Helena Perray: My 5 favorite restaurants in the Daytona Beach area – so far!

When planning a 1,000-mile move from New Jersey to Daytona Beach, there was plenty of stress, quite a bit of chaos and a whole lot of uncertainty. One thing I was certain of, however, was that I’d be eating good – and that I have.

As a Jersey native with both Southern and French roots, I was pretty convinced I had already tried some of the best-made food out there, and then I moved here. The Daytona Beach area is home to such a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from beautiful beachfront bars, Cajun cuisine and Italian eateries to burger joints, Cuban cafes and traditional, Southern dining rooms.

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring the local restaurant scene and trying out some of the most raved about restaurants in the local area. Although it was difficult to narrow down, here are my top five favorite restaurants – so far – since moving to Daytona Beach.

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63 Sovereign

63 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach; 386-238-9032, 63sovereign.com

The first place I couldn’t wait to try – after hearing the non-stop bao bun praises – was 63 Sovereign. Located in a two-story Granada Boulevard home, this Ormond Beach eatery radiates charm, class and comfort, with a highly personable wait staff that only amplifies the dining experience. Its diverse menu is designed for sharing, with a variety of mainly Asian-inspired offerings ranging from fluffy, flavorful bao buns and sushi rolls, to aromatic egg fried rice and fresh, cold-water oysters.

The juicy pork belly tacos packed a punch with flavor, making them an instant favorite for me, while the Korean short rib bao buns are not only a new weekly craving, but an addiction to say the least. And, of course, as someone who can’t ever seem to pass up a good dessert, it seemed only right to try the deep fried bao and, boy, did it deliver. It was the perfect medley of savory and sweet, and unlike any traditional dessert you’ll see on other menus. Not only will I be back to 63 Sovereign for more of my favorites, I’ll also be bringing a group with me next time to share in the goodness.

The Garlic

556 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna Beach; 386-424-6660, thegarlic.net

Where do I even begin. As a Jersey girl, born and raised, my standards for a great Italian dining experience were pretty high, to put it lightly. Finding a great spot that not only mastered a classic Italian menu, but also catered to customers with excellent service and an ambiance to match seemed like no small feat – but The Garlic did just that. Described as an Italian country grille, this New Smyrna Beach eatery captivates customers with its rustic vibe, whimsical design and twinkling greenery. Simply enjoying the vintage décor by taking a walk under the glowing, vine-covered arbor and a seat in the eclectic courtyard space is half of the experience.

While the menu contains a full range of chicken, beef and seafood dishes to choose from, what’s an Italian review without recommending a good plate of pasta? The pasta puttanesca hit the spot, with the perfect mingling of chunky tomatoes, imported olives, capers, meatballs – which I added, of course – and the perfect pinch of spice from the house sauce. The ravioli bolognaise is another delicious option, containing a four-cheese ravioli smothered in a filet mignon-filled bolognaise sauce. If you manage to find room for dessert, they offer a variety of favorites, including classic cannoli and tiramisu.

While it’s not the cheapest Italian I’ve tried, remember you're paying not only for the food, but for the enchanting experience that accompanies it – at least that was my justification. Whatever you do, make sure you come hungry, because you will certainly leave feeling full.

Arepita Beach

174 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach; 386-675-2288, arepitabeach.com

Arepita Beach is yet another spot I knew I had to branch out and try as soon as I began exploring Daytona’s restaurant scene. This authentic Latin-American eatery serves Venezuelan classics with rooftop seating and a river-front view – the perfect Friday afternoon getaway to end my week on a high note.

I started with the Sunny Roll Island, a tasty mingling of savory and sweet flavors. Unlike anything I’ve tried before, I couldn’t decide if it was an appetizer or dessert – but, either way, I wasn’t complaining. Described as a sweet plantain roll tempura with a shredded chicken (or beef), mozzarella and ham filling, this homemade, garlic sauce-topped dish was not only beautifully presented, but a melt-in-your-mouth must-have at Arepita Beach.

Of course, I also had to see what all the hype was about surrounding the specialty arepas, and, let me just say, I’ll be back for more. The Arepita Santa Rita was mouth-watering, to say the least, as it made its way to my table, and it definitely did not disappoint when it arrived. Stuffed to the brim with grilled chicken, pico de gallo and soft white cheese, the classic dish danced with flavor and was worth the mess I made scarfing it down. The homemade garlic sauce alone was worth the trip, and only elevated the sandwich-like treat.

Rose Villa

43 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach; 386-615-7673, rosevillaormondbeach.com

I wouldn’t be doing my Southern roots justice if I didn’t put some traditional fried chicken to the test here in Florida, and, luckily, Rose Villa knew just what they were doing. The 1920s' inspired Ormond Beach eatery is described as a “casual, comfortable restaurant,” specializing in classic Southern cuisine. The two-story building, built in the 1800s, is an eye catcher for those passing by, bordered with flowering shrubbery and colored in rich berry hues. Not only does the ambient lighting and cozy, wallpapered interior make for a charming date-night option, but the menu itself offered a savory selection of fried goodness that would keep me coming back solo.

The Belly and Biscuits seemed to be all the rage, and with good reason. The tree fruit chutney-topped dish featured house-smoked pork belly and grilled biscuits – a classic appetizer to satisfy your sweet and savory cravings. If you’re looking for something to really fill you up, the signature Southern fried chicken will do the trick. The dish is fried in a house recipe and served with collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, not to mention it was the least-greasy fried chicken I’ve had to date.

For me, however, the fried green tomato starter stole the show, perfectly paired with Maine lobster and an addicting Cajun remoulade coating.

Café Con Leche

2761 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach; 386-999-0035, cafeconlechedaytona.com

If you’re looking for a quick bite that will satisfy your comfort-food cravings – but won’t break the bank – then this authentic Cuban restaurant has got you covered. Located in South Daytona, Café Con Leche is everything I was missing back in my hometown’s culinary scene. This local eatery is small – but mighty – with only a handful of tables available inside. It can certainly be easy to miss if you aren’t looking out for it.

This local gem serves an array of Cuban and Mexican options, ranging from tacos, chimichangas and enchiladas, to the palomilla steak, picadillo ground beef dish and pollo a la plancha grilled chicken breast.

I started with the Croquetas de Jamón, a popular appetizer and Cuban snack. These petite, fried logs are stuffed with ground ham and a crispy breadcrumb coating for a bit of a crunch. They were the perfect, full-of-flavor finger food before my meal. Speaking of my meal, let’s talk about this Cuban sandwich. I figured there’s no better place than an authentic Cuban eatery to try one out – and just in time for Cuban Sandwich Day (Aug. 23). The Cubano was everything I expected and more, stuffed with every classic ingredient – ham, pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles. The combo comes with fries and a drink, and all for only $12. With Café Con Leche’s quality menu, kind service and reasonable prices, I knew it had to take a spot in my top five favorite restaurants, so far.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Best restaurants in the Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, NSB