Hemingways Sold

[JSR22]

Hemingways will close this Saturday evening and reopen 9/8. The family that owns Red Sauce/Johnny Rockets/ Amerikanos purchased the restaurant.

[Aw Man]

Hemingways will close this Saturday evening and reopen 9/8. The family that owns Red Sauce/Johnny Rockets/ Amerikanos purchased the restaurant.

If true, this is disappointing to hear.
The other family owned restaurants, in my opinion, have poor service, poor quality food, and have less than comfortable ambiance while dining.

[rjn5656]

Glad to see new owners. Haven't been to Hemingways in a long time.

[raynan]

I think that family has done a great job turning the other restaurants around and look forward to their imrpoving Hemingway's as well.

[Bonny]

We were there last night. I'm excited.
I think Hemingways just never quite got it together.
They do have a great staff and most all will be staying. :)

[skip0358]

Been going there since moving here. Hope most if not all the current staff gets to stay. Hope things work out for the new owners. It's a good location for us.

[Bonny]

Been going there since moving here. Hope most if not all the current staff gets to stay. Hope things work out for the new owners. It's a good location for us.
Yes, most are staying.

[Doro22]

Aw Gee...more mediocre food in The Villages.

[Chatbrat]

LCD food, no more real specialties--and cheap cocktails--we enjoyed the few good years Hemmingways had--its a shame, people will not support above average dining in TV

Honest Johns failed for the same reasons--high hopes-but reality kicks in. Every entree should be under $17.50, lots of wraps & sandwiches

[Golf-Tinker]

The last thing we need is another "happy hour watering hole" with sandwiches as the main menu. Quality food prepared and served well will attract. Economy dining has more outlets than needed, and they're all struggling. Pray the new owners learned from their experience with Red Sauce. Give us what Hemingway's management initially delivered, then killed through their unfortunate misreading of the tea leaves.

[Aloha1]

Here's hoping the Sulieman family restores Hemmingways as a SEAFOOD restaurant and doesn't try to turn it into another same old, same old TV venue. Make it unique and watch the $$ come in.

[Challenger]

Guess Ive been sleeping. We're not talking Hemmingway's as at Havana CC , are we?

Haven't been to Hemmingway's in a few months but had noticed a falloff since Legacy first came in.

[Bonny]

Guess Ive been sleeping. We're not talking Hemmingway's as at Havana CC , are we?

Haven't been to Hemmingway's in a few months but had noticed a falloff since Legacy first came in.
Yes, that's what is being talked about.

[pooh]

When Hemingway's was new to the community, the food was outstanding in my opinion. Over time, there were changes. Now with a new owner/management team in place, I'll reserve any judgment till I can actually experience dining there. Change isn't always a bad thing.

[Doro22]

Good post, Chatbrat. Totally agree. I've sampled too many meals served @ country clubs whereby they used lesser quality ingredients.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

The last thing we need is another "happy hour watering hole" with sandwiches as the main menu. Quality food prepared and served well will attract. Economy dining has more outlets than needed, and they're all struggling. Pray the new owners learned from their experience with Red Sauce. Give us what Hemingway's management initially delivered, then killed through their unfortunate misreading of the tea leaves.

It would seem to me that if they had a formula that was working they wouldn't have changed it.

Restaurants that are making money and are profitable don't usually change what they are doing until they become less profitable or start losing money.

I hear very few people say that they want a high-end restaurant in The Villages. While there are some, I wonder if there are enough to support one. I wonder how The Rose Plantation is doing?

[Doro22]

It would seem to me that if they had a formula that was working they wouldn't have changed it.

Restaurants that are making money and are profitable don't usually change what they are doing until they become less profitable or start losing money.

I hear very few people say that they want a high-end restaurant in The Villages. While there are some, I wonder if there are enough to support one. I wonder how The Rose Plantation is doing?

I've been to The Rose Plantation three times since June...i.e.: lunch & dinners. Each time it was quite full & the food & service was excellent! And this is summer!

[fw102807]

We went to Rose Plantation a week ago and though the ambiance was lovely I thought the food was quite ordinary for the price, 45.00 for a steak a baked potato and some green beans.

[asianthree]

We have not been here long, since 2007, but back in the day the resturants had good food, and service. You had a hard time staying in to cook. Now if I am going out to eat, it needs to be good food and service. We now find that few and far between. It's a shame how things have changed in quality,. Looking forward to the two new resturants opening down the road, in the mean time if we go out, it's usually outside the bubble. We are not food or wine snobs, but if I'm spending my money mediocre is not what I'm looking for, it needs to be good otherwise I can make it better at home

[Chatbrat]

Again most of the CC restaurants here are using mass produced institutional food--look up Gordon Food--they have several levels of food and most of it is boil in the bag or micro waveable--but its better than Chef Boyardee

[Henryk]

Again most of the CC restaurants here are using mass produced institutional food--look up Gordon Food--they have several levels of food and most of it is boil in the bag or micro waveable--but its better than Chef Boyardee

What's wrong with Chef Boyardee? Loved it as a kid. :laugh:

[Chatbrat]

Hope you've matured since then,used to love Devil Dogs and nickel pickles-but would not go out to eat them

[Chi-Town]

Here's hoping the Sulieman family restores Hemmingways as a SEAFOOD restaurant and doesn't try to turn it into another same old, same old TV venue. Make it unique and watch the $$ come in.That is one hardworking family business. Their success is earned.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

[REDCART]

I'm late to join this conversation. Didn't the people who run Nancy Lopez take over Hemmingway.'s a few years back. If so why hasn't it enjoyed the same success as Nancy Lopez? Prices were similar.

[Chatbrat]

Lack of quality control, their best chef left to work @ Turners, IMHO people who like seafood,usually know when entrees are fresh & prepared properly

Too many entrees which tasted off and had to be returned

[rubicon]

I'm told the definition of a gourmet is one who can take ordinary ingredients and make a tasty meal. Tasty works well for me.

In my opinion there are two basic reasons there is as much turnover in The Villages. the first and obvious is poor management.

Secondly, a restaurant makes most of its money over the bar. I speculate that perhaps for a number of reasons people are not purchasing alcohol or limiting their consumption thereof.

[CowBubba]

Are you talking about Havana? I can't find a Hemingway.

[Chatbrat]

I'm not picky, but when fish is served uncooked and with the wrong seasonings its going back and when soggy fries are served they're going back

[Doro22]

I'm not picky, but when fish is served uncooked and with the wrong seasonings its going back and when soggy fries are served they're going back

That's right!

[Aloha1]

Lack of quality control, their best chef left to work @ Turners, IMHO people who like seafood,usually know when entrees are fresh & prepared properly

Too many entrees which tasted off and had to be returned

I've been in the food service business for 31 years and the hallmark of Chef who knows his/her business has always been how he/she cooks fish. A minute too little and the center is raw. A minute too much and the fish is overcooked. When the Lopez group first took over Hemmingways, the fish was cooked to perfection. When that slipped, so did their rep and their business. Attention to detail can NEVER be allowed to slip. It's the number one reason why restaurants fail.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Aw Gee...more mediocre food in The Villages.

Mediocre means inexpensive, which is what the largest % of Villagers wants. High end restaurants will not make it here because the bulk of Villagers will not support expensive menus.

[Schneil]

So disappointed! Have not been back to Red Sauce since my husband got food poisoning and management did not handle the situation well. They were totally untrained. Thus we will no longer enjoy the beautiful setting at Hemmingways, we did love the staff.

[Northwoods]

I'm not picky, but when fish is served uncooked and with the wrong seasonings its going back and when soggy fries are served they're going back
Chatbrat... "I'm not picky..." That's funny! :1rotfl:

[logdog]

Are you talking about Havana? I can't find a Hemingway.

The restaurant at Havana Country Club used to be called Havana. It was a disaster for many years. A couple of years ago, Nancy Lopez group took over and renamed it Hemingway's at Havana with a new menu. It was great for awhile but for the past year or so it also fallen flat. Hopefully, the new Havana or Hemingway will do well because it is a nice facility in a great location.

[CWGUY]

Chatbrat... "I'm not picky..." That's funny! :1rotfl:

:agree: And do you know what will make fries soggy? Spit! :evil6:

[Chatbrat]

Siting in oil too long-people stop praising junk food and you might get some good places to eat at--I'm not picky --means we're out of there before we eat garbage entrees--its not rocket science to present good food--the Rose Plantation and Arnold Palmer do it on a consistent basis

Cane Garden's does the same, their food is good--if you're happy eating boil in the bag or microwave -slop--enjoy

[CowBubba]

So far, we like the food quality at Lopez country club and Codie's at lake Sumter.

[Northwoods]

Siting in oil too long-people stop praising junk food and you might get some good places to eat at--I'm not picky --means we're out of there before we eat garbage entrees--its not rocket science to present good food--the Rose Plantation and Arnold Palmer do it on a consistent basis

Cane Garden's does the same, their food is good--if you're happy eating boil in the bag or microwave -slop--enjoy
Don't assume I disagree with you. I also would like to see "better"/higher quality/more innovative restaurants in and around The Villages. I just don't believe posting disparaging remarks about local restaurants, thereby insulting people who enjoy and frequent those restaurants, is the way to go about it. I just don't go to the restaurants that I think are of inferior quality. But... to each his own.

[dotti105]

Hemingway's was great with the previous chef.
My hubby and I are Florida natives. We grew up on the west coast with plenty of great seafood restaurants.
We just don't understand why the fish in the restaurants in the Villages is all frozen and flown in from the north east or Great Lakes.
We have wonderful FRESH seafood and fish just 90 miles away, both east and west. It just seems crazy to us to go out to dinner and get frozen fish from the north.
Hemingway's had great shrimp, grouper and snapper. The Cuban/Old Florida menu was wonderful. I hope these new owners can figure out how to make this a cut above the "chain Country Club" menus.

[JoMar]

Siting in oil too long-people stop praising junk food and you might get some good places to eat at--I'm not picky --means we're out of there before we eat garbage entrees--its not rocket science to present good food--the Rose Plantation and Arnold Palmer do it on a consistent basis

Cane Garden's does the same, their food is good--if you're happy eating boil in the bag or microwave -slop--enjoy

The Rose Plantation is ok.....the entree's are very good but the sides, including the fries are nothing special, mediocre at best...but the entree's are worth the visit. Palmer has gotten mixed reviews although I agree with Chat on this one.

[Aloha1]

Hemingway's was great with the previous chef.
My hubby and I are Florida natives. We grew up on the west coast with plenty of great seafood restaurants.
We just don't understand why the fish in the restaurants in the Villages is all frozen and flown in from the north east or Great Lakes.
We have wonderful FRESH seafood and fish just 90 miles away, both east and west. It just seems crazy to us to go out to dinner and get frozen fish from the north.
Hemingway's had great shrimp, grouper and snapper. The Cuban/Old Florida menu was wonderful. I hope these new owners can figure out how to make this a cut above the "chain Country Club" menus.

:bigbow:

[784caroline]

You cant be a restaurant at a Country Club in The Villages and NOT have a golfers or even a lunch menu. Hemmingway's did not cater to either. Tables were always set up with table cloths and Golfers were practically forced to sit outside in the back or at a high top, no quick food during the day ...so golfers just did not stick around. Even in the evening, our golf group simply did not want to pay white table cloth prices when you were finished playing after playing in 90 degree heat.....and this would be for a group of approx 30 players.

[Challenger]

You cant be a restaurant at a Country Club in The Villages and NOT have a golfers or even a lunch menu. Hemmingway's did not cater to either. Tables were always set up with table cloths and Golfers were practically forced to sit outside in the back or at a high top, no quick food during the day ...so golfers just did not stick around. Even in the evening, our golf group simply did not want to pay white table cloth prices when you were finished playing after playing in 90 degree heat.....and this would be for a group of approx 30 players.

well said

[Golf-Tinker]

At least stick to facts if you intend to knock the restaurant's management/lease owner when they're down. No CC restaurant can make if they cater just to golfers. They demand favored seating for large groups, cheap pitcher beer, inexpensive sandwiches, and super service. Tips could have been better.

For your information, Hemingway's had a separate menu for lunch until its last months. Table clothes did not go the tables until late in the afternoon.

[CowBubba]

I have not been there and now, I will be sure not to go.

[golf2140]

You cant be a restaurant at a Country Club in The Villages and NOT have a golfers or even a lunch menu. Hemmingway's did not cater to either. Tables were always set up with table cloths and Golfers were practically forced to sit outside in the back or at a high top, no quick food during the day ...so golfers just did not stick around. Even in the evening, our golf group simply did not want to pay white table cloth prices when you were finished playing after playing in 90 degree heat.....and this would be for a group of approx 30 players.

I agree

[Aloha1]

You cant be a restaurant at a Country Club in The Villages and NOT have a golfers or even a lunch menu. Hemmingway's did not cater to either. Tables were always set up with table cloths and Golfers were practically forced to sit outside in the back or at a high top, no quick food during the day ...so golfers just did not stick around. Even in the evening, our golf group simply did not want to pay white table cloth prices when you were finished playing after playing in 90 degree heat.....and this would be for a group of approx 30 players.

I will take issue here. Why can't a CC restaurant have a golf menu up to 4 PM and then switch to a more formal dinner menu? Must we always just have "cheap" high calorie food? I love a good burger as much as the next person but I'm smart enough to know that a steady diet of burgers is a sure way to never see the future.

What I could never figure out is why none of the CC's offer any kind of food pick up at the "turn"? Really, you can't figure out how to do call aheads for pick ups as you go to the back nine like any of the thousands of other golf clubs in the U.S.? Seems to me the CC's lose more business by not having this than the few golf groups that come in after 18.

[Barefoot]

:agree: And do you know what will make fries soggy? Spit!

:yuck::girlneener:

[mulligan]

I will take issue here. Why can't a CC restaurant have a golf menu up to 4 PM and then switch to a more formal dinner menu? Must we always just have "cheap" high calorie food? I love a good burger as much as the next person but I'm smart enough to know that a steady diet of burgers is a sure way to never see the future.

What I could never figure out is why none of the CC's offer any kind of food pick up at the "turn"? Really, you can't figure out how to do call aheads for pick ups as you go to the back nine like any of the thousands of other golf clubs in the U.S.? Seems to me the CC's lose more business by not having this than the few golf groups that come in after 18.

And if you think play is slow now, watch what happens when people stop for food 1/2 way through.

[graciegirl]

And if you think play is slow now, watch what happens when people stop for food 1/2 way through.

Amen. About slow play.

And Aloha, it is true that some food is better for you than others, but it is not up to the restaurant to address that issue as it's prime goal. It's prime goal is to sell food and to have return customers.

It is simply supply and demand that keeps restaurants and other local businesses running.

[Pearson14505]

I heard they are putting the bar outside

[bagboy]

[QUOTE=Aloha1;1440551]I will take issue here. Why can't a CC restaurant have a golf menu up to 4 PM and then switch to a more formal dinner menu? Must we always just have "cheap" high calorie food? I love a good burger as much as the next person but I'm smart enough to know that a steady diet of burgers is a sure way to never see the future.

What I could never figure out is why none of the CC's offer any kind of food pick up at the "turn"? Really, you can't figure out how to do call aheads for pick ups as you go to the back nine like any of the thousands of other golf clubs in the U.S.? Seems to me the CC's lose more business by not having this than the few golf groups that come in

. I believe if there was a viable market for food other than snacks at the turn, most CC restaurants would offer it.

[Aloha1]

Mulligan, GG, and Bagboy; I respect your take but my comment was in the context of all the golf courses in the U.S. that somehow seem to manage having food pick up at the turn without sacrificing pace of play. Just wondered why that can't be done here.

Might be true that most would not order anything but snacks but for me, if I have a tee time in the second wave, I'd rather eat something at 12:30 or 1 PM rather than earlier.

OK, I fear we've (or I've) wandered off from the topic at hand so back to the once and future Hemmingway's. Still crossing my fingers that they keep it a Floribbean seafood venue!

[Henryk]

Mulligan, GG, and Bagboy; I respect your take but my comment was in the context of all the golf courses in the U.S. that somehow seem to manage having food pick up at the turn without sacrificing pace of play. Just wondered why that can't be done here.

Might be true that most would not order anything but snacks but for me, if I have a tee time in the second wave, I'd rather eat something at 12:30 or 1 PM rather than earlier.

OK, I fear we've (or I've) wandered off from the topic at hand so back to the once and future Hemmingway's. Still crossing my fingers that they keep it a Floribbean seafood venue!

Ya know..., would it be too much to ask to have a Cajun or Creole restaurant? Okay, then, how about southern food?

[Pearson14505]

I was wrong, stopped there today. No outside bar!

[Aloha1]

Ya know..., would it be too much to ask to have a Cajun or Creole restaurant? Okay, then, how about southern food?

Here's the thing.We're 90 miles from the Gulf and 90 miles from the Atlantic. So why can't we have a local restaurant serving FRESH local seafood? And if you want to do it up NOLA style, I'm all in. Just hoping.

[Mikeod]

I will take issue here. Why can't a CC restaurant have a golf menu up to 4 PM and then switch to a more formal dinner menu? Must we always just have "cheap" high calorie food? I love a good burger as much as the next person but I'm smart enough to know that a steady diet of burgers is a sure way to never see the future.

What I could never figure out is why none of the CC's offer any kind of food pick up at the "turn"? Really, you can't figure out how to do call aheads for pick ups as you go to the back nine like any of the thousands of other golf clubs in the U.S.? Seems to me the CC's lose more business by not having this than the few golf groups that come in after 18.

I think that since the vast majority of players drive their own carts and bring their drinks and snacks with them the volume of sales "at the turn" would not justify the construction/remodel and labor costs to provide the service. Which is why we don't have roving drink/snack carts on the courses, which could be done at lower cost than a stop at the turn.

[Ksalt31452]

Sorry to read this!! The escargot appetizer at Hemingways was outstanding! Had a couple of great meals there.

[Barefoot]

So why can't we have a local restaurant serving FRESH local seafood? Just hoping.
There used to be a fish restaurant called "Up The Creek". It closed; and then reopened as Codys.
I would love a restaurant that offers FRESH local seafood, but I guess we must be in the minority.

[charmed59]

I'm actually surprised there isn't a seafood restaurant in the Villages. The fresh seafood restaurants in California were very successful with their early bird menus for the retired folks. I assumed that's what most of us older people like to eat.

I am impressed that Palmer's seems to have the right menu for both giant golf groups and nice dinners. Maybe they will share their secret.

Americano's is one of my favorite restaurants in the villages. I absolutely love their gyros. They season their lamb just the way I like it. I also like Red Sauce, and my husband and I keep thinking we should get there more often. I love the view from Hemingway's so this all sounds good to me.

[Chatbrat]

The lighthouse is a seafood restaurant, press ok seafood

[graciegirl]

The lighthouse is a seafood restaurant, press ok seafood

Their catfish and butterfish is o.k. with me. YUM.

[784caroline]

The NEW Hanvana (with new owners) will open Friday September 8th!!

[Bonny]

The NEW Hanvana (with new owners) will open Friday September 8th!!
I know that's the date they were hoping, but I just think it will probably be a little longer. It takes a bit for a new menu, getting the cooking of it right, food shopping & stocking everything, getting menus printed, training, etc.

[784caroline]

we were there today after golf and someone there appeared to know what was happening...he said Sept 8th...

[Bonny]

we were there today after golf and someone there appeared to know what was happening...he said Sept 8th...
That would be really good. Only a week away. That's a lot to do.

[bwtbrisbane]

I will really miss Havana's Saffron Scallops dish.

[PennBF]

I traveled a lot before I retired and when traveling I would look for a Golf Course that advertised a restaurant and it was usually good and with great views, etc. Since I commuted a lot back and forth to Europe it was interesting this also worked in Europe. We do this in the US as again in a lot of cases the restaurant at the golf course is good as any dining and it includes views and good food. :icon_hungry:

[Henryk]

Does anyone know the name of the new restaurant and what type food it will serve? Or did I miss that?

[Bonny]

Does anyone know the name of the new restaurant and what type food it will serve? Or did I miss that?
They plan to serve good reasonably priced food.

[Henryk]

They plan to serve good reasonably priced food.

Now, Bonny, that's very funny!

[Bonny]

Now, Bonny, that's very funny!
Well, that's what they said. I think they'll do well.

[Henryk]

Well, that's what they said. I think they'll do well.

I'm looking forward to it--it's very close to our house in Hadley. I do hope they'll do something new and not same-old.

When we first moved here in December 2015, I came across an old ad that said something along the lines of Cuban food. Was I ever disappointed to find that that incarnation had closed.