Talk of The Villages Florida

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-   Restaurant Discussions (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/)
-   -   Favorite chain restaurant? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/favorite-chain-restaurant-31598/)

jojo 09-01-2010 09:48 PM

Favorite chain restaurant?
 
I travel regularly for business and try to sample local establishments when possible. I do still frequently dine at the chains--Bonefish Grill, Olive Garden, Carabbas, Outback and similar steak houses. I have had bad experiences with Red Lobster in different cities. What do Villagers like?

kb8tpw 09-02-2010 06:00 AM

I concur with your findings and having just retired to the villages from a job that kept me on the road 75% of the time so I think I have a good basis to comment. Red Lobster is one I have never tried here for reasons you suggest. I do like Carrabas very much. One I wish we had here is Abuelo's. They are on the list of things we miss a lot. A regular 2-3 times a week in Dayton as well as regular visits to Oklahoma City. There are two in Florida, near Tampa and Orlando, which we intend to seek out but a quick trip to the Cincinnati area for a wedding a couple of weeks ago resulted in a visit in norhtern Kentucky during non-meal times, but we stopped anyway. Perhaps our Mexican food desires will be met with the new Mexican restaurant to soon be opened in the Colony shopping area as that is in our backyard.

sunday 09-02-2010 06:10 AM

A Big fan of "The Original" El Taco...

Peace And Love

2newyorkers 09-02-2010 06:39 AM

Texas Roadhouse..mmmmm mmmmmmm!

zcaveman 09-02-2010 06:49 AM

Red Lobster (We usually stick with the fried shrimp so no problem)
Olive Garden
Hooters
Sonny's
Golden Corral

l2ridehd 09-02-2010 06:56 AM

I have always found Bonefish to be the most consistent. So they are my first choice. In CA In and Out Burgers, In Buffalo Teds Hotdogs, and I also like Bahama Breeze, but not very many around.

Talk Host 09-02-2010 07:36 AM

"Abuelo's" Actually, it's in Lakeland, rather than Tampa. We like it, the food and service is good.

Had a funny experience there recently. When we arrived, we were told there would be a 15 minute wait and that they would "text" us when our table was ready. We went to the bar and sat. In about 5 minutes or so, a manager came over and said, "your table is ready." So we went with him to our table, ordered drinks, appetizers, then our dinner. Then after about a half hour meal, when the the server came to the table with the "standard phrase," "did you save room for desert," my Iphone buzzed with a text message. The message said, "your table is ready." :icon_hungry:

JLK

Bonny 09-02-2010 07:55 AM

Red Lobster, Olive Garden & Codys pretty much take care of all my needs. :thumbup:

memason 09-02-2010 02:31 PM

Hard Rock Cafe, anywhere in the world.

dillywho 09-02-2010 04:20 PM

I'm With You
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by kb8tpw (Post 288918)
I concur with your findings and having just retired to the villages from a job that kept me on the road 75% of the time so I think I have a good basis to comment. Red Lobster is one I have never tried here for reasons you suggest. I do like Carrabas very much. One I wish we had here is Abuelo's. They are on the list of things we miss a lot. A regular 2-3 times a week in Dayton as well as regular visits to Oklahoma City. There are two in Florida, near Tampa and Orlando, which we intend to seek out but a quick trip to the Cincinnati area for a wedding a couple of weeks ago resulted in a visit in norhtern Kentucky during non-meal times, but we stopped anyway. Perhaps our Mexican food desires will be met with the new Mexican restaurant to soon be opened in the Colony shopping area as that is in our backyard.

Abuelo's is my favorite! I really do miss it and put it on the survey TV does every year, so far to no avail. I know of the 2 here in FL (haven't made the trip to try them yet), but would rather have one here. Anytime we go back to Amarillo or Lubbock, we go almost every day. When we lived in Amarillo, it was only a few blocks from our house (that was both good and bad, if you know what I mean.)

Since they have advertised as having Tex-Mex, maybe the new Mexican place in Colony will be the next best thing. We can only hope. As for Red Lobster here, our experience there has always been good. They have an excellent lunch, but we have not been there for dinner so can't say about that.

chuckinca 09-02-2010 04:49 PM

White Castle

White Castle

White Castle


.

nONIE 09-02-2010 05:36 PM

Outback!

Love that 9.99 special! :icon_hungry:

nkrifats 09-02-2010 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckinca (Post 289133)
white castle

white castle

white castle


.

yes

Jgg7933 09-02-2010 08:11 PM

:icon_hungry:
My wife and I love Red Sauce for Italian and Codys Roadhouse for general eating. Urban Flats is a good choice for something a little different!

otherbruddaDarrell 09-02-2010 09:59 PM

Bahama Breeze!................................it would be a perfect fit at LSL.:a040:

CSilvestrucci 09-02-2010 11:26 PM

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritatville Cafe is good any where in the world . Fun place with great food.

chuckinca 09-03-2010 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nkrifats (Post 289160)
yes



Chuckinca aka Fast Charlie


.

Dan =^..^= 09-03-2010 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2newyorkers (Post 288924)
Texas Roadhouse..mmmmm mmmmmmm!

I'm with you 2newyorkers! :agree: Texas Roadhouse has great steaks and sides. My wife and I eat there way too often. :icon_hungry:

getdul981 09-03-2010 07:08 AM

My wife and I love The Cheesecake Factory.

villa2 09-03-2010 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by getdul981 (Post 289241)
My wife and I love The Cheesecake Factory.

Yes, Cheesecake Factory is our favorite, too.

zcaveman 09-03-2010 09:24 AM

I forgot to put McDonald's and Denny's on my list.

chuckinca 09-03-2010 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zcaveman (Post 289288)
I forgot to put McDonald's and Denny's on my list.


Me too - I probably had lunch at Denny's about every other week for the last 40 years I was working.

My granddaughter from New Orleans calls it Dennah's.

.

zcaveman 09-03-2010 11:38 AM

Denny's Coupons
 
With Denny's email coupons and in paper coupons, it becomes a fairly cheap place to eat. Service is good and food is good.

laryb 09-03-2010 12:38 PM

We love Bonefish Grille, Mimi's, and 2 of our favorites are Bahama Breeze and Buca di Beppo. Also, seems like the car goes into auto- pilot mode when we drive by a Checkers, can't resist the fries and onion rings! ( the hotdogs aren't bad either):icon_hungry:

brostholder 09-03-2010 08:46 PM

Panera Bread....great soups (served with a crusty french baguette) and interesting salads and sandwiches.

tudacee 09-15-2010 11:06 PM

hands down...Five Guys or Paneras...love them both.

LELANDJANE 09-16-2010 08:07 PM

I love Cheesecake Factory too! (Chicago-John Hancock Bldg my favorite).
Flo's Filet at Longhorn usually good (not so much here in tv)
Five Guys-best hamburgers
I do like Red Lobster-maybe my attachment is that I ate at it's predecessor in Waycross, Ga- The Green Frog, back in the 1960s.

golf2140 09-16-2010 09:29 PM

We like Red Lobster, but $4.50 for a draft beer is a little much. Go by the one on CR466, not much business. We have found Havana

Sparky-30 09-17-2010 06:02 AM

Sweetwaters when we lived in N.Va., Robert Duvall used to show up at times from his ranch not far away


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