I have always heard about the place, but just the other night decided to venture into the dark and mysterious alley. "A location with such an evocative name needs to be in the creepiest part of  town!" I said to myself. So I fallowed the local ghostly crowd hoping that they would  inadvertently lead me into the famous restaurant.

After floating in the form of an orb over their indifferent  heads, all along fighting the temptation to stay at the other very interesting places they walked in, finally I recognized the name I was so eagerly looking for: "The Goblin Market."

I wondered how this place got overlooked by my intrusive opinionated self for so long. It is hard to find, yes, but hard to miss among the unique features Mount Dora has to offer, once you decide to go for a walk around town. The Goblin Market is in a historical alley, and I am sure that all this history has a lot to do with the restaurant itself. I think it is perhaps the most unique establishment in the town if looked from the outside alone. But once you walk in, that uniqueness translate into a whole  experience for your senses, even your sixth sense as the place is rumored to be haunted.

I thought I was definitively back in time to my very own historical time frame. The facade is allusive to the  pleasant memories of any colonial town from Boston down to Baltimore. It just looks that way because of the designs and decorative accents involving different styles ranging from the Gothic to the Florida Vernacular, cleverly combined with gusto, literally seduce you  with  enthralling whispers of Classic Americana.

Once inside the experience moves into yet another dimension equally provocative for the senses. A very stylish arrangement of exquisitely prepared tables is surrounded by a well thought set of decorations intentionally driven to maintain that first impression produced by the outside view. I felt I was walking into a Tavern from my past, or a fashionable book or antiquarian shop filled with an endless serenade of historical artifacts, but incredibly done with minimal use of objects or clutter. Simply stated a refined atmosphere of  intellectual luxury.

You may be seated on the first floor, but one of the most appealing settings of The Goblin Market is its second floor. There I was seated, precisely at the table believed to be haunted and with strange events clearly falling within the definition of a poltergeist. Across from me was the beautiful cocktail lounge, a full bar, which reminded me of some of the old fashioned academic clubs, but that is just my opinion.  The lounge just invites to get immersed into deep bohemian interaction, either a poetry reading or, why not, perhaps a seance.

As I heard that night, the bartender was just named as the Best of the Best bartenders in Lake County, by Lake Magazine. This is a fact that needed immediate verification, and which after a couple of different excellent martinis was settled for good and without space for any doubts; The Best!

I was not able to tell who was the owner and  who was a server; as so intense was the level of dedication prevailing from staff to staff. All of them were very knowledgeable of the items in the menu, cheerful and attentive. Even though I am a ghost, they made me feel really alive.

The menu clearly is representative of the atmosphere all around. It is a wide selection of fine items prepared with special attention to details, and likely to be paired with a selection from their wine cellar. It was hard for  me to make my choice, so I haunted for a few seconds around the tables and overheard some hints to go straight for.

This was my order for the night, followed by my own impression and rate.

Appetizers

Crab Bisque
	fresh jumbo lump crab in a classic bisque. with wild mushrooms, leeks, sherry and fresh tomato.

I feel this may be perhaps the most popular item in the menu. I noticed the volume of "Take out orders" going out with an obvious combination of cups: one for the Bisque, and for the sherry. It looks as described above. The kick for this one is having the Sherry liquor to add according to your taste, and this seems to be a really good quality! The fact that the bisque is featured as the first item for both the lunch and dinner menus, may be speaking for a reason. Its simplicity contrast with the "adjustable" punch of great flavor. Definitively a dish like this depends on the quality of its ingredients.

Excellent (***** )

Escargot vol au vent
	escargot sauteed in garlic, shallots & spinach, served with puff pastry & shitake mushroom. drizzled with a champagne cream sauce.

Okay, Escargot is not for everybody. Among all the exotic dishes available today, this delicacy is ranked up there when it comes to weirdness, next to frog legs competing for a very tight first place. Just think about it. Who would want to eat a snail? Really, it is mind boggling to think about all the other things  with cool sounding names that we could end up with in a menu. But if you are out there when it comes to try stuff like this, including myself, then this is a good option for you. This dish is made what it is because of its fantastic champagne cream sauce!I can only say these are the best Escargots served in Lake County thanks to the saucier.

Very Good (****-)

Main Entree

Filet Napoleon
	twin 4oz. medallions of beef tenderloin, layered with spinach, portobella, shallots & sun-dried tomato. finished with gorgonzola bleu cheese & a porcini bordelaise.

Continuing our accidental voyage through the evolution of life, we move from the lower critters crustaceans and mollusks into the more evolved mammals, not to mention the more evolved portobella mushrooms. Okay, Okay, I skipped poultry, but so I did with reptiles, fishes and frogs, so the get me to talk here! This Filet is cut the way it should so it practically melts in your mouth. Kudos to the line cook responsible of assuring I got the expected medium well I wanted. But the whole ordeal with this dish is the flavor explosion it brings with the interaction of all the ingredients. As this is a more complex item, my expectations where higher. The presentation was as extraordinaire as the preparation. I was able to discern each flavor from the next, and then to identify the combination of two, three or more ingredients. I can say that eating this was indeed very entertaining. Ordering this requires that you apply all your senses to the experience, so maybe is good to refrain from talking about anything except what is on your plate. Do not sip your wine while you eat; just wait until your mouth is empty, as with the proper wine those flavors can come back in an instant. Needles to say I  was very pleased and satisfied with this choice. Highly recommended.

My Favorite. Excellent (*****)

Overall Experience

Taking a look into the menu my impression is that The Goblin Market is an eclectic restaurant. There is a very good representation of different styles, but it can be argued that the French may have the lead. I think that this cooking approach goes well with the physical look and atmosphere as The Goblin Market is a very sophisticated and classy place from the time you walk into the alley where it is located at. The place is very well suited for those looking for an intimate establishment to dress up and go out with a date. So do not expect to be casual about it, nevertheless you can go no matter what. The place is for fine dinning and quite exchanges, although the lounge may be suitable for entertainment like a magician, classic musician or parlor theater performer.

Pros: Fine dinning, reasonable prices, atmosphere, service, ingredient selection, saucier. Option for seating out.

Cons: Parking, Access requires to walk around town. Too compact  for larger groups.

Rating: Excellent. This place is a Landmark and is haunted, yessssss....

Visited on 1/10/2010