Best Restaurant in Villages?
 

I have some dear friends that have been so helpful to me as an absentee homeowner in the Villages. I would like to get a gift card to a good restaurant in the area, but don’t know anything about any of them. They like most kinds of cuisine.
Any recommendations?
Thanks in advance!

Chophouse is highly thought of

Bluefin and the Chop House are both nice places. If you think they'd like Japanese food I hear Sakura and VKI are pretty good.

VKI (Japanese Steak House) and Chop House both in LSL are very good. Blue Fin in Brownwood is another good one.
Just outside TV on 441/27 heading north Francesco's Italian is a nice eatery

Restaurants
 

In TV ChopHouse and BlueFin. Leesburg Turners. Ocala Mesa de Notte and Mark's Prime.

I agree with Mark's Prime, it's an outstanding venue. Also in Ocala is 'Braised Onion'.

Couldn't agree more with those choices :bigbow:

I've never been disappointed at Nancy Lopez.

Sakuras

O’shucks

Hahaha, decent seafood but the atmosphere is 1950s filling station chic.

Best fish around, cold beer, great service. All for a good price. Better than the crap at country club restaurants.

O'Shucks
 

You are being too kind!

All over priced, I go to eat not screwed.

WoW
 

Everyone has a different price point. I eat at those restaurants frequently and enjoy the food and service. I do not think they are over priced. IMO they are the best restaurants in the area. I forgot to include Wolfgang Puck which has great food.

Have you ever owned a business? Do you know the cost to build or lease the building? How about buying all the furniture? Outfit the kitchen? Employees don't work for free. Then there is the associated costs of having employees. Payroll tax, Social Security, Medicare. Business liability insurance, etc..

The next time you want to complain about paying $50 for a $20 steak you might take into consideration how much money it costs to serve that steak.

My favorites are Lopez, Chop House, Bluefin and Wolfgang Pucks. Many people like Rose Plantation. You can't go wrong with any of them.
As for price (as one poster stated above). I come from a town where "steak place" prices started at $30. (most were high 30's or low $40's). Martini's started at $10... most were $12.
So.... I guess I am used to paying over $15 for a good meal.
I was just at Lopez this week. I was shocked at the prices. Many of the menu items were between $15 - $20. My meal was excellent.

For Italian our favorite is Giovanni's

The Rose Plantation in Fruitland Park is outstanding.

Rose Plantation, safest place and great food.

Wendy’s

Bonefish Grill.

Do not do O'Shucks - may have good oysters but a real hole in the wall place - not nice for a gift card which they probably don't even have there! Chop House, Blue Fin for fish, good choices.

You will do fine at McDonald,s

If you go to Ocala Ivy on the Square is one of the best and worth the drive!

Agreed. Great atmosphere too.

Why not get a generic card. American Express, Master ,Visa etc. This way they can decide. Maybe with the pandemic they are not eating out? Maybe an Amazon gift card would be appropriate. Some people do not like to drive to Ocala. Although Marks is worth it.
Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated.

If you wander up to Ocala, Milanos is a very nice place. Ate there last night, and it was wonderful.

Chop House
Blue Fin
Wolfgang Puck

VISA or MC works a lot better

I'm a sucker for a sundown view, so to me my fave place to eat is the Lighthouse at LSL. I haven't been disappointed with the food or prices.

Legacy (Lopez) love it. Last time went to Chop House was not happy and we all decided it would be a long time before we went back same with Blue Fin...had to send back the food twice and finally just gave up. They both pretty restaurant but not so much on the food.
Ivy House is a great place, if Steak is what you want Marks Prime, Italian can’t go wrong with Meas de Notte they are awesome and If sitting outside is what you looking for the best is Havana has a wonderful outside dining and great food

The Rose Plantation
 

On special occasions we go to The Rose Plantation. Really really nice intimate restaurant. Located on 466a in Fruitland just outside of The Villages. I guarantee you they will enjoy the charming restaurant.

Plantation or chop house Both are great

Like
 

We like Piesano's Italian Restaurant. It came as close to Italian food which we had in Italy and and we have been there (Italy) many times. if you ordered Pizza it was also very good. We had 2 chicken dinners from Carrabbas yesterday and they were not good, although their bread is very good. Chops is good, price is high but as the statement goes, "if you have to ask the price you can't afford it!" For regular, just basic good food for take out we like Bob Evans, or Giovanni's, or a family like salad from Olive Garden. I am sure there are many other good restaurants and these are just a couple we have used. Other than Chops would like to find a good steak restaurant?:popcorn:

Wolfgang Pucks at the Brownwood Hotel. It is excellent and the prices are reasonable. I think the atmosphere is nice. A different choice

Southern Oaks on Rt 44. A new restaurant and the reviews have all been excellent.

Rose Plantation in Fruitland Park

I once would have recommended Rose Plantation. Recent experience and reviews have me taking a break for a while.

OP, you're getting some excellent suggestions. The Rose Plantation, Legacy, Blue Fin, Sakura are among our favorites. The Chop House not so much. The food was adequate, but the service made us feel like we had stumbled into a high end truck stop.