When a spacious restaurant with a shining long bar is nearly empty, News-Journal staffer Audrey Parente gets a little nervous that the place might not be too good. But even though only one other couple was eating at Lime Restaurant & Rum Bar in Daytona Beach when she strolled in with her friend Laurence Bennett before taking in a show at the Peabody Auditorium, the opposite was true. The presentation would put a smile on even the haughtiest gastronomic connoisseur and the tastes were equally smile worthy.

Copy editor Sherry Mims and her husband, Amir Fleminger, went to lunch recently at Ivy Lane Bistro on South Beach Street in Daytona Beach. It features a variety of sandwiches, soups and wraps as well as specials listed on the chalkboard out front.

Sports staff writer Michael Lewis and former News-Journal librarian Janice Cahill recently went to lunch at Luigi's, a new Italian restaurant, serving pizza, sandwiches and dinners, on West Granada in Ormond Beach.

News-Journal staffer Jacque Estes and her husband enjoy a variety of ethnic foods. They recently took a break from turkey leftovers to try Flavors in Daytona Beach, where they sampled some Indian fare.