Breakfast shrimp and grits at this chef owned restaurant was phenomenal! I'm "that girl" who douses her Cajun food with hot sauce, so it was on my table ready to go. BUT I didn't add a drop, the gravy was so incredibly flavorful that I didn't want to alter the taste. Since it was my first time in Ocala, I asked the waitress for her recommendation and she did not fail me. I don't know the next time I'll be back in Ocala, but I will be stopping here if I am! Ps...the chef stopped by my table. Food and service five star! Had to edit because I just ate the best pineapple upside down cake since my mommas! read more

SCRUMPTIOUS! We were driving home on 75 and went here for lunch. I got the Cajun Shrimp Stuffed potato! So good! The gravy was out of this world! So delicious! My husband got the smothered pork chops. Also delicious! The ride from 75 was not difficult and definitely worth it! Yummy! read more

visited here last month when the fam and I were in the area! the hospitality at this place was incredible. the woman working, i'm not sure of her name, I think it was linda, was very friendly and welcoming! place was clean and service was fast. everyone liked their meals! quality was very fresh! would definitely come back again! read more

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We were driving through the area and looked for a local resturant with good reviews to stop for a late lunch. This was an amazing choice. Even at 1:30 in the afternoon there were other tables full and lots of catering orders going out. read more

I was looking for a Southern/Soul Food spot in the Gainesville area, and stumbled upon this gem in Ocala. I was in Ocala to get my car serviced, so I had to stop in. I stopped in around before 5pm to place my order for myself and parents. I didn't get her name but I believe she's the daughter of the owner, she was very helpful and checked on me as I waited. I will say the Southern hospitality here is a 5 star! I also spoke with the owner and his friend as I waited for my to-go order and they were very friendly as well. I was excited to eat my food as the smell filled my car during my ride home. So I ordered the 1/4 chicken platter that comes with two sides, which were green beans and yams. Also, based on the reviews ask for the cornmeal pancake as it comes with your meal. The chicken was huge and the meat was juicy. A lot of times, I order dark meat because it's juicer however this did not disappoint. The green beans were good and seasoned. The yams were not cooked to my liking. The sweet potato was still firm and I preferred them to be cooked down more to be softer. The blueberry pie was my little sweet treat to end my meal. The blueberry filling was really good as they have real blueberries through the piece of pie. The crust is buttery and strudel on top was the chef's kiss. The filling layer in between the blueberry and strudel was a bit too sweet for my liking but overall it was a nice treat to end with. Overall, I love the amazing service and this satisfied my soul food cravings. I look forward to stopping in for their breakfast dishes like biscuits and gravy and the spicy sausage. read more

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Stopped in for lunch during a recent visit to the area. The reviews were good and we love southern cuisine. I got fried swai with collard greens and fried okra. Everything was delicious. They offer fresh pies on the weekends and we got a slice of peanut butter and another slice of peach pie. Both were a generous portion and delicious. I certainly do recommend this little spot of deliciousness if you are in the mood for some good southern comfort food. read more

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THE WORST EXPERIENCE IVE EVER HAD AT A RESTAURANT... THE WORST!!!!!! Only 1 star because there isn't a 0 rating waited 45 minutes for cold breakfast waiter slide half of onto table then grabs it with his hand and says i'll get some new bacon for you... You know damn well the same bacon came back so I didn't bother with that paid 40. and ran do not go here... read more

WOW, heard so much about this place. Worst experience ever in a restaurant. One waitress for the whole place, the other one was late and should be fired! Everything was served cold.....over easy eggs, bacon, grits with no butter or hot sauce. Ordered side of sausage which came cold, burnt, and after I had eaten most of what I could get down, never did get the biscuits. ALL managements fault. Server going as fast as she could and still maintained a cheerful, apologetic personality. Left her nice tip. Hard to get the experience out of my mind enough to go back. I'm sure more folks in the cafe will feel the same when they leave. read more

From the moment you walk into Big Man's Cafe, you feel like family. The second the door opens, someone greets you with a warm hello--and before you can take three steps, every other staff member has done the same, each with a genuine smile. That kind of welcome sets the tone for what's to come. I ordered the loaded grits and home fries (extra crispy)--and wow. The food was absolutely spectacular. Every bite tasted homemade, seasoned perfectly, and filled with love and soul. You can tell this isn't just cooking--it's care. What really stood out, though, was the atmosphere. Throughout my meal, every member of this family-owned restaurant stopped by my table to say hello, making sure I was happy and taken care of. It felt like eating in the home of good friends--only better, because the food was flawless. Big Man's Cafe isn't just a restaurant--it's an experience. A beautiful place, run by a beautiful family, serving beautiful Southern/Soul food. I'll definitely be back--and next time, I'm bringing everyone I know. read more

If you need a soul food fix-- this is your place. Not only is the food fantastic but the staff makes you just feel right at home. Loved the Lima beans, candied sweet potatoes/yams, fried chicken. Portions were generous. Also had to get dessert to go-- strawberry cake did not disappoint. Would absolutely recommend and return. read more

We were interested in breakfast and the biscuits in particular. We were disappointed to find they didn't have any. You see, they were moving into lunch soon and just didn't think the dinners arriving before lunch needed them as much as assuring they didn't make too many. Added to they, the woman who served us was "bland," for lack of a better work and there was nothing remarkable about the food we did have. To be fair, my disappoint over the lack of the desired biscuit may have colored my outlook. But, really, no biscuits available for breakfast in the south...... read more

Definitely a great find!! We had an incredible breakfast. The eggs were perfect, the bacon was crispy, the potatoes were amazing and the pancakes....... I don't know what made the pancakes special but they were very, very tasty. Our waitress was the sweetest thing. A little shy but just outgoing enough. She brought us whatever we needed, including keeping the coffee hot. If you get the chance, make sure to try it out. You will not be disappointed. read more

Amazing menu options for breakfast and lunch. Coffee was the smoothest, and I even asked what brand it was. I had the loaded grit bowl with a side of tomatoes. My friend had the salmon patty breakfast plate with potatoes, eggs and toast. I was intrigued by the Oxtail plate. The waitress said it was flying out the door this morning. I wanted to try it (Oxtail virgin here) but, I was so hungry I opted for the safer, grit bowl. My friend and I have decided to stop for lunch on the way back through town...lived our adorable waitress, she gave lots of recommendations. Hope we see her in the way out of town! I highly recommend this soul food based restaurant. Don't be intimidated by the "soul food" highlight. They have plenty of the basic food plates we all are use to. I'm gonna try the Oxtail read more

Big Man's Cafe - Grit bowl and Salmon breakfast plate - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

1. The service was amazing. So personal and friendly. Their motto is once you walk through the door you are family, and we felt like family!!! 2. The food was SO good. True southern style home cooking. Two in our party got the liver and onions. They raved about it being just like momma made. My son said the fried fish was better than any he ever had. It was moist on the inside but crisp on the outside. My stew meat was melt in your mouth. The sides were amazing too! All of them reminded us of thanksgiving at grandma's house. 3. The red velvet cake! I'm not a big fan of it traditionally, but we saw 4 slices sell while there. My son tried it and everyone was fighting over this slice. It was moist and delicious. Not dry. Not overly sweet. Just perfect. We will be back next time we are in town. Just make sure you get there before 6 pm!!! read more

Big Man's Cafe - Stew meat with collards, Lima beans, and southern dressing. - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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We have been twice and can't wait to return. Service and food is just like being at home with family! read more

Big Man's Cafe - Breakfast - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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Family owned operation. Owners, their daughter and granddaughter were working! So friendly and attentive. The restaurant design is simple but comfortable. The food was incredible especially the dollar cakes- best pancakes I've ever had and the family agreed. The biscuits too! We had omelettes and all were excellent. Mine was vegetarian and still delicious! read more

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We came here for lunch. There was a party of 14 that was seated ahead of us. I was impressed that they had plenty of room for that large party and the restaurant was filled with other patrons and they still had a table for us. Service was fast and the food was good. I got a bowl of their chicken and sausage gumbo and a side of Mac and cheese. The gumbo was good and I was happy that they had Crystal hot sauce that I could put in it to make it a little spicier. The roux could have been made a little darker so that it would be more full flavored. It was not the deep mahogany color that you find in New Orleans, but it was still tasty. The Mac and cheese was just okay, but it was forgettable. I was hoping for something that tasted more homemade. It wasn't bad, but I would not order it again. I got a slice of their peach pie to go. I really enjoyed it. The crust tastes like the crust I make for pies except it was saltier than mine. The peach pie had a lot of cinnamon in it and I really enjoyed it. Overall it was a good experience. read more

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Killer breakfast at excellent prices! The staff is so friendly and service was great. Located in a plaza, so lots of parking. The interior was fresh and modern. The owners even took the time to go table to table to make sure the experience was up to par. It was a nice touch. We ordered the pork chop breakfast, one grilled, one smothered. Both were devoured in minutes. Excellent lunch menu, with all the southern fixings. Looking forward to returning real soon! read more

Big Man's Cafe - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

The service was friendly, the food was awesome! (The gumbo OMG, so tasty) If you want made from scratch fried chicken this is the place! The waitstaff was attentive and it felt like home. read more

Friends and Family and reviews said great food. Service was a little confusing with the waitress but it got fixed. Ordered a chili dog with onion rings. Wife got the grilled ham and cheese. She said hers was ok. I hate beans and the texture of them. I am picky. as you can see since I picked every bean out of my chili dog that should not have beans in the 1st place. If I had known there were beans (as this is not normal for the majority of chili dogs served) I would have ordered something else. I get it you have tasty chili with beans but it does not belong on a chili dog. chili served to a judge in a contest does not have beans. that is a clue that beans should not be on a chili dog unless it is printed on the menu. dog was pretty good but I was put off by the beans. If someone else wants to go there in my group I would go back and try something else. But my 1st time was not good. I eat out every week. I try to eat at every place in my town and other towns when I am visiting. Wife keeps track on new places opening read more

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On a drive through Florida, hopped on Yelp to find a Black-owned restaurant for lunch. The reviews and pics drew me in so a stop was made. BAY-BEEEEE!!!!!!! This food!!!! Whewwww!!! Definitely got more than I was looking for out of Big Man's Cafe! This food reminded me of somebody's grandma in the kitchen. I haven't tasted soul food cooked to perfection like this in more than a decade. People really do not cook like this anymore - the recipes are indeed being lost. Thank goodness Big Man is holding them tight! We were properly greeted upon entry and welcomed to take a seat. I was surprised at the size of the restaurant as there are two large areas for seating. One side has booths and tables, the other has tables and a sizeable bar with several TVs. Enjoyed the large windows bringing in nice lighting to eat with. The servers here are very friendly and familiar - we were treated like valued returning guests even though it was only our first visit. I ordered the smothered pork chops with dressing, collard greens and yams. This was a plate of classic soul food. The flavor. The flavor! Every dish was seasoned and cooked to perfection. If someone ever asked me what soul food tastes like, I would bring them to Big Man's Cafe to have all of their questions answered. The pork chop was fried crispy which the gravy soaked right up while the meat was tender. The greens had an amazing old school flavor - no frozen unseasoned greens here! And the yams. Mmm! Real sweet potatoes cooked with just the right amount of sugar so it still tasted a tiny bit healthy. LOL We learned on this visit that a cornmeal pancake comes with the meal but it has to be requested, so don't forget to ask. Listen: the food was so good I made a stop *back* at Big Man's Cafe on the way back through Florida a week later. The service and food was just as good as the first time! There was also live music on a Friday afternoon, which was a nice touch. On this visit, I had the smothered chicken with that good-good dressing, yams and green beans. Goodness gracious alive, that was some good eating! It comes with a half-chicken which was too much to eat at one time. But I will say that chicken came in handy later in my ride and certainly did not make it home. Also, the green beans were so good they inspired me to try and get that flavor at home more than a week later. The prices are very reasonable, especially for the amount of food. Wait times were not long at all, even on the second visit which was right in the midst of the lunch rush with quite a few other patrons. Very clean establishment including the restroom. I can't wait to get back to Ocala one day and make another visit. Big Man, you and the family keep doing what ya doing!! read more

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Flew in from Texas this morning and drove into Ocala When looking for a place to eat I chose Big Man's OMG it was so good Real Soul food I had the smothered pork chops with okra, sweet potatoes and dressing It was all very well seasoned and cooked to perfection read more

OMG! Great breakfast! Smothered porkchops did not miss! Liver and onions amazing! Everything was great. Service was amazing by the staff. 20 out of 10 definitely recommend! read more

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Excellent food! Liver and onions was delish! Very family oriented, such a nice environment. This is a big musttry! read more

Big Man's Cafe - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Loved everything about this place. Staying at WEC and wanted something local. Found BMC and went back again the next day. Oxtails and eggs - don't miss it. The service was excellent - you're greeted by all the servers and made to feel welcome from the minute you walk in the door. Friends had grits, biscuits and gravy, extra thick bacon, spicy sausage - all of these in various forms with eggs. Everyone was happy and full. As if that wasn't enough, we topped it off with bread pudding. Wow! All so delicious. read more

Not a bad spot. The service was great. Everyone was friendly from the hostess to the owner. I truly appreciate the hospitality and make me feel like I was part of the family. I Ordered the turkey wings with sweet potatoes, collard greens and dressing. It was absolutely delicious. Nice location gives you that Southern feeling. My only issue is I wanted to try the poundcake, but they were all out. Hopefully, next time I'll be able to get some. read more

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Stopped at this place on a road trip and was delightedly surprised by this family-owned restaurant. The fried pork sandwich was straight up one of the best sandwiches I ever ate. The pork was tender and juicy and the spices on the breading were p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Paired nice with a cup of gumbo and some mac and cheese, but I wish I could have tried all the sides. The owner and his family were real nice. Next time I'm back in Ocala, I will be stopping here to try their breakfast too. read more

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Good food, professional friendly service and nice variety on the menu. I had the big man's fried chicken, very nice and moist. The Lima beans were a bit salty for my taste, but the cornbread made up for that. Will likely be stopping in again. read more

Most amazing breakfast I've ever had. The wait staff was so nice the Chef came out and made sure our meal was good and checked on every other table. Felt like I was eating breakfast with family. The corn beef hash was amazing with great flavor. Eggs were cooked perfectly. And the Grits were the best I've ever eaten. 10/10 would recommend this place. Can't wait till I come back to Ocala to eat here again!! read more

fantastic food and service! Do yourself a favor and try this place; you won't be disappointed. support small businesses! read more

Very tasteless food , not good to me . It misses spices and flavor the chicken is dry and the collars were over cooked.

My wife and enjoyed our meal here, she had the fried chicken and I had the smothered chicken, wow it was great plus the sides were amazing too. The wife ordered a peanut butter pie for later and that was very good as well. The staff was really nice and the cost was not bad either for the amount you received. I will be back soon read more

This biscuit was disappointing & quite pricey. Biscuit wasn't fresh and somehow also dry. Also took about 15 mins to come out. However the staff and restaurant were nice read more

Big Man's Cafe - Biscuit & Gravy - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Seated quickly. Clean and spacious. Ordered quickly. Served quickly. Great steak and eggs quality and value. Seems like a family owned place with happy employees. I was close enough to the cooks that I could hear some of their chatter which was positive. Compared to some diners, they have enough staff Will be back. read more

Big Man's Cafe - Southern Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Absolutely fantastic food! Had fried chicken, oxtails, collards, Mac and cheese, cucumber salad and coleslaw, everything was excellent including service. Thank you! read more

Yummy food. We had a burger with onion rings, cheeseburger with mashed potatoes, smoked chicken salad with candied sweet potatoes and Cajun shrimp loaded baked potato. All yummy. Only complaint is the burger was requested to be medium well and it was closer to medium/medium rare. Otherwise, recommend!! read more

This is the second time I have eaten at Big Man's Cafe and boy it never disappoints. If you are looking for good authentic country food then this is the place for you. I had Big Man's fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes-FANTASTIC. My daughter had the stew beef, corn nuggets, sweet potatoes, and macaroni and cheese, also fabulous. Our little waitress offered great suggestions and was very attentive to our needs (I can't remember her name but she was great). Don't skip this one the next time you are in Ocala! read more

Saw this place on Fox local and decided to give it a try. Simply AMAZING!!! I had the loaded biscuit. Sausage gravy was great. Also came with bacon , cheese, and 2 eggs on top. My wife had the smothered pork chop and couldn't say enough about how much she liked it. Reasonable prices, super friendly staff that makes you feel like you are part of the family! I would give this 6 stars if I could! read more

Food was delicious, oxtail was amazing, tender, and packed with flavor. Went 2 days in a row for the biscuits ans butter with honey, they were flakes and delicious! Had the porkchops with the brown gravy oh sooo good (recommend ordering a extra porkchop how good they are) Atmosphere was inviting and friendly, I recommend giving them a try for yourself! read more

We were treated like family the second we arrived, and the place looked clean and fun. Ciara, the owner (Gerald) daughter seated us and took our order. She was so sweet and prompt. The food was hot and delicious, as it was prepared by the family. The matriarch even makes the pies herself, from home! Great food! There are even shirts and cups for sale as gifts or souvenirs. Recommended! read more

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