Lorito's Italian Kitchen (Closed)
Ocala, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
You will never whine about not being able to find Lorito's Italian Kitchen on
US 40 in Ocala, FL. The Italian eatery has about a 14-foot light up bottle
to grab drivers attention. It is outlined in neon complete with a flaming
candle stuck in its neck. At the base three animated red, neon arrows
point the way to the front door. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
Lorito's opened in 1970 and became a favorite Ocala stop for pizza, pasta, and family dinners. The basket-wrapped Chianti bottle sign gave the restaurant plenty of roadside personality and even survived being knocked down in a traffic accident in 2009 before returning to its place beside the highway.
Although Lorito's closed in 2023 after more than fifty years, the story didn't end there. The building reopened the following year as Franco's Italian Restaurant, and thankfully the famous wine bottle sign was saved. Today it continues welcoming motorists, proving that a little piece of Ocala's roadside history is still standing.
UPDATE: Lorito's closed in 2023. The building now houses Franco's Italian Restaurant, and the iconic wine bottle sign remains on the property. 07-26
Petite Jardin (Gone)
Ocala, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
When translated, the name Petite Jardin means little garden. And
while it is true, the atmosphere is tiny and elegant (only six tables)
- the Ocala, FL restaurant is big on taste. It is at the top of the list
for those in the area who enjoy fine dining. John Bell is the owner and
Executive Chef of the restaurant. He runs it along side his wife Kelly.
In the past, John has cooked for President Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and
Mike Douglas. Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The colorful sign for Petite Jardin stood out along Silver Springs Boulevard, hinting that something a little different was waiting inside. While most roadside restaurants promised burgers or barbecue, this tiny spot specialized in elegant continental cuisine served in an intimate setting.
With only a handful of tables, Petite Jardin earned a loyal following despite its modest size. Chef John Bell's creative menu made the restaurant one of Ocala's favorite special-occasion destinations, proving that big flavors could come from a very small dining room.
The restaurant closed in 2003, and several other eateries have occupied the building over the years. The distinctive sign is gone now, but longtime Ocala diners still remember Petite Jardin as one of the city's most unique little restaurants.
Ranch House Restaurant (Demolished)
Avon Park, FL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
The smiling chef on the marquee made Ranch House Restaurant easy to spot along U.S. 27. If you were looking for a hearty meal of steaks, burgers, or good old-fashioned country cooking, the friendly sign pointed the way.
Part of Florida's popular Ranch House chain, the Avon Park location shared the Western theme that made the restaurants a favorite stop for families and travelers alike. The cartoon chef out front became just as memorable as the food, welcoming hungry motorists from the roadside for years.
UPDATE: The Ranch House Restaurant in Avon Park, FL was demolished in 1997 or thereabouts. It is now a CVS pharmacy. Many thanks to Katrina Carroll for update. 08-06
UPDATE: The restaurant was demolished around 1997, and the friendly chef marquee disappeared along with it. 07-26
Pine Grove Family Restaurant (Demolished)
Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
Here's a marquee for the Pine Grove Family Restaurant in Tampa,
FL that's a reminder back to the color scheme Howard Johnson's once used. In
the photo on the left, the orange arrow is about the size of a car! In
the right photo, check out the snowman in the background. It is not everyday
in 90 degree Florida heat that you find frosty! Many thanks to Steve/Back on Tack for info.
The tall roadside sign made it easy to spot the Pine Grove Family Restaurant while cruising along North Florida Avenue. It had the kind of welcoming look that promised a good cup of coffee, a hearty breakfast, and a place where nobody seemed to mind if you lingered a little while after finishing your meal.
Although most folks remembered it as Pine Grove, the building actually began life as a Frisch's Big Boy restaurant back in the 1960s. The family restaurant that followed became a favorite with neighborhood regulars and hungry travelers alike, serving generous breakfasts all day along with plenty of comfort food. In its later years, the menu even featured the famous Goody Goody Burger after the owner obtained the rights to the original POX sauce recipe, bringing a little piece of old Tampa back to the table.
Pine Grove Family Restaurant (Demolished)
Tampa, FL Photo courtesy Steve/Back on Tack
One thing that never really changed was the roadside sign. Even as the restaurant changed names over the years, the familiar sign continued greeting passing motorists, becoming almost as much of a local landmark as the restaurant itself.
UPDATE: Pine Grove closed around 2009, and the building was demolished in 2014. The old sign structure still stands today, although it has been refaced for the business that now occupies the property. 07-26
Kristine's (Gone)
Lake Worth, FL Photo courtesy Kevin O'Sullivan
This little Art Deco gem is hard to miss along Dixie Highway. With its rounded corners and lighthouse-inspired tower, Kristine's looked like something from another era, inviting motorists to stop in long before the interstate pulled traffic away from roads like this.
Although many people assumed the building dated to the 1930s, it was actually built in 1949. For decades, Kristine's Restaurant was a familiar stop in Lake Worth, serving locals and travelers beneath one of South Florida's more distinctive roadside buildings. It's easy to see why photographers were drawn to it over the years. There just aren't many restaurants that look quite like this one.
UPDATE: Kristine's closed years ago, and the original restaurant sign has been removed. The landmark building still stands and is being prepared for another chapter as a restaurant once again. 07-26
South Bar-B-Q (Demolished)
Clewiston, FL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
Stop by Clewiston and you can grab some great old south Bar-B-Q at the Old South Bar-B-Q Ranch. You can also visit with strange characters waiting to greet you outside.
If you're traveling through Clewiston, this was one roadside stop that was almost impossible to miss. The Old South Bar-B-Q Ranch greeted hungry travelers with a collection of cowboy figures, wooden cutouts, and other colorful characters waiting outside. It looked more like a roadside attraction than a restaurant, making it hard to drive past without wondering what was inside.
The fun actually started miles before you arrived. A long string of folksy billboards along U.S. 27 teased passing motorists one sign at a time, building anticipation until the ranch finally came into view. Once there, visitors found plenty more than barbecue. The dining room was packed with old wagons, farm tools, a player piano, and enough country memorabilia to keep you looking around while waiting for your meal. It was the kind of place where almost everyone found themselves wandering a bit before heading back out to the parking lot.
South Bar-B-Q (Demolished)
Clewiston, FL Photo courtesy Dirk Burhans
For years, the Old South Bar-B-Q Ranch became one of those memorable highway stops that families talked about long after the trip was over. Whether you came for the barbecue or just wanted to see what all those billboards were leading up to, it was a place that certainly knew how to get your attention.
UPDATE: The Old South Bar-B-Q Ranch closed in 1999, and the buildings were later demolished. The familiar roadside attraction and its signs are gone today. 07-26
Lorito's Italian Kitchen (Closed)
Petite Jardin (Gone)
Pine Grove Family Restaurant (Demolished)
Pine Grove Family Restaurant (Demolished)
Kristine's (Gone)
South Bar-B-Q (Demolished)
South Bar-B-Q (Demolished)
