The Goblin Market Restaurant & Lounge — Restaurant in Mount Dora

This is a restaurant that my wife and I visit at least once every three months and up until this last Saturday night had it number one on our list for Mount Dora. We entered the restaurant knowing that without reservations, we probably would not be able to have dinner so we decided to see if we could go to the upstairs bar and get a couple of drinks because we love the atmosphere and have done this before several times, the man at the counter was busy so my wife headed up the stairs to see if there was any empty seats while I waited to talk to him. He then yelled at her and told her you needed reservations so she came back to the desk, and we told him that we could not Wait the length of time to sit but would like to get a couple of drinks upstairs and he said that’s by reservation only which was new to us. My wife told him OK but we’ve been here before and the bar only was not like that trying to explain why she was trying to go upstairs at the same time a very nice couple came downstairs and heard the conversation and the gentleman stated there are four or five seats available and my wife and I are just now leaving the man at the counter proceeded to talk extremely rude and condescending to my wife and volunteer. Do I need to tell you a fourth time you are no longer welcome in our restaurant . Please keep in mind at this point no harsh words or loud voices or heard as we were just trying to get on a list to either get drinks upstairs or dinner. I didn’t said it was not very professional to talk to her that way, when he double down on the rudeness , he said that he was a part owner, and if we didn’t like it, he was the general manager, and there was nothing we could do, and he would prefer we never return to say the least. This was both disappointing, unacceptable, and not something we intend to let go of , we have spent a lot of money and received great food and great service the dozen or so times we’ve been to the restaurant in the past and do not want someone who is either having a terrible night or is in the wrong position to be treating potential customers for the restaurant ruined what has been a phenomenal relationship with my family and this restaurant . I have my doubts that he was actually an owner and we intend to write a letter addressed to the owners to see if we get a response. We have referred numerous people there and have taken numerous people there for dinner, and cannot tolerate the unprofessionalism and rudeness of this particular...

Where to start...... so we just bought our first house, and it just so happens to be in beautiful Mt Dora. Also in Mt Dora is such a vibrant historic district that is just up the street. So, as adventurers do, we took a stroll and went right into the Goblin Market. The best first stop to our introductory Mt Dora exploration. As a food driven person, I couldn't have been happier. Britton and Chris were nothing shy of absolutely amazing first and foremost. Second, the art was so captivating. Walking to my seat was like a journey through an art gallery. The atmosphere is just warm and inviting. The dining areas are full of art to discover, which kept the night very interesting. What sealed the deal for me, though, was the thought behind each dish and how composed everything was. Each dish was packed with flavor, balance, and creativity. The deviled eggs rivaled my own in flavor, but the kick of truffle and the addition of fried leaks took deviled eggs to another level for me. The octopus was super tender, packed with flavor, and expertly balanced. Picked green tomatoes, candied jalapeño, and a wonderful smokey-ness all complimented each other so well. The escargot and carpaccio are again well executed and delicious. However, the stars of the night (besides Britton and Chris) are the Honey Lavender Duck Breast equal to the market scallops. Both entrees were.... for lack of a better word..... Effffffing Goooood! The duck breast was cooked beautifully, and the glaze was the best part. Not too lavender forward and not too sweet. The fondant potatoes that came with it had a great sear on the outside and almost mashed potatoe-ee on the inside. (Best fondant potatoes I ever had) Last but not least those, crafted by god, scallops. Just look at the sear on them. Cooked to the perfect temp, very tender and flavorful. There was no miss for me here. Even the drinks hit. Everything was made in-house from the dill vinegarette to the cocktails, and you can taste it. Amazing first stop and introduction to Mt Dora. It made me even more excited to see what else is around here. Thanks for all the conversation and for entertaining all my questions. You guys are awesome.

FYI, make sure you ask about all the art. The stories around them are intriguing. Expecially the hand drawn art on the second floor. What a story for real. No spoilers here, so go check it out...

I recently visited Goblin Market Restaurant and Lounge with a group of friends, and while the atmosphere was cozy and the greeter was polite and welcoming, the experience quickly took a disappointing turn.

We asked our server for a recommendation, and she suggested the Cashew Chicken Sandwich. Three of us went with her suggestion, while another friend ordered the Mushroom Burger. Unfortunately, we ended up waiting over an hour for our food to arrive.

When the food finally came, two of the chicken sandwiches were at least fully cooked—though completely unseasoned—while my own sandwich was undercooked, with the chicken still yellow and clearly not properly baked or fried. To make matters worse, my friend who ordered the Mushroom Burger received a mushroom veggie wrap instead.

Despite the delay and the errors, we tried to stay positive. Our server, Jamie, eventually brought out the correct burger, and when I tasted it, I found it delicious. I politely asked if I could swap my undercooked sandwich for the burger instead. That’s when things took a turn for the worse.

Rather than responding with understanding, Jaime sighed loudly and seemed visibly annoyed—almost as if we were personally criticizing her cooking. It felt very unprofessional and unnecessary. Thankfully, a gentleman who was standing nearby kindly took my plate and ensured I received the correct order, which I really appreciated. The burger he brought was well-prepared and tasty.

While the food ultimately redeemed itself, the service—especially Jaime’s dismissive and rude attitude—completely ruined the experience for all of us. We had driven over an hour to try this spot based on a friend’s glowing recommendation, and as professionals in healthcare and real estate, we’re used to dealing with difficult people—but never in a setting where we’re simply trying to enjoy a nice meal.

Unfortunately, this was the worst dining experience we've had in Mount Dora, and I would not recommend Goblin Market to anyone looking for good service or hospitality. The attitude we received was unacceptable, and it left a sour impression on what could have been a...