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Originally Posted by Michael 61

... I am an admitted “foodie” and also a pretty good cook myself. During my lifestyle visit, I checked out all the highest rated restaurants based on Yelp reviews. I thought Harvest/Blue Fin/Chop house were all “OK”, as well as Thai Ruby. The Mexican and Chinese places were awful. (We have excellent Mexican here in the West). For the TV being so large, where are the Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, Cuban, Cajun, German restaurants? Where are the French bistros and Spanish tapas places? ... I can’t want to move in a few months, but I will miss my restaurants.

You would fit right in with The Villages Gourmet Club. They know where the best ethnic and diversified restaurants are. Their huge database is Searchable too. They've been around since 2006. The reviews are screened and verified by the club leaders. Yelp posts glowing reviews from the restaurant owners themselves and even the nasty ones from the restaurant owners across the street. The reviews are not in chronological order. It's full of ads and sponsored top billing too. You can't rely on Yelp! (IMHO). Too easy to "stuff the ballot box" in your own favor and it highlights locations that buy advertising.

But keep an open mind. When 10 people try a new restaurant you might get 10 different experiences. Also early patrons find that the kinks have not been ironed out yet and might rate their experience poorly.

Besides Dining Out, the club has Dining In groups that create shared meals at home for about 8 members. Sounds like you would fit right in with either group.

The count right now is 111 full service restaurants INSIDE The Villages (well, golf cart accessible anyway). That's hard to beat in any metropolis.

The club's Info Page has all the details and when the next club meeting is (I think it's Oct. 2nd).

Welcome to The Villages, Michael.

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[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Joe Folker

I unfortunately have to totally agree with your comment.

??? Which comment???

[fdpaq0580]

Personally, I find most of the finest food alternatives to be C+ at best.
One of the reasons is that, using Mexican food as the example, Mexican food typically found in Colorado will be different from what you find in California, which is different from Arizona, which is different from Texas, etc. Regional ingredients, spices, typical sides vary. Excellent to one may be hideous to another. Also, authenticity takes a hit when you have cooks trained in one culture style trying to prepare food of another culture.
Come to TV for the lifestyle. Toss your foodie hopes or expectations out the window.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Joe Folker

I unfortunately have to totally agree with your comment.

Thanks but which comment?

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by stu from nyc

thanks but which comment?

# 44 chronologicallly

[RPDaly]

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Originally Posted by RPDaly

I was surprised that there is not one Indian restaurant near the Villages outside of traveling to Ocala. Has there ever been one?

Yup! Where Dutz's Sports Page used to be in La Plaza Grande. Originally Urban Curry, it folded. Then Urban Grill, slightly different Indian menu, that folded too. The one in Lake Square Mall, The Tandoor, also folded.

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[Regorp]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I am moving to TV in a few months from Colorado, and can’t wait! I am the biggest cheerleader for TV here in Colorado, encouraging all my friends who are approaching retirement to book a lifestyle visit. There is one thing I’m going to miss when I move however. TV lacks the restaurant diversity I am used to. I eat out most meals (breakfast and dinner), and enjoy locally owned and ethnic restaurants. I completely stay away from fast food and any chain restaurants. I am an admitted “foodie” and also a pretty good cook myself. During my lifestyle visit, I checked out all the highest rated restaurants based on Yelp reviews. I thought Harvest/Blue Fin/Chop house were all “OK”, as well as Thai Ruby. The Mexican and Chinese places were awful. (We have excellent Mexican here in the West). For the TV being so large, where are the Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, Cuban, Cajun, German restaurants? Where are the French bistros and Spanish tapas places? I was surprised how “meat and potatoes” and chain-restaurant heavy TV is. I guess I will need to drive to Orlando weekly for some restaurant diversity, or I will be cooking more at home myself. Please don’t think I am bashing the TV in anyway -I can’t want to move in a few months, but I will miss my restaurants.

We feel your pain. Just moved in and loved this Korean restaurant "Gobi", where you filled a plate with various food which is then cooked in front of you by "wizard" chef's. Is there a place like this here? Maybe I should have suggested they move from CT to TV.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

Personally, I find most of the finest food alternatives to be C+ at best.
One of the reasons is that, using Mexican food as the example, Mexican food typically found in Colorado will be different from what you find in California, which is different from Arizona, which is different from Texas, etc. Regional ingredients, spices, typical sides vary. Excellent to one may be hideous to another. Also, authenticity takes a hit when you have cooks trained in one culture style trying to prepare food of another culture.
Come to TV for the lifestyle. Toss your foodie hopes or expectations out the window.

I grew up in NM. The (New) Mexican food there varies considerably. What you find in Santa Fe, Taos, Rancho Chimayo or Northern NM in general is vastly different from what you will find in Southern NM. The chiles are different. Red or Green is the big question all over the state though. Tex-Mex is a whole 'nother story and I know little about it or what Mexican food tastes like in Arizona.

One of my favorite: Tomasita’s New Mexican Restaurant | Best New Mexican Food Restaurant Santa Fe | Best Margaritas

To me, Southern California offers the best food as fruits and vegetables grow there and nearby in Mexico year round. Fresh fish come out of the Pacific Ocean. Fresh ingredients make a huge difference not only in nutrition but in flavor. Ethnic food of just about any persuasion abounds.

My favorite in CA. I happen to have known the family since 1990. The are getting into other states now including New Jersey!
Wahoo's Fish Taco

Until quite recently every population in the world cooked with what they could grow, raise or otherwise was locally available.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Regorp

We feel your pain. Just moved in and loved this Korean restaurant "Gobi", where you filled a plate with various food which is then cooked in front of you by "wizard" chef's. Is there a place like this here? Maybe I should have suggested they move from CT to TV.

Lake county has a Mongolian bbq restaurant called Ichiban that is the closest I know of

[Just jimmy]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I am moving to TV in a few months from Colorado, and can’t wait! I am the biggest cheerleader for TV here in Colorado, encouraging all my friends who are approaching retirement to book a lifestyle visit. There is one thing I’m going to miss when I move however. TV lacks the restaurant diversity I am used to. I eat out most meals (breakfast and dinner), and enjoy locally owned and ethnic restaurants. I completely stay away from fast food and any chain restaurants. I am an admitted “foodie” and also a pretty good cook myself. During my lifestyle visit, I checked out all the highest rated restaurants based on Yelp reviews. I thought Harvest/Blue Fin/Chop house were all “OK”, as well as Thai Ruby. The Mexican and Chinese places were awful. (We have excellent Mexican here in the West). For the TV being so large, where are the Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, Cuban, Cajun, German restaurants? Where are the French bistros and Spanish tapas places? I was surprised how “meat and potatoes” and chain-restaurant heavy TV is. I guess I will need to drive to Orlando weekly for some restaurant diversity, or I will be cooking more at home myself. Please don’t think I am bashing the TV in anyway -I can’t want to move in a few months, but I will miss my restaurants.

Lots of great restaurants in ocala. About 40 minutes away. We tend to go out if tv for nicer restaurants

[lindaelane]

I regret moving here due to lack of restaurant diversity. I see people below talking about going to Ocala or Mt. Dora to get diversity. Minimum 50-mile round trip - for most it would be much more.

Our Chinese is not good. We have seafood, Italian (OK), Vietnamese (good), Mexican ( about 3 good ones), Deli, one Thai (not very good) and American. There is a place that serves "Greek" but the pita bread is thick and cold so I don't go there, and it is only one place. There are a few places in the lower part of Hwy 441 but travel on that "one main highway" is congested and unpleasant.

Yes, you can go on the long trip to Ocala for a special occasion to get French, Korean, Brazilian, Indian and authentic Hispanic (not Tex-Mex). But the drive is irritating (speeders, heat, etc.) and gas is likely to remain high. There is nothing like Middle Eastern, Columbian, Ethopian, etc. - cuisines I have enjoyed elsewhere - and there is no likelihood there ever will be that I can see.

I like many things about this place but the lack of restaurant diversity is something I wish I had known about.

Bonus: I have learned cook some new dishes.

[Darield]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I am moving to TV in a few months from Colorado, and can’t wait! I am the biggest cheerleader for TV here in Colorado, encouraging all my friends who are approaching retirement to book a lifestyle visit. There is one thing I’m going to miss when I move however. TV lacks the restaurant diversity I am used to. I eat out most meals (breakfast and dinner), and enjoy locally owned and ethnic restaurants. I completely stay away from fast food and any chain restaurants. I am an admitted “foodie” and also a pretty good cook myself. During my lifestyle visit, I checked out all the highest rated restaurants based on Yelp reviews. I thought Harvest/Blue Fin/Chop house were all “OK”, as well as Thai Ruby. The Mexican and Chinese places were awful. (We have excellent Mexican here in the West). For the TV being so large, where are the Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, Cuban, Cajun, German restaurants? Where are the French bistros and Spanish tapas places? I was surprised how “meat and potatoes” and chain-restaurant heavy TV is. I guess I will need to drive to Orlando weekly for some restaurant diversity, or I will be cooking more at home myself. Please don’t think I am bashing the TV in anyway -I can’t want to move in a few months, but I will miss my restaurants.

We moved from Colorado and the restaurant situation was also difficult for me. I saw someone listed Pho Saigon and that is one of our favorites. I was shocked that there was no German in TV. Although there is Indian in Mt. Dora and Ocala, I really miss the wonderful lunch buffets that they had in CO. German is just OK in Mt Dora, Hollerbachs in Sanford is much better but it is quite a hike.
I'm not quite sure why meat and potato chains are so popular here but not my husbands and my favorite either. Colorado has wonderful Mexican. We have found a few descent Mexican restaurants here. There is a lot so you will just have to experiment.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

I regret moving here due to lack of restaurant diversity. I see people below talking about going to Ocala or Mt. Dora to get diversity. Minimum 50-mile round trip - for most it would be much more.

Our Chinese is not good. We have seafood, Italian (OK), Vietnamese (good), Mexican ( about 3 good ones), Deli, one Thai (not very good) and American. There is a place that serves "Greek" but the pita bread is thick and cold so I don't go there, and it is only one place. There are a few places in the lower part of Hwy 441 but travel on that "one main highway" is congested and unpleasant.

Yes, you can go on the long trip to Ocala for a special occasion to get French, Korean, Brazilian, Indian and authentic Hispanic (not Tex-Mex). But the drive is irritating (speeders, heat, etc.) and gas is likely to remain high. There is nothing like Middle Eastern, Columbian, Ethopian, etc. - cuisines I have enjoyed elsewhere - and there is no likelihood there ever will be that I can see.

I like many things about this place but the lack of restaurant diversity is something I wish I had known about.

Bonus: I have learned cook some new dishes.

We find Kayame (Chinese/Thai) and Sunrise (Chinese) to be good. Do not expect to see Columbian or Ethiopian or a good Middle Eastern restaurant to ever open or be sucessful if they did.

We are going to Ocala more and more.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by fishon

We certainly are diversified.
We have all levels of well to do white people.
Sheesh!

Lots of Caucasian people here because they wanted to come but as far as I know there is no discrimination being practiced here. Are you saying there is?