CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER IN CRYSTAL RIVER, OCALA, TAMPA, or GAINESVILLE

[Brian Murray]

My wife and I are driving down from Canada to Florida for the Christmas Holiday.
We are due to arrive in florida late night on Christmas Eve - we will have no time to shop.
We will be at Crystal River and don't mind driving to Ocala, Tampa or Gainesville.
Could anyone advise where can we go to get a nice Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Day?

[bcodom]

Drive about 20 minutes east to Inverness and have dinner at Van der Valk at the Lakeside Golf course. check it out at http://www.valkusa.com/restaurant/arr...

[Brian Murray]

Hi BCDOM

thanks for the recommendation - it looks like a nice place - we will definitely try this restaurant out.

regards
Brian Murray

[bcodom]

Brian - I live in Orlando but my mother lives in Inverness on the golf course where this restaurant is and we go there all the time. The atmosphere is very upscale for the area. The chef is Dutch and the menu has some different entrees, such as Dover Sole. Don't miss the soup -- the Lobster Bisque is incredible. We also like the Amuse du Chef which is a selection of small portions of 6 appetizers, such as carpacio, smoked salmon, crab dip, soup, and whatever else the chef decides to add. And the owners LOVE to decorate for the holidays -- take a minute to walk around and check out the decos; very festive. If the weather is nice, the screened in area out back overlooks Spanish moss-covered trees and part of the golf course. I hope you enjoy Van der Valk; I'm usually there for Christmas but we're off somewhere else this year -- let me know how it goes....Barbara