Belle Glade - Bad for Large Groups

[wyealbert]

Don't go to Belle Glade with a large group. We were there last night with our golf group. We arrived around 6:45 and didn't get out until after 9:00. We were told we would have two servers, but only had one. The checks were all screwed up and when we left some people still hadn't received their checks. Don't try to use a coupon along with a Loyal Tee card--they won't accept both. Hey, I PAID for that Loyal Tee card!!! They also keep changing the rules for the Loyal Tee members. We used to get call-ahead seating. Now, forget it! It's a shame since this restaurant has such a great view. We have had other problems with restaurants under the same ownership. Coupons in the newspaper often don't explain the various restrictions that apply. I guess they don't care since there is so much demand for restaurants in The Villages.

[Bonny]

Don't go to Belle Glade with a large group. We were there last night with our golf group. We arrived around 6:45 and didn't get out until after 9:00. We were told we would have two servers, but only had one. The checks were all screwed up and when we left some people still hadn't received their checks. Don't try to use a coupon along with a Loyal Tee card--they won't accept both. Hey, I PAID for that Loyal Tee card!!! They also keep changing the rules for the Loyal Tee members. We used to get call-ahead seating. Now, forget it! It's a shame since this restaurant has such a great view. We have had other problems with restaurants under the same ownership. Coupons in the newspaper often don't explain the various restrictions that apply. I guess they don't care since there is so much demand for restaurants in The Villages.
Most places don't let you use 2 offers. It's 1 or the other.

[yabbadu]

Agree they are NOT very good about larger groups. We now go some place else after golf.

[rubicon]

Wow and the prime season is not yet in full swing

[bagboy]

Today of all days...

[karostay]

How large of a group?

[missypie]

Loyalty cards loyal to whom? What a joke to actually pay for a restaurant loyalty card. Say what you want, but it is a great business decision on their part.

[Northwoods]

We have a Loyalty Card and it's been a great deal. We've more than recouped our $20 from visits and saved $3 every time we have a Margarita/martini. Great deal and we'd do it again. Missypie -- I know a number of people who find great value in the Loyalty Card and choose those restaurants because of the discounts. So yes... a great business decision.

[Jima64]

Loyalty cards loyal to whom? What a joke to actually pay for a restaurant loyalty card. Say what you want, but it is a great business decision on their part.

Well I guess it helps you save money in the long run. If you are a " loyal customer " you are given discounts for your purchase.

[jmac1031]

Quit complaining - life is too short - did you make reservations? If you are complaining now - wait til snowbird season. Thee workers here go out of their way to accommodate the people here. Get over it! They put the last person on the cross who was perfect!

[Bonny]

Quit complaining - life is too short - did you make reservations? If you are complaining now - wait til snowbird season. Thee workers here go out of their way to accommodate the people here. Get over it! They put the last person on the cross who was perfect!
Yep, life is just too short !! I'm too busy enjoying life to sweat the small stuff.

[graciegirl]

When we were new in our neighborhood, we would go out to dinner together in large groups. Thirty or so. We went to different places each week. Every time we had less than the usual service we might have expected in smaller groups. And we waited.


A word to the wise is sufficient.

[Old Mil]

Ate here after twilight golf. Sat on the patio and mosquitos were terrible. Service was also terrible. I'm guessing that the server didn't want to go out with the mosquitos either. Went inside for some to finish. Took forever to get the bills too. We didn't get the proper Loyalty Card discount. Will sit inside if we decide to eat there again.

[CFrance]

We have learned that some places are good for some things, and some are not, in terms of both food and groups. We act accordingly. It saves aggravation, and we always have a good time.

[Miles42]

Went there twice. thought the first may have been a fluke. Same bad service the second time. Will not be a third. There are too many choices to keep making a bad one.

[Cathy H]

Large groups in restaurants is a stupid idea; face it...when in such a group you only talk (shout) to the one across from you, while annoying every one else in the area with your noise; do the rest of us couples dining out a big favor...no more groups

[Philip Winkler]

We had a lunch with a group of about 45; food and service were excellent.

[goodtimesintv]

News flash:

This just in.....

None of these restaurants are banquet facilities.

The restaurants' kitchens and staffing are not set up to produce and deliver 20 to 45 dinners simultaneously!! They are set up to produce dinners for normal sized tables of 2, 4, 6 or 8 in a progression.

If you want banquet service, then make a reservation at a banquet facility that can schedule staff appropriately for each person ordering individually from the menu, OR from a limited menu of 2-4 entrees.

Go to a banquet facility where your yelling over each other doesn't drive away customers who come with a normal expectation to relax and converse with friends.

Sick of this nonsense!

[golfing eagles]

News flash:

This just in.....

None of these restaurants are banquet facilities.

The restaurants' kitchens and staffing are not set up to produce and deliver 20 to 45 dinners simultaneously!! They are set up to produce dinners for normal sized tables of 2, 4, 6 or 8 in a progression.

If you want banquet service, then make a reservation at a banquet facility that can schedule staff appropriately for each person ordering individually from the menu, OR from a limited menu of 2-4 entrees.

Go to a banquet facility where your yelling over each other doesn't drive away customers who come with a normal expectation to relax and converse with friends.

Sick of this nonsense!

And then there are those who complain about the service. Just taking the order from 30 people is a nightmare for the server, inevitably 5 or 6 change their order in midstream when they hear what someone else ordered. Then there are at least 8 complaints about the food, either getting the wrong order, or not getting a side, or not cooked to correct temperature. Then, the real nightmare---the bill. Some groups will want individual checks which takes time, all the while complaining about how long it takes. Then there are those that will put a pile of cash in the middle of the table, but first spend 1/2 hour reviewing each individual's share. "who had the extra 50 cents of blue cheese for their salad" and "who had the $4.25 Beefeater martini instead of the $3.75 bar brand". This usually occurs after closing time. Then, usually, the server ends up getting a mediocre tip---those who would leave 20% are offset by the cheapskates. No wonder the wait staff isn't thrilled to see a large group walk in. My suggestion---unless someone had 8 glasses of expensive wine or a double order of surf and turf, just divide it equally. If it is a regular group, it will work out in the end.

[NYGUY]

And then there are those who complain about the service. Just taking the order from 30 people is a nightmare for the server, inevitably 5 or 6 change their order in midstream when they hear what someone else ordered. Then there are at least 8 complaints about the food, either getting the wrong order, or not getting a side, or not cooked to correct temperature. Then, the real nightmare---the bill. Some groups will want individual checks which takes time, all the while complaining about how long it takes. Then there are those that will put a pile of cash in the middle of the table, but first spend 1/2 hour reviewing each individual's share. "who had the extra 50 cents of blue cheese for their salad" and "who had the $4.25 Beefeater martini instead of the $3.75 bar brand". This usually occurs after closing time. Then, usually, the server ends up getting a mediocre tip---those who would leave 20% are offset by the cheapskates. No wonder the wait staff isn't thrilled to see a large group walk in. My suggestion---unless someone had 8 glasses of expensive wine or a double order of surf and turf, just divide it equally. If it is a regular group, it will work out in the end.

I agree!! Won't go out with groups of more than 8.

[Jima64]

I cannot imagine trying to enjoy a nice dinner with a large group knowing how much can go wrong.

[leftyf]

A few years ago while we were RV'ing, we were wintering in Corpus Christi, Texas. The RV park we were staying had a LEO Club (Let's Eat Out). They ate out once a week and I learned real quick that if I wanted to have the worst service ever, then go with that large group. Most of the time they had about 25 people and they always had reservations but it never mattered. We learned that wherever LEO went, we went somewhere else.

[yabbadu]

We have learned that some places are good for some things, and some are not, in terms of both food and groups. We act accordingly. It saves aggravation, and we always have a good time.

Thats why our golf group does not eat at Belle Glade any longer...Too many others want your business.

[NYGUY]

Thats why our golf group does not eat at Belle Glade any longer...Too many others want your business.

Let us know who wants your business, so we can avoid giving them our business.