieu Landillon runs his kitchen.

Under his direction, the culinary team draws inspiration from the surrounding sea, Spain's varied regions, and dreams where Pablo Picasso demands that they cook him a vibrant menu of small and large dishes. The team plates tapas to serve inside or on the patio—such as Florida Gulf red snapper in escabeche, basque chorizo, and goat-cheese terrine—and fashions larger entrees such as local seafood stew, churrasco-style flat-iron steak, and roasted butternut-squash risotto. The efforts of the chef, musicians, and sommeliers have earned The Tasting Room awards for Best Music, Best Wine List, and Best Upscale Dining in the Best of St. Augustine 2010 contest, as well as a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2012.

Most Philly-cheesesteak connoisseurs know that it’s next to impossible to find an authentic version of the magically mammoth sandwich below the Mason-Dixon line. That said, South-A-Philly Steaks & Hoagies works pretty darn hard to be the exception to the rule. Discerning in its curation, the eatery imports par-baked bread directly from South Jersey. Once the rolls rise to perfection, the crew piles on hearty amounts of meat coupled with a generous coating of Cheez Whiz—the only condiment known to have been used in both sandwich creation and the signings of numerous constitutional amendments.

Balancing out the meaty menu, South-A-Philly Steaks & Hoagies not so surprisingly serves another Pennsylvanian staple—the hoagie. Each heroically sized creation is adorned with both italian Dietz and Watson meats and cheeses including genoa salami, coteghino, capocolla, and provolone. Truly adventurous offerings also fly out of the kitchen with toppings that range from onions, peppers, pickle slices, and the hands of friends who fight over said pickle slices.