The 9 Best Restaurants in Clermont Florida (2024)

Clermont, once one of Florida’s premier citrus producers, has a new identity. They call themselves the Gem of the Hills. Yes, Central Florida does have hills, and people from all over are flocking to this Snowbird paradise for the more relaxed side of Florida.

The 9 Best Restaurants in Clermont Florida

Suncreek Brewery

790 West Minneola Ave, Unit 3 Clermont, Florida 34711 // 407-850-8810

Clermont’s first craft brewery located in historic downtown Clermont offers crafted brews and live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. It’s kid and dog-friendly. Owner, Bill Downs, opened the brewery in late 2018 just a little more than a year before Covid played havoc with businesses and travel.

Bill had a love of brewing from an early age. When he was a teenager, his family moved from New Jersey to Pennsylvania where he discovered the Yuengling Brewery, which inspired him. As an adult, he moved to Florida for a job in 2001. He met his wife and co-owner, Shelia, and began home brewing again. He also had an interest in mud racing.

After racing through mud and creeks, sponsors would give the drivers a beer, usually one of the commercial brews. He and his friends would joke about brewing their own beer for a better taste. When he opened the brewery, he wanted to name it something related to Florida and also to those mud racing experiences, so Suncreek was born.

Suncreek opened in a brand-new building downtown near the paved South Lake Trail, which winds around Lake Mineola and just about a block from the Waterfront Park. The brewery is in a two-story area to the rear of the building and there is a mezzanine where guests can walk around from the upper lever taproom and watch the brewing process below.

Suncreek offers lagers, ales, stouts, some high IPAs, hard cider and seltzer with names like Willy’s on the Lake, Moonlight Cholate Milk Stout, Strawberry Blond Ambition, Homemade Apple Pie Cider, and other catchy names. The city allows open containers downtown so you can walk around downtown or the lake with a cold brew.

There are three restaurants located at the brewery.

Michael’s Ali Coal Fired Pizza

790 West Minneola Ave Clermont, Florida 34711 // 352-227-3512

Michael’s Ali Coal Fired Pizza serving pizza, sandwiches, wings, and burgers was the first amongst the restaurants in Clermont Florida to partner with Suncreek Brewery. The name is a combination of the owners’ names, Michael & Alison (Ali) Scorsone. They originally opened in Winter Park in 2015 and expanded to this second location in 2018, along with Bill downs, Suncreek brewery. After all Pizza and beer blend well.

Coal fired pizza allows the pizza to cook fast over high heat and has a dough with a crispy exterior and softer breadier interior. Added to the traditional pepperoni or sausage pizzas, you can get pizzas with chicken breast, chicken breast or NY strip steak.

In fact, you can build your own with a huge variety of options. You can opt for pork or chicken stromboli. Their chicken wings are from an old New York family recipe. This location brought a new concept to their pizzeria, an open fire grill so there are a variety of sandwiches available.

Mac’d Out Clermont

790 West Minneola Ave Clermont, Florida 34711

Mac’d Out, also located in Suncreek Brewery, is also a new concept amongst the restaurants in Clermont Florida, that Michail and Ali devised that lets you blend your own mix of mac and cheese dishes. ​Using fresh ingredients and scratch-made recipes, their Mac & Cheese dishes are unique and totally delicious.

Suncreek Cafe

790 West Minneola Ave Clermont, Florida 34711 // 352-663-9972

The brewery’s own Suncreek Cafe makes sandwiches, salads, tacos bowls and more while you watch. I had a Greek Bowl and St. Louis Ribs Special. The Greek Bowl quinoa, grilled chicken, chopped romaine, kalamata olives, banana peppers, feta cheese, sliced red onion, and Greek dressing and the ribs were well cooked and tender.

I enjoyed eating them out on the dog friendly patio. Both Suncreek Café and the brewery are nominated for Best of South Lake for best place to drink and best lunch to go respectively by the chamber of commerce.

Citrus Tower Coffee

141 N Hwy 27 Clermont, FL 34711 // 352-394-4061

Since Clermont was one of the biggest citrus growing communities in Florida once, it is only fitting that there is an attraction commemorating citrus. You can enjoy coffee, or in my case iced tea, while observing spectacular views from one of Florida’s first attractions and one of the highest observation points in all of Florida, Citrus Tower, built in 1956. From its observation deck, you can see for 35 miles.

They serve coffees, teas, other soft drinks and baked goods. All the coffees and teas are not citrus flavored, but many are flavored to celebrate Florida’s former citrus heritage, like the Orange Creme Latte, a sweet latte with hints of orange and vanilla, and orange creme on the top with sprinkles. My Peachy Citrus Iced Tea was white tea with a touch of peach and orange and was very refreshing.

I took the elevator up the 22 floors and strolled around the observation deck. From here, I could see eight different Florida counties, and many places, including Disney World.

Lakeridge Winery

19239 US Hwy 27 Clermont, FL 34715 // 352-394-8627

I enjoyed a free tasting and tour at the largest winery in Florida. Lakeridge in Clermont, Florida is Florida’s largest winery. Freezes had killed off many of the orange groves in Florida in 1981 and Lakeridge opened in February 1989 on 127 acres of one of these former orange groves.

There is a video talking about the early days and how Gary Cox began with just a small five-acre test plot that grew to today’s huge operation. They produce over 1500 cases of sparkling and table wines daily using Florida hybrid and Muscadine grapes at their over 28,000 square feet facility.

They have won so many ribbons and contests they have an entire case devoted to the ribbons and awards. I enjoyed the complimentary tour and wine tasting on the weekend, so I was there for Weekends at the Winery where there was live entertainment, a food court, and a wine bar.

Johnson’s Village Marketplace Plaza

530 West Ave. Clermont, FL 34711 // 352-394-3333

There may be a bit of confusion about the farmers’ market in Clermont. Johnson’s Village Marketplace had a lovely farmers’ market plus several food venues right next to the Clermont Historic Village Museum, a complete living history village recalling Clermont’s early days as a prime citrus producer. It’s still worth a visit as Johnson’s Village Marketplace Plaza will remain open, but the marketplace itself is closing and up for sale.

The outdoor bar, The Whistle Stop, will remain open. It serves beer, wine, and co*cktails Tuesday to Sunday 11AM to 7PM. They were doing their everyday Happy Hour from 11AM to 2PM with $4 Coors, Michelob Ultra, House Wine, or Sangria when I visited.

Leo’s BBQ, an American and Brazilian venture, is one of the best restaurants in Clermont Florida. It’s a branch of the brick and mortar Leo’s restaurant near Citrus Tower. The Brazilian touches are what make their BBQ unique. It’s a great outdoor spot to relax where kids and dogs can play.

I have been told LeMont Coffee Express will be opening in the second airstream soon.

There’s a large outdoor shared patio and even a self-service dog wash station called Dirty Dogs Done Dirt Cheap.

Farmers Market

Just a few blocks down the street in the heart of down Clermont, you can find a farmer’s Market every Sunday. From fresh produce from all over Central Florida to food trucks, spend your Sunday strolling the Farmer’s Market. It’s open from 9am to 2pm every Sunday, weather permitting.

Crooked Spoon

200 Citrus Tower Blvd, Clermont, FL 34711, United States // 352-404-7808

If you are looking for one of the most upscale restaurants in Clermont Florida, try The Crooked Spoon. Their gourmet cuisine grew from a food truck beginning into a gastropub serving innovative chef-driven dishes. Owner Chef Steve Saelg grew up in a traditional Italian family. Anyone who understands Italian values knows good food ranks high. I still have fond memories of dining at my Italian friend Lorraine’s house. Her mom was the best cook I ever knew.

Chef Steve started with a food truck in Orlando. His food, especially the burgers, were so good, he was able to afford to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The name The Crooked Spoon was one he toyed with for years, so when he opened this gastropub, had to be The Crooked Spoon. Even the tables are decorated with that logo.

The menu is large, ranging from hummus, chicken wings, mussels, pulled pork sliders and more for appetizers. You can find salads and many classic entrées like herb-marinated grilled chicken breast, flank steak, pork chops, mac and cheese, meatloaf, lobster grilled cheese, and lots of sandwiches.

It’s his five Florida Angus beef burgers that have made him famous. The Crooked Spoon is nominated for this year’s Best Place for a Burger in the South Lake Chamber of Commerce contest this year.

I just had to go with the meatloaf. It was huge and well-seasoned and served with broccoli. The atmosphere is relaxing. There is a lovely outdoor patio but since I had been outdoors all day exploring Clermont, I opted for the inside. The tables are blond wood with an exposed beam ceiling and a large, well-equipped bar. Very comfortable.

Restaurants in Clermont Florida: Wrap Up

Clermont is just minutes away from Orlando, but you won’t have traffic and parking problems here. This is the peaceful part of Florida. Find time to explore downtown and the Historic Village Museum and spend a little time strolling around beautiful Lake Minneola. Or play some Disk Golf at Lake Hiawatha Preserve. Or just indulge in one of the many restaurants in Clermont Florida.

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