By Jim Carchidi
July 20, 2026
National recognition has created an opportunity to spotlight the dining scene in one of the region’s most popular cities. The first-ever Mount Dora Area Restaurant Week is working to tempt foodies from far and wide from Saturday, July 25, through Sunday, August 2.
25 eateries and a Top 3 ranking
The event is being presented during a break in the summer holidays that typically signals a slowdown for area restaurants. But the timing also takes advantage of Mount Dora’s recent No. 3 ranking in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Small Town Food Scene.
“We felt like this was the right moment to take that recognition and turn it into something that could directly benefit the businesses that earned it,” said Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce President Rachel O’Ryan
The list will feature more than 25 venues, including restaurants, diners, breweries, and dessert shops across Mount Dora, Eustis, and Tavares. Special prix fixe-style menus will be offered and capped at $30 for lunch and at $50 for dinner. In addition to the prix fixe offerings, each restaurant will retain their usual menus at the standard prices.
The list
More businesses will be added, but the current participant list is as follows:
- Back Porch Pizza Bar (dinner only): 237 W 4th Avenue, Suite 1, Mount Dora
- Beirut Bites: 100 E 4th Avenue, Mount Dora
- BTW’s Crafted Concoctions: 115 E Main Street, Tavares
- Eden Abbey Brewing Community: 405 S Highland Street, Mount Dora
- Fifth Avenue StrEatery: 846 E 5th Avenue, Mount Dora
- Highland Street Cafe (lunch only): 185 S Highland Street, Mount Dora
- Lakeside Inn (lunch only): 100 N Alexander Street, Mount Dora
- Las Palmas Cuban Restaurant: 351 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora
- Mount Dora Bistro: 142 W 4th Avenue, Mount Dora
- Pisces Rising: 239 W 4th Avenue, Mount Dora
- Puddle Jumpers: 111 W Ruby Street, Tavares
- Salt & Ember: 322 N Alexander Street, Mount Dora
- Shadrach’s Fiery Furnace Pizza Co. (dinner only): 334 N Donnelly Street, Mount Dora
- The Salted Fry (lunch only): 112 W 3rd Avenue, Mount Dora
- The Troff: 936 N Bay Street, Eustis
- Whiskey Kitchen: 315 N Highland Street, Mount Dora
- The Yardery: 231 N Baker Street, Mount Dora
Beyond the menu
O’Ryan says the guest experience can go beyond a particular restaurant with special offerings from additional businesses.
“Maw’s Mountain Moonshine and Wolf Branch Brewing Co. are participating with drink specials," she said. "And we also have cafés and dessert businesses such as Sweet Bites by Beirut Bites taking part. That allows people to build their own experience around a meal, stopping for a tasting beforehand or dessert afterward.”
The Chamber also hopes that Restaurant Week momentum will lead to future partnerships and discounts to support retailers and attractions. O’Ryan says success will be measured by the amount of business generated during the event and by the number of repeat visits in the weeks that follow.
“We will be asking the participating restaurants for feedback so we can understand what they experienced, what worked, and how we can make the event even more effective in the future.”
Check the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce website the Restaurant Week web page for updates to the participants list.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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