Interesting Florida Restaurant

Mulletwagon

Well-known member
During the annual pilgrimage to Disney in central FL went downtown for lunch in Kissimmee to Ford's Garage. The entire restaurant was decked out in Model A memorabilia. Two As were on lifts in the center of circular bars. Three As were located outside next to gravity gas pumps. Recognizable A parts were on the walls and A engines were on stands everywhere - very cool ! The place was effectively decorated to resemble a Ford garage in the 1930s. Not surprising, the silverware was wrapped in a shop rag held together with a hose clamp ! The restaurant chain is only located in central Florida with the exception of one restaurant in Dearborn. If you are going to the House of Mouse, might stop Ford's Garage for a burger. It is about a block away from Target where you get the cut-rate Disney trinkets for the grandkids - LOL.
 
Thanks for the 'heads up'. Sounds like a cool place. A couple of years ago we passed the 'Model A Inn', somewhere in Canada, south of Banff..... I just tried to post a pic I took, but I'm having the usual 'size' error. Oh well....
 
Did the one in Dearborn. Wish they would come West. Great hamburger and craft beer. No better atmosphere for a Model A'er.
 
There are 13 locations of the Ford Garage restaurants...12 in Florida and 1 in Dearborn.
I went to the one in Ft Myers a few years ago and I really enjoyed my lunch.


TerryO
 
A theme restaurant with very good food .What a novel idea.Was just at the one in Dearborn last month.
 
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Some pictures that were sent to me.
 

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Another one is being built at Bozard Ford in St. Augustine Fla. Its due to open in early 2020 so they say..
 
If you ever get to Vero Beach FL, check out Mrs Mac's Fillin' Station: https://www.mrsmacs.com/home

It's a fun place but not fancy. It's in a little strip mall but there's often a line out the door.

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The decor is auto themed:

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Food is diner-style, inexpensive and good. The menu has a license plate cover and the items have car-related names:

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Napkins are shop rags. Service is good and the wait staff is friendly...and they're dressed in bib overalls. :D
 
A few more pictures of the Ford's Garage nearby Tampa. It is really a nice experience. Totally out of the box restaurant...... but not for healthy food . LOL. But a big juicy burger from time to time is sooooo nice.













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A few years ago I was to the original one in Ft. Meyers. Neat place. GREAT burgers, and reasonable prices. Also real friendly and might I say good looking waitresses. Wife and I ate there a couple times while we were in town doing all the touristy stuff.
 
A few more pictures of the Ford's Garage nearby Tampa. It is really a nice experience. Totally out of the box restaurant...... but not for healthy food . LOL. But a big juicy burger from time to time is sooooo nice.















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"Gluten free and vegan options"?! Say it isn't so! Ruins the whole atmosphere!
 
Hi:
Do you know the address to the "Ford Garage" in Kissimee

3210 Margaritaville Blvd.

It is a little hard to find. Proceed down HWY 192 and turn south on Rolling Oaks near the Margaritaville Resort. Drive a short distance and turn left on to the strip mall lot. You will see the back side of Ford's Garage straight ahead in the distance. Great place !!
 
My wife and I came across this place, the back of the menu said it was a Ford Model T garage and the some of the hist's and trolley's were still in the ceiling and the rest of the equipment was in the Smithsonian.

Kafe Kokopelli
37940 Life Oak Ave.
Dade City Fl. 33523

It all began in 1996.
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Kafe Kokopelli is housed in a century building built in 1916 by the Ford Motor Company for Model-T sales and service. The front of the building on Meridian Avenue was the show room and sales offices up until the mid 1970's. The back of the building, which is the main entrance, on Live Oak Avenue, was the garage which hosted the service bays and mechanics. When Ford built a new location just outside of town the building hosted several businesses over the next twenty years. The building was bought and renovated into a 150 seat restaurant with two banquet rooms, The Cypress Room and The Citrus Room, which seat parties of 20-40 and 30-90 respectively. The room names are representative of the wall murals depicting Florida life in East Pasco County. The Cypress Room for the nearby Green Swamp and the Citrus Room for the thriving citrus business in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

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The name Kafe Kokopelli comes from the south-west Native American Indian god. There are many different Kokopelli Gods. The most popular, the Flute player, was considered the God of Mischief and Fertility. Kokopelli legend has it that he came into the villages each Spring with a sack of seeds to ensure a successful planting and harvest each season.


“One of 12 Tampa Bay Restaurants flying under the radar. A must try”
- The Tampa Bay Times -

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Winner of The Taste of Pasco, three years in a row!
 
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