When was your visit?

We went to Burke's three times and were disappointed. They had an awful grand opening---ran out of food and got checks all messed up, etc. You can review previous Threads to verify this. But gave it another try a couple months later---it was still as if they had never operated/managed a restaurant before.

Will give them another try in the next week or two. No baby back ribs last year---any now?

It's a great location----best thing about Burke's so far.

We have been to Burke's a dozen times with only positive experiences.

Everybody needs to keep in mind that opening a restaurant in The Villages is the exact opposite experience for the owners of which you would have expected. This is the WORST place in the world to be the owner of a new restaurant, particularly a mom n pop operation. This is no place for the weak entrepreneur with a shallow pocketbook.

The Villages is the largest concentration of senior foodies from the most diverse backgrounds in the United States. It is harder than hell to satisfy a largely impatient, often curiously cranky crowd of people wholly convinced that nothing is ever as good as "their" place up North.

This is the only place in the country where you can try to have a slow and easy secret opening to accommodate training only to be bombarded by a throng of "starving" septuagenarians demanding the smooth efficiency of high-end dining at an "all you can eat" discount prices.

We need the Burke's, Mezza Lunas, Ricciardis, Rae Raes, Woodys and Dam Diners of this world! Please be patient and do not be shy to communicate your suggestions to the owners (without the red face, bulging eyes and swinging canes). It is much more fun to help than to trash.

No baby backs the two times we have gone, but the spareribs are meaty, flavorful, and fall off the bone tender. The French fries are hand cut and the Mac and cheese and baked beans outstanding.

Pretty accurate summary Steve!

Indydealmaker---I agree with you we need the "mom & Pop" entrepreneur's of the world. I'm pulling for them in an era of company chains and franchise restaurants that are slowly putting all the independents out of business.

However, independent's have to do their homework and find what works and what doesn't work----especially with the senior population we have here in TV.

For example, most seniors eat babyback ribs but Burke's didn't have them on their menu or apparently not on their radar......... I hope they make it as an independent restaurant-----we plan to give them another chance.

How right you are!
 

I tire of the reminiscing about everything "back home" being better than here. This is my home, my only home, and I like it just fine. Love it or leave it, or at least be civil and quiet. It may not be as great "back home" as you remember. One thing I know, it's not where you wanted to be when you moved here.

Stop there often, never was disappointed ................

Weekend BabyBacks
 

We stopped in yesterday for an early supper. The pulled pork was tasty and tender. They are now having babybacks on weekends after 5:30. We were a bit early, but they let us steal an early order...great flavor!

We went there Friday night, when everything in TV was mobbed and folks were standing around with beepers for an hour to get a table! We walked right in, got two baby back rib dinners and a whole bottle of wine for under $40. The food was good, everything was home made and the people are very nice. We sat outside and enjoyed the fresh air and flowers. Love this place. Maybe I shouldn't tell everybody. Once they find out, we won't be able to get in there either, lol.

Not like K.C. Ribs from the midwest. It was warmed up in a microwave...YUK!

Unfortunately, you are not in the midwest.

Shouldn't that be: "Fortunately, you are not in the midwest."?

You're funny, Red...LOL

Maybe not, but that's one of the trade-offs for living in the paradise called The Villages. They are decent for what they are. And to balance the world, KC and the midwest doesn't have very good seafood.

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