Restaurants near Lake Helen

“Papa's has the BEST Steak & Bacon Calzone. Made to perfection!”

“My wife and I visited Sinatra's last night for dinner and Dueling Pianos. We arrived about 5.30pm, in time for happy Hour. I had Canneloni with a meatball side. My wife ordered Chicken Piccata. Both of our meals arrived in about 20 minutes. Flavors, service and presentations were all great, and reasonably priced, especially considering since they provided live entertainment. There are 3 pianos set up together with rope lighting, surrounded by glass countertops and a bar with about 15 seats. We lasted about 90 minutes at our table. Other customers needed to be seated for dinner, so Alexis, our Server, kindly moved us to a few vacant seats at the bar. The piano players entertained us with songs from the 40's to recent times, many of which were customer requests. We had an amazing time, absolutely amazing. Sinatra's is a gem of entertainment and fun, hidden in a quiet community at the Cassadega Hotel. It gets crowded, so call about 30 minutes ahead for seating. We will be back.”

“We use to travel 20-30 min for Indian food and now we travel 4 mins up the street. Love this place. Atmosphere, great service, great food, overall vibe is really nice. Price range is great. Garlic Nan is amazing, chicken tikka masala and paneer tikka is so good. 10 out of 10”

“We have been eyeing My Greek Taverna since opening and finally were able to stop by for lunchtime. Best Greek food we have had in quite a while. The atmosphere is phenomenal (kid friendly) and the hospitality is 10/10. The owner Nick stopped by our table and made us feel like we were at home. So glad to have a family owned restaurant like this so close to home. Will definitely be back again and again. Thank you Nick and family for the amazing food and conversation!”

“Great Italian restaurant, food and service...Adrian was AMAZING...he offered and prepared a special light soup, so I would be able to eat something with my Yogi peers and Intructors...I'm for sure coming back Adrian to have the Ossobuco you recommended..keep up and spread your "CAN DO ATTITUDE"...it is refreshing and greatly appreciated!”

“Awesome service good prices”

“Great job redoing this iconic Deland landmark ! clean beautiful restaurant great service fantastic food will go again and again”

“Best hands down, Starbucks count your days”

“Best gay bar in Volusia. Lots of cocaine too!”

“I drive all the way from Charleston, SC to visit the wonderful Santorini Restaurant. I love the lamb shank, calamari and Athenian chicken. Everything is so delicious. Agatha and her staff are very friendly and attentive. A first class restaurant. Always a pleasure to visit.”

“Amazing delicious ice cream with great service and great people!”

“My fiancé took me here on a Sunday and there was no wait for a table. Server immediately came and offered drinks, and made my fiancé a very good Bloody Mary. Our servers name was Heather, and she was very attentive on refills and conversation. The food came out quick and the portion size was a lot bigger than I was expecting. I got the strawberry Nutella waffle, and the presentation was very pretty. Overall a nice experience, and my fiancé and I will probably come here again.”

“Food is always delicious!”

“Absolute best cheesecakes EVER!!!”

“Bought a supreme calzone. It was really good. Server Alyssa was wonderful. I will be back.”

“Authentic Mexican tacos and home cooking that is super delicious ! Nice huge menu, with very good food. The best Mexican restaurant I have been to since I can remember….Good place for the family to have a great meal…”

“Just ate here for the first time and we will definitely be back! So happy to have a place like this here. Excellent food, great service and good portions. Love the atmosphere!”

“Great keto flavors that don't spike blood sugar! My 12 year old is a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic. For her birthday, she wanted to have some ice cream from Sweet Spot. We came all the time before her diagnosis, so I know they usually have a keto flavor, but I had no clue if it would affect her blood sugar. Strawberry cheesecake keto ice cream was a winner! It was delicious, creamy, sweet, and did NOT spike her blood sugar. I had a scoop, too. 10/10 tasted just like their regular ice cream. Thank you, Sweet Spot, for allowing my kiddo to enjoy the same treats as other kids her age.”

“This past Sunday, Rikki and I headed to Mongoose restaurant in Deland for dinner. We stumbled upon this gem a few months ago on a Sunday evening when most restaurants wind down early. Its theme is centered around Asian street food. It is in the spot formerly occupied by Spellbound Café. The building looks like a converted single-family house from the 1930s and exudes charm from the moment you enter the narrow driveway leading to a small parking lot behind the building. From the parking lot, you enter through the covered porch, where there is outdoor seating. Upon entering, you're greeted by a warm atmosphere, with a few intimate rooms and a two-seat bar offering a prime view of the bustling kitchen. Mesmerizing 4K aerial scenes of overwater bungalows in Thailand draw your eyes to a TV mounted on the wall. Adjacent is a bookshelf stocked with titles like “Mission Street Food”, “Smoke and Pickles”, and works by Anthony Bourdain. Behind the bar is a whimsical neon fortune cat wielding chopsticks over a noodle bowl. Adding to the ambiance was the soulful melody of a Chris Cornell song. The great playlist continued throughout the evening. Opting for our favorite seats at the bar, Jenna, bustling behind the counter, welcomed us with a warm familiar smile. We brought our cribbage board and were able to play a couple of games during the evening. In the kitchen, Jason, the chef and mastermind behind the menu, was working and chopping effortlessly. Jason proudly introduced us to the new wine list, curated with the expertise of a Master of Wine. We ordered a bottle of Heinrichshof Zeltinger Mosel Riesling. It had notes of lime and wet stone with bright crisp acidity and a lime zest finish. It perfectly complemented the flavors that followed. We perused the menu and settled on the Fried Nikuman Pork Belly Tacos for an appetizer. It was a revelation. This delightful dish features crispy pork belly nestled within a soft Nikuman taco shell, accompanied by a medley of Tsukemono cabbage, onion, cilantro, lime, and Thai chili. Each bite was literally a symphony of flavors, the pickled cabbage harmonizing with the succulent pork belly. It was so creative. I could eat a pile of those tacos. For our entrée, Rikki savored one of the last servings of the Dan Dan Noodles. These aromatic noodles are infused with the rich flavors of five-spice pork, sesame, cilantro, peanuts, and chili oil, creating a mouthwatering fusion of textures and tastes. Meanwhile, I ordered the "HOT" Spicy Beef Pan Fried Noodles, a fiery yet flavorful concoction. This dish features tender Asada beef stir-fried with house-made chili crunch, shallots, and fried garlic melded with pan-fried noodles. As the evening unfolded, Jason shared snippets of his culinary journey, from his ambition to run a taco food truck inspired by a trip to Mexico City to his mastery of noodles acquired during his travels in Japan. It was evident that his passion infused every dish with authenticity and creativity. He generously shared a glass of Domaine de la Solitude, Pessac-Leognan, and we toasted with him. The wine was complex, with notes of blackberry fruit, mint, bell pepper, and graphite, balanced with a long finish. Amidst the hustle and bustle, Jenna tempted us with a large slice of freshly baked blueberry lemon cake. It was bursting with flavor without being too sweet or dense and crafted with care. In the end, Rikki emerged victorious in our cribbage games. Our experience at Mongoose restaurant was nothing short of exceptional. From the charming ambiance to the impeccable service, every aspect of our evening was delightful. Jason's passion for food shone through in every bite, and his dedication to his craft was evident in the creativity, flavors, and presentation. To top it off, the warm hospitality of Jenna made us feel welcome and at home. Without a doubt, Mongoose restaurant has earned our enthusiastic endorsement. We will return.”

“Bro. Been here multiple times, never bad. Tempura is light and crispy. Honey Chicken is nicely fried and generously sauced. Waiters are on top of the refills and checking on us without being over bearing. Place is great.”

“Outstanding biscuits and gravy!”

“Friendly staff. Clean restaurant. Fast service. Reasonably priced. Huge portions.”

“El lugar esta nitido para comer y compartir con sus familias!!”

“The vibe here is all around amazing! The staff have no egos and treat you like family. This is a classy and fun downtown hangout!”

“Always amazing quality. Best sushi around. Very friendly staff. Highly recommend.”

“Best wraps EVER. I think about them everyday. Fast and fresh! Customer for life!!!”

“My boyfriend and I went here for lunch last week and it was Absolutely amazing food even better staff and a warm welcome from the owner, great price, great taste and will recommend to EVERYONE ”

“Osteen Diner is fantastic! Excellent food, high quality, friendly service, and the food comes and fast and correct. I wish I could put more than 5 ⭐️. The best diner we’ve eaten at in a very long time.”

“the quality of food and service and the barbecue is amazing the best I have ate in a long time”

“I'm from South Carolina originally and Taste of Soul is as close to the homecooking I'm used to. The staff are real sweet, down to earth folk. It's nothing fancy as far as looks...just simple and that works for me. I haven't tried the oxtail yet but next time I see it on the menu I'm trying it.”