Florida’s Nature Coast serves up summer scratch-kitchen dining
According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, ‘foodies will travel for food’ and ‘local cuisine isn’t just part of the travel experience; it’s the main event.’
Florida’s Nature Coast is offering food lovers a tasty new experience in the towns of Crystal River, Homosassa, Lecanto and Inverness.
The Nature Coast offers an affordable, under-the-radar option with surprisingly spectacular scratch-kitchen dining.
Here, seafood comes straight off the boat, while charming downtowns like Inverness buzz with pubs, coffee roasters, and eateries.
Here are four scratch-based favorites where flavor and local pride come together in every bite:
Wallace’s at The Greenhouse, Homosassa
After a life-changing cancer diagnosis, husband-and-wife team Wallace and Stefanie Phaire went all-in on their dream, and Wallace’s at The Greenhouse was born. This cozy spot serves up inventive dishes including Hickory Dusted Porkchops and Shrimp and White Cheddar Grit Cakes topped with Cajun cream sauce.
Bayside Kraft Kitchen, Crystal River
At Bayside Kraft Kitchen you get sweeping views of King’s Bay and fresh scratch-made dishes. Owners Tiffany and Richard Wiggins use fresh, local ingredients and time-honored techniques like sous vide, pickling, and cast-iron cooking. Start with Whipped Feta appetizer (with charred local sourdough and house-pickled onions), and a main course of Chilean Seabass paired with creamy mashed potatoes and crisped Brussels sprouts, Sweet endings include a tempting Chocolate Torte topped with house-made whipped cream.
Katch 22, Lecanto
A little inland, visitors can find Katch 22, another local must-visit dining destination. Also owned by the Wiggins family and helmed by Michelin-starred Chef de Cuisine James Hill, this spot is an insider’s secret. Everything is created from scratch, from the fresh bread and handmade pasta to the decadent desserts. Popular items include the Trinidad Pepper Shrimp, Crab Cakes, and Truffle & Mushroom Risotto.
The Cove Pub, Inverness
History meets hospitality at The Cove Pub, a Citrus County institution that got its start back in the 1950s. Fast-forward through decades (and a rebuild after a fire), and today The Cove Pub still serves up legendary flavors with Old Florida charm. The scratch-made sauces, jumbo “Debbie” wings, and indulgent Oinkers (house chips smothered in smoked pulled pork, ranch, and chipotle BBQ) have made The Cove a can’t-miss classic.
To start planning a scratch-made summer foodie adventure, visit DiscoverCrystalRiverFL.com .
Crystal River, Florida is renowned as the Manatee Capital of the World and one of North America’s premier destinations for swimming with manatees. On a guided eco tour, visitors can enjoy an up-close encounter. Located on Central Florida’s Gulf Coast, Crystal River and the surrounding cities of Old Homosassa, Inverness and Floral City are home to tens of thousands of acres of protected state parks, forests and wildlife refuges
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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