Lighthouse Bar and Grill Changes
 

Anyone aware of any recent changes to the Lighthouse Bar and Grill. Usually has full tables and people awaiting seating. Within last week seems like crowds have disappeared. Just an observation, as we walk past every evening.

Beginning of summer, most restaurants have more availability

Menu changes.
 

My wife and I visited there a couple of weeks ago. We sat at the bar like usual but noticed that the restaurant was not busy like normal. I asked for menus and received what looked like lunch menus. I asked the bartender and was told they were new and that the dinner entrees were eliminated. Basically now mostly sandwiches, fried food and apps. Was told that they were streamlining things to be more efficient in the kitchen. We previously really liked the butterfish and the baked fish options but no longer available. Might make sense for cost efficiency but not customer friendly imo. Maybe opening the new restaurant in Spanish Springs has spread them too thin.

We recently went there for dinner. Their menu has changed drastically. They are now a "seafood basket" only place. Seafood (fish, shrimp, scallops, etc) served with fries and a cup of coleslaw in a plastic basket and presented with the cheapest plastic silverware. I think they might have dropped their prices a tad also. But the restaurant is only a shell of its former self - it needs a complete overhaul inside and out, and the food is now only mediocre.
Such a shame - it used to be our favorite place to eat. What a waste of a great view.

Ditto

We went there for the first time a few weeks ago.

Food was good but served a large piece of fried halibut in very small cardboard basket making it hard to eat. Not to mention plastic utensils.

Snowbirds are gone and prices/wages have increased...gotta trim costs somewhere?

Ditto again

The venue deserves much better. If they're having trouble meeting expenses ( which I suspect), sell it to someone who can make it worth the visit.

If the decibel level has dropped as well, can't be bad!

Can a double ditto be ditto'd ??

I thought nobody went there anymore because it was so crowded.

Groan...

Used to be Yogi's favorite restaurant

I dislike the new menu. We went last week. Good service, not so good food.

When we bought in the Villages 6 years ago the Lighthouse was our go to place. It was where we brought all our visitors for a very good meal with a nice view. Over the years it has gone through several changes, the only thing that has been consistent is change. With each change, quality and value has progressively declined. Kind of sad : (

Once they cut back no draft beer we stopped going

It was always a noisy place, but we enjoyed sitting outside and watching the sunset, Our first time there they served a delicious Mac and Lobster dish. A couple of years later the dish was gone and quality started going downhill. That's sad what's happened to it, especially since it is a great location to dine, especially for a gourmet, boutique restaurant.

I agree. I don't understand why any bar would stop selling draft beer. Isn't that a huge profit item?

I also love draft beer and that is always a factor in choosing a restaurant.

Yes it is!

It's been years since I worked in the wholesale liquor, wine and beer business so I may not have all the numbers correct. With that said draft beer is very profitable.


Keg Cost $100

Price per Serving $4.00

Kegs per Month 20
Keg Size Domestic Half Barrel
Serving Size 12 ounce stem glass

servings per keg 165.33
Revenue per keg. 661..32
Profit per keg. 561.32
Profit per month. $11,226.40
Profit Per year $134,716.80

We went there twice last month for the "oysters" and were served some of the most anemic, small and tasteless oysters I ever had. I had thought maybe the first time they were running low, so we tried one more time. Will not make that mistake again. We have heard numerous complaints from our groups about the food. Will not return......

Mystery
 

It is a true mystery as to the decline in the food at the Lighthouse? Why would any Restaurant try to ruin their business unless they wanted to go our of business? Why would a restaurant want to go out of business on a low point rather then optimizing its value for a resale? Why no statement from the owners? Do they want to sell? These are either the dumbest owner's in The Villages or the smartest and are setting something up which is not visible to the Residents? Either way it is a shame to see such a unique and fine
restaurant go down the tubes!!:ohdear:

Has everyone forgotten that the owners of the Lighthouse, Maureen & John McIntyre, recently opened Augustine's 1812 House in Spanish Springs where Demshar's was located? To me, it makes the changes at the Lighthouse even more difficult to understand.

The reviews of Augustine's 1812 have also been less than stellar.

I grow my own delicious oysters at my dock on the Chesapeake Bay. Now I'm spoiled by fresh oysters year round.

Sad but this is a pattern followed by many Villages restaurants. Somehow there are cost variables that force the quality lower and the prices higher until it drives them out of business. We can all name a dozen places this has happened.

We used to dock our boat at The Granary, on the Sassafras River, I don't think it's there anymore, but the blue crabs were sooo good.

Checked the ditto section of the etiquette book, and it says a double ditto is all the ditto your permitted to ditto.

Crabs are heading to my Dymer Creek dock this week. 5 pots baited and ready. Until then fresh fish and oysters!

Just checked their menu. Note that it is now called "Summer Menu". I think we can assume this is a lighter selection for our slow summer season. Looks more like a New England style clam shack type menu which is fine if the food is good.

Killing the draft beer makes no sense however.

I judge a number of places by the quality of their draft beers.

Please don't give me typical and tired, Bud, Bud Light, Michelob...

Have something of significant contrast to the usual pilsners and I'm in...

I used to believe that blue crabs from MD were the best, but now find that the ones here are just as good if not better than the ones in MD. MD's have been very small lately and the ones from FL have been shipped to MD restaurants for some time. We have had some really GREAT blue crabs at Crystal River.

It's all in the preparation... ;)

To a certain extent, I agree. However, crabs from different states often have different flavor. For instance, in my opinion the crabs from Louisiana and NC both seem to be "muddy." I actually thought that I would NEVER find another location that had crabs that compared with MD's Ches. Bay but had to change my opinion after getting some very large and great tasting steamed crabs from Crystal River, FL. Of course, steamed is the only way to go, in my opinion but I have had boiled crabs and were not impressed and did not enjoy them at all.

Think it is time to close this thread since these responses have nothing to do with the original post about The Lighthouse Restaurant.

When were you elected thread monitor?

Most threads manage to go off on a tangent. When I get bored just find another thread to read.

Ditto. (Sorry I couldn't resist)

At least this one hasn't drifted off into cyclists and dog poop yet

Oops. Sorry guys, There she goes...