In search of high quality food.

[LvmyPug2]

DH and I prefer locally owned restaurants that use fresh, high quality ingredients cooked in inventive ways. It can be a hole-in-the wall or a fancy white linen restaurant...it doesn't matter as long as it serves a flavorful meal made with quality ingredients. Chain restaurants just don't cut it for us and the courntry clubs we have visted (Cane Garden, Havana and Arnold Palmer) have been pretty disappointing. Any suggestions of places inside or outside of TV?

[l2ridehd]

I completely agree with your assessment of the local fare. I wouldn't call them disappointing, but just OK basic food. Fine for a quick bite to eat, but not a place for a nice dinner. Try Bamboo Bistro on 441, Target shopping center for really good Asian Fusion and try Cotillion Cafe in Wildwood for down home Southern cooking. Goblin Market in Mt Dora you will like, Vic Embers in Leesburg is not bad and Al's Top Shelf in Taveras is good. And if you find something else, please tell me.

[hedoman]

The only way to get the food you want is to cook it yourself with stuff from Fresh Market

[MrMark]

DH and I prefer locally owned restaurants that use fresh, high quality ingredients cooked in inventive ways. It can be a hole-in-the wall or a fancy white linen restaurant...it doesn't matter as long as it serves a flavorful meal made with quality ingredients. Chain restaurants just don't cut it for us and the courntry clubs we have visted (Cane Garden, Havana and Arnold Palmer) have been pretty disappointing. Any suggestions of places inside or outside of TV?

Your assessment of local restaurants is right on. Try Marks Prime Steakhouse in Ocala and Jeffery Paul's Chophouse in Eustis. Your wallet will be a bit thinner but you will enjoy both! For lunch try Polly's Pantry in Wildwood which will also meet your criteria.

[billethkid]

try Season's 52 in Orlando or Apopka.
Here is their link:

http://www.seasons52.com/reservations1.asp?cmpid=S52_PPC_GOO_Evergreen%20-%20Reservations%20-%20Brand_1420

For seafood try Oceanaire in Orlando. Here is their link:

http://www.theoceanaire.com/Locations/Orlando/Locations.aspx

There is no truly "fine dining" establishment in TV.

btk

[aln]

Another vote for Mark's Prime but keep in mind $$$$$.

On the Square in Ocala 1 block from Marks is Harry's - much less $$ and good food and atmosphere.

Also agree with those that menton Goblin Market in Mt Dora.

If you want to take a mini day trip to Celebration, there's a few good restaurants there and it's really not all that far . . . about 1:15 hrs.

:icon_hungry:

[Billyg]

Has anyone tried that? I heard there was organic veggies and meat free of anti-biotics,free range.....

[texasfal]

First Watch in Spanish Plaines (On BUenos Aires) is very fresh and great for breakfast and lunch.

[graciegirl]

I cook a lot at home. The Country Clubs are good, not great, but they aren't expensive either. Chris's post...I never can type his screen name, (lvrdhd??) mentions a number of excellent restaurants who have really lovely cuisine. I agree with all of them.

I love good food, but I am not a picky eater and I don't have to have something A+ scrumptious everytime I eat. I try to choose kinda good for me stuff to eat.

[l2ridehd]

Sound logic once again from GG. And it's really easy Gracie once you know what it means. (love to ride Harley Davidsons) l2ridehd. :-)

[Happinow]

On many occasions we have eaten at Nancy Lopez and we really enjoyed the food. Seemed home cooked to us and flavorful. We don't like chains either. We also don't live in TV yet so we haven't had a chance to explore.

[eweissenbach]

I cook a lot at home. The Country Clubs are good, not great, but they aren't expensive either. Chris's post...I never can type his screen name, (lvrdhd??) mentions a number of excellent restaurants who have really lovely cuisine. I agree with all of them.

I love good food, but I am not a picky eater and I don't have to have something A+ scrumptious everytime I eat. I try to choose kinda good for me stuff to eat.

I agree, am not a picky eater - I enjoy many different types of food and even enjoy an occasional fast food meal, or subway sandwich. I once worked for a guy who was a world traveler and made a big deal about being a member of some international gourmet club. When eating out with him he found a reason to send virtually every entree back, and complained about the quality of almost every meal. I thought, I am glad I am easy to please, as I found the same meals to be mostly excellent. Being easy to please has served me well, as I am happy most of the time. I am very fond of all the country clubs in TV, with Lopez as the best for a really nice meal IMHO.

[Skip]

Your assessment of local restaurants is right on. Try Marks Prime Steakhouse in Ocala and Jeffery Paul's Chophouse in Eustis.

According the Gourmet Club's new website (http://thevillagesgourmetclub.com/page2.html#J), Jeffery Paul's is in Lessburg now. Haven't tried them yet. :icon_hungry:

Skip

[2BNTV]

I cook a lot at home. The Country Clubs are good, not great, but they aren't expensive either. Chris's post mentions a number of excellent restaurants who have really lovely cuisine. I agree with all of them.

I love good food, but I am not a picky eater and I don't have to have something A+ scrumptious everytime I eat. I try to choose kinda good for me stuff to eat.

:agree:

[SALYBOW]

We went to Palm tree grove in Mt. Dora and were pleased with it.

[jblum315]

I have about given up on finding the kind of restaurants that I"ve enjoyed in NY, Va. and Me. The norm here in and around TV, seems to be indifferent food, indifferently served, and it's fine with most everyone as long as it's plentiful and cheap.

[LvmyPug2]

Thanks for the suggestions. We did find a great little Cajun place in Winter Garden called the Big Easy. Located in a strip mall next to publix It had great food and service and very reasonable prices. The owner is always there and takes great pride in his food. Sadly it is almost an hr away. But if you are already down that way it is well worth going to.

[buggyone]

I will add another vote for Southern Cottillion in Wildwood. Also, Harry's Seafood Grill in Ocala (by the town square) is excellent. I did not care for Goblin Market in Mt. Dora.

The River House in Crystal River is excellent - and the monkeys on Monkey Island are fun to watch as you eat in the dining room.

[eweissenbach]

I will add another vote for Southern Cottillion in Wildwood. Also, Harry's Seafood Grill in Ocala (by the town square) is excellent. I did not care for Goblin Market in Mt. Dora.

The River House in Crystal River is excellent - and the monkeys on Monkey Island are fun to watch as you eat in the dining room.

I am interested in trying the River House, but cannot find any information on the web. Is it the Crystal River Ale House by chance?

[ApplePir2]

DH and I prefer locally owned restaurants that use fresh, high quality ingredients cooked in inventive ways. It can be a hole-in-the wall or a fancy white linen restaurant...it doesn't matter as long as it serves a flavorful meal made with quality ingredients. Chain restaurants just don't cut it for us and the courntry clubs we have visted (Cane Garden, Havana and Arnold Palmer) have been pretty disappointing. Any suggestions of places inside or outside of TV?

We had a similar experience trying to find places to eat. If you like sushi and sashimi, Sakura on 466A is good. Some of the pasta dishes at Red Sauce in Sumter Landing were good but there's nothing like homemade pasta! Have you tried Giovanni's in one of the shopping centers on 466? You have to get there early if you don't want to wait for a table but the linguini and clams is very good. Other than that, you have to travel outside The Villages for good restaurants. If you like German food and are up for a ride, there is a great place that won awards in Sanford outside of Orlando called Hallenbach's (sp?) Willow Tree Cafe - great German food and entertainment!! Good luck.

[skyguy79]

We had a similar experience trying to find places to eat. If you like sushi and sashimi, Sakura on 466A is good. Some of the pasta dishes at Red Sauce in Sumter Landing were good but there's nothing like homemade pasta! Have you tried Giovanni's in one of the shopping centers on 466? You have to get there early if you don't want to wait for a table but the linguini and clams is very good. Other than that, you have to travel outside The Villages for good restaurants. If you like German food and are up for a ride, there is a great place that won awards in Sanford outside of Orlando called Hallenbach's (sp?) Willow Tree Cafe - great German food and entertainment!! Good luck.I found that Naples in Leesburg has really good Italian food. They have my favorite Gnocchi and they have an unheard of 4 or 5 different choices of it. I've also had it at Giovanni's but found Naples is much better by far! BTW, I grew up on homemade gnocchi! http://g.co/maps/cmtwr :icon_hungry:

[bigalibaba]

I found that Naples in Leesburg has really good Italian food. They have my favorite Gnocchi and they have an unheard of 4 or 5 different choices of it. I've also had it at Giovanni's but found Naples is much better by far! BTW, I grew up on homemade gnocchi! http://g.co/maps/cmtwr :icon_hungry:

Tony's Pizza. Better than any around here. Hwy 27 2 1/2 Miles south of Hwy 44 in a strip mall on left.

[ApplePir2]

Yum - I love gnocchi. We will have to check out Naples! Thanks for the tip!

[LvmyPug2]

This weekend we enjoyed a wonderful meal at Taverna Red on 27. Service was a bit slow but worth the wait.

[skyguy79]

Yum - I love gnocchi. We will have to check out Naples! Thanks for the tip!You're welcome! We stopped there again for an early dinner earlier today and were not disappointed. I wanted something different than gnocchi so I had angle hair pasta with MB's and mushrooms! It was a huge serving and brought home a good serving for another meal. However, I just can't resist the gnocchi, I'm a sucker for them. So we got an order to go and will reheat either tomorrow or the next day.
http://www.myemoticons.com/images/communicate/signs/y-z/yummy.gif

[nitehawk]

Yes Florida has its cons, if you want the best food don't go to Florida. If you don't start with the best ingredients the result cant be great -- there is nothing like a NJ grown tomato - its in the soil not the sand we have in Florida - there is nothing like a NJ grown corn (white or sweet) again the soil
The beef is mostly grass fed not grain feed (grass fed probably healthier) but you can tell the difference in taste - all locally grown vegetables again are grown in the Florida soil. My favorite restaurants is "Pinons" in Aspen Co

[jblum315]

Yes Florida has its cons, if you want the best food don't go to Florida. If you don't start with the best ingredients the result cant be great -- there is nothing like a NJ grown tomato - its in the soil not the sand we have in Florida - there is nothing like a NJ grown corn (white or sweet) again the soil
The beef is mostly grass fed not grain feed (grass fed probably healthier) but you can tell the difference in taste - all locally grown vegetables again are grown in the Florida soil. My favorite restaurants is "Pinons" in Aspen Co

:agree::agree::agree:

[Chazz]

DH and I prefer locally owned restaurants that use fresh, high quality ingredients cooked in inventive ways. It can be a hole-in-the wall or a fancy white linen restaurant...it doesn't matter as long as it serves a flavorful meal made with quality ingredients. Chain restaurants just don't cut it for us and the courntry clubs we have visted (Cane Garden, Havana and Arnold Palmer) have been pretty disappointing. Any suggestions of places inside or outside of TV?

In my opinion, to get a really exceptional dining experience, you need to travel a bit. I recommend a restaurant in Orlando called Chatham's Place. It is located off Dr. Phillips Drive and Sand Lake Rd. The food is what would probably be called new American, or eclectic. The quality is exceptional, as is the service. It's a very small place and quite expensive, but well worth it.

If you're a steak lover, I recommend Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa. One of the few places around that serves prime beef that is dry aged. It's comparable in price to Mark's Prime in Ocala, and better.

[MrMark]

In my opinion, to get a really exceptional dining experience, you need to travel a bit. I recommend a restaurant in Orlando called Chatham's Place. It is located off Dr. Phillips Drive and Sand Lake Rd. The food is what would probably be called new American, or eclectic. The quality is exceptional, as is the service. It's a very small place and quite expensive, but well worth it.

If you're a steak lover, I recommend Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa. One of the few places around that serves prime beef that is dry aged. It's comparable in price to Mark's Prime in Ocala, and better.

Congratulations!!! You are someone who knows what really good food is all about. Not sure I agree that Bern's is better than Mark's but that's only an opinion. Bern's is a must see for the dessert rooms, the wine cellar and kitchen tour. the three you mention are in a class by themselves, a class that easily could include Jeffery Paul's chop House which has just relocated from Eustis to Leesburg and Dempsey's Steak House in the Saddlebrook Resort just north of Tampa.

[Whalen]

In my opinion, to get a really exceptional dining experience, you need to travel a bit. I recommend a restaurant in Orlando called Chatham's Place. It is located off Dr. Phillips Drive and Sand Lake Rd. The food is what would probably be called new American, or eclectic. The quality is exceptional, as is the service. It's a very small place and quite expensive, but well worth it.

If you're a steak lover, I recommend Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa. One of the few places around that serves prime beef that is dry aged. It's comparable in price to Mark's Prime in Ocala, and better.


Have heard of some of these restaurants before. Must put them on our list.
If you're ever further south make an effort to try the seafood restaurant in the Hyatt Regency, Tarpon Bay. Food, service , ambiance all first rate.
Too bad it's soo far away.