Like the Teddy bear picnic song, you’re in for a big surprise.

Hammock State Park is right off U.S. 27 in Sebring and inside the park is the Hammock Inn Restaurant. It does cost $4 to enjoy the park, but if you are going to the restaurant, there is no charge.

You’ll be intrigued with the wooded and rustic setting of the restaurant. A pleasant, deep aroma of house-smoked meats fills the sitting area. On weekends, from 8-10 a.m., breakfasts of pancakes, sausages and beverages are served to campers and drive-ins alike for a mere $5.50 and all you can eat.

Tuesday through Sunday the kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, closed on Monday.

If the weather is especially crisp, the big stone fireplace is set ablaze with a crackling fire. On occasion they have live music.

On our noon visit, we tested tomato/basil bisque, the soup of the day, hand-battered fish with chips and coleslaw and my companion had a juicy cheese burger cooked just right, all quite tasty. My tomato/basil bisque was a step above Campbell’s with traces of fresh diced tomato and a hint of basil. The large piece of beer-battered fish was a bit too crusty for my liking. I prefer a lighter tempura finish but it was good.

Lemon sodas rounded out the day, although I was interested to know more about the wild orange pie and ice cream of the same flavor.

Wild orange is a catchy description and comes from the wild orange trees that were in abundance on the acreage some years back. Now it’s illegal to pick them so each new owner has his or her recipe for the pie and ice cream on the menu. Desserts are all house-made and whole pies of various flavors are $13.50. I hope to sample them on another visit. Prices are low and reasonable, and this is a different destination for lunch.

Take a drive into the Hammock State Park and be surprised to find out what is going on in the woods today.

Ms. Cuisine is an accomplished former executive chef who also owned a cooking school and was a corporate chef. She has been featured in Bon Appetite magazine and now lives in Highlands County.

HAMMOCK INN RESTAURANT

Address 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring— located inside the Highlands Hammock State Park

• Price: $

• Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11-4 p.m.;
Friday night fish fry 4-8 p.m.
Closed Monday

• Credit Cards: No

• Call: 385-7025

• Food: **

• Atmosphere: ***

• Service: *