Sometimes the best restaurants are the ones that remain under the radar. Tucked away in a little corner of Northeast Florida, this Southern restaurant is a hidden gem that has been delighting the community for years. While it might not look like much from the outside, this is one Southern food experience you do not want to miss.
Southern Charm in Jacksonville, Florida is a restaurant experience that isn’t like all the others.
Whether you visit for the lunch buffet which has just a few select favorites, or the all-you-can-eat country style seafood buffet and smoked ribs, you’ll be in for a real treat.
Some of the menu items you’ll find at the buffet include peel and eat garlic shrimp, deep fried cornmeal whiting fish, homemade crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, smoked ribs with sweet sauce, fried collards, and cheesy grits to name a few.
The a la carte menu is just as spectacular as the buffet, with options like a rib sandwich, pulled pork, hand cut fries, chicken tenders and a slab of ribs.
Ready to plan a trip to Southern Charm? The address for this restaurant is 3566 Saint Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32207-5571. The hours are Tuesday through Sunday for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Saturday for dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To find out more information about Southern Charm, visit the website or Facebook Page.
If you live in Orlando or the surrounding areas, you will automatically realize that it’s the nation's capital for family-friendly entertainment. Of course, it’s home to the “Happiest Place on Earth” - Disney, and we see those mouse ears everywhere we go. Did you know that more people visit Orlando each year than any other city in America? Chances are, you've probably been to some of the awesome themed restaurants in Florida (not to mention our many theme parks). But you may not know that the biggest McDonald's in the world is right here in Orlando.
advertisement
We Floridians are known for doing everything a little bigger and better than the rest of the country, and that's true even when it comes to something as simple as fast-food restaurants. So, if someone asks, “Where is the biggest McDonald’s in the world?” you can tell them it’s right here in Florida. Read on!
Not Your Average Bucket List - Podcast Episode
Our travel experts and Not Your Average Bucket List podcast hosts, Sara and Marisa, discuss more about what to expect from this massive McDonald's in Orlando. From what to expect from the menu to some tips and tricks from locals, we take a deeper dive into this incredible restaurant. Is audio more up your alley? Don't worry, we have you covered. Click below.
The world's largest McDonald's is located in Orlando, FL on International Drive. Its official name is the World's Largest Entertainment McDonald's. At 19,000 square feet, it's easy to see why this place is also known as Epic McD. Orlando is well-known for its numerous theme parks and fabulous restaurants, but this McDonald's may be one of the best family-friendly attractions in Florida you didn't know about.
What does the biggest McDonald's in the world look like inside?
A few things will strike you right off the bat. Everything is shiny and new-looking here. Obviously with its huge size comes a lot of spaciousness. Even when it's packed, there's so much room between tables and throughout the entire restaurant.
advertisement
What's on the menu at the biggest McDonalds in the world?
This Epic McD isn't just bigger, it's also got a bigger menu. It's completely different than any McDonald's you've ever been to, which is pretty unique because McDonald's is typically known for its standardization! For example, this McDonald's, like only a few others in the world, sells pizza! That's right, they've even got a real pizza oven to prepare these special pies. The options don't end there. There are pasta, Philly cheesesteaks, waffles, and omelets. You'll even get your food served on real plates. Of course, they've still got classic fast food items like you'd expect available for ordering. Even the burgers are customizable, though. There's even an impressive assortment of desserts. The layer cakes look absolutely scrumptious, and make sure to check out the elaborate ice cream bar.
With all of these choices, it makes sense that you have to order from a computer. Large-screened kiosks allow you to see all the choices of everything available, making it easy to pick and choose, especially for indecisive kids.
Then, there's the PlayPlace. It's got a huge system of tubes and slides throughout and even has a kid-sized hamster wheel so the little ones can get all their energy out. For more family-friendly fun, you must check out the arcade games too. They've got over 100 games including all your classic favorites like skeeball, plus tons of brand-new games you may have never played before.
What's the address for the world's largest McDonalds?
The biggest McDonald's in the world is located at 6875 Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, FL, 32819. Since it's on International Drive, you've probably seen (and maybe even visited) this McDonald's before. But it was completely rebuilt within the last few years, so it's definitely worth another visit if you haven't been in a little while.
advertisement
Whether you're hungry or just simply curious about the largest McDonald's in the world, don't worry about finding time to fit in a visit. This epic McDonald's is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Curious to peek inside the biggest McDonald's in the world? Let's take a tour:
Have you ever visited the world's largest McDonald's in Orlando, Florida? Did you try any of the unique menu items available here? Share your experiences with us!
To learn even more, as well as other specialty McDonald's locations, you can also watch our Not Your Average Bucket List podcast episode on YouTube!
The largest McDonald's is great for a few hours of indoor fun. However, you'll want to spend some time outdoors, too. Check out this hidden gem park that's great for an exhilarating day trip in Florida. This unique experience will connect you with one of our most serene natural spaces. You'll love it! And if you need a place to stay, this Hampton Inn is within minutes of the park.
Step through the front door of The Witty Whisker Cat Café, one of the best small businesses in Florida, where as soon the door shuts so does the noise of the outside world. That, after all, is part of the magic of spending time around cats, whether you sip a hot drink and watch their antics from afar or cuddle with a new furry friend. Each cat at the café is searching for a forever home and their own fairytale ending. But that happily ever after might not have been possible if Angeli Rodriguez hadn’t taken a leap and followed her dream, pushing forward despite what might have seemed like insurmountable obstacles, including a worldwide pandemic.
advertisement
Before Angeli Rodriguez embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, she worked in the corporate world, a fast-paced environment that’s known for long hours and inevitable burnout, for nearly two decades. But, she felt like she wasn’t getting anywhere. Then she read the story of a woman who began a cat café. Rodriguez knew she’d found her dream.
“I fell in love with this story and knew that it was something I wanted to try, especially since in the U.S. the cats are also available for adoption,” she said. “So I started visiting cat cafes all over the U.S. to come up with ideas for my own.”
As anyone who’s considered starting or who has started a business knows, a solid business plan is essential to its ultimate success. Statistics from the Small Business Administration show that half of all small businesses fail within their first five years. Rodriguez began with a business plan, her vision for how she would turn her dream, of providing a safe haven for homeless cats and helping them find their forever homes, into reality.
But even a solid business plan can’t prevent unexpected obstacles. The bank denied her a loan. Accounting and taxes became overwhelming. She struggled with how to decorate the café and cat lounge. And, the biggest barrier of all, COVID hit.
Rodriguez noticed something, though.
“Once I started taking steps towards making the vision happen, opportunities miraculously appeared. For example, when my loan application was rejected by the bank, my parents stepped in with a generous monetary donation that saved my project,” The Witty Whisker Cat Café owner said.
That got the ball rolling. Her husband helped with the finances, and a stranger reached out with an offer to assist Rodriguez with decorating ideas. The Witty Whisker Cat Café then partnered with Feline Canopy of Care. The cats at the small business in Florida have been rescued by and are adoptable through the cat rescue.
The Witty Whisker Cat Café opened, near the St. Augustine Historic District, in June 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and has been going strong ever since. Rodriguez’s success inspired her to write “Drinks & Whiskers: How You Can Open A Successful Cat Café,” a guide that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with a blueprint for starting their own cat cafe.
advertisement
If you’ve never been to a cat café, the concept is simple. The space, which offers views of the cat lounge, serves a generous assortment of drinks, from coffee and tea to wine and beer. Pair your drink with a pastry or a brunch bite, like a bagel or a made-from-scratch biscuit.
While you can watch the cats from the café, you can hang out in the "cat lounge," too. All guests to the cat lounge pay $11 for an hour-long visit (children under two are free), and that fee goes toward the ongoing care of the cats. During your time in the cat lounge, you can pet and play with the kitties. If you find a cat you’d like to adopt, you'll fill out the Feline Canopy of Care's adoption application.
The Witty Whisker Cat Café hosts a variety of events, including yoga sessions and painting classes. You can also host your own events at the café.
As The Witty Whisker Cat Café continues to grow, Rodriguez’s goals remain the same:
“My business' mission is to provide a safe, clean, cozy, and comfortable environment for people and cats to enjoy the benefit of each other’s company; and find their furr-ever friends,” she says. “And our vision is to make the world a better place for orphaned cats by working, along with local shelters, to help find cats furr-ever homes in a relaxed, no-kill, cage-free environment. Those two statements are my daily inspiration.”
Many thanks to owner Angeli Rodriguezfor sharing The Witty Whisker Cat Café history and story for the 2024 Small Business Spotlight. Learn more and support this iconic Florida cat cafe by visiting the official website of The Witty Whisker Cat Cafe or its Facebook page.
Of course, The Witty Whisker Cat Cafe is one of many amazing businesses in Florida that’s doing great things in the state. If you have another business you’d like to see profiled on Only In Florida please nominate them for a chance to be featured. And be sure to follow Only In Florida on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know on the state’s events, restaurants, local businesses, and hidden gems.
