From Ormond Beach to NSB, here are six of my favorite restaurants that don’t disappoint.
After a year here at the News-Journal, I’ve definitely had my hands full when it comes to food — and my stomach, to say the least. I’ve visited more than 100 restaurants in the Volusia-Flagler area in the last 12 months, trying everything from popular waterfront tourist spots serving seafood to family-run soul food joints to tiny taquerias, South Indian-inspired food joints, white-tablecloth steakhouses and sparkling treehouse bars.
With dozens of restaurants to choose from, I’ve distilled the area’s options into a list of my favorites: places I instinctively recommend to friends and family; those with menus so unusual that they require exploration rather than familiar favorites; places I return to again and again, each visit surpassing the last.
From Ormond Beach to New Smyrna Beach, here are six local restaurants that I think tick all the boxes.
The cellar restaurant
220 Magnolia Ave., Daytona Beach; 386-258-0011, thecellarrestaurant.com
A true culinary experience, The Cellar in Daytona Beach has earned deserved recognition for years for its intimate atmosphere and meticulous attention to detail, which is reflected in each masterfully prepared dish. The romantic, upscale restaurant is located in the historic two-story winter house of the 29thth The restaurant was built in 1907 by U.S. President Warren G. Harding’s father-in-law, Amos Kling, and was often occupied by Harding and his wife. Guests can dine on the first floor of the restaurant or go downstairs to the main dining room, the basement.
Magnolia Avenue restaurant has truly set a precedent for authentic Italian cuisine in the area and is known for its distinctive range of homemade pastas – including rigatoni, pappardelle, bucatini and gnocchi; delicate seafood dishes; steak dinners and lamb, among other options, as well as a selection of luxury wines. I recently indulged in the carbonara, a zesty combination of prosciutto, salumi and pancetta with onions, cream, egg, parmigiano and bucatini – a spaghetti-like pasta whose hollow interior allows it to be filled with sauce while retaining its delicious surface layer; as well as the dentice alla romana – a flaky snapper fillet sautéed with freshly diced tomatoes, artichokes and basil and served with a sweet, slightly earthy saffron white wine sauce. For dessert, try the homemade tiramisu or a gelato imported from Italy.
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63 Sovereign
63 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach; 386-238-9032, 63sovereign.com
Whether friends, family or vacationers visiting Volusia County, I’m often faced with the task of narrowing down my favorite restaurants to one no-brainer recommendation, where flavors inspire conversation, service exceeds expectations and ambiance melts away the worries of the day. My answer is always 63 Sovereign. The charming restaurant and cocktail bar, housed in a two-story sapphire house on Ormond Beach’s bustling Granada Boulevard, has been a consistent success since opening in 2018, continually pushing the boundaries of culinary creativity with globally influenced cuisine that’s proven to be a hit with diners with the tamest and most adventurous palates.
Owners Sergio Faenza and Brandon Sheppard offer a “creative take on classics from around the world” with a seasonally inspired menu featuring Italian, Vietnamese, Moroccan and new-age American influences—not to mention some of my favorite cocktails in town. Whether you venture up the three-tiered seafood tower, starting with a crispy tuna roll, a bao bun with layers of carnitas or a peri-peri chicken taco with tzatziki, there really is something for everyone. My recent favorites are the pan-fried gnocchi bites, the burrata bread slathered with garlic and herb butter and served in creamy ricotta mornay sauce, and the Mediterranean board—a sharing platter with house-made hummus, roasted red pepper feta and tzatziki, alongside grilled halloumi, cucumber slices and other seasonal fare.
Voo La Voo Cafe
829 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach; 954-310-7293, voolavoocafe.com
It’s not every day that French cuisine as authentic and artfully prepared as that at Voo La Voo finds its way to Central Florida. Originally from Brittany, owner and chef Sylvie Le Nouail recently brought her years of honed culinary talents to the softly colored, floral walls of Canal Street Café, designed to reflect the tranquility of its tucked-away New Smyrna Beach location.
Beloved for their thin, lacy texture and nuanced flavor, Voo La Voo’s buckwheat crepes are Le Nouail’s signature dish and the crown jewel of the cafe’s menu. While brunch options include the raspberry cream cheese and best-selling chicken béchamel crepes, the dinner menu features everything from boeuf bourguignon—rich beef fillet slow-cooked in a delicious Burgundy wine sauce—to traditional escargot, roasted rosemary chicken from the corn-fed region, and the seafood crepe—a personal favorite that layers Atlantic salmon, scallops, shrimp, and crab in a carrot and leek saffron cream sauce on a bed of wilted spinach. The cafe also offers espresso and coffee drinks, as well as a selection of French beer, wine, and Breton cider.
Alexander’s Prime
123 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach; 386-238-9228, facebook.com/alexandersprime
Having recently reclaimed its place in the downtown Ormond dining scene where Alexander’s began nearly four decades ago, the now upscale steakhouse has quickly earned a reputation among locals for its upscale charm, white-tablecloth fare and nostalgic nod to the 1920s Art Deco era. Thanks to the creative mind of local developer Bill Jones and the industry expertise of New York City restaurateur Joe Oliva, the nearly 100-year-old building now boasts a revolving door of regulars who return for a New York-style steak dinner or to secure a seat for a cocktail at the bar adorned with George Rodrigue Blue Dog artwork.
Alexander’s menu features a selection of dry-aged prime cuts and steaks, including the top 3% of USDA beef, as well as fresh, locally sourced seafood, including naked and dressed oysters, and entrees under $20, like the 14-hour slow-roasted bacon bites served with a bourbon and brown sugar glaze. Most recently, I enjoyed the 20-ounce bone-in Delmonico Ribeye—a prime dry-aged steak for $64, intricately marbled with a bold, beefy flavor profile—and the grilled Atlantic salmon, served over a mild sweet pea puree and zesty heirloom tomato salad.
Third Wave Café & Wine Bar
204 Flagler Ave., New Smyrna Beach; 386-402-7864, thirdwavensb.com
An invaluable part of New Smyrna Beach’s culinary scene, Third Wave Café and Wine Bar transports customers to a carefree, garden-like sanctuary where each dish prepared by Chef Dave Moscoso is a satisfying combination of flawless presentation, inimitable flavor and creativity. The Flagler Avenue restaurant has earned praise from locals and celebrities alike, including Food Network star Guy Fieri, and maintains its position as a 2024 Smart Catch Leader, recognized for its commitment to serving sustainable seafood.
Third Wave offers an exceptional selection of casual and special occasion wines, as well as signature cocktails, alongside a rotating menu of globally influenced coastal cuisine with steak, chicken and seafood plates to suit every taste. I often started with the classic sausage, house-smoked Cajun redfish dip or roasted Brussels sprouts, before recently indulging in the giant Alaskan scallops – served on chef’s vegetable risotto with aged Parmigiano-Reggiano and garden herbs; and the Fungi Fromage pizza – a 12-inch oak-oven pizza decorated with seasonal mushrooms, garlic and Italian herbs, grated mozzarella, provolone, Parmigiano-Reggiano and black truffle oil.
Street food and bars in Mexico City
855 Mason Ave., Daytona Beach; 386-236-9126, mexicocitystreetfoodandbar.com
If you like authentic Mexican tacos on homemade corn tortillas, molcajete stuffed to the brim with crab, scallops and clams, or tender ribeye steaks for under $20, Mexico City Street Food and Bar is worth a visit. Opened in Daytona Beach less than six months ago, the street eatery reflects the culture and culinary traditions of the Mexican capital. It adorns the walls with custom Dia de Los Muertos murals, has a full bar with over a dozen hand-crafted margaritas to choose from, and an extensive menu with fine-tuned versions of classic street food favorites.
Customers can find everything from homemade enchiladas, chiles rellenos and beef cheeks, brisket or birria tacos, grilled and fried fish, fajitas and vegetarian options. Along with a spicy jalapeno tajin margarita, the tacos chilangos trio is one of the many favorites on the menu, combining rich carnitas, grilled chicken and marinated steak bites with fresh pico de gallo, chipotle sauce and queso fresco. For dessert, try a churro or a delicious homemade fruit popsicle.
