OCALA, FL (352today.com) – When Chef Patrick Cahill opened Live Fire Chefs about a year and a half ago, he and his wife wanted to bring something fresh to Ocala’s restaurant scene–a place where quality ingredients and genuine passion for food would take center stage.
The couple first launched a catering business three years ago before finding a spot just behind the downtown square. The location, housed in an older plaza, became the perfect canvas for Cahill’s vision of a casual but upscale dining experience.
“We started out doing breakfast and lunch,” Cahill said. “Now we do breakfast, lunch and dinner on the weekends, and lunch and dinner during the week. It’s casual, but with an upscale flair.”
That balance of comfort and sophistication defines Live Fire Chefs. The menu features a wide variety of dishes–from hearty cheesesteaks and burgers to fine-dining favorites like prime steaks, lamb chops and fresh seafood delivered several times a week.
“We get our grouper in four times a week and our Scottish salmon fresh,” Cahill said. “We do the salmon two different ways, and our maple pecan salmon is definitely a customer favorite.”
At lunchtime, the restaurant leans more casual with sandwiches, salads and quiche. But when dinner comes around, Cahill says guests tend to gravitate toward his more refined creations like filet plates, lamb chops and a new Gulf grouper entree topped with crab and lemon beurre blanc.
Cahill credits the restaurant’s success to an emphasis on freshness and craftmanship. “We start out with good ingredients, we really don’t use cans much around here,” he said. “We have a team that truly cares. They take the art and skill of cooking seriously.”
Even the small details get attention. The restaurant’s burger buns, for example, are delivered four times a week from a bakery in Orlando. “Fresh bread makes a difference,” Cahill said.
Cahill said what keeps him motivated after decades in the restaurant industry is simple: seeing customers leave happy. “It just makes us proud of what we do.” he said.
Live Fire Chefs offers dine-in service, takeout and catering, with plans to add DoorDash and Uber Eats in the future. Reservations are encouraged on weekends, when the restaurant is typically at capacity.
After celebrating its one-year anniversary with a lively event, Cahill said the focus remains on what his guests value most: good food, good service and a relaxed but refined atmosphere.
“We tried having live music,” he said with a laugh. “But I think our customers just prefer great food and good conversation.
Reservations or catering inquiries can be made by calling 352-421-5265. For more information, visit their website.
