Fast Food Restaurants
 

We are curious as to how many fast food restaurants are in TV? Also, do you find the prices to be higher than they were where you used to live? I've already seen where Steak-n-Shake is higher than here in Georgia. We won't be able to afford to eat in the higher end restaurants that often. I see a lot of those type restaurants mentioned and rarely see anything about McDonalds, Chili's, Applebees, etc. Thanks!

Wow! I don't know if the prices are higher, but you are going to love The Villages. There are plenty of fast food restaurants of almost every type.

I don't see any price differences from here at TV compared to anywhere else.
Now go near Disney or the airport, then you'll see price differences.

I see a significant difference in prices compared to living in Indianapolis in the late 1960's. I remember a Burger Chef hamburger and an order of fries and a coke was around 50 cents. LOL!! But I have noticed that prices at fast food restaurants have increased over the years, the same as prices of almost everything else. We have been here nearly 5 years, and we don't remember what a Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with Cheese, or an Arby's roast beef, or a Culver's butter burger or a Whopper used to cost up north.

If you post that you like fast food people say stuff on here to make you feel like you are white trash. Personally, I don't care what people think about my eating habits. I LOVE my junk food.

There are several McD's, Burger Kings, Wendy's, etc. At least one Applebee's that I know of, there may be more. There is a new chicken strip place called Huey McGoo's that I love.

I wish we had a Red Robin in the area. (I go up to Ocala occasionally to get my RR fry fix.) And I would give (almost) anything to have In-n-Out in Florida. Hope springs eternal!

I don't find prices to be higher here than up north but everything seems to have gone up a bit since the pandemic hit.

Welcome to The Villages!

kathy

What I have found is that if the restaurant (fast food) is inside the bubble, they typically don't give a senior discount. Step outside, like Leesburg, and voila, senior discount.

Since you didn't say what village you live and you don't have it in your header, I find it depends on your village's location. How far are you willing to drive for a fast food restaurant, that might determine how many there are for you.

I will drive to SS area for KFC, and only KFC which is about ten miles from my home about every two weeks or so. I can get fried chicken at Publix a mile away, but KFCs mashed potatoes with gravy and cole slaw are best. We usually try to tie it into another stop on that side of town if we can.

Otherwise, since I live in the southern area near 466A and Buena Vista we are very close to the new Trailwinds Village, an all commercial development that's been built on the edge of TV in the past three years. Jersey Mike's, Wendy's, Taco Bell and Burger King have all opened there in the past two years. I'm addicted to Jersey Mike's ever since they opened with their first location in front target about 8 years ago, now I have one about a mile from my home. Wendy's I love their chili, and I like Tacos, so that's my main fast food roundup. About three miles east on 466A at Colony we have McDonalds, and I do like Egg McMuffins and sometimes their pancakes, so pretty much my fast food addictions.

I don't know what you consider higher-end restaurants. We never eat at the country clubs. We do eat lunch out several days a week, almost never eat dinner out. My favorite is the lunch sirloin at Outback for $12.99, it comes with a baked potato, which I get with just butter, and a side salad and they have the best dressing that is not available anywhere else. It's called Tangy Tomato, it's like Catalina with hot sauce added, I love it. Also you get the pumpernickel loaf of bread and butter just after your order. To me, there is nothing at the fancy restaurants that I would rather have. If want prime rib, Outback has it after 3pm.

How about in the 1960s Burger Chef.......for 15cents, a nickel and a dime.

Burger Chef: Jingle - YouTube

While the subject is eating establishments, I must give a shout-out to a young lady at Cracker Barrel on 441. We sometimes hear of bad service but this server named Kara. I think that’s how it was spelled, was absolutely superb in every way. She worked hard, was pleasant, and gave great service to our table. I don’t know her but she was outstanding!

There are 7 and each is about 10 times higher.

I would consider Chili’s and Applebee’s chain restaurants, but not fast food restaurants. The menus and prices are pretty much the same as elsewhere. Some places the food needs to be a bit higher because the site lease is extra expensive, but in general, you are getting a fair deal. There are plenty of fast food chain restaurants on the outskirts of The Villages, but you won’t find the long strips of them that you find in many cities. The Villages is a big area—many square miles—and the restaurants are spaced out in a number of areas on the outskirts. There are also some nice restaurants in the town squares, but not places like McDonald’s. The Villages is much better designed and more genteel. One of the things I love about The Villages is that even the shopping areas are attractive, and fast food restaurants are less of an eyesore. It can take awhile to find all these restaurants, and you may need to drive several miles.

White trash because you like fast food. Most ofthe fast food places in TV are packed so I guess that makes us all trash. No, prices arent higher here. You cant compare state to state prices as an example. Of coutse, theyre all different

I cook and eat at home.

what was the hourly wage in the 60's .. today this same fast food wants $15.00 an hour.. loaf of bread was a quarter in the 60's..

John W:
Go for it & enjoy good neighbor

Dairy Queen will be here soon. My siblings and I used to take our Dad to DQ every Sunday for lunch. He loved getting the ice cream bar to take home. Then he got a girlfriend and she joined us. We were regulars and they knew our order. We loved it!

My 80 lb dogs love the dollar menu at mcdees

Ruby Tuesdays is good I get emails from them with their deals. Mission bbq also

Yes! Everything here is higher. We are retired, that’s why we moved here.not enjoy the lifestyle on our budget. Not anymore as you learn. All has changed!

Fast food, really? Fastest way to a coronary. Eat at home.

Almost every restaurant these days has a loyalty program, even the fast food chains. If economics is leading you to fast food then make sure you download their apps. There are some great deals to be had!

As to what people think; I do not care. If, you do, and most people do, you give people power that should be yours.

Prices up? It would take a lot of work to properly study prices. All prices have gone up over time. I remember my friend's father taking us by car, he was one of the few in our neighborhood that had a car. McDonald's burger was .15. I may be wrong but the fries
were less ???? .13. The ad was change back from you dollar.

I once saw a sign outside a Ruby's Tuesday that said, "20 entrees for less than 10 dollars". But, when I went inside and ordered 20 entrees, I found out it was false advertising.

Hard to believe, but we NEVER eat out. Have spent the last 3 Decembers in TV without ever setting foot into a restaurant. We pack food & snacks in the cooler for the ride down from Ohio, same going home. First stop upon arrival in TV is the grocery store where we stock up on all needs.

Thanks for the input. We are still a few years out from our move to TV. Right now, I am trying to put together as comprehensive a budget as I can before we move so I can be better prepared to how much it's going to cost to live there. The input from current villagers is an invaluable tool and is much appreciated. My wife and I love watching the videos that villagers put on their youtube channels. The only thing is we don't always relate to them because we are middle-class citizens and won't have the money to eat at country clubs and other upscale establishments. At least not on a weekly basis. I'm hoping that one day, someone will start showing videos that we can better relate to. I'm sure we can't be the only ones who will be living in TV that won't live the affluent lifestyle portrayed in most online videos.

But, that don’t mean there same where someone comes from:duck:

IMO save you’re money eat at home majority of time. I won’t say most but some aren’t worth going to. I find groceries are higher where I came from. Also coupons in paper about every week for some savings?

I wouldn't know - since I haven't eaten from any of them in 47 years.

McDonald’s is much lower priced in Colony Cottage than my home. But that’s in Alaska, where a quarter pounder is $9.50

DQ is in Leesburg so it is already here :)

Holly crap!

Are they building it yet? Haven’t been down 301 in months?

For some of use that’s not close.

There are many miles from north villages to south villages.

Nope, not yet.

Here is a list of restaurants. I make no claim as to the accuracy of this list. However, I do accept input.

Thank you.

Wow! Somewhere more expensive than UK!

That is a nice list.