The Villages Gourmet Club Restaurant Reviews Page 2

Cool Blue Burrito, 18 SE Broadway, Ocala, FL. After a few months of operation, the Cool Blue Burrito is closed already. In its place will soon be The Sushi Bistro (see below).

Cotillion Southern Café, 101 North Main St. (Hwy. 301), Wildwood, FL. 748-1223. B/L/D. Now open 7 AM to 2:30 PM Monday through Saturday and for "supper" from 4:30 to 8 PM Thursday through Saturday only. Located in a former 1920s bank building, this "down home" establishment offers authentic southern dishes from old family recipes. Items include Shrimp 'n Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, Garlic Cheese Grits, Black-Eyed Peas, Florida Gator Salad and Red-Eye Gravy. Appomattox Seven Layer Cake can finish the meal. The flavors of the Carolinas and Florida are evident. Corkage fee for your own wine. Reservations accepted. Filled with treasured antiques of the Old South. Kathi & Jim Vincent, owners.

Review: (from Mike M. 4/08) Very nicely decorated new restaurant in downtown Wildwood. Small but plenty of room for individual conversations at your own table. Exceptional service from start to finish. I had the Chicken Salad Sandwich with Sweet Potato French Fries. They were both very good. My wife had the Florida Gator Salad that also was excellent. She also had the Chocolate Gator that was very tasty too. Total bill was about $20 without tip. We thought this was pricy for lunch and encourage fellow members to try it.
Q=4 S=5 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rosalind G. 5/08) Our large group of 11 must have flustered the staff, because it took an hour to get our food after ordering. Several of us had the Chicken Salad and found it lacking in taste and freshness. My husband had a Hamburger, ordered medium, which came out dry and falling apart. The Baked Chicken and Macaroni Salad were described by others as dry and tasteless. Not a good experience. For my Sandwich and my husband's Burger, with Iced Tea, our total bill was about $21. Not worth even that little.
Q=1 S=2 V=1 Total=4 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Ellen H. 6/08) This is a lovely new restaurant in Wildwood with a distinctly southern flavor. My friend and I arrived about 11:45 AM on a Friday and it was full; however the hostess found us a cozy table in the corner. She suggested reservations the next time and it was obvious that they would be a must with more than 2 persons. I had the Shrimp and Grits (small size with 4 large shrimp) and a Sweet Tea and my friend had Collard Greens Soup and a Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. My lunch came with a wonderful side salad dressed with their homemade stawberry dressing. My Shrimp and Grits were delicious and full of flavor. Her soup was a bit bland but interesting. And the sandwich was crispy, fresh and seasoned very nicely. My meal was $13 before tip and her's was $12 and we thought it was an exceptional value. The service was good especially considering the restaurant was full with two very large parties. We were very pleased and will visit again soon.
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from David G. 4/09) We had appetizers of Fried Green Tomatoes, Cream of Mushroom Soup and entrées of Baked Crispy Chicken and Fried Chicken. We also had desserts of Bread Pudding and Strawberry Shortcake. Everything was absolutely delicious, well prepared and served perfectly. One word to describe everything is "FRESH". Total $57 + tip for two.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Cottage Inn Restaurant, 340 South US 27/441, Lady Lake, FL. 753-3533. B/L/D. Home style cooking. Popular with locals. Sonmi Cho, owner.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (Lady Lake), 13637 US 27/441, Lady Lake, FL. 259-6603. B/L/D. "Stick to your ribs" southern style home cooking. Items like Pork Chips, Fried Chicken, Turkey and Dressing are just some of the entrées. Store within the restaurant. One of a very large nationwide chain based in Tennessee.

Dinner Bell Restaurant, 3170 US 27/441, Fruitland Park, FL. 787-1405. L/D. In business since 1957. Specializes in shrimp dishes and authentic Germain cuisine. Weiner Schnitzel, Jager Schnitzel and Sauerbraten are favorites. Sausage specialties like Bratwurst, Knockwurst and even Polish style are popular, as well as Jumbo Shrimp and Oysters also offered. Full bar. Misook Singer, owner.

Review: (from Rich C. 9/06) We come here regularly for my fix of Weiner Schnitzel. Not exactly fine dining but it's comfortable, friendly and the food is authentic. We'll try the shrimp dishes next. Maybe we'll have TWO reasons to dine here.
Q=4 S=3 V=3 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Jerry D. 7/07) Dinner started with a delightful Zucchini Pancake which was a pleasant surprise. My partner ordered the Fried Shrimp and I ordered the Broiled Red Fish both with baked potatoes and vegetables. The waitress forgot our salads and served the entrees. Fried Shrimp were large and very tasty. The broiled Red Fish was a disappointment at best. Had a strong "fishy taste" and was extremely dry. The vegetables were so overcooked they even looked bad on the plate. The baked potatoes saved the day. Without drinks the total came to $23 for 2.
Q=2 S=3 V=1 Total=6 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Ellen H. 7/07) With a Gourmet Club party of 8 we had the private middle room reserved which allowed us to chat. I ordered the Stuffed Grouper and he ordered 5 Fried Shrimp. The meal started with a nice German Pancake that was delicious. I also had Escargot. There were 12 of them and they were pretty tasty. He had the Clam Chowder. Lots of clams but the soup was luke warm at best. He enjoyed the lightly fried shrimp a lot and my grouper was just OK with imitation crab and few shrimp. The salads showed up after the entrees were served. My coffee saucer and spoon had ketchup on it. Back it went! With 2 appetizers, 2 wines, an iced tea and coffee, the meals ran up to $48 for the two of us. We've had better meals here. Stick with the Schnitzel and Shrimp which are more reliable.
Q=3 S=2 V=2 Total=7 out of 15. Return=Yes.

El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant, 10465 Hwy. 441, Belleview, FL. 352-307-2480. L/D. Open daily. In the same plaza as Winn Dixie. Formerly the Laredo Mexican Restaurant. Large selection of traditional Mexican food. Entrées include Enchiladas, Burritos, Quesadillas, Parrilla, Chiles Rellenos, Carne Asada, Tacos, Fajitas, Pork Chops, Shrimp, even Quail. Many chicken dishes. Prices range from $5 to $9 each. Many dinner combinations on the menu too. Taco and Guacamole Salads as well as Vegetarian dishes also available at $3 to $7. English menu. Full bar with beer, wine and an assortment of margaritas offered. Ricardo Alvarez, new owner.

El Taxco Mexican Restaurant, 4901 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL. 352-438-0075. L/D. Open 11 AM to 10 PM weekdays; Saturday and Sunday from noon. Located in the "Six Gun Plaza". Authentic Tex-Mex fare. Noted for their Chimichangas and Fajitas. Burritos, Tamales and Chalupas are also on the menu. Flan or Sopapilla available to finish the meal. Lunch buffet is offered during the week. Mariachi band performs on Thursday night 6-9 PM. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Mexican Restaurant by Ocala Magazine. Full bar and happy hour. Albertico Roman, owner.

Fat Daddy's Grille & Bar, 10135 SE Sunset Harbor Rd., Summerfield, FL. 288-1342. L/D. Open 11 AM to 2 AM daily. Near the bend of Sunset Harbor Rd. Key West style biker-friendly bar. Specializes in Florida fare such as Sautéed Gatortail. Black and Bleu Burger, Big Mouth Burger and other grilled beef sandwiches are the mainstay here. Crab Legs and Buffalo Wings are also popular. Very large selection of draft beers. Karaoke and live music often. Marilyn Sullivan, new owner.

Review: (from Rich C. 11/07) We had to try this place for lunch, 'cause we were craving a hamburger. I had the Mushroom, Bacon, Swiss Cheese Burger and she had the Black & Blue Burger. We shared an order of nice crispy fries. The food was fine and the service was good. It was nicely presented even though it was in a paper lined plastic basket. The menu has a large selection of offerings, not just burgers. Don't judge this place by the front of the drab building. It's a tropical oasis in back with lots of island charm and an old Chris Craft boat beached in the back yard. We'll try it for early dinner, next time. Lunch for two with some beer was $20 before tip.
Q=4 S=3 V=3 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from David G. 3/09) Michele was my server and she was wonderful. The hamburger was very good, not the best, but very good. French fries were an additional cost and well worth it. The rear of the building is very islandish. Delightful experience that will be revisited. Total for cheeseburger, fries, tax and tip was $10.50 .
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Felix's, 917 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL. 352-629-0339. L/D. Open for lunch, Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to 2:30 PM. Open for dinner, Tuesday through Saturday 4:30 PM to 10 PM. Now open for Sunday Brunch ($17) from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Closed Monday, holidays and Sunday evening. A 10% discount coupon may be available on their website. Fine Continental cuisine served in a large pink Victorian house. Well established business since 2001. Filet Mignon ($30), Chilean Sea Bass ($37) and Rack of Lamb ($44) are typical premium main courses. Regular a-la-carte entrées range from $14 to $30, like Prime Rib, Salisbury Steak and Beef Stroganoff, plus smaller portions, like Sautéed Salmon Filet, Chilean Sea Bass, Asian Duck and Beef Pot Pie, also available ranging from $11 to $22. Italian entrées like Seafood Manicotti, Zuppa Di Pesce, Chicken Piccata and Eggplant Rollatini range $8 to $25. Well know for their many desserts in the front showcase. New York Style Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Decadent Chocolate Cake and Almond & Amaretto Mousse Cake are favorites here. Dressy casual. Reservations suggested. Full bar with large wine list ranging from $15 to $280 per bottle; $6 to $11 per glass. Happy hour on house wines until 6:30 PM. 20% gratuity added for parties of 6 or more. Sign up for free Birthday Dinner while you're there. Marge and Loring Felix, chef and owners. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Chef by Ocala Magazine.

Review: (from Rich C. 2/07) There's an old adage that says never dine at a restaurant on these two days: Mother's Day and Valentine's Day! Well, we made an exception here because if a restaurant can function on busy days, it can function well any day. Although very crowded we were seated within 15 minutes of our reservation time which gave us a few minutes at the small bar. My Pinot Grigio and her Chocolate Martini with tip blew a $20 bill (not exactly cheap)! Dinner started with a marvelous Lobster Bisque ($5). It was creamy and unusual without any biting overtones. Her Tomato and Mozzarella Salad (i.e. Caprese) ($5) was wonderfully rich with aged balsamic vinegar. My Hearts of Romaine was a pleasant variation of the old Caesar Salad. She opted for a Salmon Filet ($23) which we must say was one of the best preparations of this luscious rosey fish. I had the 12 oz Prime Rib ($24) which came out medium rare (just the way I order it). Although dense, it was flavorful. We had to splurge for the Bananas Foster ($15 for 2) flambéed table side. Nice show. Our capable waitress, Maryse, turned out to be from our hometown so we chatted about Wegman's! Every server (and there were many) hustled to satisfy everyone promptly. The kitchen did an admirable job of getting courses out right on time. Overall a great experience for the total of $94 for two with my second wine. We'll be back (the day before Mother's Day).
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ann C. 2/07) Great ambiance, great service, excellent food, superb presentation. Moderately pricey but menu had a large selection of petite portions allowing for appetizers ($8-12) along with smaller entrees ($12-23) - full portions proportionately more. Crab Cake appetizer ($11) was more than ample followed by Duck Medallions ($12 for petite), 1 drink plus 20% tip already added to bill (for large parties) was $41 (for one). Super place, one of nearby bests, for special occasions!
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Martin G. 2/07) Our evening started off on a bit of a down note as we were seated at a table right in the entryway. The hostess graciously moved us when asked. Our server could have been a bit more attentive; it took several requests to get some lemon slices for our water but eventually he came around and the service during the rest of our dinner was superior. The food was excellent and the presentation a perfect visual complement. I had the Sesame Seared Yellow-fin Tuna appetizer to start and it was prepared to perfection. I then ordered a double portion of Asian Duck Breast (appetizer) for my entrée and I was not disappointed. For dessert I had the Granny Smith Upside Down Apple Pie, not quite like the apple pie my mother baked, but among the best I've had. My wife started with the Baked Brie appetizer followed by a petite portion of the Rack of Lamb, accompanied by Porcini Ravioli and Sautéed Spinach. For dessert she had the Belgian Chocolate Pistachio Cannoli which was delicious. The "petite" portions are more than ample in our opinion if one also orders an appetizer and dessert. We ended up taking food home. Dinner for two, not including drinks, tax and tip was $82.50. Not inexpensive but well worth the experience. We will return at a future date.
Q=5 S=4 V=3 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Richard B. 6/07) Eight of us from Gourmet Club attended and were basically pleased and would go back. Ambiance charming, service excellent and food pricey but generally worth it. Downers: bread was abysmal (poor quality AND stale), one soup was cold, one filet was overcooked. My wife and I had two salads to die for, Pork with Bing Cherry Sauce and Sweet Potatoes with Pecans that were both superb.
Q=4 S=5 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 11/07) Our Gourmet Group chose Felix's for a Friday evening dinner. We arrived early and had a glass of wine at the bar. We chose a glass of Red Zin and a California Sauvignon Blanc. We were surprised to find that they were $11 each when the tab was presented. At the table, our server, Ashley, was knowledgeable and pleasant. We both had Lobster Bisque to start. It was rich, creamy and quite thick. We also tried Crab Napolean and a Tomato/Mozzarella Salad; both were excellent. He had Veal Scallopine ($11), while I had Sautéed Salmon ($11). These affordable but smaller entrées allow room for appetizers and desserts. We opted for the table-side flaming Bananas Foster for 2 ($15). Overall, a very nice meal that came to $67 including 1 coffee ($2.25) and 1 house wine ($5.50), before tax and tip. Since we were a party of 6, a 20% gratuity is added to the bottom line. To her credit, Ashley pointed that out to us. I have no idea why restaurants do that when 3 separate checks are provided.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Dan K. 12/07) A very pleasant surprise. Service and attention was exceptional. Smaller servings at lower prices on many entrees were offered. Everything was prepared properly and served hot. Manager and waitress were very helpful. They did separate checks and were gracious about it. I would recommend that you try this for a group of up to 8 people. Mini entrées start at $8.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Wendell S. 6/08) We went there with our Gourmet Group. We arrived on time and was promtly seated. We ordered wine and reviewed the menu. We were pleased to see petite items available at a lower price. Two of us had Salads and two had Lobster Bisque. Both were excellent. The Petite 5 oz. Tenderloin with a side of Sweet Potato was great. The service was excellent. All had a good time. This was our third visit while it was the first for the other couple.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Colene M. 9/08) Our Gourmet Group of eight went to Felix's tonight and had a great time. My husband and I both had the 5 oz. Petite Filet Mignon ($17.50 each) with twice baked potatoes and steamed veggies. We also both had the Loster Bisque that was very good ($5). My husband also had the Tomato Salad that he said was really good also. ($4.50). The Filet was really good but my husband didn't think it was big enough. I thought it was just right. The veggies had pea pods that were terrible. They were stringy and could not be eaten. Our waiter was Mike and he was good. Although we got there at 6:30, he gave us the two for one drinks that went off at 6:30 PM. Because we had eight in our party, they added the tip automatically to our bill which was fine. Our bill before t&t was $60.50 as we both had wine which was $5.50 per person.
Q=4 S=5 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 9/08) What a nice Victorian setting for a fine dining establishment. Our congenial Gourmet Group were seated in the small private room to the left which, although cozy, ended up to be more noisy that the main dining room. We snuck in on the 2 for 1 house wine which was generous at $5.50 for two rather nice 6 oz. pours. She ordered the Petite Asian Duck entrée while I ordered the Petite (5 oz.) Filet Mignon. We both enjoyed the great Lobster Bisque and a salad, hers a Tomato Salad and mine a semblance of Caesar. Her comment about the Duck was "too much fat around the outside" and my Steak was good but not the best I've had. So no perfect scores for Quality. Service was fine but it seemed he was busy with other tables too. That's a big disadvantage of being in a room where you can't catch his eye if you need anything. But we were not rushed. Total before t&t was $59 plus 20% automatic tip. Can't comment on pea pods because my veggies didn't contain any! We've had better experiences here but would still recommend it on a week night.
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rosalind G. 2/09) The 6 members of our Gourmet Group met for dinner at 6:30 and were seated promptly. Our waitress, Danielle, took our drink orders and told us of the specials. One couple ordered the special appetizer, Zuchini Rollatini ($12) and were very disappointed in the taste and size. The Crab Cake appetizer was very good. The four women in the group all ordered the Petite Salmon, which was delicious, served with an unusual and very tasty Sweet Potato Lasagna. My husband had the Turkey Dinner, which was plentiful and tasty. The other gentlemen in our party had the Petite Veal Scallopini, which they said was fork tender. Our bill for two, with ice tea and a warm Brownie dessert came to $45 with a 20% tip added in.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Bill S. 2/09) I dined with my wife and another couple. Since it was my birthday I had the free meal (highly recommended), the Lobster Risotto, saving me $24. The meal was excellent. I also had the Tomato Soup. My wife had the appetizer special which was shrimp. It was also excellent. For her main course, my wife had the Prime Rib and dessert (cake). We had two wines and coffee with dessert. Our waiter, Johnny, was very pleasant. The other couple was very pleased with there meal and we both said we would definitly be back. The meal was $49 without t&t. The free meal really helped. The owner, Loring, came by the see how we were doing. Great meal!
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Fuji Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, 17860 SE 109th Ave., Summerfield, FL. 347-6119. L/D. Traditional Japanese restaurant with Sushi Bar located in the Spruce Creek Terrace Shoppes, Suite 618. Full bar. Joon Lee and family, owners.

Review: (from Marlene C. 4/07) Total was $45 before tip for 2 Filet Mignon dinners with one glass of wine and one soft drink. Filets were good but not great. Huge portions of fried rice and noodles were included along with soup and very plain salad with a tasty Asian dressing. Hibachi chef was very cheerful but not a great performer.
Q=3 S=3 V=4 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Bob C. 7/08) There are no reservations but our party was seated as soon as we arrived. We had 2 Filet Mignon dinners ($19 each including soup, fried rice, fried noodles, mixed vegetables & salad) and bottles of Japanese Beer ($5 each). We started with a rather tasteless soup and salad . The portions of fried rice, fried noodles and vegetables were very large. The steaks were average. The wait staff was very cheerful and efficient. Hibachi chef was very pleasant but we have experienced much better performers.
Q=3 S=4 V=2 Total=9 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Gator Joe's Beach Bar & Grill, 12431 SE 135th Ave., Ocklawaha, FL. 352-288-3100. L/D. Located off CR 25. Turn south at the traffic light in Oklawaha. Named after a 15 foot alligator that live in Lake Weir in the early 1900s. Entrées range from Mama's Mahi-Mahi and Baby Back Ribs to Gator Tail and Jumpin' Frog Legs. Other meals for the less adventuresome range from $8 to $14. Tuesday and Thursday specials. Deck and Tiki dining out over the lake. Laid back Florida waterfront beach bar atmosphere. Excellent for sunset cocktails. Entertainment on Friday nights. Closed Mondays. Popular with the college crowd on weekends and Villages groups during the week. Full bar. Green Gator Juice a specialty. Big John Hughes, owner.

Review: (from Dennis C. 1/07) We come here occasionally with our out-of-town friends, more for the atmosphere than for the grub. Basic fried food offerings. I had the Fish & Chips today but it was overcooked. A fun place to visit especially when it's warm out. The back deck is very inviting. Weekends will find the locals frolicing with the alligators in the lake. I've had their Gator Tail before and it was just OK. (Linger Lodge in Bradenton has the best!) The Gator Juice is a wonderful tropical drink - I always have two. If the food is not to your liking, let them make it right for you. It is what it is!
Q=3 S=3 V=3 Total=9 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from David G. 7/08) We had a House Side Salad, Jambalaya, Blackened Mahi-Mahi, Blackened Catfish and two drinks. The food was great and fresh. Service was great too and the view was outstanding. If you sit outside over the water, you need to leave before dark due to the mosquitoes. Total for two including tip was $50.
Q=4 S=5 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 8/08) For a change of pace we had late lunch here and watched all the young girls in their skimpy bikinis showing off their latest tattoos and piercing hardware. Summer is prime time for the college crowd. It took a few minutes for a server to ask if we were waited on yet. Seems there are no "stations" here, so you might have to flag someone down to get served. Our friends had an Iced Tea and a Shock Top, I had a Gator Juice and my better half had a Bud Lite Lime to start. Three of us had the Big Burgers ($7) and one had a Fried Oyster Basket ($11). Two of us had Side Salads, one had Fried Onion Rings too. Not the healthiest meal but we all enjoyed the food and our server, Katie, was friendly and prompt once she got to us. Sure is a busy place on a Sunday. $58 for four light meals with 6 drinks before t&t. Well liked, "Big John" always in control here.
Q=4 S=3 V=4 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Gator's Dockside (Ocala) 3920 SW 42nd St. at SR 200, Ocala, FL. 352-433-2441. L/D. Open daily 11 AM to Midnight. Located in the Berkshire Oaks Plaza on SR 200. More unusual pub food than other chains but no traditional grilled Chicken, Steaks or Fish entrées on the menu. Smothered Pulled Pork, Turkey Muffalatta and Gyros can be found on the Sandwich Menu. Cajun Chicken Alfredo, Baby Back Ribs, Quesadillas, Wings and Cobb Salad are just some of the main dishes offered. Noted for their Chili. Sports bar atmosphere with lots of big TVs. Full bar. 18% gratuity added on parties of 8 or more. One of about 20 locations headquartered in Heathrow, FL. Chris Ciarletto, manager here. Another location will soon be open in The Villages (see page 1).

Habaneros Mexican Grill (Leesburg), 10601 US 441, Leesburg, FL. 352-315-1777. L/D. Open 11 AM to 9 PM daily except to 10 PM weekends. Located just past Lake Square Mall at Lakes Blvd. and US 441. Shops of Lake Village Plaza. Oven 100 menu options including chicken, seafood, vegetarian and steak entrées. Dinners range $10 to $15. Authentic Mexican creations. Noted for their Monster Margaritas. Full bar. Mariachi band on Wednesdays from 5:30-8:30 PM. Jorge Ibarra and Joel Salazar, owners. One of a few outlets in central Florida. Other locations in Longwood, Casselberry and Gainesville.

Harbour Hills Country Club, Harbour Terrace Dining Room, 6538 Lake Griffin Rd., Lady Lake, FL. 753-7000. L/D. Large dining room in a planned community clubhouse. Open to the public by reservation. Occasional live music. Sunday Champagne Brunch: $16.99, children 4-10: $6.95, under 4: free. Full bar. Developer owned.

Review: (from Gordon M. 2/07) Our first visit here but not our last. One of the best Brunches we have ever had. All the food was excellent with a very good selection. Go back as often as you like. We were seated at the window with a view of Lake Griffin and attended by a great waitress. She never let the Champagne glass get too low. Bottomless Champagne and Mimosa, $4.00. Live piano music. Dress casual or in your Sunday best. A marvelous experience and RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST. They are now starting a Friday evening all you can eat Fish Night where reservations are not required, just show up. Other than this, they are only open for lunch.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Dave M. 4/07) Nice selection of food items to choose from: Omelet, Crepes, and Carving Stations. All the champagne you want for $4 per person, beautiful view of the golf course, pleasant background of piano music, good food at a good price ($16.99 pp). An excellent choice for Sunday Brunch.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ardelle M. 8/07) Evidently, Harbor Hills does not feel the need to cater to the customer. Reservations were made two weeks in advance, confirmed the morning of the outing for 11 people and when we arrived tables were pushed together in a dark corner with silverware for only 9, room for 8 and located directly in front of the entrance to the workout room. The waitress seemed to be annoyed that we had shown up. The food was below average and refills on beverages were no where to be seen. Good thing the company was good!
Q=2 S=2 V=1 Total=5 out of 15. Return=No.

Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille (Ocala), 24 SE 1st Ave., Ocala, FL. 352-840-0900. L/D. 11 AM to 10 PM daily. Located on the city square in the southeast corner. A New Orleans style restaurant with Big Easy décor. From Po' Boys to Filet Mignon, this restaurant has a wide variety of New Orleans style food. Grilled Trout Almondine, Pecan Crusted Catfish, Crab Cakes & Crawfish Cardinale plus more Cajun style entrées like Jambalaya, Crawfish or Shrimp Étouffée or Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Andouille. More traditional Chicken, Pork and Steaks are also on the menu. Fried Platters also featured. Prices range from $5 to $21 per entrée. Early bird specials and happy hour too. Sign up for their birthday and anniversary discount club. Call ahead on Fridays. Nice wine selection and full bar to make Harry's Hurricanes. One of a small chain of 8 restaurants headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Ben Rumans, proprietor.

Review: (from Rich C. 3/07) We've been here several times, at this location and others too. Thier cuisine is authentic Cajun fare. She had Chicken Jolie Blonde ($15) and I had the Pork Tenderloin ($16). Both were mildly spicy. Large portions made the price right. Happy hour drink prices were also in effect. Good service and it wasn't crowded on a Tuesday (it's usually packed on Friday & Saturday nights). A $10 coupon brought the meal down to $30.46 with 3 wines and an iced tea plus tip. Be sure you sign up for their birthday and anniversary club with the hostess. You'll get lots of offers during the year and it brings us back often for their good food and fun drinks at bargain prices.
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Martin G. 4/07) Went to Harry's with our Gourmet Club Dine Out Group this past Sunday. We all had a very pleasant experience. We were seated promptly, no wait at all. Chaz, our waiter was a pleasant young man and took good care of us. The food is good and reasonably priced. I had the "Catch of the Day", Ahi Tuna, just seared with a tasty dipping sauce. It was accompanied with an ample serving of garlic mashed potatoes and a medley of steamed fresh vegetables. The only disappointment was the salad, mainly iceberg lettuce and not even crisp. My wife had the Blackened Shrimp and Red Beans and Rice as her side dish. With drinks and coffee it came to $53 before tax and tip.
Q=4 S=4 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Howard H. 3/08) Harry's has a New Orlean's atmosphere and menu. We went with our Gourmet Group. Once again our visit was most enjoyable. Although we were especially looking forward to the Mussels St.Charles, they were not available. Instead, I had the Louisiana Gumbo. Just spiced right, but not too hot. With plenty of seafood and sausage. She had the Special Gumbo, Chicken and Sausage. Our main courses were Shrimp and Scallops Orleans for me with a side order of Red Beans and Rice and the Shrimp and Scallops Evangeline for her. Both hot, well presented and loaded with plenty of seafood. My dinner came with a Fried Grit Cake which I had never had before. I would certainly order it again. She took some of her dish home for lunch. As we got there at 5:45 PM, we were able to take advantage of the Early Bird Menu which was considerably less than the regular price. It was also Happy Hour and the drinks were 2 for 1. Bill with drinks was $49 + tip. If not for a mix-up with the check, this trip would have been a solid 15.
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Dan K. 7/08) Second visit in the last month. Business lunch, great atmosphere and service added to the dining experience. Everyone enjoyed their meal. I had a Chicken Sandwich which was quite good. Two had salads and one a full meal. We all had Iced Tea and 1 dessert between us. Total bill was $56 for 4 before tax and tip.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Hops Restaurant Bar & Brewery (Ocala), 2505 SW College Rd., Ocala, FL. All Florida-based Hops restaurants closed in September, 2008. Cody's Original Roadhouse has purchased this location (see above).

Horse and Hounds Restaurant, 6998 NW US 27 (at NW 70th Ave.), Ocala, FL. 352-620-2500. L/D. Open daily. Located 3 miles west of I-75 (exit 354). Popular with local clientele. Warm equestrian-themed pub offers British fare from Shepard's Pie ($10) and Chicken Croquant ($17) to Angus New York Strip Steak ($19), Seafood Gratenee ($17), Grilled Quail ($15) and Pecan Encrusted Grouper ($19). Other seafood items, like Cider Salmon ($19) and Maryland Crab Cakes ($17), also available. Noted for their Angus Beef like Ribeye ($25), 8 oz. Filet Mignon ($27) and Prime Rib ($26-30). Spinach Salad with Emerald Poppy Seed dressing is a favorite. Entrées start at $8. Reservations accepted. Early Bird Specials offered until 6 PM. Full bar. Change of location to 4620 East Silver Springs Blvd. (SR 40E) in the offing, so call ahead. Kerrie Landry general manager; Francis Landry, owner.

Review: (from Rich C. 8/07) Our Dine Out Gourmet Group traveled to north Ocala for this interesting establishment. The lounge reminded us of a British pub (popular with the race fans watching satellite broadcasts of horse races) and the dining room was decorated with equestrian equipment. The restaurant was not crowded on a Saturday night at 6 PM. We started with delicious soups, hers was Seafood Chowder and I chose Tomato Bacon Dill (the house specialty). They were both served hot and were included with our entrées. She had the Grouper and Shrimp Florentine ($20) and I had the 12 oz. Angus Ribeye ($25) with Garlic Mashed Potatoes (skins included the way I like it). Both were very good. She also had the House Salad which was just OK and I opted for the Spinich Salad which I loved. If only the dressing was put in the microwave to warm it up, I would have had two of them. Nice fresh spinach leaves and lots of bacon, almond slivers and other toppings. The house white wine was excellent ($5). With 2 wines, an iced tea, 2 soups and 2 entrées, it came to $61 plus a generous tip for great, accurate service from Nancy. Our dining mates seemed to enjoy their meals also.
Q=4 S=5 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Ipanema Brazilian Steak House, 2023 S. Pine Ave. (US 27/441 just south of SW 17 St.), Ocala, FL. 352-622-1741. L/D. Open for lunch weekdays 11 AM to 2 PM; then again at 4 PM for dinner; Sunday dinner from noon through closing (9 PM). Located opposite Latinos y Mas Restaurant on US 27/441. The dining area and bar are very attractively appointed with a dragonfly motif and soft warm lighting. This South American steak house is a Churrascaria (Portugese Bar-b-que), a unique dining experience. Eleven authentic cuts of meat are seasoned with rock salt and roasted, rotisserie-style, over mineral coals imported from Brazil. They are basted continuously in their own natural juices. The cuts include Picanha (Sirloin), Filet Mignon (Tenderloin), Costela de Gado (Beef Ribs), Frango (Chicken), Lombinho (Marinated Pork Loin), Linguica (Brazilian Pork Sausage) and others. These meats are served by traditional roving gauchos and the meal is complemented by a 50 item Salad & Vegetable Bar. Unlimited trips to the Salad Bar plus unlimited slices of meat is the unique serving style here. Prix fixe Rodizio Dinner with Salad & Vegetable Bar is $36.95 per person ($31.95 for seniors). The large Salad Bar only (without meat) is $18.95 per person. Recently added for non-meat eaters are seafood selections such as Cobia, Wahoo, Lobster Tail or Grilled Shrimp at prix fixe $27.95 which also includes the Salad Bar visits. Lunch Rodizio runs $15.95 ($13.95 for seniors) and the Lunch Salad Bar is $10.95 per person. Desserts like Mousse de Maracuya (Passion Fruit Mousse) ($8) or Pudim de Leite Condensado (Flan) ($5) are also featured. Extensive wine list includes selections from Brazil and Argentina. Prices range from $26 to $350 per bottle. By the glass, the offerings are $7 to $9 each. A full bar makes tropical concoctions, such as the traditional Brazilian Caipirinhas ($7-8 each). Pitchers of homemade white or red Sangria run $45 or $10 per glass. Brahma, Xingu and Nova Schin Brazilian beers are offered at $4.25 each. Reservations highly recommended on weekends. 18% gratuity added to the bill for parties of 6 or more. Watch for coupons in The Villages Magazine for a free dessert. Owned by the Dine Design Group of Ocala, headed by Coda Roberson (also SKY Asian Fusion Restaurant, see below).

Review: (from Martin G. 3/07) If you're looking for a different dining experience and enjoy your meat, you should try Ipanema. The décor is pleasing to the eye and the food was excellent. There is an ample self-serve buffet table with a wide range of tasty treats, fresh salads, vegetables, shrimp, cheeses, smoked salmon, olives, pickled eggplant and more (too numerous to mention). Two hot chaffing dishes contained rice, beans, mashed potatoes and a shitake mushroom gravy. Servers periodically visit your table with large skewers laden with different cuts of meat and slice portions for your pleasure. There was Marinated Pork Loin, Baby Lamb Chops, Filet Mignon, Sirloin, Barbecued Ribs, Grilled Sausage, Prime Rib and Flank Steak to name some of the offerings. An interesting contrast to meat were slices of Roasted Pineapple. They have an extensive wine list and dessert menu which are extras. The dinner is "prix fixe" at $29.71 plus tax per person for seniors. The only downside is that their drinks are a little pricey, otherwise the dining experience is well worth the cost.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 6/07) Fantastic! I'm one for the more exotic, non-traditional restaurants and this certainly fits the bill. From the moment you walk into the establishemnt and notice the handsome dark male furnishings and dragonfly décor, you feel that you're in Washington D.C. not "Slo-cala", Florida. As for quality, the Salad Bar is beyond compare with towers of hearts of palm, plates of peel-and-eat shrimp, baby corn, bowls of homemade salads and dozens of imported oils and dressings above the bar that few people noticed. The meats (we tried 8 out of the 11 before we were stuffed) were all warm and cooked just right. The Lamb Chops and Filet of Beef were our favorites, while the Parmesan Pork Tenderloin was not a flavor combination I would have assembled (how about rum-raisin glaze instead?). Still, I ate it. Our service was exemplary. Nicole took great care of us, explaining the way everything works and how to use your red and green coaster button. Beverage refills were frequent. Many times, 3 gauchos were at our table slicing meat simultaneously. They don't hold back on it at all. Don't miss the grilled pineapple too - a perfect complement. We never did got to the vegetable bar! As for value - when you consider the nice surroundings, the vast, unusual Salad Bar and the delicious top quality meats, our dinner cost of $97.85 for 2 (with three $7 Miolo Selacao wines and a delightful $8 Mango Mousse dessert we split) seemed pretty reasonable. I always say you get what you pay for and this was worth it. We enjoyed the surroundings and service so much we stopped at the bar to have a couple of Caipirinhas before we left. The meat didn't taste too salty at the time but the next morning my flesh was like a salt lick. We'll be back when my diuretic gets me back to normal.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Richard B. 6/07) Very unusual and very good. Great variety Salad Bar with many varieties of meat brought to your table and sliced/served for you. $34.95 under 60, $29.71 over 60, or $18.95 for the Salad Bar alone. All food excellent and service superb. One waitress saw me finish my water from across the room and immediately was at my side to refill it. The ambiance was perfect. Even the drinks were unique - all loved it and would return.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Frank M. 2/08) After reading all the great reviews, we had to give it a try. We did agree that it was a unique dining experience. Service throughout the meal (prime server was Sabrina) was excellent. Very attentive and little or no wait for any service. The salad bar was outstanding with only one exception, the Peel-Your-Own Shrimp. It was as if the shell was glued to the shrimp, almost impossible to peel but still very tasty. The fixed price meal provided the multitude of meats which we all found to be of very low quality. Filet Mignon with gristle, Prime Rib that was greasy, Ribs that were very dry and impossible to eat, Sirloin that was almost raw, meats wrapped in raw bacon etc. The best item of all in that part of the meal was the Grilled Pineapple. The meats were a major disappointment. The overall dining experience was nice with good service and good atmosphere. However, none of us think we will go back. $77 for 2 with one full meal, one salad bar and one drink each. Our quality rating is based on bad meat but outstanding salad bar, therefore a 3 rating.
Q=3 S=4 V=1 Total=8 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Robert F. 4/08) The senior rate has been increased to $31.95. Our experience was fantastic. Ambiance, service, food quality and the amount of food far exceeded our capacity. All in all, a very enjoyable evening.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 10/08) What a nice time we had again. Our fall Gourmet Group picked this place because it was new to a few couples. I opted for the Salad Bar only and a Caipirinha drink. He had the full "Meat and Potatoes" version with a Red Sangria. As usual he raved about the beef, lamb and pork as well as the roasted pineapple. I finished with a Caramel Coffee drink also. Luis was our attendant. He was polite and attentive. We love the furnishings here and the restaurant was crowded all night. 18% gratuity was added to each bill bringing our total with tax and tip to $97. Not something we do every week! But very enjoyable.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Denny G. 10/08) Great evening with new dining friends from our Gourmet Dining Club. Fantastic selection of perfectly prepared meats served at our table. We helped ourselves to salads and vegetables from a buffet. Service was great. I enjoyed a very unique lemonade beverage. This was our first experience with a Brazilian Steakhouse. The bill for my wife and me was under $100 with tip. We don't usually tip 20% at buffets but this was very unique and the service was the best. We look forward to taking friends to this restaurant when they visit from the north.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Isabella's Restaurante, 16770 US 27/441, Summerfield, FL. Restaurant has closed its doors in April 2009.

Kotobuki Japanese Steak House, 2463 SW 27th Ave., Ocala, FL. 352-237-3900. L/D. Open Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM for lunch. Open 7 days from 4:30 PM for dinner. Located at SW 27th Ave and SW College Rd. (SR 200) in the Shady Oaks Plaza next to Best Buy. In business since 1986. Entertaining teppanyaki presentation is avaialable. Items such as Beef, Chicken, Scallops, Lobster Tail and Filet Mignon can be prepared before your eyes. Tempura and Teriyaki dishes are available too. Also popular for fresh Sushi dishes. Full bar. Ishii Misuzu and Ishii Mitsuru, owners.

La Cuisine, 48-50 SW 1st Ave., Ocala, FL. 352-209-8057. L/D. A late summer 2009 opening is expected. Will be open 11:30 AM to 2 PM for lunch and 5:30 PM to 10 PM for dinner 5 days per week. Closed on Sunday and Monday. Located in downtown Ocala one block west of the square and one block south of Broadway, in a double storefront, this new restaurant promises fine traditional French cuisine. Vintage, modern, yet romantic décor. Homemade desserts. Liquor license being applied for. Reservations will be accepted. Patrice Perron and Stephanie Gattacieca, owners.

Las Palmas Restaurant, 506 S. Pine Ave., Ocala, FL. 352-732-2100. L/D. Open daily. Predominently Columbian food with Cuban dishes also. Bi-lingual menu. Bandeja Paisa, Spanish Paella and Yellow Rice with Chicken are some of the dishes offered. For dessert, Cuban Flan, Tres Leches and traditional Rice Pudding are available. Columbian coffee served. Conrado & Yolanda Pulgarin, owners.

Latinos y Mas Restaurant 2030 S. Pine St. (SR 27/441), Ocala, FL. 352-622-4777. L/D. Located opposite Ipanema Brazilian Steak House on US 27/441. Open daily except Sunday from 11 AM. Dinner menu available from 3 PM. Meaning "Latin and More", it's been serving Latin Fusion Cuisine since 1991. Prides itself on unique world recipes and fresh ingredients. Emphasis is on Spanish, Central and South American creations. Chicken entrées include Pollo Empanizado (Cuban Style), Milanesa de Pollo (Italian Style), Bistek de Pollo (Cilantro Flavored), Pechuga a la Marsala (Mushrooms & Wine), Pollo al Ajillo (Garlic & Wine) and Mar y Tierra (Shrimp & Chicken with Lobster Sauce) ranging $11-15. Beef entrées include Empanizado and Milanesa styles as above, plus Carne Azada con Chimichurri (Flank Steak), Parrilla Mixta (Spanish Style), Ropa Vieja (Creole Style), Bandeja Paisa (Columbian Style), Churrasco Criollo con Camarones (Argentine Style) and Palomilla (suatéed with Onions) ranging $11-18 each. Pork is also available such as Chuletas a la Marsala (Wine Sauce), Pernil (Cuban Mojo Style) or Grilled Pork Chops with Passion Fruit Sauce ranging $11-14. Fish dishes are also offered such as Salmon Santiago (Citrus Style), Grouper a la Rusa (Butter and Mushrooms) and Camarones al Ajillo (Sautéed Shrimp) ranging $15-17. Paella and Mariscada are also featured at $15-18 per person. Arroz (Yellow Rice) dishes are offered too. Mexican dishes can also be found on the menu including various Chimichanga, Fajita and Taco dishes ($10-14). Chips and salsa accompany every meal. Spanish Flan and Tres Leches are popular desserts. Lunch items include Cuban Sandwiches, Quesadillas, Enchiladas, Burritos, Latino 2030 Salad and Arepas. Lunch specials change daily. Beer and wine available. Danilo Luzuriaga, manager. Maria Pozo, Webster and Fatima Luzuriaga, owners.

Laura Leigh Steak & Seafood, 26736 US Hwy. 27, Leesburg, FL. D. Open daily 4 to 9 PM. Located on US 27 at the entrance to Legacy of Leesburg Retirement Community. Part of the restaurant houses Cafe 27 (see above). Opened in June, 2009. Serving steaks and seafood.

Little Joey's Italian Restaurant and Pizza, 16840 US 27/441, Summerfield, FL. 347-1800. L/D. In the Baylee Palza. Closed Sundays. Cozy Italian trattoria. Veal and Chicken dishes are favorites here. Nika & Julie Dedaj, owners.

Review: (from Howard H. 3/08) This is our second trip to this restaurant. Both times were very enjoyable. A Monday night this time, there was immediate seating. Both times we found the experience to be very pleasant. Nothing fancy, just good Italian Food. I had Veal Joey and she had Veal Scallopini. The food came out hot and well-presented. The garlic knots which are an add-on were big enough to take some home. I had the Sausage Soup and she had the Lentil. Both very tasty. With an iced tea for me and a glass of house wine for her, the bill came to $39 + tax and tip.
Q=4 S=4 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Richard B. 1/09) We decided to try this place for my birthday dinner and were very pleased. I had Veal A La Joey (about $15) and got a large portion of veal stuffed with spinach and cheese over linguini and my better half had Mahi Mahi in a white sauce over linguini (about $15). We shared and loved both. Waitress was excellent too.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Logan's Roadhouse (Ocala), 2621 SW 19th Ave. Rd., off SW 27th Ave., behind the Paddock Mall, Ocala, FL. 352-291-9450. L/D. Open 11 AM to 10 PM daily. Peanut shells on the floor are commonplace here. As you'd expect, steaks are always sizzlin' on the grill. 6 & 8 oz. Sirloins, 12 oz. New York Strips, 6 & 9 oz. Filet Mignon, 12 & 16 oz. Rib Eyes, 16 oz. T-Bones and a 20 oz. Porterhouse Steaks plus 12 & 16 oz. Prime Ribs are the selection of hand cut Midwestern Corn-Fed Beef on the menu. Baby Back Ribs are also available. Shrimp, Salmon, Tilapia and Catfish are also offered for non-meat eaters. Chicken, Meatloaf and Pork Chops can also be found here. Finish it off with New York Style Cheesecake. Full Bar. $5 coupon occasionally available on their website. A chain of about 170 locations in 20 states based in Nashville, TN.

Review: (from Rich C. 1/08) Lots of peanut shells on the floor and they give your mouth something to chew on (the nuts themselves) while you're waiting for your meal. I ordered the 8 oz. Teriyaki Club Steak with a Caesar Salad and a side of warm Cinnamon Apples. The Caesar dressing was a little too strong for my taste. The beef was not too bad and had a "tendon" running through it. The apples were the best part. Debi D. was friendly and fast, checked back often too. This was OK for lunch and their prices seemed a little high. Maybe that's why they advertise two meals for $15 on Mondays and Tuesdays. The manager made the rounds and handed out $5 coupons on your next bill of $20 or more. Alas, it expired in just 4 days. My bill came to $13 with a refilled soft drink. I guess it's about the same as many of the large "roadhouse" type steakhouses around.
Q=3 S=4 V=3 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon (Ocala), 3410 SW College Rd., Ocala, FL. This location is now closed.

LongHorn Steakhouse (Lady Lake), In the Village Crossroads Plaza, opposite Home Depot at 590 North H'way 27/441, Lady Lake, FL. 391-5505. L/D. Opened March 10th. This plaza is not golf cart accessible from The Villages. Noted for their steaks and seafood. Flo's Filet, Ribeye, Bacon Wrapped Filet, Sirlion, T-Bone, New York Strip, Prime Rib and the 20 oz. LongHorn Porterhouse fill out the meat side of the menu. Salmon and Shrimp dishes do the same for the seafood side of the menu. Chicken, Chops and Spare Ribs are also available. Texas Chili and Buffalo Wings salute the Lone Star and Empire states. Full bar. Beth Applegarth, managing partner. One of a growing popular chain of nearly 300 locations now owned by Darden Restaurants of Orlando. Another LongHorn location is in Ocala (see below).

Review: (from Rich C. 3/08) A very warm welcome dominated everyone's attitude. I stopped for lunch and was waited on by Jan from the original Oakwood Smokehouse. Wonderful old time western decor, just a bit underlit. I ordered a Pinot Grigio and a Mushroom and Swiss Burger. It came with a slice of bread and at my request, a nice side of warm apples instead of the usual fries. I can't tell you how the Mushroom Burger was. More than half way though, I realized that I got a plain burger instead. It was cooked right and was tasty but not what I ordered. I was not upset and at bill time I asked if there was a price difference between them. Jan was surprised and one of the ten (opening team) "managers" running around, quickly made the adjustment to my bill and apologized. I've eaten in Longhorns before and this one will succeed if the kitchen can get it right every time. This chain is a bit more upscale than Lone Star and Logan's Roadhouse. Since the cook made the error, I have to knock down the Service Rating from 5 to 4 for this meal, no fault of my good server. She got my normal 20% tip. Total for lunch was $12 before t&t. Whiskey Creek - you have met your match!
Q=4 S=4 V=3 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Frank M. 3/08) We waited a while to check this place out. Well, they are not yet ready! Our experience there was very poor this evening. Arrived about 8 pm and had a 70-80 min (overstated) wait. So, with gracious help from the hostess, we were seated at the bar for our meal. That was the end to any decent service. There were 2 bartenders. Martinis and Manhattans were on the small side. Most everything we ordered came back incorrect, from dressings on the side (poured into salad) to sweet potato with cinnamon (none provided). Had to ask twice before we could get iced tea and the second tea took 3 customers asking before we could get any. It was almost impossible to get the bartenders attention and when you did, they still had to be reminded several times. People on both sides of us had the same complaints. As to the food, the Mixed Salads were pretty good. The main dishes were OK. Steak was good but a little tough. Chicken dish with Shrimp was very tasty and good but one side of chicken was very overdone and tough. In general, even though a chain, the food might become acceptable in time but the service still needs a lot of help. Meal, without tip, about $40 with one drink each. Will wait a few months before trying again.
Q=3 S=2 V=3 Total=8 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 4/08) Wow. Call ahead seating really works. We had a 10 minute wait but bypassed 80% of the people waiting. I ordered the 9 oz. Big Sky Bleu Filet with a Mozzarella Salad. The steak was nice and thick and juicy with no taste of MSG tenderizer like some steakhouses use. He had the 7 oz. Flo's Filet with the Crab Bake on the side. Wonderful flavor and extremely tender filets both medium rare. These steaks are never frozen and are wonderful cuts of beef. The salads were great too. His side of Crab Bake was unusual and tasty. My steamed veggies were a little too raw. The Cinnamon Apples side was our dessert. Amanda and a trainee were good, friendly servers. With 2 Pinot Grigios and my $2 extra for the premium salad it ran the bill up to $57 before t&t. We really enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere.
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Jim B. 5/08) We had a large party, so I drove over early and got a pager at 6:00 PM. Our group arrived at 6:45 PM. By 7:15 PM no tables yet. 7:45 PM, still no tables available. We were finally seated about 8:25 PM (that's a 2 1/2 hour wait!). Slow filling our orders, the steaks were fine but the chicken was burnt. Some entrées arrived cold too. We had to complain. The manager offered free desserts to compensate. We had Matthew as one of our servers who did fine by us but the rest of the waiting experience was poor. We left about 9:30 PM. 3 1/2 hours in a restaurant is far too long. This location doesn't know how to accommodate more than 6 in a party. We'll try again when they are better trained, but this time, only 2 at a time.
Q=3 S=1 V=4 Total=8 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from David G. 5/08) This is one of my best experiences in and around The Villages. Matt was my waiter and was perfect! I ordered the Lobster Shrimp Chowder (served hot and promptly) followed by the Ribeye Steak, prepared a perfect medium, with a side order of Loaded Baked Potato. The bread they served was a freshly baked multigrain. Total bill was $24 incl tip.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 5/08) For an early dinner, I was craving steak. Don't care for the spiced up cuts at Outback, so I chose to come here and beat the crowd at 4:30 PM. Donna G. was my server and although polite was just a little too "recorded message", reciting the same script to every customer. I had the Flo's 7 oz. Filet with the Crab Bake ($24). Meat was just a little underdone but at least they ask you to cut into it before they leave. Good practice. Rare was fine with me and their Flo's steaks are pretty hard to beat. The Crab Bake was unusual and a bit salty. My Caesar Salad and Baked Potato were good too. Really no major complaints. Wine was $1 off at Happy Hour, so I had two! Total was $31 before t&t. Noticed the waiting line by 5:15 PM, and that was a Monday.
Q=4 S=4 V=3 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 5/09) Tuesday night at 6 PM and the restaurant was only half full. Melissa was our server. I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Chicken with a Caesar Salad and Asparagus and he had the 10 oz. Grilled Salmon with a Caesar Salad and Baked Potato. I rather enjoyed the Chicken dish but his thin Salmon was ordinary. He prefers thick sliced fish. The potato was fine. With two soft drinks and no alcohol, the total was $46 ($37 before t&t). Not a real bargain! We'll stick with the Flo's Filet next time; that's what they're noted for.
Q=3 S=5 V=2 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

LongHorn Steakhouse (Ocala), 307 SE 17th Street (SR 464), Ocala, FL. 352-368-9600. L/D. Open daily. Located 2 blocks east of US 27/301/441 on SR 464. Flo's Filet is a 7 or 9 oz. filet, wrapped in hickory-smoked, peppered bacon and is their signature dish. Big Sky Bleu Filet is also a favorite with melted bleu cheese on a bed of red wine glazed portabella mushrooms. One pound Ribeyes and 14 oz. New York Strips are also popular. LongHorn Choice Porterhouse weighs in at 20 oz. and is flame broiled. Many Salmon and Shrimp dishes balance out the seafood side of the menu. Lobster Tails and Spare Ribs are also available. Full bar. This large chain recently purchased by Darden Restaurants. Another location is in Lady Lake (see above).

Louisiana Seafood House, 117 W. Main St., Leesburg, FL. 326-0300. L/D. Open daily from 11 AM. Formerly Woody's Chopping Block in downtown Leesburg. Authentic Cajun style dishes like Bourbon Chicken, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice and Shrimp Étouffée are on the menu. New Orleans style Crawfish, Clam Strips, Catfish, Alligator, Oysters, Scallops, Soft Shell Crab and Frog Legs can also be found. Lunch portions run $8-11, while dinner portions run $10-15 generally. Platters with a variety of contents run $18. All you can eat specials like Fried Fish and Jambalaya, at $11 each, are sometimes offered. A Ribeye Steak for the turf lover runs $15. Clam Chowder and Crab & Corn Bisque ($6 each) are just two of the starters. Early Bird Specials offered from 3 to 6 PM. Full bar. Happy Hour daily from 4 to 7 PM. Occasional live music. Cy & Helen Paige Holley, owners.

Mark's Prime Steakhouse (Ocala), 30 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala, FL. 352-402-0097. D. Closed Sundays. This very upscale steakhouse is located on the square in downtown Ocala at the location vacated by Reno's Grille at the corner of Broadway. "Steaks with passion" is their motto. This restaurant offers the finest prime beef and freshest seafood. Filet, NY Strip, Delmonico, Ribeye, Sirloin, Veal and Lamb Chops as well as Surf 'n Turf are typical meat offerings. Some seafood specialties include Crab Bisque, Wood Grilled Salmon, Grouper Santa Fe, Pistachio Encrusted Tuna, Crab Cakes and Chilean Sea Bass. Lobster Tails are also a specialty. All items, including salad, potatoes and vegetables are priced a-la-carte with most entrées ranging from $27 to $35. Crème Brûlée and Chocolate Paradise are two of their desserts. Extensive fine wine list and full bar specializing in exotic martinis. Reservations accepted and highly recommended on weekends. Be advised, restaurant's policy is for no separate checks. Willaim Scheel, Louis Saig and George McCoy, new proprietors; Cindi Tremblay, managing partner. Another Mark's Prime location is located in Gainesville (see page 3).

Review: (from Dennis G. 11/08) After resolving a problem with the manager on their requirement for "one check" for our group of 8, the evening was great. I had Crab Bisque and the large 12 oz Filet Mignon; my wife had the Petite Filet. We shared Lyonnaise Potatoes (great choice) and grilled Fresh Asparagus. My wife chose the Asparagus, as it is not a favorite of mine, but I loved it! Our meat was prepared perfectly and served on 500 degree plates, or so they told us. They were hot! We shared the Banana Walnut Bread Pudding for dessert. We drank only water and our bill was $98 before 20% tip (well earned by our waiter, Matthew).
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 11/08) While ordering, we were informed by our waiter that the restaurant does not do separate checks. Our group of 4 couples were ready to leave since we were not informed of this policy when the reservations were made. After asking for the manager to intervene, they reluctantly agreed to 4 checks for our table. We have visited Mark's Prime in Gainesville before and hoped this was as nice. I started with a Pomegranate Martini and my better half had a glass of wine. I enjoyed a fresh Green Leaf Salad and he had the wonderful Crab Bisque. We split a nice side of Garlic Sautéed Spinach with our meal. For entrées, I ordered the Blue Cheese Encrusted Sirloin and he, the large "baseball" Filet Mignon. They arrived on very hot plates but looked pretty lonely without a piece of garnish alongside. The meat was cooked correctly and was delicious. Just what we expected. We splurged for dessert. The Bread Pudding was very nice. Our total was $130 before tip. Can't say we will come back with friends if they will only do one check per table. That's a poor policy.
Q=5 S=5 V=3 Total=13 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Robert F. 3/09) As this was my wife's birthday, we wanted a nice quiet atmosphere with a more elegant setting. Mark's Prime certainly satisfied our wish. We split a Caeser Salad which was cold and crisp. My wife's Crab Stuffed Shrimp were fresh and prepared to her taste. My Prime Sirloin Steak was what is called a baseball cut since it resembled a large baseball. It was prepared exactly as I requested, "Pittsburg" with a cool center. Outstanding. Also, when we inquired about the Calimari as an appetizer, our waiter advised that it was not up to par. A very enjoyable evening. The bill without gratuity was $100.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Melon Blossom Café, 1434 West Main St., Leesburg, FL. 702-3946. L/D. Call for hours of operation. Located on Main St. but 1 block west of US 27. Victorian décor reminiscent of Mary Engelbreit. Frilly surroundings in bright colors fill the establishment. Shrimp Soup and Spinach Roll Up are just two of the items on the menu. No bar. Teresa & Jonathan Williams, owners.

The Melting Pot (Ocala), 10 S. Magnolia Ave., Ocala, FL. 352-622-9968. D. Opens about 5 PM daily. Located on the city square in the northwest corner. A Fondue restaurant. "Dip into something different!" Very relaxing but involved meal production. Typically, a two hour dining experience. Great for small groups. Two prix fixe 4 course dinners are available including Cheese Fondue, Salad and Chocolate Fondue Dessert. One includes Lobster Tail Pieces, Teriyaki Marinated Sirlion, Chicken Breast, Fish Filet and Black Tiger Shrimp ($79 per couple). The other substitutes Pork Tenderloin, Pot Stickers and Ravioli Florentine for the Lobster Tail portion ($64 per couple). 3 course dinners start at $49 per couple. Many other options and a-la-carte selections available. You cook your own meal in Canola Oil, Boullion or other boiling combinations. "Girl's Big Night Out" (4 courses & 2 glasses of wine) with entertainment offered 2nd Monday of the month at $50 per lady. Also popular for just dessert. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Dessert by Ocala Magazine. Full bar with a nice wine list. Reservations suggested weekends. Started in Florida, it's one of a nationwide chain of about 100 locations. This one owned by Scott DeMaris. See another Melting Pot location on page 3.

Review: (from Rich C. 2/08) Valentine's Day is not the best time to dine out, so we now celebrate the day before AND the day after to avoid the crowds. When making the reservation for 2/15/08, I was informed that their "specials" were not available during Valentine Week and that their regular menu "starting around $70 per couple" would be offered. That was fine with me since we've been here before and know that it is not a place for "discount dining". Our server was Johnnie and he did a fine job of describing the full procedure. Without handing us menus, he described the 4 course "Big Night Out" Valentine Meal. When questioned, he explained it was the only offering they had that night. Just to be sure, I asked the price of all this luscious sounding ensemble and he thought for a second, then said "about $75, I think". OK, fine! We enjoyed the Swiss Cheese Fondue with bread cubes, apples and veggies, followed by a "chopped" salad that hid most of the white lettuce. The main entrée featured a small lobster tail, filet mignon pieces, shrimp, marinated pork, cubed beef, sliced chicken, pasta strips and mushroom raviolis all cooked by you one at a time in a boiling pot of chicken broth. Fun and quite different. The last course was various marshmallows, strawberries, cheese cake, sponge cake and Rice Krispie squares that you swirl in deep dark chocolate fondue. That's usually the ladies' favorite part. Men complain about having to pay for the meal AND cook it too; but for some, it's like camping out with an electric campfire and going fishing (for lost items) all at the same time. The bill turned out to be $80 for two, plus $21 for two wines for me and a nice martini for her. The lady enjoyed every part. I, as the bill payer, enjoyed every part too, except for the "creeping price" from $70 to $75 to $80. Shame on them for this tactic. This is not a place you come to weekly or even monthly but for a special occasion, for a special lady, it's a unique but expensive evening.
Q=4 S=5 V=2 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Bill S. 5/09) My wife and I went there for our anniversary. We had the Big Night Out ($78) and we each had a glass of wine ($18). Our first time and our waiter, Lawrence, was very good in explaining how fondue works. This was a four course meal and everything was very good. The presentation was excellent; he showed us how we cook the meats and fish and veggies in the pot. A very good experience but not a place to go often. It's EXPENSIVE! Special occasions only. Total bill before t&t was $102 but we had a gift certificate for $80 which eased the pain a bit. We finished our meal with two decaf coffee's ($6) There are other meals which are much less expensive.
Q=4 S=5 V=2 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Mi Tierra Caliente, 2105 SW CR484, Ocala, FL. 352-245-7096. Opening date unknown. L/D will be daily from 11 am to 11 pm. Located just west of I-75 exit 341 (Belleview), in the Marion Crossroads Plaza behind McDonalds and Waffle House. Mexican restaurant formerly located at 2330 S. Pine Ave. Some dishes include Camarones a la Diabla, Pechugas a la Plancha, Bistec Tampiqueno, Chiles Rellenos Pablanos, Pollo con Mole and Carnitas. Also available are Fajita Calentana, Carne Asada and Shrimp, Alambre de Camaron and Pollo Alambre. Other Burritos, Fajitas and Enchiladas are also offered. Lunch specialties include Chimichanga, Taco Salad, Quesadillas and a small Fajita. Desserts include Fried Ice Cream. Full bar with Margaritas, Cervezas and Sangria. Maximino Hernandez and Harvey Del Valle, owners.

Midtown Grille, 114 South 5th St., Leesburg, FL. 365-1081. L/D. Open 11 AM to 3 PM for lunch daily and 4:30 to 9:00 PM for dinner daily except until midnight Thursday thru Saturday. Located in the building that the 5th Street Charhouse occupied for many years, just south of the town square. Total renovations expanded this restaurant, now with live music being offered on weekends. Poultry offerings include Mexican Chicken, Chicken & Shrimp, Grilled Chicken Breast and Chicken Tenders ranging from $7-10. Seafood selections include Salmon ($16), Crab Cakes (1/$20; 2/$27), Grilled Shrimp ($15) and Fried Shrimp ($15). Steak offerings include 8 oz. Top Sirloin ($17), 10 oz. Delmonico Steak ($22), 10 oz. Bleu Cheese Delmonico Melt ($24), 12 oz. NY Strip Steak ($26), 10 oz. Portabello Peppercorn Strip ($25) and a 5 oz. ($22) or 8 oz. ($28) Filet Mignon. Also on the menu is 8 oz. ($18) or 12 oz. ($25) Prime Rib and Half ($10) or Full ($15) Rack of Baby Back Ribs. Inviting "decorator" furnishings. Limited wine list. Full bar. Erik Devries, head chef; Suzanne Holmes, new owner.

Review: (from Rich C. 9/08) Your first impression is "Wow - Nice job. Where am I?". Contemporary, executive décor is very smart and appealing. Comfortable booths, large windows, tile floor and black marble tables really sets this place apart from sleepy downtown Leesburg. The fantasy stops there however. Tyesha, our server, greeted us promptly. I could tell she was new at this. We had to ask about any specials and although she read off about the Swordfish, Clams and Mussels entrée specials, she never mentioned the appetizer specials I overheard at the next table. My better half spotted the 8 oz. Prime Rib and asked for a Caesar Salad and Steamed Vegetables to go with it instead of a potato. To be different, I opted for the 10 oz. Delmonico Steak with Caesar and Baked Potato. Before we made a dent in our salads (just romaine greens with Caesar dressing), our entées showed up. Better early than late, I suppose! Low and behold - were we just transported to a diner? The steaks showed up on PLASTIC dishes! I can not imagine a fine restaurant serving their $28 Filet Mignon on $1 Melmac! Well that changed the mood in a hurry. My Delmonico was fine but not great; a little over seasoned but cooked right. Her Prime Rib however was not up to par. Just not tender and of little flavor. A line of gristle made it tough to cut. She did love the Steamed Vegetables however. My "baker" was OK too. The bread showed up last, however. After we wiped our mouths with the 1 cent PAPER napkins, we were done. Salads, tonic water, two wines (asked for Sauvignon Blanc but got Pinot Grigio) and the two entrées came to $56. Maybe their china and linens are on backorder? Let's hope so. We'll try again in a while if they smarten up about the tableware. I'm being generous with these grades here.
Q=3 S=3 V=3 Total=9 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Miller's Ale House. See Ale House & Raw Bar above.

Mimi's Café (Ocala), 4414 SW College Blvd. (SR 200), Ocala, FL. 352-291-8668. B/L/D. Opened in mid-March. Located about 1 mile west of I-75 on the south side of SR 200 in Market Street at Heath Brook (near the new Dillards). Open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM (Friday & Saturday 'til 11 PM). New Orleans theme but eclectic down home food offerings. Some of the classics are Chicken Pot Pie, Roasted Turkey, Country Fried Steak, Meatloaf, Pot Roast and Beef Liver. Pasta Jambalaya, Cajun Blackened Salmon, Spice Rubbed Baby Back Ribs and Crab Cakes add a Louisiana flair. Pork Chops, Sirloin and Flat Iron Steaks also featured. You can also find Hibachi Salmon, Seafood Fettuccine, Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi and Chicken Piccata with Asparagus on the large menu. For lunch, Bleu Cheese & Walnut Salad, Fried Chicken Salad and Blackened Chicken Caesar Salad are also offered. Albacore & Avocado, Meatloaf Ciabatta and Five Way Grilled Cheese are typical innovative sandwiches. Bread Pudding, Bananas Foster Mud Pie and New York Style Cheesecake are favorites. Most entrées range from $11-15, steaks $14-16, sandwiches $7-9, breakfast $5-9. Free refills on non-alcoholic beverages. This is similar to Fridays with lots of attention-getting cute wall decorations. Wine, beer and full cocktails available; as is an Espresso Bar. Approach from Dillards for easier access to the parking lot. One of a chain of more than 115 locations by SWH Corp. of Tustin, CA. Another Mimi's Café location is in Orlando (see page 3). Dan Dittelberger, managing partner here.

Review: (from Rich C. 3/08) Crowded at 5:30 pm on a Saturday night, but the quoted 25 minute wait for a party of 4 turned out to be only about 15 minutes. I counted no less that 7 "hostesses" and "seaters". Still on the learning curve, the restaurant had ample staff to keep things moving. We landed a comfortable booth that seats six. This is a very large restaurant, deceivingly cottage-like from the outside. Brooke greeted us promptly with her cute smile full of dimples. She responded nicely with her suggestions when we asked "What's good here?" Cut to the chase, my cup of their famous Corn Chowder (just $1.20) was very tasty. An order of Zucchini Parmesan ($7) for the table kept our stomach growls at bay. I enjoyed my Chicken Feta Penne and she liked her Grilled Chicken Tuscan Style. Our friends had Pasta Jambalaya and another Chicken dish. All of us took home half our meals. This is stick-to-your ribs food, presented in a nice way, with plenty of flavor. A slight error where the normal mashed potatoes showed up instead of the requested double green vegetables was not Brooke's fault and she had it corrected in two minutes. That kitchen error caused a lower mark on our "Service Rating". She checked back often and we lacked nothing. You can tell the employees are happy working here. With two wines, one appetizer, two entr&eacte;es, two side dishes, two coffees, a delicious Mimi's Bread Pudding and two Doggie Bags, the bill came to $54 before t&t. Their major problem was the access to, and size of, their parking lot. Whoever designed it needs to go get a new job designing puzzles!
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 8/08) We stopped here for lunch on a Sunday about 2 PM. Restaurant was busy but we were seated by the manager promptly. Our young, friendly server greeted us within a minute. I order a Raspberry Iced Tea and he, a Root Beer. Decor is very kitschy and amusing. I had the Mimi's Cobb Salad with a cup of great Corn Chowder. He had the Classic Beef Dip. My salad was exactly what a Cobb should be - diced turkey, bacon, sliced avocado, scallions, boiled egg, tomatoes and crumbled bleu cheese over chopped lettuce. Mine came with a warm muffin. I picked the lemon one. He enjoyed his French Dip on a crusty sourdough baguette. Both portions were more than we could eat. Our drinks were refilled frequently. The manager stopped by to see if we were happy with our food. This is an enjoyable restaurant with great food and service. $21 for two before t&t.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Dennis C. 11/08) She had the Salmon Dijon with double vegetables ($11) and I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu (#13). She enjoyed hers and mine was very tasty. Caesar Salads before our meal was only $1.29 each. I also had a Ch. St. Michelle Chardonnay. We shared the Mousse Ensemble. Everything was great including our service by Amanda. This is one of our favorite restaurants now. Not always health conscious but never budget breaking either. Our bill was just $41 before t&t.
Q=4 S=5 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 1/09) This is becoming one of our favorite spots for a casual, home-style meal. At 5:30 PM there was a 20 minute wait. I ordered a house Chardonnay ($6) at the bar while we waited. We were soon seated in a booth in the larger room with our friends. My better half ordered the Crab Quiche. I ordered the Flat Iron Steak (Medium Rare) with Broccoli and Carrots, Mashed Potatoes and a small Caesar Salad. Our friends ordered large salads ("no cheese please") for dinner. We started with a great assortment of breads and rolls. My side salad came out promptly. As soon as I was finished our meals arrived by two runners. Amanda was our waitress. As soon as they put down one of the salads, she noticed the cheese on top and immediately apologized for the runner picking up the wrong salad at the window. She was back in a flash with the one "without cheese". Everything was hot. My steak had a "MEDIUM RARE" marker in it and it was cooked perfectly and quite tender. Even had some caramelized onions and mushrooms on top, adding to the flavor. The vegetables were good too and I ate them all. The potatoes were just a little peppery for me but I ate those also. She liked her Quiche a lot. We shared a Three Mousse Ensemble for dessert, which was delicious. The total with one wine and one dessert was $38. So where can I find fault? Actually the food was quite delicious and we had no complaints. Amanda was friendly and very attentive. We lacked for nothing and she spotted the kitchen's error on the "no cheese" as fast as the plate hit the table. For good food, good wine and good service at $38 before tax - that's a bargain. So I can't find any faults to lower the score from a 15 point total! We'll be back. Highly recommend this place.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant, 304 North 27/441, Lady Lake, FL. 753-2722. L/D. Closed Mondays. Usual and specialty Italian menu items like Lasagna, Pasta and Shrimp Alfredo are featured. Many Ravioli and Spaghetti varieties are featured ranging from $8-14. Veal Parmigiana with a side of Spaghetti is a favorite also. Noted for their home made sauce and bread. A Mattiucci family business since 1962. Ricky and Elainna Tucker, owners.

Review: (from Dan K. 11/07) Wonderful personalized service. Elainna recommended the special Delmonico Steak with homemade pasta and Alfredo sauce, one of the tenderest and most flavorful steaks I have ever had. She had the Lasagna, also made with homemade pasta; very tasty. We also had her homemade Cannoli and homemade Spumoni, which were wonderful. Total was less than $33.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 7/08) Can't say we would come back here, even though the service by Brittany was excellent. They are in dire need of new menus. The current ones are worn out to the point where you can't read some of the items and spelling, like "Sauvignon Blank", needs to be corrected. I ordered the Chicken Alfredo and he had the Delmonico Steak Special with a side of Spaghetti. Salads were not available because of a 'boil water advisory', so Pasta Fagioli Soup was substituted. Nothing impressive here. We had to ask for clean utensils to start. Although my Chicken was moist and tender, the Alfredo Sauce seemed right out of a jar. His boneless Delmonico, however, was excellent and a nice buy at $2 off on Tuesdays. The spaghetti sauce was another story! It was like thinned out ketchup with sugar added. Not the thick Italian style we are used to. With two Lambruscos, the total was $33 before t&t. Perhaps they should change to a steak & poultry restaurant because the meat portions of our meals we really enjoyed. Everyone's idea of good spaghetti sauce is different. Those natives speaking Neopolitan will argue with those speaking Milanese. Form your own opinion!
Q=3 S=4 V=3 Total=10 out of 15. Return=No.

Murphy's Oyster Bar, 1900 S. Pine Ave. (US 27/441), Ocala, FL. 352-690-6860. L/D. Opens daily at noon. Formerly Louie's Oyster Bar of Ocala. Typical Florida oyster bar with the emphasis on the bar. Various fresh shellfish such as clams, mussels and oysters usually available. All you can eat Maine Lobster and Snow Crab Legs served every day. Philly Cheese Steak and Gyros also available. Popular with locals. DJ and karaoke on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 PM. Wine and beer available. Mufeed Zaqzouq, owner.

Naples Italian Restaurant, 1107 West North Blvd. (US 441 near AAA Office), Leesburg, FL. 323-1616. L/D. Open 11 AM to 9 PM. Closed Sundays. Very popular establishment set back in a plaza. Extensive selection of Italian favorites. Large portions from the all a-la-carte menu, especially the salads. Medium salads ($4.50) can feed two. Pizza and Calzones are popular including White Pizza running $8 to $15 depending on size and toppings. Chicken Cacciatore, Chicken or Veal Piccatta, Chicken or Veal Marsala, Fettuccini Alfredo, Spaghetti Napoletana and Lasagna Florentine are just some of the items available generally ranging from $6 to $12 each. Lasagna, Stuffed Shells, Manicotti, Gnocchi and Ziti are some of the popular baked dishes at $9-11 each. Specialty entrées like Penne Pesce Pollo, Ziti D'Napoli, Veal Scaloppini Shrimp Scampi and Shrimp Pomodora run $11 to $15 each. Hot and cold Subs are also offered. Beer & wine. Changed hands in June 2008. Carmen Delsignore Jr., new owner.

Review: (from Rich C. 2/07) Please don't tell anyone about this great restaurant. It's crowded enough as it is. The menu prices are incredibly low, mostly because it's all a-la-carte. They will advise you to share the salads. Even so, there's enough to take home by the time your entrées arrive. Service is friendly even if the owner doesn't know how to smile. We actually like the back of the restaurant the best. I always order Veal because it's so tender here but their Pasta dishes are wonderful too. She likes the Pesto or Clam Sauce on top of a big plate of "Italian String"! Can't go wrong here. When we get tired of Giovanni's, we come here. Now forget everything we said - the line outside is already getting longer!
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 12/07) We enjoy this "trattoria" and on a Monday night, they are not very busy. We often see our friends here too. I ordered the Veal Picata with a side of Linguine with Mushrooms. He had the Penne with Vodka Sauce. As usual we split the large Caesar Salad. The bread is excellent and warm. Not the most tender veal tonight but it was tasty and a large portion. The vodka sauce was very nice and thick too. I had Iced Tea and he had a House Wine. Prompt service where other servers fill in when necessary. Good food, nice environment and friendly service. Always a good experience. Part of the pasta went home with us. Our bill was $40 with tax and tip.
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

The NY Café, 1690 Citrus Blvd. (US 27/441), Leesburg, FL. After one year of operation, this restaurant is now closed.

Oakwood Smokehouse & Grill (Lady Lake), 860 South US 27/441, Lady Lake, FL. 751-5640. L/D. Open daily 11 AM to 9 PM including Sunday. Popular Sliced Barbeque Pork ($8), Baby Back Ribs ($8-14), Beef ($9), Chicken ($8) and Turkey ($9) dinners are the mainstays. Smoked Sausage ($9) also a specialty. All dinners include two sides and Garlic Toast. Also available are Oakwood Chicken Breasts ($10), 12 oz. New York Strip Steak ($17), Shrimp Platter ($11) and various Burgers ($6-7). Large Salads ($7) are offered for the less-carnivorous patrons. Beer & wine served. Now 3 locations in this area, originally started in Leesburg. Catering and takeout available. New locations now open in Eustis and Clermont also. Ken Waddell general manager; Tom & Bailey Cardwell, owners.

Review: (from Martin G. 5/07) My wife and I had their famous "Baby Back Ribs". At $10.95 (which includes garlic bread and two sides), it was well worth it. The portions are plentiful and ribs were extremely tasty. Two members of our party had their chicken and were also pleased. Service was prompt after a short wait.
Q=4 S=4 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 7/07) Been here about 4 times since they opened and usually have a good meal. Today at 2 PM the service was a little slow compared to when they are busy, believe it or not. I had the Pork Lunch Plate with a Baked Potato and Lima Beans. By the time my meal showed up, the meat was cold. My waitress forgot my beer and I had to flag down another server to get my drink. As usual however, the food was tasty and the Baked Potato and "Texas Toast" added to the enjoyment. At $9.90 plus a small tip, it was a good value. I'll rate this based on today plus my past better service experiences.
Q=4 S=3 V=4 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Ocean's Grill, 2009 N. Citrus Blvd., Leesburg, FL. 728-4537. L/D. Open 3 PM to 10 PM daily except Sunday. Formerly Louie's Oyster Bar of Leesburg, located on US 27/441. Seafood restaurant with an Oyster Bar. Sandwiches include Fish, Chicken, Gyro and Hamburgers. New England Clam Chowder, other Soups, many Appetizers and large and small Salads also offered. Dinners include Flounder, Oysters, Frog Legs, Calamari, Shrimp, Clams, Gator Tail, as well as other Filets of Fish. Steamed Snow and Dungeness Crab also available. Porter House, New York Strip, Rib Eye and Filet Mignon are also on the menu. Prices range from $6 to $7 for sandwiches; up to $10 to $17 for seafood or steak dinners. Early Bird Specials before 7 PM about $8; as well as Happy Hour, Monday thru Thursday only, before 7 PM. Full bar. Nabil Mansour, owner.

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant (Leesburg), 10026 US 441, Leesburg, FL. 352-365-0085. L/D. Open 11 AM to 10 PM daily. Billed as a "Tour of Italy", this popular chain serves up "Cucina Classica" recipes such as Five Cheese Ziti al Forno, Linguine alla Marinara, Fettuccine Alfredo and Capellini Pomodora. Also offered are Pork Filettino, Chianti Braised Short Ribs and a Mixed Grill as well as Venitian Apricot Chicken and Parmesan Crusted Tilapia. Entrées range from $10 to $20 each. Bread Sticks are popular. Italian and traditional desserts are on the menu also. Full bar. Over 600 locations operate as a division of Darden Restaurants of Orlando. A new location is now planned for The Villages (see page 1).

On The Flipside Café, 3500 SW College Blvd. (SR 200), Ste. 400, Ocala, FL. Closed after a few months of operation.

Osaka Japanese Steakhouse, 1401 Citrus Blvd. (US 27/441), Leesburg, FL. 728-0788. L/D. Steak, chicken and shrimp cooked by knife throwing chefs. Beer & wine. Chi Ly and Hoa Nguyen, owners.

Pasta Faire Ristorante, 10401 US 27/441, Belleview, FL. 347-3100. L/D. Opens 11 AM daily. Lunch and dinner specials daily. Classic Italian dishes, Wood Burning Brick Oven Pizzas, but known more for their Roast Rotisserie Chicken than for their pasta dishes by some patrons. Pollo Marsala, Pesce Fresco, Penne Louisiana, Veal Parmigiana, Cannelloni, Baked Stuffed Shells, Classic Lasagna and the popular Trio Italiano are some of the dishes offered here at about $9 to $13. Various Pizzas range from $10 to $17. Steaks and other grilled meat are also available ranging from $12 to $18. Pecan Crusted Salmon and Cajun Tilapia are two of their seafood dishes at $15-16. Whole Roast Chicken is $9 to $12 with 1 to 3 side dishes. Soup and a variety of salads are also on the menu. Daily specials offered at the door or ask your server. Weekly specials offered like Italian Feast For Two on Sundays at $19.45, All-You-Can-Eat Chicken on Mondays for $7, Seafood Fest Extravaganza on Tuesdays for $10 or All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti on Thursdays for $6 are advertised. 20% gratuity added on parties of 6 or more. A complementary $10 coupon available on their website. Newly remodeled inside and out. Reservations accepted. Full bar. Kathryn Funk, new owner.

Review: (from Andrea G. 5/08) With reservations and we were seated promptly, but near the entrance which I think could have been better. I ordered an Italian Trio of Stuffed Shells, Eggplant Parm. and Fettucine. We also had a Salad with the meal. The portions were average. I enjoyed the Shells and Eggplant, but I did not eat the Fettucine after tasting it. My husband ordered Chicken Marcella, but asked for Angel Hair in Garlic Butter, instead of Fettucine. He said it was excellent. The bread was baked fresh, served with oil for dipping, but no added herbs or cheese which was disappointing. We ordered a bottle of wine, which took a very long time to arrive. The rest of the table had drinks in front of them for about 15 minutes before ours arrived. The waiter simply opened the bottle and poured the wine. We were not asked to taste and give any sign of approval. When we finished our meal, the waiter brought the checks and never asked anyone about dessert or coffee. The total for the two of us, with a bottle of wine was $41 before tip. I would rate the experience as a whole as average, but I'd rather spend $40 somewhere else. Would I return? Probably not. I can fill my stomach for the same price elsewhere.
Q=3 S=3 V=3 Total=9 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Bill S. 10/08) On Sundays this restaurant has a two for one special. You get one meal, big enough for two people, for $19.45. Everyone in our group had the special but with different entrées. Our meal was called "Italian Ride of Your Life". It had Sausage, Manicotti, Lasagna and Spaghetti. Everyone said there meal was very good. It included a drink and dessert. Our tab with tax was $21. Everyone was pleased with the meal and service and said they would come back.
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 11/08) Crowded on a Sunday afternoon about 2 PM. I ordered 1/2 a Roast Chicken with a side of Pasta preceded by a glass of Lambrusco. One piece of chicken was very good but the second seemed to be a little undercooked, so I'd recommend you order chicken "well-done" to be safe. The small side of spaghetti was fine. Nice warm round roll too. My waitress was Valery and was friendly. I can see this is now a popular place to eat. I'll be back to try their Italian dishes. My total before t&t was only $11 for one.
Q=4 S=3 V=4 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Gloria K. 2/09) We went for the Sunday "Two-For-Twenty Dollar Special" but it wasn't even advertised on the menu. Fortunately, I had read this website first. Our assorted entree meal, "Italian Ride of Your Life", was delicious - good sauce. We all enjoyed the hot bread and generous fresh greens salad first. Our friends ordered the Pollo Marsala and it was very tasty. One of our diners ordered the special of the night, Salmon Wellington ($16), prepared with a puff pastry, decorated with asparagus spears and it looked very impressive. He said it was very good. Our server, Courtney, did a wonderful job and had a pleasant personality. I would return again for the Monday night 1/2 Roasted Chicken with 2 sides for $7. The chickens were being roasted ahead on the spit, dozens of them! The Chef Specialty entrees were very interesting combinations of meats or seafood and vegetables on pasta with unique sauces, with prices ranging from $9 to $13. Early Bird Specials (offered 4 to 6 PM) were less. Good food at good prices.
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 4/09) Just a quick stop for lunch. Taran was our capable and friendly server. I had the Chicken Sandwich with Fruit Cup and he had the Half Chicken with Mashed Potatoes. A glass of Iced Tea and a cold Lambrusco rounded out our meal. Everything on the sandwich was warm except the roasted peppers were cold. His chicken was cooked through and the potatoes were piping hot. Nice loaf of bread with oil for dipping. Total for two came to $20 with tax. Very nice surroundings now and a large menu. Good meal.
Q=4 S=5 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Pavarotti's Pizza & Restaurant, 8075 SW SR 200, Ste. 101, Ocala, FL. A spring 2009 opening is expected. Located at the west end of Canopy Oak Center (Publix Plaza) at Route 200 & SW 80 Ave. in suite #101 near Top Of The World Community. This new 3000 sq. ft. pizzeria and Italian restaurant is the second venture for these owners. Another Pavoratti's is located at 11352 N. Williams St. in Dunnellon, FL. John & Jodi Landolfi, owners.

Pete's Diner, 3325 Hway 27/441, Fruitland Park, FL. 365-0051. B/L. Opens daily at 6 AM. Closes at 2 PM weekdays but 11:30 AM on Saturday and Sunday. Plain and simple. Breakfast offerings are French Toast, Pancakes, Eggs and Ham, Bacon or Sausage and the like. Lunch has not only sandwiches but Beef Stew, Meatloaf, Country Fried Steak, Liver & Onions or a Fish Fry on Fridays. "Coffee under a buck". Don't ask for Pete. No bar. Popular with locals. Allan Pharmer, owner.

Review: (from Robert F. 6/09) Great for the morning golfer. Newspaper coupon offers full breakfast, includung coffee, for $4.20. Choices include French Toast, Pancakes both with Eggs and Bacon or Sausage. Friendly, pleasant service.
Q=4 S=4 V=5 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 6/09) Simple little diner that's run by Gator fans, obviously. I had a large Orange Juice and a Bacon & Cheese Omelet. It sure was served quickly. Took less than 2 minutes to arrive. The bacon was folded into the eggs but the cheese was two square slices of Kraft Yellow American melted on top. It came with two slices of toast. I skipped the Grits. Place looks clean and the service was fast and friendly. $6.50 with the tax was about average for this simple breakfast.
Q=3 S=5 V=3 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Pi On Broadway 110 SW Broadway, Ocala, FL. 352-369-5100. L/D. Open daily (except holidays) 11 AM to Midnight; 2 AM on weekends. Located at the corner of 1st Ave., one block west of the square in downtown Ocala. Pizza and beer was never like this. A unique selection of pizzas, like Sonora (with refried black beans), Tuscan (with goat cheese and arugala), Lana'i (with pork and pineapple) and Genovese (with chicken, prosciutto and pesto) are all $12 each. Or you can create your own from the list of a dozen ingredients. Salads offered include Spinach (with pear and walnuts), California Cobb (with avocados, almonds and cucumber) and Chicken Caesar (with romaine, pulled chicken and seasoned croutons), all $6-8 each. Sandwiches are also on the menu beginning with Caprese (with mozzarella, basil and yellow tomato), Tuna Niçoise (with dill and capers), French Toast Philly (with pulled chicken, peppadews and goat cheese) and a few others from $7-8. Appetizers and tapas are also available including Rock Shrimp, Chorizo, Tostones, Hummus and Manila Clam dishes about $5-7. The restaurant also offers a broad selection of micro brews and craft beers, as well as martinis and specialty cocktails concocted at the two bars. The rooftop open-air terrace is unique, giving an elevated view of the city. Adam Volpe, chef; Juan Bengoa & Tom McDonald, managing partners.

Review: (from Rich C. 4/09) Stopped for lunch and was surprised that they don't sell pizza by the slice. I had the French Toast Philly that is served with a side Caesar Salad. The salad was crisp and the sandwich was tasty and warm. Young bar maids serve the tables. Not at all busy for lunch but the kitchen was humming. Part of the restaurant is still not finished. The upper deck is a great place to enjoy the fresh air and a cocktail or "Pi". They are missing the boat by specializing in pizza but not having it available for lunch. Draft beer was my beverage. Bill with tax was $11. Will come back with friends to try the roof top some night.
Q=4 S=3 V=3 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Polly's Pantry Royal Tea Room & Gift Shop, 819 S. Main St., Wildwood, FL. 330-4002. L. Open daily except Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM for lunch, tea and desserts only. Located in downtown Wildwood, on US 301, next to the Colonial Bank. Themed on the owner's own book, "Polly Brown". A true tea room transported from England. Delightful frilly atmosphere; popular with the ladies. Fresh made Soups, Quiches, Salads, Desserts and a selection of coffee and teas but no bar. All items run about $9 each and the Quiche, Soup and Sandwich vaieties change daily. Reservations accepted. John & Tricia Bennett, owners.

Review: (from Richard B. 12/08) Excellent! I had the Shepherd's Pie in its own baking dish which came with a small salad of fresh greens, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes, topped with a strawberry and diced beets with a creamy raspberry dressing. My better half had a Chicken/Raisin/Date/Curry Salad, also with a side salad. Each lunch was $9.25. For dessert we shared a warm homemade Apple/Raisin Cobbler topped with ice cream and real whipped cream ($4). We drank cold Raspberry Iced Tea. All were delicious and the owners visited with us and shared some of their life experiences and their dreams to support orphanages. She is an orphan and her life was the basis for the book.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 12/08) Our Girl's Night Out group decided on a Holiday Luncheon Party here, with 10 of us attending. When making our reservation I requested the smaller side room and it was set with tableclothes, linen napkins and lovely table decorations. It is a charming restaurant with a lively, fun waitstaff. We waited for about 15 minutes for our waitress but since we were exchanging gifts it was not unpleasant. Most of us ordered their Raspberry Iced Tea and found it delicious and refreshing. The group split its orders between the Broccoli and Cheese Quiche and the Chicken Coronation Salad, with one lone person ordering the Shepherd's Pie. We were all pleased with our choices and the meals all came with small side salads with a strawberry dressing. I had the Coronation Salad and it was made with dates, walnuts, chicken, raisins and just a hint of curry for a delightful flavor. I had the Bread Pudding for dessert and it was full of raisins and drowning in custard. It was excellent. Other choices were Peach Cobbler and Chocolate Cake and were also top notch. My bill was $17.50 before tip and worth every penny.
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 12/08) Just happened to be in the not-so-wild part of Wildwood, so we stopped in for lunch on a not-so-busy Saturday. This is not a man's world here, but luckily there was another gentleman having lunch here too. I felt safe. My better half ordered a Raspberry Iced Tea and I had a cold Apple Juice. I love fresh apple juice and this was great. John read the daily specials and I was hoping to hear "Shepherd's Pie" because I didn't see it on the printed menu. Since my last visit to London, I have become some sort of an expert on Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash and Bubble and Squeak, the mainstay of British Pub food. She had the Pumpkin Bisque Soup and the Coronation Salad with a Rice Cake. A nice fresh salad came with my large Shepherd's Pie. It's a real "meat and potatoes" dish (literally). Now British food is not on the top of my list for the world's finest cuisines but it sure takes me back to the friendly UK in a flash. Everything is nicely presented and served piping hot. We had to split the Bread Pudding drenched in custard. Very friendly service; you enter as a customer and leave as family. Total for us was $31 before t&t. The men get a bravery gift, just for showing up!
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Prater's Smoke House BBQ, 1210 North Main St., Wildwood, FL. L/D. Formerly Buddy's Barbecue, then Whistle Stop Café. Now closed already.

Raise The Steaks, 8075 SW SR 200, Ste. 126, Ocala, FL. A spring 2009 opening is expected. Located on the side of Canopy Oak Center (Publix Plaza) at Route 200 & SW 80 Ave. in suite #126 near Top Of The World Community. This new 3000 sq. ft. steakhouse promises steaks, chops and seafood. Kim Hernandez, owner.

Ramshackle Café, 1317 N. 14th St. (US 27/441 at SR 44A, Griffin Rd.), Leesburg, FL. 365-6565. L/D. 11 AM - 11 PM. On the former site of the Leesburg Howard Johnson (1954) since 1989. "ram/shack/le (ram' shak' al), adj. loose and shaky". Broiled NY Strip Steak ($16), World Class BBQ Ribs ($9 & $15) and Smothered Chicken ($13) tops the news-printed menu. Lots of Wraps ($7), Sandwiches ($7-9) and Burgers ($6-9) are what most people order. Soups and salads also offered. Full bar with happy hour until 7 PM. Sit on the porch and watch Leesburg go by. Glen Gerken, owner.

Review: (from Rich C. 9/07) When the menu starts off with a story about "Ma Barker", you know it's a favorite hangout for locals (since 1989). I had to kill an hour nearby so I stopped for lunch. Their Cheese Steak Wrap was as close to a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich as I could get. And it was pretty good. The mayonnaise gave it a new twist. With two beers and lots of fries, the bill was $12. Not a gourmet haven but it was fun to sit on the deck and watch all the noisy traffic.
Q=3 S=3 V=3 Total=9 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Red Lobster (Leesburg), 10010 US 441, Leesburg, FL. 352-728-2400. L/D. Open 11 AM to 10 PM daily. Offering fresh seafood for nearly 40 years, this popular chain offers entrées such as Snow Crab Legs, Lobster & Seafood Mixed Grill, Crab Linguini Alfredo and of course, Live Maine Lobster. Many fried meals are available like Shrimp and Clam Strips. Broiled fish such as Farm-Raised Catfish, Seafood-Stuffed Flounder and a Platter of Bay Scallops, Garlic Shrimp and Fish Filet are also on the menu. Steak and Chicken main dishes available for land lovers. Many meals are combination plates and the menu is vast. Entrées can range from $11 to $29 or more. Originally developed by Bill Darden in Lakeland in 1968, nearly 700 locations nationwide, still operate as a division of Darden Restaurants of Orlando. A new Red Lobster is now open in The Villages (see page 1).

Royal Orchid, 3131 SW College Rd. (SR200), Ocala, FL. 352-237-4949. L/D. Formerly called Thai Ruby of Ocala. Open weekdays for lunch 11 am to 3 pm; and for dinner 4:30 pm to 10 pm. Saturday and Sundays from 12 noon on. A variety of meals from Thailand ranging from mild to spicy are offered. Signature dishes include Pad Thai Chicken, Shrimp Curry and Fancy Lobster. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Ethnic Restaurant by Ocala Magazine. Beer and wine available. Ukrit Khongkhakul, owner.

Sam's St. Johns Seafood (Summerfield), 17860 SE 109th Ave., Summerfield, FL. 307-7389. L/D. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Located in the Spruce Creek Terrace Shoppes across from Walmart on US 27/441. Specializes in seafood buffet as well as menu items like Grilled Monterey, Shrimp Scampi, Stuffed Flounder, Grilled Shrimp, Gator Tail and even Surf & Turf. Grouper, Pollock, Salmon, Flounder, Catfish and Sea Trout can be found on the menu, as well as beef and chicken entrées. A 10% discount coupon is available on their website. Early Bird Specials from 3 to 6 PM at $9. Full bar. A small chain of a dozen restaurants, started in 1982, using the name Sam's St. Johns Seafood and Crystal River Seafood, headquartered in Green Cove Springs, FL. William Scott, manager here; Bajalia family, owners.

The Schnitzel Factory, 1053 NE 14th St., Ocala, FL. L/D. 352-433-2300. Open 11 am to 8 pm. Closed Mondays. Travel north on US 27, past downtown, turn right on NE 10th St. (CR 492), go east about 10 blocks on CR 492. New German restaurant featuring traditional Schnitzel (pan fried veal cutlet) and other authentic German dishes. The menu includes Wienerschnitzel, Jaegerschnitzel, Zigeunerschnitzel, Rahmschnitzel, Pfefferschnitzel, Spargelschnitzel and Holsteinerschnitzel. If that's not enough, Schweizerschnitzel, Prinzesschnitzel, Hawaiischnitzel and Zwiebelschnitzel are on the list too. Many types of Wursts are also offered. Rib Eye Steaks and Gulasch are also available. Sauerbraten, Rouladen mit Spaetzle and Schweinebraten are weekend specialties. German desserts like Kirschstruddel and Deutscher Kaesekuchen are available too. German beer and wine available. Raymond Foehring, owner.

Review: (from Mary Lou G. 1/09) We arrived around 5 PM on a Friday and had no trouble getting a table. This is a rather plain restaurant, decorated with posters and pictures of Germany. The tables and chairs were black vinyl and chrome and the tables were covered with plastic red-checkered tablecloths. They had nice German folk songs and polkas playing in the background. We both ordered the Pork Weinershnitzel. You could have it prepared with either pork or veal. The meal came with 2 side dishes but they charged $1.50 extra for either the Spaetzels or the Red Cabbage. I had the Spaetzels and Saurkraut and my husband had a side Salad and the Red Cabbage. He also ordered a draft beer (Spaten/Octoberfest) which he said was very good and I had coffee. The salad came only a few minutes before the meals were served. The portions were quite large. We decided to take some home, so that we could enjoy some dessert. We split a piece of the Apple Strudel with Ice Cream. It was very good. We have mixed feelings about the quality of the entrées. My husband thought the Weinershitzel was good but I thought it was just "OK". I did not care for the Spaetzels. They made them with a potato ricer and they were more like thick noodles. They also were rather dry as if they had been made ahead and were sitting out. On the otherhand, my husband said the Red Cabbage was very good. The price of the 2 meals, with one beer ($5) and one dessert ($7) was $43 before t&t. We are not sure that we would drive all the way to Ocala again for this type of meal. It really is no better than what the Orange Blossom CC Restuarant in The Villages serves on their German Night.
Q=3 S=4 V=2 Total=9 out of 15. Return=No.

Shells Seafood Restaurant (Ocala), 3415 SW College Rd., Ocala, FL. This is one of 8 locations in Florida closed on Sept. 9th after the company filed for bankruptcy protection.

Silver Cricket Restaurant, 360 S. Highway 27/441., Lady Lake, FL. 561-4441. B/L/D. At the corner of Route 27/441 and Griffin View Drive, once occupied by Sakura Japanese Steakhouse, a half mile south of Lady Lake. Opened June, 2009. Open daily except Monday from 7 AM to 8 PM and for Sunday Brunch 9 AM to 3 PM only. American food with regional overtones, especially low country south. Breakfast items includes Omelets, Eggs Benedict, Apple Dutch Baby, Crêpes and Skillets of Country Fried Steak, Grilled Chicken or a Rib-Eye. Lunch offerings include Soup Du Jour, Greek Salad, Burger Platters, BLT, Monte Cristo or even Open Faced Brisket Sandwiches generally ranging $5-8. Dinner entrées, served semi-a-la-carte, include Pork Chops, Fish & Chips, Shrimp & Grits, Baked Chicken, Pork Tenderloin, Beef Wellington, Prime Rib, Salmon Imperial, Seafood Newburg Crêpes and Carolina Crab Cakes and range $10-16. Lighter fare offerings like Spinach Salad, Rueben Sandwich or Philly Cheesesteak range $5-8. Beer/wine license pending. Ethan & Rebecca Kurland, owners.

SKY Asian Fusion Restaurant, 3600 SW 38th Ave., 6th Floor, Ocala, FL. 352-291-0123. L/D. Located on the top floor of the Holiday Inn Conference Center west side of I-75 and SR 200, behind Cracker Barrel. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner, late night on Friday and Saturday. Dress code "Dressy Casual" but neat shorts are permitted. Dishes include Lo Mein ($10), Korean Chap Chae ($10), Pad Thai Noodles ($12), Szechuan Eggplant ($12) plus more exotic specialties like BBQ Laquered Salmon ($18), Thai Pork Tenderloin ($20), Walnut Shrimp ($24), 7 Spice Togarashi Ahi ($26), Teriyaki Glazed Sea Bass ($26), as well as Shanghai Strip Steak ($28) and Filet au Poivre ($28). Brown or white rice accompanies these main courses. Also offered are more ordinary wok-based dishes ($12-14) like Basil Chicken, Black Pepper Pork, Kung Pao Shrimp, Mongolian Beef and SKY Orange Chicken or Beef. Full bar offering specialty cocktails like Korean White Tiger, Sakerita and Fire & Ice. Very wide variety of domestic and international wines and champagnes by the glass (20) or bottle (140). Special Martinis ($7-10) are listed on their own menu card. 8 varieties of hot or chilled Sake are offered also. Urban-chic, contemporary Chinese atmosphere. Reservations accepted and advised. Suggested gratuity automatically added for large parties. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Restaurant by Ocala Magazine. Tony Trinidad, executive chef. John Dozier, manager. Owned by Dine Design Group headed by Coda Roberson (also Ipanema Brazilian Steakhouse, see above). Another smaller location in Rolling Acres Plaza in The Villages (see page 1) has opened called Villages SKY.

Review: (from Rich C. 8/07) With the possible exception of large luxury hotels in big cities, locals would probably never choose a restaurant located in their nearby hotel or motel for a nice dining experience. That will probably change for Ocala when the local press does an article about this new dining location and the word spreads around town. We stopped by for just cocktails on their shake down evening for "friends and family". As soon as you step off the elevator in this new hotel, you enter a different Dynasty (reminiscent of P.F.Changs). In fact the hotel atrium is also decorated with Asian artifacts including a rickshaw and a bubbling vase flanked by massive orange couches. Two polite hostesses greet you and we sat at the bar sipping on specialty martinis while observing the dining area busyness. Her cocktail was made with a lychee and mine was pomegranate flavored with a floating Dendrobium Orchid. Both were excellent, well-chilled and unique. Our bar maid (one of four working), Jill, moved from Tampa to work here. Like it's south Ocala cousin (the Ipanema Brazilian Steakhouse), this restaurant does not lack for wait staff. Dozens of young, energetic servers dressed in black from head to toe including long black aprons made their way to the guests with food and drink on the house tonight. The decor is primarily "Ming" with a mini pagoda centered in the lounge surrounded by circular banquettes for sitting. Floating table candles add soft lighting to the room. Almost hidden, are a number of stone Chinese warriors watching over the patrons. The dining room chairs are one of a kind stuffed black leather with large tassels hanging from the seatbacks. The hustle in the rear kitchen, crowded with chefs, gives you the sense of a well-orchestrated banquet. Very contemporary, almost trance-like music added to the buzz that yuppies appreciate more than the senior set. A scan of their interesting menu shows many Wok Dishes at $12-14, while their Asian Fusion Specialties ranged from $18 to $28. The descriptions all sounded wonderful. We can't wait to try their food in a few days as our Dine Out Group travels to this new and, so far, very promising venue.
Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 8/07) Our first impression of this restaurant came 6 hours before we arrived when the hostess called to reconfirm that our table for 8 people (our Gourmet Club group) would be ready at 6 PM as we requested. We arrived 20 minutes early and they were ready and anxious to seat us. Some confusion at the hostess stand resulted because of their dress standards of no shorts. A shawl borrowed from a friend served to cover the offending garment for one of us. The wine selection was very varied with many fine wines by the bottle and by the glass starting at $6. Many martinis made it difficult for my better half to make a choice. She settled on a "Mr. Miyagi-tini" made with orange vodka, lime juice, Cointreau, grenadine and 3 floating blueberries! So good, she had two. Kimberly, one of two servers, was knowledgeable about all the dishes and recommended we order a "first bite" for each person as an appetizer, then a "wok" dish each, all to be shared family style. The main course she advised is very ample and is best shared between two people. We did just that and the food arrived very promptly (almost too fast) and we had a busy time of passing dishes around the table. The only delay was for the 7 Spice Togarashi Ahi entré'e which took a few minutes to find our table. Because of this we can't rate the service a perfect 5 but we believe the fault was in the kitchen and not with our servers. Our 5 Spice Roast Duck was delicious. Note that many of the dishes can be spicy, so inquire of your server which are mild and which are hot. Unfortunately the menu isn't marked as such. The Calamari Salad for example, was good but surprisingly spicy and at the top of my personal tolerance. All the dishes we tried were excellent and ample, even for 8 of us. This is not your usual Chinese buffet. It's a good place to go with friends, learn about fusion cuisine and have a chance to dress up a little. We took a short tour of the 140 seat restuarant and counted 7 chefs, 4 hostesses, 3 managers, 5 bartenders and countless servers and bus people. With 2 appetizers, 2 wok dishes, 1 specialty entrée, 3 Chardonnays, 2 "Martoonis" and 1 dessert it came to $110 plus the obligatory gratuity of $21. Pricey but wonderful!
Q=5 S=4 V=5 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Ellen H. 9/07) We had a great meal with 4 of our best friends on a Friday night. Our 6 PM reservation was ready when we arrived at 5:50 PM. We were greeted by Amanda-Lee, our capable server. Our group ordered a wide variety of cocktails from their specialty drink menu. Each couple ordered one "First Taste" to be shared between the six of us via the lazy susan in the table. We ordered the Crispy Crab Wontons but we also got to taste BBQ Ribs and fabulous Spring Rolls from the other couples. They were not your usual Chinese fare. Then each couple ordered one entrée. Ours was the Lacquered Salmon with a side of Szechuan Eggplant. Our friends ordered Ahi Tuna; the others, Pad Thai Noodles with Shrimp. Again we shared them all. The Ahi was excellent except a little too peppery for me - then again it wasn't my entrée! The owner loved it spicy, however. Note that one main dish is enough for two and can easily be shared. Everything was excellent including Amanda-Lee's helpful description of every item we asked about. To avoid disappointment, always let your server know how HOT you like your food. The special of the day at $38 was passed on. Including one High Ball ($7), one Chardonnay ($6) and two (pricey) Martinis ($9), the total was $65 plus tax and tip. Really not bad for 5 star food and service. We all walked back to the kitchen and applauded the busy cooks in white coats, which they really appreciated. Can't wait to come back again.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Bob M. 10/07) Reservation at 5 PM, arrived about 10 minutes early and were seated immediately. Decor was very, very nice. All employees that we passed expressed appreciation that we were there. All 4 of us oredered something different so we could share. What a great idea! For starters we had Spring Rolls and Crispy Crab Wontons. They were outstanding. For the main course we ordered Thai Pork Tenderloin and 7 Spice Ahi. The presentation of both meals was exceptional. The tenderloion consisted of several pieces of meat that were cut quite thick and were very tasty. The ahi tuna with seaweed was spicy and was very good. The total for the 2 meals and 2 glasses of wine was $75 which we felt was very reasonable considering the quality of the meal and service. Our server, Sarah, was very attentive and helpful in describing the various choices on the menu. Would we return? A very definite YES and we are looking forward to it.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Wendell S. 10/07) My wife and I went for a late lunch to check it out so we could decide whether or not to make arrangements to go there for our Gourmet Group. We ordered SKY Orange Chicken ($12) and Crispy Crab Wontons ($8) and split them, plus we both had a glass of wine. The food was A+, the wine was great, the service was superb (everything was explained in detail). The place is a little pricey but worth the money. We made arrangements for our group to go there.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Jack C. 10/07) Normally, I wouldn't go to a hotel restaurant but SKY is an exception. Our reserved table was ready. Our server, Amy, was very knowledgeable, helpful and her suggestions for the food were outstanding. I recommend the Chicken Lettuce Wrap or the Spicy Pork Dumplings appetizers. Both are very tasty. Entrées we had, included Walnut Shrimp, Sky Imperial Fried Rice and Sky Lo Mein (although the noodles were a little overcooked). All told, the experience was a superb one. The Bananas Spring Roll served with Chocolate Sauce was just right; not overly sweet. The Crème Brûlée was subtly creamy. Our Gourmet Group would certainly return. Average cost per couple was about $60.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Martin G. 10/07) Probably our best dining experience since we moved to The Villages. These folks definitely know how to please. We went with our Gourmet Group and everyone of us couldn't stop raving about the food. Every dish was both a treat to the taste buds and the eyes. We ordered a number of appetizers as well as various dinner selections and as it was suggested, did a bit of sharing. The Crispy Crab Wontons are delightful, as are the Steamed Dumplings. Additionally we had Basil Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Lemongrass Beef, a Shrimp dish (can't remember the name), Escolar (an extremely tasty white fish), Ahi Tuna and I've probably left out a couple. The servings are ample, the service was great, the ambiance also worth the trip, and the manager, John, took time with us to discuss the wine options and make suggestions that were well received. A couple of us even managed to find room for dessert, a Chocolate Mousse Torte and a delicious Gingerbread and Ice Cream Cake. Dinner for two with drinks, dessert, tip and tax came to $95. Not inexpensive, but well worth it. We are definitely planning on going back.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Michael S. 11/07) We knew that this beautifully appointed restaurant was destined to be a favorite of ours when we decided to dine there twice in one week. We first visited SKY one week earlier with other members of our Gourmet Club group. On both occasions we were promptly seated for our 6 PM reservations. Since dishes are served family style, we were able to sample a wide variety, from the appetizer and wok dishes. All of the portions are large, each easily serving two and the level of spice can be adjusted according to your tolerance. Our particular favorites include Spring Rolls ($6), Lettuce Wraps ($8), Potato and Nut Soup ($4), Kung Pao Chicken ($12) and Szechuan Asparagus ($8). Our drink of choice is "Harbin", a very good 20 oz. Chinese beer ($7) which comes "dressed" in a decorative rice paper sack. Our server, Tracie, was very attentive and informative regarding our choices. The bill for two which included 3 appetizers, 1 wok entree, 1 vegetable, 2 beers and tax was $55.38. We think the prices are good considering the quality and quantity of food provided. This restaurant is an ideal choice for groups.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Bernie S. 11/07) Our Gourmet Group arrived and were taken to our table immediately. Our waiter was very helpful in explaining the menu. Some of us ordered Chicken, Shrimp and Beef Wok dishes with Asparagus and Eggplant sides which were tasty and excellent. Some ordered an appetizer of Ribs which were extemely tender and tasty. Others ordered Beef Filet Medallions and Roast Duck. However, when the main dishes were served, the Duck was not served then and she waited quite a while. The waiter then explained that her Duck dish was mistakenly given to another table. We felt that the manager should have made some type of reimbursement to our member whose Duck dinner was served after the rest of us were finished eating. The one major disappointment of this dining experience was the choice of rather loud background music which sounded like a disco and did not relate to the Asian ambience of the restaurant. It made it difficult to hold a conversation because of the sound. We also noted a rather varied assortment of dress among the diners. Many were dressed very nicely and others were wearing tee shirts, jeans, shorts and baseball caps during the meals.
Q=5 S=3 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Sheldon F. 12/08) This was the third visit to the Ocala Sky Asian Fusion. Each time we were early, just at opening time. We were seated in the bar area, the bartender immediately opened and welcomed us. Everybody was extremely pleasant. The food was perfect in all aspects. I believe that we have tasted almost all of the specialty dishes, as well as all of the appetizers so far. Only the dumplings could be rated as average, everything else was excellent. A bit expensive but truly a superior experience. Expect to pay $70 a couple when ordering appetizers and entrées with one alcoholic beverage and a 20% tip for large parties. As for the background music, for my part, they could do without it.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rich C. 2/09) It's been a while since we've been here and we picked this favorite for Valentine's Day with friends. There were 5 of us and we arrived 15 minutes before our 4 PM reservation. We were asked to wait until they officially opened at 4:00 o'clock. My better half ordered her favorite "Mister Miagatini" and I had a Diablo Chardonnay. A limited Valentine menu was offered. We all ordered appetizers and a wok dish for each, rather than the more expensive main courses. Blue Cheese Won Tons and Shrimp Tempura with Sweet Potato were shared with our friends. She had Shrimp with Lobster Sauce and I had Orange Shrimp. The Shrimp with Lobster Sauce was a big hit at the table. My Orange dish was similar to Orange Chicken. Amy was our efficient server and we noticed the music is a lot more acceptable than before. A second wine, coffee and a shared Bread Pudding completed our meal. All five of us enjoyed the fusion cuisine and nothing was too spicy for us. We were done before the crowds arrived at 6 PM. Total for 2 came to $94 before t&t - small price to pay for a special Valentine's Day dinner.
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Que (Belleview), 5209 SE Abshier Blvd. (US 27/441), Belleview, FL. 347-5400. L/D. Open daily 11 AM to 9 PM or later. Ribs, ribs and more ribs. Sonny's competes with the other well known "Rib Houses". Rib Sampler, Pork 3 Ways, Bar-B-Que Chicken with Sweet & Smokey Ribs or Pulled Pork, Baby Back Ribs are just some of the varieties and combinations. Also specializes in the hard to find St. Louis Style Ribs. Other favorites include Pulled Beef Brisket, Sliced Beef, Charbroiled Steak, T-Bone Steak, 1/2 Bar-B-Que Chicken, Chicken Breasts, Chicken Tenders, Catfish Fillets, Fried Shrimp, Sliced Pork and Sliced Turkey. A wide variety of sandwiches for lunch including a 1/2 Pound Cheeseburger. Side dishes include various Fried and Baked Potatoes, Corn On The Cob, Bar-B-Que Beans and Homemade Cornbread. Fruit Cobbler for dessert finishes off your waisteline. Beer & wine served. Take-out and catering available. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Barbeque Restaurant by Ocala Magazine. Another Sonny's is open in The Villages (see page 1). One of 150 locations in the southeast US, headquartered in Maitland, FL. In business 40 years. Kaye Buglino, franchisee.

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Que (Ocala South), 1794 SW CR 484, Ocala, FL. 243-5595. L/D. Open daily 11 AM to 9 PM. Located around the corner from the Don Garlits Museum of Speed at I-75 and CR 484. They are noted for Baby Back Ribs at $14.59 with two sides and a choice of bread. Sweet & Smokey Ribs, Chicken 'n Ribs, Chicken 'n Pork, Grilled Chicken, Pork 3 Ways, Catfish Dinner, Fried Shrimp Dinner and Grilled Steak make up most of the entées at $10-15. Many combinations available for the undecided. Soft drinks and beer only served here. Take-out and catering available. One of 150 locations in the southeast US. Also owned by Kaye Buglino, franchisee.

Review: (from Rich C. 2/09) This restaurant has all the food your doctor told you not to eat. (He leads a very boring life!) I had the Rib Sampler with a side of Mac 'n Cheese, Bar-B-Que Beans and two slices of Garlic Toast. Both the St. Louis Style and the Baby Backs were delicious. The macaroni and the beans were great "stick to your ribs" favorites of mine. I especially liked the beans with a sweet porky flavor. I washed it all down with a mug of beer. Tiffany, my server, checked back at least 3 times and Leslie, the shift supervisor, also made the rounds. They are well trained here and very pleasant. Great food and at $17 before t&t is was a good value too. Can't wait for the Lake Sumter Landing location to open. Cholesterol heaven!
Q=5 S=5 V=4 Total=14 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Que (Wildwood), 5995 Signature Dr. (SR 44), Wildwood, FL. After less than 1 year in operation, this new location has closed. Another Sonny's is open in The Villages, however (see page 1).

Sunset Harbor Marina, 10333 SE Sunset Harbor Rd., Summerfield, FL. 288-8400. L/D. On Lake Weir. Steaks, seafood, pasta and chicken dinners. Sandwiches, burgers and salads also available. Barbeque Ribs offered on Thursday and Saturday. Crab Legs and Friday Fish Fry also a specialty. Steve & Sandy Markarian, owners.

Sushi Bistro, 18 SE Broadway, Ocala, FL. L/D. Formerly The Cool Burrito, this establishment will soon serve sushi. A spring 2009 opening is expected. Silvia Gonzalez and Nestor Espartero, owners.

The Taj, 3710 SW College Rd. (SR 200), Ocala, FL. L/D. Name is a reference to the Taj Mahal. New "fine dining" Indian restaurant located next to the Country Inn and Suites Motel just east of I-75. Typical Indian faire including Lamb and Vegetarian dishes such as Korma, Kadhai, Saag, Masala and Vindaloo. Tandoori and Kabab items also available including Chicken & Shrimp. Chutney and curry flavors abound. Rahul Talwar, owner.

Takis Greek & Italian Restaurant (Lady Lake), 13761 US 27/441, Lady Lake, FL. 430-3630. L/D. Located in the Beall's Plaza. Sister establishment to the one in Leesburg that opened in 1980. Authentic Greek fare like Lamb Chops ($15), Mousaka ($11), Slouvaki with Chicken or Pork ($13-14) and Gyro Plate ($12) are featured. Prime Rib, Pizza, Italian dishes and Greek Salads are also available. Pita sandwiches are popular for lunch. Indoor and outdoor seating. Full bar. Steve & Katerina Tsolakis, owners.

Review: (from Howard H. 1/09) Have eaten here many times for both lunch and dinner. I always enjoy it. This time I had the Medium Greek Salad for lunch. Serves two people. ($6) and 2 draft beers (2 for $3). Don't forget to try the Gyro Pita Sandwich ($6), although I didn't get it this time! I came in at 11:45 and had a choice of seating. The restaurant filled up quickly. LeeAnn was my server and came back many times to check on me. Left satisfied and with a full stomach. Check with 2 beers was $9 + t&t.
Q=4 S=4 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Rosalind G. 1/09) My husband and I have eaten here a number of times and always enjoyed our meals. We suggested it for our new 6 member Gourmet Club Group and we tried it out. Not as good as usual but still very nice. I had Chicken Cacciatore, which was a very large portion of chicken with a nice veggie filled sauce. My husband had his usual Lasagna, which was excellant. The others had the Greek Combo Platter, which had a mixture of 6 or 7 different popular Greek dishes. One person had the Cannelloni and did not enjoy it; the meat was not very fresh. Our bill for our 2 dinners, with one ice tea, was $26 before t&t. Our server was Justin and he did a nice job.
Q=4 S=4 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

(The) Tandoor, 10401 US 441, Leesburg, FL. 348-9493. L/D. Open daily except Mondays, 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Located next to J. C. Penneys at Lake Square Mall in Leesburg. Named after the traditional Indian/Afghan clay cooking vessel, this restaurant serves a variety of Indian cuisine from various parts of the subcontinent. Significant use of various spices denotes each region. Murgh Laziz (Chicken) dishes include Curry, Jalfraizi and Shakuti styles. Laziz Gosht (Lamb) dishes include Madrasi, Roganjosh and Korma styles. Kesari Jhinda (Saffron Shrimp), Barra Kabob (Lamb Chops), Tandoori Murgh (Tandoori Chicken) and Khaas Nazarane (Kabob Rolls) are made using the traditional clay pot. Vegetable dishes range $10-13, while meat dishes range $13-18 generally. A few specialties like Gosht Sikandari or Bombay Mixed Grill run $24-25. Lunch buffet is available for $9 daily. Full bar. Happy Hour. Davinder Kumar, Rahul Talwar and Shrenik Shah, owners.

Review: (from Marilyn P. 4/09) What a fabulous find for our first Gourmet Dine-Out experience! The decor includes a lovely old, dark-wooded bar, beautiful patchwork from Jaipur and authentic tables inset with colorful spices and beans under glass. For the six of us, we were shown to a large enameled metalwork table that could barely accommodate the myriad dishes we ordered. Total bill, including drinks (before tip) was $150, about $25 per person and well worth that price. The food is as fabulous as the decor.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Roberta M. 4/09) The restaurant is nicely decorated with dark wood and Indian tapestries on the walls. We had a round table which enabled us to easily share food. We ordered a variety of dishes including Lamb and Chicken Korma, Chicken Tandoori, 3 Vegetable dishes including Palek Paneer (a spinach dish that is this writer's favorite). We had 2 types of Naan bread, both delicious. The food came with Rice and a hot mixture that could be used to increase the heat for those inclinded, as well as a cool Cucumber Yogurt. All of the food was flavorful. If you're not familiar with Indian food, spices are generally for flavor and not for heat, although we were asked if we wanted dishes mild, medium or hot. The service was excellent. What a value as the meal came to approximately $25 per person which included a couple of drinks at happy hour prices. Tandoor is a wonderful dining experience.
Q=5 S=5 V=5 Total=15 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Taste Tempter Pancake Inn, 2310 W. Main St., Leesburg FL. 787-4643. B/L. Open daily 7 AM to 2 PM only. Located at the corner of Main and Lone Oak Drive, 10 blocks west of US 27. Do you think they might have pancakes here? Yup, and all the extra breakfast items too, like eggs, omelettes, waffles, sausage and bacon. True home cookin' some may say. Burgers and Sandwiches added at lunch hour. Been a fixture in this town since 1984. Gerald Glover, owner.

Tony's Sushi and Japanese Steakhouse, 3405 SW College Rd. (Hwy. 200), Ocala, FL. 352-237-3151. L/D. Open daily from 11 AM, Sunday from 3 PM. An unlikely name for a large and authentic Teppanyaki Table Japanese dining establishment with extensive Sushi Bar. Offerings range from traditional to exotic. Tataki, Edemame, Gyoza, Sushi, Sashimi, Teriyaki and Tempura style preparations are available. Chicken, Pork, Beef, Seafood and Tempura entrées available on the large grill tables ranging from $11 to $17 plus Seafood Teriyaki at $28 and Lobster Tail Teriyaki at $29. Many combinations offered at $15 per person; $40 for 2 persons; $90 for 4 persons. Temaki (Specialty Seaweed Rolls) offered at $7 to $11. Sushi and Sushimi are house specialties. Unusual items such as Eel, Octopus, Squid, Sea Urchin, Conch, Saba and Ikura can be found on the menu as well as the more traditional Salmon, Tuna and Scallop. Noodle dishes, Yakitori, soups and salads as well as hot or cold appetizers ($5-10) round out the very large menu. Bento Boxes ($8) available for lunch. "Sunset Dinners" at reduced prices ($9-12) offered from 2-6 PM. Children's menu available. Winner 2008 Best Ocala Sushi by Ocala Magazine. Full bar includes Japanese beer and sake. Hibachi Grill chefs entertain the guests. Reservations suggested. Mei Hui Chen, owner.

Uptown Grill, 2436 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL. 352-732-4737. B/L/D. Open from 7 AM to 9:30 PM daily for breakfast, lunch and (starting as early as 3 PM) dinner. Located on SR 40 at the bend at NE 25th Ave. on the way to Silver Springs. Seafood, Beef, Poultry and Pastas are among the mainstays offered at this restaurant. Chicken Pot Pie, Roast Chicken, Roast Lamb Shank, Yankee Pot Roast, Baby Back Ribs and Prime Rib entrées run $8 to $22. Baked Flounder, Broiled Salmon, Stuffed Rainbow Trout and a Shrimp and Crabmeat Uptown Grill range from $13 to $16. Pasta dishes generally run from $10 for the Pasta Marinara to $15 for the Shrimp Fra Diablo Pasta. Soup or salad included with the entrée. Hamburgers, Dinner Salads and Paella also available. A $10 "Sunset Dinner" menu (such as Meat Loaf, Catfish, Pepper Steak, Chopped Sirloin or Lasagna) is also offered after 3 PM. Noted for their Flan dessert. A large variety of breakfast items are offered until 11:30 AM. Popular with Ocala Civic Theater goers. Beer and wine (by the bottle or glass) served. Free Wifi inside. José Moreno & Jean Stout, owners.

Veranda Gallery and Tea Room, 416 SE Fort King Street, Ocala, FL. 352-622-0007. L. Also know as the The Veranda Café. Located one block south and 3 blocks east of the town square. Open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM, Saturday 'til 2:00 PM. Closed Sundays. Lunch in a gracious setting. 1888 house offers comfortable Victorian surroundings. The Downtowner, Chicken Salad and Cheese on a Croissant served with a Green Salad and Cup of Soup is a daily feature at $8.50 . Portobello Mushroom, Beef Tenderloin, Red Snapper or Turkey & Provolone sandwiches range $8-10 and include soup or salad. Quiche, Turkey Pot Pie and Chicken Casserole offered for hot entrées at $8-9 each. Other large salads, like Greek, Waldorf, Citrus or Shrimp, also available at $9-11 each. Ladies Tea Time is 3 PM. Desserts available too. No bar. Shops open before and after meal times. Michael & Paulette Millhorn, owners.

Vic's Embers Restaurant & Lounge, 7940 US 441, Leesburg, FL. 728-8989. L/D. Club atmosphere since 1988 specializing in grilled Steaks and Prime Rib as well as Seafood, Duck, Veal and Pasta. Appetizers include Alligator, Mussels, Escargot and Yellow Fin Carpaccio. Table-side Caesar Salad and Flamed Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing are featured. Steak Diane and Orange Amaretto Duck are just two of the main dishes offered. Also flaming desserts like Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee are show pieces. Entrées range from $11 to $35 (mostly around $16). Live entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday Brunch from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. No reservations taken. Full bar. Derrick Haggerty, chef; Vic Donahey, owner.

Review: (from Bob M. 1/07) Unless you desire very spicy blackened Prime Rib DO NOT have it blackened. The coating was very thick and extremely hot. It was a way to ruin an otherwise very good piece of meat (my fault). My wife had regular Prime Rib and it had to be sent back to be warmed up as it was cool when served. But it was extremely good when it was warm. The bread served was nice and warm. The $4 dessert was nice but I could not recommed the Key Lime Pie. It had no flavor except the crust which was not good. The service was very good and we all enjoyed the restuarant. Cost before tip was $64 for two.
Q=2 S=4 V=3 Total=9 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Gordon M. 1/07) Very pleasant supper club décor. Dinner was good, but not great. Steak was cooked just right, but had considerable gristle. Prices from $16-$35. Service was good. People were friendly.
Q=4 S=4 V=3 Total=11 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Tom F. 1/07) The restaurant wasn't as nice as I expected and the service wasn't good either. I ordered the Cajun Steak which was very good but the others ordered either Filet Migion or their Fish Speciality and they weren't impressed. The cost was $42.80 before tip and cocktails. Desserts were free to members of the VHA.
Q=3 S=1 V=1 Total=5 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Kenneth M. 4/07) Our neighborhood (32 people) took the bus which was convenient. However, we were cramped into a space too small and over half the group had finished dining before the rest were served, due to the size of the group, so we felt rushed. I had Sirloin Steak which was nothing special and my wife had the Petite Filet which appeared to be over aged to the point of almost being spoiled. Price with 3 glasses of wine, no dessert or coffee was $60.63 before tip. This is the third time we have had either poor service or unsatisfactory food here. We will not return.
Q=2 S=2 V=1 Total=5 out of 15. Return=No.

Review: (from Dan G. 11/07) Our group arrived at 11:30 AM and we waited a couple of minutes before the meat carving stations were opened. The restaurant does not have a breakfast station. There is one carving station that served Turkey and Roast Beef. There were a couple of breakfast items but most were luncheon items, mashed potatoes, veggies etc. Service was very good, quick fill ups on beverages. Total came to $17.25 (no alcoholic beverage and coupon for $1.50 off a meal).
Q=4 S=4 V=4 Total=12 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Woodie's Chopping Block, 117 W. Main St., Leesburg, FL. Restaurant has closed its doors in March, 2009. Helen Paige Holley has now opened The Louisiana Seafood House at this location (see above).

Woody's Bar-B-Q (Wildwood), 1220 South Main St. (US 301), Wildwood, FL. Open daily at 11 AM to 9 PM. Occupying the building where Dickey's Barbeque Pit was located near the Turnpike. Carolina Pulled Pork is their specialty. Baby Back Ribs and Smokin' Spare Ribs are also popular. Pork, Beef, Chicken and Turkey are barbecue favorites. Fried Shrimp and Grilled Prime Rib are also available. Dinners range $10-15, with lunch $6-8. A Florida/Georgia/Alabama chain of nearly 40 locations headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. Founded by Woody & Yolanda Mills in 1980.

Review: (from Rich C. 9/08) I've always liked Woody's over most of the other smokehouse chains. This one is as good as the others. For a quick lunch, my server, Tina, pointed out today's deals and explained their 4 sauces. I had the Sliced Pork Sandwich with Baked Beans and a bottomless Root Beer. Large portions of meat, beans and pop. She checked back often and they make you feel welcome here. $7 before t&t. Only wish they were closer.
Q=5 S=4 V=4 Total=13 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Review: (from Bob M. 4/09) I was seated immediately and soon after Tina asked for my drink order. I ordered the Lunch BBQ Combo and an Iced Tea. The Combo consisted of 3 Ribs and about 3/4 cup of Pulled Pork, BBQ Beans and Creamy Slaw. I could tell that it was scooped in a measuring cup before it got on the plate. Fortunately there were several bottles of BBQ sauce available on the table as the meat had very little if any, on it when presented. The meal was very tasteful and filling. The place itself is what you would expect from a BBQ place next to the interstate. Nothing speciial but the staff was very friendly and efficient. For a BBQ fix when I'm in Wildwood, I would stop again. My meal came to $9 plus t&t.
Q=3 S=4 V=3 Total=10 out of 15. Return=Yes.

Yamato Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar (Ocala), 4714 SW College Rd. (Hwy. 200), Ocala, FL. L/D. New Japanese Steak House located about 1/2 mile west of I-75, on the south side of SR 200 at Market Street Shopping Complex. Lunch served Wednesday through Friday 11:30 AM to 1:45 PM. Dinner served 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM daily and 12 noon to 9 PM on Sunday. Some of the authentic Japanese dishes include Tempura Udon, Chicken Katsu and Yaki Udon. Teppanyaki dinners of Steak, Chicken, Shrimp, Lobster, Salmon, Tuna, Scallops and various combinations are offered. Fresh Sushi is also offered at the bar. A $5 coupon is available on their website. Full bar. Yoon & Hui Hwang, owners. Another Yamato Steak House is already open in Gainesville (see page 3).

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DISCLAIMER: This website is not, per se, an endorsement or criticism of any dining establishment. As such, it does NOT represent the views of the webmaster or the club's leaders. Instead it gives factual information about area restaurants and posts member's individual reviews of their own experiences. Your experience and rating may differ, so we encourage you to patronize the establishment yourself and if you are a club member, write a review so others can share your observations. Photos on this page may not represent the exact food offered at the adjacent establishment and prices may vary. All content Copyright © 2006-2009 The Villages Gourmet Club. All rights reserved. No part may be included in another website.