Villages area restaurants
 

Have you noticed the poor quality of service at chain restaurants accessible to Villagers via golf cars? Bonefish on 466 is the latest example: our last visit definitely counted for two (first and last). Outback on 441 was a disastrous experience recently. Don't we as a group recognize a good dining experience or are we willing to default to these places for convenience?

We have about decided to get away from the 466 and 441/Spanish Springs chains in an attempt to discover good food and good service.

Restaurants a little farther away in Belleview, Ocala, Inverness, and Lake Panasoffkee seem to appreciate the business and work harderto deserve our patronage.

Jim in Hillsborough

We have always had good service at Carrabba's. At times there is a 2 hour wait so we never go there at the busy times.

No.

We never have had a bad meal or poor service at Bonefish and have been going since they first opened. Any restaurant can have a bad night.

[quote=jshriver801;774317]Have you noticed the poor quality of service at chain restaurants accessible to Villagers via golf cars?[/quote]No. What happened that was disastrous?

Since this is the only complaint I have ever heard or read about Bonefish, I'd say they are doing an excellent job. I should go there sometime.

Good food, good service. Noisy, though. But they're all noisy, at least the four that I've been to.

Interesting. I've never heard a complaint about Bonefish. I love it there.
If the OP needs to eat outside the Villages, fine by me. I'm happy right here. Lots of great places right in the Villages !!
If I don't have to cook it, it's all good for me ! :D

I think it is great that you don't go back to Bonefish. Will make it a little less crowded when we go back to one of our favorite restaurants.

I don't think it's a plot. I think when a person gets poor service or food in the restaurants here, it's because here, like everywhere, good help is hard to find, and the servers are frazzled because of whining cheapskates who will not tip but are the most demanding and even mean to the workers.

Look at the life we have in TV thru their eyes, and you'd see thousands of people who ought to be darned thankful to have the peaceful, comfortable life we have here, but some are demanding, cheap, stingy, and bitter instead.

:agree::clap2:

well said Ilovetv

My favorite meal to make at home is "RESERVATIONS", I don't care where

I think you are right.

Next time when any of us go out to eat. Take a little time to thank your server, stand up and be a KIND senior citizen.

There is perhaps another explanation that gets to the heart of poor service issues. It's called training. Those restaurants who obviously take time and care to provide training programs for new employees seem to achieve superior results compared to places who have minimal to no training programs. As an example, my experience is that Lopez (for example) does a far superior job than do chains such as Carrabbas/Bonefish etc.

Amen

My landscaper who is Mexican recommended Coyote Rojo for real inexpensive Mexican food. We took their advice and drove to Bushnell to try it. It was excellent.......place was crowded with families........food was well prepared.......wait service was excellent and attentive and the meal was very inexpensive. Worth a try. See attached website

Coyote Rojo Mexican Restaurant - Home

We love Bonefish, it is great, but our favorite restaurant of all is Luigino's. The staff is the best and the food is always great. We go there a lot.

There is something said for convenience of restaurants in The Villages and we've only ad two events I can think of where the meals were sub-par, once at Ruby Tuesday's in SS and a lunch at Glenview but the Glenview one, I'll give them a pass as we've had good meals in the past. I have to share one event (it was a 2 for 1 drinks) at Cody's Roadhouse. The waitress asked if we wanted a drink before dinner. I said I'd have a Manhattan. My wife said that sounded good, "I'll have one too." Our waitress brought four Manhattans. I waved my golf cart keys in front of her and asked if she would drive us home. We danced it off afterwards and made it home just fine. Sorry to take the long way around the barn but we are quite happy with our restaurant choices here. Little to complain about.

As an X chef and owner of a restaurant I can tell you that the chains around here have the attitude that you are 'a trapped audience'.
And for some reason they're right. I can't walk into half of them because they are filthy. But so is Havana and others. Panera strives to keep it clean and does a good job but for dinner I buy my fish from Sweetbay and look for good meat at all the stores.
I gave up and we eat at home and grill out three nights a week.
The waterfront has great grilled mushrooms and artichoke dip. Not an organized atmosphere but sit outside and enjoy. Head out of town and they are thrilled to see you. Also TIP. I've noticed some real cheap tippers because of their "fixed income".
If you can golf and own a golf cart you can tip properly.
I'll stop now.
best NG

I too become very concerned about the \lapses of cleanliness I notice in many local restaurants. Since we are retired, we have the time to drive a few extra minutes to enjoy restaurants outside the bubble in addition to the local fare. We have some good ones here but you will be happy to discover other good ones within a few minutes drive of TV.

We love the Cody's at Lake Sumpter, but last week while we were in Ocala we decided to have dinner at the Cody's there. What a letdown. That restaurant is a disgrace compared to TV Cody's. Service was very slow and it was only about 1/3 full. The orders were messed up and the food was bad. We won't return to that one. We think TV chain restaurants are better than in surrounding areas.

ilovety

Very well put.