Lake Mary, Florida has been quietly growing small, local food spots for a number of years now. Dexter’s in Lake Mary is located in Colonial Town Park, an active and surprisingly full plaza with both a movie theater and grocery store, tucked into more of the Heathrow side of Lake Mary. Locals and visitors alike meander through along the sidewalks and fill up the outside patio seating, perfect for people watching and enjoying that occasionally nice Florida fall weather.

We chose a table inside so we could chat with the staff. Brett, our joyful and excited server, brought us some water with lemon wedges almost as soon as we had sat down and walked us through his suggestions for appetizers or beginnings, as it was listed on the menu. We decided on the Dex-Mex Chicken Egg Rolls, made with blackened chicken, fire-roasted corn salsa, sweet onions, peppers, and pepper jack cheese all rolled into a crispy won-ton and served with a delicious house-made avocado ranch dipping sauce. This was a perfect light starter for lunch. Dexter’s has long been known for the ridiculously tasty house-made dressings and dips.

Shelly selected the Grilled Pesto Chicken Sandwich, made with havarti cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, a fresh lemon-caper aioli, fresh herbs, all pressed on an Olde Hearth Bread Co. Cuban Onion Kaiser, deciding on a Caesar salad for a side with both house-made dressing and croutons. The Cuban Onion Kaiser adds a unique level of taste and smell to a very well made sandwich and really kicks the flavor to a new level.

C-Swiss ultimately decided to choose Dexter’s Special, a long standing sandwich at all four locations, on an ever changing Dexter’s menu. Dexter’s Special is made with Boar’s Head honey mesquite smoked turkey, smoked gouda, house made lava mustard, mayonnaise, green leaf lettuce, and tomato, pressed on an Olde Hearth Bread Co. French Deli, choosing a house salad over the French fries. The side house salad, made with tomatoes, zucchini, squash, carrots, green bell peppers, and broccoli is quite big and served with a house feta cheese ranch, a highlight on this menu.

With four locations in Winter Park, Thornton Park, Lake Mary, and Windermere, we strongly encourage you to consider Dexter’s for your next lunch, event, night out, or special dinner. These locations are in sync with each other and yet masterfully chef driven with a seasonal menu that changes with availability of local items. These chefs and their staff are going the extra mile to ensure you are receiving fresh and local quality ingredients and breads, prepared thoughtfully, and utilized to their fullest potential.