Reservations Recommended

Pickled Shrimp, The Tennessee Truffle

A Downtown Sanford (DTS) Insider’s Guide to Successfully Securing Your Dining Spot When and Where You Want It. BY LEON KONIECZNY

Iam a frequent diner at Downtown Sanford’s (DTS) best restaurants and gastropubs—and who wouldn’t be, when there are such great choices in DTS? But many an evening, especially on a Friday or Saturday when DTS is always busy, I’ve sat at my reserved table or booth and watched party after party of walk-ins seek to be seated, only to be told the wait is very long or worse, that the restaurant is filled up for the evening—there is “no room at the inn.” It happens all too often, and it has happened to me—but only one time—I learned my lesson. If I want to dine on a weekend without having a reservation, I am taking a big chance. Now I always make a reservation well ahead of time.

Downtown Sanford is home to many fine restaurants and boasts a wide array of cuisine, ambience, price range, and of course, beer and craft cocktail selections. Sanford has, at times, been called a “drinking and dining town with a historic habit.” This is the key to its success and popularity—and why you need to plan ahead.

COURTESY THE TENNESSEE TRUFFLE (TOP LEFT); COURTESY LEON KONIECZNY (BOTTOM RIGHT) Of course, the first thing you should ask yourself is where you want to dine. Do you want southern cuisine with a gourmet twist? Then you should consider The Tennessee Truffle, Sanford’s temporary “pop-up restaurant” which extended its original 30-day concept—and that was about 5 years ago! Right around the corner you will find The District in Sanford with a hearty menu of favorites. Insiders know to order the soup—always excellent—and to arrive early. Just on the other side of DTS—a whole 3 blocks away—you can eat your gourmet cuisine behind bars at The Old Jailhouse. Be sure to try one of bar manager Nick’s craft cocktails—he has been doing it with gusto since they opened. A real Sanford destination is Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café. Come for some of the USA’s finest German food. Finally, to round out my top five, do not overlook St. John’s River Steak & Seafood which overlooks the St. John’s River and Lake Monroe—the views and ambience are spectacular with great food.

While I’ve only listed “my” top 5 restaurants, Sanford is home to numerous great restaurants, gastropubs, and bars with food.

To be fair, not every DTS restaurant or gastropub takes reservations, and various establishment have various reservation policies—call ahead and find out for yourself. Keep in mind that it is never good to be a no-show, but fortunately that is a rare experience in Sanford. Most places recently report that they are a bit short-staffed, so be patient, be kind, and tip your waitstaff well.

Let us summarize how to successfully secure your desired dining spot in DTS: 1) Call ahead—well ahead—for those places that take reservations. Be clear on your expectations and call back if your plans change. If you must cancel, give plenty of notice so someone else can benefit. No restaurant wants to keep a table empty and disappoint someone. 2) For those establishments who do not take reservations, arrive early, and prepare for a possible wait, especially on busy nights. Plan ahead. Have a drink (or two) at the bar while waiting and be patient. 3) Be patient with the staff—all establishments want to give you and everyone they serve a wonderful experience. They are trying to please you and everyone else they serve. They are doing their best for everyone and will do their best for you. 4) Do not forget to be appreciative, and to tip well and add a bit extra for that special service. As for planning ahead, I learned the hard way. One Saturday after a daytime event, we decided to head downtown to get a bite to eat—along with a thousand or more others who headed there ahead of us. We tried one place, but they had an hour wait to even put your name in for a table. We stopped by another favorite but the line was out the door. We went to a few of our favorites where we are well known, they just shrugged, “sorry.” We ended up going home and putting a frozen pizza in the oven—lesson learned: plan ahead. Reservations are recommended for Downtown Sandford’s best places, especially on a Friday or Saturday—but why leave it to chance—we reserve ahead to ensure we get our favorite table(s) all the time now, no matter what day of the week. As a bonus, when we plan ahead, we can often get our favorite tables. You can, too, with a bit of planning— ahead of time. n

*Or, how to avoid disappointment when your heart is set on eating out at one of DTS’s great restaurants, but they are all full and you must settle for eating a frozen pizza at home.

Leon Konieczny is a local Central Florida foodie and food blogger who’s been writing about Sanford and Seminole County area “good eats” restaurants for the past twelve years. He’s big into eating at local mom ‘n’ pop shops where high quality ingredients, love, and a dose of home cooking make all the difference. While he occasionally eats at the big chains, he claims it’s only to remind him where a real quality dining experience lurks — in the small restaurants which are the heart and soul of every neighborhood and community.

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