Cherry Pocket

In the woodlands of Lake Wales in central Florida lies an interesting and refreshing seafood and steak shack -- and I mean that literally. The venue IS a shack. Surrounded by an RV/trailer park and near a swamp, the locals only seem to know it's there. Cherry Pocket is over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go. You get the drift.

You may be thinking... are you serious? A restaurant on a swamp... in a trailer park? Well, I say it only gives the joint charm. This place has awesome food.

The menu is set up like a town's newsletter, with menu items like fried cat fish, frog legs, fried green tomatoes, and crab cakes. This is country cookin'.

The frog legs were spicy and well-cooked, the cat fish came with a side of amazing sweet potato fries, and the crab cakes were probably the best I've ever had -- if you like them crispy on the outside and spicy on the inside, that is. The fried green tomatoes were liked by everyone else at my table. Me... it just never was my thing. However, it's one of their best-selling appetizers.

Although it may sound pale in comparison, one of my favorite things about their menu is their signature salad dressing. What is it? I couldn't tell you... and neither will they. It's a secret! All I know is that they use cherries and it's darn good.

There's also an outside bar that is decorated like Mardi-Gras. While you visit, check out their souvenir merchandise. You'll find things like witty t-shirts with pictures of clams that state: "Suck me! Chuck me! Eat me raw!" They are actually pretty funny... although, a tad risque.

If you are near the Winter Haven/Lake Wales area, give it a try. I think you'd like this hidden gem.

Grub on,

--Chels