Nestled along an oak tree-lined street in downtown Winter Park, George’s Cafe serves humongous, homemade sandwiches, salads and cookies with warmth in a cozy ambiance.
The eatery’s owner and namesake, George John Paul II, grew up in Orlando and decided to embark on a culinary career instead of priesthood after graduating from Bishop Moore Catholic High School.
His family has deep restaurant roots in Central Florida that began with a Holiday House, a buffet-style eatery, in south Orlando and later became a Hostess House.
After the Hostess House closed in 1989, Paul launched a new venture with his mom Leona Paul and friend Alice Eide called Classic Creations Catering in Winter Park.
After Paul’s mother passed away, he decided to open George’s Gourmet Cookies and Catering in the Center of Winter Park, a shopping plaza on the corner of Lee Road and 17-92, and later shortened the name to George’s Cafe after he relocated to the former Brandywine’s Delicatessen site near The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in downtown Winter Park in April 2020.
For the past five years, George’s Cafe has been a staple of goodness, attracting regulars, business professionals and Central Florida visitors to its charming sandwich shop.
During my visit, I ordered George’s Famous Homemade Chicken Salad Sandwich on multigrain bread with a small salad. The chicken salad is made from scratch with Hellmann’s mayonnaise and includes leaf lettuce, tomatoes and red onions. I opted for no tomatoes and red onions and added Swiss cheese. My side salad included Romaine lettuce, field greens, cucumbers, black olives, tomatoes and onions with balsamic vinaigrette dressing. My delicious and healthy lunch was filling but I made sure I left room for dessert by chowing down on a yummy, Original Chocolate Chip Cookie!
The fabulous fare is a family affair, including lunch selections like The Puddsy, a roasted, turkey breast sandwich, featuring the nickname of Paul’s dad; the meaty combo, The Pearl, is prominently titled after his mom’s middle name; The Abigail is a Reuben named after his English Bulldog; and the 1933 Salad includes the year his mother was born in the dish designation.
Besides the main attractions, superb sides include the baked beans and Leona’s potato salad.
All the moderately-priced, menu items are made with fresh ingredients and from scratch daily. The croissants are baked in house but other breads are bought.
I was happy to hear Ronnie’s recipes have been replicated and live once again at George’s Cafe! The Jewish cuisine includes matzo ball soup, stuffed cabbage and other classics. My mom was a waitress at the legendary Orlando deli before she became a homemaker. I also used to dine at Ronnie’s when I was in college.
The gigantic cookies take center stage and are the signature sweet at George’s Cafe. Through trial and error and being inspired by a Food Channel episode, Paul created a cookie that wasn’t flat or greasy, and has been popular ever since he started his catering business nearly 40 years ago.
The award-winning, gastronomic gathering spot’s dishes come from the heart.
“At George’s Cafe, you’ll find honesty and no gimmicks,” said Paul. “We have been serving the community for a long time and provide wholesome food with a human touch.”
Accolades include Orlando Sentinel’s Foodie Awards and Best Bets and Orlando Magazine’s Best Breakfast and Sandwiches Award.
The restaurant’s indoor decor is a mixture of colorful paintings, Beatles and Key West memorabilia and the canine of choice, the English Bulldog – all of Paul’s favorites things! Folks can also dine al fresco on the patio.
The Beatles are one of my all-time, favorite bands and I was thrilled to see the pictures of the Liverpool lads displayed in the restaurant! The Fab Four will be celebrated during A Very Beatles Day with Bryan Hayes at George’s Cafe on Saturday, Oct. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. during the 52nd Annual Winter Park Autumn Art Festival. The free concert is presented by The Modern Music Movement. Enjoy a marvelous meal paired with live music!
George’s Cafe is located at 505 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, Florida 32789 and serves lunch Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and breakfast during the weekends from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Beer and wine are available. The eatery can also cater your event.
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