5 Best Bar & Grill near Avon Park

“Great Place. Wish I had discovered this wonderful restaurant earlier on my trips to Avon Park. Do yourself a favor....skip the chains....and enjoy a great evening with friends at a truly special restaurant. Owner is one of kind...great guy......and if you go, ask for Tammy. She is a lot of fun!“

“Market 27: A Love Letter to Convenience, Cuisine, and Chaos

Some restaurants aren’t just places to eat—they’re events. They’re where memories are made, diets are broken, and strangers nod at each other over shared plates of fries. Market 27 is one of those rare gems. Half grocery store, half restaurant, and all heart, it’s the kind of spot where you can grab a soda, a sandwich, and an existential crisis over which ice cream flavor to choose—all in one visit.

Upon entering Market 27, you’re greeted by what can only be described as ice cream nirvana. It’s an endless sea of flavors, allegedly 44 strong (though who’s counting?). It’s like a sugary mirage, beckoning you to drop everything and dive into the Mother Lode of frozen delight. But alas, you must first endure the wait for a table, during which time you’ll find yourself wandering through aisles of preserves, snacks, and sodas so obscure they probably only exist in this corner of Florida.

Once seated, the magic of Market 27 really kicks in. The menu is a sprawling epic, the War and Peace of casual dining, offering everything from burgers to quesadillas, pizza to macaroni platters. You could close your eyes and point at random, and odds are you’d land on something worth writing home about. Personally, I like to experiment—always trying something new, but never straying too far from my comfort zone. (I’m adventurous, but not that adventurous.)

What truly elevates Market 27, however, is the atmosphere. This isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a living, breathing community center. I can’t go there without running into someone I know—fellow model airplane enthusiasts, airport buddies, or just random folks from around town. The walls are adorned with eclectic art and TVs that cater to all interests: sports, trivia, and the occasional oddball video that sparks debates over fries.

Then there’s the ice cream bar. Oh, the ice cream bar. It’s not just a dessert station; it’s a social experiment. Families gather, seniors compare pill schedules, and someone inevitably declares, “This solves all the world’s problems!” And maybe it does. Ice cream has that power.

But let’s not forget the staff—the unsung heroes of this culinary circus. The waiters and waitresses at Market 27 are paragons of patience and cheer, even when the line snakes out the door and a toddler decides to reenact The Fast and the Furious between the tables. They remind us that dining out isn’t just about food—it’s about the experience, and these folks deliver it with a smile.

So if you ever find yourself on the border of Polk and Highlands Counties, near Baymont Park and an RV lot, do yourself a favor: stop at Market 27. It’s more than a meal; it’s an adventure. And who knows? You might just find yourself leaving with a full stomach, a new favorite soda, and a renewed sense of small-town charm.

Parking: If no parking if front swing around to the back and you will see plenty of parking

Kid-friendliness: Ice cream make every scream

Wheelchair accessibility: It is one level so you able to get in.“

“Always great food,drinks and service!“

“The restaurant has good food, not outstanding but quite good. The place is busy at times and crowding can make the experience less enjoyable. The restaurant is not the cleanest but is what you may expect for a bar. I will return but only if its not too busy at the time.

Parking: Parking surrounds the place but finding spot can leave you with quite a walk which may be a problem for certain folks.“

“Ice friendly place to grab a bite to eat, something to wash it down with.“