You'll be Amazed if you go to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala for Lunch or dinner. It will be a beautiful new experience, for all in your party, guaranteed!
3 Tips:
•Be sure to make reservations at the Restaurant of you choice there.
•Rent a golf cart, for your moms best enjoyment, as the walk from the parking lot to the venue is a little trek for older adults.
•Never go on a Monday/Tuesday - it's Sleepy, but it's totally amazing the rest of the days.

Enjoy!

Havans is a good choice but sure not great.

This is another vote for Prime 3 in Leesburg. The Grouper Fromage is a favorite. The also have a good wine list.

Restaurant
 

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned La Cuisine in Ocala. It's a lovely grown up restaurant, and quiet with great food.

I agree with the many who say that none of the best restaurants in The Villages are Michelin Star level. Nor is the Rose Plantation. The best restaurant I know of within an hour, and the one most likely to win. Michelin star, is La Cuisine in Ocala. The owners are French, and if you can speak French, they will be delighted. The food is superb. I recommend the Boeuf Bourguignon, though they also have excellent steaks and other things. Real French restaurants are pretty rare in Florida.
La Cuisine | French Restaurant

In the Tampa area, Bern’s Steakhouse is amazing—and easily a couple hundred bucks per person—but it’s very hard to get reservations. The Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City (Tampa area) is wonderful and colorful. Quite a destination place. Terrific Cuban food. Been there about a century, I think. But those are a two hour drive—hardly local.

Hit the road
 

Unfortunately, you have to leave TV. Some places here have nice ambience but to enjoy a good meal you have to go to Tampa or Orlando. Marks looks nice enough but the food is not great. Nancy Lopez is good. Rosewood Plantation is very good.

FYI. Burns is west of downtown Tampa.

Another vote for Oscar Penn. Best food I ever had in the general area.

Angler's Club
 

Have you tried the Angler's Club. I am a member there and it is unmatched.

O'Shucks is my choice for fine dining

O'Shucks (301 in Wildwood)

:thumbup:

If y’all enjoy authentic French food, go to Le Cuisine in Ocala. Reservations are a must. We’ve been to France several times, and Le Cuisine rivals anything we’ve had in France. The owner/executive chef is from Lyon, and he is excellent! Another option is The Goblin Market in Mt. Dora. Another excellent choice. Enjoy!

Nice restaurant for outside seating but hardly first class.

Prima, Nancy Lopez, Marks in Ocala is one of the best Steakhouses around. Restaurant at the Equestrian center in Ocala.

We went to a Michelin star rated restaurant in Orlando and I was very disappointed. I received 3 scallops, which were tasty, and some steamed, but very bland kohlrabi. I have definitely had better meals at Legacy for much less money.

Rose Plantation or Wolfgang Puck. Both are excellent.

Thanks all for the great input. I made reservations at the Equestrian Center in Ocala. AND we tried Lopez CC Friday evening. Everyone really liked the food at Lopez and the atmosphere. We were able to sit outside with perfect weather. I’m going to get greedy and make another request. Is there a CC (restaurant) in TV that’s a little more on the fancy side than Lopez? Food was good at Lopez but I personally felt like I was sitting in the backyard of any old house that overlooked a golf course. Thanks.

Last time we went to Lopez, we sat in the room immediately to the right of the bar as you walk in...

IIRC, they were all high backed booths. No "this old house" vibe at all...

Sitting out on a patio is obviously no way to judge if a restaurant meets a first class requirement.

The Villages Gourmet Club website allows you to search our area for Michelin Guide rated restaurants. See section 4a of their Search Page.
There's quite a few!

Skip

Hmmm, it is for us. In our opinion, no outdoor dinning option bumps any restaurant from first class status. I can’t remember the last time we ate indoors at a restaurant.