Meet Our Lil' Family
WE ARE OPEN MON-FRI
7 AM - 7 PM
*8AM SAT, CLOSED SUN
Owner/Operator —
Jen Ingle
Jen Ingle, affectionately known in Lake Helen as "Side Job Jen," is a dedicated entrepreneur with deep roots in the local community. Before establishing The Lil' Café, she was a familiar presence at the Lake Helens "Family Market" down the street, making burgers and 1000s of fried oreos, and she also manages a successful painting business. Her family's culinary heritage includes family restaurants: The Pizza King and The Italian Fisherman.
tWelcome to The Lil' Café, a cherished gathering spot in Lake Helen, Florida, Where the warmth of small town meets a few gals who like to fill your belly with the BEST food Lake Helen has to offer.
Our Story
In October 2024, local entrepreneur Jen Ingle, also known as 'Side Job Jen,' and her associate Rae, recognized the need for more dining options in Lake Helen and decided to establish a one stop shop destination. Jen's background in hospitality, influenced by her family's ownership of restaurants such as The Pizza King, The Italian Fisherman in the Keys, and The Baiamonte Grill in Tom's River, NJ, motivated her to carry on the family tradition of bringing people together through food, inspired by her mom's renowned family gatherings.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to serve our "stacked sandwiches " with high quality meats and fresh breads. If you still have room, indulge in a scoop of Hershey's ice cream or our massive banana splits. Whether you're stopping by for a hearty breakfast, a stacked sandwich for lunch or a grab n go from our ready made case, we are sure you will find something to fit your fancy!
Our Menu
Our menu offers a blend of classic diner fare with modern twists, featuring:
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Breakfast: Enjoy bagels and muffins sourced from Village Bread and Bagel in Jacksonville, or indulge in our signature waffles topped with ice cream.
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Lunch: Savor hearty stacked sandwiches, including the "Big Dog BLT" and "The Mullen’s Club," named in honor of local figures.
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Beverages: Pair your meal with a strong cup of coffee, or her well-known cold brew "she steeps for 20 hours".
Community Commitment
Beyond serving, The Lil Cafe just wants a place for local kids after school to come and get a quick scoop of ice cream or play board games they provide. A place they feel comfortable in, and at home. Jen is always playing old school movies so the whole family can enjoy a minute from reality.
Visit Us
We invite you to stop by The Lil' Café, meet Jen and our friendly team, and experience the hospitality that makes our café a true gem in Lake Helen. Whether you're a local resident or a visitor, we look forward to welcoming you and making you feel at home.
The Lil' Café is located at 360 S. Lakeview Dr., Lake Helen, FL. We are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed on Sundays.
Baked With Love!
GRAB -N- GO
Come grab a snack, or stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner from our grab-n-go selection!
The BEST Service
Committed to a "community feel" we strive to exceed your expectations.
HOT, (or cold...) COFFEE!
Freshly brewed to your liking, either hot or cold take it with you or enjoy a seat in our comfy dining room!
MADE WITH LOVE
We are a family business, if ever you should feel your expectations are not met, please drop me an email or call! -Jen
OUR TEAM
Meet our team
Owner/Operator
Jen Ingle
Daughter
Leah Doggart
Manager
Rae
Journey
TESTIMONIALS
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Very nice and clean family run cafe.
Excellent egg salad, friendly efficient service
Absolutely amazing food, company and atmosphere! Just what lake Helen needed!
Great place Lake Helen needed this, Jen is a very sociable person 10/10 would recommend
So happy to finally have a local place for coffee, sandwiches, and ICE CREAM! Jen and her crew are friendly and attentive, the vibe is perfectly small town.
Worked at the pumpkin patch lake Helen Methodist church my husband and I decided to have chicken salad sandwiches for dinner there were excellent well worth price so excited to have lil cafe In Lake Helen
I needed coffee, when I arrived Jen asked hot or cold, I replied cold and that I liked coffee sweet. She said I gotcha. And she definitely did. Without even telling her she made me an amazing coffee that was delicious 😋. The menu has a variety of different stuff to chose from. I will 100% be back.
I went in during late breakfast hours (10:15ish). The owner was hard at work but greeted me with a smile and reminded me she was coming to take my order. I wasn’t in a rush, so I was fine with a few minutes wait. I ordered a turkey salad. It was BIG! So big she couldn’t close the styrofoam lid on it. I love the small town feel of this place.
The Lil' Cafe gives you wings AND great food, service, atmosphere and prices!!!! Really wanted to try the Big Dog BLT but they were out of bread. Leah said "I got you!" and made it into a sub😳😍🔥Brought the family to try it out and we all left happy and agree that we'll be back. Well done and a great addition to a fun "Lil" town!! Bravo!!!!👍❤️
Finally there’s a lil coffee spot in LH!! Fantastic coffee, the cold brew with homemade sweet cream is delicious. And the kiddo tried the ice cream. We’ll be back to try the Cuban Sandwich… comfortable seating inside & out. Games to play too. A family friendly movie was playing while sitting inside as well.
