Prices are to high

[DDoug]

Be serious I dont care where we live but the prices are to high for what you get. Just because the stores and shops, including restaurants , dont think they have to compete with the outside world the cost of an evening out is sometimes to much. We have found alot of places in Eustis and Mount Dora that are much better and less expensive. Some will say then go but that is not the point. Where we lived before we had a locals card good for everywhere,why not do that here. Some places do give discounts but what would be better is a resident only local card . I hate to sound this way but it is time we take care of ourselves. Yes I am open for discussion.

[Patty]

DDoug,

As a villager and a business, (dessert restaurant, (Bruster's) owner) we do have agreements (some written) with TOTV, Villagers Home Owners Association, etc for a variety of discounts - most of which include a completely buy one, get one free product. Not many restaurants do that in or outside of TV. So when you are looking to drive elsewhere, you might want to consider what type of bargains and discounts exist right in your neighborhood.

Come visit us anytime. We even honor competitor coupons daily!!!

Thanks

[zcaveman]

Back when I got here in 2001, the prices were cheap or reasonable. As time has gone on, the prices have been jacked up so much, it is almost impossible to eat out more than a couple of times a week. I go to Ocala and the Belleview area and eat cheaper - even with the price of gas.

[golfnut]

I'm sure there are some places that might get away with charging a little too much, but I've always found the majority of the prices in TV to be reasonable. Z, 2001 was 6 years ago, prices would be expected to go up, can you give some examples of prices in TV compared to Ocala.

[zcaveman]

Sure prices will rise. That is inevitable. But it did not start going up that much until all of these new restaraunts starting jumping in on the south side. I think that people like close as a top choice. I don't. I also like the quality and additions. For example, Up the Creek - good food - but do you get a salad with the lunch shrimp? No. At Red Lobster you get 12 shrimp and a garden salad and fries. At Up the Creek you get 6 shrimp, fries and no salad. Same price - $7.99. Same with Olive Garden vs Torinos (gone) Augustine's (gone) Dominic's (bad experience). Logan's Steakhouse in Ocala - best mini burgers around.

More courses - same price.

[JohnZ]

Question: Why do you think restaurants charge more when they are located on The Villages property?

[DickY]

My guess is premium lease rates :dontknow:

[JohnZ]

DickY: Uh huh. Good guess. And there are other additional costs that restaurants operating outside of The Villages property don't have to absorb.

[zcaveman]

Additional cost is probably true. But sometimes I get the feeling that these businesses think we Villagers have money and want to part with it. That is far from the truth. With more reasonable prices I think they would get more repeat business.

I decided to try Bob Evans the other day for breakfast. $7.59 for am omelet? Damn! But almost all of their egg platters were in the $7.xx range. Since I was there I tried it. I like the western omelet with the onions, peppers and ham cooked into the eggs. That is the way they do it. Most of the restaurants put the onions, peppers and ham in the middle. It was good but not $7.59 good. The grits were good but too big a bowl and the home fries were still on the al dente side - not cooked.

And to think I could have gone to Glenview for $5.99.

And another thing - at the prices they are charging - when I ask some one how was the food at (insert name) and the answer is good or okay instead of "great!! can't wait to go back" - I think there are better places to spend my eating allowance.

[JohnZ]

Additional costs are probably true? It is absolutely true. Business start-up costs in TV for a free standing unit like Bob Evans...should be about 10-20% more than your average Bob Evans (architectural requirements, landscape and other stuff) based on my own experience. This is true for other free standing restaurants on TV properties. I would also guess that Bob Evans does not own the land and they pay a very hefty lease for it....verrrry hefty. Most restauranteurs and franchaisors benchmark profit margins as a percentage of sales and set prices accordingly (market competition notwithstanding). Return on investment (ROI) includes the variable cost of start-up....and that too is factored in to menu prices. Buy a cup of coffee in Manhatten.....and we wonder why it costs so much? Don't be quick to fault Bob Evans for the high price of an omlette. ....they are not ripping you off.....it's simply the cost of doing business here being passed on to us the consumers. If it's a corporate owned store....and the RIO is not met (i.e price and volume) ....say bye-bye to Bob Evans in TV. Simple as that. It's business.

[F16 1UB]

Also "having" just got back from San Francisco and eating a $75 breakfast for 2 at the Fairmont, I sure as hell feel anyplace is reasonable comparably speaking. Give me anything at Bob Evans and chase it with a coffee ice cream hot fudge sundae from Brusters. Don't forget 20% gratuity.

Steve

[rdkent]

Steve:
:agree: :agree:on Bob Evans. Just got back from staying with the granddaughters while my daughter picked up her husband home on leave from UN police in Kosovo. My wife and I had breakfast at Bob Evans and it was great. They even do the potatoes well, which is usually not true at most restaurants at breakfast. BTW, the omelets were $7.59 in Columbia, MO so TV prices are no higher than here.

Ron

[Barefoot]

Here is a newbie question: Are prices in restaurants located at the Town Squares higher than restaurants located in (for instance) Southern Trace Plaza? Also, is 20% the standard gratuity in TV, and do you pay
even higher if the service is great?

Looks like I have to start saving up by loonies or learn how to cook. :joke:

[golfnut]

We always go to the buffet breakfast at Katie Belles, when we were there in April it was $5.99 and that included coffee, and they also make fresh omelets and you pick the ingredients and they hand carve roast beef. MMMM can't wait to get back there in a couple weeks.

[zcaveman]

:agree: Katie Belle's does have a great omelet - and corned beef hash - and home fries - and .... - DAMN - now I will have to take a run down on my no golf day to enjoy all of my favorites!!

[donsimson]

I guess that you don't take into consideration that you drive 40 -50 miles round trip to Mt Dora or Eustis and sit in all that traffic and construction that takes an hour to get there. I figure 50 miles @ $.32/mile (gas, oil, tires, insurance, etc that IRS allows) = @$16.00 you have added to your "cheap" restaurants. Here I just hop in my electric cart and go for nothing and be there in 10 or 15 minutes. Therefore I feel I am getting a bargain in the Villages. (Coupons or not)>

[Barefoot]

Buffet Breakfast at K.B.s for six bucks, sounds like a bargain to me! ;D Yum, Yum, we love going out for breakfast/brunch. I can hardly wait. What time do they serve breakfast? Perhaps their prices go up in "high" season when the snowflakes arrive??

[F16 1UB]

Here is a newbie question: Are prices in restaurants located at the Town Squares higher than restaurants located in (for instance) Southern Trace Plaza? Also, is 20% the standard gratuity in TV, and do you pay
even higher if the service is great?

Looks like I have to start saving up by loonies or learn how to cook. :joke:


20% applies everywhere and not just to TV. Only if you're satisfied with your service. Keep in mind that your server does not prepare your food.

Steve

[DickY]

Take a look at this link. If nothing else it is a guideline for tipping in several types of service.
http://msms.essortment.com/propertippinge_rmuv.htm 8)

[F16 1UB]

Thanks DickY

It says it all.

Steve Now lets go eat. ;D

[SABRMnLgs]

Restaurants tolds us the rising costs of food and drinks was due to the "rising cost of gasoline" for transporting food stuffs. I could buy into that then when gas was $4+ a gallon.
Gas is now around $1.75 a gallon. Has anyone seen the prices lowered in the restaurants? Odd thought, isn't it?

[mmatcg]

It's not that strange, the food cost doesn't only response to the cost of the transportation.

The average food cost for a restaurant is at 35%, People assume that 50% decrease in gasoline cost would bring down the average food cost significantly.

the fact is that the food cost for a typical restaurant would come down 4 % at most, items like rice, cooking oil, egg and few others have gone up 50% at least comparing to beginning of 2008.

the cost of manufactured items like food containers have gone up pretty much when the gas was at $4.00 + per gallon.

Restaurant menu price has to be adjusted responding to inflation, labor cost, rent increase and etc. I have seen many restaurants haven't changed or unable to change their menu prices (mainly competition) for at least 3 years. so once the menu prices have been raised for a restaurant, the prices don't come down because restaurateurs don't think they could raise menu price once every year without losing business.

just my 2 cents.