The #1 restaurant in Deland may surprise you. Who knows? Maybe it’ll offend you. This little town north of Orlando has numerous restaurants, many of which are in Deland’s wonderful little downtown district. I’ve been a regular diner here in the Deland area for many years and I’ve got a degree at The Culinary Institute of America in New York, but that does NOT make me an expert. I believe I’m qualified to speak on this because of the time I’ve spent INSIDE of so many of these little restaurants.

This is NOT a complete list of the good restaurants in Deland, there are other good restaurants that I didn’t include here to keep to what I believe are the BEST. When I have prospective homebuyers in town, they’re often asking me what restaurants they should check out and these are typically where I’m sending them. These aren’t listed in any particular order, but NUMBER SEVEN is the one that I think most of the long-time locals around here will agree on.

Before we get to the list, I think it’s appropriate to define “BEST”. For this blog, BEST is being defined as doing what a given restaurant does really well, not the exquisite nature of their dining room or ticket price. As such, the best restaurant could be a hole in the wall diner without air conditioning. I’ve had some really bad experiences, too, but I won’t be including those experiences as I’d prefer to spend this time focusing on what Deland restaurants are doing well.

The first one is perhaps my go-to, and that’s The Half Wall on Indiana Avenue. The Half Wall does have sister locations in New Smyrna and Port Orange, but The Half Wall just feels like Deland. Their burgers are the best, although it seems like someone in my party is always getting their fish and chips. They’ve got a ton of craft beers there, too. When we’re checking out one of the downtown festivals, we love sitting outside there like so many others do, many of whom are sitting here with their pets.

I’ll probably get some flack for the next one as they’ve got one thing that drives me insane, but the food at Anthony’s on Orange Camp and Woodland cannot be beaten. I’m sure some will say that it isn’t the best pizza in town, to me there’s only one pizza with the same style that really compares. Their salads and pastas are fantastic, too-OH, and the garlic knots.

My family knows that I LOVE pizza, and as such I feel that Forno Bello Italian in downtown Deland cannot be left off this list. Forno Bello makes a fantastic wood-fired pizza, which is very different from the New York style pizza that Anthony’s makes. Personally, the Margarita and the Brussel Sprouts pizzas are the best. They, too, have several good salads and pastas and I really like the atmosphere here.

The next one is Emmy’s Time Out Tavern, which specializes in German cuisine. Those that know me will likely call me a hypocrite for this one, because Emmy’s isn’t truly a favorite of MINE; however, I don’t know that I’ve met ANYONE else here in Deland that doesn’t LOVE this little place out on the edge of town on Old New York. I do like the Jager schnitzel, but in my mind, they’re known around here for their steaks. The atmosphere is circa 1960’s, but it’s still a staple for many of the locals. I hear that the owners are selling this little place, so hopefully new owners will continue what the former owners started like 45 years ago.

The Perfect Spot up near the Deland Airport is a personal favorite of mine, but the food has little do with it. Yes, the food and service are fine, but I’m usually heading up here for the atmosphere. In the winter months when it’s cooler, I’m often sitting outside so that I can watch these parachuters just rain down from the sky. They’ve got a full bar if you want a drink, but there’s nothing like this place for lunch when it’s sunny and 75 outside.

It’s not that I’m crazy about Asian cuisine, but aside from my time in New York City, I believe Oudhom Thai & Sushi right downtown Deland is my all-time favorite. Their sushi and pineapple fried rice is fantastic! I know…I didn’t get it at first either, but once I broke down and tried it, I became an instant fan. There’s usually a wait here, so if you need to get in and out, you’d better be there right when they open their doors.

Before we get to the best restaurant in Deland, if you’re thinking of buying or selling your home anywhere here in Central Florida, just pick up the phone and call or text. It’s worth repeating here that there ARE other restaurants here in Deland that I absolutely LOVE, but I have to simplify here, so please, don’t be offended if I’ve left YOUR favorite off of this list.

Okay, the number ONE best restaurant in Deland is…… Santorini Greek Cuisine downtown. They moved down the street just a bit a while back, and I think their location is better, but it’s still a small place. Like Oudhom, give yourself plenty of time to wait for a seat. Their Calamari appetizer is something we always get here. We love their Moussaka, the lamb shank (which is enough for two meals), and the Basa Santorini the most. Santorini is a place we’ve been many times, and the service and food has never once let us down and I’m betting you’ll like it too.

Published on August 15. 2023 / Tags: #delandfl, Deland restaurants, Dining, moving to Deland / no comments.