What an absolutely fantastic, surprising find in the heart of downtown old historic Sanford. " Make 2nd your 1st choice," is the perfect slogan! In town on a work trip, my husband, and I decided to try this place out! What a wonderful surprise! From the moment you walked in the eclectic, industrial, modernized, warm, cozy feel welcomes you in. Our server was friendly and attentive, and we knew right away that this place was a find! A wonderful happy hour menu, led us to a full menu of what felt like a farm to table experience. I sadly didn't get to snap a photo of the excellent appetizer buratta, but it was a perfect blend of balsamic tomato and creamy cheese! I am a true foodie, and this was hands-down the best burger I've ever eaten. My husband absolutely loved his shrimp and grits, perfectly cooked and well balanced flavor. Well, I know everyone recommends the chocolate cake, I can't rave enough about the crème brûlée. Do yourself a favor and go out of your way to enjoy a " private chef experience" meal! You will be glad you did! read more

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Went there last night with another couple. My friend had the honey glazed salmon and a beet salad. Her husband and I both had the Blackened Redfish, crawfish grits and gravy. My husband had the Bean, kale soup which he said is probably the best soup he's ever eaten! Everything was Amazing 5+ stars on the food. The service was pretty good. The restaurant is nicely decorated but the acoustics were horrible. It WAS SO LOUD that it made the dining experience suffer greatly. We sat upfront to avoid the noise but could barely hear one another across the table. But again the food was wonderful. Not a single dish disappointed. Many, many complements to the chef and his staff. read more

Windy Tuesday evening with pending rain so opted for someplace to sit down inside. Really nice mid-upscale with nice old school bar. Business supper so set at high top in the bar area. No reservations but seated immediately. Super sweet staff. Bobby had the flank steak and it looked good but I had the huge chop. Delicious. The potatoes were mashed and not instant and the veggies had a nice crisp crunch. The topping on the chop was amazing. The ole fashioned was also tasty. Definitely a place to return when in the area. read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Cocktail menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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We had 7:30 reservations for a Saturday night as a party of 4. We were seated after 5 minutes of us arriving. It was a lively evening and the restaurant was full, The waiter was pleasant and he got our food out so quick! For appetizer we got the burrata and the mozzarella was very tasty, and tomato's were fresh. The bread was also delicious, We all ordered steak and it was SO GOOD. We were pleasantly surprised. The Cornbread? AMAZING. The chimichurri sauce? Amazing! So so good. Very good dinner. read more

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My BFF is an amature chef, and finally I found a place that she loved: Food，service, and ambience I give a 10 in each category! Oh my god! she just used the ladies room and came back with " omg the bathroom is not just clean, but spectacular clean! read more

Probably the most delicious steak I've had in a VERY long time! Literally cuts like butter! The District Eatery Tap & Barrel is elegant with upscale dishes yet still gives that homey feel. Their drinks are pretty and taste delicious! I was amazed by the flavors and the service was spectacular. Everything we ate was perfectly made, it left us wanting more! You've gotta end your meal with Nonnas Chocolate cake! I can't wait to go back and make my way through the rest of the menu! read more

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Went to meet up with some friends tonight. Had not been here in a long time. The inside is very rustic and welcoming. Got the nawlins crawfish and redfish dish and the flavors were right on point. Was a very good experience and will definitely be back read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - NAWLINS STYLE CRAWFISH & REDFISH - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Plans didn't work out so we ended up here instead, I've always wanted to try it so this was the perfect opportunity. I ordered the fish Nawlins style, which comes prepared with a creamy sauce, fish and crawfish on top of a grit cake. The sauce and spices were perfect together, and the grit cake was the best I've ever had. Also had a Margarita which was also very delicious. This place is great for any occasion, date, hanging with friends or just dining alone. The service was really good and was happy we could get in without reservations on a Saturday. read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Nawlins trout with Lobster - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

We had a group of 10! We all agreed it was fantastic food- the portions are very generous and tasty. Everyone that tried the mussels agreed they were fantastic! Definitely recommend, and we will be back! read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Service was amazing and food was outstanding! Our bartender was funny and on top of her game. The food took me to another dimension and I instantly wanted to marry the chef with love, from Vegas, Tabi read more

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Something like a five. A limited menu and long outdated website pricing hue my review though everything was entirely enjoyable. Hospitality was attentive enough. Seafood chowder was sort of closer kin to corn chowder but that's semantics. Burger was solid and cooked correctly to order, even with carryover, which is becoming something of an art these days. AAA+++ for that. Chop was fat and delicious. Curious Romaine wedge was nice. Enjoyed that. Libations were reasonable enough, thank you. And dessert, creme brulee was nice. Didn't have that "crack" but was wholly delicious just the same. Easy four something or other. Elevated dining. read more

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so our experience is good we went on a Wednesday early afternoon. It was pretty much deserted. For me I loved it. The hostess was cool, it was a smaller place but nice. Nice little bar and TV so that I was able to watch the basketball playoffs. We couldn't decide what to get and ended up just getting burgers. Let me tell you, these burgers are very good and I had no idea. We'll be back for another burger and to try The red fish. read more

A very cute location for a date night or even a larger group. Reservations can be made which I would recommend especially for larger parties and weekend dinner. Our server was extremely patient with our large group. I had the Filet and it was absolutely incredible. My husband had the short ribs but he didn't think it was filling enough. Most of our party enjoyed their meals and I would definitely return! read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Filet Mignon au Poivre - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Best in Sanford and the pork chop is outstanding! Great service and friendly place. Been a regular for many years and it's a great place for food and drinks. You can sit at the bar or a quiet table. Old school look. read more

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We were in town to celebrate two friends birthdays and honestly picked this restaurant due to location being close to the speakeasy at Tuffys. What a find! Our entire group of 11 was over the top impressed with their meals- the food was amazing! Several of us had the redfish...highly recommend! The restaurant was beautiful and our waitress Merrill was so accommodating. I accidentally left my credit card behind and she ran all the way over to Tuffys to get it back to us!!! We can't wait to come back to Sanford and have another amazing meal at The District Eatery! read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Redfish- absolutely amazing! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

We are catching a flight in the morning and staying near the airport. We were looking for a delicious meal and found The District here on Yelp. So glad we did! Our dining experience was amazing! The food was delicious! I had the roast chicken and my husband had the pork chop. Next time we fly into SFB, we will eat here again. read more

Stopped in here for an early dinner one Wednesday night. This restaurant had a homey, welcoming vibe. Everything felt intentional - from the plating to the pacing and the staff was friendly without being overbearing. If you're looking for a place that blends Southern comfort with gourmet flair, this spot delivers in spades. Their drinks are exceptionally good as well. I'll definitely be back. read more

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This is a very welcoming small restaurant in the heart of Sanford. We were a party of four and everyone had a different item off the menu. We were all very happy with our dishes. We will definitely be back! read more

Sanford-I called a few weeks ago and spoke with one of the owners, Ann. Very personable and accommodating for our party of ten. This upscale eatery has a very cool vibe. Our waitress, Katie, was amazing! Helping with menu suggestions and keeping the drinks flowing. ALL TEN of us absolutely loved our food! Hard to do when you've got so many different tastes. Entrees were...Short ribs-tender & seasoned perfectly. Bourbon Pork chop-as big as your head and tender as all get out! Mussels with ciabatta-I'm still dreaming about the cream sauce. Steak-one of the most tender steaks we've ever had. You could cut it with a butter knife. 1/2 Chicken-very flavorful and moist. All agreed that this place knocked it outta the park!!! Thanks for a great foodie experience! We WILL be back. I didn't get a picture of the salad, but they loved it too!! read more

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This is always a go to for date night. I do recommend getting a reservation. I've tried pretty much everything on the menu and you cannot go wrong with anything. The service is always excellent and the food is always amazing. It's a very quaint little restaurant in downtown Sanford. It is a staple when it comes to the elegance and historical venues of downtown Sanford. You cannot go wrong with any choice on any day. But I do recommend getting a reservation. read more

First time in stanford and this place was amazing. Get a reservation, we got lucky and were there early enough to get in before the reservations filled out the restaurant. Food was some of the best we have had anywhere! read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Redfish entree - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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The food was excellent and great service! Good cocktail options and clean environment read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - Ahi Tuna - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

Sate night in Sanford! The food was delicious. A friend had recommended The District and it was all he said! I had the beer salad w candied pecans plus the braised short ribs which were off the bone and tender, the risotto which was creamy and delicious and the mixed veggies which were varied and cooked perfectly. All gluten free. My hubby had the shrimp and grits. I wanted to get it but the grits are out in fryer so not gluten free. He loved it. The Sanford Smash mocktail was delicious too. Great service and friendly faces. There was a big party in the bar and they kept up with both fine. Will definitely be back!! read more

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amazing food.. our server was great.. I gave a 4/5 only because the young girl who checked us in had a bit of an attitude. this young girl lacks good customer service skills. Also, while we made a reservation on their system, it didnt appear on her screen but she still wouldnt seat us until I showed the text confirmation they sent earlier. read more

Perfect size menu with great food. Server was patient and friendly. Will definitely go back. read more

Everything was perfect. The food delicious and the service outstanding. The restaurant is small, quaint and close to the theater. It's very busy, so make your reservations early. read more

We love this quaint restaurant that always delivers exceptional quality and value. The food is so delicious and they're always offering new seasonal menu with new cocktails and dishes. The service is amazing but if you plan to visit on the weekend do yourself a favor and make a reservation. read more

Everything was spot on! Started with a Sanford Smash and a Loggerhead Spicy Paloma and Mussels. For the main we did a Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna and Seabass and Crawfish. Desert was crème brûlée. Portions were large and everything was amazing. Would definitely go back if we get back to town. Natalie was our server and did a phenomenal job. Nice little spot, clean and well laid out. read more

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We scheduled a rehearsal dinner in their private room for a party of 33. Bradford, the owner, was great to work with. He was very responsive through the planning stage, and accommodating when we had a few last minute changes come up. Highly recommend as the food was amazing and very fairl read more

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Smash Burger = smashed to perfection Fries = Awesome +. You will not better than these read more

It has been a couple of years since we have been here. My husband and I went for a nice date night dinner and once again....exceeded expectations! We made reservations as the restaurant itself is small and does not have a large amount. Of seating. We were immediately greeted and ordered our drinks. I had The District, which is there version of the Old Fashioned. It was smooth and delicious. For dinner we both ordered the Short Ribs with veggies and mushroom risotto. This dish is a must have. We will definitely return in the near future. read more

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I absolutely loved the food here at The District! My wife and I both got the short rib for our entree and it melted in your mouth. The drinks are top notch as well. The service there was fantastic as well, very friendly and personable and another good reason for a return trip. I also like the fact that it's a small restaurant and everything is very cozy and relaxing. We didn't even have to wait long for our food and I appreciate that. I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're in the Sanford area but they are definitely worth the drive to enjoy the food there. read more

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Best restaurant in Sanford. Great service and food. Cioppino which is my favorite is amazing.

Very good first experience at yet another lovely culinary experience here in Sanford. The District is an attractive and comfortable restaurant and bar with delicious cocktails and quality ingredient entrees. I highly recommend the Spiked Blueberry Lemonade - one of the best cocktails I've had in years. My filet was good, but, to date, I've never had a filet mignon snag the title from my favorite OG cantina on Colonial (IYKYK). Would I return? Yes - likely for the Braised Short Rib with mushroom risotto. My server, Katie, was lovely and, worth the mention, the water here is excellent! If the water is good at a restaurant I'm always happy because that's what they cook with - so BONUS. read more

The District Eatery Tap & Barrel - The very excellent Spiked Blueberry Lemonade...highly recommend. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Sanford, Florida

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Everything is pre prepared. Food seems to have been left uncovered and wilting in fridge. Plastic fitted table clothes covered by glass gavr me a 1970s Deja vu. Wobbly wine glasses were given to me for a 150 buck wine. Wedge was wilted with a film on the dressing. Burrata had a 1/4 inch hard shell with the creamy stuff minimal. Tomatoes were wilted and you could see they were cut the night before. Steak was ok but came out with so much brown sauce cause I could barely find it. Yes, I said asked three times to out the au pouvi sauce on the side. Service was fair to good but he did not know anything. Had to go back and ask. He tried. Not his fault. Probably not be back. Maybe. Place was empty. read more

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Quaint little place with a cozy atmosphere. Fantastic food and phenomenal service. This will where I have dinner anytime I'm in the area.

What a TREAT. Beautiful space, knowledgeable waitstaff and a fresh, innovative menu. The salmon was beautifully prepared and served with fresh asparagus, and cilantro rice. We asked to sub the rice for the days vegetables and were delighted to get fresh green beans, lightly sautéed corn and carrots. We will definitely be back. The desserts sounded great, but unfortunately we were out of room. read more

Nice ambiance, good service, and the food was lovely. Will return! I had bourbon pork chop my husband had the chimichurri flat iron steak both dishes were delicious. Our favorites were the mashed potatoes and honey cornbread. read more

Best restaurant in Sanford Florida. Great service, full bar and the menu is terrific.

Good food, decent + service and we just enjoy coming here. Happy hour makes for a good value too.