A nice restaurant to take Mom for her birthday
 

My Mom will be celebrating her birthday next Sunday and we would like to take her to a nice restaurant outside of TV for a change. Does anyone have some suggestions.

Thank you.

At the risk of having rotten tomatoes thrown at me by sharpshooting TOTVers, Turners in Leesburg--if there are less than six of you, and preferably only four. (They only have two tables that seat six.) It will be quiet enough to hear each other talk, and the food is good. The menu is more extensive than what is posted online.

They also subscribe to the phone app No Wait, which allows you to contact them when you leave your house, and they will tell you how long the wait is and put your name on the list.

Sunday brunch at Harbor Hills would get my vote.

Bern's Steakhouse, Tampa - Took the MIL there for her 90th. She loved it! Desert upstairs is also a must. Expensive, but perfect for a special occasion.

Francesca's Trattoria, Gainesville, Northern Italian, Went for Valentines Day and have been several other times.

Fish Bones, Lake Mary, Excellent steaks and seafood. Again one of our special occasions places.

Closer to The Villages, Goblin Market, Mt Dora. Braised Onion, Ocala and Mesa de Notte Ristorante, Ocala all are reasonably upscale with decent atmosphere for a special occasion.

My one knock against Turner's would be the atmosphere which I find not much different than the country clubs in The Villages.

All of the restaurants mentioned by me have websites to check menus, etc..

Goblin Market in My. Dora. Classiest by far.

You haven't specified a "type" of food , but a classic Italian Restaurant in Tavares (far side of Leesburg on hwy441) is Angelos...also see tvgourmetclub.

I find it curious/interesting that not one person, at this point, referenced any restaurant in The Villages to the OP's question of "a nice restaurant to take Mom"

"You know my methods, Watson"

Honestly there are not any "special" occasion restaurants in the villages-
there are servers-no talented waiters or waitresses

Its like people who compare modern cruising to transatlantic crossings of the 60's
crossing the the Atlantic on the Leonardo DaVinci or on the old France was an unbelievable lifetime experience

The OP specifically asked for restaurants outside of TV.

How can you miss "outside the Villages"?

It depends on what you mean by nice. Mom and Dad's on 441 has really great food, but they are not "fancy". I personally will take good food over fancy ambience every day.

I am curious why the OP wanted outside TV? There are plenty of nice Resturants in TV.

reading skills have really deteriorated. read the OPs message the answer is there for a change. Ipanema in Ocala...brazilian barbecue in an interesting atmosphere.

Thank you for all the suggestions. My Mom has lived in The Villages for 12 years now and we have been living here for 8. We do enjoy all the restaurants inside TV, but thought it would be nice to try a different restaurant for a change.

I'm not living there yet so I can't tell you the best spot but I can say that your Mom is lucky to have someone like you to put some thought on where to take her for her birthday. I'll bet Mom would be happy with Dunkin Donuts and she should be proud of how she raised you. Happy Birthday Mom!!:mademyday:

Thank you so much!! I've been blessed with a loving Mom and am so lucky to have her near us. I can't ever repay her for all she has done for me.

I recognize what the poster requested but it hasn't prevented people from digressing from the original post for many topics over the years.

I was waiting for "why would you go outside the bubble when there is--------------restaurant right here in The Villages, especially since many posters take umbrage at those you complain about various country club restaurants and village restaurants as a whole.

Personal Best Regards:

[emoji3]

McLeod House Bistro in Inverness has great food and a great atmosphere. Totally different from any restaurant in TV.

http://www.mcleodhousebistro.com/dinner.htm

I like Harrys in Ocala on the square and Harbor Lights on Lake Panosoffkee.

Crackers in Crystal River is a nice place, very popular with local families, moderate pricing good service . Another in the same area is Plantation. It is south of Crystal and is located near the top end of the Kings Bay. On Sundays they have a buffet. I like this place because it is usually not as noisy as TV eateries. You go through the bar to the dining area which is closed off from the bar. the restaurant is called something else but it is a the Plantation Resort in CR.

Cuvee Bistro in Ocala for a special ocassion

I agree with Bonnie. She knows her restaurants. Both are good choices, depending on the kind of food Mom likes. Harry's is New Orleans style, Harbor Lights is seafood. Another choice is Eaton's Beach for the view, but not the food. Mount Dora has a nice selection, including excellent German. Many, many acceptable restaurants from which to choose.

sure there are, & you can shout with your company to be heard & men can wear their hats at the table

I love Harry's. Just be aware many of their entrees are spicy.

We've never eaten at the Mission Inn, Howie in the Hills but the property is magnificent and suggests that it would be a fine dining experience, and it's not far from TV.

I love the brunch there. It is definitely not cheap, but it is wonderful !!!

They have a couple of chicken dishes that are awesome !!!

McLeod House Bistro. They do a nice job. Tell them it's her birthday when you make the reservation.

sorry you go to the wrong restaurants here and for some reason are blind to tables full of visored women. I'm sure your dining issues can be resolved elsewhere.

that's why it's so good!