Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
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Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in The Villages, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#7. Tequila Cantina Mexican Kitchen
- Rating: 4.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3551 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, Florida
- Categories: Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#6. No 1 Chinese Food
- Rating: 4.0/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 2949 Traverse Trail The Villages, Florida
- Categories: Chinese
- Read more on Yelp
#5. The Legacy Restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club
- Rating: 4.0/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 17135 Buena Vista Blvd. The Villages, Florida
- Categories: American, New American, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp
#4. KungFu Chef
- Rating: 4.0/5 (43 reviews)
- Address: 3437 Wedgewood Lane The Villages, Florida
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Reveille Cafe
- Rating: 4.0/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2109 Everglades Lane The Villages, Florida
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Harvest Restaurant & Bar
- Rating: 4.0/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3676 Meggison Road The Villages, Florida
- Categories: Wine Bars, Seafood, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Island Fin Poke
- Rating: 4.5/5 (47 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2752 Brownwood Blvd. Ste 101 The Villages, Florida
- Categories: Poke, Seafood, Hawaiian
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.