Personally, I think an upscale steak restaurant should serve a USDA Prime filet mignon. But, you can't get one at Prime 3, Mark's, or the Chop House. If you really want an upscale steak restaurant, you need to go to Ruth Chris near Orlando. All of their beef is USDA Prime. Although, the other three restaurants are good, I probably wouldn't order a steak because it wouldn't be as good as the steaks you can buy at Publix.

Goblin Market in Mt. Dora, this is the link to their menu Just a moment... is very good. Great food, great ambiance, excellent wait staff, quiet and genteel. It is located down a narrow back street off Donnelly St.

$$$ not inexpensive, but worth a try.

Turner’s in Leesburg is outstanding.

High prices do not make a restaurant "upscale." There is the quality of the food, the quality of the ambiance, the quality of the service, etc.

In Ocala, there is a family run French restaurant - La Cuisine.

In Silver Springs, I recommend Mesa de Notte - an Italian restaurant with a slight latin accent.

Here is another vote for Prime 3 in Leesburg. Our experience at Wolfgang Puck has been variable.

Paulie’s Oaks on 44

352-748-0050

Awesome food and service

Mission Inn
 

Mission Inn in Howie in the Hills is our favorite.

Mark's Prime, Stirrup's (at World Equestrian Center) and Katya in Ocala

Legacy at Lopez GC in The Villages

Yes, and be sure to reserve the dessert room, too. Also ask for a tour of the kitchen and wine cellar! Fantastic!!

If you’re talking no shorts etc., you won’t find this in The Villages

Must be a typo.

At the most expensive restaurants in the United States, the average is less than $300/person.

... but everyone on this site will think you're cool, because you're fancier than everyone else.

10 Most Expensive Restaurants In The United States | SecretMenus

Though it’s a national chain, the Capital Grille in Orlando and Tampa is much more “upscale” than any restaurant here in The Villages. Service is impeccable, food is consistently delicious and well prepared, and it’s worth the price—unlike the food at the Rose Plantation and some of the other Villages restaurants mentioned here. We go there for all our special occasions. Highly recommend.


QUOTE=kdolence;2259670]I recommend Costal Del Mar in Spanish Springs. Food and atmosphere is excellent.[/QUOTE]

Upscale/shorts Do not equate.

$1,000??
 

I can get a great meal on a Princess cruise at the Chef's Table for only $100 each. The crystal curtain around the circular table cost 3 million alone. The flatware is gold. Some paired drinks are included for no additional cost...

Try The Goblin Market in Mt. Dora; Le Cuisine in Ocala; The Chef’s Table in Winter Ga
 

Try Goblin Market in Mt. Dora, Le Cuisine in Ocala, Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, The Chef’s Table in Winter Garden. All require reservations. Paulie’s at the Oaks on 44 (Continental CC) is the best just outside TV. We’ve found Nancy Lopez in TV to be good. Happy dining!

…or Tampa. Some really nice places.

Ipanema Brazilian Steakhouse in Ocala. I suggest you get a reservation because the restaurant is always busy. Out of the Box experience, delicious, and fun.

Food very good but not what we would call upscale.

Also very good but not upscale I am afraid

If you feel like a drive, Bern's Steak House in Tampa. DELICIOUS and two can get out of there around $300.

upscale restaurants
 

I agree with comments for Marks Steakhouse in Ocala, also Turners in Leesburg.

Marks Steakhouse in Ocala!

Goblin Market in Mt Dora

As it has been said many times throughout this thread, there are no upscale restaurants here in TV. I have gone to several who project themselves as upscale. I've gone on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day expecting some sort of an upscale experience. But then in walks Villagers in shorts, baseball caps , sweatshirt type hoodies, tee shirts, you name it. I KNOW you're retired! So am I, but we will never have that special ambiance in any restaurant if you can't even dress appropriately on Christmas.

Stirrups at the Equestrian Center is devine for both dinner and brunch. Don't miss the blueberry pancakes with in house made blueberry compote. The lobby alone at Christmas is worth the trip.

I guess there are all kinds. Go to restaurants for good food and service. Do not care what others wear and shorts are the attire of the day in the summer and also warm weather.

I used to think we were a generation that were brought up with decent manners and some basic clues, as to what's appropriate and what's not.

A visit to any "upscale" TV restaurant, always proves I'm mistaken. The last time I decided I wanted a decent burger and went to the Chop House, I was surrounded by jerks in bathing suits, flip flops, ratty T shirts and baseball caps, talking on their cell phones.

TV may be a retirement community, but I'm pretty sure the Chop House wasn't intended to be a "beach bar".

I swear those giant The Villages signs you go under as you enter TV, have some magical force field, that sucks out people's common sense and injects them with the mentality of a 21 year old. I wouldn't mind if they could inject me with the body of a 22 year old, but I grew out of the frat party mentality, a lot time ago.

Chrstmas Day in TV the only restaurants open are Asian and couple of low end chains. What upscale restaurant do you eat at Christmas Day?

Amelia's did a fabulous job at Christmas Dinner.

I'm fairly certain that's considered part of The Villages.

I'm not sure "up scale" would be the first word I'd use, but the food was excellent, the service was fabulous and the place was decorated very tastefully and appropriately.

From their website:

"Amelia's, Casual yet delectable"

"Dress Code: Casual"


What did you expect? Tuxedos and red dinner jackets?

Upscale restaurant
 

We really love Lopez Legacy. The food is very good, as is the service. Second to that is Harvest in Brownwood.

Prime Three in Leesburg

There isn’t one here because the villages takes a percentage of money from every business within the bubble. Doesn’t make it a very attractive business opportunity.

While certainly not the normal for most upscale places. it’s not unheard of for high end Michelin restaurants. For example French Laundry. I flew up to Napa for one night just to eat there because someone got me a reservation. The base price for one person, just for food in 350 add on the wine pairing and it’s nearly 1000 for one person. I’ve eaten at several Michelin restaurants over the world and 500 for one is not bad. Having said that, there’s no place anywhere close to TV that would entail spending that kind of money for “upscale”. I like Kres Steakhouse in Orlando or Eddie V’s. Prime in Leesburg is fine if you’re looking for closer. It’s too bad TV doesn’t have anything.

Turners is DELICIOUS!

I also like Harry’s. I’ve been to the one in Ocala.

I haven’t had dinner yet at Rose Plantation, but I like that they have a dress code (an upscale restaurant usual requirement). Their lunch was satisfactory. I’m hoping dinner will delight my taste buds more, especially since we’re going there for our anniversary. By the way, if one doesn’t like where they get seated, I’d recommend asking for another table before you sit down.

I agree with everything you said and I want to add so comments. The last time I went was on a Tues. There were 8 of us celebrating a 70th birthday. When i made the reservation weeks in advance i asked for a specific table and was told i would have to pay $10 per person to reserve a particular table. I refused to pay $80 to make a reservation so we took out chances. Wehen we got there were the only people in the restaurant but for some reason the service was still very slow and the food was terrible. Prime rib was dark brown and very salty, like it had been soaked in packaged au just. Other meals were equally as bad. That was my second and last time at the Rose Plantation.

I believe this is the reason behind the lack of upscale dining and stores. Several years ago I had an excellent doctor in TV who, when I asked why he was leaving, told me it was due to the continual raising of rent on his business. (He is now outside the bubble). But I don't think that will change anything because the houses keep selling and selling and the price range is affordable to the average buyer trying to get away from the cold and northern taxes.

It has not always been like this. 20yrs ago when we came to TV there were some good restaurants, not necessarily upscale, but the food and ambiance was good. But I don't think things will change while the mindset is on selling homes.

Yes, shorts are the uniform for TV, but there are shorts and then there are dress shorts. Big difference, and big difference what you wear with your shorts. A sleeveless undershirt or a collared golf shirt, open flip flops or socks and casual shoes. I also think the older men are inclined to throw on a pair of shorts, whereas the professional men one sees are wearing dress pants and shirts with socks and shoes probably due to the fact they spend all day in their office in the air conditioning!

This an urban legend. Disproven here many times.

What does selling homes have to do with someone/anyone opening a restaurant?

The problem with upscale restaurants is that they are too expensive. Even the mediocre restaurants are pricing themselves out of business.