Talk of The Villages Florida

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-   -   Napolinos Experience (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/napolinos-experience-348756/)

skippy05 03-24-2024 07:31 AM

Drive up 441 North just before Ocala to Pasta Faire in Belleview. For the money, you get a lot nicer dining experience, quality of food for very decent prices.

Catfishjeff 03-24-2024 07:39 AM

Trashing local businesses is something I totally disagree with. Surely you have something better to do with your time than to post negative comments about a business. All businesses have an off day or an off event but using social media to trash them is awful. Use your senior years to enjoy life and bring happiness to your family, friends and yourself.

retiredguy123 03-24-2024 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfishjeff (Post 2314911)
Trashing local businesses is something I totally disagree with. Surely you have something better to do with your time than to post negative comments about a business. All businesses have an off day or an off event but using social media to trash them is awful. Use your senior years to enjoy life and bring happiness to your family, friends and yourself.

So professional restaurant critics should all quit? I enjoy reading posts about the good and bad of local restaurants. If you own a business, you need to satisfy your customers and compete with other businesses or go out of business. What is wrong with transparency?

ChicagoNative 03-24-2024 07:54 AM

I’m surprised with as demanding as a large number of people are here, that the restaurant quality isn’t better. I’m not a big fan of buying tickets for trendy restaurants with snob appeal, “celebrity chefs”, and I hate foodie attitude. ( if I never hear “reduction”, “flavor profile”, or “mouth feel” again it’d be just fine with me.)

We had a couple good experiences when Napolinos was Chefs of Napoli, but have had a couple not-so-good experiences since. Everyone has different tastes as evidenced by the wide variety of opinions.

Just give me simple, good quality dishes and I’ll be happy. The entire restaurant industry has changed since Covid. We have a lot of portion controlled, cooking-out-of-a-can places now, unless you want to put out major bucks for one of the independent places. And doesn’t everyone know by now, especially here, that expensive doesn’t always equate to good?

ThirdOfFive 03-24-2024 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfishjeff (Post 2314911)
Trashing local businesses is something I totally disagree with. Surely you have something better to do with your time than to post negative comments about a business. All businesses have an off day or an off event but using social media to trash them is awful. Use your senior years to enjoy life and bring happiness to your family, friends and yourself.

Nothing like a bunch of geezers for complaining.

Shipping up to Boston 03-24-2024 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative (Post 2314924)
I’m surprised with as demanding as a large number of people are here, that the restaurant quality isn’t better. I’m not a big fan of buying tickets for trendy restaurants with snob appeal, “celebrity chefs”, and I hate foodie attitude. ( if I never hear “reduction”, “flavor profile”, or “mouth feel” again it’d be just fine with me.)

We had a couple good experiences when Napolinos was Chefs of Napoli, but have had a couple not-so-good experiences since. Everyone has different tastes as evidenced by the wide variety of opinions.

Just give me simple, good quality dishes and I’ll be happy. The entire restaurant industry has changed since Covid. We have a lot of portion controlled, cooking-out-of-a-can places now, unless you want to put out major bucks for one of the independent places. And doesn’t everyone know by now, especially here, that expensive doesn’t always equate to good?

You left out ‘explosion in your mouth’ Cringe

Stu from NYC 03-24-2024 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegfried (Post 2314858)
Worst still, the place looks like a Neapolitan bordello.

Hmm how many bordellos have you been too?

Stu from NYC 03-24-2024 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinricci (Post 2314899)
Who eats linguine and clam sauce with chicken parmigiana?

Peasants who dont know better?

retiredguy123 03-24-2024 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoNative (Post 2314924)
I’m surprised with as demanding as a large number of people are here, that the restaurant quality isn’t better. I’m not a big fan of buying tickets for trendy restaurants with snob appeal, “celebrity chefs”, and I hate foodie attitude. ( if I never hear “reduction”, “flavor profile”, or “mouth feel” again it’d be just fine with me.)

We had a couple good experiences when Napolinos was Chefs of Napoli, but have had a couple not-so-good experiences since. Everyone has different tastes as evidenced by the wide variety of opinions.

Just give me simple, good quality dishes and I’ll be happy. The entire restaurant industry has changed since Covid. We have a lot of portion controlled, cooking-out-of-a-can places now, unless you want to put out major bucks for one of the independent places. And doesn’t everyone know by now, especially here, that expensive doesn’t always equate to good?

One problem is that the servers work for tips and almost all customers tip the same amount regardless of the quality of the service. Some posters will even report on terrible service, but then say that they left a 20 percent tip.

caljeff 03-24-2024 08:16 AM

I go to Napolino's approximately once/week in Sunday's. I have sampled the majority of the menu down through the years. I can say that 99% of my experiences have been quite satisfactory. I enjoy both the culinary and table service offered

Shipping up to Boston 03-24-2024 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2314934)
One problem is that the servers work for tips and almost all customers tip the same amount regardless of the quality of the service. Some posters will even report on terrible service, but then say that they left a 20 percent tip.

I’m one of those weirdos. I uniformly give 20% regardless of food/service. It’s normally not waitstaff, it’s the kitchen so why short them. The ultimate FU is not going back and telling friends/fam same. Plus the whole in your face tip shaming culture we live in....for a few extra bucks, I avoid getting ‘the look’!

Normal 03-24-2024 08:32 AM

Generalized
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Catfishjeff (Post 2314911)
Trashing local businesses is something I totally disagree with. Surely you have something better to do with your time than to post negative comments about a business. All businesses have an off day or an off event but using social media to trash them is awful. Use your senior years to enjoy life and bring happiness to your family, friends and yourself.


I tend to agree with the OP’s position on Napolinos terrible food. I don’t think he or she was trashing every local business. Just this particular one. The food isn’t genuine, is over priced and the service is terrible. We don’t eat there anymore either. We even go out of our way to avoid their pizza and do Brooklyn’s or Rodello’s.

SHIBUMI 03-24-2024 08:34 AM

Restaurant eating
 
Over the years I have come to the conclusion that the food doesn't matter. Its really all about the company you are with. After some beer or wine your taste buds are shot anyway, BUT, its about the people you are with not the food. In the way you can eat anywhere and be happy.:bowdown:



Quote:

Originally Posted by xhippee (Post 2314727)
This was almost amusing. Went to Napolinos last night with another couple. I told the waitress I'd like chicken parm, with linguini and white clam sauce. She said it would be a $3 upcharge. I said ok. When it arrived 40 minutes later, the linguini was doused in a thick, white gravy...devoid of clams. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she said if I wanted clams in my clam sauce, I'd have to order it as a dinner. I actually laughed. First and last time for me there.


New Englander 03-24-2024 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Creepy (Post 2314741)
Every "restaurant" in the Villages is possibly the worst service and food I've ever had. I would rather eat a MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) from the Army Infantry.... including hospital and VA food. It's absolutely disgusting.

What malarkey!

JRcorvette 03-24-2024 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xhippee (Post 2314727)
This was almost amusing. Went to Napolinos last night with another couple. I told the waitress I'd like chicken parm, with linguini and white clam sauce. She said it would be a $3 upcharge. I said ok. When it arrived 40 minutes later, the linguini was doused in a thick, white gravy...devoid of clams. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she said if I wanted clams in my clam sauce, I'd have to order it as a dinner. I actually laughed. First and last time for me there.

Did you not know that they have been shut down twice in just a few weeks by the Health Department! I would not even go there.


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