Portillo's, Bucee's, Costco, etc.
 

Passed the newly built Waffle House yesterday (behind U.S. Bank on OBT). Got me thinking of Portillo's plans for Lady Lake, and the Bucee's slated for Ocala. Seems Portillo's is becoming very complicated between the road construction issue (soon to be finished I understand) and the change in financing partners. Was really looking forward to doing take home from Bucee's when in Ocala, but looks like that project is years away, possibly '27 or so ? ? Guess the further away we are from Bucee's the better off our health will be.....LOL... but it sure is good barbecue ! Now seems to be totally opposite "rumors" about the planned "Harry and the Natives", following these things gives us retired folks a new hobby....LOL !

We have lived here for 9 years and we have no idea what OBT means.

If you want your message to mean anything to all people, you might want to avoid abbreviations like that.

[QUOTE=VApeople;2405244]We have lived here for 9 years and we have no idea what OBT means.

OBT is short for Orange Blossom Trail

Rarely go to OBT, but was surprised at the WH in progress. No longer holding our breath on Portillos, with financial restarts.

Just up in Ocala couple weeks ago, the song and dance given (a name not to be used) at the Buccee’s local news spot, that the new exit would start immediately to get this great business up and running. Wasn’t that close to 2 years ago? There is a new Buccee’s billboard hung upside down on I75 showed up last month, but zero info.

At least there is WaWa’s structure and tanks are in at Powell. Plus ground work at Costco, Target seems to be moving at a reasonable pace, pulse all three 5th3rd Banks look to open soon.

Can hardly wait for Bucee’s Texas style barbecue and acre of other items sold.. I don’t think broke ground yet or the interchanges at location (by Google address) has even been started?

I've never been to a Waffle House. Their reputation for late-night violence aside, are they any good? Or is it just popular for the freak-shows?

It’s not a cheap date to eat. Waffles are good if you need to eat. Everything else is tooooo much grease. But hashbrown3way has a following. Most are open 24/7 so crowd can be dicey into the night

If you like lots and lots of butter and salt and very cheap meals, yes they are good. IMHO you get a MUCH better breakfast for twice as much at Cracker Barrel. However, since you and I agree on little else, we probably disagree on this as well you may very well love-love-love Waffle House.

Waiting anxiously for Buccees to be built

One can eat similar breakfast at flying biscuit, within a dollar of Waffle House. Waffle House is somewhere you stop because nothing else is open.

They still make a good waffle. Also fascinating to watch the short order cook go about his business

But we will get Hooters that nobody asked for.

[QUOTE=biggamefish1;2405248]Thanks for explaining that.

Of course, I have no idea where that Trail is, so I guess this thread doesn't pertain to me.

Lets see if the community supports them. Thinking it will.

Anyone waiting for Buc-ee's because you believe it's good BBQ....Bless your hearts.....because their food sucks and you'll get heart burn. Whenever they open make sure you take an extra Prevacid. Seriously....Texas BBQ brisket does not have sauce....let alone a sauce that is absolutely disgusting. I cook a lot, like every day my entire life, and I know good BBQ....I gave Buc-ee 3 strikes and spent good money on a variety of offerings each time...and he struck out. Won't be trying to go Whenever it appears. I'll put my gas money into a nice piece of meat I smoke myself and I won't ruin it like Buc-ee's does

No Butter
 

Just margarine.

Never been to a Trader Joe's. Their reputation for exotic food aside, are they any good? Or is it just popular with the Costco leaning folks?

Just an attempt at humor...........now..............Don't get all huffy.

Never seen late night violence or freak shows at any Waffle House and we have been going once a week for probably 35 years. Excellent food.

Totally disagree. Their prices went sky high and not worth it for the garbage they put on your plate.

They have a decent breakfast, but I haven't had lunch there. If you like butter and powdered sugar on your waffles, you had better bring your own powdered sugar as they don't have it.

Just because a business isn't requested, doesn't mean that it can't be built. There are lots of "dirty old men" in and around the Villages who appreciate a good set of headlights.

Who's nobody?

I stopped in for a meal at a Waffle House many years ago. I sat down at the counter and looked at the cook's area. It was so filthy that I got up and walked back out. I've considered giving them a second chance.

We plan to check it out. Why not? Outside patio, good wings, good price. Something different from FMK.

Waffle house used to be great :rant-rave: Their breakfast burrito and coffee was the best for like $7. However, that was like 20 years ago, when I was travelling and working in the construction / service industry. Now, they don't even offer it.

WH is great for a quick breakfast meal on the road, anytime of day, that's it, when there is no other alternative.

Well GG the “Exotic Food” such as gator, ostrich, rattlesnake, rarely has been on shelves in a grocery isle.

However, yes Trader Joe’s like Any Grocery has “Ethnic Sections” ya know Spanish, Asian, Indian, and so on, that you may be confusing with “Exotic” food.

While Costco clients may shop at Trader Joe’s, one is warehouse shopping, where TJ’s carries more organic, and Kosher than most grocery. None of which is considered “Exotic”

People obviously want it or it would not be built.

If you do not want to go, then do not go. Pretending no one wants it built because you do not is just silly.

I do not get the hype, but a lot of people do love it

I'd trade five nearby Aldi's for a Trader Joes.

Seems to me the Sumter Landing location was ideal.
I guess it had too much parking to meet their modus operandi.

[QUOTE=biggamefish1;2405248]🤔

The Waffle House is an icon Southern restaurant. Their breakfast, especially their waffle’s, are excellent. Their waffle’s are close to grandma’s who make them from scratch for me and my cousins every summer Saturday morning. Never been - you got to go!

Bucees
 

I agree, I'll never stop at another Bucee's. The food is awful and over priced. And very crowded.

Wow I agree quit the abbreviations at least for the first poster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

People tend to vote with their feet and their wallets. You can tell how terrible Buc-ee's is by how crowded the parking lot always is.

Obt
 

[QUOTE=biggamefish1;2405248]OBT is in Orlando….so what does that have to do with us?

There are no US Banks in the Villages, and what is OBT?

Bucee's and BBQ are two words that should never be used in the same sentence. As a general rule, I will usually give an eatery at least two tries before giving up on them. Not so with Bucee's and the swill they call BBQ. Both their brisket and pulled pork are so laden with fat, and undercooked, as to be inedible. Those who know good Q avoid Bucee's like the plague.

The Waffle House is in front BJ's on 441 Lady lake.

Over the past 50 years, I've eaten at Waffle House hundreds of times and a large number of those visits were late night after being out at a bar partying. As far as I can remember, I only saw one fight during all of those visits and that was broken up by my uncle telling one of the guys that he had kicked the other mans a** enough and should stop before the deputies got there.

The food definitely wasn't gourmet, but it was filling and I don't remember it being that greasy.

As far as Bucee's goes, we stop at the one in Warner Robins every time we travel by it on I-75. It didn't take us long to get tired of the BBQ sandwiches, I agree that they use too much sauce on the meat. The main reasons we stop are the price of gas is usually low (although other stations in the area have started matching it), they have huge clean restrooms, and they have a nice dog walk area for our dog.

[QUOTE=paulajr;2405409]The street is NE 86th path. This street is the old golf cart dirt track that linked the historic side to Lowes and Walmart. It became a street when BJ's was built behind Wawa on 441.