About an hour north of Orlando, Florida, sits one of the largest retirement communities in the country. The Villages is home to over 50,000 folks, all over 55 years old. The community is spotless. Couples drive to breakfast in their golf carts, play pinochle, swim, exercise, play golf or choose from hundreds of other daily activities. The community features several historic-looking squares, which feature movie theaters, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. It’s a fascinating place, though when walking through one occasionally feels as though they are in the movie, The Truman Show.
On a recent visit to see my mother, who lives in The Villages, she told me about a roadside restaurant she often visits with friends. You see, my mother enjoys eating wings. On her last visit to West Chester, PA, she ate a plate of wings at Kildare’s while drinking Bailey’s Irish Cream on the rocks. So when she told me she found a new place to eat wings, I knew we would have to visit.
We drove out of The Villages community and found ourselves cruising along Route 441 in Leesburg, which is dotted with pawn shops and fast food joints, used car lots and bars. We weren’t in The Villages anymore. Along the way, she explained she had driven past this restaurant many times over the years, and often saw motorcycles lined up in the parking lot. She wasn’t sure if it would be a safe place to stop, until a friend assured her this was a worthy restaurant.
The Ramshackle Cafe literally sits on the roadside and was originally a Howard Johnson’s. Although I generally prefer eating outside when possible, sitting inside at this cafe provides one with the true Ramshackle experience. High top tables and wood booths bring a country Southern charm to the restaurant. License plates have been nailed into the beams, along with Pepsi signs, buoys, and black and white photos. Over the bar, a sign reads, “Warm Beer, Lousy Food, Bad Service. Have a Nice Day!” The menu is printed on newspaper, and the front page story is titled “Ma Barker Dies with Machine Gun in Her Hands as Federal Officers Riddle Rented Home on Lake Weir.” Ma Barker met her demise not far from here, while “spewing machine gun bullets” at the Feds. It’s all part of the local lore, and it left me wondering how Ma Barker would have fared if she lived out her life in The Villages.
Once finished reading about Ma Barker, I turned the page to be machine gunned by the variety of offerings on the menu. Hounder Pounders are 1/2 pound burgers served up any which way. Sandwiches offered include the Cuban, French Dip, Reuben and Big Dawgs. Diners can also choose from Mexican fare and seafood options, and I was so tempted to sample a few items, but recalled our true mission for the day was wings. I ordered ten wings, done medium.
They came with celery, carrots and ranch dressing. My mother and her boyfriend ordered a honey BBQ version of the wings and my mom confirmed the wings would be finished off over the grill. When they came out, I understood why she confirmed the grilling of the wings — the outside of the wings were crisp. The final searing on the grill brought out a texture that was different than wings I’ve had before, and also seemed to lock in their juiciness. Delectable. The medium wings were fairly mild, I definitely would step up next time and go with hot or maybe nuclear. After all, it’s Florida and they serve Corona.
For those travelers in Central Florida, whether you are visiting The Villages, driving home from Disney World, or paying tribute to Ma Barker, consider stopping in at that roadside gem, the Ramshackle Cafe. And don’t believe the sign over the bar.
Find Ramshackle Cafe at 1317 North 14th Street in Leesburg, Florida, or online at ramshacklecafe.com.
