Today, Chuck shares the top seven restaurants in Debary, Florida. They aren’t listed in any particular order, although the best restaurant at the end will certainly surprise you. You may be thinking “who says THESE restaurants are so good?”, or maybe you take exception to one Chuck’s comments here. Well, he’s got a culinary degree, but that was eons ago. His only credential is that he LOVES to eat, and LOVES Debary. He’s been selling homes in the Debary area for many years, so he’s in all sorts of restaurants all the time.

1. Nonna Maria’s Pizzeria

First, let’s start with Nonna Maria’s. Nonna Maria’s is a little casual, family style Italian restaurant in the Winn Dixie plaza. You might want to discount it because it’s a grocery store plaza, right? Well, I say you’d be wrong. Nonna Maria’s is all about the atmosphere and the service is always great. They’ve got Italian music playing and, they really try to make it nice there, which I think they do very well, especially when you can get a good meal for less than $20.

I really like their pizzas here, although their menu is generally made from scratch Italian dishes. It’s funny though, as Italian as Nonna Maria’s is, their pizza is really good NEW YORK STYLE pizza! Maybe they’ve got New York Style pizza in Italy? I don’t think it’s on the menu, but one time the server offered up some Limoncello Cake and man was it good! I’m not so crazy about their garlic knots in here, but I suppose they’re hit and miss like so many restaurants.

2. Swamp House Riverfront Grill

Next is the Swamp House Riverfront Grill. Now I’ve never really been a huge fan of the Swamp house per se, although I did participate in a half marathon they did several years back. The food is pretty decent though, and they’ve got a good variety here, from burgers, to steaks and all sorts of seafood, even gator bites. The portions are good and, for seafood and steaks, I think it’s not priced too bad. But if I go to the Swamp House, I’m usually going for the atmosphere as it’s a great place to meet and eat, maybe have a drink.

The Swamp House is really about the casual atmosphere: there’s nothing bougie about it. Being located way down Highbanks Road on the St. Johns River, it’s a great place to relax and watch the sunset with a view of the St. Johns. They’ve got a bar downstairs, and live music sometimes. You can even come for a meal, rent a boat and take a ride up the river.

I’ve been out there and had manatees come right up to us and, if you’re down from up north, it’s a decent place to see a gator. In my mind, the Swamp House is better in the winter months. I prefer to sit outside when I go to the Swamp House, and sometimes it can get a bit sticky out there when the humidity really gets going.

3. La Strega Bistro

La Strega Bistro is one of the two new kids in town on my top seven list and it’s one that could be considered the “nicest” of all the restaurants here, but it is not what I consider the “best” overall restaurant. It’s an elegant little Italian restaurant in what I think is an odd location in a business plaza right on 17-92. A bowl of pasta will run you 15-20 bucks and an entrée will get you for $25 to $40. I believe this is the nicest food you’ll find in Debary.

I’ve heard all sorts of opinions on La Strega, some people rave that it’s the greatest ever and then I’ve heard others saying the opposite. While I haven’t seen it, I’ve heard that the chef comes out and interacts with the guests, which is apparently very nice. The atmosphere here is warm and inviting and it has a woodfire oven, a wine room and the food is fantastic. The calamari is amazing and anything with the buffalo mozzarella is a hit in my mind.

La Strega is meant to be enjoyed, so give yourself plenty of time here. If you just want a quick Italian meal to fill your gut, maybe Nonna Maria’s or another one I’ll talk about in a minute is a better option. This is a great place for anniversaries and other events where you’re able to spend a bit more time and money.

4. Pepe’s Cantina DeBary

Next, let’s talk about Pepe’s Cantina, which is a great little Mexican restaurant right on 17-92. Now, maybe I shouldn’t include Pepe’s, because they’ve got a few locations now, but I really like this place and it surely doesn’t feel like a chain. The atmosphere in here has a trendy, Mexican flare to it. I really like it.

They do plenty of things well. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad meal here. What they do well, they do really well, and that’s why I keep coming back to Pepe’s. They’ve got some really good Margheritas and even some vegan options. The tacos and tableside guac are both fantastic.

If you want it hot, ask for the house hot sauce. It’ll make me sweat and turn three shades of red. If hot’s your thing, you’ll love it. They’ve also got a Hawaiian fajita which comes served in a pineapple, which is pretty cool. I will say that I’d avoid the chicken and churros off the brunch menu though. I love this little place and I think it’s definitely worth a shot.

5. Da Kine Poke

Next, let’s talk about Da Kine Poke. It’s this little deli-type place with a surf shop motif that you’ll drive right by if you’re not careful. I might even say that it’s almost out of place here in Debary. We don’t have too much sushi here. However, I’ve been in this little place a couple times and it’s been fantastic each time I’ve been there.

Poke is kind of like sushi… in a bowl with rice, seafood, vegetables, edamame, and these great sauces. I like it because I can get a fresh meal that makes me feel like I’m eating healthy, and I can get out the door for like 15 bucks, which I REALLY like! It’s nothing fancy, just a tiny little place with just a few little tables and although I’ve eaten IN here, it’s probably better suited for take-out.

6. The Salted Goat

The Salted Goat is the other new kid in town, much like La Strega that I spoke of earlier. The Salted Goat; however, is really nothing like anything I’ve spoken of thus far today. So, what’s up with that name? The Salted Goat? This little place, that’s right across the street from Nonna Maria’s, focuses on locally sourced, high-quality, farm-fresh ingredients.

They actually list some of the farms that they partner with on their menu. The menu changes seasonally, as some ingredients simply aren’t available during certain times of the year. I loved the caramelized scallops and I clearly wasn’t the only one. A woman at the table next to us brought her friend specifically to try the scallops as well because she had ordered them previously and loved them. The food has always been good here and the presentation is visually appealing, too.

They’ve got sandwiches, burgers, steaks and seafood, and some local beers along with daily specials. A meal will run you between 10 and 15 bucks at lunch and 20 to 30 dollars for dinner. They’ve also got a decent wine menu, which includes several wines from the country of Georgia, which I thought was really cool.

You can sit inside or outside on their patio. The Salted Goat has an eclectic, contemporary atmosphere with graffiti, which I don’t know if that fits well, but that’s just a personal preference.

7. Goodfella’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant

Remember that these restaurants are MY favorites. I doubt any of them are Michelin rated and I don’t even care how many stars they’ve got. They are not my favorites because they cost the most, or even because they have the best steaks or seafood. It’s really arbitrary, and the best restaurant is the best restaurant because I’ve been going there for years, and I’ve NEVER had a bad experience there, and that is Goodfella’s, on Enterprise Road.

You might be thinking that Chuck really likes Italian, and you’d be right. But Goodfellas always has good service, atmosphere, and great food. The food is always hot with a great presentation. Some will say that Goodfella’s has a similar menu to Nonna Maria’s, and I wouldn’t argue, but I believe that Goodfella’s just has charm like nobody else on this list.

The pizzas are great, and I think you can even do take and bake here. Yes, they’re still New York Style pizzas. I got the Chicken Antonio just the other day and it was fantastic! Plus, as nice as the atmosphere is there, I feel like I’m getting a good value for my money. I think that Chicken Antonio was like $11 or something. Heck, a #1 at Chick-Fil-A will cost me more than that and I won’t have leftovers!

The only downside that I can think of for Goodfella’s is the wait as they get really busy in there sometimes. I guess if the wait is real long you could go to Wise Guys next door and have a drink while you wait, but I believe Goodfella’s is worth the wait.

If you have real estate needs or would just like to argue with Chuck about which restaurant in DeBary is the best, contact him here.

Published on February 05. 2024 / no comments.