GuY Fieri's
 

First visit tonight not received well by me.

Had a 12 person reservation. Had dueling assistant managers. Tall one said have to go to 3 separate tables somewhat close to each other, nothing else available (Why accept a 12 person reservation).

Got seated and was approached by short one asking why I was seated at table. Said it was for someone else and she was preparing our 12 person table. I said talk to tall one. Got a curt excuse.

That aside, no drafts beers tonight as they were having a craft brew draft only.

Not good so far.

Ordered half rack of ribs. Taste OK but no meat. Horrible. Ribs but only scrapings of meat on the bones that were served.

Side of macaroni tasteless and had to ask for pepper and salt which was not on table. Also had a crushed cracker topping, one was still in a fish form (wonder where that topping was from).

And then there was the coleslaw which was tasteless. Expect tangy got blah.

Did you speak to the general manager about the quality of the food and advise him that you were going to post a negative review on TOTV?

Email their corporate headquarters and advise them of your experience.

Don't go back.....that will send a message plus it will make you feel better.

Getting the Word Out
 

It sounds like you would have fared better at the Golden Corral, except for the fact that it has no snob appeal.

You might get the attention of management if you post your evaluation on the Google review page.

GuY Fieri's - Google Search

Agree about the tasteless coleslaw. I had to "doctor up" the slaw with a mayonnaise which I asked for on the side, salt, pepper and a bit of sweetener. It was delicious with those additions because the thin cut of the cabbage was really nice. I did let the server know how tasteless the coleslaw was.

Same visit...... my brother-in -law and I ordered the Kobe beef burger. We both ordered them to be cooked medium rare. The server told us the policy is to cook the beef to medium well. (What restaurant kills a Kobe beef burger by cooking to that temperature???) We said we wanted the burgers to be pink on the inside and juicy. The server assured us the burgers would be pink and juicy. We received our burgers with a black char on the outside that ruined the flavor of the beef as the char was so overpowering. The inside of the burger had absolutely no pink but somehow, it was juicy. I must admit, this burger was the worst tasting burger I have ever had in a restaurant. We complained to the management and received 10% off of our bill. We did not send the burgers back because we did not want to have to wait. I know now not ever to order a burger or any kink of beef at this restaurant.

The trash can nachos were delicious. That was the only part of our meal that was great.

Its a big "like" for Golden Corral

Its a mistake to waste your time with the manager. first you explained the two head honcho contradicted one another. Secondly the problems you experienced were created by the manager and if s/he missed on those very basic s/he ought not to be a manager

And I suppose it does a lot of good to complain about it here?

Same
 

We had the same experience regarding the food. In addition it is very loud and the menu is restrictive. Would
not go back.:wave:

One poster in another thread actually bragged about how her/his "Reviews" were effective and those restaurants were no longer in business. Huge dollars were spent by investor/owners who took a chance and they lost it all. Do these incessant reviews by some of the same "experts" play a part? I don't know but it sure does not help.

In any restaurant I expect to be fed a good meal accompanied by prompt courteous efficient service. That is what I want in return for paying the tab and remunerating the servers with a respectable tip. In a more upscale restaurant I expect the quality of my meal to be top drawer, again with very good service. The tab, when it comes will be expensive, but will happily be paid if my expectations are met.

If my expectations are met, I will tell friends and neighbors and often times post a review on a forum such TOTV. If they are not, I also reserve the right to again tell the world how lousy my experience was and frankly do not give a rats behind if it contributes to the failure of the restaurant. Entirely too many investor/owners know nothing about the restaurant business, or how to hire competent managers if they themselves choose not to be actively involved. Good food and service are simple concepts and most customers in return for their hard earned money will walk away happy if the restaurant provides both. If it does not, why should it expect to remain in business ?

I LOVE Golden Coral........a little bit of this...a little bit of that.....
no longer do I have to "ogal" what my table mates have ordered....and wish I had chosen that.....I simple get up and get my own....

Simple as that....

Food was not well prepared. Sent back wings which came out half cooked. Appetizers were not as described. On a positive note, no problem getting seats and the server was very good. You could tell she was embarrassed by the quality of preparedness. Drink menu was ok and maybe that's all they care about. Not worth ever going back to. He should be ashamed having his name associated with this. Then again, the one in Orlando is equally as bad.

Very well stated. Too many on TOTV believe only positive restaurant reviews are in order. I believe there’s room for honest reviews and let the marketplace sort them out. Exorbitant rents may but a lack of training in the kitchen and among the wait staff will surely kill a restaurant.

Stopped by for lunch yesterday. The tuna sashimi won ton tacos were excellent. We did not like the calamari, thought it may have been overfryed, but they were happy to replace it or take it off the bill. The bloody Mary's were huge, delicious and came with two skewers that I would classify as including it's own appetizers. It was truely big enough to share.

I was there for lunch with three friends a week or so after they opened. Not one of us were pleased with the food or service. We all ordered something different. Only one of us actually got all of what they ordered. They didn't charge me for my meal when I told them I couldn't eat it and they did give the others credits on their bills. We all left with the feeling we would never return. When I drove by yesterday I thought how much I wished it was still Honest John's where I always enjoyed eating.

I agree overall. But I’d like to see some detail. For example, a member above posted that the cole slaw was bland and that adding some mayo and seasoning made the difference. Now I know what to expect from the cole slaw. Statements that the food was awful with no detail give nothing. Descriptions about service also need detail. Some expect the server to almost hover in the neighborhood to handle any and all needs. Others feel they are being rushed if the server is always around.

So I don’t mind a critical review of a restaurant as long as it provides information that can help me or others understand what the problem was and whether, to me, that would be a reason to avoid the place, or not.

Well said.

I didn't like Sweet Tomatoes. We took vegan grandson there and we had not been before. It was lacking in ambiance to me, kind of an "industrial" décor.

It had a decent salad bar but I like the comfy chairs at Ruby Tuesday's if salad bar was what I wanted. I didn't find anything on the menu I liked and they do serve meat. Just not MY cup of tea.

i retired as Chairman of the Board of the Universe a long time ago. I do not pretend to know why 70-80% of Small Businesses fail within 5 years. You appear to have some insight which would be put to better use if it was shared with the restaurant owners, not here.I do strongly admire someone who risks their hard earned money to start a business and wish them all the success in the world. I would rather offer my constructive thoughts to the owner of any business where it may do some good than post in a Forum that could hurt their chances for success. There were some folks who posted about the new Havana restaurant without setting foot in the place because they listened to others who did not like it for one reason or another.

I said it before and I will say it again. We all come from different areas of the country and all have different expectations. Just because your expectations are not met does not mean it is bad for everyone. I personally put grits in the same category as wallpaper paste but I know others think they are great. We went to Guy Fieri's and thought it was just OK mostly because much of it is fried which is not appealing to me.

I set foot in Havana.last afternoon--we had a quick snack at another club--their liquor and wine selection is way down in quality, finished the last of their good Vodka-- we'll wait to see if they get their menus together

Based up what we heard about Guy Fieris and after looking at their menu online--we'll pass on this place

If we eat @ LSL--it will be either Cody's or RJ Gators

Having been within earshot of a Guy Fieri public temper tantrum, I won't put a penny in that primadonna's pocket.

When you need to tell the owner/investor of a restaurant over and over again, they need to serve quality well prepared food and do so with prompt and courteous service the future of the establishment is pre-ordained. It will fail, and probably does the public a favor by doing it sooner then later.

Okay, Canary, sing! I thrive on details. :icon_wink:

Puzzles me why you would keep going back to the same restaurant to tell the owner “over and over” when there are plenty of restaurants that you like better. It must be very frustrating for a man of your emence talents and intellect to have people not do exactly as you say. What could they be thinking? Yeah. Let ‘em grow broke!

PLEASE. Let's not turn TOTV into the on line paper's comments section.

Well... yes. I'll never order cole slaw there. That's two complaints on the cole slaw.

Location, location, etc.
 

I have to agree about the "industrial" feeling of the Sweet Tomatoes in The Villages.

In contrast, the Sweet Tomatoes in Tampa has a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with friendly employees, somewhat subdued lighting, and a wide variety of made-from-scratch soups and breads accompanying the extensive salad bar. Also available are baked and sweet potatoes, and rice.

It is more than four times the size of the one in The Villages, and also has a small private dining room that can be reserved for meetings. The desert bar includes fresh fruit as well as cookies and soft serve ice cream.

They have been in business for over a decade, and it's one of my favorite places to eat. It's a shame that the one in The Villages doesn't compare well to the one in Tampa.

Do you or do you not agree that word of mouth concerning eateries is a critical factor as to their survival? If you do agree , then posting on TOTV to residents who are a large part of the captive group likely to choose a restaurthen indeed it does a lot of good. if however, you disagree believing posters are just complaining in the wind which you post indicates customers are wasting their time posting on TOTV.

I elected the former position. I also reiterate that management, including the owner(s) have the carrying oar. if a business opens they need to be ready to meet customers expectations. Most of what is being spoken here does not appear to be customers demanding the impossible.

Why is it a place like Givoanni's misses most of this criticism?

Personal Best Regards:

because its real food, not boil in the bag ,microwaveable -drek

I'll second that. Is all most of us are asking for is something better then we can make it home. Since most of us don't know the faces of the owners of the restaurants here it's very difficult to voice your opinion to a manager that may or may not be able to pass on how good food and service or the lack of.

It comes with the meal so you are stuck now. Like it or not you got cole slaw. :)😂☺️

I do not go back to a restaurant which does not serve good food. I also do not revisit restaurants which provide lousy service, nor did I imply I did. Most of the restaurants which fail probably do one or both, and many customers have to reach this conclusion before that happens. The personal insult I simply do not understand, but yes, if the food is not good consistently and the service worse, restaurants do deserve to go broke.

We have been once. Service was excellent but the menu is not anything a person on a diet or healthy eating plan would want. May go back but only occasionally. Just not my type of food.

Me Too. HenryK and I wanna hear. Do tell.

FYI, the corporate parent of Sweet Tomatoes has filed for bankruptcy. Might be a real estate opening soon on 441.

Chapter 7 or 11? Under 11 they will reorganize.

same goes for the one in Pembroke Pines......great food and surroundings......

I believe Chapter 11 which typically means downsizing.

Don't know you Carl but your first sentence made me laugh.

I agree.