Havana Country Club

[drbales]

What is going on at Havana. Great food terrible service. We eat there often after golf with a group of 10 to 16 and after today all agreed it will be our last time. will drive someplace else to eat. Service never seems to improve. What gives?:blahblahblah:

[ilovetv]

About 2 months ago we had two delicious meals with decent service....and then the next time, they brought us food not fit for a dog. It's disgusting to even think about the disgusting stuff on that plate. The shift manager apologized and gave us a coupon for another time. We were waiting to give it another chance, but it sounds like the poor management continues.

[skyguy79]

About 2 months ago we had two delicious meals with decent service....and then the next time, they brought us food not fit for a dog. It's disgusting to even think about the disgusting stuff on that plate. The shift manager apologized and gave us a coupon for another time. We were waiting to give it another chance, but it sounds like the poor management continues.We've been there twice in the last 30 days and haven't yet experienced any problem worth mentioning with food or service... yet! Maybe one of these time we will, but in the mean time we'll continue going until we experience what others say they're experiencing!

[De Lis]

Went twice - won't go back for quite some time. Too bad for all...

[l2ridehd]

To answer the OP's question, the problem is management. 100% of all problems and good things are owned by management. So until they change management at Havana they will never fix the issues. Quality of food, service, cleanliness, lighting, menu selections, hours, are all owned and controlled by management. Inconsistency with any or all of these will only be fixed if they have new management who knows how to run a place like Havana.

[English Ivy]

To answer the OP's question, the problem is management. 100% of all problems and good things are owned by management. So until they change management at Havana they will never fix the issues. Quality of food, service, cleanliness, lighting, menu selections, hours, are all owned and controlled by management. Inconsistency with any or all of these will only be fixed if they have new management who knows how to run a place like Havana.

I agree. The one constant since Havana opened over 3 years ago is the individuals/company who are listed as "owners". General managers have changed, chefs have changed, service staff has changed. The owner has not. Until his lease expires and is not renewed, and I have no idea how long of a lease it is, there will always be problems with Havana.

[graciegirl]

To answer the OP's question, the problem is management. 100% of all problems and good things are owned by management. So until they change management at Havana they will never fix the issues. Quality of food, service, cleanliness, lighting, menu selections, hours, are all owned and controlled by management. Inconsistency with any or all of these will only be fixed if they have new management who knows how to run a place like Havana.

You are completely right and I am not sure how it works here. I think that the country clubs are leased out. So as long as the person owns the lease he is the management. They are able to make enough to support themselves, and maybe quite well, so it will continue hobbling along.

I was thinking the other day about printing the last thread on this subject about Havana and mailing it to them. Although I think that wouldn't help.

If a person doesn't KNOW what good service is, and doesn't KNOW where they are failing with menu items, and doesn't care or see that their help is chatting and not putting the customers first, well it would take a seminar and maybe not even that.

They apparently want to garner good will because they gave away free dinners at Christmastime, but sadly that cannot fix what's wrong...and perhaps they did want to do it out of the kindness of their hearts.

So don't yell at me for the last statement. You know who you are.

I know this, as a kid working at a department store part time, it was drilled into our heads that the customer came first and you could be fired for chatting with each other while a customer was standing there.

The not refilling of drinks and being allowed to sit and wait for a server to come to the table to take orders and the three girls standing at the check in and talking to each other and not acknowledging the presence of a customer says it all. Someone needs to lay down some rules. But you have to know the rules first.

I guess I will print this out and mail it to them and the one from two days ago too.

Anyone else wanna do that?

Good Morning and welcome home Swimdawg!

[swimdawg]

You are completely right and I am not sure how it works here. I think that the country clubs are leased out. So as long as the person owns the lease he is the management. They are able to make enough to support themselves, and maybe quite well, so it will continue hobbling along.

I was thinking the other day about printing the last thread on this subject about Havana and mailing it to them. Although I think that wouldn't help.

If a person doesn't KNOW what good service is, and doesn't KNOW where they are failing with menu items, and doesn't care or see that their help is chatting and not putting the customers first, well it would take a seminar and maybe not even that.

They apparently want to garner good will because they gave away free dinners at Christmastime, but sadly that cannot fix what's wrong...and perhaps they did want to do it out of the kindness of their hearts.

So don't yell at me for the last statement. You know who you are.

I know this, as a kid working at a department store part time, it was drilled into our heads that the customer came first and you could be fired for chatting with each other while a customer was standing there.

The not refilling of drinks and being allowed to sit and wait for a server to come to the table to take orders and the three girls standing at the check in and talking to each other and not acknowledging the presence of a customer says it all. Someone needs to lay down some rules. But you have to know the rules first.

I guess I will print this out and mail it to them and the one from two days ago too.

Anyone else wanna do that?

Good Morning and welcome home Swimdawg!

Thainks, Gracie!

It's good to be back to The Land 'o the Sun. 19 degrees up north today.

I think you should send the threads to management. If they CARE, they'll do something.

After I get settled in a bit, I'll write about the pros and cons off taking Village Airport Van vs The Villages Shuttle. Ownership is the key. It seems whenever the Morse family is involved, things are wonderful. May they always be involved in The Villages!

[skip0358]

The owner has been told, he's been shown, he's been talked to at length and we see the results good sometimes bad other times. I believe his lease was 5 years.

[Carla B]

The owner has been told, he's been shown, he's been talked to at length and we see the results good sometimes bad other times. I believe his lease was 5 years.

Oh my, so that means we have another 1-1/2 years to go before we can possibly get a change? I wonder if the developer, or whoever grants leases, is aware of the situation.

[memason]

Look...Havana is NOT going to change. Why should they? They are full almost every night of the week. Try getting a table on a Friday or Saturday evening...

For every person that complains, there's 50 people that love it!

We go there for various gatherings and the food is always so-so. Service is a crap shoot. Sometimes it's great, other times, not so.

So, what to do? Go for the discounts.... If you have a smartphone, download an app called Foursquare. When you "check in" [on foursquare] at Havana, show the phone to your server and you'll get a free glass of house wine with your entree. Then go to TheVillages.net and print the "10% off your entire bill" coupon and use that. The coupon is good anytime.

Doesn't make the service or food any better, but makes it a little less painful.

Cheers....

[Mikeod]

Look...Havana is NOT going to change. Why should they? They are full almost every night of the week. Try getting a table on a Friday or Saturday evening...

For every person that complains, there's 50 people that love it!



Bingo! I agree. I was down at Bonifay today for the practice area. The outside seating was full and people were entering the main dining room constantly as I watched from the parking lot. So, if I'm managing these facilities, where is my incentive to change? In this season, everything is fine because of the population increase from snowbirds and guests. But when summer hits, they had better hope they have not PO'd all the frogs 'cuz then business will plummet. Our golf groups always say "Don't tick us off in the high season, or we won't be back in the summer when you need us".

[barbie]

I haven't been to Havana in over a year because of the poor quality of their food and the service. My husband occasionally stopped for breakfast but he isn't even doing that anymore. Last summer he and our grandson stopped and their food was served cold when the place was almost empty. No excuse. Get someone else in their as manager and do something about the waite staff too.

[skyguy79]

Why does Chef Ramsey come to mind?
http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/09/chefs/jack-of-chefs-ramsay.png

[chuckinca]

Our group of nine went to Havana at 4:30 this evening for dinner - nobody complained about the food or service.


.

[Barefoot]

After I get settled in a bit, I'll write about the pros and cons off taking Village Airport Van vs The Villages Shuttle. Ownership is the key. It seems whenever the Morse family is involved, things are wonderful. May they always be involved in The Villages!

Village Airport Van offers 24 hour service and will deliver you to your door. If you arrive after midnight, the Villages Shuttle has stopped service!!

[Golf View]

Look...Havana is NOT going to change. Why should they? They are full almost every night of the week. Try getting a table on a Friday or Saturday evening...

For every person that complains, there's 50 people that love it!

We go there for various gatherings and the food is always so-so. Service is a crap shoot. Sometimes it's great, other times, not so.

So, what to do? Go for the discounts.... If you have a smartphone, download an app called Foursquare. When you "check in" [on foursquare] at Havana, show the phone to your server and you'll get a free glass of house wine with your entree. Then go to TheVillages.net and print the "10% off your entire bill" coupon and use that. The coupon is good anytime.

Doesn't make the service or food any better, but makes it a little less painful.

Cheers....
Ive been to the "villages .net" don't see any coupons there. Has anyone else found them?

[jojo]

I organized a dinner for nine with neighbors tonight at Havana. We had great food and service. The vocalist was fabulous - I think her name was Amy? We did have a wait for our table but enjoyed the music and dancing.

[chuckinca]

Ive been to the "villages .net" don't see any coupons there. Has anyone else found them?


Print Coupon - The Villages, FL | searchthevillages.com (http://www.searchthevillages.com/printcoupon/217241)


They give you 10% off your entree cost (not total bill).


.

[stephsan]

Bingo! I agree. I was down at Bonifay today for the practice area. The outside seating was full and people were entering the main dining room constantly as I watched from the parking lot. So, if I'm managing these facilities, where is my incentive to change? In this season, everything is fine because of the population increase from snowbirds and guests. But when summer hits, they had better hope they have not PO'd all the frogs 'cuz then business will plummet. Our golf groups always say "Don't tick us off in the high season, or we won't be back in the summer when you need us".

For those of us here full-time, you have said it well. The cream rises to the top during the summer!!

[skyguy79]

Print Coupon - The Villages, FL | searchthevillages.com (http://www.searchthevillages.com/printcoupon/217241)
.After printing the coupon I thought I'd take a look at the list of other coupons that were available. I found an interesting one on the second page of the list that indicated that it expired more than 42 years ago : :shocked:

Citizens First Bank Main Street (http://www.searchthevillages.com/villages/financial-institutions/citizens-first-bank-main-street) 352-259-3280
1129 Main StreetThe Villages, FL
Citizens First Bank Main Street
Expires: Wed, 31 Dec 1969 7:00:00


"Mrs Watchett...have you seen my time machine" :1rotfl:

[memason]

For those of us here full-time, you have said it well. The cream rises to the top during the summer!!

Ironically, Havana seems to actually be marginally better in the summer months; both food and service. At least, that has been our experience...

[maryanddoug]

I agree, terrible service. Took some friends there and was embarrased at the terrible service and it was the first time here for our friends. Not a good impression.

[gemorc]

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, still another Havana thread!

[The Villager II]

Oh Boy, Oh Boy, still another Havana thread!

It is bad for us. Havana is 5 minutes away by cart and we keep trying it only to be disappointed each time. It is good atmosphere inside and great outside, and I can live with poor service, but the food quality is lacking and that is hard for me to take.