Puddle Jumpers Lakeside Grill & Bar

Restaurant with awesome lake views! Enjoy lunch while watching Seaplanes take off. We enjoyed our bar food and drinks - definitely recommend if you are in Tavares!

Great place to watch the sunset, and the planes!! The happy hour specials are only limited to beer. The food , just did quick appetizers. Service was amazing!! The best server ever!! Very attentive and on it...great place to relax and unwind!!

Food was good. The restaurant has a strong theme which is so cute. I went at night so the view wasn’t great however you could hear the band at a bar near by which gave great vibes.

Wife and I visited today for the first time. Parking was a little trying but, accomplished with a little walk. I had the mahi sandwich and the wife had the mahi tacos. Both were delicious but we both needed extra napkins. She had a well drink and I had a soft drink which our attentive waiter Tom filled without asking. A bit of a drive from The Villages for us but we would do again in the future.

Wow, wow, wow!!!! Totally recommend this place to eat! I didn’t take pictures because I was starving but everything was soooooo delicious. Bianca, our waitress was really friendly and attentive. We ordered the giant pretzel, lobster bisque, cheese on pontoon, and I shared the pilot platter (8 oz sirloin, mash potatoes, shrimp, and crab cakes) and my cousin had a stuffed mahi mahi with crab and shrimp that was phenomenal. We made reservations since we were a big party, atmosphere was very relaxing overlooking the water, and the music was good. Great place to eat and hangout! Will definitely be coming back soon!

In such a great location, Puddle Jumpers is definitely a restaurant to keep in your favorites. There is a lot to enjoy within walking distance, as the restaurant is right next to the park and other establishments. During my visit, the staff was polite, inviting and welcoming. They sat us quickly and delivered our food just as fast. Throughout the day, you can see sea planes coming in for a landing and taking off🛬 on the lake. What I loved most, Puddle Jumpers IS PET FRIENDLY! They have a spacious patio for all who enjoy being outside. This will be a regular spot for us.

This is their mushroom Swiss burger. It was cooked to perfection & very filling! (Brought half home for later) The onion rings were quite tasty too! Food came out quick & hot! Server David took great care of us. Never had to ask for drink refills or extra napkins, etc. Will definitely go back again! 😎

A 3.5. This is a great location, with beautiful views of the Lake in Downtown Tavares, FL., viesws of water airplanes landing, boats, jet skies, etc. Service is incredibly friendly, fast, and perfect. A local place. The food is classic comfort food of a beach type sport bar. Burgers are classic. Tasty, good mix quality of meat, with no excessive condiments. Again, a classic burger that I can eat again. Fries and onion rings are also good with large portions. Good cold beer. Nothing fancy on libations. HEY!! Is a sport bar in a lake beach town. No mayor city here. My 3.5 comes because of the lack of cleaning of the place. Food on the floor, dirty toilets, dirty glass windows looking the lake. Is a prime location they should keep it like that. They can improve.

Nice place to catch a meal with a friendly ambiance added! Thumbs up! The views at this establishment are worth it as well.

The service was poor. The portions were small. The silverware was dirty, and the waitress was unattentive! It was a very disappointing experience. I will never return again.

1 Star for location, on the lake with beautiful sunset view & indoor/outdoor seating options. It cost me $86 / dinner for two. NOT WORTH IT! 2 sodas Mozzarella pontoon appetizer with raspberry adobo sauce. YUK it was SO sweet. They didn't have any tomato sauce so I asked for hot sauce. The waitress brought hot sauce & ranch as an alternative but didn't mention She was charging $1 for each. Burgers are sold a la carte. Mine tasted like charcoal & my onion rings tasted fishy. I was in the bathroom as soon as I got home. My daughter ordered the roasted chicken dinner & said it was ok but the sauce was very salty. The waitress only offered 1 drink refill on drinks. After our dinner arrived she disappeared . She didn't print the check so I had no idea of the charges until after payment was made. It was my daughter's birthday so she wanted dessert but after the dinner experience I told her we'd go elsewhere for that. 1st time there & we will NOT be going back.

We took a motorcycle ride, the weather was gorgeous. We ended up at this spot near the water. Watched the sea planes take off and land while having delicious drinks and food!! Service was a little slow- but who's in a hurry when your day is so perfect. The Jumper Juice is AMAZING! We tried the giant pretzel, best pretzel by far!!! The fish and chips were perfect and my hubby loved the Big Cheese Burger. We can't wait to bring the family here!!

Valentines lunch with hubby, niece and nephew. Server was attentive, friendly and helpful. We ordered mimosas, beer and Bloody Mary along with fried pickles and coconut shrimp for appetizers. Ordered fish and chips , blackened chicken ceasar salad , cheeseburger and jalapeño burger. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Definitely recommend !!

Stopped here after going boating with Freedom Boat Club. Our waitress Emma was very thoughtful and brought water out from my dog Roxy, which I really appreciate. We had half an order of peel and eat shrimp which were cooked very well and had a late seasoning to them. We also had the fish and chips and substituted the pork rinds and a side salad for the chips and coleslaw, which I think was a good decision. The pork rinds came out crackling and hot. They were a little bit over seasoned, the side salad was fresh crisp and I really liked the ranch dressing. The fish was OK not my favorite but definitely fresh just had too much better for me. Next time I would order something different. The location is perfect overlooking the lake and you could see the sea Plains coming in and parking, which was also a nice added benefit

I think I'm adding a star from our last visit because of excellent service from David. We sat inside due to the heat but would have enjoyed the music outdoors. There were six of us and we started with a huge order of fried pickles and ranch. Entrees were an Asian chicken salad which seemed improved with more chicken, coconut shrimp (6 huge shrimp but needed more coconut), salmon, mahi bites (delicious), and a kids burger. We had leftovers in hand when we left. As before, it is a pleasant view of the lake from any seat and the specialty drink are, in a word, special.

We walked into this place wanting to enjoy being on the water and watching the sea planes come in and it was perfect place for that! We went directly outside and only had 1 round of drinks because they were unable to put college football on , but I would like to go back to this place sometime and eat outside while the planes come in . Eustis is a really cute city and their downtown area is small but they have a ton of little bars and restaurants that's worth checking out. We came from Orlando and wanted something different so we were happy that we stopped by this place for sure!

I would recommend those who gave a bad review to try again. Ambiance, food, service, all top tier. We were seated quickly, the server was tentative, the food came out pretty fast, and it all tasted great. My wife had the shrimp + quinoa/rice pilaf and it was amazing. I had the phat paddy, my mom got two appetizers and my dad got the bacon burger. Everyone loved it. Their fries are awesome too! I don't usually do reviews but I'm going out of my way to do this one just because of how much we liked it. I've been talking about this place for the last few days, highly recommend!

Friday night, place is busy. Food and service is good. The patty melt was cooked med-rare the way I asked for it , along with the homemade chips and 2-4-1 beer hit the spot. The fresh turkey sandwich was also good. Prices reasonable,I will return.

Worse experience with a server that we have ever had. We have family from out of town took them for the beautiful view and sea planes. Our waiter Jake introduced himself very nicely. As soon as he saw we were only getting drinks and appetizers he never came by our table to refill drinks etc... we had to ask for the check. On our way out he asked others in our party if they were full from the appetizer and as upsetting as that was a comment was made back to him and he proceed to tell our guest if they wanted to take it outside. Unfortunately as I was speaking to the manager I was not aware of what had transpired. Very disappointed. Hoping someone at Puddle Jumpers see this.

Food was great our server was outstanding and from NY. And the music was on point. Differently will be back

The food was wonderful. Location easy to get to and looks out over Lake with planes taking off and landing

To start with the food is 5 stars across the board. The Macho Nachos were stacked with chips,chicken, sour cream, salsa and easily could feed a family of six. The Mahi was exceptional and cooked perfect. They aren't kidding when they say the wings are huge. The Nashville hot were hot, the Asian spicy were spicy, and the teriyaki had lots of sauce. The boiled and fried shrimp were excellent as well. The only disappointment was our server. She got our order right and disappeared. A kitchen helper brought out our food. Our drinks never got refilled and the hostess brought to go boxes. She eventually showed up with the bill but by then it was too late. We still gave her a decent tip. They also had live entertainment on the deck which was very good.

Puddle jumpers evidently has been charging for over a year a 1% for the cooks because they don't want to pay them what they should be paid. They want to pay them less because as a tipped employee, they can pay them not the regular wages that they would have to pay a Cook which saves them money and puts it back on the customer

Well, welcome to Fl it was real hot out and the mosquitos were doing some hatch thing so there were zillions. So we ate inside. Had a couple of beers and my wife had coconut shrimp , fries and slaw. The wait staff was awesome and very friendly and efficient. The shrimp were perfect, the fries close to but not hot enough the slaw well..... that was bad. A bit of vinegar or salt would have solved that. The beer was cold. It was nice watching the sea planes take off from the dock. The only issue was the windows looking out on the lake were dirty. Real dirty. Would I go back ? For sure. So only 4cstars due to the windows and the bathrooms were questionable.

A very cool spot in Tavares near the dock. I had a great blue cheese burger and she had a chicken Caesar wrap. We sat outside with a view of the seaplanes as we enjoyed the meal. Service was quick and efficient! Definitely stop by here when in Tavares!

The best thing about this place is the outdoor patio over the lake. Go there, have some beers. You'll be happy. Want entrees? Not so much. We had a party of four and none of us were particularly happy. The chicken entree was overcooked, the medium rare burger was solidly well done. The soup was cold, and the crackers stale. The Pino Grigio was actually Moscato. We didn't try any of the appetizers. Perhaps they go well with the beer.

Came here after a sea plane ride. Short wait they have a text system to notify you table is ready. Food offerings are mediocre, considering the place is on the water you would think they would have more seafood options. The views are fantastic. I can see the water as well as the sea planes coming in and out. Food mediocre, service was fine. When we got the bill, I was surprised by this un tipped service charge. I don't even know what that means.

Server was good and personable though someone else brought out our food. Food mediocre at best. Loud music , but a nice view. We tip generously when we eat out. However we noticed a 1% non tipped service charge added to the bottom of the bill before taxes. We paid our tip on a bill that included their added taxed tip. When I politely asked what the charge was, I was told that it was for the cooks and that the owner could have raised prices instead and been less transparent but chose to be transparent instead. The individual İ asked said that it amounted to 20 $ extra per month for the cooks. Overall mediocre in every way. Just pay your cooks?

Service is quick, friendly, and excellent. Food is wonderful. Burgers are fresh, cooked on point, and seasoned right. Chili is great with a little kick. Shrimp are huge! But the kicker is the kettle chips. Both dips are great, but we love the caramelized onion dip best. The chips are fresh made on site. Enjoy the view of the lake and the great food.

Pleasant staff. Good seating. Great view. Seating both indoors and outside. Water views available. Recommend the Turkey Brie and raspberry sandwich!!

First and foremost amazing food!! Great service and alot of choices !! Even for my picky eater daughter!!! Very filling !!

We loved everything about this restaurant. We had our dog so we sat outside. It was cold so they turned on the propane heater for us. The view was beautiful overlooking the lake & sea planes. Also palm trees with Christmas lights were beautiful. Our waitress Courtney was so helpful and kept a check on everything. We met the manager Brandi & enjoyed visiting with her. The appetizers (fried pickles, onion rings & pretzels) were delicious. We ordered the platter & split it. A lot of food! Also the live music (I think his name was Greg) was excellent. A very enjoyable evening.

We enjoyed our lunches and the service. The interior is decorated with airplane propellers and old pictures. Our server was fast and efficient. My shrimp tacos were great. Wife enjoyed her burger. Using my Yelp app, I saved 10%. Nice. I think I will return when the half-priced Fish and chips are available.

I've visited this restaurant a few times and, each time, the food was good and the wings are great! They have daily deals on tacos, wings, etc. and $5 mimosas everyday. Our waitress was attentive and kind, and service was quick. Great place to grab lunch with friends, by the water. Or, stop by for a quick working lunch.

Great view of the water. Delicious hot food. Great menu selections. Friendly and courteous staff. Cute little town.

We rented out the space upstairs for my daughters baptism. The space was perfect for our party. Everyone loved the view of the water and seeing the sea planes. The manger, Jon went above and beyond for us. He was so easy to work with and was quick to respond to anything we needed. The service was amazing. They were attentive, polite, kind and really made everything flow perfectly. The food was great as well. The whole team at puddle jumpers really made our day perfect. We will definitely plan another event here.

I loved the atmosphere, drinks and food at Puddle Jumpers. Sitting on the outside patio is the way to go. The lake view is tranquil and the sea planes are fun to watch. Our waitress was friendly, quick and knowledgeable. I ordered a the "Gosh Jam It" burger. It's a seasoned burger with caramelized onion and bacon jam that the top with goat cheese. This burger a a big juicy..delicious...treat. It is a must order.

Right on Lake Dora- great atmosphere. Great service. Super drinks. Peel and Eat shrimp was incredible. We will be back!

Had a great experience here! They do offer "call ahead" which we took advantage of on a Friday night knowing there are 200 retired paratroopers in town for an event! We were seated right away and promptly greeted by a very pleasant server....so much in the menu hard to choose but knew I had to have room for the Brown Butter Cake! Our food was good only thing was the lettuce in the salads was hit or miss, burgers were cooked correctly and had a good flavor...loved the French fries and the Crab Cake! On the water and good food !

Food was delicious and very good service with Lake view outdoor dining! Don't leave table w/ food on it though, wait for server because a bird came down on my plate and flew off with an onion ring.

We were excited to visit - a great location and cool airplane theme. This might be an okay stop for a beer, but our lunch choices were not good. I ordered the Mahi bites. The coating had no seasoning and the fish was extremely dry and chewy. (I've never left Mahi on my plate before.). The coleslaw was also bland, the fries were good, but few in number. My husband had the steak burger which he expected to be top notch, but was greasy, maybe from the grilled mushrooms and onions? It slid off the bun. We are not regulars and our interaction with staff was limited to declining a refill and asking for the check. Although the atmosphere is cool, there are too many other lakeside dining choices in Tavares. We will not return.

Regrettably, my El Diablo burger was about a 2.2 (compared to my 0.9 for Outback's [Leesburg], 4.4 for BTW's [Tavares], and 4.7 for Tiki Bar & Grills [Lake Minneola]). Patty tasted as if prepared on an unclean flat-top in overused cooking oil. The taste of the jack cheese, fresh jalapenos, and sriracha, which should have been delicious and somewhat assertive, was surprisingly muted. The lettuce was limp and rubbery, forcing me to pull it out and set it aside. And lastly, the "medium" I requested was closer to "medium rare". On the plus side, my wife said her Asian chicken salad was fairly decent due to good quality chicken pieces and ample flavorful dressing, though the crispy noodles seemed scarce, giving it a 4.0. This restaurant could really shine if their burgers were dependably good and flavorful with quality ingredients, professional landscaping improvements were done on the lake side where the outdoor seating overlooks, better table/chair heights for those that are a bit mismatched to offer more comfortable seating, and reducing the volume of the live music by nearly half so patrons needn't yell to hold conversations at their table. Many restaurant owners would absolutely kill to have a location like this, so PJ really should pull out all the stops to make their eatery a true premier destination. Leaving the parking lot 2 blocks to the east proved to be a major fiasco, though this was probably no fault of the restaurant, but patrons may want to be aware: when we returned to our car, all 3+ exits had been chained off, forcing us to drive counterclockwise against the "one way" to find the lot entrance in order to leave. We were fortunate no cars were entering at the same time, because someone would have been forced to throw his gear into reverse to unclog things.

Looking for a nice outdoor dining experience on the waterfront, this is it. The service was a little slow, but they were very busy on this lovely Saturday. The food was good and the view was great.

for years, this was our hang out, especially in the winter, and I went today and they screened in their patio, and there is no longer smoking anywhere on their patio, I probably won't go back anymore, we were valued customers! Discrimination against smokers.

Really great food and view! Service was quick and accurate. Anything with the raspberry sauce is a must!

Everything from the food, service and view of the Lake was fantastic. They have great wings as well

Good Food! Location has a Fabulous View! Has a very nice Atmosphere and with great Service!

What a fantastic find! Great food, great atmosphere, and honeslty, one of the best servers I've had in quite some time! Alexis was personable, attentive , and knowledgeable of the menu. Came back 2 days later because of the quality of food and servixeFried Pork Rinds

Food is good but way overpriced as I see it and service is average. Been there several times and i like it less each time and don't expect to return.

Good food, great views and our server Aubrey was wonderful. They even have their own beer!

I will definitely return. Great atmosphere good food. There was a small line but the wait was short. The table was fairly sticky but not so bad that my arm hairs were.left... Many choices (will return mostly to try some other goodies) Had the Jalapeño Cornbread BLT it was very good but sort of sad that the Jalapeño and Cornbread part didn't "stand out" *maybe a spicy mayo would make that draw???

Pretty good tacos and burgers. Good service and interesting atmosphere. Located on lake Dora with an aviation theme. The

Food is good. Wait Staff are on the ball. Great fun to sit outside and watch the sea planes go in and out. Happy hour 2-4-1 beers until 7. We really enjoy the place.

There isn't a better location for bar/restaurant right on the waters of Lake Dora than that of Puddle Jumpers. Though the waters of Lake Dora are of a murky alga green, it's still a beautiful sight to see with plenty of charming waterfront houses and wildlife. Best of all you get a great view of it from Puddle Jumpers which has a second floor overlooking balcony area, an outside patio bar. Another best is that Puddle Jumpers is also the location of the pontoon equipped water airplanes that you'll see landing and taking off of the lake; on which you can also buy a ride. Puddle Jumpers menu is rather large with every thing from pork rind to fried pickles, a good assortment of various burgers, tacos, wraps and custom signature drinks of which I liked their Mount Dora Ice Tea and also their house made Barnyard Chili. The atmosphere of Puddle Jumpers is very much family sports bar like but in a fun sort of way with plenty of room around for those who just care to relax.

Beware! The food might be great but despite what this website says, they do not do delivery!

Standard bar fare. The view is nice (you can watch the sea planes takeoff and land). Our pretzels and beer cheese appetizer was very good. My wife and I both ordered salads. Hers was buffalo chicken, mine was citrus salmon (a signature dish). Both were supposed to be made with field greens, but instead both were just iceberg lettuce with some red cabbage mixed in. The iceberg lettuce was even a bit limp. The citrus salad had mandarin oranges, they were just canned. My wife enjoyed her salad without the greens. When I pointed out the lack of field greens to our waitress, she didn't offer any remedy, so I just sent my salad back and finished off the pretzels and beer cheese. I don't think I would visit this restaurant again.

Ample outdoor parking. Restaurant is well appointed, clean. Great ambiance. Outdoor seating available. Restroom clean. Middle of the afternoon on a Saturday. A bit on the noisy side. Staff friendly, professional and attentive. Service was mediocre - nothing to rave or complain about. Quality of food was very good. Ordered the black and blue burger. Wife ordered mushroom burger. Both very tasty. Would go again.