Singing Servers at Havana Country Club

[gerrip]

Singing Servers at the Havana Country Club is a first for the Villages! What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or treat visitors. Opening Night was like New Year's Eve! It was fantastic. The food was delicious, but the entertainment was fabulous! There's nothing like georgeous, young, talented waiters singing your favorite songs! It's a hit!
We're going again next week with several couples before the Tour groups start reserving tables.

Contessa

[DougB]

They have singing waiters at Havana????

[gerrip]

They have singing waiters at Havana????

New Management, new menu, new concept, Singing Servers started last week!

[graciegirl]

New Management, new menu, new concept, Singing Servers started last week!

Yeah, well, welcome to the forum.

[Happinow]

They can have all of the whoop de do they want but if the roaches aren't outta there I'm not going in! The kitchen inspection had roaches everywhere! I hope they get their act together because its a great spot.

[DougB]

Singing Servers at the Havana Country Club is a first for the Villages! What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, or treat visitors. Opening Night was like New Year's Eve! It was fantastic. The food was delicious, but the entertainment was fabulous! There's nothing like georgeous, young, talented waiters singing your favorite songs! It's a hit!
We're going again next week with several couples before the Tour groups start reserving tables.

Contessa

Gorgeous waiters aren't my thing, if you know what I mean!

[ilovetv]

New Management, new menu, new concept, Singing Servers started last week!

We already heard on the other thread about singing servers, which is nothing more than:

Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

With the disgusting, literally rotten food we had there, it's an insult to customers' intelligence to pretend that singing waiters would appease us.

[OurHappyHome]

They can have all of the whoop de do they want but if the roaches aren't outta there I'm not going in! The kitchen inspection had roaches everywhere! I hope they get their act together because its a great spot.

How do you know they have roaches. They said the bug on a previous post was a gnat. Per Jacky who said she was the waitress who served them.

[Happinow]

[QUOTE=DoctorA;706977]How do you know they have roaches. They said the bug on a previous post was a gnat. Per Jacky who said she was the waitress who served them.[/QUOTE

Here's the report.........

These are the recent inspection violations on 6/11/13 at Havana CC:



Violation NR. Observations:


14-09-4 Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable a repeat Violation **Warning issued

14-67-4 Basic - Reach-in cooler gasket torn/in disrepair. **Repeat Violation** **Warning issued.

29-11-4 Basic - Leaking pipe at plumbing fixture. Underneath wait station ice bin. **Repeat Violation** **Warning issued.

35A-03-4 High Priority - Dead roaches on premises. 2 dead roaches underneath cook line hand sink 3 dead roaches in dish room 4 dead roaches in office 2 dead roaches in corner of cook line behind refrigerator. This violation must be corrected by 6/12/13 **Warning issued

35A-05-4 High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 live roach crawling on dish room wall 1 live roach crawling on stone pizza oven on cook line 6 live roaches of various sizes in corner of ceiling at stone pizza oven 2 in holes in dish room 3 in crack in wall at ice machine. 3 in corner of ceiling over prep room hand sink this violation must be corrected by 6/12/13. **Warning issued

35B-01-4 Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. **Warning issued

36-71-4 Basic - Floor drains/drain covers heavily soiled. Throughout **Warning issued.
36-74-4 Basic - Build-up of soil/debris on the floor along the walls, baseboards, cabinets and/or equipment. Throughout **Warning issued.

ALL THIS BEGS THE QUESTION...WHY EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT?

[OurHappyHome]

Wow I agree I had reservations for Saterday might but have to cancel. Thank you

[simpkinp]

If you are referring to my previous post about a bug in my salad, it was definitely not a gnat. It was about 1/4 inch ling, thin and reddish brown bug. This was Monday night. I am not interested in eating salads out ever since. I am opting for soup from now on, at least the critters will be boiled and crawling around. Lol good source of protein?

[Patty55]

You know what's worse than finding a roach in your food?

Finding half a roach.

[OurHappyHome]

When I called to cancel my reservations and told the hostes about these posts she put the manager on the phone. She claimed that these posts were from disgruntled ex employees. She also said all Resteraunts have bugs.

My wife thinks it is healthier to eat home so I hope she doesn't find that out.

When I spoke to the hostess she said they were fully booked tomorrow so I guess the bug hasn't hurt business. But I'm not eating there.

[Skip]

She claimed that these posts were from disgruntled ex employees. She also said all Resteraunts have bugs.

When I spoke to the hostess she said they were fully booked tomorrow so I guess the bug hasn't hurt business. But I'm not eating there.

Wow, they must have a lot of disgruntled employees!

OK, someone from TOTV will probably check to see if all the tables are full tomorrow.

Skip

[ilovetv]

When I called to cancel my reservations and told the hostes about these posts she put the manager on the phone. She claimed that these posts were from disgruntled ex employees. She also said all Resteraunts have bugs.

My wife thinks it is healthier to eat home so I hope she doesn't find that out.

When I spoke to the hostess she said they were fully booked tomorrow so I guess the bug hasn't hurt business. But I'm not eating there.

It is normal for restaurants to have a few bugs but as always, it's what an owner/operator DOES about a problem that matters.

The problem with Havana is that they had these same violations repeated and warnings issued, with nothing apparently done about it.

And for us, I never saw bugs in my food, but it did look like and had the texture of leftover chicken meat that had been sitting uncovered in a refrigerator for 2+ weeks, and it stunk! They offered a replacement choice, but once I gag at the smell or look of rotten food somebody put on that plate without caring, I'm done. They gave us some coupon cards for two future free dinners or some such thing, but I couldn't look at going back there. And then we saw the health dept. inspections violations....

They need new ownership AND management, period. Why TV commercial property makes a new lease with this bunch is beyond me.

[dgammon6]

Did anyone look at other Country Club inspection reports?

[bandsdavis]

We went tonight to enjoy the singing. The performers/wait staff are all extremely talented young performers. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the music and a Buffalo Mozzarella Tomato Salad which was very good. The place was packed! No idea how good the dinners were, we were there for the entertainment.

B&S

[xkeowner]

Did anyone look at other Country Club inspection reports?

Yes, and none approached the magnitude of the Havana inspection findings nor did they have repeats of serious violations. Some had no findings at all.

[graciegirl]

Putting lipstick on a pig comes to mind. ;)

[simpkinp]

I can assure you I am not a disgruntled employee, or ex employee. I retired from aerospace management 5 years ago and I am a full time goof off, idling at the pool and going out to cocktails and dinner with my BF. I really would like Havana to succeed, but if they are telling lies like that, it makes me wonder if that effort would be better spent cleaning things up.

[ilovetv]

Putting lipstick on a pig comes to mind. ;)

Ain't that the truth!!

[Fourpar]

Putting lipstick on a pig comes to mind. ;)
Oh, Gracie! You have such a beautiful way of cutting to the chase!
:BigApplause:

[justjim]

Another way to look at the situation is that since Havana has been inspected and cleaned up the problem----they are more likely to be bug free more that other restaurants in TV. If it is true they are under new management, that is another plus. I'm inclined to give them another chance. it appears they are "trying".

[musicman]

Gorgeous waiters aren't my thing, if you know what I mean!

They got gorgeous waitresses, too!

[perrjojo]

Last night we went with two other couples. Luckily we had reservations as they were turning away walk ins. The ambience was great. Lots of folks laughing, smiling and having a great time. The wait staff sang opera and Broadway show tunes and were quite good and very entertaining. They were young people from Ocala and Orlando who love to sing and hope for a career in that field. All of the waitstaff were friendly, outgoing and VERY eager to please. Entertainment A+. Now for the restaurant review. Service was somewhat slow but considering we were being entertained and in the company of good friends, all was well. Now, for the food review. 2 of us liked our meal...2 of us thought it was ok...2 of us thought was REALLY bad. The manager was attentive and eager to please our group. We will go back but the food quality will definitely need to improve.

[ilovetv]

Last night we went with two other couples. Luckily we had reservations as they were turning away walk ins. The ambience was great. Lots of folks laughing, smiling and having a great time. The wait staff sang opera and Broadway show tunes and were quite good and very entertaining. They were young people from Ocala and Orlando who love to sing and hope for a career in that field. All of the waitstaff were friendly, outgoing and VERY eager to please. Entertainment A+. Now for the restaurant review. Service was somewhat slow but considering we were being entertained and in the company of good friends, all was well. Now, for the food review. 2 of us liked our meal...2 of us thought it was ok...2 of us thought was REALLY bad. The manager was attentive and eager to please our group. We will go back but the food quality will definitely need to improve.

All of which leads us to ask, is it a restaurant, or an amateur singing audition venue?

Serving at least "decent" meals should be on the top of the list and the focus at all times.

If they need a major distraction away from the food/meals that are hit or miss, sometimes good and sometimes awful, then they're just plain slop artists running the place.

[scrapple]

We just got back from a night at Havana, and I was thoroughly impressed. The food was good, and the entertainment was fabulous. I notice that a lot of people have bad feelings about the food there, and I've heard similar stories from my neighbors.
I can't change your preconceived ideas, I can only say that I had one of the better meals inside TV, and the best dining experience in many years.

[Bonny]

We went Wednesday after our Parrot Head meeting. There wasn't an empty table in the place. We sat at the bar. Everyone was enjoying the singing. We ran into several friends there that said they loved it. The singers were great !
I got the chicken saltimboca and hubby got the chicken napoli. Both were delicious ! Portions were large so we had plenty left over to take home. :D

[Baci514]

What are the dates of these violations?

[Fourpar]

What are the dates of these violations?

...same as the dates they were closed.

[tommy steam]

[QUOTE=DoctorA;706977]How do you know they have roaches. They said the bug on a previous post was a gnat. Per Jacky who said she was the waitress who served them.[/QUOTE

Here's the report.........

These are the recent inspection violations on 6/11/13 at Havana CC:



Violation NR. Observations:


14-09-4 Basic - Cutting board has cut marks and is no longer cleanable a repeat Violation **Warning issued

14-67-4 Basic - Reach-in cooler gasket torn/in disrepair. **Repeat Violation** **Warning issued.

29-11-4 Basic - Leaking pipe at plumbing fixture. Underneath wait station ice bin. **Repeat Violation** **Warning issued.

35A-03-4 High Priority - Dead roaches on premises. 2 dead roaches underneath cook line hand sink 3 dead roaches in dish room 4 dead roaches in office 2 dead roaches in corner of cook line behind refrigerator. This violation must be corrected by 6/12/13 **Warning issued

35A-05-4 High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. 1 live roach crawling on dish room wall 1 live roach crawling on stone pizza oven on cook line 6 live roaches of various sizes in corner of ceiling at stone pizza oven 2 in holes in dish room 3 in crack in wall at ice machine. 3 in corner of ceiling over prep room hand sink this violation must be corrected by 6/12/13. **Warning issued

35B-01-4 Basic - Exterior door has a gap at the threshold that opens to the outside. **Warning issued

36-71-4 Basic - Floor drains/drain covers heavily soiled. Throughout **Warning issued.
36-74-4 Basic - Build-up of soil/debris on the floor along the walls, baseboards, cabinets and/or equipment. Throughout **Warning issued.

ALL THIS BEGS THE QUESTION...WHY EAT AT THIS RESTAURANT?
Sounds like the subways in NYC. Yuck.

[ilovetv]

Why does The Villages allow this Havana operation to continue to taint the place??

It's totally uncharacteristic of TV!!

[Indydealmaker]

Why does The Villages allow this Havana operation to continue to taint the place??

It's totally uncharacteristic of TV!!

Those violations are more common than you might expect. If you want to read about REAL violations, try this one:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20130715/LIFE01/307150065/Unsanitary-conditions-shut-down-Muncie-barbecue-pit-family-vows-reopen

[Bonny]

Those violations are more common than you might expect. If you want to read about REAL violations, try this one:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20130715/LIFE01/307150065/Unsanitary-conditions-shut-down-Muncie-barbecue-pit-family-vows-reopen
:22yikes:

[Skip]

Why does The Villages allow this Havana operation to continue to taint the place??

It's totally uncharacteristic of TV!!

Easy answer: Because they pay their rent!
About two years ago the health department shut down Katie Belle's and (I think) either Bourbon Street or Margarita Republic (can't remember which) on the same day.
Remember?

Skip

[spk7951]

Those violations are more common than you might expect. If you want to read about REAL violations, try this one:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20130715/LIFE01/307150065/Unsanitary-conditions-shut-down-Muncie-barbecue-pit-family-vows-reopen


But how many restaurants fail to promptly address these violations like Havana did?

[Bonny]

I'm sorry, get over the violations. They are all fixed and they have a clean bill of health ! Let's just wish everyone well. If we don't like a place, we just won't go.

[keithwand]

Doesn't anyone eat at home?

[PaPaLarry]

Doesn't anyone eat at home?

LOL Good question!!:thumbup: Nothing like cooking?? Always nice to know you put the ingredients in recipe, and not wondering what's in it. We do eat out, but not every night or day. :icon_hungry::icon_hungry::icon_hungry: I'm not sure we will try Havana yet, but probably will down the road. Plenty of Yum Yum locations in The Villages, to choose from.

[Bogie Shooter]

I'm sorry, get over the violations. They are all fixed and they have a clean bill of health ! Let's just wish everyone well. If we don't like a place, we just won't go.
I agree!

[graciegirl]

Easy answer: Because they pay their rent!
About two years ago the health department shut down Katie Belle's and (I think) either Bourbon Street or Margarita Republic (can't remember which) on the same day.
Remember?

Skip

Right as usual.

The Villages cannot have a say in the way businesses are run because they are just a landlord. I was kinda hoping they would fail to pay their rent and be booted so that we villagers would have a chance to see someone new and hopefully a little more to most people's liking take over.

[ilovetv]

Easy answer: Because they pay their rent!
About two years ago the health department shut down Katie Belle's and (I think) either Bourbon Street or Margarita Republic (can't remember which) on the same day.
Remember?

Skip

Actually, I wasn't talking about the health inspections violations. Some of those are common to most restaurants. It's the repeated accounts here and elsewhere of miserable or no service, bad/rotten food, and repeatedly being out of something so basic as beer in 90 degree weather when golfers are coming in by the dozen. I was told yesterday by a bartender at another TV popular bar that a whole group came there after leaving Havana in disgust......they were told cooking and food service would not be done with so few people in the restaurant and that if X number of people showed up to dine, THEN they'd cook/serve food. So they left and went elsewhere, saying "no more will we go to Havana". Complaints like this happen over and over again and it seems nobody gets it.

My hope was that TV would not renew the lease with this slop outfit ruining the reputation of one of TV's most beautiful venues.