It was never the "Nancy Lopez Restaurant". It started as Lopez Legacy but Nancy took her name off it only months after it was open. I presume for liability reasons. John McDonough, owner, had to have menus, license, website and signage changed a long time ago. It's been just "Legacy Restaurant" for many years. Still is.
She licenses her name, and gets a fee, for the Country Club part only, which is separate from the restaurant business.

Skip

For geographical clarity it has long been known as The Legacy at Nancy Lopez CC.

This nit picking has to stop! :)

It's always been Lopez to us!

There is a reason that they are a dying breed.

Nice Restaurant
 

Romantic Restaurant Rose Plantation in Fruitland Park, they have a private room if you want.

Miz Kathy's Sweet Shop on 301 in downtown Wildwood is an excellent choice.

Heavy on the DARK in some parts of the restaurant - great food, expensive, not too far ... good recommendation.

While I agree that places like Southern Cotillion, Rose Plantation, Chop House and others are fine restaurants, they do not seem at all like what the OP was asking form. They tend to be noisy, crowded, and/or bright. Music?

Got to high praise the Rose Garden Resturant! No shorts or tee shirts, beautiful old Florida home, good food and ambiance, worth the trip to Fuitland Park!

Mezza Luna in the Colony Plaza. Great food and quite atmosphere! They even gave us a free dessert when we dined for our anniversary!

Ok, I think the part of "occasionally" would like to have a nice, quiet place to eat dinner in the secret word. No restaurant can survive on "Occasional" patrons. Like it or not, those days are gone. But wishful thinking does not cost anything. Good Luck in your search.

With a captive audience of 160,000 seniors, if 10% are looking for something romantic, that is 16,000, if each goes out once per month that is about 500 customers per day for an "occasional" romantic diner for one restaurant.

Re: Romantic restaurants outside the bubble .... Pisces Rising, Mt Dora at sunset, sit outside on the deck.

Mark's Prime Steakhouse Ocala
Braised Onion Ocala

Both very nice for dinner

There was a place near the eastern highway that once served in a darken area. However, I don't recall where is is! Could it be near South Elroy?

Other than the Rose Plantation, there are no "quiet" restaurants in The Villages. We had high hopes for the Chop House, but the tables are so crowded together that the noise level is too high. We went with a group of 10, and they crowded all of us into a corner booth! We could barely move, and there was not enough room on the table for all the dishes, glasses, and silverware. Not a very good first impression. It's all about making money, not the customers. If we're celebrating a special occasion or we want a quiet dinner with a romantic atmosphere and exceptional food, we go to the Capital Grille, either at the Milennia Mall or on International Drive in Orlando. Yes, it's "pricey," but well worth it for the wonderful steaks, seafood, and desserts. The Villages has nothing like it.

Still can't fathom how any one can praise Mezzaluna. Sent uncooked fish back and left, Wife's sister had a stromboli that was stale.

MezzaLuna
 

I eat at MezzaLuna frequently and I like their food. Chat I lived near you in NJ.

I'm spoiled coming from an area where restaurants were all mostly 5 star. I haven't found a good restaurant in TV land, but will try some of the one's mentioned that are outside of the bubble. The Rose Plantation sounds interesting.

Lived in Chatham & Chester Twp-had 5 acres in Chester--too beautiful & too expensive ,to retire-sold my businesses in 95' & never looked back

Is Rose Plantation usually quiet and romantic? I only ate there one time, and it seemed like the tables on the porch were very close together, and I remember it as being pretty busy and noisy, and not romantic.

I think all they need is having a section for family with small kids away from the adult section. These kids are having kids and they run wild without parent control. We saw them climb on a table in Olive Garden and broke wine glasses (2) Mom was 18 or younger and told server Ops sorry. The same night the cook came out carrying a 2 year old out from the kitchen and returned the child to the parents who were dumbfounded on were the kid was. Oh well

I hope you are not recommending the Olive Garden as a quiet and romantic restaurant for the OP to go to.

I know the OP is asking for quiet and romantic dinning options when going out to dinner, but I have to say that when my better half and I want a true quiet and romantic dinning option we grill our own dinner and enjoy the sunset view from our birdcage while sitting next to our pool. With the exception of a really special place we used to go to on the Island of St. John (called Ms. Lucy's) , there is no place we enjoy more for a quiet and romantic dinner.

Try Rose Plantation

All my Favorites, Ms Kathies great recommendations

:bigbow::bigbow:

Bern's Steak House in Tampa should fill the bill !