No, but a car is a lot safer and cooler.

Disclaimer - I’m by no means saying this is my personal #10 list - it’s the top ten when you sort by highest rated by folks who have posted reviews.

Yelp missed the mark by a wide margin. I have eaten in most of these and only 3 or 4 are ones I would recommend.

And there are many more restaurants to choose from if you drive to Orlando but the point of the post was to list restaurants "inside" the bubble and golf cart accessible.

My brother in law judges restaurants by price inexpensive good when they issue coupons even better.

I don't agree with the ordering, and there are others I would put higher on the list, but I've been to six of these and would/do go back plus three more I have heard are good but haven't made it to yet.

Especially since the Lady Lake PD station is on the way there.

I like this thread because I like limiting the choices to golf cart accessible. In eight years owning a home in the Villages we have only eaten outside the bubble using our car once. Everyone’s list reflects their unique tastes and mine is no exception, focusing on places that serve fish/seafood or have low carb choices.
1) Sakura (Shushi take-out)
2) Costal Del Mar
3) BLUE Fin
4) Bone Fish
5) Lopez Legacy
6) Chop House
7) Ay Jalisco
8) Naldos
9) Island Fin Polk
10) RJ Gators (always get the She Crab soup and blackened fish with rice and beans)
Honorable mention - Americanos, Back Porch, Edna’s, Tropical Smoothie, Fenney Grill
Bummed they closed - Crispers, Demshires
Totally dropped off list over the years - Lighthouse, VKI
Worst ever - Augustine’s 1812 (now closed) and Sawgrass
Looking forward - New FMK restaurant in Spanish Springs

I’m sure there are other good places we haven’t been to including the other FMK run restaurants and Country Clubs.

Stop taking short cuts in neighborhoods going to SS. Take Rio Grande to left at delmar to downtown. We dint need 3 cars per minute past our houses. Not needed.stop

For those that mentioned Trip advisor - I just did the same thing on that site - sorted by highest rated - Here is their top ten, very different list:

1) Red Sauce
2) Legacy - Nancy Lopez CC
3) Glenview CC
4) Square 1
5) Amerikanos
6) Cane Garden CC
7) Johnny Rockets
8) Bonefish
9) VKI
10) Thai Ruby

Wow very surprised.

In no particular order

Kungfoo
Havana
Napolinos

Yelp claims they don't manipulate reviews.

That said, a Federal Court has ruled the have the right to favor those who advertise on Yelp.

If they don't do it, I wonder why they bothered to defend against the court action?

Court Rules Yelp Can Manipulate Reviews

I've only been in TV for 2 years, but I've tried every restaurant in the squares and most around TV.

The best meal I've had in TV was at Augustine's 1812.

The worst meal I've ever had in Florida, was at Lighthouse.

I don't know who had the idea to give FMK a virtual monopoly in TV, but they've managed to bring TV food to a new low. I'm amazed they stay in business.

Naldo’s is now Tequila Cantina. New menu too.

I'm a fan of Poke and was happy to see them open. Food is fresh and delicious. Not much ambiance though. More like a fast food atmosphere. We always take it to go...

Bummer, haven’t been there since early May. Used to really like the crab quesadillas that Naldo’s had : (
That location can’t stay constant, first lost Crispers, which we really liked, and now Naldo’s. Looks like we are back to Ay Jalisco as the go to Mexican joint.

I have to agree about Lighthouse - I went there twice last year on my lifestyle visits and wasn’t impressed either time. I decided to return this week, as I read the owners are going to try and improve the place after selling Augustine’s. It was even worse than I remember. I really want to like this place, as it has a great location and view. I just wish they would “up’ their game with their menu and quality of seafood, this place could be the “jewel” of the villages.

Reviews
 

This is a good place to find reviews. The Villages Gourmet Club Restaurant Review Site There are 900 restaurants reviewed. You can click the link for only The Villages to shorten the list.

I agree the TV Gourmet Club website is extensive and only members (must be a Village residents) can post. There's no anonymous reviews or general comments like "Great Place 5 Star" like you see on Yelp, Trip Advisor and Google. This site is a lot more unbiased and believable. We use it a lot.

Skip

This is great - I’ll check it out for sure

Seven or eight years ago it was our number one go to place, excellent seafood and service at reasonable prices. Suddenly it started a slow and steady decline that still seems to be finding a floor? Not even on our list of places to consider anymore. If we want to sit outdoors and have a nice view of Lake Sumter and Riley Grove across the lake, we go to RJ Gators.

How Johnny Rockets gets on any top 10 list is beyond me.
Food is awful.
Even grandson didn't like it, and he considers McD's as fine dining! :icon_wink:

Costal Del Mar and Harvest

The last time I went to Amerikano's, they served wine in a stemmed plastic glass. I drink cheap wine at home, but at least I use a real glass.

We’ve only eaten there twice, so weren’t really familiar with the menu, so be sure to at least check it out first before giving up on them. I’ve read patrons are happy so far. Could be some of the same items are still on the menu, if not all.

I totally agree with you. Not the list of 10 but what you show is missing.

My favorite is Prima Italian Steak in Brownwood.

Also like:
Bonefish Grill
Thai Ruby
Havana CC
Kung Fu Chef

In its hay day we used it a lot, then review became stale
Problem is rarely do you see updated reviews, many are very old, not up to date. Maybe their members have dropped in being as active returning to restaurants that have been reviewed in the last 6 months. If a review hasn’t been in the last 6 months or less, I Don’t count on it to be reliable

I have never been to any of these so I guess none of our favorites are on the list. Some of our favorites are Red Sauce, The Back Porch, Glenview, Belle Glade and Cody’s Brownwood if they are having a good night.

Same, liked it when we were first down 8 years ago, with the owners being from New England they did a good job. I think they forgot what they knew about New England seafood. Did not realize they sold Augustine’s, when did that happen?

Augustine’s was just sold a few months ago - Closed now - Will reopen soon as a new restaurant, owned by the FMK group.

Will be Italian and should open in November. Extensive renovation.

True, with a limited membership and over 100 restaurants in The Villages alone, you won't see new reviews every month on each and every restaurant.

Also when a chef leaves abruptly, the ratings can go from 13 down to 7 in no time.

It is what it is. Still a great reliable honest local resource.

Skip

Augustine’s wasn’t sold, it was closed. A new FMK restaurant is slated to be opening in that location this fall. Won’t be a seafood place since Costal Del Mar is also in the square. Looking forward to the new dinning option in Spanish Springs.

Whoops, got interrupted during the post and when I cam back to finish it others had already said the same thing.