Restaurant Request
 

We’re new to The Villages, and need a suggestion on a decent restaurant. We have a friend vacationing in Clearwater, and they suggested we meet at a half way point between these two locations. Are there any good suggestions out there on an American/seafood/Italian restaurant southwest of The Villages?

You might find useful information on the Villages Gourmet Club page.

We have either eaten at the restaurants below more than once or plan to return in the near future. They are all on the North side of Tampa or further in this direction. They are 60-75 minutes drive from the Havana CC area. I believe all have websites.

Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano Land O' Lakes

Grillsmith Wesley Chapel (American)

Mr Dunderbak's Tampa (German)

Nouvelle Cuisine Spring Hill (Belgian/French)

Stonewood Grill and Tavern Tampa Palms (American)

More casual
Ford's Garage Land O' Lakes (Burgers/sandwiches?etc.)

Papa Joe's in Brooksville...

I'll second The Villages Gourmet Club's Search Page HERE.
You can put in any city within 100 miles (at Step 3c) and it will show you what full service restaurants are in that city.
Reviews are by members only. And it's FREE and reliable.

Clermont is a good halfway point and the new Southern on 8th Kitchen and Bar is a wonderful place in downtown Clermont.

Good restaurants like Kafe Kokopelli in Dade City too.

Skip

You can also try www.meetways.com

You type in two places and then put in restaurant and it will list restaurants that are halfway between those two places. Pretty cool!

Now, that's cool. Thanks.

Burger King

You might try the "Bayport Inn", just west of Weeki Watchee. It's a little over an hour from The Villages and an hour from Clearwater. It's an old inn with beautiful deck seating at the back, overlooking a saltwater marsh. Great views! They have wonderful fresh Gulf seafood and have some really good week-day specials (all-you-can-eat fish and shrimp)! We love their Bloody Marys!
(Google "Bayport Inn near Weeki Watchee".)
Before or after dinner, stroll the beach at "Alfred E. McKethan Pine Island Park". It's a lovely 10-minute drive from the Bayport Inn, over a causeway built right through the marsh. The park is a beautiful man-made beach, right on the Gulf of Mexico. You'll pay $5 per vehicle to enter, but you're parking spot is just steps from the sand and the waves. They have lots of clean, covered picnic pavilions. There's even a nice little "tiki hut" - Willie's Tropical Breeze Cafe. They're open till 7 pm - maybe order a before or after-dinner beverage and sit back and enjoy the views! Beautiful sunsets!
Willy's Tropical Breeze Cafe

We’ve always enjoyed Crumps Landing And Florida Cracker Monkey Bar. Both very casual, beachy-tiki kind of places with good pub grub. About an hour from here almost the whole way on 44. From Clearwater maybe a tad longer up 19.

Check Trip Advisor, Wesley Chapel area?

good stuff.... thanks for sharing

Tell your friend to try the Belleair Cafe on Jewel Road, while they are in town. Charming, inexpensive and delicious for lunch.

One exit south of Wesley Chapel on Interstate 75 is Cheddars....it's a chain restaurant, but the food is good, salads are good, and they serve hot buns (for free) that are deliciously sweet. It's a bit more than halfway, but worth it.

BURNS STEAK HOUSE, excellent but pricey. North East of Tampa. They have never disappointed us.

Go to Orlando ! The restaurants here are mediocre and service is poor

CLERMONT IS THE OPPOSITE WAY !!! get a map
 

get a map ....

I second this: More casual
Ford's Garage Land O' Lakes (Burgers/sandwiches?etc.)

Also at this exit are about six to eight other restaurants...
Ford's garage however as outdoor seating as well undercover. And as mentioned there's a Cheddar's, several Italian restaurants and even fast food

It's spelled " bern's"
 

And I suggest I reservation is needed

To put another direction in, what about one of the many wonderful Greek restaurants in Tarpon Springs? It's also a neat place to walk around

Rose Plantation is our special occasion choice.

Oh yeah......Tarpon Springs... it's more than halfway from the Villages, but the above poster's mention of Greek restaurants.....I recommend Helle restaurant. Great food.
It's also a interesting street to walk up and down. It's loaded with touristy things, but you can also check out the vast assortment of olive oil soap bars. Some of them smell soooo good. I just might take a ride there with my wife tomorrow.

I had no idea about this inf. Thank you!

Lots of good restaurants in Wesley Chapel. That's about halfway point.
 

Lots of good restaurants in Wesley Chapel. That's about half way.

Chop House at Lake sumter landing. Food wonderful.

Clermont is between Clearwater and The Villages according to my map.
We meet our Tampa friends at Clermont Brewing in downtown all the time.
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