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I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Rainbow Springs twice and each time I seem to find more and more places to eat! Rainbow Springs is located in Florida in a pretty small, rural town called Dunnellon. It’s about 26 miles southwest of Ocala and it’s quite the hidden gem nestled along the Rainbow River. Although the town is quaint, it’s full of an array of locally run restaurants. Start your day with freshly made donuts at Go-For Donuts, where you can sip the most perfect iced coffee while enjoying a fresh donut or even a breakfast sandwich. For lunch, head to the historic Blue Gator Tiki Bar & Restaurant, known for its mouthwatering seafood dishes and relaxing waterfront views. When dinner calls, The Front Porch Restaurant & Pie Shop beckons with its Southern-inspired comfort food, followed by a slice of their famous homemade pie that you just can’t pass up. In Dunnellon, these locally cherished establishments embody the essence of the town – rich traditions, friendly faces, and delightful flavors that make every visit truly unforgettable.

Here are my favorite go-to places in the area and I hope that you enjoy them as much as I did!

1. Go-For Donuts

Price range: $ (cash only)

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Donut Holes and the Cinnamon Twist

As the name clearly states… you can go here for donuts! This place is everything I love about small businesses! First of all, it’s cash only and there is no table service. You simply order at the register and you can either take your food to-go or enjoy it at a table or the bar top. You can already tell how good the food must be upon entering because most of the customers will look at you as if they were expecting another “regular” but are a little startled to see a new customer. The staff & owner are extremely friendly and helpful. So helpful in fact that I had placed my iced coffee order & was asked two additional questions about how I liked my coffee and the next thing I knew, I was sipping on the most perfect vanilla iced coffee! Their menu is pretty simple. They offer a wide variety of fresh, homemade donuts (you can see the machines in the back!), breakfast sandwiches, & coffee. I had the egg & bacon breakfast sandwich on a bagel and I had to try the donut holes (my favorite!). I’ve always loved donuts (or is it doughnuts?) and after living in NYC for 9 years, I’ve come to realize that there’s a good amount of people who have never had a real donut… sorry, but no, the donuts you get from Dunkin Donuts are not real donuts. A real donut is fresh, warm if you go early, and has an airy quality to it on the inside. Now, there are the old-fashioned donuts that are more dense and cake-like that I do enjoy every now and then. Lucky for you, this place offers both and we liked Go-For Donuts so much that we went two days in a row!

2. The Blue Gator Tiki Bar & Restaurant

Price range: $$

Rating: 4.4 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Angler’s Delight (choice of three: frog legs, shrimp, scallops, grouper fingers, clam strips, or calamari)

The Blue Gator Tiki Bar is a great place to sit on the river and enjoy a bite to eat and a drink! This laid-back restaurant was located at our hotel and aside from accommodations, they also offer airboat tours. My Mom and I visited this restaurant for some appetizers and drinks while my Dad rested from the kayaking tour we had done earlier that day. The Blue Gator Tiki Bar has lots of seafood options from grilled local, fresh fish to fried grouper and clam strips, as well as a full bar. When we visited, we split the Gator Trio of onion rings, jalapeño poppers, and corn nuggets and everything was great! Corn Nuggets are something I discovered while visiting this area and I couldn’t get enough. They’re similar to hush puppies but stuffed with corn. I had never had them before and it’s not something you see very often on menus so if you’re in the area be sure to try some!

3. Swampy’s Bar & Grille

Price range: $$

Rating: 4.4 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Corn Nuggets

Swampy’s is another great, casual spot located right on Rainbow River where you can enjoy a meal and watch as people float past you down the river. The view at Swampy’s is much more picturesque than at The Blue Gator and it’s a really good place to relax and stay a while. There’s a local tube put-in spot nearby so the area can get quite busy but the restaurant itself has a good amount of space to accommodate customers and they do a good job monitoring who is there for food & drinks and who is only there to put their tube in the water. I had a refreshing Moscow Mule here as well as the Corn Nuggets (my favorite place to get these!) and the Mahi Mahi. Needless to say, I’ll be back every time for those Corn Nuggets! From fried gator bites to succulent crab cakes, their menu provides a variety of options for seafood lovers. Moreover, Swampy's warm and friendly atmosphere, complete with live music and an inviting outdoor patio, creates the perfect setting to relax and savor a delicious meal. Whether you are a local or a traveler passing through, a visit to Swampy's Bar & Grille promises to be an unforgettable dining experience.

4. The Front Porch Restaurant and Pie Shop

Price range: $$

Rating: 4.4 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Cuban Sandwich… and pie, of course!

The Front Porch Restaurant and Pie Shop in Dunnellon, Florida is another locally owned gem that should not be missed. Located in a cozy building, this eatery offers a warm and inviting atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home. The main attraction, of course, is their incredible selection of homemade pies. From classic favorites like apple and cherry to customer favorites like coconut cream and key lime, each slice is a slice of heaven. But let's not forget about the savory offerings! The Front Porch serves up mouthwatering Southern fare, including comfort food classics like fried chicken, meatloaf, and beef stroganoff. Their menu also features fresh seafood dishes, perfectly toasted sandwiches, and salads. Daily specials can be found on the ever-changing chalkboard.

5. Simply Seafood

Price range: $$$

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Crab Cakes and the Salmon Chowder

If you find yourself craving some delectable seafood, look no further than Simply Seafood. Located right next to The Seafood Market, this establishment prides itself on offering the freshest seafood in the area, whether you’re dining in or purchasing fish to cook at home. The restaurant's unique feature of being attached to the market ensures that every dish is crafted with the utmost attention to quality and flavor. From succulent shrimp to tender lobster, Simply Seafood serves up a wide variety of oceanic delights that are sure to satisfy even the most discerning seafood lovers. With its commitment to fresh ingredients, dining at Simply Seafood is an experience that should not be missed when visiting Dunnellon. Some crowd favorites are the crab cakes, salmon chowder, shrimp, and crab grilled cheese sandwiches.

6. Stumpknockers Restaurant

Price range: $$

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Fried Catfish

Tucked away on the Withlacoochee River, Stumpknockers Restaurant is another delicious seafood restaurant with riverfront seating. The unique features of this rustic eatery make it a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists alike. With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, adorned with fishing memorabilia and wooden accents, Stumpknockers instantly transports diners to a cozy southern retreat. When it comes to their menu, this remarkable restaurant truly excels. Serving up delicious seafood dishes such as fried oysters, shrimp scampi, and their famous fried catfish, Stumpknockers delights the taste buds and chances are, you’ll be back again. Additionally, their menu boasts more decadent options like tender prime rib, succulent baby back ribs, and flavorful chicken dishes, ensuring there is something for everyone. Whether savoring a meal indoors or enjoying the picturesque outdoor seating by the river, a visit to Stumpknockers promises a dining experience that perfectly reflects the culture and flavors of Dunnellon.

7. Seafood Seller & Cafe

Price range: $$

Rating: 4.7 out of 5

Can't-miss menu item: Sauteed Crab Claws

Cajun Jimmy’s Seafood Seller is not technically located in Dunnellon, but it’s very nearby at Crystal River. It’s only a 20-minute drive and if you’re spending a few days in Dunnellon at Rainbow Springs, then chances are you’ll find yourself at Crystal River spending time with the manatees at some point. I’ve been to the Seafood Seller three times now - three! After our first visit, we had to go back the very next day on our way home because we couldn’t get enough! And to our surprise, each time was just as good as the first. The staff at Seafood Seller is absolutely amazing and you can even find the owner, Jimmy, making rounds to make sure you love his food just as much as he does. He may even bring his pet crawfish over to your table! My parents were born and raised in Southern Louisiana so Cajun is in my blood. I’ve grown to love the food more and more as I get older and it’s not often that you come across an authentic, delicious Cajun restaurant outside of Louisiana, especially in Florida. But hands down this is a must if you love all things Cajun. Plus, they even have a market counter where you can buy seafood and meats to cook at home.

I hope that you try at least one of these when you make it to Rainbow Springs and please leave me a comment below if you do and let me know what you think! I’ll update this list when I discover more places the next time I’m in the area.

Happy travels!

-Tess

Tess Arnold

Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip!  If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!