[Kent4Cardinals]

I have 3 answers. Good Chinese is hard to find here. Some have mentioned PF Chang. I'd love it but that is probably a bit pricey for our area. However there sister could be a great option. The food is similar but less expensive. Why? You order at the counter and pay up front. Then the wait staff takes over and delivers and takes care of your needs. A real good option.

Pizza. One of the hottest new concepts here is a build your own deal similar to Subway. Like subway - you touch nothing. Go to the order spot. Choose a crust - thin or thicker, white or wheat. Then they load it for you. Every meat and veggie choice you can imagine. They will load all that you want them to. And as much Mozzarella and 4 other cheese that you like. Then it goes into to a 800 degree wood burning oven while you pay. 3 minutes later it is in your hands. The price is unreal and the best part. A 9" pie that is delicious costs $8 to $9 each. Or a cheese only for $5 or 1 topping for $6. There are now 4 to 5 groups out there jumping in the ring. The California Pizza guys are coming out of retirement and are quite excited they say. I have enjoyed "Blaze Pizza" and do love it. I walk away wondering "How Can They Do This For the Low Price"??


Mexican. I once lived in Austin Texas. The Birthplace of Chuy's Tex-Mex. It is a chain but a really good one. All company owned and they now have 50+. Five now in Florida. Gainesville, Tampa, & Orlando (3). A real fun place with a varied, (somewhat) authentic Menu. Priced real fairly and what a Happy Hour. M-F 4 to 7. Discounted drinks and a free nacho bar including Taco Meat, Refried Beans, Queso Cheese Sauce, Chips and Salsa. Free all you can eat from 4 to 7. Think The Villagers Would love this place.

[Happinow]

Firehouse subs, Taco Bell, Olive Garden and a good pizza place. I know this is all fast food but it seems we have plenty of better places to eat South of 466 and no good fast food places. When we crave any of the above mentioned fast foods and Olive Garden, it is a real pain to have to drive 20 min to get a taco or slice of pizza. We need more food places South of 466A.

[Happinow]

Originally Posted by pat kane

We sure miss Dairy Queen

We also miss really good seafood. We are use to the real Maryland Crabs & crab cakes.

Agree!! Need a DQ or real soft ice cream place. No more frozen yogurt!!!!

[ColdNoMore]

I think a Pollo Tropical would make a killing here...with all of us picky, cheap old folks.

Great food (mostly chicken) and almost unreal low prices... for what you get.

Also, the guava pie for dessert...is pretty awesome.


Pollo Tropical Restaurant Review Town Center – RESTAURANT REVIEWS IN JACKSONVILLE

Food: Like I said above, I wasn’t really looking forward to doing a Pollo Tropical review. I constantly hear my friends talking about it and I just couldn’t imagine it being anything special. I mean, it’s just chicken right? Anyways, I thought, fine, let me go and see that it isn’t good and then I can argue with them. When I pulled up, I was surprised at how busy it was. While there wasn’t a line to order, there was a constant flow of people coming in. The staff was keeping up with the flow.

Honestly, when I walked up to the counter to order, I was overwhelmed. If you look at the picture of the menu board you will see it is pretty busy with options but once you order once, you will see how easy it actually is. I went with the TropiChop because it looked like the easiest thing to order. Basically what you do is pick your meat: Chicken, Mojo Roast Pork or Vegetarian. Once you pick that out, then you move on to your preference of type of rice, mashed potato or a lettuce.

Next step: “Top it off” where you add any combination of Black Beans, Red Beans, Kernel Corn, Tomatoes, Peppers and Onions or Sauteed Onions. All this was $5.99 plus another $1.00 for a drink. Once you place your order, head to your table, they bring the food to you fresh from the kitchen. While I was waiting, I filled up the drink and then wandered over to the Salsa Bar and picked out a couple. My favorite: Garlic and Cilantro sauce.

The food arrived promptly and let me just say that after a couple bites I WAS ****ED! You know why? Because it was freaking good! Yeah you heard me right, it was good lol. The chicken was grilled perfectly and the rice was addictive.

There's quite a few locations in the Orlando to Sanford area, but don't think they are any closer to us than that.

[village momma]

Boston Market!!!

[Fraugoofy]

A brewery that serves good pub food, including Irish stew!

Sent from my SM-N910R4 using Tapatalk

[BCEagle78]

We always enjoy the "99" restaurants in the Boston area. I am convinced that they would do well in a place like The Villages.

[MikeyBoo54]

Originally Posted by rivaridger1

A Morton's of Chicago or Ruth Chris Steakhouse. A good Korean and/or Vietnamese restaurant for variety would be nice as well. Legal's and/or Charley's Crab for seafood.

Agree on the steakhouses. Maybe a Smith & Wollensky. Also, a Portillos near TV would be nice, but again, it would be lined up all the time.

[MikeyBoo54]

Originally Posted by Chatbrat

I think I got it, a coney is a Michigan chili dog--but would you want to go out for a nice evening meal of Coney's--again its food court food

I want to see a restaurant, with real waiters--not servers, a salad made @ your table--wine brought to your table, opened for your inspection-

lobsters, diver scallops, real new orleans seafood stew, low country seafood boil, veal milanese, scungilli,
and a waiter making zabiogne at your table for desert, with some espresso & sambucca

Now thats dining--not eating

So, if I am understanding your posts, you are wanting Emeril or Mario Batali or others of the myriad of excellent and successful chefs to come to The Villages and open restaurants. While I agree that would be great, how many Villagers besides you would be willing to pay $200-$300 for a great meal with a great wine? And how often can they do that?

I'm not sure the population can support that kind of cuisine and it would be a gamble for the chef/owners to assume that others would drive from all over the state to eat at their restaurant in The Villages.

IMO there a number of good, high caliber restaurants in Tampa and Orlando. I think that is always going to be a better draw for very high dining.

[Chatbrat]

You don't need restaurants with celebrity names--There was a good restaurant Vic's -before it burned down -near Eustis-Some of best food I've had has been in hole in walls-- they know how to cook , small menu-but do it right & if they didn't have a liquor license- they allowed us to bring our own wine,etc.

[NYGUY]

At one time their was a rumor that Sam Snead's Tavern might come here. That might work here. Not over the top expensive but a decent steak house and with a golf theme to boot.

[wrsom]

would love a good old Detroit cony island hot dog joint! still miss lafeate!

[Skip]

Originally Posted by bunnyhop

I'd love to see a Cheddars restaurant like they have in Eustis! Great food at great prices.


===================

Cheddar's in Eustis? Where did you see that?
There is one coming to Ocala but not Eustis.

Skip

[sunny46]

I would like to see the Perkins on 466 that closed, reopen as a Chick-fil-a.

[outdoorluver]

Cheesecake Factory, Sweetwater Tavern, Don Pablos, Chengs, Ted's Montana Grill