There’s a definite New York feel to the range of restaurants in Daytona Beach. It would be easy to chalk this phenomenon up to the population; after all, a large percentage of the area’s population – both year-round and part-time residents – hails from the Empire State. However, it is a cultural mix that further links both locations, and infuses the culinary selection along Florida’s eastern coast.
On both TripAdvisor and Yelp, the top-rated restaurant in Daytona Beach is, ironically enough, The Cellar. This Italian eatery offers an exquisite, fine-dining experience that visitors simply can’t get enough of. We recommend starting with the Gamberi al Pesto con Insalata Ceci (shrimp sautéed with basil pesto and served with a chickpea-and-tomato salad) and moving on to the Papardelle con Salsiccia e Spinaci (wide ribbon pasta sautéed with sausage, spinach, fresh tomato sauce and drizzled with truffle oil). But there’s more to The Cellar than just its dynamite menu; this restaurant is housed in a historic building – one that was previously the seasonal residence of President Warren G. Harding.
Other appetizing Italian restaurants in town include:
- Don Vito’s – Every dish is created using only the freshest, finest ingredients. Don Vito’s serves only the most tender meats and seafood, freshest vegetables and breads that are baked fresh daily in brick ovens using special dough recipes. The acclaimed menu and attention to detail create a truly enjoyable dining experience – “a meal you can’t refuse.”
- Corleone’s Famous New York Pizza and Gyros – Located just steps away from the beach, a terrific place to get refreshed and enjoy some of the best pizza and treats around. Corleone’s makes traditional Napoletana-style pizza, which is based on the use of simple ingredients, type “00” flour, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh yeast, mozzarella, herbs and purified water.
- Genovese’s Italian Café – With dough made fresh daily, and hand tossed “New York style.” The sauces for the pasta dinners are all homemade from family recipes. Some of the menu favorites include specialty pizzas, eggplant rollatini, Frutta di Mare, Veal Parmigiana and lobster ravioli.
- Anna’s Italian Trattoria – Serving authentic Italian cuisine since 1990. They provide a variety of entrees such as chicken, pasta and veal, and select seafood items, such as the Shrimp Cognac, featured with fresh vegetables and rich specialty sauces.
Now, lest you think that all of Daytona’s restaurants come straight out of Little Italy, know that there are numerous additional options to choose from, representing a wide variety of cuisines.
For example, Sazon Latino gives customers a full range of Latin American food for all tastes, ages and healthy preferences. The soups are made from scratch, and there are salads, appetizers and main dishes, as well as finger foods like Arepas, Empanadas, sandwiches and more – all with unique flavors and colors. Cafe du Japon serves sushi and other delicacies in a restaurant designed to feel like a small cafe, where people can feel welcome to come in and just enjoy a cup of tea. Chucherias Hondurenas was the first restaurant in town to serve both Central American and Latin food. The fusion created by Chef Mayra Rodriguez shows influences of Central American, Caribbean and Spanish cuisine.
Senor Taco is the place to go for south-of-the-border flavors, while Ivory Thai Kitchen brings something special from the Far East. If you’re hungering for top-flight American fare, be sure to check out Mike’s Galley, Daytona Brickyard, Chrome Bar and Grill, the Cracked Egg Diner, H2O Daytona, Daytona Taproom, Sarge’s Beach Bar & Grill or Steve’s Famous Diner. Or if you’re angling for seafood, then catch a meal at Oyster Pub, Caribbean Jacks or Bay Street Seafood Market and Deli.
There are so many delicious dishes to be had all over Daytona Beach… it’s worth another trip just to make sure you don’t miss out! To book your vacation to Daytona or any of our other 40+ terrific destinations, contact us at info@takeagetaway.com.