[Garywt]

Originally Posted by JSR22

What is a steak tip?

Steak tips can come from two areas of the cow. One kind comes from tender, expensive cuts in the middle of the cow, such as the tenderloin. These tips are a superior cut but not what we consider to be a true steak tip, which should be a more pedestrian cut that is magically transformed into a desirable dish through marinating and cooking.

[Ecuadog]

Cafe Havana in Ocala serves the best Cuban Sandwich that I have had around here. They're open for breakfast and lunch, Monday thru Friday. Very popular and reasonable.

Cafe Havana
923 N Magnolia Ave
Ocala, FL 34475

[Worldseries27]

Originally Posted by ecuadog

cafe havana in ocala serves the best cuban sandwich that i have had around here. They're open for breakfast and lunch, monday thru friday. Very popular and reasonable.

Cafe havana
923 n magnolia ave
ocala, fl 34475

opens at 5pm. Reservation suggested. Reviews available
am is darrell's

[Villages Kahuna]

We’ve NEVER had those problems at O’Shucks. Great Friday fish fry, and great fresh shucked oysters!

[Travelhunter123]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

We’ve NEVER had those problems at O’Shucks. Great Friday fish fry, and great fresh shucked oysters!

Looks better now with a sloppy coat of paint on the outside
Too bad they don’t paint over the dirt on the inside
Stained floor
Sticky tables
Spotted utensils
Regular and documented health violations
One of my favorite restaurants

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

It is my experience that most Villagers mindset regarding restaurants, is quantity over quality.
Michelin Stars in TV are awarded for the cheapest bill, not the chefs expertise!

while I can agree with you on this, I also have to note part of the reason for that is the older people get the less they can tell with their tastebuds. a lot of senses go and you notice, tastebuds fade and they don't really notice it.

[HJBeck]

Originally Posted by MidWestIA

I like going to Restaurants that are not just the usual or are better than normal. Especially since they change hands here and good goes bad or mediocre. To start

- Braised Onion Ocala
- Los Magueyes Mexican Restaurant - Wildwood

Bern’s Steak House, outstanding but expensive. Almost to Tampa. No one has a wine list like they do. Everything is ala cart.

[NotGolfer]

Remember our community has been built in a primarily rural area of "the south". You probably won't find epicurian places to eat here....expecially if you're from a HUGE metro-area up north. I'm not a "foodie" but like good food....and I eat to live, not live to eat. I think you "might" find at the "fine-restaurants" that they too get their supplies from a Sysco type supplier. It's just the nature of most businesses these days.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by JoMar

The diversity of taste is why we have the diversity of places to eat. We all have prejudices and bias (you know, those places where we came from where the best restaurants are) so the market will always decide.

There is no diversity of places to eat here. That's the point. Every steak house and burger joint is pretty much interchangeable. Most restaurants here are national or regional chains, there are very few independent restaurants within the perimeter of the Villages. And most that are independent, get their sauce from a bag they cut open with a scissor and heat in a steam pan. Add a little ground beef and you can call it greek-style sauce.

If you want a pita sandwich it's greek style pita only, that slightly raised stuff. Lay it out flat and dump stuff on it, then roll it up. Instead of the middle-eastern style flat bread that you cut at the edge, separate the two sides, and stuff with the ingredients.

If you want tahini on your falafel, you'll need to ask me to make it. You can't get that combo at any restaurant in the Villages.

Curry that is NOT thai? Real genuine Indian curry? Gulab jamun? Samosas? Tandoori Chicken? Properly saffroned basmati rice? Fuggedaboudit. Go to Mt. Dora or Ocala, it doesn't exist in the Villages. Or learn how to make it.

This isn't even "gourmet" food I'm talking about. It's ordinary garden variety ethnic food. The closest bodega is in Winter Park. There /is/ one actual genuine taqueria, that's wayyyy over in Oxford. It's a food truck on 301 by County Line Road. I'll have to check it out next time I'm out that way. Very much missing having carne asada with chopped onion and cilantro with a squeeze of lime and a splash of habanero sauce on top.

[FredJacobs]

In my opinion the primary problem with restaurants in TV is the population. TV is a conglomeration of people from all over the U.S. - large cities, small towns and villages. If you are from New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, etc. you are accustomed to a wide variety of restaurants serving authentic cuisine and with more competition. In New York City, I once counted 28 Indian restaurants on the same block. Palates are different. People from the Midwest seem to be accustomed to eating their food lightly seasoned and spiced. I once to a friend from St. Louis to Nathan's in Coney Island and he felt that the hot dog was too spicy.

My point is that because there are so many different palates to please in TV, the restaurants have to prepare food somewhere in the middle. It's like having to choose between the Betty Crocker cook book or James Beard.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by FredJacobs

In my opinion the primary problem with restaurants in TV is the population. TV is a conglomeration of people from all over the U.S. - large cities, small towns and villages. If you are from New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, etc. you are accustomed to a wide variety of restaurants serving authentic cuisine and with more competition. In New York City, I once counted 28 Indian restaurants on the same block. Palates are different. People from the Midwest seem to be accustomed to eating their food lightly seasoned and spiced. I once to a friend from St. Louis to Nathan's in Coney Island and he felt that the hot dog was too spicy.

My point is that because there are so many different palates to please in TV, the restaurants have to prepare food somewhere in the middle. It's like having to choose between the Betty Crocker cook book or James Beard.

But McDonald's seems to do well all over the world.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

We’ve NEVER had those problems at O’Shucks. Great Friday fish fry, and great fresh shucked oysters!

Well if you sit inside they can use enough bug spray to kill them all including the dead ones that fall to the table.

[NewtoFL]

Why does every restaurant offer mashed potatoes? How about redskins, augratins or sweet potato casserole? I won’t order a steak if it comes with a lump of lukewarm mashed potatoes.

[Nemcfo]

Originally Posted by Garywt

Eating in the Villages is definitely different than the eating I have done all my life. Just the fact that no one knows what a steak tip is changes what I eat. I hate fancy and just want my food on my plate, places that smooth out the mash potatoes etc are not for me. Give me Red Sauce or The Back Porch any day.

Steak tips are a New England thing. They're on almost every menu. Hard to find in the rest of the country. Once in a while we've found them at BJ's. But no where at a restaurant.

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by Nemcfo

Steak tips are a New England thing. They're on almost every menu. Hard to find in the rest of the country. Once in a while we've found them at BJ's. But no where at a restaurant.

I am from NJ and have never heard of steak tips.