If you are like me, I search the restaurant listings long before visiting a new place. On my first trip to Sebring, Florida, I was hosted for a travel writer function. We went to a couple of delicious eateries, ones so good that my husband and I came back for more a little later. I was on a mission the second trip, eating my way around Sebring and loving every minute of it. Here are four excellent places to eat in Sebring and suggestions for what to order.
1. Cowpoke’s Watering Hole
Cowpoke’s Watering Hole is like the lifeline of Sebring. It is one of the biggest restaurants I’ve ever seen (295 seats), but the separate dining rooms, tiki bar, and areas make it feel comfortable and welcoming. Live music, line dancing, and karaoke are available often at Cowpoke’s, adding to your dining experience.
Start your meal with flavorful Fried Green Tomatoes or the Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus. Choice Chairman’s Reserve Certified Premium Beef steaks are the house specialty, but you can also choose between pasta, chicken, and fish tacos, to name a few. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of the sautéed mushrooms and onions to accompany my perfectly cooked steak. Save room for dessert—the Florida Orange Cake is sensational. You won’t believe how moist and tasty this signature dessert at Cowpoke’s Watering Hole is.
2. Nutmeg’s Cafe
I had been drooling over the social media photos of Nutmeg’s Cafe long before arriving. This adorable restaurant is both a gourmet bakery and coffee shop, plus a tasty sandwich. Choose macarons, homemade cookies, bonbons, cupcakes from the bakery side, creative salads, Buddha bowls, signature sandwiches, and such from the restaurant side. I loved the Mousetrap, Nutmeg’s signature panini with five kinds of cheese, spices, and artichoke hearts. It gets an A+ for originality and taste.
Meanwhile, the English Pea Salad is a blast from the past and paired nicely with my decadent sandwich. You wouldn’t believe how many comments I had on social posts about the pea salad; it’s an oldie, but goodie, and not on many menus at all.
3. Chicane’s
Located in the stylish Inn on the Lakes Hotel, Chicanes Restaurant serves lunch and dinner in a fine-dining setting with a casual vibe. I’ve tried the burgers and club sandwiches for lunch, both excellent in flavor and priced just right. Truffle fries go nicely with these sandwiches.
For dinner, Rollovers, a specialty menu item, are a must. These bite-sized pieces of filet mignon are twisted around pepper jack cheese and taste like a bite of heaven. Two of my favorite two dishes on any menu are classics: French Onion Soup and Caesar salad. Chicanes do them both to perfection. For your main course, the cedar plank salmon is an excellent choice, paired with mashed potatoes and garlicky green beans, as are the steaks.
To learn more about the accommodations at Inn on the Lakes, go to this post.
4. Faded Bistro & Beer Garden
An uber-cool dining spot in Sebring is Faded Bistro and Beer Garden. This casual eatery has indoor and outdoor seating, with vibrant gardens and flowers blooming everywhere. There is so much to look at; you’ll have a hard time focusing on the food…until it arrives. Yum, Faded Bistro is exceptional in every way.
Faded Bistro’s Charcuterie and Cheese Board is chock full of cured meats, artisanal cheeses, olives, honey, spreads, and pickled vegetables. Another dish we are big fans of is the Irish Nachos with stout beer cheese, bacon, and green onions. Check out the weekend brunch offerings and delicious craft cocktails. My husband swears by the Sweet Habanero Mezcalita with Sombra Mezcal, Ole Smokey Mango Habanero Whiskey, muddle sweet pepper, and fresh sour mix.
Thanks to Visit Sebring and Inn on the Lakes for hosting my visit, accommodations, and meals. As always, opinions and reviews are 100% mine and unbiased.
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