New Restaurant Directory
Hi Village Diners! You spoke (again) and I’m listening! So many of you asked to have the Restaurants tab listed by geographic location instead of in alphabetical order. Now the listing is so much easier to locate your favorite spots!
The new format is broken down in groups by Spanish Springs™ Town Square and 42 to 441 area, Lake Sumter Landing Market Square™ and 466 to 466A area, Brownwood Paddock Square™ and 466A to 44 area, South of 44, Country Club Restaurants, and Nearby Community Favorites (just outside of The Villages®).
I have also added a few more restaurants that weren’t previously included. The primary focus for Villager Eats is local restaurants, but there are some national franchises that offer daily specials which I decided to incorporate as well. If you have a favorite that Is not currently listed, please let me know and I’ll get them added. We have a few new spots that will be coming soon and I’ll make sure to let you know when they open.
CHEERS and HAPPY DINING!
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Happy Hour at Chop House and Bluefin
Happy Hour at Chop House at Lake Sumter and Bluefin Grill & Bar has changed. Both restaurants have discontinued their Ladies Night Happy Hours (formerly on Wednesdays and Thursdays). Their current Happy Hour Specials are every day 11am-5pm & 8pm-close: $3.25 Domestic Drafts; $4.75 Well Liquor; $5.00 House Wine; $5.00 Select Martinis.
Make sure to stop in for any one of their delicious craft cocktails and check in here daily for dining specials!
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Villager Eats Pop-Up at Brownwood
SURPRISE! If you’ll be at Brownwood Paddock Square® tonight to experience the Blonde Ambition band, make sure to look for us! We will be wearing our sapphire blue Villager Eats t-shirts and dancing the night away! Find me for a goodie bag, which includes our NEW refrigerator magnet with a QR code to easily scan and find today’s daily specials on the site.
Hope to see you there!
Chop House Take 2
Last night was a return visit to Chop House at Lake Sumter and it might have been even better than the first time. Correction: it WAS better than the first time!
Do you find yourself ordering the same meal at your favorite restaurants? Or do you venture out and try something new each time? Sometimes I slip into that habit of ordering the same thing. Not this time. If you recall, the previous visit I had the Filet Mignon, and it was delicious. This time, our awesome server, TJ, recommended the Chicken Chevre. He had me at sun-dried tomatoes! My friend enjoyed the Prime Delmonico, which also looked amazing and cooked perfectly. But back to the Chicken Chevre…this was by far in my top 3 all-time favorite dishes in The Villages®. The whole plate had so many levels of flavor. But the goat cheese, basil beurre blanc was to die for.
Atmosphere is Key
The atmosphere was also different this time. Our reservations were for the outdoor patio, but with the dreary weather looming they were going to move us inside – much to my disappointment. I guess the look on my face was enough for the maître d, Brandon, to quickly whisk us outside to the perfect table. And guess what?! No rain…until we were leaving. The weather was perfect and so was the service and food. TJ treated us like family and Lexi served up a delicious Sunset Sangria from the outside bar. I absolutely love dining outside – it definitely adds to the entire experience.
Where are they?
Chop House at Lake Sumter is located at 1045 Old Camp Rd., The Villages just off the square at Lake Sumter Landing.
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Wildwood Wildcats Booster Club
Are you looking for a fun day trip and want to help support the Wildwood Wildcats Booster Club at the same time? Join them on a bus trip and experience Tarpon Springs. I hear there are plenty of fantastic Greek restaurants to experience! The Big Fat Greek Day Trip to Tarpon Springs is May 7th, 2022 8am – 5pm.
Less than two hours away from The Villages® lies the historic town of Tarpon Springs where everything is…well…Greek! Tarpon Springs was built on the backs of the Greek fisherman/sponge divers and their families settled in the area in the late 1890s. The historic downtown area looks like a movie set from the 1950s and many movies have been filmed there including Beneath the 12 Mile Reef.
What Does The Tour Include?
The tour includes roundtrip deluxe motorcoach transportation from the Brownwood Hotel porte cochere. There will be a guided tour of the area, including St Nicholas Cathedral. The cathedral is home to the St. Nicholas weeping icon, a certified miracle in the Greek Orthodox Church. Also included is time for shopping and lunch on your own. While lunch is not included in the ticket price, there are several restaurants right on Dodacanese Blvd. Plus, you cannot miss a stop at Hella’s Bakery. Make sure to bring a little extra money for sponge shopping (you’ll learn which ones are the best for bathing, crafts, or plants) and olive oil soap.
When And Where Do We Leave?
The bus will leave the Brownwood Hotel promptly at 8:00am. You can bring a cooler with drinks and snacks if you like. Anticipate returning to Brownwood Hotel by 5:00pm. Bring a little cash to participate in gift basket and 50/50 raffles on the bus.
How Do I Get Tickets?
Reservations are limited! Tickets are $65.00 per person. A portion of the cost of each ticket will go to the WWBC. To reserve: E-mail Donna Lasko at Lasko3420@gmail.com with the name(s) in your party and your email address and phone number. Checks should be made out to WWBC and mailed to: Donna Lasko, 3420 Kananwood Terrace, The Villages, FL 32163
Vllager Eats, LLC is not affiliated with The Wildwood Wildcats Booster Club or it’s entities. The Wildwood Wildcats Booster Club is a registered Florida Non-profit corporation and a 501(c)3 charitable organization associated with the Wildwood Middle High School in Wildwood Florida. WWBC is governed by a Board of Directors and primarily operates through several committees (Academics, Athletics, Art/Music, Fundraising & Scholarships). For more information, please visit their website at https://www.wildwoodwildcatsboosterclub.com
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St. Patrick’s Day Starts Today!
Today is the first of two St. Patrick’s Day celebrations! Come out tonight, March 11th from 4-9pm at Lake Sumter Landing™ to kick off the luck o’ the Irish! There will be plenty of food, music and dancing with Seven Nations, The Byrne Brothers, Sounds of Scotland, English Country Dancers, WeFlip, Bag Pipers, The Villages Twirlers & Drum Corp, Stilt Walkers, The Pacific Paradise Dancers as well as food and market vendors.
Before you head out, make sure to check Villager Eats for tonight’s dinner specials! Lots of Lent specials and festive Friday deals. Then make sure you come out next week for another great evening at Spanish Springs!
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Harvest Restaurant & Bar
Yesterday was the day I FINALLY experienced the new Harvest Restaurant & Bar at Brownwood Paddock Square® …and it was well worth the wait!! Can I just tell you; it is AHH-MAZING!?
My Harvest Experience
I am a firm believer that food not only nourishes our bodies, but also our souls. And I love it even more when it truly makes us happy! For me, and probably you too, dining out is more than just the food, it’s the ambiance, the staff, the friends and family you’re with, the new friends you make, the conversations, the cocktails, the creative flavors and the memories. I’m already tasting my food with my eyes and absorbing the aromas before it even enters my mouth. The presentation at Harvest hit all the high notes and I had chills immediately.
Third Time’s A Charm
This was my third attempt to snag a seat at the beautiful outside bar – because… hello single person not wanting to sit alone at a table (haha). I always love eating dinner at the bar (I’m no barfly, but it’s such a great way to meet new friends – and this will be a topic for another post). On one of my earlier trips to take outdoor photos, I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow foodie who happened to be one of the first guests to walk through their doors. It was fun listening to her story and how they were there for an anniversary dinner. We talked about her story and of course how much she and her husband loved their meals. Oooh…I couldn’t wait to get my chance!
The minute I sat down; I was in awe. Morgan and Luke were behind the bar bringing all the love to everyone. And when I saw the Prickly Pear Margarita on the Cocktail Menu, I immediately ordered it. My anticipation of ordering their Squash Blossoms was squashed though since they had just run out (this was my one and only disappointment). Everything else looked so delicious so my disappointment didn’t last long. My fellow diners had amazing small plates and meals, and did I mention gorgeous cocktails? Some highly recommended dishes were the Harvest Hummus, Butternut Squash Bisque, Tempura Vegetables, Scallop Risotto, Flounder Roulade, Fruitti De Mare, and the Cherry Glazed Pork Chop. My new friend sitting next to me had the Cherry Glazed Pork Chop and I almost took a picture of his plate, but we weren’t quite that close yet.
What Did I Have, You Ask?
As I mentioned before, that Prickly Pear Margarita was so refreshing and delicious which complimented the Angus Bowl perfectly. A perfect bowl of blackened steak cooked fork-tender and just the right amount of seasoning, sitting on top of creamy bleu risotto, spinach and tomatoes all topped with microgreens. It truly melted in my mouth. Side note: their fresh green ingredients come directly from our very own The Villages Grown®. I cannot wait to go back again!
“Chef Inspired + Wine Focused”
If you are a wine enthusiast, you will fall in love with Harvest and their menu. Each section suggests the perfect pairings and definitely matches their motto of “Chef Inspired + Wine Focused”. The décor is vibrant, rustic, modern yet classic, and refreshing. Outside dining is offered, along with an outside bar. Make sure you check out the elegant wine wall. We have been waiting for something new, and here it is!
Props to Morgan and Luke for making me feel so welcome and treating me with such finesse. I even had the privilege of meeting Fred Karimipour, owner of FMK Restaurant Group as he greeted and took time to converse with all of his guests. I love it when the owner builds relationships with their guests who become family. I left walking on Cloud 9. This one is highly recommended to all of my Village family!
Where Are They?
You can find Harvest Restaurant & Bar at 3676 Meggison Rd. on Brownwood Paddock Square. Their new hours begin on Monday, March 7th starting with lunch at 11am. Sunday-Thursday: 11am – 9pm; Friday & Saturday: 11am – 10pm. (This weekend they will be opening at 3pm.) Reservations are suggested and can be made online here for parties up to four, call the restaurant at 352-571-5514 for groups of five or more. For more info see their website: www.harvestbrownwood.com
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Strawberry Festival
One of my favorite fruits has always been STRAWBERRIES! YUM! So sweet and refreshing.
This weekend will be full of these red juicy treats at the Strawberry Festival 2022 at Brownwood Paddock Square® on Saturday, February 26th 10am-4pm and Sunday, February 27th 10am-4pm. There will be so much more than just strawberries with the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Come out and visit the market vendors and food trucks; see The Villages Twirlers & Drum Corp, The Villages Original Belly Dancers, Aloha O K Hula, Mystic Jewels, Silver Rockettes, Prime Time Twirlers, The Plant Girl, Carnival Games and a Photo Booth.
You can also enjoy live music featuring Slickwood on Saturday and Greg Warren Band on Sunday. Both bands will be performing througout the day 10am – 4pm. So make sure to wear your dancing shoes!
SEE YOU THERE!
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LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH
Hi Village Diners! With so much recent growth, I wanted to touch base and welcome y’all to Villager Eats! New here? Then you’ll want to read on to get the best experience here on the site.
Who Are We?
Villager Eats is a website sharing your favorite Villages restaurants all in one place. We are known for including Daily Dining & Happy Hour Specials and provide a comprehensive listing of restaurants as well as blog posts with featured events or specials. If you are looking for the best dining specials, hover over the “Daily Specials” tab, then click on the day of the week. Example: today is Saturday (or whatever day you’re looking for), once you click on that day you will see specials for our area restaurants on that day. This is great so you don’t have to scan through the newspaper or social media pages and various websites – we make it easy for YOU. And you can take it all with you on the go via your phone or tablet.
Best Time?
The best time to check-in would be after 11:00am – that’s usually when I get the info to share with you. Note that the restaurants can change specials without notice and I’m simply sharing what’s advertised.
Directory
Are you looking for an interactive listing of all the local restaurants? Then head over to the Restaurants tab. Here you will find the directory of eating establishments and links to their website or social media page. This list primarily focuses on the local or regional restaurants, not necessarily national chains.
Currently it’s listed alphabetically, but I’m considering grouping them geographically. I’d love to hear what you think – tell me by leaving a comment (see top of this post).
Let’s Connect
Did you know that you can join the party by subscribing to Villager Eats? At the end of each blog post and on the Contact tab, you can simply submit your email address to receive each new blog post as it’s published. I am always looking for ways to improve the site and make it the best experience possible. So be encouraged to send your kind comments and suggestions on the “Leave a Reply” section at the bottom of the Home page or “Send Us A Message” on the Contact page.
Let’s Get Social
Villager Eats is all about being social and enjoying the food and beverage here in our friendly town! Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive content, events and give-aways. (Click the hyperlinks to easily find our page or find us @VillagerEats on Facebook and @villager_eats on Instagram.)
Promoting Local Business
One thing I have always loved doing is supporting local businesses, not just restaurants. If you have a local business and are looking for affordable advertising, we’ve got you covered! Villager Eats is one of the fastest growing websites in our area and has an equally growing social media community. What a great way to get in front of more friendly folks! Shoot me an email at info@villagereats.com or send a message on the Contact tab.
Coming Soon!
STAY TUNED! More about coupons, events, and a special Villager Eats VIP Dining card coming soon.
Thank You!
Finally, I want to thank each and everyone of you for the support shown for Villager Eats. You all are the reason we’re here and I get so excited when I hear someone talking about or sharing the site with friends and family. So…THANK YOU!!
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Friends Supporting Villager Eats
Can we just talk about how important friendships are?! Yesterday a group of friends gathered to personalize some new Villager Eats T-Shirts. A friend of mine and her husband imprinted the shirts, and we had a blast customizing them together. Be on the lookout for us at Lake Sumter Landing Town Square tomorrow evening (Thursday, Feb. 17) where we will be dancing the night away! I will be stopping for a bite to eat ahead of time, and possibly taking advantage of happy hour during the breaks…any guesses where I’ll be?
If you see us make sure to say hello! I will also have a limited number of Villager Eats refrigerator magnets to pass out.
Thanks to Gina, Zam, Kathy, Jane, Sandy & Lydia (and Venus, not pictured) for your support and friendship!
#VillagerEats #lifeinthevillages #restaurantsinthevillages #happyhourinthevillages #localfoodie
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