Restaurant Treatment

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.

[njbchbum]

Nice advice. I take most complaints against anything - restaurants, shopping, performance reviews, etc with a big HO-HUM attitude. I figure each complaint evaluated against all of the diners, shoppers, viewers not complaining says a lot more about the restaurant, shop and/or performance. "Forewarned is forearmed" - but that's just awareness in my book.

[retiredguy123]

I enjoy reading restaurant reviews, both good and bad. If they are detailed, they are very helpful. I think the manager should be informed about a bad experience to help him or her improve the business in the future. But, in my experience, the manager is usually not able to provide an acceptable outcome for a customer. A free dessert or even a free meal, which is rarely offered, doesn't make up for a bad experience.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

[Babubhat]

Doordash. Not worth visiting for the questionable dining experience in the current environment.

Yes it’s a hard business. Always has been.

[Stu from NYC]

We have had mostly good experience but some rather poor and have never started a thread one way or the other but will comment on them.

Poor restaurants will usually mean we are done with them if they knew we were unhappy and didnt try to make it right.

[Papa_lecki]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

Lobsters are caught on boats, which require gasoline to operate.
Gas was $1.60, now it’s $5.00.
A lobster boat probably goes through 20 gallons of fuel an hour, that’s $32 to $100.
Lobsters probably $40 to $60 a pound

[champion6]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.Please refer to Post #1.

[tophcfa]

Lobsters are caught on boats, which require gasoline to operate.
Gas was $1.60, now it’s $5.00.
A lobster boat probably goes through 20 gallons of fuel an hour, that’s $32 to $100.
Lobsters probably $40 to $60 a pound

Most boats actually use diesel, which costs even more than gas. And lobstering is very hard work and at times can also be very dangerous. We were at Cape Cod a couple weeks ago and live hard shell lobsters were $13.99/Lb and cooked lobster meat was $62/Lb. We will be in north/eastern Maine next week where you can get live soft shell lobsters that run about 1 1/4 pounds each for only $5/Lb. Unfortunately, the soft shell lobsters have very little meat in them and you have to shuck three of them to get a meal.

[coralway]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.



How about you verify the price BEFORE you order. If you consider the price too extravagant, you have the option to go elsewhere.

[CFrance]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.
I would think the person who ordered that $34 sandwich, knowing that you were paying, is the one the complaint should be addressed to.

[tjlee500]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.


I always check out the menu online before I go. You can easily do the same. Don't like the prices, then don't go rather than later complain about the price to the rest of us.

[rrtjp]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.

Been here in The Villages almost a year now and our best dining experiences have been outside the bubble. Inside the bubble our experiences have been like the title to the old movie The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Don’t be afraid to go outside the bubble, lol.
That being said you can’t beat The Villages for anything else. Wife and I love living in The Villages. Try using the Foursquare app and visit some restaurants a little outside the bubble once in a while.
If you do have a problem with any restaurant always ask to speak to the manager they maybe able to make it right.
I always take restaurant reviews here with a grain of salt, lol.

[jamorela]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

Just got back from a New England Tour and $35 was the going rate.

[TomPerry]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.
Evidently you don’t know the price of lobster meat!

[Mrmean58]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

Sorry to disagree but if you were to price out the ingredients, add in the cost of labor and cost for the brick and mortar you may find it's not too bad.
The common trap is people often remember (sometimes not accurately) what they paid for an item back in the day.
Sorry to say but we're not going back in time. Social media can make it worse.

[Luggage]

We have not been back to the lighthouse for years and I still don't understand why it's in business other than maybe there's lots of drunks in The Villages. Yes we read a lot of their reviews but I understand you can't get good help especially in restaurants these days however that said there are plenty of good places to go to like Stavros ramshackle or several of the other diners on Route 27th in Leesburg. Partly it's the recipient's fault for wanting things to be perfect in an imperfect world. If you're stuck up and feel privileged that's part of the problem. Being a wait staff person is a very hard job in the best of times so if you stiff them on a tip what do you expect

[Luggage]

A whole lobster at Publix is 12 bucks. I'm sure wholesale it's much cheaper. The rule of thumb in restaurants is to charge three times the cost of ingredients to make some money at the end of the day so I can't see how $34 for one Lobster Roll sandwich is not being overcharged.

[MandoMan]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

My understanding is that this is the going price in Maine this summer, but it may have a pound of lobster. The lesson to learn is don’t buy a lobster roll unless you are at a notable lobster roll place on the coast of main. Lobster is far more expensive this year than it usually is, including for restaurant owners.

[jimkerr]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.

Yeah, that doesn’t work. Glenview Country Club is a perfect example. You can talk to management and they could care less. You’ll still have poor service and terrible food.

[retiredguy123]

Yeah, that doesn’t work. Glenview Country Club is a perfect example. You can talk to management and they could care less. You’ll still have poor service and terrible food.
I agree. Most restaurant managers don't seem to be very interested in resolving individual customer complaints.

[True Blue]

Yeah, that doesn’t work. Glenview Country Club is a perfect example. You can talk to management and they could care less. You’ll still have poor service and terrible food.

Agreed. I’ve been surprised and a bit shocked by the “I couldn’t care less attitudes” of restaurant management and staff. Especially given these tough times. They’re even unimpressed when you try to compliment them. So defensive. We know it’s hard for them and we’re trying to give them our business but they make it difficult and unpleasant at times. I don’t get it.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Just to be clear, the wait staff at Lighthouse was very personable and excellent service.
Why should management worry about quality or quantity or value of the product?
With that location they will always have patrons.
It's the view and convenience that will continue to bring people in.

[jbrown132]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.
When I read those type of posts I usually do not pay that much attention to them. Once heard that “one man’s garbage is another man’s potpourri”. I guarantee in most cases if you gave the same meal to two different people you would probably get two different opinions. We have a friend that every time she goes out to dinner she always has a complaint. Some people you can never satisfy, it’s just part of their makeup.

[Wilson02852]

Evidently you are not a very lobster roll price expert. Do some research and you will find that price just about the mean price point. In New England home of the best lobster rolls and lobster the cost are anywhere from about $27 to $35. So if are eating NE lobster the price is bad.

IMO, lobster rolls should be made with lobster buttered served in a toasted New England style hot dog roll. That way you get the lobster and not bread and other fillers.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Evidently you are not a very lobster roll price expert. Do some research and you will find that price just about the mean price point. In New England home of the best lobster rolls and lobster the cost are anywhere from about $27 to $35. So if are eating NE lobster the price is bad.

IMO, lobster rolls should be made with lobster buttered served in a toasted New England style hot dog roll. That way you get the lobster and not bread and other fillers.
I'm much the wiser in the world of lobster rolls now.
Chalk it up to education.

[ThirdOfFive]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.
Good post, and advice.

I write a lot of reviews for TripAdvisor, always before reading any of the other reviews first, and sometimes the differences between the reviews can be huge. I always go several times to the restaurant in question: so many of the reviews are "one and done", which in my opinion is NOT fair to the business. It is possible that you catch a waitperson having a really bad day (we have) and as a result form a very negative opinion of the restaurant based on an experience that for the most part is extremely rare.

This is/was especially true of The Lighthouse (mentioned in this thread). Our first experience was very good: great food and service, though the birds eyeballing your food meant that one person always needed to be at the table. The second visit, not so much. Slow service (they were low on staff that day), and food that had too much time to cool before it was served. The difference? The first visit was early on a Saturday evening, while the second was on a Tuesday afternoon, or the difference between the "A" and "B" teams.

Also agree with taking it up with management before writing or saying anything negative. Give them a fair shake. They know that what people think of their establishment often makes it into print and if they care about that, they'll probably try to make things right for you. Some years back my wife and I were eating at a buffet in the midwest. For dessert I was going to have soft-serve ice cream with strawberry syrup. Syrup machine wasn't working too well, so I pressed a bit harder on the top button, and--sploooosh! The nozzle popped of and all of a sudden I was wearing a rather wide ribbon of blood-red strawberry syrup from my shoulder diagonally to about mid-thigh. One of the waitstaff saw it and immediately alerted the manager, who rushed on over. I wasn't really angry (more amused than anything) but he gave me a note saying that the restaurant would reimburse me for a new pair of trousers and shirt (my choice of store), plus SIX free vouchers for future buffet meals. We went straight from the restaurant to a J.C. Penney about a block away for the shirt and trousers.

The clerk sort of gasped when she saw me; I said "don't worry. The other guy looks a lot worse".

Moral? I could have gotten on my high horse, chewed out the manager and stormed on out. But waiting and listening made things a whole lot better.

[retiredguy123]

I think one problem with restaurants is that tipping has become automatic and expected. So, the restaurant doesn't need to hire competent servers. If the restaurants had to pay servers a decent wage and not rely on customers to pay them, they would be more selective in their hiring process. And, customers should tip based on the quality of the service they receive, but many don't.

[Bill14564]

Agreed. I’ve been surprised and a bit shocked by the “I couldn’t care less attitudes” of restaurant management and staff. Especially given these tough times. They’re even unimpressed when you try to compliment them. So defensive. We know it’s hard for them and we’re trying to give them our business but they make it difficult and unpleasant at times. I don’t get it.

Part of the problem might be they hear nothing but complaining. It's no secret that Villagers love to complain about things. Just take a look at this thread for a great example of that.

If a manager is being bombarded by entitled customers who won't be happy until they are served filet mignon at a baked chicken price and even then would complain that the sun is too bright or the breeze smells like cut grass then I can understand why he might have a lack of interest in yet another complaint.

I have been to Glenview a few times and thought the food and service was exceptional. Maybe I got lucky but judging by the crowded room they must be doing something right.

Every server can have a bad night. Every kitchen can have a bad night. If it's just once or just occasionally then give them another chance. If the bad service or bad food is a regular feature then vote with your wallet and stop going to that restaurant. If enough customers do that then the restaurant will get the message.

[Two Bills]

If we eat out, and the menu price is low, I do not expect Michelin standard food or service, and would never complain.
Just not go back again if it was that bad.
If I pay a lot for a meal, and the food and service is dire, I have a word with the manager/owner on way out.
Sometimes give a second chance if the complaint is handled well.
I never return food to the kitchen to have a fault rectified.
My fishing buddy for many years was a senior steward on cruise ship!

[christiewright]

Yeah, that doesn’t work. Glenview Country Club is a perfect example. You can talk to management and they could care less. You’ll still have poor service and terrible food.

Can someone help me. A while back the top three restaurants were posted. I can only remember two. Nancy Lopez was number 1. Havana was number 2. What was the third one?

[JSR22]

Can someone help me. A while back the top three restaurants were posted. I can only remember two. Nancy Lopez was number 1. Havana was number 2. What was the third one?

IMO the best in TV are BlueFin, ChopHouse, Harvest, Havana, Lopez, Palmer and Prima.

[Stu from NYC]

Can someone help me. A while back the top three restaurants were posted. I can only remember two. Nancy Lopez was number 1. Havana was number 2. What was the third one?

We do think that Havana is one of the best places here but if you ask 10 people to rank the top 10 you will get 10 different answers.

[PugMom]

Part of the problem might be they hear nothing but complaining. It's no secret that Villagers love to complain about things. Just take a look at this thread for a great example of that.

If a manager is being bombarded by entitled customers who won't be happy until they are served filet mignon at a baked chicken price and even then would complain that the sun is too bright or the breeze smells like cut grass then I can understand why he might have a lack of interest in yet another complaint.

I have been to Glenview a few times and thought the food and service was exceptional. Maybe I got lucky but judging by the crowded room they must be doing something right.

Every server can have a bad night. Every kitchen can have a bad night. If it's just once or just occasionally then give them another chance. If the bad service or bad food is a regular feature then vote with your wallet and stop going to that restaurant. If enough customers do that then the restaurant will get the message.

best post on this thread. :bowdown:

[Michael G.]

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.

I feel this would apply to ALL retail businesses given a bad review.
My all managers would like to resolve poor service problems immediately.

[Sandy and Ed]

Lobsters are caught on boats, which require gasoline to operate.
Gas was $1.60, now it’s $5.00.
A lobster boat probably goes through 20 gallons of fuel an hour, that’s $32 to $100.
Lobsters probably $40 to $60 a pound
The price of lobster is set at the net then goes up from there. Has always been what the market is willing to pay for the bug meat. Supply and demand. Given the rising cost I guess the supply gonna go way up real soon. Lobstah just gonna get bigger and tougher sitting out there in the water

[Sunny923!]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.

I have often thought the same. People jump to complain on social media without considering the effects. Before all we did was speak to a manager about a problem. Imagine that! And it usually worked!!

[True Blue]

The issue remains that when there’s a complaint about the manager because of their “don’t care attitude” then what? Complain to the owner - who the manager is related to?! I find wait staff often to be good. The managers - not so much. They’re under too much pressure and it shows. There’s just a general lack of basic customer service. When I get good service I compliment them. They’re usually quite surprised by that.

[PaulUnderwood]

If I were you go to Sam’s Club and buy 1 pound of lobster tails @ $31 a pound and make yourself one hell of a lobster roll.

[Veiragirl]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you. Totally agree. The people who are complainers should realize how lucky they are to be able to afford to go out to eat. Don't sweat the small S--t

[retiredguy123]

I have often thought the same. People jump to complain on social media without considering the effects. Before all we did was speak to a manager about a problem. Imagine that! And it usually worked!!
I have a different opinion. Posting a restaurant review on social media, good or bad, is fine, as long as the information is honest and accurate. It is very informative to people who have not been to the restaurant. A bad review of a good restaurant will usually be countered by other posters, and the restaurant will benefit. Encouraging people to not post bad reviews to protect a restaurant or other business is absurd. As far as I know, it is still a free country, mostly.

[Ele201]

If I were you go to Sam’s Club and buy 1 pound of lobster tails @ $31 a pound and make yourself one hell of a lobster roll. Sounds good, but most people haven’t cooked lobster, either whole or tails, before. Do you have a recipe? Thanks

[cbmerl]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

You certainly knew when you ordered it just how much it cost. You didn't need to order it if you thought it was too expensive. Right??

[Bill14564]

You certainly knew when you ordered it just how much it cost. You didn't need to order it if you thought it was too expensive. Right??

The person who wrote that post didn't order it, his guest did. He wrote that since he was buying (paying) he didn't mention it at the time.

[mlmarr]

so many people complaining about everything.. at this point of our lives and the situation of this country and government, just be thankful or stay home.. I am over the complaining.. period.

[Michael G.]

Wasn't there something in the news not so long ago where business sued a party for giving
a bad review on social media?

I always wondered how much legal stand a business would have in a case like that.

[Fun in the sun 2]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

The customer chooses what she/he wants to eat. The Lighthouse menu is varied and so are the prices. A haddock basket at $19.00 for fish, fries, and cole slaw seems reasonable to me. If $34.00 is more than you think is fair, pick something else.

[mikeycereal]

Food's gotta be really disgusting and/or the workers real jerks for me to take the time to complain to yelp about a restaurant. Prices, nah, people can see that for themselves before they buy. I'd also much rather read about good places that others really like.

The people that were sued for the bad review were tenants and their landlord hooked up the roofing service. I don't know why these renters got involved outside of their unit management but that's what happened and they were sued for over 100k. If your review is a false statement or slander it's possible you could get sued. But if there's some truth in it then no. Slippery slope. I remember that everyone bashed a dentist who went out and shot a sacred old lion in Africa a few years ago, just bombarded his site online and at his home with nasty stuff. I doubt anyone was sued though. I would think just leaving low stars with a brief (or no) explanation why is safer. Also a business can be fined for instigating the reviewer to take a review down, so goes both ways. We live in a very strange social media world, obviously.

[CFrance]

Good post, and advice.

I write a lot of reviews for TripAdvisor, always before reading any of the other reviews first, and sometimes the differences between the reviews can be huge. I always go several times to the restaurant in question: so many of the reviews are "one and done", which in my opinion is NOT fair to the business. It is possible that you catch a waitperson having a really bad day (we have) and as a result form a very negative opinion of the restaurant based on an experience that for the most part is extremely rare.

This is/was especially true of The Lighthouse (mentioned in this thread). Our first experience was very good: great food and service, though the birds eyeballing your food meant that one person always needed to be at the table. The second visit, not so much. Slow service (they were low on staff that day), and food that had too much time to cool before it was served. The difference? The first visit was early on a Saturday evening, while the second was on a Tuesday afternoon, or the difference between the "A" and "B" teams.

Also agree with taking it up with management before writing or saying anything negative. Give them a fair shake. They know that what people think of their establishment often makes it into print and if they care about that, they'll probably try to make things right for you. Some years back my wife and I were eating at a buffet in the midwest. For dessert I was going to have soft-serve ice cream with strawberry syrup. Syrup machine wasn't working too well, so I pressed a bit harder on the top button, and--sploooosh! The nozzle popped of and all of a sudden I was wearing a rather wide ribbon of blood-red strawberry syrup from my shoulder diagonally to about mid-thigh. One of the waitstaff saw it and immediately alerted the manager, who rushed on over. I wasn't really angry (more amused than anything) but he gave me a note saying that the restaurant would reimburse me for a new pair of trousers and shirt (my choice of store), plus SIX free vouchers for future buffet meals. We went straight from the restaurant to a J.C. Penney about a block away for the shirt and trousers.

The clerk sort of gasped when she saw me; I said "don't worry. The other guy looks a lot worse".

Moral? I could have gotten on my high horse, chewed out the manager and stormed on out. But waiting and listening made things a whole lot better.
I'm to disagree with you a bit, but your story's a great one. I think the moral is that the manager at that restaurant cared about his customer base.


I dined with two friends at a popular restaurant in TV a couple months back. The waitress approached with our cocktails, tipped the tray, and all the drinks fell off, mostly into my lap, with glass breaking all over the table. We were given another table, and the waitress brought us new drinks, but nothing was offered--the drinks weren't comped, and nobody offered to have my clothing cleaned.


I'm not one to complain (life is short, stuff happens, and my clothing only needed to be washed), but my friend said something to the waiter (the waitress had disappeared) when the bill arrived. The manager came over and gave me a free card for a meal and offered to pay for dry-cleaning the clothing.


Perhaps the waitress never told the manager what happened but the waiter did. Who knows. Or the manager knew it happened but did nothing until someone complained. Again, who knows. I prefer to think it was the former.


Some places care; other places don't. You got a good one!

[JKELLYNY]

👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸

[Spikearoni]

My understanding is that this is the going price in Maine this summer, but it may have a pound of lobster. The lesson to learn is don’t buy a lobster roll unless you are at a notable lobster roll place on the coast of main. Lobster is far more expensive this year than it usually is, including for restaurant owners.
We are vacationing in Falmouth, Maine now and the cost of a 4 oz lobster roll on a hot dog roll is $38 in area restaurants.

[Carla B]

You certainly knew when you ordered it just how much it cost. You didn't need to order it if you thought it was too expensive. Right??

The customer chooses what she/he wants to eat. The Lighthouse menu is varied and so are the prices. A haddock basket at $19.00 for fish, fries, and cole slaw seems reasonable to me. If $34.00 is more than you think is fair, pick something else.

Poor Tyrone Shoelaces. Some people don't read; some read but don't comprehend. Again, he didn't order the lobster roll, his guest did. When Tyrone saw the bill I imagine he was shocked at the price.

[RiderOnTheStorm]

I have a different opinion. Posting a restaurant review on social media, good or bad, is fine, as long as the information is honest and accurate. It is very informative to people who have not been to the restaurant. A bad review of a good restaurant will usually be countered by other posters, and the restaurant will benefit. Encouraging people to not post bad reviews to protect a restaurant or other business is absurd. As far as I know, it is still a free country, mostly.

The problem with this approach is that more critics than admirers speak out, hence the posts tend to be negatively slanted. Not fair to the owners.

[bilcon]

I couldn’t help but notice a number of recent threads related to restaurant issues, usually to express dissatisfaction over a meal or service.

While I do not own a restaurant, I know some who do, and can tell you that it is a hard business in the very best of times. Many fail, even without the additional challenge of today’s COVID crisis, supply chain issues, inflation and difficulty finding good help.

That said, I urge anyone who may feel they were poorly treated to try to resolve the issue with the restaurant manager or owner, before posting it on Talk of The Villages. I have found most restaurant owners very eager to work with you to rectify the situation.

Classic studies have shown that a publicly expressed complaint will reach an average of 22 people. Involving a social platform significantly increases that number. Many who hear it are likely to avoid the restaurant.

Please consider the impact your posts could have on the restaurant’s business before “going public” with them. Working with the restaurant is also likely to provide you a better outcome.

Thank you.

OK. Here's a positive. I always get a certain type of large pizza at Piesanos. Two times, it was not great. I went back two weeks later and told the manager, Curtis, about it. He personally watched and gave instructions to the Pie man, and Wallah! the pie was great again. Last night I ordered the same pie and Curtis was there. I told him how great the pie was two weeks before. He again took it upon himself to make sure the pie was perfect. This time, it was even better. That's good management.I did not post any negatives on this site, but instead talked to the manager. Thank you Curtis. :BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

[worahm]

The wife and I have been eating out at least five meals a week in this area since we moved here in 1996. The wife is gone now, but I can attest to the fact that the quality of the food served, the service and certainly the price in previous years was far better then it is today.

[pauld315]

How about $34 for a lobster roll at LightHouse?
Which is a modest amount of lobster salad on a hoagie roll.
I was buying, so I didn't bring it up.
Seems extravagant to me.
I would call that indirect poor treatment.

I doubt anybody forced you to buy it

[fdpaq0580]

I like lobster, but a "lobster roll", imho, is a waste of good lobster meat, not to mention the money. 4 oz of lobster flavored mush on a freakin' hotdog bun -$38. Crazy, stupid, or both.

[Stu from NYC]

OK. Here's a positive. I always get a certain type of large pizza at Piesanos. Two times, it was not great. I went back two weeks later and told the manager, Curtis, about it. He personally watched and gave instructions to the Pie man, and Wallah! the pie was great again. Last night I ordered the same pie and Curtis was there. I told him how great the pie was two weeks before. He again took it upon himself to make sure the pie was perfect. This time, it was even better. That's good management.I did not post any negatives on this site, but instead talked to the manager. Thank you Curtis. :BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

Always give the restaurant the chance to solve the problem before complaining on social media