[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I am moving to TV in a few months from Colorado, and can’t wait! I am the biggest cheerleader for TV here in Colorado, encouraging all my friends who are approaching retirement to book a lifestyle visit. There is one thing I’m going to miss when I move however. TV lacks the restaurant diversity I am used to. I eat out most meals (breakfast and dinner), and enjoy locally owned and ethnic restaurants. I completely stay away from fast food and any chain restaurants. I am an admitted “foodie” and also a pretty good cook myself. During my lifestyle visit, I checked out all the highest rated restaurants based on Yelp reviews. I thought Harvest/Blue Fin/Chop house were all “OK”, as well as Thai Ruby. The Mexican and Chinese places were awful. (We have excellent Mexican here in the West). For the TV being so large, where are the Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, Cuban, Cajun, German restaurants? Where are the French bistros and Spanish tapas places? I was surprised how “meat and potatoes” and chain-restaurant heavy TV is. I guess I will need to drive to Orlando weekly for some restaurant diversity, or I will be cooking more at home myself. Please don’t think I am bashing the TV in anyway -I can’t want to move in a few months, but I will miss my restaurants.

I know you said "here in The Villages" but If you're up for about a 1 hour drive back to civilization every once in a while check out "Restaurant Row" sort of in Orlando, mostly in Doctor Phillips. Probably a mile long strip on both sides with everything you could imagine from fast food to highest end. Also close by includes 2 Trader Joes & Whole Foods and Universal Studios and 2 Costco's. We go up there almost monthly even during "high season" and even when the traffic is bad, it's really not that bad especially now that Rt4 construction in that area is mostly done.

Orlando's Restaurant Row | Find Dining, Bars & Entertainment and there is likely twice as much as listed at this link.