La Dolce Vita Gelato & Pastry is one of those rare gems that doesn't just serve dessert - it builds…read morecommunity, connection, and genuine joy with every visit. From day one, the owner has made us feel welcomed, remembered, and truly part of his world, and that level of hospitality is something you can't manufacture. It's real, and it's why this place stands out. The gelato is on another level entirely. I've traveled, tasted, and tried gelato in major cities and abroad, and nothing (absolutely nothing) compares to what's being crafted right here in our growing Ocala. The flavors rotate constantly, keeping every visit exciting and perfectly matched to whatever mood you're in. Each batch is rich, smooth, balanced, and made with a passion you can taste. We've never left with a single regret, only smiles and that satisfied "this hit the spot" feeling. And honestly, the gelato here deserves worldwide recognition. It's that exceptional. But what truly elevates La Dolce Vita is the owner himself - someone who cares deeply not just about his shop, but about the people who walk through his doors. His pride, kindness, and consistency have created a place that feels like home for so many of us. Ocala is lucky to have this treasure. Thank you to the AMAZING owner who has poured years of heart into serving this community. This is a must‑visit, a must‑return, and a place that continues to set the bar for what great gelato (and great hospitality) should be.

It's got to be me...with all the rave reviews, I was so excited to try dessert from La Dolce Vita…read moreGelato and Pastry. I just don't understand why everyone but me is raving about this place. My friend went in to order sfogliatelle and a black and white cookie. He said the woman behind the counter was a bit impatient with him as he was looking at all the pastries and actually shook her head in frustration. I took one bite of the cookie and couldn't eat it. Both it and the sfogliatelle had a musty taste, though my friend said the inside of the shop didn't smell musty. I wanted to be one of the ones to rave about this place. Sadly, I cannot.

My girlfriend and I stopped by to grab a coffee and walk around downtown. There definitely isn't…read moremuch going on downtown Ocala on a Sunday morning. The name of this business is very cute and apparently dog friendly. The inside is pretty spacious with plenty of seating and there is a small upstairs area off to the side. They had a white pumpkin coffee special they were offering so of course we both ordered that. No complaints, had great flavor and did the trick. It wasn't busy, but it did take a very long time for a cup of coffee. They do offer other menu items and there is a nice selection of ice cream that you will notice when you get to the counter. Overall, if you are in the area and need some coffee, recommend stopping in.

This café is very cozy, complete with a warm fireplace and Christmas music that creates the perfect…read moreseasonal atmosphere. The service is friendly, and the quality of the products really stands out. A lovely spot to relax and enjoy a great cup of coffee

Always a JOY to come to this place where people appear happy to be there and the staff seem to…read moregenuinely care about their customers. Another Happy Happy Avocado Toast day (. Yeah I know it's late for breakfast .. but breakfast is anytime of the day for me ) ;-

Great coffee... best in this growing city!…read more The atmosphere inside is beautiful, great vibe, great art on the walls. However it is too quiet... feels like they want us to be super quiet. Need some jazz or some light music playing without. I'm scared to talk in here.

Basically traveled to WEC solely to give this place a try…read more Pretty unassuming being in the hotel but was surprised at the variety and quality of the pastries. Specifically had the raspberry and chocolate croissants and was very happy with both. Raspberry croissant was super flaky with a nice cream and jelly inside. Little messy to eat, but delicious and not too sweet. The chocolate croissant was also very good and both pastries were large. Price for both was a little steep but given size, quality, and being at WEC it really wasn't bad. Coffee was also pretty good with the price surprisingly reasonable be given its location. Place was fairly busy but the line moved quickly so it wasn't an issue. If you're looking for a nice pastry and coffee I would definitely repeat if you're at or near WEC.

Cute and fancy little French bakery inside the hotel. We tried all kinds of things. Sticky bun,…read morespinach quiche, sausage egg and cheese English muffin, vanilla frosted with sprinkles donut, raspberry filled donut, and a chocolate croissant. Everything was delicious! Highly recommend checking it out if you're at WEC or in Ocala. It's worth going out of your way. There's a Toy Store next door.

What a wonderful collection of fresh brewed beans delivered to the shop every Saturday. I've been…read moreshopping for months for a local roaster and finally discovered NORMAN at Chelsea. Brenda, the owner, is superb to deal with, and now I no longer have to go to Tampa for coffee!!

Food is great, prepared right there. Service is good. If you want to have a good conversation with…read morea friend or two, the blenders are really loud.

This is our second family trip to Foody Bowl and it probably will not be the last one…read more Honestly, this is the best ramen in town. I tried several other places in Ocala/The Villages area and nothing competes with this cute little restaurant nearby publix. It's not a super fancy place but the food delivers, and that matters more than anything else. The bubble teas here are not half bad either. This time, we also tried the Takoyaki and it was on point, tender and juicy on the inside! The broth of the black garlic tonkotsu is well worth the price of this dish. It's hearty and flavorful. My only setback, as a person that cooks this dish at home as well as orders it whenever possible, is that the Chashu, this time around was a little on the drier side and the cut is also on the thinner side. However, getting a Chashu to that right tender texture is really not easy to do, and since it was very tender on the first time we went to eat here, I don't fault it that much. Other than that the ramen is absolutely to die for. The host/waitress was also very cute and kept checking on us to see if we are satisfied or need anything else.

Nothing was wrong! The service, the cleanliness, the patience and the attitude of the server and…read morehis attention to making sure I had everything I needed! Then there was the food! Amazing, fresh, perfect rice! That was Thurs , today today is Saturday and we got it to go, ditto to everything again! We had poke bowls, ramen is next! 5 star

I have been a Starbucks customer for about 20 years now. I have bought my coffee on a regular basis…read morein Miami and now Ocala and points in between and this is the very best Starbucks ever. The Staff at this Starbucks on College Road and 46th are the nicest staff I have ever encountered, and they get my order right every time. I cannot say enough good things about this store, and I felt it was about time I said so. The store is always clean if you want to go in. I usually drive through and yes there are long lines at times, but they move the line very well. This Starbucks gets a 5 start rating from me and if I could give them more I would.

I hate to give it a 2. They really are just overwhelmed at this location. We went there 3 times…read moreduring our stay. The first time we did the drive through line and waited a long time to get up to the window and order (maybe 20 minutes or more?). The second time we tried drive through - the line was obstructing traffic and wasn't moving at all. We had to give up. There was no parking to go inside to order. The 3rd time - the line was just as bad but I was able to find parking. We went in and ordered. Again the wait was at least 20 or 30 minutes from the time I walked in to the time I walked out. They had 7 people working behind the counter, but the volume is just higher than they can handle, at least in a timely fashion. On the plus side though - the food was correct as were our drinks and the staff is pleasant and welcoming. Under so much pressure and orders, they were still smiling and doing a good job. I give the staff 5 stars! We were visiting from out of town and we frequent busy Starbucks near home regularly. This one just has a lot of volume for the drive through capacity and limited parking for the overflow. I would try again if I was in the area, depending on the lines.

Small Cuban restaurant adjacent to the Exxon gas station right off I-75 on…read more SW Hi484. We stopped to get gas as we were traveling to central Florida and saw the takeout storefront as we drove by. We were pleasantly surprised with the authentic Cuban sandwiches we ordered. They did not skimp on the meat and it large enough to make two meals out of it. We also bought guava pastries and quesitos. They were so yummy. The service was quick and orderly. I guess with how the price of eating out is going up everywhere, this place was a bit pricey too. $42.00 for two Cubans, two guava pastries and two quesitos. Other than the price Tom's Cuban on the Go is a must try.

I'm very upset and disappointed that I have to write this review but $55 for Food that was,…read moreAbsofrickinlutely, mediocre!? This is not on me! And I'm being Generous! Cuban sandwiches had Damn near, NO FLAVOR!!!! Chicharons, NO FLAVOR!!!! Tamales, MEDIOCRE! YUCA! NÍ PING...!!!! $55! AND THEY HAD THE BALLS TO ASK FOR A TIP! NEVER GOING BACK! "Villa Pinar", Far and Away, TEN TIMES BETTER! DONT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE! Honestly, I don't know how they're still in business. Go elsewhere! Unless you have no other choice and you're really really hungry. Very Disappointed! The ladies who served me were polite. That's really the only nice thing I have to say.