Recommendation for nice restaurant

[Mike_Nick]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike

[retiredguy123]

Chop House
Nancy Lopez CC
Evans Prairie CC

[JSR22]

ChopHouse
Lopez

[JoMar]

Chop House
Nancy Lopez CC
Evans Prairie CC

Blue Fin
Wolfgang Puck

[MangiaMangia]

If your friends are golfers they may like sitting outside at any CC watching a bit of golf going on. All CC are nice but we are partial to Belle Glade (lamb shanks!)
since it is near our home. Some CC's are more casual than others too. Bonifay is great when they have their breakfast buffet. I think Mallory is great for the view and pizza - it is a more casual place IMO. Chop house is very nice - on the pricey side for some who live here. Blue Fin is great too. I could go on and on.

[Mike_Nick]

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions. Time for dumb question #1.... Is it simply a matter of calling the CC and making a reservation, or is there some Villages-specific process? Thanks again.
Mike

[retiredguy123]

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions. Time for dumb question #1.... Is it simply a matter of calling the CC and making a reservation, or is there some Villages-specific process? Thanks again.
Mike
There is no Villages specific process. The country clubs are open to the public, but I am not sure they will all take a reservation. You should know that the country clubs tend to be noisy, and they are not as upscale as you may think.

[coffeebean]

I you want upscale, Chop House is a great choice.

[John41]

Thai Ruby Lake Sumter Landing
Then some shopping around the square, listen to music, walk the boardwalk

[vintageogauge]

Lopez or Chop House

[Aloha1]

Also Palmer Legends

[coffeebean]

Thai Ruby Lake Sumter Landing
Then some shopping around the square, listen to music, walk the boardwalk

You can do the same thing at Chop House which is also in Lake Sumter Landing.

[Garywt]

Our 2 favorites are Glenview and Belle Glade (sit outside). We generally just stop in without reservations but they all take them.

[Stu from NYC]

Giovanni for good Italian

[photo1902]

Bluefin

[jblum315]

I happen to like Havana for for the view and the food but it is a little more pricey than the other CCs.

[Kim Fowler]

Thai Ruby Lake Sumter Landing
Then some shopping around the square, listen to music, walk the boardwalk

Or, also at Lake Sumter Landing, eat at the Lighthouse or Cody’s which are along Lake Sumter on the boardwalk. Lake Sumter is the biggest square, lots to see and do.

Love the outdoor patios at all the CCs. Most take reservations, and some have entertainment on the patio (small bands or solo singers). We generally find the entertainment is too loud if we are seated close, making it difficult to talk, so we ask to be seated away from the entertainers, but still within listening range.

[JoMar]

Also the VKI Japanese Steakhouse in Lake Sumter if you enjoy Hibachi or sit down.

[HeleneGB]

The Rose Plantation. Extremely covid friendly and great food. On a lake.

[mike1946]

Off site go for Goblin Market in Mt Dora....fantastic

[tklloop]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike

Looks like you got some good ideas so far. IMHO, Bluefin or Riccardis in Brownwood are the best. Our fav for upscale is Lopez restaurant. Dinner with a view is Belle Glade for the best golf view, then Evans Prairie. Almost any Mexican restaurant in TV’s is great food & Margaritas. Don’t be afraid to wander out of the “bubble”. Eaton’s Beach is great food and view, Francisco’s is nice food & wine, lots of choices in Leesburg too.

[bowlingal]

go to the Rose Plantation in Fruitland Park

[photo1902]

Off site go for Goblin Market in Mt Dora....fantastic

Love that place

[marball]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike

We love to take our visitors to Arnold Palmer's. It's old time country club atmosphere and the outside dining area is great. Easy to social distance outside and the golf course view is awesome. My guests always love it there.

[randykw]

Nancy Lopez CC

[bjd0105]

We love Havana CC for the calamari and shrimp Alfredo. It's amazing

[jbrown132]

It depends on what you are looking for. If you want up scale at a country club, hands down Nancy Lopez is the best. I your interested in showing off one of the towns and want upscale the Chop House in LS is very good. Just outside TV is the Rose Plantation. Blue Fin is also great if they like seafood. If not looking upscale and at country clubs I would recommend Cane Garden or Evans Prairie. Other than that you can pick just about anything in any of the towns because it is just hit or miss.

[clwahlstrom]

Havana’s pasta with fresh clams. Delicious.

[Mamaderby]

Belle Glade has a spectacular golf view from the outdoor dining area!

[golf nut]

Palmers is very good.....

[Eg_cruz]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike
Legacy Restaurant at Nancy Lopez
The best

[bilcon]

Havana is great and they will take reservations. Not all the CC take reservations.

[Pedrocarrasco01@yahoo.com]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike
I would highly recommend the Legacy at Nancy Lopez Country Club or Havana’s both are great and the food is impeccable

[chuckpedrey]

If they are golfers I know that they would enjoy seeing the memorabilia in the Arnold Palmer restaurant

[Luckytwo]

I vote also for Legacy restaurant , Nancy Lopez CC. Nice outside siting area, delicious food and managent is so welcoming.

[Lorizim]

Palmer CC food is reliable and very good; however, their tables and chairs badly need replacing. I was embarrassed when we brought guests there.

[TomPerry]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike
All the suggestions so far are great. We always take our guests to Orange Blossom Hills CC in the historical district. It has the most beautiful pool in The Villages with its beautiful waterfall and jacuzzi! Also, the view from the parking lot looking south, overlooks the golf course and the Spanish Springs section. Finally, you can show them where The Villages started back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and how the oldest village is so beautifully maintained even today!

[JSR22]

Palmer CC food is reliable and very good; however, their tables and chairs badly need replacing. I was embarrassed when we brought guests there.

I agree they have great food but they need to remodel.

[Rzepecki]

Giovanni for good Italian

Funny how different taste buds are, because we think Giovanni has the most tasteless Italian food. Excellent antipasto and garlic knots, though.

[Skip]

All good suggestions and you can narrow your search and see what fellow Villagers think of a restaurant's Quality, Service and Value by searching for specific restaurants on The Villages Gourmet Club website: LINK (https://thevillagesgourmetclub.com/search.html)

Unbiased reviews! I use it all the time.

Skip

[dpdale]

If it’s a nice day we like to take friends to Lake Sumter Landing and RJ Gators restaurant. It is right on the lake and a pretty view. There are a couple of other restaurants on the lake but we have only been to RJs. There is one with a lighthouse that a friend went to and liked, but said it was pricey.

[Petersweeney]

Kentucky Fried Chicken or Popeyes works for Mew Yorkers

[stebooo]

Lopez or glenview are the most pleasing to me. Remind me of a typical
Golf club. Great food as well. Mallory has great view.

[Andyhope]

Wolf gangs

[chrissy2231]

Chop House is the best.

[BumpaOompa]

Great scenery and impressive view at Belle Glade. Make sure you ask for a table outside with a view. Mr. Handsome will set you up!

[Samfl]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike
Evans prairie is pretty good as is Cane Garden and Mallory

[kenoc7]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike
Lopez

[yankygrl]

Hi, we are new to The Villages and we already have found some wonderful places to dine. However, we have some friends visiting next weekend. They are long-time Florida residents, but they've never been to The Villages. They are considering looking at homes here. We'd like to take them to lunch to a nice place that shows off The Villages. We are considering a Country Club, but we haven't had a chance yet to visit them. Any recommendations for a good place to show off our hometown? Thanks. Mike
My favorite is anyone restaurant or country club owned/managed by FMK - Bluefin or Chop House, Bonifay, Belle Glade, Evans Prairie if you live south of 466A.

[valleygirl1974]

Our two favorites are Wolf Gang and Rose Plantation.

[La lamy]

Or, also at Lake Sumter Landing, eat at the Lighthouse or Cody’s which are along Lake Sumter on the boardwalk. Lake Sumter is the biggest square, lots to see and do.

Love the outdoor patios at all the CCs. Most take reservations, and some have entertainment on the patio (small bands or solo singers). We generally find the entertainment is too loud if we are seated close, making it difficult to talk, so we ask to be seated away from the entertainers, but still within listening range.

I agree with all of that Kim! Sundown from the Lighthouse patio is a special treat.

[bigfishtom@yahoo.com]

lopez
havanna
wolfgang
augustine
chop house
bluefin


there are more however these are very consistent

[yanksansky]

totally agree CH...but we love Wolfgang Puck too

[jeanninern@yahoo.com]

Belle Glade has a beautiful view.

[janewk]

Although not in the Villages proper, my vote for high end is Rose Plantation. Being out there really takes you away from everything going on in our world today, even if only for any hour or two.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Thai Ruby Lake Sumter Landing
Then some shopping around the square, listen to music, walk the boardwalk

The worst Thai food I've ever had. I will not go back. Far from upscale.

[laboutj]

The worst Thai food I've ever had. I will not go back. Far from upscale.

Tell us how you really feel!

We just bought a house in the villages but have rented for several years. When we have friends visit, we feel the best way to represent the villages lifestyle it to take a cart ride to a nice restaurant. There are plenty of decent restaurants outside the bubble but that is not what the OP is asking. You got lots of great responses so far but I think it's dependent on where you are located and how long a golf cart ride you're willing to take.

[xkeowner]

The worst Thai food I've ever had. I will not go back. Far from upscale.

Your review was far more favorable than mine would have been! Not meant as humor, but a serious post.

[Spsmith444]

The Rose Plantation is the best special occasion restaurant in the area just off of 466A IMO.

[Gpsma]

Have always brought guests to O’Shucks. Dont need a restaurant in the Villages to impress. Outside the bubble restaurants are where its at.

[Ben Franklin]

I don't believe there is a good restaurant in TV land, however, The Lighthouse, outside on the deck, has a very nice atmosphere to show people TV land. Inside is very noisy.

[rjn5656]

take them to a country club where you can sit outside with a view

palmer, belle glade

[Inexes@aol.com]

Thai Ruby Lake Sumter Landing
Then some shopping around the square, listen to music, walk the boardwalk

Just don't expect traditional Thai cuisine......... One time was enough for us. No comparison to Thai restaurants in Tampa/St Pete area.

[Inexes@aol.com]

The worst Thai food I've ever had. I will not go back. Far from upscale.

You are too flattering...... tried it one time.... and would never consider calling it "Thai" food.................. not even close, no resemblance......

[richdell]

You are too flattering...... tried it one time.... and would never consider calling it "Thai" food.................. not even close, no resemblance......

Agree.

[pauld315]

Forget it Take then to Ocala Several great restaurants downtown

[bilcon]

Only a few CC take reservations. Havana is one, Bonify is another. Havana is one of the most popular hot spot now. Mallory CC has good food, but no reservations. I also agree with all the others mentioned about.