Best 5 Restaurants

[T-325]

My wife and I will be arriving for a 5 day LSV on November 12. My sister and brother in law will be joining us.

I figure we will want to eat out every night at a restaurant or country club. So in trying to plan our trip I would like to know the top 5 places to eat dinner out. Atmosphere..food..entertainment.....but really the food!

And while we are at it.. how about the top 5 places for lunch.

... and I hope to get around only by gof cart.

Hope to bump into some TOTVers while we are visting.

[CFrance]

Do try Toojays for either lunch or dinner. Bonefish takes reservatios. People seem to like Arnold Palmer CC and Nancy Lopez CC. All are golf cart accessible.

We like the food at Lighthouse at Sumter Landing. It's a little noisy if you sit inside. I'm sure others will chime in. It's very subjective though.

We like Carrabba's, but I don't know if it's golf cart accessible(don't have a golf cart).

[rdhdleo]

I would vote for Bonefish, Nancy Lopez CC, Too Jays is good also. If you like Asian Food I highly recommend Bamboo Bistro, people have been raving about Mezza Luna also. All these are golf cart accessible. Also City Fire has good food.

[Lbmb24101]

Cody's in LSL

[jerseyvillager]

Stick to places within TV. The chains are the same no matter where you are.

For lunch: Cane Garden, Glenview, Mallory, Palmer and Lighthouse.

[Bruiser1]

My wife and I will be arriving for a 5 day LSV on November 12. My sister and brother in law will be joining us.

I figure we will want to eat out every night at a restaurant or country club. So in trying to plan our trip I would like to know the top 5 places to eat dinner out. Atmosphere..food..entertainment.....but really the food!

And while we are at it.. how about the top 5 places for lunch.

... and I hope to get around only by gof cart.

Hope to bump into some TOTVers while we are visting.

And if you go to 441/27 to do shopping . If you are at the Best Buy/Kohls plaza stop by HoneyBaked Ham for sandwiches & salads.

Great Turkey & hams flavorful with great attention by staff.
They are also a great community supporter.
Try It (I did) and you'll love it. Best sandwich in the area. IMHO:BigApplause:

[Bonny]

City Fire and Codys Roadhouse in Lake Sumter are both great places. Codys has entertainment on the patio 5 - 9 Tuesday - Saturday. City Fire has later entertainment starting about 7:30 - 8:00 inside. They always have a great crowd.

[jflynn1]

Cody's in LSL

Would not reccoemd this restaurant 10 healthcare violations

[Bonny]

I love Codys !

[jnieman]

Worth a trip out of the Villages to go to Oakwood for ribs. We always take our company there.

[Cedwards38]

Our Top 5 are:

1. The Lighthouse in Lake Sumter Landing
2. Evans Prairie Country Club
3. Southern Cotillion Cafe in Wildwood
4. Red Sauce in Lake Sumter Landing
5. Toojay's

[Bonny]

The new restaurant Mezza Luna in Colony. Very good.

[redwitch]

Sakura's
Mezza Luna
Cane Garden
Taki's in Lowe's Shopping Center (can get there by golf cart and see where the gate issue is)
Athens for eggs benedict

Off campus:
Burke's
Mystic Ice Cream
O'Shucks

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Would not reccoemd this restaurant 10 healthcare violations

And their owner can be a rude jerk.He was yelling a a waitress one day when some friends of mine were there. One of them went over and asked him if he could please keep it down. They were trying to enjoy their meal. He told them that it was his restaurant and he would yell and scream if he wanted. He told them that if they didn't like it, they didn't have to come back. I am truly astounded that this guy is still in business.

[jblum315]

1. Cody's
2. Lighthouse
3. Athens
4. Evans Prairie
5. Mezza Luna

[bestmickey]

Cody's in Sumter Landing
Athens in Spanish Springs
Toojay's (particularly for lunch)
Nancy Lopez CC
Giovanni's (in one of the shopping centers, near the tunnel to Walmart's)

[Cantwaittoarrive]

I love Codys !

:agree::agree::agree::agree:

[gomoho]

Okay - I'll say it. People don't come here for the good food - it's about the lifestyle. Food is ok at most places, but you probably won't find anything great coming from Boston. So please don't set yourself up for a disappointment.

Most of the places people mentioned are fun. If you're looking to experience the lifestyle try and stay in The Villages to dine and try all 3 squares. Each has a unique style and go where it looks interesting to explore.

[LeeM]

We just got back from our LSV and avoided eating at places we have here at home.

We tried:
Lighthouse Point
Johnny Rockets
Codys
Red Sauce
Toojays
RJ Gators
Katie Belles
City Fire (drinks only)
Arnold Palmer

Overall our meals were very good. The lobster at the Lighthouse was so reasonable. I was not keen on Katie Belles food but the entertainment more than made up for it. Toojays was delish.
Service at Arnold Palmer was great and we thought the food was good but not super.
Can't wait to return and try more places! Just to add we later stopped at Disney and the food was amazing at the Flying Fish Cafe and Ragland Road.

[2BNTV]

Go to Cody's for a two for one fajaita's night. They have beef, chicken and shrimp fajaita's. I believe they have two for one drinks. How could you possibly go wrong? Get there before 5:30 or you will be lined up out the door. :smiley:

I like Toojay's, and the country clubs for dinner. The Daily Sun can help you decide where you want to go.

[Carl in Tampa]

1. Dinner at The Lighthouse. Get outdoor seating at around sunset. Great view across the water and after you eat you are in walking distance of the LSL Town Square for the live outdoor entertainment.
2. Lunch at TooJays, preferably at Spanish Springs. Go on Wednesday and get the cabbage soup. It will be the Soup of the Day.
3. Katy Belles (at Spanish Springs) for dinner. Time your visit to enjoy the entertainment. See The Villages Daily Sun newspaper for details. You will need your Villages ID here because it is a private club. This is also a Sunday Brunch place.
4. R. J. Catfish at LSL for either lunch or dinner. Get outside seating beside the lake. Get a gator tail bite appetizer. (Tastes like chicken.) Don't buy dessert. Go next door to Hagen Dazs for ice cream. Again, if you are there for dinner, go to LSL Town Square for the live entertainment.
5. Either or both --- Arnold Palmer's or Nancy Lopez' country club for either lunch or dinner. I like going for lunch and sitting outside where I can watch people driving golf balls on the practice driving range.

Country clubs prefer that men wear a shirt with a collar. Shorts seem to be accepted everywhere for lunch or dinner.

Remember you are coming in Snowbird season so the wait time can be considerable at all of these places.... often an hour or more.

Enjoy your LSV...... this is an incredible place to live.

:welcome:

[Number 6]

Don't miss Thai Ruby at LSL.

[T-325]

Thank you for all your suggestions..be there in less than a week!

[T-325]

My Cheat Sheet

Off campus:
Burke's, Mystic Ice Cream, O'Shucks, Oakwood for ribs

Lunch:
Toojay's -at Spanish Springs, Cane Garden, Glenview, Lighthouse and Honey Baked Ham, RJ Gators at LSL

Country Clubs for Lunch or Dinner
Mallory, Palmer, Evans Prairie, Lopez
Palmer we thought the food was good but not super.
Country clubs prefer that men wear a shirt with a collar. Shorts seem to be accepted for lunch or dinner.

Dinner:
Bonefish, Bamboo Bistro, City Fire, Cody's Roadhouse in Sumter Landing for a two for one fajita night,
Southern Cotillion Cafe in Wildwood, Sakura's, Taki's, Mezza Luna in Colony,
Athens in Spanish Springs, Thai Ruby at LSL, Ay Jalisco good Mexican food

Entertainment:
Katie Belles was not keen on food but the entertainment more than made up for it need your Villages ID
Cody's has entertainment on the patio 5 - 9 Tuesday - Saturday.
Fire has later entertainment starting about 7:30 - 8:00 inside

[murray607]

We enjoyed:

Toojays
City Fire, Lake Sumter and Brownwood
Evans Prairie
Ay Jalisco good Mexican food
and Cracker Barrel on Hwy 27, west of Spanish Springs

Johnny Rockets is ok fast food, but oh so noisy

[cromlich]

Oakwood is so good! Love Cody's....awesome salad , appetizers and good specials. Cane Garden, Palmer, all are good.

[Bonny]

My Cheat Sheet

Off campus:
Burke's, Mystic Ice Cream, O'Shucks, Oakwood for ribs

Lunch:
Toojay's -at Spanish Springs, Cane Garden, Glenview, Lighthouse and Honey Baked Ham, L. Catfish at LSL

Country Clubs for Lunch or Dinner
Mallory, Palmer, Evans Prairie, Lopez
Palmer we thought the food was good but not super.
Country clubs prefer that men wear a shirt with a collar. Shorts seem to be accepted for lunch or dinner.

Dinner:
Bonefish, Bamboo Bistro, City Fire, Cody's Roadhouse in Sumter Landing for a two for one fajita night,
Southern Cotillion Cafe in Wildwood, Sakura's, Taki's, Mezza Luna in Colony,
Athens in Spanish Springs, Thai Ruby at LSL, RJ Gators

Entertainment
Katie Belles was not keen on food but the entertainment more than made up for it need your Villages ID
Cody's has entertainment on the patio 5 - 9 Tuesday - Saturday.
Fire has later entertainment starting about 7:30 - 8:00 inside
You say L. Catfish. There is nothing there by that name. Maybe you mean RJ Gators.

[mixsonci]

I have a question about the restaurants that serve "lobster", is it local "rock" lobster or the real Maine lobster? It's a VERY BIG difference. I'm from New England and there is nothing better than Maine Lobster.

[jblum315]

It ain't Maine lobster unless it says it's Maine lobster

[Mallory Hill]

Worth a trip out of the Villages to go to Oakwood for ribs. We always take our company there.
Woody's ribs beat Oakwood any day. Give them a try

[kwtoman]

Since you will be in TV for the LSV, make sure to go to the resident only restaurant - Katie Belle's -- Great entertainment and excellent food. Plus, if you like steak, it has the Cattle Baron club upstairs... IT does require reservations on Monday nights due to the entertainment though.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

The five restaurants that we've tried and liked are (listed in No particular ranking):

1. Giovanni's
2. Bonefish
3. Evan's Prairie
4. Oakwood grille
5. Carabara's (sp?)

All but Oakwood are golf cart accessible.

[jblum315]

I love Codys !

Me too. Phooey on violations!

[coconutmama]

Well, where did you go? Which establishment would you recommend to others?

We like Nancy Lopez on Monday nights, and Cane Garden & Red Sauce anytime.

[nightstalkerths]

CODY'S The best

[dotti105]

Just returned from our Design visit. Third time in TV. Can't wait to try more of the restaurants.
We tried the following in no specific order......
-Cattle Barron- disappointing food, heavy sauces and not much flavor, but loved
watching the entertainment at Katie Belle's during the evening
-Cody's- Yum! Ribs were great!
-Gator's- not up to par, won't return
-Thai Ruby- Not the best Thai, but quite good and a nice change from other options
-City Fire- (Brownwood) good food, been there 3 times now and never disappointed
-Evans Prairie_ Great atmosphere and good menu
-Nancy Lopez- Beautiful location, great food
-Arnold Palmer- Steak and Lobster very good
-Burkes- went by, no cars there at all on a Saturday at 7:00pm, so we left. will try
another time after reading good reviews here
-Lighthouse- good fish, no tables outside, will try that again hoping for an outside table
-Bonefish- excellent as all locations seem to be
-5 guys- My hubby never met a burger he didn't like, so he loved it!! I liked the fries!
(I'm not a burger/sandwich fan)
-Johnny Rocket's- hubby happy there too. Not high on my list
-Cane Garden- Prime Rib night, mine way too fatty, hubby's great.

so many more places to try..... can't wait! During Design our designer said (in jest) that it really didn't matter if our oven was self cleaning, no one cooks! I can see why with so many choices.

(note to self: Gotta make a check list!)

[jflynn1]

This will help you and I am sure surprise you click here. Health department findings of Restaurants in The Villages
Sumter County, Florida Restaurant Inspections (http://florida-restaurants.findthedata.org/d/a/Sumter)

[rn1tv]

I know you are looking for restaurants in The Villages but if you want true New England seafood, try Celebration Towne Tavern in Celebration, FL (a little over an hour drive). The owners are from Ipswich, MA and have fresh seafood flown in daily. Clam Chowder is to die for! Whole belly fried clams and Maine lobsters are available as well as lobster rolls. Well worth the drive for great seafood! Check out their menu on line.

[sandybill2]

Just have to give a great big thank-you to Bob Evans for my delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Our son and his fiance' were here----only for 4 days---I did not want to spend my day in the kitchen---ordered their Thanksgiving Dinner---even though there were only 4 of us--I ordered the dinner for 8 (we wanted leftovers) ===EVERYTHING was wonderful====The turkey breast was so juicy---their dressing was like my grandmother's cornbread dressing---we also had buttered corn, green beans cooked with ham, wonderful mashed potatoes, gravy , a pumpkin pie to die for with topping, an apple loaf cake, , their cranberry sauce which is made from whole cranberries-orange zest, etc., their rolls, ------ don't think I could have topped any of their dishes------