Looking for southern "meat and vegetables" restaurants close by

[GreggC69]

Around the areas where we just moved from, mom and pop "meat and vegetable" places are plentiful. If you know what I mean, you know that's typically a non descript southern soul food like place, probably not a big web presence and not a $20 plate of chicken and canned beans. Not a fancy place...just good home cooking food and down home feel. I have not stumbled on anything like that here yet, and know if I do that its going to be outside the bubble. Anyone a fan or found anything like that in the area?

[Mleeja]

Around the areas where we just moved from, mom and pop "meat and vegetable" places are plentiful. If you know what I mean, you know that's typically a non descript southern soul food like place, probably not a big web presence and not a $20 plate of chicken and canned beans. Not a fancy place...just good home cooking food and down home feel. I have not stumbled on anything like that here yet, and know if I do that its going to be outside the bubble. Anyone a fan or found anything like that in the area?

You are probably going to need to go outside The Villages for something like this. Belleview, Leesburg, or even Inverness.

I would suggest places but then 50 people would tell me why I am wrong. Get out for a nice drive and discover all the places outside of The Villages. You might kiss a few frogs before you find your prince, but the journey is half of the fun.

[Villager-2024]

Otherwise known as "meat and 3" - chose meat and your 3 sides. Pickled cucumbers on the table. Closest is iBBQ in Fruitland Park - the sides are home made, great collards, beans, mac & cheese. Cornbread to die for.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

My husband and I too search for restaurants just like what you’re talking about. We go out every Sunday and the closest one we’ve come to so for is ‘The Green Door’ in Dalton. Email me at shaw8700@outlook.com if you know of others.

[TommyT]

Wolfy's in Leesburg

Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wolfy's/@28.8230957,-81.8921633,16z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x88e78a723d10d2c1:0x5a070a75 dbfc54ad!2sLeesburg,+FL!3b1!8m2!3d28.810823!4d-81.8778582!16zL20vMHJtMWg!3m5!1s0x88e7c01571a83ea5 :0x55774c0e354a98f1!8m2!3d28.8228418!4d-81.8872243!16s%2Fg%2F1z44bjfcy?entry=ttu)

[Stu from NYC]

Wolfy's in Leesburg

Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wolfy's/@28.8230957,-81.8921633,16z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x88e78a723d10d2c1:0x5a070a75 dbfc54ad!2sLeesburg,+FL!3b1!8m2!3d28.810823!4d-81.8778582!16zL20vMHJtMWg!3m5!1s0x88e7c01571a83ea5 :0x55774c0e354a98f1!8m2!3d28.8228418!4d-81.8872243!16s%2Fg%2F1z44bjfcy?entry=ttu)

Whenever I go by there looks closed

[VApeople]

I would suggest places but then 50 people would tell me why I am wrong. Get out for a nice drive and discover all the places outside of TV. You might kiss a few frogs before you find your prince, but the journey is half of the fun.

That is VERY good advice!!

Central Florida is a very good place to live because you can go in all four directions to discover something new.

For starters, you night want to try Swampy's in Dunnellon. It is not a meat+3 place, but it is located on the beautiful Rainbow River in a very nice setting.

[Ecuadog]

Otherwise known as "meat and 3" - chose meat and your 3 sides. Pickled cucumbers on the table. Closest is iBBQ in Fruitland Park - the sides are home made, great collards, beans, mac & cheese. Cornbread to die for.

Haven't been there in a while, but I always enjoyed i-bar-b-que EXPRESS.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/members/ecuadog-25564/albums/ecuadog-stuff/9161-ibar-b-que-express.jpg

[Topspinmo]

I haven’t found anyplace in Florida to rave about, plus only couple worth going back to.

[ThirdOfFive]

Probably the closest thing in (near?) TV to that would be Cracker Barrel. I'd not recommend them though for other reasons.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Wolfy's is the closest thing to an old fashioned Diner that I've seen anywhere in Central Florida. Much better than Darrells (which has pretty good breakfasts).

Plus you can get a chili-cheese dog with fries for under $7.

[Topspinmo]

Probably the closest thing in (near?) TV to that would be Cracker Barrel. I'd not recommend them though for other reasons.

Cracker Barrel closing bunch of restaurants. Been there couple times tried to order one of there dinners said they were sold out for day? Wt….

[shut the front door]

Around the areas where we just moved from, mom and pop "meat and vegetable" places are plentiful. If you know what I mean, you know that's typically a non descript southern soul food like place, probably not a big web presence and not a $20 plate of chicken and canned beans. Not a fancy place...just good home cooking food and down home feel. I have not stumbled on anything like that here yet, and know if I do that its going to be outside the bubble. Anyone a fan or found anything like that in the area?

You will be hard pressed to find a "meat & 3" anywhere down here. All these yankee transplants get a blank stare when I mention meat & 3.

[gatorbill1]

Whenever I go by there looks closed

Closed on Sundays

[Stu from NYC]

Golden Corral is kind of similar

[scubawva]

Wolfy’s isn’t good. Much is mas produced, like the fries and some sides. Not worth the drive, if in area and starving it’ll do.

[La lamy]

You're right that going outside of TV is probably the way to go. We went to OAKWOOD SMOKEHOUSE & GRILL, Lady Lake - 860 S US Highway 441 Not too far, very friendly, great bbq for reasonable prices.

[G.R.I.T.S.]

Around the areas where we just moved from, mom and pop "meat and vegetable" places are plentiful. If you know what I mean, you know that's typically a non descript southern soul food like place, probably not a big web presence and not a $20 plate of chicken and canned beans. Not a fancy place...just good home cooking food and down home feel. I have not stumbled on anything like that here yet, and know if I do that its going to be outside the bubble. Anyone a fan or found anything like that in the area?

We like any of the Florida Cracker Kitchen locations, closest one is at the Webster flea market.

[Ellwoodrick]

Good Ribs............

Oakwood Express
352-461-0528

1210 N Main St.
Wildwood, FL 34785

also - O' Shucks Oyster Bar & Grill

1016 S Main St, Wildwood, FL, United States, Florida


Not quite meat and 3 but good for their specialties.

[MandoMan]

My husband and I too search for restaurants just like what you’re talking about. We go out every Sunday and the closest one we’ve come to so for is ‘The Green Door’ in Dalton. Email me at shaw8700@outlook.com if you know of others.

That’s in Dalton GEORGIA! Long drive for lunch!

[Kelevision]

Try Cotton’s Kitchen 305 Pine St, Leesburg, FL 34748

[Wilharm]

Gg's Heavenly Soul Food. Ocala. Trust me.

[MandoMan]

Around the areas where we just moved from, mom and pop "meat and vegetable" places are plentiful. If you know what I mean, you know that's typically a non descript southern soul food like place, probably not a big web presence and not a $20 plate of chicken and canned beans. Not a fancy place...just good home cooking food and down home feel. I have not stumbled on anything like that here yet, and know if I do that its going to be outside the bubble. Anyone a fan or found anything like that in the area?

I don’t need the meat, and I like canned beans, but I sure wish there were more local restaurants serving honest servings of vegetables. My girlfriend is a vegetarian, and that severely limits our dining options. (Having one vegetarian option on a menu doesn’t cut it.) We are stuck mostly eating vegetarian sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian. At many local restaurants, the description of a dish (with meat) mentions a variety of vegetables, but it turns out the vegetables are a few little slivers that add color but no flavor. All these restaurants should have at least a half dozen COOKED vegetable sides (not including fries or slaw). Carrots, green beans, Italian pole beans, beets, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, kohlrabi, asparagus, spinach, Swiss chard, fully-cooked kale, okra, turnip greens, collards, corn, and more. They don’t have to be cooked in some sauce or stewed with meat as in BBQ places where the vegetables aren’t vegetarian. Just honest servings of perfectly cooked vegetables like my mom used to cook, night after night, in servings of a cup or more. Then we could order our meat, and my girlfriend could order her vegetables (and so would I, as I love them), and there would be more places where we could eat.

[airstreamingypsy]

Golden Corral. I know half of you just gasped, but their food is exactly what the OP ordered. I personally like it because I can get chicken livers and mashed potatoes and green beans......

[RickyLee]

Whenever I go by there looks closed

I do believe wolfies did close I was not a big fan

[TedfromGA]

Wolfy’s is as close to a meat in three that we’ve found nearby. They are under new management and so far we haven’t noticed any major changes. (Hope they don’t as this can sometimes be a death noll) I enjoy their fried steak dinner for less than $11. They have recently changed hours and are open on Sundays - that’s a good and bad thing. (I like businesses that observe a day of rest) BTW their corn muffin is awesome! lol.

[Bea&Mike]

Around the areas where we just moved from, mom and pop "meat and vegetable" places are plentiful. If you know what I mean, you know that's typically a non descript southern soul food like place, probably not a big web presence and not a $20 plate of chicken and canned beans. Not a fancy place...just good home cooking


food and down home feel. I have not stumbled on anything like that here yet, and know if I do that it’s going to be outside the bubble. Anyone a fan or found anything like that in the area?

Miz Kathi’s Cotillion Southern Cafe

[Stu from NYC]

Good Ribs............

Oakwood Express
352-461-0528

1210 N Main St.
Wildwood, FL 34785

also - O' Shucks Oyster Bar & Grill

1016 S Main St, Wildwood, FL, United States, Florida


Not quite meat and 3 but good for their specialties.

Whatever you do at O",shucks do not sit outside. Swarms of mosquitoes, servers sprayed us last time we did that

[Libbyporter]

Been looking also. They dont have many or one that is just a good ole southern cooking place. Westys is ok. Still not what you r looking for.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Southern Palate in Dunnellon. Amazing. 4.8 review average.

[Glowing Horizon]

I haven’t found anyplace in Florida to rave about, plus only couple worth going back to.
Be sure to try 4 Rivers BBQ as soon as they open! Love their restaurant in Winter Park (NE orlando). The food is exceptionally tasty & high quality at fair prices. Their Winter Park dining room is bench seat picnic tables which is not the most comfortable IMO but still wouldnt not go bc of it. We often take their food to go & eat at home or a park. Soooo good! 4Rivers sides are so good you dont even need to be a BBQ (meat) fan.

If you’re up for a drive, one of my favorite eclectic restaurants has several Central Florida locations.

Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen.

I love their Winter Park restaurant best for both decor & food. Go there when you’re hungry. Their mixed drinks are awesome too & so are fresh hot messy beignets with piping hot Chickory Coffee. Yummm! Recommend Rita’s Chicken (Panko-crusted, topped with house lemon butter cream sauce. Served over dirty rice) hard not to get Jambalaya or Red Beans & Rice (of course!) Leftovers never go to waste!

Another great choice with several (all great!) locations is Columbia Restaurant which is Spanish-Cuban. My favorite (non-seafood) dish is Eggplant or Chicken Riojana. Table-created Sangria Tinto (red wine) Seafood? Dont miss Paella Espanola. Their “1905” salad is very unique & very good. spanish coffee for dessert will keep you awake for the drive home! An old-time Florida family restaurant group that shines!

[Glowing Horizon]

I don’t need the meat, and I like canned beans, but I sure wish there were more local restaurants serving honest servings of vegetables. My girlfriend is a vegetarian, and that severely limits our dining options. (Having one vegetarian option on a menu doesn’t cut it.) We are stuck mostly eating vegetarian sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian. At many local restaurants, the description of a dish (with meat) mentions a variety of vegetables, but it turns out the vegetables are a few little slivers that add color but no flavor. All these restaurants should have at least a half dozen COOKED vegetable sides (not including fries or slaw). Carrots, green beans, Italian pole beans, beets, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, kohlrabi, asparagus, spinach, Swiss chard, fully-cooked kale, okra, turnip greens, collards, corn, and more. They don’t have to be cooked in some sauce or stewed with meat as in BBQ places where the vegetables aren’t vegetarian. Just honest servings of perfectly cooked vegetables like my mom used to cook, night after night, in servings of a cup or more. Then we could order our meat, and my girlfriend could order her vegetables (and so would I, as I love them), and there would be more places where we could eat.
You & your girl should LOVE the new 4Rivers BBQ when it opens.4Rivers has many great & hearty veggie sides. 4Rivers grew up near UCF with its largest student population in the US so they know how to please both meat eaters & plant lovers.

[mntlblok]

That’s in Dalton GEORGIA! Long drive for lunch!

Maybe Dade City? :-)

Google Maps (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/28.8465387,-81.9844806/14148+8th+St,+Dade+City,+FL+33525/@28.3639625,-82.1907061,17.65z/data=!4m10!4m9!1m1!4e1!1m5!1m1!1s0x88dd54990feb06f 9:0xed8f8b8f86273ae3!2m2!1d-82.1895892!2d28.3641549!3e0?entry=ttu)

[Carla B]

I don’t need the meat, and I like canned beans, but I sure wish there were more local restaurants serving honest servings of vegetables. My girlfriend is a vegetarian, and that severely limits our dining options. (Having one vegetarian option on a menu doesn’t cut it.) We are stuck mostly eating vegetarian sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian. At many local restaurants, the description of a dish (with meat) mentions a variety of vegetables, but it turns out the vegetables are a few little slivers that add color but no flavor. All these restaurants should have at least a half dozen COOKED vegetable sides (not including fries or slaw). Carrots, green beans, Italian pole beans, beets, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, kohlrabi, asparagus, spinach, Swiss chard, fully-cooked kale, okra, turnip greens, collards, corn, and more. They don’t have to be cooked in some sauce or stewed with meat as in BBQ places where the vegetables aren’t vegetarian. Just honest servings of perfectly cooked vegetables like my mom used to cook, night after night, in servings of a cup or more. Then we could order our meat, and my girlfriend could order her vegetables (and so would I, as I love them), and there would be more places where we could eat.

I so lament the demise of the cafeteria-type restaurant; there you could select a variety of vegetables, meat, fish, at a reasonable price.

[johnsre]

Good luck. We came here from NC 12 years ago and haven't found one yet. But Google Steph's Southern Soul Cafeteria in Dade City. Read about in on the Only in Florida site and it just might be what you are looking for. We haven't been there yet, and it is an hour away, but looks promising.

[HORNET]

There are many great restaurants here?

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

You're right that going outside of TV is probably the way to go. We went to OAKWOOD SMOKEHOUSE & GRILL, Lady Lake - 860 S US Highway 441 Not too far, very friendly, great bbq for reasonable prices.

You can’t call it BBQ. They have good burgers and the servers are really nice, but it ain’t BBQ. For that you’ve got to to Mission on 441.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Be sure to try 4 Rivers BBQ as soon as they open! Love their restaurant in Winter Park (NE orlando). The food is exceptionally tasty & high quality at fair prices. Their Winter Park dining room is bench seat picnic tables which is not the most comfortable IMO but still wouldnt not go bc of it. We often take their food to go & eat at home or a park. Soooo good! 4Rivers sides are so good you dont even need to be a BBQ (meat) fan.

If you’re up for a drive, one of my favorite eclectic restaurants has several Central Florida locations.

Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen.

I love their Winter Park restaurant best for both decor & food. Go there when you’re hungry. Their mixed drinks are awesome too & so are fresh hot messy beignets with piping hot Chickory Coffee. Yummm! Recommend Rita’s Chicken (Panko-crusted, topped with house lemon butter cream sauce. Served over dirty rice) hard not to get Jambalaya or Red Beans & Rice (of course!) Leftovers never go to waste!

Another great choice with several (all great!) locations is Columbia Restaurant which is Spanish-Cuban. My favorite (non-seafood) dish is Eggplant or Chicken Riojana. Table-created Sangria Tinto (red wine) Seafood? Dont miss Paella Espanola. Their “1905” salad is very unique & very good. spanish coffee for dessert will keep you awake for the drive home! An old-time Florida family restaurant group that shines!

I went there and you’re right- it’s great!

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Miz Kathi’s Cotillion Southern Cafe

We’re going there next Sunday!

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

That’s in Dalton GEORGIA! Long drive for lunch!

Dalton, Florida

South on 301, about an hour as best as I can remember.

[Stu from NYC]

There are many great restaurants here?

OK yes, great no

[GreggC69]

You can’t call it BBQ. They have good burgers and the servers are really nice, but it ain’t BBQ. For that you’ve got to to Mission on 441.

Where I'm from, if you pull up to a "BBQ restaurant" and you don't see a big pile of firewood on the property somewhere, DRIVE AWAY!

[Stu from NYC]

Where I'm from, if you pull up to a "BBQ restaurant" and you don't see a big pile of firewood on the property somewhere, DRIVE AWAY!

Very true

[Topspinmo]

I don’t need the meat, and I like canned beans, but I sure wish there were more local restaurants serving honest servings of vegetables. My girlfriend is a vegetarian, and that severely limits our dining options. (Having one vegetarian option on a menu doesn’t cut it.) We are stuck mostly eating vegetarian sushi, Thai, Vietnamese, or Indian. At many local restaurants, the description of a dish (with meat) mentions a variety of vegetables, but it turns out the vegetables are a few little slivers that add color but no flavor. All these restaurants should have at least a half dozen COOKED vegetable sides (not including fries or slaw). Carrots, green beans, Italian pole beans, beets, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, kohlrabi, asparagus, spinach, Swiss chard, fully-cooked kale, okra, turnip greens, collards, corn, and more. They don’t have to be cooked in some sauce or stewed with meat as in BBQ places where the vegetables aren’t vegetarian. Just honest servings of perfectly cooked vegetables like my mom used to cook, night after night, in servings of a cup or more. Then we could order our meat, and my girlfriend could order her vegetables (and so would I, as I love them), and there would be more places where we could eat.

Can’t order sides? Maybe their reason why?

[MrChip72]

Whatever you do at O",shucks do not sit outside. Swarms of mosquitoes, servers sprayed us last time we did that

We've sat outside many times. No issues with mosquitoes.

I'm guessing you're trying to give "accurate" advice based on one visit?

[2newyorkers]

Good homemade food locations are The Mason Jar in Umatilla and Mary's Country Kitchen in Tavares.

[Stu from NYC]

We've sat outside many times. No issues with mosquitoes.

I'm guessing you're trying to give "accurate" advice based on one visit?

It was one visit but waitress said it happens all the time and gave us bug spray which they keep outside

[mschwartzeee]

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34388-d11912326-Reviews-Old_Time_Diner-Leesburg_Lake_County_Florida.html

[JerryLBell]

There was a chain called "Po' Folks" (or similar spelling) in Detroit many years ago that my wife and I would go to for Southern-style food that had the "meat and 3" type combo plates. We stumbled across one in northern Tampa a few years ago but when I look for it online, I only see a location for "PoFolks" in St. Petersburg. That's kind of a long drive for Southern cooking, but we are known to drive clear down to Sarasota when we need a fix of Amish-style cooking, so whose to say what is too long for you? You crave what you crave!

[Skip]

Old Time Diner

Can't recommend that place. We like Catfish Johnny's in Lake Panosoffkee.
But it's easy to search for "Southern" cuisine, say within 30 miles of here on
The Villages Gourmet Club Search Page: LINK (https://thevillagesgourmetclub.com/search.html).
We use it all the time.
Skip

[Stu from NYC]

There was a chain called "Po' Folks" (or similar spelling) in Detroit many years ago that my wife and I would go to for Southern-style food that had the "meat and 3" type combo plates. We stumbled across one in northern Tampa a few years ago but when I look for it online, I only see a location for "PoFolks" in St. Petersburg. That's kind of a long drive for Southern cooking, but we are known to drive clear down to Sarasota when we need a fix of Amish-style cooking, so whose to say what is too long for you? You crave what you crave!

We used to go there, great fried chicken and southern fried steak. Understand they filed bankruptcy came out of it called Folks. Have not seen one in years.