For some a trip to Orlando or Tampa is worth it to satisfy their need for a high end restaurant. For many they won't go to any restaurant unless it is golf cart accessible. Yesterday (Sunday Aug 31st), Bob Evans was swamped with many seniors taking advantage of coupons that offered a buy one entrée get the second for free. When we moved here the most expensive premier home available was about $200k. Now there are homes in the million and up range and they seem to be selling. My point is, if there is a significant year round demand for the high end restaurants we will probably see them start showing up.

I seem to recall that this kind of question about what residents would like to see here in the Villages was on the annual survey.

High End Chain Restaurant
 

My daughter works for a high-end developer. I asked her why we couldn't get a Crate and Barrel in our area, and her response was interesting. She said when high end chain restaurants or retailers are requested to develop in an area they do very extensive research. In order to get PF Chang for example, they had to do multiple fly-overs the area scoping out the housing and retail establishments. One of the things they look at is the length of the residential driveways....the longer the driveway, the more expensive the home. If that really is important criteria, The Villages will not qualify for high end restaurants!

I thought this tread was about high-end restaurants............not low end chains.

You, Dewilson58, are the perfect example of why I have been resistant to buying in The Villages. I have just made my first and last post on this forum.

Don't get upset about one individual's comments. Just like anywhere else, we have diverse opinions and diversity in how those opinions are expressed. I'm sorry you were offended but TV is truly a wonderful place. There are just a few folks whom you will fid offensive. Give us a try.

Every September, there is a dining event for the entire month. It is called Orlando Magical Dining. Many of the Orlando high end restaurants offer a special 3 course meau for $35. It is an excellent way to try some of the places you have never been.

Don't allow someone with a different opinion to deter you from posting and learning from this thread. We have benefited so much from the information shared. Do I agree with everyone? Absolutely not and there are a few I personally don't open the link knowing my very normal blood pressure reading will escalate.

There are over 100,000 people in The Villages and I would guess the majority do not post of this forum. Being resistant to buy because of this forum would be very sad. Please attend a preview or rent a place. In our few times in The Villages we have chatted with some great people. Not all have the same opinion as we may have, but that's what make the conversation so interesting. As we told our children, in many instances there is no right or wrong and it's simply a difference of opinion. How boring life would be if we were all the same.

One should not base a decision like moving to TV soley on what someone said on a blog like TOTV........................

Bogie, you're right. I am pretty sure that no retirement destination comes with a guarantee that everyone will agree with everyone else and that a-holes are denied access.

The Villages is not a personality-restricted private club. Rather, it is a melting pot of mostly old farts, warts and all.

:agree: & don't believe anyone would. :thumbup:

I had one of these hollar at me for waiting, in my cart, for a car to pass thru a gate. Even when you point out what they are, they remain non-believers.:laugh:

Please read back on a lot of his (her?) posts. When we type things...without body English and facial expressions, thoughts can be taken wrong.

There are those, but not too many, that I know when I see their avatar name ....here comes trouble. But I haven't ever thought that of DeWilson.

When I first started posting years ago, I got my feelers hurt too, but you will miss so much if you don't just hang in and throw it back and forth.

I'm a proud Gracie follower. She has corrected me and recommended to me; and I've learned to enjoy TOTV because of her and many others who really care about the advice they give. Like I said: Give us a try.

:BigApplause:

Actually, Quiltinggal, I found your post rather negative toward TV and am not surprised someone was offended by it. It was a bit snarky.

I would not make a decision about my retirement residence based on a blog or forum. I have rented in The Villages for 2 years. We have numerous close friends who live in The Villages...some of them for as long as 10 years. Last year we rented in another central Florida community to help us make a well-informed decision. If I sounded "snarky" or offended anyone, I apologize. As I have read on here many times, The Villages is not for everyone. It has a lot to offer. I just don't think it is for us.

I love it here............I hate to see anyone not have the same love. I smoke cigars, you quilt..........we are all different and what I think is cool is how TV is such a great melting pot.

Good luck with your journey...........if it ends up back in TV, I'll keep my smoke away from your quilts.

:D:D

Not to highjack this thread (LOL)...but Ocala has a restaurant that is very similar to Ruth Chris:
Mark's Prime Steakhouse :: Home

Doug, I'm from NY and I agree. Lots of folks talk the talk.

Dress Codes
 

After looking at 11 pages of comments... and have been to many restaurants in The Villages... I do wonder if we have enough dinners that are willing to take their hats off and shorts off and wear respectable dress attire or business attire? This according to the Ruth Crist web sites.. the preferred dress code... so far not that I have observed even in our nicer places to eat here... this all goes into their surveys I would be sure!

Ate there twice and IMO, white table cloths don't make it high end. Steaks were no better than served at Longhorns for less money.

There was a thread not too long ago about a rumor that Sam Snead's Tavern was coming to Brownwood.....I am OK with that:mmmm:

I

I don't know about other folks but I'm from Texas and I can even tell you if it's grass fed or corn fed, even what breed of steer it was cut from. :a20::a20::a20:
Just kidding but I do know a good steak when I eat it.