Seating Surcharge at Cattle Barons

[Warren Kiefer]

Yesterday was my adult daughter's birthday. My wife and I chose to take her and her sister to the Cattle Barons Club for dinner. I had previously called and received reservations for four, at 6 PM and a special request for seating along the railing. Upon arrival, I reminded the hostess of our request for railing seating and that I preferred a table along the lower level railing. We were told that those seats would be a additional charge of $6 per person. I consider this outragous, especially since I expected to spend in excess of $100 for dinner. Why the extra $6??, there is no table upstairs where anyone can watch the downstairs entertainment without standing at the railing.

[villages07]

Monday night is Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore shows at Katie Belles... At KBs you have to spend a minimum to see the show. So, I guess to prevent folks from getting a free show, Cattle Baron charges extra for the prime tables that look down on KBs. They should have been upfront with you when you made the reservation that there would be a surcharge.

I did a similar reservation for a railing table about a year ago and did not learn of the surcharge til we arrived. Personally, I prefer CBs menu to KB and the elevated seats were a quieter way to watch the show so I paid it begrudgingly.

[Whatever]

Start taking the $$$ out of the waiters' tips and see how fast they discontinue the charge. I do not suggest punishing the wait staff, but, managesment will not listen to you, so the wait staff would act as your surrogate.

[Golfingnut]

Start taking the $$$ out of the waiters' tips and see how fast they discontinue the charge. I do not suggest punishing the wait staff, but, managesment will not listen to you, so the wait staff would act as your surrogate.

Sir: That is a horrible idea. The wait staff is not responsible at all. OMG that is terrible.

[Bonny]

Start taking the $$$ out of the waiters' tips and see how fast they discontinue the charge. I do not suggest punishing the wait staff, but, managesment will not listen to you, so the wait staff would act as your surrogate.
Thank goodness I'm not a server having to wait on you !!

[unknown*server]

Ah yes, lets sit there for the entire show, tying up the table for hours, and leave the server less than what they deserve. So, not only can they NOT turn the table to wait on other paying customers, they get screwed to boot.

Please understand, servers do not get to keep the entire tip you leave. We have to share it with the bussers, bartenders, and in some restaurants the hosts too. It is based on the sales that are made, not on the amount of the tip that you leave. In some cases, when you don't leave the appropriate tip, it COSTS the server to wait on you. How fair is that?

So, please don't take out your frustrations with the servers.

[KathieI]

Start taking the $$$ out of the waiters' tips and see how fast they discontinue the charge. I do not suggest punishing the wait staff, but, managesment will not listen to you, so the wait staff would act as your surrogate.

Sir: That is a horrible idea. The wait staff is not responsible at all. OMG that is terrible.

OMG, I'm so sorry that you think like that. Servers have nothing to do with management and if you think you're sending a message, you are so wrong. I agree with Bonnie, so glad I'm not a server waiting on you.

[2BNTV]

I would never penalize the servers. It is the policy of management.

I would have complained to management this charge was not brought to my attention when placing a reservation. I probably would have paid this charge but would have not been happy that it was not explained upfront.

Just sayin.........

[Bogie Shooter]

Start taking the $$$ out of the waiters' tips and see how fast they discontinue the charge. I do not suggest punishing the wait staff, but, managesment will not listen to you, so the wait staff would act as your surrogate.

Really? Your kidding right? Really?

[Virginians]

$6.00 to hear and see a little of Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore is the best deal in The Villages. The prices for food at The Cattle Barons Club is the second best deal. You should have taken another table and not posted.
Katie Belles is not making money at these prices. They will go up to market value as the build-out approaches. We plan to Enjoy these great deals while we can.

If Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore only came to The Villages only once or twice a year they would probably get at least $35.00 per ticket.

[Warren Kiefer]

$6.00 to hear and see a little of Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore is the best deal in The Villages. The prices for food at The Cattle Barons Club is the second best deal. You should have taken another table and not posted.
Katie Belles is not making money at these prices. They will go up to market value as the build-out approaches. We plan to Enjoy these great deals while we can.

If Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore only came to The Villages only once or twice a year they would probably get at least $35.00 per ticket.

The problem here is that I took my family to a restaurant for dinner, not to see a show. And the only way to even view the performance f we wanted to, was to leave our chairs and go stand at the railing. I did just this for a moment and what I saw was the top of the singers head. Is Cattle Barons a musical venue or a restaurant????

[Barefoot]

The problem here is that I took my family to a restaurant for dinner, not to see a show. And the only way to even view the performance f we wanted to, was to leave our chairs and go stand at the railing. I did just this for a moment and what I saw was the top of the singers head. Is Cattle Barons a musical venue or a restaurant?

You definitely should have been told that there would be a surcharge of $6.00 per person for seats along the railing. I think that most people who book at the Cattle Baron do so because of the entertainment at Katie Belles. I like the fact that residents can enjoy entertainment at the Cattle Baron while having dinner. And the CB prices for food are good. I think $6 is a bargain for Donna Moore and Dunning Shaw, but you should have been advised of the surcharge when you booked.

[Skip]

Another nickel and dime!

I won't be dining there any more. Who wants to be surprised with an extra $24 on the bill when you dine out with friends?

(It never ends.)

Skip

[eweissenbach]

$6.00 to hear and see a little of Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore is the best deal in The Villages. The prices for food at The Cattle Barons Club is the second best deal. You should have taken another table and not posted.
Katie Belles is not making money at these prices. They will go up to market value as the build-out approaches. We plan to Enjoy these great deals while we can.

If Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore only came to The Villages only once or twice a year they would probably get at least $35.00 per ticket.

I have not seen Shaw and Moore, so can't comment, though I agree a $6 ringside seat for a good show sounds like a bargain. I can comment on the Cattle Baron dinner prices, and I agree they are one of the best deals in TV, or anywhere for that manner. Haven't been there since March, but the $9.99 petit sirloin with the soup, bread and salad bar is the best dinner value anywere.

[janmcn]

Thanks to the OP for getting the word out about this surcharge when the establishment fails to do so. For a good meal without entertainment and a surcharge, take your business elsewhere.

[eweissenbach]

The problem here is that I took my family to a restaurant for dinner, not to see a show. And the only way to even view the performance f we wanted to, was to leave our chairs and go stand at the railing. I did just this for a moment and what I saw was the top of the singers head. Is Cattle Barons a musical venue or a restaurant????

I can appreciate your not being happy with the surcharge since it was not disclosed when you made your reservation. If you did not care about seeing the show from your table, then why not ask to switch to a table without the surcharge, presuming one was available?

[Warren Kiefer]

I hope this is my last comment and plan to just let it go. What some of you consider a great deal to have them someone performing while persons are having dinner, I consider the performance to be an invasion into a quiet dinner with my family, I was not there to watch a show.... The performers were so loud that we were unable have a conversation at our table and as to ringside seats, there are no ringside seats upstairs. I suppose one could call it ringside standing and if so what you see is a warped view from high above the performers. Usually there is a break between shows from 6 to 7 PM and this is exactly why I made 6 PM reservations.

[mac9]

If the performance is a distraction to dinner, why did you ask to sit at the railing? Surely you would have been less disturbed further back. Just doesn't make sense to me.:undecided:

[buggyone]

The shows at Katie Belle's are very good and they do have a $5 per person minimum charge. The $6 for the rail seats at Cattle Baron's is reasonable. However, the food at Cattle Baron's and Katie Belle's stinks - literally. It is low quality food and is not fresh. I have personally observed the servers putting salad fixings back into the salad bowls after it has been on the floor. I do not mind having a few drinks there while watching a show but NEVER would I eat anything from that filthy place.

[Warren Kiefer]

If the performance is a distraction to dinner, why did you ask to sit at the railing? Surely you would have been less disturbed further back. Just doesn't make sense to me.:undecided:

As I said earlier I had planned my reservation at a time when there is not normally a performance. I am sure that not all seating at cattle Baron is that desirable, I have at times been placed in the main dining area, it was crowded and not all that comfortable. Am sure you would agree that the best place to enjoy the asthetics and beauty of the interior of the Cattle Barons is in the railing areas. It is as simple as that.

[REDCART]

The shows at Katie Belle's are very good and they do have a $5 per person minimum charge. The $6 for the rail seats at Cattle Baron's is reasonable. However, the food at Cattle Baron's and Katie Belle's stinks - literally. It is low quality food and is not fresh...

We've been going to Cattle Baron for seven years, mostly with friends who seemed to enjoy it, (or maybe liked the price.) The food was never anything special but in the last six months CB has gone from bad to worse, and we agree with Buggyone that's it's become a horrible place to eat. We won't be going back.

George

[jblum315]

My opinion of Cattle Baron: It is supposed to be special, like a supper club, out of the ordinary. When I went there with party of six, I had forgotten about the entetainment and didn't realize how loud it would be. We could not talk. The food was a bit less than mediocre - the salad bar greens were brownish, the food was tepid and bland. It felt like trying to dine in a disco. No thanks.

[Golfingnut]

Please review the menu for pricing in this Link:
Fontainebleau : Menus (http://www.fontainebleau.com/web/dining/gotham_steak/menus)

Now that is a top quality Steakhouse with prices that reflect the quality.

Katie Bells was never intended to compete with that type restaurant. If they did, the vast majority of The Villages residents would not participate due to the price of meals.

On the other hand, you can go to Katie Bells and have entertainment, and ok food at about 20 % the cost of a quality steak house.

We would rather go out 2 or three times a week and the prices in The Villages gives us that option.

[rubicon]

The shows at Katie Belle's are very good and they do have a $5 per person minimum charge. The $6 for the rail seats at Cattle Baron's is reasonable. However, the food at Cattle Baron's and Katie Belle's stinks - literally. It is low quality food and is not fresh. I have personally observed the servers putting salad fixings back into the salad bowls after it has been on the floor. I do not mind having a few drinks there while watching a show but NEVER would I eat anything from that filthy place.

buggyone: Good to read that you out and about... As pleasing is the fact that you and I agree on something...with once exception I wouldn't step one foot into either of those restaurants. I view them to be for the tourist.

[Golfingnut]

I would recommend that if your interest truly is for quality and a quiet classy dinner out with friends or family that you give Nancy Lopez Legacy a look. It has both and I feel the best of both for any club in The Villages.

[buggyone]

buggyone: Good to read that you out and about... As pleasing is the fact that you and I agree on something...with once exception I wouldn't step one foot into either of those restaurants. I view them to be for the tourist.

Rubicon, my friend, I post only an a rare basis now that the Political Forum is no longer available. Things are going great and I hope the same for you.

I do like Katie Belle's when Rocky and the Rollers or Cactus Jack and the Cadillacs perform. I do not eat there but the drinks are good. There is a $5 minimum per person at Katie Belle's and I do not mind that at all.