Havana-strike three

[Challenger]

Had a hamburger at Havana on sun night after golf.Waitress asked how I wanted it done and as usual I said , medium well. I mentioned to the waitress that it was not my experience that the burger would be cooked any where close to my request , but she assured me otherwise. Got the meal and as I suspected the burger was very well done inside and chared on the outside. My wife and I were with another couple and I said nothing until we had finished and paid the tab. I then call the waitress over and showed her the chared remains of what I was served. She offered to comp a dessert which I politely refused and we left. This was my third visit to Havana over the past year with three culinary disasters. We live close and would visit often but have decided not to return. SAD!

[gemorc]

In the restaurant game in The Villages, Havana always gets more than three strikes.

[Debfrommaine]

Sorry to hear about that bad experience, again! We had 22 people there Friday night with no complaints.

[jnieman]

I had that same hamburger a couple of weeks ago and mine was cooked the same as yours (overcooked that is). I also had cold fries to go with mine and when I sent them back they brought me a huge plate of more cold fries.

We did visit a few days ago again and the hostess who seated us also waited on our table. A sweet gal and she did the best she could. The food took a long time to come out of the kitchen but it was all edible. It was liver and onions and fish sandwich. I really wish they would get better. Havanah is so close to our home and we would love to go there but when we mention to our golf partners they always say they don't want to go because the food isn't good.

[chuckinca]

In the restaurant game in The Villages, Havana always gets more than three strikes.


Maybe like Nine Lives!

Meanwhile, Terra Del Sol gets one chance every three years.

It is a very nice place, we have gone there many times and no probs other than a loud band behind the bar at 5:30 (?)

.

[jblum315]

When I moved here 3 years ago Havana had a fine reputation. Then I think they had a management change and went downhill. I still go there because the clubhouse and the view are so lovely

[Bonny]

We went yesterday for drinks & tried their new appetizer, corn & jalapeno poppers with ranch dipping sauce. Yummy !

[Mimivillager]

So sad.

[Cedwards38]

Havana bad meal seems to be the theme here. :pepper2:

[karostay]

Please don't go to Bonifay..trying to discourage Village complainers from going there

[PaPaLarry]

They do have the BEST "Happy Hour" prices though:wine::BigApplause:

[nitehawk]

They do have the BEST "Happy Hour" prices though:wine::BigApplause:

and what would that be ?????

[skip0358]

Alright by this time everyone knows Havana had or has issues. The guy is trying. I ate there the other night and had yet another good meal. It's close to home, prices are right, happy hour all day, late night Saturday food and dancing till 11:45 PM. If you don't like your food call the waiter or waitress over and tell them, ask for a manager whatever. I've seen people eat their meal and the complain it was no good. Really? Sounds like someone looking for a freebe. If your not happy don't come back but don't bash the guy for trying. The new menu is working 5 for 5 for me. NO resteraunt in TV is 5* or 4* all the time. You get what you pay for. welcome to TV food.

[travelguy]

havana is near to our home so we thought that we would give it another try. sitting on the porch overlooking the golf course and pond was lovely and peaceful. service was prompt, attentive, but not intrusive. I had ropa viejo, tasty but just ok. the salad had been put on the plate probably hours before and set in a refrigerator and so the vegetables were kind of dried out. have they not heard of saran wrap? it will be awhile before we go back there; it was just ok, not fantastic.

[Patty55]

You all are too kind giving them three strikes. I gave them only one strike. I explained to the waitress and manager what was wrong, the food had not been eaten and was told I was free to leave. WHEW, thank God we weren't being detained.

Sitting on the patio is lovely, the waitress tried, but c'mon, how hard is it to get breakfast right? The toast was hard as a rock, I think it was reheated. The grits were a brownish color. They didn't have butter for the toast. I got the impression that even if they wanted to get it right they don't know what "right" is.

[clekr]

My wife had lunch there today with a group of ladies. Had a salad with blue cheese dressing. Since about an hour after she came home has been running to the bathroom all afternoon. I dodn't think she'll be going back soon.

[BobnBev]

Any thoughts on the food/service @ Mallory?

[Golfer in Sanibel]

In the restaurant game in The Villages, Havana always gets more than three strikes.

That is a "turkey"? Right?

[Bogie Shooter]

My wife had lunch there today with a group of ladies. Had a salad with blue cheese dressing. Since about an hour after she came home has been running to the bathroom all afternoon. I dodn't think she'll be going back soon.

One should not run in the house!

[Bill32]

Any thoughts on the food/service @ Mallory?

Try it you'll like it

[graciegirl]

About six months ago I ordered a tuna melt at Havana and it wasn't hot, not quite warm. I hesitated because I don't like to complain but asked the server to just pop it in the microwave for another 30 seconds. The cook came out and she told me that you shouldn't heat anything with mayonnaise in it twice.

I will go back and try again but not all behind the scenes cooker people are of the same skill level. Depends who is back there as to the quality of food but all that is always the responsibility of the management.

[Villages PL]

Had a hamburger at Havana on sun night after golf.Waitress asked how I wanted it done and as usual I said , medium well. I mentioned to the waitress that it was not my experience that the burger would be cooked any where close to my request , but she assured me otherwise. Got the meal and as I suspected the burger was very well done inside and chared on the outside. My wife and I were with another couple and I said nothing until we had finished and paid the tab. I then call the waitress over and showed her the chared remains of what I was served. She offered to comp a dessert which I politely refused and we left. This was my third visit to Havana over the past year with three culinary disasters. We live close and would visit often but have decided not to return. SAD!

Perhaps the cook doesn't know what "medium well" means. You might try a different description. What do I know, I'm a vegan?! But, to me, "medium well" sounds like an oxymoron.

[jnieman]

I'm sure the cook knows what medium well is. It is a standard in the restaurant industry. It means not well done, but not medium either. I always order my steaks and hamburgers that way. We had a party of 8 the other night at Havana about 7 pm. The place was packed. One party had about 30 and lots of other larger parties. We had a great waiter David who is also a cook. He is very knowledgeable about the food. The salads were fresh and the dressings were great. Lots to choose from. The food was good, not excellent but much better than we have had there in a long time. You can tell they are trying really hard to improve. They even asked us to fill out a survey at the end. I would definitely go back.

[Challenger]

Perhaps the cook doesn't know what "medium well" means. You might try a different description. What do I know, I'm a vegan?! But, to me, "medium well" sounds like an oxymoron.

If you don't understand "medium well", you're not prepared to be a professional food preparer.

[PattyPan1]

Had a hamburger at Havana on sun night after golf.Waitress asked how I wanted it done and as usual I said , medium well. I mentioned to the waitress that it was not my experience that the burger would be cooked any where close to my request , but she assured me otherwise. Got the meal and as I suspected the burger was very well done inside and chared on the outside. My wife and I were with another couple and I said nothing until we had finished and paid the tab. I then call the waitress over and showed her the chared remains of what I was served. She offered to comp a dessert which I politely refused and we left. This was my third visit to Havana over the past year with three culinary disasters. We live close and would visit often but have decided not to return. SAD!

Was there Saturday with a group, ordered the rib eye and was able to resole my shoes with it.

The waiter/chef sweated profusely, wiped the sweat and then picked up plates to serve.

Last time for me there.

[stephsan]

Was there Saturday with a group, ordered the rib eye and was able to resole my shoes with it.

The waiter/chef sweated profusely, wiped the sweat and then picked up plates to serve.

Last time for me there.

We give it a chance every 6 months or so. Went last night. We are slowly learning our lesson to NEVER GO THERE AGAIN! Reasons: food is barely edible, waitstaff trys but they don't look too happy or clean, bread dish was dirty as was the silverware, bread uneventful, I love the views outside but we are so DONE with this place, it's just sad for us southern Villagers. Bonifay is not much better. Love Cane & Mallory. We have friends who want to go for New Years Eve but I cannot and won't pay the exhorbitant fee for that night for this type of meal/service.

[asianthree]

burgers are best done in a place that can cook a steak perfectly, i like mine rare so its very hard to find a good burger while i am here unless i make it myself

[Bill32]

Ruby Tuesday and Mallory have very good burgers

[chuckster]

Our group ate at Havana last night. We sat outside and service (david) was excellent and everyone enjoyed their meals. Incidentally our bread (sliced & warm) was served in a basket (clean) not a dish as someone mentioned. The hostess was friendly as was the wait staff. Will return.

[eweissenbach]

Our group ate at Havana last night. We sat outside and service (david) was excellent and everyone enjoyed their meals. Incidentally our bread (sliced & warm) was served in a basket (clean) not a dish as someone mentioned. The hostess was friendly as was the wait staff. Will return.

Hope that is the new standard. We stayed in Hemingway last year, less than a mile from Havana and went there two or three times. We found it okay, but certainly not stellar. We will be staying in the same place this year and would like to take advantage of the proximity on more regular occaisions. Mallory, Cane, Lighthouse, Toojays, Cody's, Cattle Baron, and Papa Johns delivery are our go to places otherwise.

[Yorio]

With this post I feel like listening to both FOX and MSNBC. So, we need to check Havana next month.:duck: I'll post after visiting there and some one can do the Havana Gallop poll. :)

[nitehawk]

With this post I feel like listening to both FOX and MSNBC. So, we need to check Havana next month.:duck: I'll post after visiting there and some one can do the Havana Gallop poll. :)

eagerly awaiting you review ---- you can start a poll !!!

[ChristianeF]

My husband and I had burgers at Havana last week and they were delicious! I'm super picky about food and prefer my burgers med/rare with swiss cheese and mushrooms, I also asked for crispy fries and everything was cooked perfectly. The burger was so juicy that I resorted to using a fork to finish it. Really delicious.

[Down Sized]

With this post I feel like listening to both FOX and MSNBC. So, we need to check Havana next month.:duck: I'll post after visiting there and some one can do the Havana Gallop poll. :)


You go to Havana. I'll go to Mallory where I won't have to gamble on my food being good.:coolsmiley:

[PaPaLarry]

Maybe someone could get the Manager to come on this site and explain???? Havana seems to get a lot of complaints, but by telling waitress, will probably not change anything. I don't think waitress tells owner???

[nitehawk]

My husband and I had burgers at Havana last week and they were delicious! I'm super picky about food and prefer my burgers med/rare with swiss cheese and mushrooms, I also asked for crispy fries and everything was cooked perfectly. The burger was so juicy that I resorted to using a fork to finish it. Really delicious.

Four post and everyone about how great Havana is ??????? Very strange ---- what position do you hold at Havana ????

[spk7951]

Maybe someone could get the Manager to come on this site and explain???? Havana seems to get a lot of complaints, but by telling waitress, will probably not change anything. I don't think waitress tells owner???


Doubt that will happen. Back in October my Monday golf group stopped at Havana for drinks. Couple of folks had chili and said it was more of a soup and did not taste good. Waitress went and told the chef who blamed the prep area. Next came a request to see the duty manager. The waitress left and came back with the answer that the manager was too busy to talk to us. The waitress was great and took the charge off of their bills.

[eweissenbach]

My husband and I had burgers at Havana last week and they were delicious! I'm super picky about food and prefer my burgers med/rare with swiss cheese and mushrooms, I also asked for crispy fries and everything was cooked perfectly. The burger was so juicy that I resorted to using a fork to finish it. Really delicious.

Four post and everyone about how great Havana is ??????? Very strange ---- what position do you hold at Havana ????

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

[lovesports]

We talked to a chef that use to work at Havana. He would use all organic produce and recipes he had picked up from his extensive training. When he wasn't there, Havana would go back to their old ways. He said his paychecks were bouncing and he is no longer there.
So that might explain some of the good meals being when he was there and the not so good meals when he wasn't there. He also said only a few of the waitresses really care about their customers.
Bouncing paychecks is not a good business practice. Sad that one of our country clubs is like this.

[rubicon]

Wow "bouncing paychecks"in Florida's Friendliest Town is just plain worrisome. I had a burger at Evans Priarie and thought it was charcoal. Do you think the cook's paycheck bounced there too?

[newbee's]

We also have tried Havana 3-4 times without a pleasing experience. Will not return.

[rhredd1654]

My golf group had lunch after golf yesterday (14 of us), and they were very accommodating in seating us together. But even with two waitresses, service was very slow. The restaurant wasn't that busy, so I'm not sure what the delay was in the kitchen or bar. Other than fouling up a few orders, I didn't hear any complaints about the food.

[Janet & Carl]

What is wrong with Bonifay?
Janet & Carl

[nitehawk]

What is wrong with Bonifay?
Janet & Carl

I thought this thread was about Havana ???

[golf2140]

We had a group there last evening, service and food was great.

[Bogie Shooter]

What is wrong with Bonifay?
Janet & Carl

Seeing that you are a relative newcomer to TOTV, I would like to make a suggestion.
Rather than ask your question about Bonifay on this thread why not start another new thread on the topic of Bonifay.
BTW if you do a search on Bonifay you will probably find the answer to your question....................assuming there is something wrong with Bonifay.

[Uptown Girl]

We talked to a chef that use to work at Havana. He would use all organic produce and recipes he had picked up from his extensive training. When he wasn't there, Havana would go back to their old ways. He said his paychecks were bouncing and he is no longer there.
So that might explain some of the good meals being when he was there and the not so good meals when he wasn't there. He also said only a few of the waitresses really care about their customers.
Bouncing paychecks is not a good business practice. Sad that one of our country clubs is like this.

Did the chef work there BEFORE or AFTER the current (new) owners arrived?

[Golf-Tinker]

The owners of the lease for Havana CC (the lessees) from the get go have been Kris Brown and his wife. Unless the lease has been re-written, there are no "new" owners.

[SteveG]

We had a late lunch, outside at Havana.
Service was slow, food lukewarm, and it didn't seem clean.
There are better places to go.

[sueandskip]

Thats a shame, and dissappointing to you...I guess we have been lucky....We have been there many time for dinner and lunch and sit outside and enjoy the senery and the company with never a problem or complaint...

[uujudy]

We also stayed away from Havana, but Honeyboy stopped there last week after golf & had the cod sliders for lunch. He said they were outstanding, so we thought we would try Havana for dinner one more time -- especially since Danny & Johnny were there.

I had the pork chops and you should know that they were scrumptious! I ordered the chops because the last time we tried them (at least 6 months ago) they were dry & hard & I thought it would be a good comparison to try the same thing. This time they were juicy and tender and absolutely delicious!

If you haven't been to Havana in a while, you might want to give it a try again. (No I don't have an ulterior motive. I just like restaurants.) :icon_hungry:

[Uptown Girl]

The owners of the lease for Havana CC (the lessees) from the get go have been Kris Brown and his wife. Unless the lease has been re-written, there are no "new" owners.

On one of our recent visits to Havana, we noticed new additions to the menu;
Cuban cuisine that had not been offered before.
I remarked to the waitress how delighted I was to see that, as my Mother was born in Cuba and our favorite family recipes included these dishes.

She beamed at me and said that her two aunts had just become the "new owners" (lessees) and that they were of Cuban descent and very excited and hopeful that they would succeed, using THEIR family recipes.

We ordered, and during our meal our young waitress came over to ask if we were enjoying our selections. She grinned again and said, "I told my aunt you were out here, and she very much wants your opinion".
I did enjoy my meal, and offered a note on our family recipe.

The next time we visited, they had included my suggestion for the dish! Amazing that they would do that.

So.... based on that, I would consider that MAYBE.... Golf-Tinker,
the lease has had changes.

[spk7951]

On one of our recent visits to Havana, we noticed new additions to the menu;
Cuban cuisine that had not been offered before.
I remarked to the waitress how delighted I was to see that, as my Mother was born in Cuba and our favorite family recipes included these dishes.

She beamed at me and said that her two aunts had just become the "new owners" (lessees) and that they were of Cuban descent and very excited and hopeful that they would succeed, using THEIR family recipes.

We ordered, and during our meal our young waitress came over to ask if we were enjoying our selections. She grinned again and said, "I told my aunt you were out here, and she very much wants your opinion".
I did enjoy my meal, and offered a note on our family recipe.

The next time we visited, they had included my suggestion for the dish! Amazing that they would do that.

So.... based on that, I would consider that MAYBE.... Golf-Tinker,
the lease has had changes.


The original Havana lessee, that Golf-Tinker mentioned, signed a 5 year lease back around Thanksgiving 2008.

[gemorc]

The original Havana lessee, that Golf-Tinker mentioned, signed a 5 year lease back around Thanksgiving 2008.

Gosh! Maybe that old demon, sub-lease, has struck again?

[Golf-Tinker]

Friends went to Havana yesterday for breakfast. Quality of service, food were SAME-O, SAME-O.

As for a sub-lease - given Havana's poor revenue performance over the years, I doubt that Morse and company would agree to a sub-lease. They would probably prefer a new lease with a qualified operator.

It's unfortunate that this beautiful facility has languished since George Stella was pushed out of the management trio.

[spk7951]

Gosh! Maybe that old demon, sub-lease, has struck again?


Yes, that is a possibility. But earlier in this thread I mentioned a problem that my Monday golf group encountered at Havana. One of the group asked the waitress if Kris was still the lessee. She said that he was and the manager that day was his daughter. That was the end of October. I guess anything is possible.

[Bill32]

talked to one of their ex bartenders and was told they are on COD with all their suppliers. They have multiple issues and I don't believe they can last long.

[Bogie Shooter]

Could Havana end up like other restaurants that take/took continue bashing on TOTV and closed??

[Bill32]

I don't think anyone is " bashing " Havana, I would think all villagers want our country clubs to survive, no? Just stating opinions and personal experiences

[Bogie Shooter]

I don't think anyone is " bashing " Havana, I would think all villagers want our country clubs to survive, no? Just stating opinions and personal experiences

Go read the other 50 posts.

[Bonny]

I don't think anyone is " bashing " Havana, I would think all villagers want our country clubs to survive, no? Just stating opinions and personal experiences

Sounds like bashing to me !

[The Wooz]

We also took a group of about 22 to Havana after golf about 3 weeks ago. Two meals were sent back and the third one should have been. Yes, they have experienced several problems since coming under new management. None in our group will be back.

[Bogie Shooter]

Group of 22 would be a challange to any restaurant.

[Skip]

Group of 22 would be a challange to any restaurant.

The restaurant holds about 150. Does that mean they should keep 128 seats open, so they don't overwhelm the kitchen?

Skip

[Bogie Shooter]

The restaurant holds about 150. Does that mean they should keep 128 seats open, so they don't overwhelm the kitchen?

Skip
No.
You are probably right.....sorry.

[keithwand]

We are going as a group of 12-16 after golf tomorrow.
Hopefully all works out as we have stayed away from there due to many reviews.

[keithwand]

Not going to Havana after all.
Now it will be Bonifay for 16 each week which is even better since we live behind Bonifay anyway.

[Figmo Bohica]

How would you all like some cheeze with your whine.

Coldest beer in the Villages.

[villages07]

Coldest beer in the Villages.

Now that is a true statement...and, one I have made many times.

Food experience has been good, mediocre, and bad. Very unpredictable and inconsistent. But, the draft beer sure is good.

[Skip]

Not going to Havana after all.
Now it will be Bonifay for 16 each week which is even better since we live behind Bonifay anyway.

Evans Prairie CC is better than Bonifay!

JM2¢

Skip

[skip0358]

Evans Prairie CC is better than Bonifay!

JM2¢

Skip

I agree!

[fnhski]

i agree 3rd strike...your outta here....have tried havana several times over the past three years...food is always cold or over/under cooked...servers are always rude...only good thing about havana is the golf course and the view......