[rubicon]

My wife and I are not inclined to eat out often. However so as not to appear to be non-sociable we will occasionally go with "the group".

In contrast there are some retirees who like to party hardy and this issue of a "good restaurant is important.

As to the OP's question I tend to agree. I also do not believe that a high price equates to a good meal. I found a few local restaurants here where the price is above the market norm and the experience disappointing.

Depending on the time of year the lines are long, the service sometimes delayed and the quality passable. It all seems a lot of hassle just to have something to eat

My wife and I enjoy cooking, have our favorites and relish sharing our meals in celebration.

As to costs the ruling issue is utility" for my dollar and that has everything to do with how much I am willing to pay or as Wilder said "some people know the price of everything but the value of nothing.

[leftyf]

I can't say I have ever had a bad meal in TV restaurants either. My favorite prime rib is the bone in prime rib at Cody's Roadhouse. Luigino's is our favorite for Italian food. I don't eat tilapia, I would rather eat Pollock.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by oldyeller

Why is it so difficult to get a good meal in the Villages? Over the years I have been to all of the restaurants here in the Villages and have found it difficult to get a good meal. That doesn’t mean I haven’t had a good meal in The Villages but lately it seems to have been hit and miss and mostly miss. Palmer and Lopez are for the most part the exception but they are not immune. The other night I went to EP and against my better judgment I had their prime rib special with au jus. I ordered it two years ago at another restaurant (it was bad) but thought I would give it another try. It was terrible, a thin cut of beef with gravy disguised as the au jus. Granted it was a good price but I am willing to pay extra for a good cut of prime rib. Another night I had the special at MCC, all you can eat tilapia, terrible! Last year we had friends in town and who ordered steak, at I forget where, it was embarrassing what they brought out. I have found that except for the simple stuff like a salad or a sandwich most of the entrees are at best sub par. I realize there are a variables that determine whether a restaurant can turn a profit or not, especially here in The Villages and I didn’t buy a house here for the food but it would be nice not to have to throw the dice every time you order food here in The Villages.

Old Yeller. I ask this only because I wonder WHAT is your favorite meal? Your usual birthday meal, or the meal that you order that always makes you feel good? Where do you find it or did you find it in your old area? What makes is really, really GOOD? Is it because it is a certain ethnicity, or served in a pleasant way or served with a nice background and quick service? What food is YOUR favorite and where do you usually find it?


Does price enter into this really good meal, when you think what it is? AND do you dine out often?

[BarryRX]

I think Gracie (as usual) hit it right on the head in her earlier post. This is a retirement community that is located in a very sparsely populated area. The immediate surrounding areas are a bit impoverished. Great meals can be had in Florida in the major urban centers like Miami, Tampa-St. Pete, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, etc. But we can see from previous posts that even though our population is now about 90,000 (in season), many people prefer to eat at home. The fact that we can get some good meals around here is a testament to those entrepreneurs that take a chance on a very tough business. It's part of the price we pay for the benefit of being away from the traffic and crime that come with larger metropolitan areas.

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

I think Gracie (as usual) hit it right on the head in her earlier post. This is a retirement community that is located in a very sparsely populated area. The immediate surrounding areas are a bit impoverished. Great meals can be had in Florida in the major urban centers like Miami, Tampa-St. Pete, Jacksonville, Orlando, Gainesville, etc. But we can see from previous posts that even though our population is now about 90,000 (in season), many people prefer to eat at home. The fact that we can get some good meals around here is a testament to those entrepreneurs that take a chance on a very tough business. It's part of the price we pay for the benefit of being away from the traffic and crime that come with larger metropolitan areas.

Right on BarryRX!!! Epiquirian wasn't what we expected when we moved here. I've had some mediocre meals here and I've had some great ones. It depends on expectations as so many folks expressed here. We tend to eat at home more than "out". What I like about "out" is that I don't have to prepare the food then clean up after.....it's just nice to be waited on once in a while.

[hoopsterdad]

my wife and i eat out normally, 5 days a week. that just fits our lifestyle, and is more cost effective for us. majority of the time, our meals are good. being full time for 5 years, we have learned where to go, when to go, and how to go. being from wyoming, perhaps my expectations for a good meal are not the same as some folks. none the less, we are satisfied. we do make some journeys to brunswick, ga., to enjoy some really good mexican and bbq.

[duffysmom]

Originally Posted by mixsonci

This is the kind of comment that is not necessary. The OPs question was real and he was looking to see how others feel and their opinions, not sarcasm. We can always eat at home, but going out to a restaurant is a nice change and many people probably eat out quite a bit. This is the same kind of sarcasm I received with one of my questions. Not nice.

[tpop1]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...Have a great day!

It's long been my opinion that restaurants here are under extreme price pressure and therefore:

• Have to employ cooks not chefs,
• Have to price entrees at @ $12.95 as opposed to $18.95 to $22.95 as in city restaurants,
• Have to by low quality product to compete at this price point, and
• Have to have low cost Happy Hours where people drink don''t eat.

Just have to pick your spots, watch for the good reviews such as Mezza Luna & Little Joey's etc. Going to restaurants that charge a little more may = better quality.

I've grown old with good food , at home and in quality restaurants, & will never settle for lowering my expectations ... I worked too hard thru my life for my money!

Enjoy those places you like and avoid the others.

[rubicon]

[B][/

Why would a person lower their expectations of good food and service just so they can experience going out then and paying for it? How does a person who has become accustom to good tasting, perhaps gourmet quality food all of their lives, suddenly say well I have to lower my expectations?

Why would a restaurant owner intentionally place their business at peril of failure by buying low quality food, providing low quality service ,etc. especially since 90% of restaurants giving it their very best fail?

The one truism here is that people have the right to express their disappointments, I mean after all they paid for that right

[redwitch]

Quite simply, because restaurants here cannot afford to pay the salaries to get the chefs and servers needed for even a 3-star restaurant. So, if you're from an area that has many 3-5 star restaurants, you better lower your expectations because you're never going to be happy eating out here. You have a choice -- become a gourmet cook (and become friends with a gourmet cook)) and never eat out or eat out, enjoy the company and the food as it is.

That doesn't mean you accept bad service or truly bad food -- I'll send back something that tastes off or just isn't good in a heartbeat. It means, that you find the restaurants you like and the things you like on their menu and you eat those. You don't expect top-grade ingredients. You expect good service. You do expect food to taste good. You expect hot or cold food, as appropriate.

Personally, I love Burke's. Would it fly in the SF Bay Area? Not even close but I'm quite happy to eat there when I can here. I think Mezza Luna has a chance to become a 3-star restaurant when it gets over the glitches and, as was said in another thread, shortens the menu. Little Joey's is good. Athens is great. TooJays is always a favorite of mine. But, quite honestly, I would as soon go to a Denny's than I would any of these if I were back in San Francisco. I would also be paying San Francisco prices.

As to a restaurant owner buying low-quality food, it works here -- price is the major factor here, not quality. As long as the food is edible, all is good.

[Matzy]

I do not have a problem with the food in restaurants in and around The Villages because it is good in my opinion. Of course I know it is not NYC or SF nor elsewhere in the world and so I do not have that expectations to be at one of those places when I am in TV.
And the prices are designed for people which are living here.
If I want a very special meal I look where I can find it and I always was able to find it.

[Villageshooter]

Gracy saidenjoy the big ole' Nathans hot dog and a soft drink at Sam's Club sometimes at lunchtime when I am shopping that costs $1.49 as much as my favorite places here to dine, Carrabas and Nancy Lopez.

You my dear are the queen of my Doublewide I love going to Sam's $1.79 for the weenie soft drink special With unlimited refills on the soft drinks and they do have cokes zero it is heaven ! set at the third table over in the front air-conditioning blows directly on you unlimited free Internet, If you set there for about 45 minutes there will be a pretty woman go by that has no tattoos and all of her teeth and had taken a bath that day, And if you get hungry some more you can always go back to the sample ladies and get all the samples to fill your belly up. Gracie great minds think alike I agree with you it is a wonderful place to go! So to keep in line with the thread of the post there are high-quality meals in the villages like this place you just have to find them, We have now shared our secret with the entire world Gracie, Probably won't be able to find a place to sit down. Last summer they ran out of containers for the onions and pickles and there was almost an uprising. If you ask for a chili dog there and talk real nice to the girl behind the counter she will almost put a whole can of chili on your weenie. I am really revealing some closely guarded secrets here.

[rdhdleo]

Never in 11 years have we had a bad meal at Lopez! Best place for a great filet and the rest of the menu is wonderful also. Also Bonefish, always great service and great good quality food. Asian food Bamboo Bistro hands above all others! New breakfast favorite is Rae Raes worth the drive!
That said I'm with Gracie you can't go wrong getting a Nathans hotdog at Sams LOL

[redwitch]

And another vote for Sam's and Nathan's. Gourmet food is nice once in awhile, Sam's hot dogs are good every day of the week!

[Bonny]

We eat out almost every night. We don't always get big full meals. I never have a problem finding good food. There are some places I don't care for so I just don't go.
Always good food and good service at Bonefish, Longhorn and even Red Lobster. I like certain things at certain restaurants. I like Codys, Mallory, City Fire, Mezza Luna, Cattle Baron and even Golden Corral. O'Sheas has several things that I really like as well.
Hubby is in heaven going to Home Depot and getting their sausage at the stand in front.