Longhorn Steak House on Hwy 441 by The Villages

[merled]

This has to have been the worst restaurant experience in the short two years that we have lived here. We went there, Longhorn steak house on 12/18/2013 with a party of eight. We called ahead and they were ok to accommodate us at 6:00 PM. After approximately an hour and several attempts to get a straight answer from management as to why we had not been seated they started to lie to us saying they would work to correct the situation. Finally after another 20 minutes and their seating several parties of four ahead of us we started calling around to see if some place could take a party of eight. The manager had only one table for eight, but could have pushed two four party table together to accommodate us. Incidentally the group at the table for eight had finished their meal, paid their bill but continued to just sit and take up space. How rude can that be???
Finally, we told the manager were leaving and he and his side kick employee only laughed and said how can we make this right. Really, you had over an hour and a half. So we will never darken the doors of this restaurant again and encourage others to do the same. The only way these kind of employees learn is the hard way. We have entered a formal complaint with the franchise owner. Just be cautious folks when going out to eat in The Villages area.

[784caroline]

Trying to get a table in HIGH SEASON anywhere in and around TV for a table of 8 in prime time (6pm) is NOT EASY. After 1 1/2 hours of waiting I would also be upset, but I did not know Longhorn even took reservations. The reception staff at Longhorns only seats people...they donot necessarily accomodate them. I would not get tooo upset..... I mean we are not talking about a "high end" resturant ...but we have seen the same (wait times) at some of TV country club resturants during High Season prime time..

[DougB]

Good, 8 less people I will have to wait behind when I go there. Longhorn is one my favorites near TV.

[gerryann]

That kind of wait should be expected at any restaurant this time of year, especially for a table for eight. You just hit them at a bad time. I was there the night before and was seated immediately. Sorry you weren't happy, but I wouldn't stop going there and I certainly wouldn't file a "formal complaint".

[ilovetv]

This was definitely not the way to treat a customer and I'd not go back either, with that attitude of management. That being said, however.....

More and more I see little worth in forming a table of 8 or more people in a bustling and noisy restaurant. You cannot talk to all 7 or more other people, and can only talk to the 3-4 seated beside and across from you. To me it's not worth the difficulty big tables present to servers who strain to hear/communicate in the noise, and to patrons who would actually like to hear and converse with each other.

Many times it would be better to reserve a small banquet room for parties of 8 or 10 or more people. Then people wouldn't have to strain to see, nor yell down to the people on the other end of the table.

[Villageshooter]

if you have that many u can get the room at panera fo $50 and u can set there for 2 hours and enjoy the fellowship in a quiet place.

[gomoho]

Good, 8 less people I will have to wait behind when I go there. Longhorn is one my favorites near TV.

Agree - we went Sunday for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the food.

[graciegirl]

Longhorn, with entrees in the teens is a bit expensive, but never disappoints.


And high season is just beginning.


Snowbirds do not know how to cook.


(JUST KIDDING)

[Golfingnut]

They have the best cut of beef in the area.

[Phanatic Luvr]

I do feel sorry for you and know how frustrating that can be. With that said, I am also thinking Longhorne's is right in the meca of the 441 shopping district and its a week before Christmas. Just my thoughts ...

[redwitch]

I'd be angry at the other group that finished eating but wouldn't leave (but it was probably a group celebrating Christmas, so can't say as I blame them for not leaving when you wanted them to). But they're the ones who mucked things up for you -- it was their table that Longhorn was hoping to give you. Yes, Longhorn could have put two tables of 4 together for your group but it could have created all kinds of problems for other patrons and servers -- most restaurants work very hard to optimize space and moving tables around can cause all kind of flow problems. More importantly, unless two tables opened up right next to each other, what do you propose be done -- move patrons who are eating so the tables could be joined?

I'm really trying to understand how a manager would laugh at a group and then ask how to make things right in pretty much the same breath. That makes no sense to me. If they were laughing, it doesn't make a lot of sense that they would then try to make things right. The two just don't go hand in hand in my mind.

I also don't understand where you were lied to. You have no idea what the manager was trying to do to get you seated, so it is quite possible that they were in fact working on finding a way to seat your group.

It is a shame that your group did not get to eat where they wanted but I'd say there is no blame to be passed around given the facts given. I hope you did find a restaurant to accommodate your group and I hope the next time you go out with a group there is a lot less drama in seating you.

[dolpterry]

Best restaurant around, 8 less people= PRICELESS

[Jaggy]

i haven't eaten at Longhorn for years and the reason is crazy I know but here goes.. I was stopped behind a truck that was collecting the cooking "grease"?? that they recycle and I swear it smelled so bad the stink seeped into the car and I swear I smelled it for an hour.. I re-smell it ( in my muddled mind) every time I drive past a Longhorn, ---- guess I am missing a good steak but my grilled steak at home is much better anyway !!

[glbowman]

Longhorns is a franchise of Dardens that also owns...Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and others....I have always had good service and good food all over the Midwest and South.....I will continue to eat at these places, one bad review by someone will not influence me.

[janmcn]

Longhorns is a franchise of Dardens that also owns...Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and others....I have always had good service and good food all over the Midwest and South.....I will continue to eat at these places, one bad review by someone will not influence me.


Darden Restaurants Inc announced just this week that it is selling or spinning off it's Red Lobster restaurants and will not open any more Longhorn or Olive Garden restaurants. No prospective buyers were mentioned for Red Lobster, and there was no mention of Bahama Breeze in the article.

All the people who complain about these restaurants can rest assured that no more will be coming to their neighborhoods.



http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/darden-plans-to-split-from-red-lobster/2157888

[Skip]

Longhorns is a franchise of Dardens that also owns...Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Bahama Breeze and others....I have always had good service and good food all over the Midwest and South.....I will continue to eat at these places, one bad review by someone will not influence me.

Sorry. LongHorn Restaurants are NOT franchises in the US. They are all operated by Darden Restaurants Inc. being purchased just six years ago. There's about 400 locations now.

Skip

[DonH57]

One of my favorite restaurants and always will be. Never had an issue and I have no reason to avoid them.

[My Daily Run]

I know that one season runs into the other here in Florida... we have a group of 14 that goes out to lunch once a month...never have a problem but we were disappointed when a Country Club that we visit often and love had to break up our group into 2 tables this month at lunch...as they were telling us the light went on and we laughed and said Tis the season...we all kind of forgot that this is the time of the year that we need to go out of The Villages or we have to do lunch at 2 or 3 pm instead of noon. Hang in there...just 3 months and then we are back to normal...they spend a lot of money and we really need them so embrace them and make some small changes or it will be a long season for you.

[Bonny]

I love Longhorn !! Yay, 8 people less that I have to wait for !!
We all know when it's snowbird and renter season, it gets very busy. I love it cause everyone gets to make lots of money. Especially those that have families to support. We usually go to eat dinner at 4:00. Not quite so crowded.

[JourneyOfLife]

If the manager seemed to think there was something funny about it I would contact their corporate headquarter and register a complaint.

I would find that offensive. If I were their manager I would consider that sort of behavior unprofessional and question if he or she were management material.

You can bet their management would want to know about it!

I would just do a emotional check to make sure I was not being overly sensitive about it. No need to put someone in the hot seat unnecessarily.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. We've eaten there a couple of times and it was great. The food was awesome and the service was about what we've gotten used to around here.
It is a bit pricey, but the quality of the food makes it well worth it. I can't afford to go there often, but it's nice for a special treat.

[zcaveman]

Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. We've eaten there a couple of times and it was great. The food was awesome and the service was about what we've gotten used to around here.
It is a bit pricey, but the quality of the food makes it well worth it. I can't afford to go there often, but it's nice for a special treat.

It is not that pricey if you do lunch there. They have a great rib eye and the Renegade steak is great. And if you take advantage of the coupons in the coupon section of the Sunday paper you get an additional $3 off for lunch AND if you join the Longhorn club you get free desserts and free appetizers on your birthday, etc. Well worth it.

Z

[justjim]

Unfortunately, not all managers of Darden or another Chain restaurants are competent. OP you just apparently experienced one. When eight in our group go out to eat where they do not have reservations, we often break up into two groups in order to be seated in a reasonable time. We agree to do that up front. Just a suggestion for next time,

I would write the restaurant chain a letter too---right thing to do.

[Mayeapple109]

You may not know that there is a difference between "reservations" and " call ahead". Call ahead allows the management to be assured there will be room for a sizable party but not necessarily at a given time. I know the answer" push the tables together" seems to be logical. But in the food service industry that means the 8 people would be taking up turn over time for much longer than say a party of two to four. More turn over equals more items and drinks sold. The party of 8 that sat there jabbering was eating into not only the number of items sold but also the number of customers the food server would have during their shift. Also many people believe food servers ( usually referred to as waiters and waitresses) don't necessarily make minimum wage. They usually make enough to purchase the companies health insurance. That's it. Any income comes from tips. BUt those tips have a tip share attached. X percentage goes to the hostess, the bar tender,the bussing person. (Table cleaner) So when a cook screws up the way a steak is grilled you can bet the head cook hears about it. Bad food means the food server gets the penny left on the table. The food service business is interesting but I could't do it! I'd want to dump a glass of ice water on some people. And don't think there aren't jerk customers making snarky remarks about a female servers breast size, hair or teeth. How about the fool that shows a gun to a server and says the food better be good. Yea there are some pretty awful food servers, but that means that management is lacking. Most are good decent hard working moms and college students just trying to get by.

[JourneyOfLife]

Here is an article about the hedge fund manager that wants the company broken into pieces.


Hedge Fund Presses Case for Breakup of Darden Restaurants (http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/hedge-fund-presses-case-for-breakup-of-darden-restaurants/?_r=0)