Few things are better at creating an appetite than diving. If you dive in the morning, you are almost certain to be hungry come noon. So, where can you satisfy this hunger?
- Many visitors pack a lunch or cook out on one of our grills. This may be a good solution if you are pressed for time.
- Others, however, go out to eat. This can provide a welcome break if putting in a long day of diving. It may also be something you want to do if you are getting ready to hit the road after a morning dive.
If you choose to eat out, the question becomes where to go? A drive through Williston reveals we have no shortage of familiar fast-food restaurants. The food is not always that healthy or good, however, and they provide a dining experience that is no different from what you find at home. There are better alternatives.
This article looks at nine local restaurants you may want to try. They each share the following in common.
- They are locally owned and operated. Some have more than one location, but all have the same owner.
- None are part of a national or regional chain or operated on a franchise basis.
- At nearly all of these places, you can go in, sit down, order from a menu and have food brought to your table. You can then relax and eat at your own pace.
- All these establishments have a customer satisfaction rating of at least four stars or better on Google. They do equally as well on Yelp! and similar sites.
We updated this list in April of 2023. This included three new restaurants and updated menu links.
What else should you know?
- Most of the restaurants on this list are either lunch-only or breakfast-and-lunch-only establishments. As such, they do not stay open past 2:00 pm. Most are closed at least one day each week.
- All but one of these establishments is in downtown Williston, within a mile of each other.
We’ve listed these restaurants in no particular order other than to start with those closest to the Grotto and move to those furthest away.
That One Place
This is the restaurant that is closest to Blue Grotto. It used to be home to the Green Shutters, however, the prior owners sold and an entirely new restaurant has taken its place. This family-owned restaurant focuses on Brazilian and American dishes, plus bakery goods. It rates 4.3 stars on Google.
That One Place bucks the local trend. Instead of closing at 2:00 pm, they are only open for dinner. Their hours are Tuesday wand Wednesday, 4:00 until 8:00 pm.
Pyper Kub
We discussed this restaurant previously, in our article on the historic Williston Municipal Airport. They are the only restaurant on this list that is not in downtown Williston. It’s chiefly a burgers-and-fries place, but a very highly rated one (4.5 stars on Google).
Pyper Kub is open from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, seven days a week. This makes it a good choice for both breakfast and lunch.
Sho Gun Japanese Restaurant
People are often shocked to find a restaurant of this caliber in a town as small as Williston. Nevertheless, Sho Gun gets 4.6 stars on Google.
Sho Gun features teriyaki, tempura and, of course, sushi. They are open from 11:00 am am to 9:00 pm pm, every day but Wednesday.
Ivy House
Sadly, this local favorite has been closed for the past several months due to fire damage. It is not clear if and when it will reopen.
Melanie’s Restaurant
Melanie’s is located in the heart of downtown. It offers traditional American entrees for both breakfast and lunch and rates 4.3 stars on Google.
The restaurant is open from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm, seven days a week.
Sister’s Place
Sister’s Place lets their food speak for them. Their Google rating of 4.7 stars is among the highest on our list. Their diverse menu offers one of the best selections of seafood of any dining establishment in Williston, but they also offer chicken, salads, burgers and more.
Sister’s Place is open from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm, seven days a week. They are slightly out of the way, tucked behind Maguire’s Auto Repair on Noble Avenue. Your phone or vehicle GPS will get you there without problem.
La Cocina Taqueria
If you are in the mood for Mexican, this is the place. Reviews are mixed, reulting of a score 3.6 stars on Google.
La Cocina is open from 10:00 am to 9:00 most days but check Google for specific hours.
Black Prong Equestrian Village
If you are looking for an upscale dining experience and don’t mind a 15-minute drive in the country, you will want to check out the Black Prong Equestrian Village. This modern resort sits on the edge of the Goethe State Forest, with its myriad hiking and riding trails. It offers a wide assortment of accommodations and activities, which you can learn more about on their website.
Black Prong provides two dining opportunities.
- The Galloping Gourmet offers breakfast and lunch in an outdoor setting.
- As you can see from the accompanying photo, the Black Prong Bar & Grill is nothing at all like the name suggests. This is arguably one of the region’s finest dining establishments (4.6 stars on Google).
You can view the menus for both restaurants on the Black Prong website.
Support local business and help us
By patronizing locally owned businesses:
- You provide jobs and income for local residents.
- More of the money you spend stays right here in Williston.
- Most importantly, you help ensure that the divers we bring into the are seen by local businesses and residents as a benefit to our being here.
And you may just discover a dining experience you can’t find at home.