[Bonny]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

Most of the time we split a meal or we do a 2 for $20/$25 and drink water/ice tea. Again, to each their own. Food to us is just that - food. It doesn't matter whether a couple gets a hamburger from McDonald's or a $52 dollar meal from wherever, the end byproduct is still the same.

Yep, us too. We can't eat a lot anymore. I always bring 3/4 of mine home. Good thing I love left overs.
FYI.... my dinner tonight was Taco Bell Nachos Supreme. $2.59

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Yep, us too. We can't eat a lot anymore. I always bring 3/4 of mine home. Good thing I love left overs.
FYI.... my dinner tonight was Taco Bell Nachos Supreme. $2.59

As the saying goes, "that's what I'm talking about"!!

[daca55]

Can't believe the discussion I am reading here. Bonny gives a little review of Guy's new restaurant which I thought was very good and people start talking about how pricy the food is and it's better to eat home than go out. I think some of you year round residents need to get out of TV and see what it really costs to eat out these days. I would much rather eat out than cook at home and I love home cooking but eatting out is more than just the food. It is meeting new people, relaxing with that special person and just doing something different. The menu sounds very good to me and the prices seem very reasonable. I can tell you that when the snow birds get down there this restaurant should do very well. I'm just saying.. ....

[bagboy]

Originally Posted by daca55

Can't believe the discussion I am reading here. Bonny gives a little review of Guy's new restaurant which I thought was very good and people start talking about how pricy the food is and it's better to eat home than go out. I think some of you year round residents need to get out of TV and see what it really costs to eat out these days. I would much rather eat out than cook at home and I love home cooking but eatting out is more than just the food. It is meeting new people, relaxing with that special person and just doing something different. The menu sounds very good to me and the prices seem very reasonable. I can tell you that when the snow birds get down there this restaurant should do very well. I'm just saying.. ....

You are right on several counts.

[PoolBrews]

My wife and I tried Guy's and came away very disappointed. It wasn't the price - although I agree the prices are higher than nearly every other restaurant in the area for what you get - it was the lack of flavor in the food, and the limited menu options.

We tried the garbage can nachos - appearance is amazing, and the way they are served is pretty cool. However they were bland, bland, bland.

We then tried the caramel apple bread pudding - who could possibly screw that up, right? Wrong - again, not much flavor - just OK.

We go out quite often (5 -6 times a week), and are looking for flavor and something special. Guy's did not provide either.

I have to say that the service was fantastic, and our server was enthusiastic - so they get points for that. However, drink prices were high as well, and no happy hour.

So - we had 1 appetizer, 1 desert, and 1 drink (not 1 drink each - only one of us got a drink), and our bill was a little over $35.

There are so many other good options out there, I fail to see how this restaurant with it's current menu will do well.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by lrvalley

My wife and I tried Guy's and came away very disappointed. It wasn't the price - although I agree the prices are higher than nearly every other restaurant in the area for what you get - it was the lack of flavor in the food, and the limited menu options.

We tried the garbage can nachos - appearance is amazing, and the way they are served is pretty cool. However they were bland, bland, bland.

We then tried the caramel apple bread pudding - who could possibly screw that up, right? Wrong - again, not much flavor - just OK.

We go out quite often (5 -6 times a week), and are looking for flavor and something special. Guy's did not provide either.

I have to say that the service was fantastic, and our server was enthusiastic - so they get points for that. However, drink prices were high as well, and no happy hour.

So - we had 1 appetizer, 1 desert, and 1 drink (not 1 drink each - only one of us got a drink), and our bill was a little over $35.

There are so many other good options out there, I fail to see how this restaurant with it's current menu will do well.

No happy hour yet, but I thought the drink prices were very good. $2.75 for well drinks, $3.75 for house wine and $4.25 for martinis.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by daca55

Can't believe the discussion I am reading here. Bonny gives a little review of Guy's new restaurant which I thought was very good and people start talking about how pricy the food is and it's better to eat home than go out. I think some of you year round residents need to get out of TV and see what it really costs to eat out these days. I would much rather eat out than cook at home and I love home cooking but eatting out is more than just the food. It is meeting new people, relaxing with that special person and just doing something different. The menu sounds very good to me and the prices seem very reasonable. I can tell you that when the snow birds get down there this restaurant should do very well. I'm just saying.. ....

You under estimate many of us year round residents. The majority of us travel extensively and do know what prices are like in other cities. Just a few weeks ago I was in NH for over a month and ate out frequently, we were in Manchester and Portsmouth and the quality of food was excellent and we had no problem paying for good food. When we were in Portsmouth We ate out in several great little restaurants and did not even look at the price because the food was excellent. We were in San Francisco and ate at one of the best Italian restaurants we have ever been to, and never bothered to look at the price.

The reason many of us eat at home is due to the lack of good restaurants serving excellent food, it is not the price of those meals, but the quality. Give us value for money and a restaurant will be full every night.

You are so right ........... when the snow birds get here every restaurant will be full .......... and that is basically why mediocrity in our restaurants is so accepted by the owner. They make their money in the winter season.

[Chatbrat]

Madelaine, you're soon right-we were in Highlands for 2 months--we forgot what really good food was after being in the bubble for 6 years--with great food price is not the criteria--a local pub "The Ugly Dog", put best restaurants here to shame

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

Madelaine, you're soon right-we were in Highlands for 2 months--we forgot what really good food was after being in the bubble for 6 years--with great food price is not the criteria--a local pub "The Ugly Dog", put best restaurants here to shame

I am sure you are right.

We all know where to find good food up North in all of our own old areas.

I don't think that anything but the market will change the type or quality of food served here. I don't like that anyone suggests that most people who live in The Villages do not know and appreciate good food or that they are cheap. I don't think that anyone, the developer or the people who now have leases at the country clubs will change much because they have adequate patronage.

I think that people who seek excellent food are living here, but not people who are willing to pay as much as some people are willing to pay for eating out, especially since many do it many times a week.

That does not mean they don't have the money.

I will repeat. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. Another thing that happens as we age, is that our tastes change and our appetite may drop. Many of us don't eat as much as we used to and are satisfied with simple meals. THAT DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE HERE HAVE POOR TASTE IN FOOD AND IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON IT.

[Chatbrat]

IMHO the problem here is people just don't settle for mediocrity, they praise it--we didn't get to where we are by being mediocre, I had to be the best in my field or someone else would take my place and my customers

[cavalier65]

First, the food was great. Basic hamburger and fries, plus, a Patty Melt. No problems. However the place is not managed very well as to seating and the kitchen.

In fact we were told by the Hostess that the kitchen cannot keep up with the orders, thus 4-5 tables were empty. After 15 min. or so they started seating people again. Hmmm...a 3/4 full restaurant cannot keep up with the orders? Not ready for primetime.

Once seated we ordered, then waited another 20+ min. to be served. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to which table food was delivered. Also, one dinner told me that she asked for the burger without a roll and that delayed the order. Go figure!

I thought Guy Fieri was a big city boy! This type of service is not acceptable even in The Villages.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by cavalier65

First, the food was great. Basic hamburger and fries, plus, a Patty Melt. No problems. However the place is not managed very well as to seating and the kitchen.

In fact we were told by the Hostess that the kitchen cannot keep up with the orders, thus 4-5 tables were empty. After 15 min. or so they started seating people again. Hmmm...a 3/4 full restaurant cannot keep up with the orders? Not ready for primetime.

Once seated we ordered, then waited another 20+ min. to be served. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to which table food was delivered. Also, one dinner told me that she asked for the burger without a roll and that delayed the order. Go figure!

I thought Guy Fieri was a big city boy! This type of service is not acceptable even in The Villages.

Glad to hear the food was good.

Start-ups are always difficult...........I'm assuming it will smooth out.

[cavalier65]

IRVALLEY the service is very slow. Wait time to get seated, even with a plethora of open tables, is 20 min at 1pm. The kitchen so slow that the hostess told us that they could not seat any additional customers for a while since the kitchen could not keep up with the orders. If one needs to make a movie time, go 1.5 hrs. ahead of time.

[Trayderjoe]

First, I will acknowledge drifting away from the theme of the original thread.

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I am sure you are right.

We all know where to find good food up North in all of our own old areas.

I don't think that anything but the market will change the type or quality of food served here. I don't like that anyone suggests that most people who live in The Villages do not know and appreciate good food or that they are cheap. I don't think that anyone, the developer or the people who now have leases at the country clubs will change much because they have adequate patronage.

I think that people who seek excellent food are living here, but not people who are willing to pay as much as some people are willing to pay for eating out, especially since many do it many times a week.

That does not mean they don't have the money.

I will repeat. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. Another thing that happens as we age, is that our tastes change and our appetite may drop. Many of us don't eat as much as we used to and are satisfied with simple meals. THAT DOES NOT MEAN PEOPLE HERE HAVE POOR TASTE IN FOOD AND IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON IT.

Totally agree with you Gracie

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

IMHO the problem here is people just don't settle for mediocrity, they praise it--we didn't get to where we are by being mediocre, I had to be the best in my field or someone else would take my place and my customers

The problem with such generalizations is that what one person finds to be mediocre, another may find the food tasty and enjoyable. Not everyone has had the same culinary experiences so while there is an opinion about the quality of the food, to broad brush a group of people because of an individual's opinion could offend people (you can count me in such a group).

I have had the benefit of dining around the country and have had my share of mediocre and excellent food, whether it be expensive or not. What I quickly learned after a job relocation, when I asked my new neighbors and work colleagues about restaurant recommendations, MY culinary preferences did not match the recommendations I received. Instead I started to ask about the service and the cleanliness of the restaurant then proceeded to try the various restaurants to see if there was something to my liking. Keep in mind too that even the service can be impacted by the local culture. I lived in the metropolitan area (near NYC) where everything was go go go, but when I went to North Carolina for a period, I had to adjust to a slower pace-it wasn't a function of poor service, but I had to realign my expectations. I loved the friendliness of the wait staff and got to enjoy the slower "style".

Another example, was when I had to travel to Victoria Texas to complete an audit. I was given the name of a local restaurant that served excellent food (it did by the way). Unfortunately I forgot the name of the restaurant, so I asked the front desk person at the hotel about some good restaurants in the area. The person was trying to be helpful and told me that there was a Country Buffet in the mall area behind the hotel and that there was a McDonald's down the road. I explained that I was on an expense account and was looking for something more upscale. She turned and said, "Oh, well there is a Burger King just down the road in the other direction". I did not denigrate the woman, although I do admit that I found it humorous to hear that Burger King would be considered upscale dining. Fortunately I remembered the name of the restaurant and when I gave it to her, she indicated that it was clear on the other side of town (like it would be a significant drive). I asked how long to get there, and was told 20 minutes, so I got directions and ended up enjoying some good local Tex-Mex.

I believe that we can agree to disagree on the quality of food that may be served at the various establishments within The Villages, but perhaps leaving the broad brush aside about the general populace and what they accept or not might be prudent.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by cavalier65

First, the food was great. Basic hamburger and fries, plus, a Patty Melt. No problems. However the place is not managed very well as to seating and the kitchen.

In fact we were told by the Hostess that the kitchen cannot keep up with the orders, thus 4-5 tables were empty. After 15 min. or so they started seating people again. Hmmm...a 3/4 full restaurant cannot keep up with the orders? Not ready for primetime.

Once seated we ordered, then waited another 20+ min. to be served. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to which table food was delivered. Also, one dinner told me that she asked for the burger without a roll and that delayed the order. Go figure!

I thought Guy Fieri was a big city boy! This type of service is not acceptable even in The Villages.

Didn't they just open this week??