The Villages lost one of its Perkins restaurants last year, but it will be gaining a Metro Diner in its place.
The restaurant famous for fried chicken and waffles will be taking over the former Perkins restaurant location at Southern Trace on County Road 466.
Perkins closed in October after the restaurant’s lease was not renewed.
This past week during his annual “An Evening with the Developer” address, Mark Morse announced that Metro Diner would be moving into that location.
The nearest Metro Diner is up the road in Gainesville.
The original Metro Diner opened in 1938 in Jacksonville.
In 2000, master chef Mark Davoli and family took over and elevated the menu to include innovative new dishes created from local ingredients. Along with culinary creativity, the Davoli family brought more than 80 years of combined restaurant experience to Metro Diner.
Today, there are 17 Metro Diners in Florida. There are also Metro Diners in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
If Perkins’ breakfast menu could be accused of being a bit blasé, the breakfast menu at Metro Diner is a little more on the wild side. Here’s a sample:
Yo Hala on the Square
Two thick slices of challah bread stuffed with a mixture of bananas, brown sugar, cream cheese and hazelnut syrup, prepared like French toast. Topped with a blueberry strawberry compote.
Fried Chicken and Waffle
Half a fried chicken and a Belgian waffle topped with a sweet, strawberry butter and served with our signature sweet and spicy sauce.
Charleston Shrimp and Grits
Two fried grit cakes infused with cheese, roasted red peppers, and Andouille sausage. Topped with shrimp, sausage, onions, and peppers in a shrimp sauce. Garnished with chopped bacon and green onions.
Huevos Rancheros
Your choice of eggs served over fried tortilla shells, chorizo sausage, black beans, onions and peppers. Topped with melted cheese, salsa, sour cream, jalapeños and green onions.
