Honest Johns

[Bleudeturquoise]

Would like reviews on Honest Johns - what dishes would you recommend?

[Chatbrat]

Their lamb and veal porterhouse are great. Steak Tartarre is great also.

Apps are too big, The Poutinne was so big it made the main entree, almost a chore to enjoy

[asianthree]

Search thread. Lots of comments

[rubicon]

Is there another Honest John's outside The villages?

[Bonny]

Is there another Honest John's outside The villages?
No, this is the only one. Mike & Gina, who own City Fire, own this.

[MikeV]

We love it there.

[simpkinp]

I highly recommend the Portobello Burger. No meat, a marinated Portobello Mushroom Cap with Swiss cheese. Delicious. Had it for lunch with my neighborhood ladies dining group. Very nice for a light meal.

[borjo]

The fried onion rings were an appetizer that arrived on a huge plate. Must be shared, so many onions but very tasty especially with the dip that comes with them. Mushroom Brie soup was only "good", nothing that made your eyes roll.

[PaPaLarry]

Had Fish & Chips last night, and was very greasy, with very little fish, but lots of batter. Gave you slices of lemon, instead of wedge, where you can squeeze on fish. Took a long time to get dinner, (but understand still new) and waitress noticed that, and brought be out a free bowl of beef chili. Doesn't mean I will not go back and try something else. Atmosphere is nice if your a bar bug!!!

[Xcuse]

Also had fish & chips and agree they were greasy but had a good amount of fish. Service was slow especially waiting for Guinness to arrive. Wife had fried chicken and said it was very good. Will go back but I will order something else.

[newguyintv]

Would like reviews on Honest Johns - what dishes would you recommend?

Wear ear plugs. It's the noisiest joint I've ever been to. Anyone who says otherwise is surely deaf. Food was OK. Nothing to go crazy for.

[missypie]

Our neighbors really enjoy this place so we wanted to try. Went for lunch, got a great table. Ordered beer and bloody Mary, delicious. Ordered chicken sandwich and a salad. Chicken was crunchy, and very strange tasting. Told waiter, and he said perhaps our piece had a membrane in the piece that I ate. Really? Sent it back, got a totally different piece of chicken after 15 minutes. Chicken sandwich $10.95, really? Paid but won't be back. Chicken was disgusting. Bloody Mary was terrific. Waiter tried but I wasn't happy. Membrane? Was I born yesterday? Oh well probably, but there was no membrane.

[ladylake1]

Also went there for lunch. Service was slow even though only a couple of tables full. Felt it was a bit overpriced for the menu. Got the stew and was so salty I had to send it back. My friend had a salad and that was good but still pricey. Won't be going back.

[villagetinker]

Went for the first time last night (8/13) around 8:30 pm, had deviled eggs appetizer (very good), my wife ordered the shepherds pie, but the waiter told her it was late and had become salty, she had the stew instead (was very good). I had the fish and chips, lots of both, took home a doggie bag. I did not notice any grease, and the meal was very good. We will be going back.
Also, since we were after the "dinner time crowd", it was a very pleasant experience and no noise.

[Chatbrat]

If your'e complaint about noise, check your hearing aid settings--its great as far as noise level when compared to Evans Prairie--when the snow birds are back

[jblum315]

Went once out of curiosity. Very noisy, very limited menu.

[tomwed]

Wear ear plugs. It's the noisiest joint I've ever been to. Anyone who says otherwise is surely deaf. Food was OK. Nothing to go crazy for.

Someday the tables will be wired for sound. Everyone will get a headphone that also has mic capabilities. You can listen and talk to everyone at the table or look down the table and hold up 2 fingers and get in a private conversation on channel 2 with your friend about their mushroom soup.

[bagboy]

We went to Honest Johns today for beer and apps. It was our first visit, but won't be our last. The atmosphere was comfortable, the bartender was friendly (not phoney friendly), the beer was cold and reasonably priced, and our popcorn, then onion rings and spin dip were good. I looked at the menu but without tasting the entrees, I can't say whether they were pricey or not for what you get.
I will say with the type of tile under the barstools, the barstools had a tendency to slide back while just sitting, and then not move easily when you wanted them to. All in all, a very nice addition to The Villages.

[DonH57]

We went to Honest Johns today for beer and apps. It was our first visit, but won't be our last. The atmosphere was comfortable, the bartender was friendly (not phoney friendly), the beer was cold and reasonably priced, and our popcorn, then onion rings and spin dip were good. I looked at the menu but without tasting the entrees, I can't say whether they were pricey or not for what you get.
I will say with the type of tile under the barstools, they had a tendency to slide back while just sitting, and then not move easily when you wanted them to. All in all, a very nice addition to The Villages.

It won't be our last visit either. Went as a group and had a good time. Beer was ice cold. Popcorn and bread excellent. Service and food good as well. As far as the noise I would consider moderate since it is a tavern atmosphere. I've been in louder venues.

[Bonny]

I love the bar and must say they have a delicious hamburger !

[NYGUY]

We enjoy the noise of people enjoying themselves!!

[Bonny]

We enjoy the noise of people enjoying themselves!!
I agree. Nothing like family and / or friends spending time together talking and laughing and enjoying life. Always makes me smile !! :)

[linda_sears]

I have not been, but I have hear that their steaks are the best around.

[Bonny]

I have not been, but I have hear that their steaks are the best around.
The steaks are awesome !!

[Chatbrat]

The steaks are very good--but they're not even close to awesome-

1) They use choice meat--no way a choice cut can be awesome

2) Prime is prime-- I cooked a 2" 2.5lb pound bone in rib eye that was a "prime" cut &

honestly the only restaurant that could match it is Berns

Sear it @ 800 degrees 21/2 minutes each side -remove from grill -back to grill- when temp is 400

reduce temp to 400 degrees- when internal temp reaches 120-remove & tent the steak under foil with butter on top

Best steak in the Villages

[Bonny]

The steaks are very good--but they're not even close to awesome-

1) They use choice meat--no way a choice cut can be awesome

2) Prime is prime-- I cooked a 2" 2.5lb pound bone in rib eye that was a "prime" cut &

honestly the only restaurant that could match it is Berns

Sear it @ 800 degrees 21/2 minutes each side -remove from grill -back to grill- when temp is 400

reduce temp to 400 degrees- when internal temp reaches 120-remove & tent the steak under foil with butter on top

Best steak in the Villages
Well, I thought it was awesome ! :) Different strokes for different folks. You say yours is the best, never had it, so I guess I'm going to stick with Honest Johns.

[Polar Bear]

I always love it when somebody tells somebody else their opinion on something like food is wrong.

[Chatbrat]

Awesome, fabulous, & other superlatives fly out so often--they are almost synonomous with
mediocre--just like Little League teams that get everyone a trophy

[Bonny]

Awesome, fabulous, & other superlatives fly out so often--they are almost synonomous with
mediocre--just like Little League teams that get everyone a trophy
So appreciate the lesson of words I shouldn't use.

[Chi-Town]

Awesome, fabulous, & other superlatives fly out so often--they are almost synonomous with
mediocre--just like Little League teams that get everyone a trophy
Far out.

[mardan1206]

Agree too much batter and too little fish with fish and chips. Thought they were little overpriced compared to other restaurants in The Villages.

[MoeVonB61]

We had dinner tonight at Honest Johns. I spotted the CHICKEN VESUVIO on the menu and knew this restaurant had some kind of connection to the former Pebbles restaurants popular in the 90's in downtown Orlando, Lake Buena Vista and Longwood. We had the onion rings and mushroom brie soup for appetizers. The mixed drinks (rum and coke and my Seabreeze) were perfect as they were made by Jim the former Bartender from Cattlebarons!!! My hubby had the fish and chips and OF COURSE, I had my old favorite the Chicken Vesuvio...everything was superb including the service. If you sit in a perimeter booth, the noise is OK....This is a great addition to LSL.....!!!

[jnieman]

Our neighbors really enjoy this place so we wanted to try. Went for lunch, got a great table. Ordered beer and bloody Mary, delicious. Ordered chicken sandwich and a salad. Chicken was crunchy, and very strange tasting. Told waiter, and he said perhaps our piece had a membrane in the piece that I ate. Really? Sent it back, got a totally different piece of chicken after 15 minutes. Chicken sandwich $10.95, really? Paid but won't be back. Chicken was disgusting. Bloody Mary was terrific. Waiter tried but I wasn't happy. Membrane? Was I born yesterday? Oh well probably, but there was no membrane.

I had the same chicken sandwich and sent mine back also and ordered something else. I love chicken sandwiches but not those. Tasted raw.

[Chatbrat]

Just got back from Honest Johns-been there about 5 times, their menu is so limited, that we are now finding it difficult to get something. They no longer have shrimp & grits & they did away with the tri-tip sandwich-- it will be quite awhile before we return--I will not go out to eat steak or rack of lamb--I do it much better @ home

[duc2x10crvr]

Same experience with the chicken sandwich. Sent it back and the half sandwich brought back appeared to have been nuked. Won't be back.

[REDCART]

Went to Honest John's tonight at 5:30 PM to satisfy our curiosity. Although several tables were empty they made us wait ten minutes to be seated. Beers on draft IMHO were very limited. Ordered a Goose Island IPA but the tap was dry, and settled for Guinness. Had Poutine for the first time and it was good but I don't know why they consider it an appetizer rather than in lieu of fries with an entire. We enjoyed the visit to Honest Johns but found the overall experience too noisy and the menu too limited for our taste. Prefer the offerings at Square Burger.

[grayesun]

Thanks for the "smorgasbord" of info on Honest John's...some fine "honest" tips...we haven't visited yet, our takeaway - no hurry to get there! Also: Anybody know of a good place to get real fine "Fish (haddock) & Chips" in the Villages, now that Athens is gone?

[tedquick]

The steaks are very good--but they're not even close to awesome-

1) They use choice meat--no way a choice cut can be awesome

2) Prime is prime-- I cooked a 2" 2.5lb pound bone in rib eye that was a "prime" cut &

honestly the only restaurant that could match it is Berns

Sear it @ 800 degrees 21/2 minutes each side -remove from grill -back to grill- when temp is 400

reduce temp to 400 degrees- when internal temp reaches 120-remove & tent the steak under foil with butter on top

Best steak in the Villages

My mouth is watering. Let me know next time you grill up a rib eye and I'll be over. :-)

[Jimigolf]

Wear ear plugs. It's the noisiest joint I've ever been to. Anyone who says otherwise is surely deaf. Food was OK. Nothing to go crazy for.

Agree 100%

[bachfan]

Love Honest Johns. My husband always get there salmon and says its the best he's ever had. I always get there fried chicken and its great.

[rubicon]

My wife went with her group and she reported it was OK. When it comes to reviews about restaurants around here remember its all relative