Talk of The Villages Florida - Just had to post on Mezza Luna

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- Restaurant Discussions (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/)

- - Just had to post on Mezza Luna (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/just-had-post-mezza-luna-167835/)

Another "attaboy" for Mezza Luna. We've eaten there many times and never had a bad meal or really poor service. We've had inexperienced waitpersons on a couple of occasions, but politeness and patience go a long way in making it a pleasant evening.

IMHO, in my six years here I have eaten at exactly three restaurants where the food was good and service was excellent.
They are Nancy Lopez, Athens and Sonrise cafe..
Period.

Keep your expectations low or eat at home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguyintv (Post 1135287)

Where are all the posters who were singing the praises of this joint after it opened. How about Bonny?

We were just recently and had the pizza. It was yummy and service was great. No complaints !

Quote:

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1135087)

I am SO glad that when I am hungry for something I like, I can cook it, and I don't mind cooking it, and it tastes just the way I like it. I am pretty sure that most seasonal residents NEVER cook at home. But we love them anyway.

Italian food cooked perfectly must be absolutely heavenly. Me. I like Carrabas.

Do you really believe that most seasonal residents NEVER cook at home?

My (italian) wife and I agree with you about Carrabba's (especially MAMA MANDOLA�S SICILIAN CHICKEN SOUP).

Carrabba's has always been good-haven't been to the one near the Villages-one good thing about chain restaurants is consistency--one is as good or as bad as every other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1135087)

One of the wonderful things about this place is that you can much more easily relocate to another part of town. Homes that are clean and fairly priced sell quickly.(EVEN without a realtor) There are tons of strong men to move you far more cheaply than where we were from. AND there are homes for sale in every part of town. Four years ago today, there was not ONE home built south of 466A. I think that in a short time supply and demand will even out. What is tricky that there is enormous business for only three months out of the year all over Florida.

As to the decent restaurant, there is a fair chance that the location will someday have one that pleases a lot, never all, people. But if a restaurant is struggling and not doing well, they still are in the contract of the lease and have to pay it out. One thing that people fail to bring up is that very, very, few of the restaurants charge nearly as much as those back home. EVEN though we know the ones back home are perfect, prepare wonderful food, are close to where you live, know how to cook your favorites and are now a thousand miles away.

I am SO glad that when I am hungry for something I like, I can cook it, and I don't mind cooking it, and it tastes just the way I like it. I am pretty sure that most seasonal residents NEVER cook at home. But we love them anyway.

Italian food cooked perfectly must be absolutely heavenly. Me. I like Carrabas.

Wonderful response Gracie! As the saying goes, you can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time.. Err, was that fool people lol. Some will not like the food, service, wait, bill, seating, temperature, noise, etc, but one should take this as a side to a story and than see for themselves. Out of the thousands that eat out their will be some that will not like it and speak out more than others. Others love it and say nothing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguyintv (Post 1135614)

Carrabbas is as bad or worse than most Italian Restaurants in the area. The Chefs of Napoli is the best around.

I went to Chefs of Napoli and the Eggplant Parm was the worst version of it I ever tasted. It was thin boiled strips of eggplant with a very sweet tomato sauce poured over.

Never again!

Giovanni's or Pasta Faire are so much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnglishJW (Post 1135857)

Do you really believe that most seasonal residents NEVER cook at home?

My (italian) wife and I agree with you about Carrabba's (especially MAMA MANDOLA�S SICILIAN CHICKEN SOUP).

And they brought back the Johnny Rocco salad (I'm sure I have that name wrong) with the shrimp and seared scallops. It's so good you don't even need the dressing on it.

Hmm, tomorrow... lunch...

We went to Mezza Luna last week. They were crowded. 3 large parties. Service was a little slow but not bad. The food was good. No complaints. A wise woman once told me "there are people in this world who would complain about the food and service at "The Last Supper".

Quote:

Originally Posted by newguyintv (Post 1135614)

Carrabbas is as bad or worse than most Italian Restaurants in the area. The Chefs of Napoli is the best around.

We love Chefs of Napoli...the best! Also Giovanni's is pretty good. But Mezza Luna, pretty bad.

Taco Bell on 466. Love it. Went there the other night, and the service was excellent. Free refills on drinks, also. The best anniversary dinner, yet, AND no tipping!

Agree with MAXMAN! Similar experiences with service/food.

We also enjoy Carrabas, Chefs of Napoli, and Giovannis. I would not call Carrabas true Italian, but I love the mussels and pork chops. Chefs of Napoli is a little cramped for space. We have been there 3 or 4 times (including last New Years Eve) and never had a bad meal.

My wife and I went to the Millenia Mall on Tuesday and had an excellent lunch at Brio. I had Gorgonzola crusted lamb chop in a marsala wine sauce and my wife had Lasagna Bolognese. They served scrumptious olive oil infused flat bread crackers along with a nice hard crusted Italian bread (missing from Mezza Luna). We both also enjoyed their selection of wine by the glass.

Quote:

As I said before, I rarely complain about service. It has to be really bad. However in all fairness to Mezza Luna, I have eaten at the bar during this past summer and had a good meal and service. The place was empty that day.

I ran into some friends at City Fire last night. They just got done eating at Mezza Luna. They said there was a nice crowd and their meals and service were very good.