VENUS -A restaurant out of our past today!

I like a restaurant that reminds me of my past (60 to 70 years ago); and, like most people my age, I prefer non-chain restaurants. In Largo, Florida there is Venus Restaurant. It has been family owned since 1985, is small, and seems to cater to an older neighborhood population.

There are booths, tables and an outdoor seating area where  smoking is apparently allowed; at least I could smell cigarette smoke which is unusual; even in Florida. The walls are covered with pictures drawn by grade-school grandchildren, the waitresses are friendly and the parking lot is always crowded.

The food is simple, not processed and reflective of by-gone times. Where else can you find beef liver and onions (small portion) for $7.49 “served with a choice of the following sides: cup of soup, or side salad, potato, vegetable or a pudding dessert.”

They also serve fish, meat-loaf, burgers and pasta; plus an assortment of Greek dishes and pudding for dessert.

Breakfast:

“2-2-2

$5.99
two eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, 2 pieces of sausage, potatoes or grits, toast and jelly.”
Check out the Venus menu.
Venus is obviously up-scale as there was a black Rolls Royce in the parking lot in 2017 :
This was originally written in 2017. When I went back this week for lunch, there was a brand new, blue Rolls Royce in the parking lot. Nothing else had changed.
Lunch was Greek, and more than we could eat, but excellent:

Of course, since there are a lot of Canadians who vacation in Indian Rocks Beach, they served their version of poutine, with gravy on the side – no cheese curds:

Venus Restaurant

727-581-3849

2441 West Bay Drive

Largo, FL 33770

 

THINK OLD – TRAVEL MORE:


EATING WELL, WHILE OLD, IN INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FLORIDA

I am addicted to restaurants while travelling and since we spend a lot of time in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, I have three favorite restaurants, and a grocery store.

Crabby Bills: Every morning I walk a mile and a half down the beach to Crabby Bill’s, which has been family owned since its founding in 1983. The morning crowd consists of older patrons who are vacationing. or living, near the beach. It is a sports bar, restaurant and hang-out for the under 30 crowd the rest of the day and until 2:00 AM.

The All-American Breakfast is my choice, with 2 eggs, potatoes, crisp bacon and toast for $6.  Then it is a mile and a half walk back to the rented condo. In the evening, you can get the menu to go.

Guppy’s: A short walk and excellent food with daily specials; indoors or out. Great fish. The Grouper is expensive as it is over-fished. Small plates  and you can share. I get three sides; grilled octopus, spinach and Caesar Salad. Octopus is available thanks to the large Greek community. New Mexico restaurants tend not to serve octopus, so it is always a treat.

 

Chez Collette’s French Bistro:

A small French restaurant in the edge of Belair and next to Largo and Indian Rocks Beach. Run by a French couple, it is always good and one of our favorite stopping places each time we come.

 

The desert is great, especially if you can try three at once. Eat desert first, life is short.

 

The lamb shanks can’t be beat. Not always available but when they are, well worth ordering.

 

 

 

If you want to do your own thing with food prepared for you, take a look at Publix Grocery Stores which now have prepared meals that you cook. There is salmon, meatballs, etc. We tried chicken breasts with feta cheese and spinach and it was great. Cheaper than a restaurant meal and it can be eaten with a glass of wine on your rented condo balcony. The sunset over the Gulf of Mexico is better than any restaurant; and quieter.

THINK OLD!

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A BAKER’S DOZEN OF THINGS THAT SENIORS LIKE IN A RESTAURANT!

We are retired and eat out frequently; especially when on vacation in Florida. I got to thinking about what I liked in restaurants, given my age of 78. I like small French, Mexican, Italian and Chinese restaurants. I like table cloths, cloth napkins and water. I also realize that I am inconsistent, so you should take this list of a baker’s dozen with a grain of salt. Trust but verify, a senior’s mantra!

  1. Quiet – The app Soundprint registers noise in restaurants. I, like many old people, am deaf and it is hard to hear in a crowded restaurant where the tables are close together or where you are seated near a large group of people.
  2. Share a plate  – We don’t eat as much, so if we can share a plate, even for an extra charge, that is great.
  3. Smaller portions – We don’t need huge portions, or all you can eat buffets.
  4. Water – some of us drink a lot of water, and I, at least, judge a waiter by whether or not my water-glass is kept full.
  5. Parking – easy access and spaces wide enough to get in and out of the car with ease.
  6. Uber or Lyft – Uber or Lyft is great for old people. They are fast, convenient and allow us to have a glass of wine, without worrying about drunk driving. Nothing like a newspaper article that describes me as “elderly.”
  7. Enough light to read the menu – Not only am I deaf, but I have trouble seeing in dim light.  My i-Phone, with its built-in flashlight, has been a boon to my old age. Until you are old, you don’t realize how hard it can be to see in dim light.
  8. Simple choices – My mind is not as quick as it used to be, so the fewer, easier, and simpler choices, the happier I am.
  9. Doggy bags – if we can’t or don’t share a plate, a container to take half of our food home is great; even if we don’t have a dog.
  10. Non-fried preparation – Digestion can be a problem; and, of course I am very conscious of the life expectancy tables. I like to keep my options open.
  11. Easy access  – I need to get to my table and to the men’s room. Stairs, rugs, close tables, servers, folding tray tables, and using the hall to the men’s room for storage can lead to falls and always makes me nervous. Remember, falls are the leading cause of …….. for seniors.
  12. Bargain – a price I think is fair,
  13. Non-processed food – Too much food today is processed – at my age not only do I not need it, it is bad for me.

One French restaurant that I like is Chez Colette’s in Belleair Bluffs, Florida, which meets all my criteria.

 

THINK OLD!


EAT AT THE LIBRARY –

I am always looking for new and interesting places to eat; and, as you know, I am a fan of libraries wherever I travel. I have frequently eaten, or had coffee, at libraries in Tucson, Albuquerque, Largo, FL and other places, but these were simple snacks.

This week my granddaughter started college in Massachusetts and on her way, she and her parents went to the Tea Room at the Boston Public Library.

I urge you to expand your view of libraries on your trips to include any eating places. This one looks as good, or better than, the restaurants in major museums around the world.

Tea Room at the Boston Public Library.

THINK OLD!

 

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