If you have a day out in Mt Dora (and you should) then I really recommend that you eat at the Goblin Market Restaurant.
You could easily miss this little gem as it is tucked down a side street and this would be a shame as it is a really nice experience.
The restaurant is divided into 3 intimate dining rooms and a sun dappled courtyard; the impression is of eating in a cosy private home.
Most of us will probably eat at lunchtime; either before or after one of the famous boat rides. This is served between 11 a. m. and 3 p. m.
When we visited the starters were a choice between 2 soups; a crab bisque or a brandied caramelised onion soup or tempura artichokes stuffed with pesto cream cheese.
Next on the menu is a dazzling array of salads; for myself I selected Chesapeake Crab Cakes which were served with seasonal fruit chutney and crisp greens; another of our party chose the market cobb sald which had turkey, bacon and egg with a mixed salad.
The sandwiches were a revelation: one of us chose to order a blackened Gorgonzola burger whih he enjoyed so much that he said he would order it on his next visit. However, I did spot something I thought he should try. This was Alaskan King Crab Quesillada.
This is described as tender crab with poblano pepper, caramelized onion and melted brie all tucked into a toasted tortilla and crowned with fruit chutney and tarragon creme fraiche.
The price for 4 of us was well shy of $100 which for the setting and quality was very reasonable.
The dinner menu is equally tempting
Among the starters is Escargot Vol a Vent which is snails in garlic, shallots and spinach served in a pastry shell and complemented with a champagne cream sauce. Snails not for you? then how about hazelnut scallops or one of the other 7 starters on offer.
The next choice to make is from the section they call Butchers Market. It is rare to find lamb offered in Florida but here they have it in a herb crust glazed with mint and brandy.
The veal dish is sauteed with bacon and mushrooms and dressed with a marscapone and marsala sauce.
Market Poultry has a selection of 3 different chicken dishes, all of them somethin special. How about Pignoli: crusted chicken breast served with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes and asparagus?
If it is fish that floats your boat then there are 5 tempting choices. Wasabi crusted salmon is served with hurse radish honey mustard and soy glaze while the Dorado Key West is mahi mahi topped with king crab. Other fish dishes shrimp and scallop saute, blackened black grouper and macadamia crusted rainbow trout.
Goblin Market Restaurant
Dora Drawdry Way
Mount Dora
352 735 0059
You could easily miss this little gem as it is tucked down a side street and this would be a shame as it is a really nice experience.
The restaurant is divided into 3 intimate dining rooms and a sun dappled courtyard; the impression is of eating in a cosy private home.
Most of us will probably eat at lunchtime; either before or after one of the famous boat rides. This is served between 11 a. m. and 3 p. m.
When we visited the starters were a choice between 2 soups; a crab bisque or a brandied caramelised onion soup or tempura artichokes stuffed with pesto cream cheese.
Next on the menu is a dazzling array of salads; for myself I selected Chesapeake Crab Cakes which were served with seasonal fruit chutney and crisp greens; another of our party chose the market cobb sald which had turkey, bacon and egg with a mixed salad.
The sandwiches were a revelation: one of us chose to order a blackened Gorgonzola burger whih he enjoyed so much that he said he would order it on his next visit. However, I did spot something I thought he should try. This was Alaskan King Crab Quesillada.
This is described as tender crab with poblano pepper, caramelized onion and melted brie all tucked into a toasted tortilla and crowned with fruit chutney and tarragon creme fraiche.
The price for 4 of us was well shy of $100 which for the setting and quality was very reasonable.
The dinner menu is equally tempting
Among the starters is Escargot Vol a Vent which is snails in garlic, shallots and spinach served in a pastry shell and complemented with a champagne cream sauce. Snails not for you? then how about hazelnut scallops or one of the other 7 starters on offer.
The next choice to make is from the section they call Butchers Market. It is rare to find lamb offered in Florida but here they have it in a herb crust glazed with mint and brandy.
The veal dish is sauteed with bacon and mushrooms and dressed with a marscapone and marsala sauce.
Market Poultry has a selection of 3 different chicken dishes, all of them somethin special. How about Pignoli: crusted chicken breast served with artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes and asparagus?
If it is fish that floats your boat then there are 5 tempting choices. Wasabi crusted salmon is served with hurse radish honey mustard and soy glaze while the Dorado Key West is mahi mahi topped with king crab. Other fish dishes shrimp and scallop saute, blackened black grouper and macadamia crusted rainbow trout.
Goblin Market Restaurant
Dora Drawdry Way
Mount Dora
352 735 0059