Katie Belle's
 

Folks - Do not waste your time or money going to Katie Belle's. barf Not only do they impose a $5 minimum per person on your party but if you decide to change tables, a new $5 minimum per person is imposed at the new table. It does not make any difference if your group has already made well over the minimum at the first table.

This sounded ridiculous when the waitress informed me of it - but it was backed up by the manager.

A $5 minimum does not sound unreasonable to me given the entertainment they have there every night as welll as the crowds waiting to get a seat/table. Im surprised its not more especially "in season" or when the better bands play.

As far as table hopping, again if you liked the venue that much to switch tables to stay longer after you had already been served....its a new seat, a new waiter, and people are waiting in line etc and an additional $5 minimum is "very" reasonable.

Sounds like the lesson learned here is dont take the first seat if you are not pleased with it...otherwise you can always go to the square!

Love Katie Belle's and the Cattle Baron and have never had an issue with them or any of their policies . . .
:BigApplause:

I think the $5 cover is reasonable too. If you plan to dine there though, Cattle Baron (upstairs) is the place to be. Great food. Food at Katie Bells, ok at best.

I think a $5 minimum for K. Belles is very reasonable. I agree with P Turner that the food is OK at best. But it's a great place for dancing and people watching!

We don't go to Katie Belle's or the Cattle Baron for fine dining. The wait staff has a hard enough time with their own tables without needing to check on the tabs from other tables. We will be at Katie Belle's to ring in the New Year and won't expect a gourmet meal.
Mrs. Snowbirdtobe was a waitress in college and when we are remembered at a restaurant it's usually because of the tip we leave and not because we complained about the food or service.

:agree:

Tbugs, I think you're bug'in. Where else can you sit all night with free refills on Arnold Palmers and sodas and watch entertainment after a burger meal or some such. No one puts a gun to your head and makes you go in there. If youv'e ever been in there for a Rocky and Rollers show or Shepards Pie you''ll
see a ton of people beeing "fleeced" and they all look like they're having a ball.
Know what? Save your $5.00 and donate it to the charity of your choice..

I was at Katie Belle's on a LSV in the afternoon and listened to Donna Moore sing for two hours.

I heard of the $5.00 minimum and would consider that extremely reasonable for the level of entertainment. It is also a great place to meet people.

I have met several people in a short amount of time that I look forward to seeing again when I move permanetly to TV.

Went out Friday night in CT and the price of one beer was $5.00.

IMHO - Katie Belle's rocks.

Come on Bugs, $5.00 for what you received is the best deal in the Villages and besides table hopping is frowned upon everywhere...........
Most of us know that when you go to Katie's , your going for a Happening , not fine dining........

fumar ...:icon_hungry:

We also enjoy the food, salad bar, prices and drink specials at the Cattle Baron. Had the Chicken Francese the last 2 times there. The staff has always been splendid as well. Fine dinning? Disappointed they were out of the Chteau Margaux 1995, so I had the Bud Light 2010 instead. :1rotfl:
Snowbirdtobe, you won't get the gourmet meal, but maybe you'll still find the food delicious?

The most UNFRIENDLY place in "Florida's Friendliest Home Town"
 

Well, in my books that unfriendly distinction goes to Katie Belles. I doubt if I ever would recommend anyone going there and probably will not go again myself.

After a wonderful dinner at Cattle Barons, (with a very friendly wait staff) we left our table so that the wait staff could make some tips off another party. Being a table hog seems an impolite thing to do. This was after dropping over $50 dollars in the establishment (makes the $5 table fee seem quite trite). We went downstairs to Katie Belles, were invited to share a table with some folks, those folks left after a bit and we stayed for a while thinking we had spent quite a bit more than $5 for some beer.

At that point a very rude, shaven-headed male waiter came up and asked if the hostess had seated us. He did not ask for us to by $5 worth of drinks or food, but just barked at us to leave. I imagine it was so he could get his tips off of some more suds. Anyway, it could have been handled in a much more friendly manner considering we did not know the situation. Why don't they just call it what it is and require a cover charge instead of keeping people from enjoying the venue.

IF (that is an emphatic IF) we decide to go back for a good dinner at Cattle Barons we will just sit at our table the whole evening and deprive that poor waitress of additional tips. I feel sorry for the folks working upstairs.

Most importantly the management of Katie Belles needs to understand that it is not "your parents" Villages anymore. They are not the only game in town anymore. The rude staff behavior should not be tolerated. Now are many more fine establishments with and without entertainment that treat you like the paying guest you are. I would recommend to anyone that they go to the other venues in the area first. There is always good entertainment elsewhere. The proprietors and staff at the Lake Sumter Landing venues seem to be much more keenly aware of this than those at Katie Belles in Spanish Springs.

Katie Belles you are not the only game in town anymore. Get over it! When the Snow Birds are gone the permanent residents are all you have to help make ends meet.

Katie Belle's will never be empty. When the snowbirds leave the permanent residents will still populate the place.

I've been to Katie Belle's three times in the past three weeks and to the Cattle Baron's once during this time. Once during this time, we went to Katie Belle's for lunch. My friends said where else can you go for lunch and have live music and food this good? They are vegetarians, btw, and love Katie Belle's and the Cattle Baron's Club. No complaints here. The service is fantastic, the prices are unbeatable and the entertainment is really good.

My wife and I purchased our home last month and we have been to Katie Belle's several times and, for us, every time has been a great experience. We've truly enjoyed the food and the entertainment and that is what makes this place a gem...for us.

Katie Belles is Great!
 

Katie Belles is a absolute bargain. Great entertainment and dance floor, wonderful atmosphere , the food is a bargain and the drinks are even more of a bargain. Where else can you get entertainment at those prices from 11 am to 10pm (let me know please). The one problem I see is the drinks are so cheap it takes 3 beers or more to make the $5 minimum and I can't drink more then 2. My only hope is more people take your advice so there is more room for us to dance. We really like Katie Belles and wish the Villages puts up another one in the new area !!!!!!!!

We will not go back to Katie Bells. Went there for the breakfast buffet. Ate our fill. Very reasonable, good food. I took the leftover bacon off my plate and wrapped it in a napkin to take home to my pooch. A lady manager came and grabbed the wrapped up bacon out of my hand and told me we could not take food out of the resturant. We said we were sorry but it really is for the dog. She said too bad. My husband said we promise to never take food again but could we have the bacon we already wrapped up. Mgr. said no way. My husband said you would rather lose a customer and throw away the bacon then let us take it and keep our goodwill. She said if we don't want to come back that's our decision. Ok, we made our decision and will NEVER go back.

I wonder which manager that was. We like to go to Katie Belles, but the last two times there has been someone that does hostess duties that is less than cordial. Wonder if it could be the same person, though I do not think this woman is a manager.

I'm not sure if Katie Belles has an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet. If that is the case, most establishments offering all you can eat will not let you take food home.

Having said that, the manager should have just looked the other way. I'm sure it was obvious you were only taking a few scraps for your doggie. I understand that was a negative experience, but perhaps she was having troubles of her own. Overall I think Katie Belles is a great place.

When I finally became a Villager six years ago, my brother and his family were so excited because now they could go to Katie Belle's, on my "membership."

So, we did.

And, quickly vowed NEVER AGAIN!

Hugely over-crowded, decibel level unbearable, rude staff, lousy service. And absolutely no help in attempting to make room for my sister-in-law's wheelchair.

Yes, that was about 6 years ago, and perhaps things have changed. But, I seriously doubt it. We can have more fun and enjoy ourselves without being shoved, and deafened at any number of restaurants with better food and service!

Sorry for the rant!

SWR
:beer3:

its a nightclub for crying out loud. what did you expect quiet old folks whispering and eating. its loud music and dancing which is what we want!!!!!!!

One of the hostesses at KBs is a good friend - and kind and generous person. I have seen her have to deal with incredibly rude people in line when the place is packed and there are no seats to be had.

I have also heard another hostess be snippy - but I have to say that after all they abuse they take it would be hard to be sunny 365 days a year.

Folks, if want to guarantee a table, make a reservation upstairs. Otherwise get there early with your entire party or wait in line with the rest of us and do it graciously.

Thanks for listening..
Kate

Hi Countryboy,
Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Katie Bells is owned by TV and that Cattle Barons is a private restaurant that leases the top floor.

If so, depriving the waitress upstairs of additional tips would punish a waitress and a restaurant with no control over the situation described.

Another factor to consider is that the line to get into Katie Belles (the downstairs club) is long. If we could jump in line by joining a table already seated, the wait to get in would be that much longer for everyone who waited their turn. So, I think their system is actually fair, even if it was poorly executed.

I'll correct you (politely). Both are owned and run by the developer (The Villages of Lake-Sumter, Inc.). The registered name of the restaurant on the second floor (we know it as The Cattle Baron's Club - a hold over from when it was a "membership" club) is Katie Belle's 2nd Floor.

Both restaurants share the same kitchen.

Skip

thats a strange statement since according to skip they share the same kitchen???

Hi Skip, thanks for the polite correction.

Hi Redtail,
Sometimes I'm not right. I mean that in more ways than one. :loco:

Just because they have the same kitchen does not mean different foods on the menu you eat or service you get will be the same. I have went to many a place and have had different experiences. I agree that the food upstairs is better.

To me, going to Katie Belle's is like living in Vegas - we only go there when relatives are in town. Find the food to be just OK which is not what I look for in a restaurant. Now people watching at Katie Belle's is quite entertaining - so which one is Captain Midnight??

hi turner....me too:jester:

Also - In PT's defense - the drinks at KBs are unbelievably cheap. I think my cuter half said the beers are $1.10.

Therefore people could order 1 or 2 beers (or soft drinks) and tie up a table for the whole night - making it even more crowded.

And I think it is a minimum - not an outright cover.

A $1.10 for a beer. If I had five beers to meet the minimum, I would be under the table and not at it. :laugh: