|
Olympic Restaurant
Category:
Restaurants
504 US Highway 27 N
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 452-2700
We served a buffet luncheon at my wedding reception. We chose a variety of foods from several...
More
We served a buffet luncheon at my wedding reception. We chose a variety of foods from several places in town. We ordered meat and cheese platters from Publix and chicken wings from Pizza Hut and potato salad from the Olympic Restaurant.
A friend of my mom's has ordered potato salad from here to take to parties for as long as we've known her and my mom always thought she was crazy. My mom thought it was a waste of good money when potato salad is so cheap and easy to make. Well, when she started thinking about making potato salad for 100 people and then storing it until it could be placed on the buffet tables, she took Barbara's advice and called the Olympic. My mom got so many compliments on the potato salad and it was gobbled up so quickly that she's never made potato salad from scratch again!
Hide
|
|
The name comes from the 150-year-old Jacaranda tree growing where the hotel was to be built in...
More
The name comes from the 150-year-old Jacaranda tree growing where the hotel was to be built in 1923 - the Florida Boom Era. The tree was a landmark in town and there was much ado that it had to be felled to make room for the building. In fact, local citizens tried to replant the giant tree elsewhere, but it failed.
For several years, the hotel was known as the "Queen of the Ridge," thanks to its elegant accommodations and fine dining. The Great Depression of the 1930s and the War Years of the 1940s robbed her of her youth and sparkle. A series of loving owners tried their best to maintain her but the new trend toward highway hotels was just too much and the downward spiral continued. By 1988, the Jacaranda teetered on the edge of being closed down; but South Florida Community College came to the rescue. The college got into the Jacaranda act because of (1) its expanding programs in culinary arts, hospitality management and historic building restoration; (2) the need for student housing; and, (3) the desire to improve the economy of the community.
An enthusiastic crew of college staff, students and volunteers began the tedious jobs of scraping off all the accumulated coats of paint, patching, sealing, repainting, restoring the brass hardware and china fixtures, refinishing the wood floors, rewiring and re-plumbing.
Today, the "Jac" offers guests a choice of restored guest rooms, mini suites, master suites and grand suites, with the grand suite featuring a living room, two bedrooms and two baths. The restored lobby readily lends itself to relaxing, reading, conversing, card playing or working puzzles. And there's a heated, enclosed swimming pool.
Except in the summer, the dining room is open for lunch and dinner, with a southern-style buffet, salad bar and an a la carte menu. A grand buffet is offered on Sundays. It is closed Saturdays and Mondays.
Hide
|
|
Olympic Restaurant
Category:
Greek Restaurants
504 Us Highway 27 N
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
We have eaten here several times and while we have had to wait to be seated, it is worth the wait!...
More 12 months ago
We have eaten here several times and while we have had to wait to be seated, it is worth the wait! We have had some very good meals and been served promptly. Highly recommended.
Hide
|
|
When the historic Jacaranda Hotel fell into disrepair, South Florida Community College bought and...
More
When the historic Jacaranda Hotel fell into disrepair, South Florida Community College bought and restored it. While still a working hotel, many of the rooms are used as dorm rooms for students at SFCC. Also, the college's culinary arts program is taught at the Jacaranda. While I personally believe the Jacaranda Hotel could be more finely refurbished, I am glad they took on the huge task they have for the Jacaranda would be sorely missed had it been allowed to fall apart.
Hide
|
|
Yums
Category:
Restaurants
1022 US Highway 27 S
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 452-0228
Yum's is a family run restaurant which has delicious Chinese food that is always prepared fresh....
More
Yum's is a family run restaurant which has delicious Chinese food that is always prepared fresh. They have at least two specials daily which give you a full meal including entrée, rice, egg roll or soup and fortune cookie for under $5.00. You can't beat that with a Big Mac and Yum's' food is much healthier and better tasting. They also have a very extensive menu. If you call your order in ahead of time, you won't have to wait as long.
Hide
|
|
Hendrick's Grocery
Category:
Grocery Stores
202 E Main St
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 453-3058
What a convenience it is to pop in for a bag of dog food and grab a steak for yourself at the same...
More 4 months ago
What a convenience it is to pop in for a bag of dog food and grab a steak for yourself at the same time. Where in this town can you get all that including getting a fishing license, notorizing paperwork and a tank of gas all at the same place? I think this place is branded as a little town secret. They have early hours and are kind to all people. So check this place out.
Hide
|
|
Publix Super Markets
Category:
Grocery Stores
1020 US Highway 27 S
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 452-1200
We served a buffet luncheon at my reception. As part of the buffet offerings, we ordered several...
More
We served a buffet luncheon at my reception. As part of the buffet offerings, we ordered several party platters from Publix. http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3 We ordered two platters with sliced meats and cheeses http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3#Publix%20Deli%20Platters:%20Meat%20&%20Cheese and one platter with nothing but meats http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3#foo10 so guests could make their own sandwiches.
These platters came from the deli and the people we dealt with were easy to work with and extremely helpful. They were patient and took time to answer all our questions. We never felt stupid or rushed. The platters were more than ample and there were still leftovers when we got back from our honemoon. In fact, they helped stretch our food dollars the first month of our marriage.
Other platters available are those with already-made sandwiches http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3#Publix%20Deli%20Custom%20Sandwiches ; fruits, vegetables and cheese http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3#Publix%20Deli%20Platters:%20Fruit,%20Vegetable%20&%20Cheese ; salads, sides and spreads http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3#Publix%20Deli%20Platters:%20Salads,%20Sides%20&%20Spreads ; or sandwiches and finger foods http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=3#Publix%20Deli%20Platters:%20Sandwiches%20&%20Finger%20Foods . I've always found that the foods from the deli at Publix are of the highest quality and think this is true of all their platters, too.
Publix's bakery makes some of the prettiest and best tasting cakes I've ever seen or eaten. Their wedding cakes are some of their finest creations. http://www.publix.com/custom/wedding/Category.do?categoryId=1 By the time you choose your colors and style of cake, the options are almost endless. They also make mini wedding cakes (which serve 4 guests) http://www.publix.com/custom/wedding/CategoryNoDetails.do?categoryId=2 , groom's cakes (chocolate is a Southern tradition) http://www.publix.com/custom/wedding/Category.do?categoryId=3 , bridal shower cakes http://www.publix.com/custom/wedding/Category.do?categoryId=4 and and anniversary cakes http://www.publix.com/custom/wedding/Category.do?categoryId=5 for the years to come. All fantabulous choices but we were on a very tight budget and felt Publix's prices were a little too high so we hired someone just starting a catering business to make our cake.
There are several platters you can order from the bakery http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=4 , produce department http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=5 or seafood counter http://www.publix.com/custom/party/PartyPlanningSelection.do?id=2 to help make your reception satisfying.
Hide
|
|
Publix Super Markets
Category:
Bakeries
1020 US Highway 27 S
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 452-1221
One of the reasons I like Publix is that it is a very clean store. I think a store that is clean...
More
One of the reasons I like Publix is that it is a very clean store. I think a store that is clean in the areas I can see has a better chance of being clean in the areas I can't see and vice versa. Publix carries items I cannot find anywhere else (such as Bon Ami); and if they don't carry an item I'm looking for, they are very good about special ordering it. Although I find most of Publix's prices high, I can still find some good sale prices. I think their deli meats are the freshest of all our local grocery stores. Their service personnel are very nice and extremely helpful.
Hide
|
|
Avon Food Store
Category:
Convenience Stores
744 S Highlands Ave
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 453-5330
Even though Avon Food Store was renovated within the last year, it still looks old and dirty....
More
Even though Avon Food Store was renovated within the last year, it still looks old and dirty. There is another convenience store directly across the street, which is a little nicer and a much nicer Shell gas station and convenience store just a few blocks north so I'm not sure how Avon Food Store can expect to stay in business with such stiff competition so close by.
Hide
|
|
A N Food Store Inc
Category:
Convenience Stores
200 W Main St
Avon Park,
Florida 33825
(863) 453-7790
Being located on Main Street makes this food store very convenient. I think it's owned by the same...
More
Being located on Main Street makes this food store very convenient. I think it's owned by the same people who own Main Street Car Care but they do have separate gasoline pumps. This makes getting gas and running into the convenience store even easier. Prices for gas are in the mid range. I wouldn't do my grocery shopping here, but it is convenient sometimes.
Hide
|