After visiting the Valerie Theatre for the 9/11 tribute on Friday, we had some time before meeting friends that evening. We took a little stroll through downtown Inverness, stopped at the new location of La-Te-Da, and then noticed the Fox Den Winery & Cellar a few doors up the street. So we checked it out.
Terry and I were pleasantly surprised!
Robert and Yong Madys, owners of Fox Den Winery & Cellar
Yong Madys, one of the owners, recommended a chardonnay and while we enjoyed our wine, we talked with her and the other patrons. Everyone was very friendly and there was a laid-back atmosphere.
The decor is beautiful with many special touches.
A short but delicious-sounding menu is offered–appetizers and entrees with everything reasonably priced.
Friday and Saturday evenings has live entertainment and there’s a brunch on Sunday.
The Fox Den Winery & Cellar is located at 109 W. Main Street in downtown Inverness. The phone number is 352-341-0305.
Terry and I are looking forward to staying a little longer next time and trying out a few items on the menu.
A few of you may know that my sister Ellen, (Michelle’s mother) has been going through some trying times. She was scheduled for surgery last month and I invited Ellen and Michelle to join me for a special lunch to celebrate our lives. Since they both live in Hernando County, I asked Michelle to pick a spot close to their homes.
Michelle suggested the Magnolia Terrace Tea Room located at 6282 Commercial Way in Weeki Wachee. (That’s the plaza on US-19 just north of Cortez Blvd. that has the Winn-Dixie.)
This was my first time at this tea room. Michelle had been there before with a group of girlfriends for a Christmas party. They rented the whole place and had an appropriately festive event.
We arrived after the lunch rush so had the place almost entirely to ourselves. While they say on their website that “It’s Tea Time all day at The Magnolia Terrace Tea Room”, they just happened to have wine! So you know what we ordered!
Hey this was a celebration of life!
The sandwiches can be ordered on different types of bread or as a salad.
Our server was pleasant and attentive, the food was excellent, and the setting lovely. The right place for our special lunch. I definitely recommend and will be returning–I might even try the tea next time!
The Magnolia Terrace Tea Room is open on Monday through Friday from 11 am to 4 pm, on Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm and on Sundays for special events only. Call for reservations at 352-556-4819 or email info@magnoliaterracetearoom.com
I’ve had a few requests for more restaurant reviews! Unbelievable. People actually want to know my opinion! About food!
So I’m back to being the undercover occasional restaurant critic writing haphazardly about local and distant restaurants.
So here’s the places we’ve been over the past 31 days!
We went to Crystal River for the St. Patty’s Day Festivities and stopped into Burkes of Ireland. It was crazy busy so we didn’t stay but this dog was in the bar and I’m thinking it looks like a fun place to go so we’ll try it on a less busy day. (Really, why would I even try to get into an Irish bar on St. Patty’s Day!)
So instead of having Irish food, we went a little south to the 19th Hole Bar and Grill. It’s at the Plantation Golf Course and it’s just a little hole in the wall. Nice view of the golf course. Food was good and service was fine. Nothing wrong with it but it’s just golf course food. We probably won’t be back unless we have just finished up 18 holes.
Tuna SandwichClub Sandwich
Last week I went to two restaurants. Big time for me!
I went to Papa Joe’s on the east side of Brooksville to meet a cousin, my sister and my niece for lunch. It was centrally located for all of us since we were coming from different directions. It’s about five miles west of I-75 just off of Cortez Blvd. This has always been one of my favorite restaurants and I’ve been going there since the 80s. Joe and his son even catered our daughter’s wedding a couple years ago.
Tragically the restaurant burnt down back in January 2014 but, unlike our local Margueritagrill, was rebuilt and opened up a few weeks ago. I was really looking forward to seeing the new place.
And it didn’t disappoint.
Here’s the beautiful new bar that is right at the entrance
Vegetable Sandwich with thick slabs of fresh mozzeralla! Yum!
My sandwich was excellent. Well, actually it was my sister’s sandwich. She ordered a steak hoagie while I ordered the Vegetable sub. But our orders were switched and I ate half of the steak one before I realized it. “Hey, that’s not eggplant! That’s pink!”
I don’t eat meat very often, but that was one yummy sandwich!
And the last restaurant to report on is the Seagrass Pub. We went there back in the beginning of March with some friends. We hadn’t been there in quite some time because on our only two visits we were very disappointed and hadn’t been back. On this occasion we only went there because it was convenient. We weren’t expecting much but were pleasantly surprised with really delicious dinners and very good service.
Just to make sure it wasn’t an anomaly, we went to the Tiki Bar last week on a beautiful day.
Grilled Mahi Sandwich for meKahuna Burger for TerryOh yeah, that’s my blue moon!
Once again we had good food and good service.
And a great view!
Nice!
So that’s it for this month….
Oh wait, we stopped at Old Mill Tavern for Bloody Mary’s one Saturday morning. Really really good.
Robert and Yong Madys, owners of Fox Den Winery & Cellar
The Fox Den Winery & Cellar is located at 109 W. Main Street in downtown Inverness. The phone number is 352-341-0305.
