Delicious meals will fuel your adventure as you learn everything that Madison, Florida has to offer. Madison FL eateries made a mark on me, and I’m happy to share my favorite discoveries with you!
Madison, which was founded in 1838, is located at the summit of north-central Florida and is brimming with Southern charm and warmth. This might be the ideal spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of large city life and see the actual beauty of Old Florida.
Agriculture was an important component when cotton and tobacco producers moved in this region. Currently, farming in this area is quite different from contemporary irrigation and is centered on sustainability.
Key crops such as peanuts, maize, soybeans, mushrooms, and a variety of vegetables thrive. The farm-to-table movement benefits farmers, local eateries, and all those who enjoy the delectability of local food, directing visitors to some of the greatest restaurants in Madison, FL.
Nature offers abundance of territory for hunting and sources of water for fishing, such as Lake Frances.
Madison’s humid subtropical environment makes it one of the most pleasant places to live in Florida. There are unexplored regions to discover as well as paved routes for walking, biking, and horseback riding.
Madison Blue Springs State Park, located less than ten miles from town on State Route 6, is a crystal-clear spring popular for swimming and scuba diving. All of these indigenous features combine to create a nature lover’s paradise.
When you ask residents what they enjoy most about Madison, they will tell you how lovely, quaint, and historic it is.
They’ll tell you it’s a family-oriented community where religion and a strong work ethic are still valued. On Sundays, many, if not most, businesses are closed.
They will state that their little town of just over 3,000 people was named one of the Best Small Towns in Florida by VISIT FLORIDA, and that they have an RV and Golf Resort, as well as a community college.
Several of the mansions erected in the 1800s bear witness to history. These beautiful Neoclassical, Antebellum, and Victorian structures are a photographer’s dream.
The Four Freedoms Park is a city block in the middle of Madison. It has moss-draped oak trees, azaleas, a gazebo, and a number of memorials. The county courthouse, erected in 1913, can be seen just across Base Street. The Treasures of Madison County Museum, located two blocks south on Range Avenue, is a historian’s dream.
Continue reading for my selection of the best nine restaurants to visit on your next trip to Madison, organized by category.
Enjoy!
Visiting other places in Florida? See our other guides:
- 9 Must-Try Marco Island Restaurants
- 13 Fun Things To Do In San Marco Island
- The 9 Best Amelia Island Restaurants & 9 Fun Things To Do In Amelia Island
- 7 Best Kissimmee Restaurants
- 7 Best Celebration FL Restaurants
- 10 Must-Try Cape Coral Restaurants
- 9 Fun Things To Do In Vero Beach Florida & 8 Best Vero Beach Restaurants
- 7 Must-Try Clearwater Florida Restaurants
- 6 Must-Try Indian Rocks Beach Restaurants
- 13 Best Disney Springs Restaurants
- 7 Must-Try Universal CityWalk Restaurants
- 20 Best Restaurants In Universal Studios
Contents
- 1 The Top 9 Madison FL Restaurants
The Top 9 Madison FL Restaurants
COFFEE STORES
Caf Norris
973-2552140 SW Range Ave (850) 973-2552
Chris and Amanda Norris founded Norris Caf in 2014 and take pleasure in being a welcoming breakfast and lunch location in town.
Monday through Saturday, local favorites include sandwiches, chicken or chef salad cooked fresh everyday, milkshakes, and their own locally roasted Blue Quail coffee in a wide range of flavors.
Positive phrases such as “concentrate on the good” adorn the walls. The seating is comfy, and the ambience is warm and inviting.
Amanda graciously informs clients about their adjacent Daisy and Dukes store, which is linked via a barn door. People prefer to make their order and then explore the shop while their meal is being made.
The Wine Cellar Tasting Room and Sunrise Coffee Shop
SW Rutledge Street (850) 973-1381247 SW Rutledge Street
Sunrise is out of the ordinary, with exquisite antiques and a life-size 1000-pound bronze bear.
P. Conners and M. Sheppard, the owners, provide beautiful desserts and morsels of paradise, as well as soup, coffee, tea, champagne, and wine.
Live music is performed during their weekly wine tastings. They advertise their two other local book and antique stores.
Chef Sheppard urges visitors to go view the beauty of nature in the early morning before being treated with a peaceful dinner. Open from Thursday through Saturday.
If you’re searching for a full breakfast, one of these two outstanding eateries may be where to dine in Madison.
DINERS
Grumpy’s Diner & Pie Shop
973-280-2244 SW Range Ave.
Jessica Webb, the owner, is a long-time resident, real estate agent, and artist who knows everyone and every property in town. She is a lively and active source of knowledge who could easily persuade most visitors to relocate to Madison.
Locals rave about her burgers, salads, and daily specialties like chicken and dumplings.
Oh, and an ever-changing selection of Grumpy’s legendary pies.
I can personally testify that the apple pie is the greatest I’ve ever tasted. Grumpys Eat & Pie Shop is open daily from Monday through Saturday. This traditional diner is one of Madison’s greatest places to eat.
Diner Smackin Lips
190 S State Rd. (850) 973-31156
This exciting new addition to the local gourmet scene is open seven days a week and serves Southern Cookin At Its Finest. Once you walk in, the vibrant mural puts a grin to your face, and the highly energetic crew greets you like an old friend in seconds.
When Mary, our beautiful server, remarked, “Let’s get you fed,” I smiled.
Marv emerged from the kitchen to ensure that I was delighted with my lunch. When I told him Garrett from the Chamber of Commerce suggested Smackin Lips, he chuckled and said, “Excellent, because he’s my brother-in-law!”
The selection at Smackin Lips is fantastic, whether you want an omelet, a hamburger steak with gravy and onions, a chicken sandwich with secret sauce and fries, or (what I got) popcorn shrimp with cheese grits. The proprietors also run the adjoining Ragans Family Campground.
Smackin Lips is a fitting moniker for this Madison eatery.
Smackin Lips is a fitting moniker for this Madison eatery.
BUFFET
O’Neal’s Country Buffet
973-6400558 W Base Street (850) 973-6400558
This is a traditional restaurant noted for its fried chicken, greens, and banana pudding. A mob of hungry blue-collar workers and down-to-earth people gathers here to discuss politics and religion.
The staff is incredibly busy and will just minimally slow down to talk. But if you tell them about your problems, I’m sure they’ll pledge to pray for you afterwards. Come here if you want to stuff your belly with a hefty dish of fried cuisine.
The staff is incredibly busy and will just minimally slow down to talk. But if you tell them about your problems, I’m sure they’ll pledge to pray for you afterwards. Come here if you want to stuff your belly with a hefty dish of fried cuisine.
SPECIALTY
Rancho Grande
SW Pinckney Street (850) 973-2363307 SW Pinckney Street
Rancho Grande is the place to go for tacos and burritos in a vibrant environment. The colourful Mexican chairs and tables are complemented by the gift shop’s similarly vibrant products.
Check the schedule since there is often live music. It’s also a great spot to strike up a conversation or practice your Spanish. A keepsake cup is included with their mixed drink special.
Visit this Rancho for Mexican cuisine in Madison for some south-of-the-border flare.
Cucinellas Brick Oven Pizza Restaurant
Phone: (850) 973-3388201 SW Rutledge Street
Since 1932, Cucinellas has been serving the greatest hand-tossed New York-style pizza.
Owners Jonathan and Karon Mazzella operate a variety of companies, are involved in the community, and he is a proud Army veteran. They are quite kind and showed out the same booth where they met nine years ago.
The personnel is wonderful, and they often go above and above, such as making heart-shaped pizza for loving couples.
Customers like calzones, salads, wings, garlic knots, and cinnamon knots in addition to pizza. I ate my chicken salad while admiring the beauty of Lake Frances.
Is there pizza in Madison? This is your spot.
Is there pizza in Madison? This is your spot.
BISTRO
The C & D Bistro
843-573-2041144 SW Horry Ave.
Dan Sullivan, the owner, relocated from Los Angeles to Madison in search of peace and quiet. He established C & D Restaurant in April 2019 and is pleased with the great reception it has received. Our cuisine is photogenic and takes your senses on a trip, he says. He made a lovely and tasty strawberry sopapilla for me.
C & D Restaurant makes fantastic hamburgers using locally bred grass-fed meat and locally prepared buns.
They rave about the fish tacos, wings, and desserts. The salmon with carrots, asparagus, and red cabbage, according to Dan, is his most creative meal.
The outside sitting area is laid-back and beachy, with a fire pit and corn hole activities. A pole barn and more seats are being built.
Gifted employees utilize their creativity to provide additional entertainment such as exquisite food carving and fire dance. This must-try Madison restaurant serves you superb cuisine and entertainment.
Gifted employees utilize their creativity to provide additional entertainment such as exquisite food carving and fire dance. This must-try Madison restaurant serves you superb cuisine and entertainment.
ELEGANT DINING
The Beautiful Square
683 W Base St (850) 973-2521
Henry Mendoza, the restaurant’s owner, and head chef Maria Garcia are celebrating their one year in operation. They concur, along with front of house manager Polet Luna, that Madison’s tiny but incredibly supportive community has been so welcome and lovely. In response, La Piazza Bella contributes to the local humane society and soccer club.
Their most popular Tour of Italy dishes include lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and filled shell. Other popular dishes include the shrimp salad and the cannoli.
Customers may opt to sit inside or on the terrace. Sunday through Thursday until 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.
La Piazza Bella is a must-try restaurant in Madison for great cuisine with an Italian flair.
La Piazza Bella is a must-try restaurant in Madison for great cuisine with an Italian flair.