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There aren’t too many restaurants that are
approachable by both auto and private boat - but Dead River Vic’s is one
of them!
 Deeply embedded in the cypress trees and
massive, moss-covered oaks along the Dead River in Tavares, Dead River
Vic’s offers a wide variety of dining opportunities. In addition to the
regular daily menu, the restaurant features a number of very attractive
specials. For example, their southern Sunday morning brunch includes
eggs, soup and salad bar, shrimp, chicken, fresh cuts of meat,
vegetables and dessert bar. From noon to 7 PM on Sundays, you can also
enjoy an old-fashioned BBQ with steaks, ribs, wings, and a large variety
of sandwiches.
From 11 AM until 2 PM on weekdays, an
“express lunch” is served in the upper level, buffet style, with salads,
soups, meat and sandwiches. On Fridays, it is all you can eat “Fish
Frydays”. Crispy fried whitefish, fries, baked beans and garlic toast
are included. Of course, the regular menu, with a wide variety of
dishes, is also available.
Appetizers include Aunt Dana’s Fried Dill
Pickles @ $3.95, and Cold Water Clams – 20 steamed clams served with
garlic butter for $7.95. Soup lovers can enjoy Caribbean Conch Chowder,
Caper Cod and Cracker Clam Chowder, Black Beans or a bowl of spicy Chili
for $3.50.
 They also offer Club sandwiches, Cuban
sandwiches, Burgers, Philly Cheese Steaks and Grilled Reubens, each at a
price of about $6. These choices are served with French fries and a
pickle.
Another interesting selection is the Swamp
Cabbage Chef Salad. In addition to fresh greens, ham, turkey and
cheeses, it also has crispy swamp cabbage. They have a Caesar salad, to
which one may add shrimp, scallops or chicken. Their other salads
include, seafood, tuna and chicken.
 If one decides to have a heartier meal,
there are steaks, Baby Back ribs, Grilled Salmon, crab cakes, Kabobs and
roast chicken. Grilled garlic bread, a choice of starch, and a veggie
are included - most are under the $10 price tag. There are also about a
half-dozen Italian specialties on the menu.
Desserts, mixed drinks and a variety of
wines and beers are listed on the menu. The menu itself is printed on a
4-page replica of an 1896 (or perhaps later) newspaper, “The Daily
Commercial”, which is still the local newspaper.
Dead River Vic’s Restaurant features a nice
dock area, with an outside bar and restaurant service overlooking the
river. Live music is played in this area on several evenings. There is
also a 1920’s paddlewheel boat available to cruise the Harris Chain of
Lakes for sunset cruises and private parties.
 The restaurant also has free bus service
that is available for groups of 20 or more. They will pick up your group
and return them (well fed!) after the meal. On the day that we visited,
they also hosted two separate luncheon meetings of the Red Hat Society.
If you want to enjoy the natural beauty of
Florida while having a pleasant meal, stop in (or pull up to their dock)
and visit Dead River Vic’s. You can relax and watch the boats cruise the
river as you enjoy a some of their tasty, local cuisine.
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