By VISIT FLORIDA staff
At 4 p.m. on a rainy Sunday, with no major televised sporting events playing on the screens mounted over the bar, the place is packed.
That should tell you something about Lost Lagoon Wings & Grill in New Smyrna Beach, a tiki bar-meets-officers club kind of place and one of the best restaurants in New Smyrna Beach.
Young families, aviation buffs and retirees all come to the 180-seat restaurant for the burgers, wings and camaraderie. And you can’t beat the view – mere yards away, planes take off and land at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.
“We treat everyone like we’ve known them forever,” said owner Matt Howell.
Though the bar is a draw for young and older singles and couples, families find much to enjoy as well, with cornhole boards out back and kids-eat-free offers Tuesdays through Thursdays. A large deck with picnic tables encourages pet owners to bring furry friends. Two video games greet guests entering the restaurant, and flat-screen TVs are sprinkled throughout.
“We like the casualness of the restaurant,” said New Smyrna Beach resident Jen Scheller, who was dining at Lost Lagoon Wings & Grill with her husband and 8-year-old daughter. “We like the food. The burger sliders are a big hit.”
Stacy Miller, an Oviedo resident who likes to stop at Lost Lagoon on her way back from the beach, said she loves the cheeseburgers.
“You can tell they take their time making them,” said Miller.
Lost Lagoon, one of the best restaurants in New Smyrna Beach, moved to its current location in late 2013, nearly quadrupling its capacity and staff. The new site has a storied past, having been home to the popular Stella’s Skyline and Officers Club, among other incarnations.
“We built our restaurant on our burgers,” owner Howell boasts.
The menu’s 17 specialty burgers are made with 9-ounce Black Angus beef patties and are served on buttered and grilled Kaiser rolls from a bakery in Philadelphia.
Among the gourmet burgers are the Black n Bleu Burger, stuffed with bleu cheese, and the Brunch Burger, topped with bacon, an egg and white American cheese. The Big Taco Burger features a patty seasoned with taco spices, shredded cheddar, salsa, avocado slices and a few tortilla chips. Make sure you ask for a side of Boom Boom Sauce, a cheese-based concoction made with poblano peppers.
If you go...
WHAT: Lost Lagoon Wings & Grill
WHERE: 2004 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
CONTACT: Call 386-366-3360
Place to Remember
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