$23.00 to add piece of salmon to Caesar salad at the Lighthouse Point Bar & Grill
 

Lighthouse menu has a Salmon berry salad for $28. I didn't want some of the items in it. Asked waiter how much would a $12 Grilled Caesar salad be to add a piece of salmon. She came back and said $23. I thought that $11 for a piece of salmon was high, but what the heck.
Check came and it was $12 for salad and $23 for add-on salmon = $35.. . Asked for mgr and she said that's how much a salmon add on is and it's fresh. Told her I eat a lot of salads and usually $7-9 for add on. She WOULDN"T budge. Told her I can buy 1lb of Atlantic salmon for $8.99/lb at Fresh Market.
I did ask ahead of time for the price and had I understood the add on was $23 extra and not the TOTAL cost, I would have passed on it.
BYE-BYE Lighthouse and my 2 visits a month.

Could have had a complete salmon dinner for $26.

$23 seems steep.

Um, Atlantic salmon? Farm raised? Oh, nonononono.
And, "fresh"? Most likely "fresh frozen".

Can you say, "rip off"? Outrageous! imho.

If only you hadn't added the "I can buy this for less at the store" your complaint would be mostly valid.

You invalidated the complaint with that single statement though.

To explain - since I realize logic is not everyone's forte:

You can buy ALL of your food cheaper at a supermarket, and prepare it yourself from scratch. However, you won't have the experience of being served, having someone else do the dishes, someone else doing the cooking, the cleaning, paying for the electricity needed to run the oven and dishwasher, the experience of "dining out," preventing all those fish skins you can't put in the garbage disposer stinking up your house until trash day, etc. etc. etc.

A valid argument might be "I can make BETTER for less, and so I shall." That's my argument for shrimp scampi, everywhere I go. No one makes it as good as I make it. I'm always disappointed, and so I just stopped ordering it entirely. When I want shrimp scampi, I make it.

If you know you can get something for less somewhere else, and that is your argument for complaining about the price of something, then - get it for less somewhere else. Or just accept that at THIS place, there's an add-on price of $23 for salmon. Lighthouse is not an inexpensive middle-quality chain restaurant.

You would've been better off not trying to do things "cheap" and instead selected the bourbon salmon dinner, with a caesar salad add-on. That would've been only $32 and would've included vegetables and rice.

Easy to tell difference between Farm and Atlantic Salmon.
No pronounced fat lines on Atlantic Salmon.
Same for Trout as well.

& I bet it was awful, too.

Not to worry, 1812 will close and management will get better. At least one could hope.

3rd post
 

Can anyone say "agenda" or "troll". Please...

I was going to eat there Sat. so glad I didn't

Just looked at the Chop House menu, +$12 to add Salmon to a salad.

Reminds me that the bears will soon be returning to Brooks Falls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJNtrbmpVVs

So $12 for a "grilled" Ceasar salad? What was grilled in it (chicken)? Did the "grilled" item come with your salad and salmon?

"Lighthouse is not an inexpensive middle-quality chain restaurant."

No, it's a low quality over priced restaurant. I'm not a restaurant basher, but this is quite an over statement. Just what is high quality about this place? Other than a nice water view.

Nice views and high prices.

I have a few things to say about this. First, this was obviously a case of miscommunication between you and the server, and that’s unfortunate. And I have to say I feel for you, because that bill came as a shock. The server was likely in a rush when she said “$23” — meaning that was just for the salmon filet, not the entire salad. But from the restaurant’s point of view, you ordered the salmon filet separately, and that’s the price, added on to a salad or not. Ok, but since it was an honest miscommunication and you’re a regular customer, I think the manager could have cut you a break and given you the dish for $23.

And by the way, I also had an unfortunate experience at the Lighthouse two years ago. The situation was a bit different though. I ordered 1 pound of whole belly fried clams. The price was $38, and I was ok paying that, especially since it was a birthday celebration. Anyway, when the dish arrived, there were like 1/4 pound of clams! I couldn’t believe it. Very disappointing, but because it was a birthday dinner I didn’t dispute it.

I love the lighthouse. My belief when u are eating at an establishment, pick something off menu that you don’t need to alter unless it is for dietary reasons. Or cook at home.

Lighthouse Complaint
 

Just write a letter to both the Lighthouse Owners Group and the restaurant management stating your pricing complaint. Compare their cost to the Chophouse and other restaurants in the area.

Also let them know of your posting on this website and that so many Villagers read it. It seems somebody didn’t do their pricing homework or the restaurant believes Villagers are gullible.

And that’s exactly why they rip people off! Acceptance of overpriced and often mis labeled mediocrity!!

First of all, I think $23 for a salmon add on to a salad is very high. I also think the manager would have been smarter to give the OP the salad for $23.

That being said, I can't help but suspect that the phraseology of the price question as posted might have been slightly altered to make his/her case. The phrase "how much would a $12 Grilled Caesar salad be to add a piece of salmon" seems a bit awkward---why state the price of the plain Caesar salad to the waitress in the question. More likely (just speculation) the question was simply " how much to add a piece of salmon to the salad", and the when the answer came back $23 there were some assumptions made. This is also likely what the server told the manager which is why he was inflexible.

Like I said, the manager could have been smarter, but from the manager's point of view, I suppose he deals with the growing number of Villagers looking for "something for nothing" every day, and has problems sorting out the legitimate complaints.

We were once a week customers at one time and had a similar shocking experience. When our youngest son came for a visit last time he really wanted to have the gigantic seafood sampler monstrosity that they serve so off to the Lighthouse we went. I asked the waiter where is the crowd on a beautiful night like this? I think I can guess at the answer. OP, I support everything you said since I experienced the same thing myself. I vote with my feet and wallet. I never like to bash either. Can’t believe that your personal experience was challenged or questioned! This isn’t a court of law. It’s a forum to share our views on things with our neighbors and to supposedly support each other. I’m with you totally.

this is why they lost 1812, no restuarant knowledge.

Sorry ,but special orders are real pain in the kitchen, now pricing that’s another story ,no answer, communication with staff confusing. but taking an attitude to never return to restaurant you enjoy is silly but you win .

EXCELLENT reply

Reading is a "skill", use your "logic" and re-read the article. I didn't go cheap. I was willing to pay $11 for the add on salmon which is higher than any restaurant I have ordered a salmon add before. Your long diatribe was so far off point that it barely deserves this response.

Is there some negative history between yourself and the OP. The reply was a bit like something I'd expect an ex to say.

Howie has been on TOTV for about 5 years. Two posts,
both complaints. .

If everyone here for 5 years hasn't figured out the restaurant scene, especially Howie who goes to that restaurant 2 times a month. .

geez people, get the hook out of your cheeks. .

Pre made Cesar Salad kit and piece of delicious smoked salmon from either Publix, Fresh Market, or Sprouts for around $20. No cooking required, no tip necessary, and eat it on a paper plate so no cleanup. Usually have some leftover for lunch the next day. Problem solved.

Actually, a pound of salmon at The Fresh Market is 13.99 a pound.

Fresh Atlantic Salmon is aroung $20/lb. Fresh not frozen. The real problem here is he was quoted one price then charged another. If he would have focused on that arguement maybe the manager would have reduced the bill.

All I can say is The Lighthouse was really good 6-9 years ago, then it went downhill enough to go elsewhere. When the owners opened 1812 Augustine, the Lighthouse was really, really bad. Now that 1812 is closed they plan to put their efforts into rehabilitating the Lighthouse, and I hope they succeed.

However, anyone who went there 2x/month through that period either has a very strong stomach or a congenital absence of taste buds. I also didn't note any mention of the quality of the food or the service in the OP, just some "confusion" over the price.

Unless the ambience has changed, I would recommend hearing aid wearers think twice before dining there.
The NOISE!

Salmon in grocery stores is all farm raised, except for Alaskan seasonal Coho. Best farm raised is Norwegian - high standards. Farm raised from Chili is a no, no!

I do not know how to start a thread, or I would have done so. You mentioned tip. In the past five to ten years tipping on take-out has become the norm. I use to slide a dollar across the counter when getting my coffee at DD. Now when paying for takeout, Chinese food, a pizza etc.they leave a space on the receipt to add a tip. Last night at a Chinese take-out it showed suggested tips, 22% (with amount), 25%() and 30%. This is for takeout.I had been tipping 10% for take-out and 20 to 25 for dine in. Is 10% too low (let's assume service is fine. They put the dried rice in the bag and handed it to me.).I understand I am older and most likely not up on what is customary (I recall an Uncle who tipped 12% because that is what it had been for years). Any advice is appreciated.

Revival Coming?
 

From a few things I have read the owners seemed to admit that there were issues at the Lighthouse and they have plans and ideas to improve the place now that they closed 1812. Let's hope they can make it into a great restaurant. It certainly has one of the best locations in the Villages and hopefully the revival will be successful. I wish them luck.

Totally agree, several years ago it was our go to place to bring guests and everyone raved about the place. Suddenly, it was like a switch was flipped and the place went straight downhill to the point where it became embarrassing to bring guests there. 1812 was doomed from the get go with the same poor quality, without the view of Lake Sumter. At least the 1812 location is being taken over by a competent operator.

It’s highly doubtful that having a family that ran two restaurants very poorly will somehow suddenly be able to run one very well by focusing their efforts, but I hope they prove me wrong?

I don't eat out anymore, way too expensive.

Moving on to another restaurant , I had the rack of lamb for the second time in a row at Legacy , both times it was delicious . I’ve never had a bad meal there and the service is always great .

He was quoted $23 to add the salmon. He was charged $23 for the added salmon. If salmon isn't a normal part of the menu for salad add-ons, then he was charged for a full portion of salmon - which is $23. He still had to pay for the salad. When adding a protein to a salad is part of a menu, the price is listed, or it'll say Mkt or MV (Market Value). I checked the Lighthouse menu online yesterday - salmon is not an add-on for that salad. And so - you just have to pay the full price for salmon, which is the $23 that he was quoted.

It sounds to me like he misunderstood that price, and assumed it meant that was the charge for the entire meal. The waitress did nothing wrong. The customer misunderstood. Or intentionally obfuscated the fact in the hopes of getting a free meal/discount/dessert out of it.

This is very painful, but I'm forced to agree with you:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl: