Two day experience of a couple on the lifestyle preview couple and myself.
 

Two day experience of a couple on the lifestyle preview couple and myself.
Monday I suggested dinner at Nancy Lopez for dinner – forgetting it was lobster night
Which is fine as we did not mind waiting – it was a pleasant evening and sitting outside was fine with us – well-- after 1hour and 15 minutes the buzzer starts beeping and we go inside to the desk to be seated. “Follow me” is announced by one of the two or three expediters – so off we go in single line through the seating area – then she opens the rear door (to the patio) and there are about 10 tables (about half taken) and tells us this is our table here in the corner. I said “ I do not think so” and tell her we would like to be seated inside an not on the patio where lunch is served. As we are making an about-face I see the expediter put up the menu (she was carrying) up in front of her mouth and say something to the waiter who was waiting to serve us – then a shug of the shoulder – as to say “ well we tried” I asked to speak the so called manager name “August” and asked if that was normal procedure to seat people outside on the patio without asking. I told Mr. August ( what ever is name is) that I did not think that was a way to run a (so called upscale) restaurant. It was just the attitude of the staff that bothered me .,. So much for the lifestyle preview impression. So lets forget it - and move on.
Next day Tuesday – after golf we went to Cody’s for some lunch—Table for three outside and waited ( not very long) for waitress . Round of drinks and menu give – fine
Order taken . I had ordered off the bar menu and the others regular lunch. Again after about 15 minutes – no problem – Two lunches come out and nothing said about the third being prepared or will be out soon. Five minutes later is see waitress fly by the table to a group of golfer who were seated near us – with something on the plate that looked like what I had ordered – thinking she will be back with my order, when she finds out it is not there order. But no she comes back empty handed and goes right by the table. Now we do not see the waitress for quite awhile. I am thinking – it’s a small order – onion rings a bar hamburger –maybe just put the order in and it will only be a minute - but no site of the waitress. Now as everyone is done with there lunch and mine has not arrived yet – along comes the manager (bill) who does not stop at he table and as he literally flies by asking is everything “ok” and keeps going --- woo woo – no everything is not OK - what is the problem he asks – I never got my order --- his answer is “oh” I know all about it - your order was given to someone else by mistake, Now I ask him did he not think it would be nice to come to the table and explain to us the problem and not just fly by and say “everything Ok” and keep going.. Not very professional – he now says he will not charge me for the meal I did not get --- I told him that was nice of him--- I don’t want any free food or drinks and I will not pay for anything I did not get…. He said sorry – and we left
Again nice experience for a couple on lifestyle preview --- Is good help that hard to find or is it just “I don’t really care attitude”
I am sending an email to the sales rep. that had the couple and maybe have him send a apology and say this is not really a true reflection of the villages Or is it ---- thing have changed in the ten years I have been here and it is not for the better --- too large ---- build –build---build – more homes – more homes ---over crowded no more the friendliest town

We had our lunch not come for an hour in not busy restaurant. ..but we are up north and staff blames the snow..sooooooo

Although you truly had a horrible experience I don't know if it is appropriate to expect a sales rep to apologize for poor service at independently owned restaurants. The Villages has no control over this. The only people who have control are the consumer who will not continue to go to establishments that have poor customer service. Don't give up on The Villages yet.

It is the most busy time in all of high season right now. Most of us expect some glitches and long wait times.

Did anything WONDERFUL happen that you would like to share?


I mean, come on now.......anything wonderful???????

The crowds are expected for this time of year. We try not to go out for dinner during this time and cook at home. There is no excuse for a bad attitude , however, I do think customers need to have a little more patience also. I have encountered a lot of people this time of the year who are in a hurry. They cut you out of line in the super markets, take a parking spot you are waiting for with your blinker on and don't look at you, cut in line in the restaurants to put their name in , etc, etc, etc.

Well said!

The OP did not mention what time they arrived at Lopez for dinner on Monday. Being the best place AND lobster night, just EXPECT a long wait. Sitting on the patio is nice but you can specify indoor seating when you check in. If the OP has lived in The Villages for 10 years, he should have known.

At Codys, the OP was in the outdoor bar area. He could have gotten up and asked the bartender where his food was instead of sitting.

These two minor experiences do not even deserve to be mentioned on a forum.

Seeing the Legacy Restaurant at the Nancy Lopez Country Club and Cody’s are not owned or operated by the sales rep or his office and both are private business I would suggest you communicate with the restaurant managers.

I do believe that in these busy months you must be a little proactive, and also think ahead. Go after your food in case someone just plain forgot (it happens), and plan your mealtimes around what's likely to be a very busy time.

Monday night Rocky and the Rollers were playing at Brownwood. We arrived around 6:30 as the band was just going on break. Every spot and restaurant was packed. City Fire had a hour and a half wait. We went to Five Guys Burgers and the line had at least 50 people ahead of us. I cannot compliment them enough. The line moved quickly and efficiently. They were well prepared for the rush. It was amazing watching the team of about 10 roll out those burgers. They were hustling like it was an Olympic event! Oh, and the burgers were great.

We had issues with the uncaring manager at Cody's. Weren't charged because meal wasn't edible but only after telling him we should not be charged. Very arrogant uncaring attitude.

Seriously, you are all blaming the OP for such poor service and management? The manager runs past their table and says as he's running by "Oh I know all about that, it was given away by mistake, but I won't charge you for it?" Are you kidding? I don't care how busy they are, there is no excuse for such rudeness and blatant disregard for a customer. Since when do you go to a restaurant to "chase" after your own dinner after waiting 1/2 hour or more because you assume the restaurant is competent? However, at least he wasn't hungry anymore, he probably lost his appetite.

This is a very similar senero we had at Christmas in Busch Gardens, VA with our grandchildren in early December. This is not an isolated case to The Villages.

I hope you can see past the inconvenience that can happen in any city, at any time, and not judge by one visit to The Villages.

I am a newbie and had an interesting situation this past November at City Fire. At about 3 pm had a meeting planned. Got there, seated and waited for a server and guest to arrive. My guest and I waited 45 minutes for a server and finally flagged someone down. The server was kind and took our beverage and food order. He brought MY beverage and then nothing else. We never saw him again. We couldn't seem to flag someone down who would send a server to our table but other tables around us were seated, served and left.
We think : 1st we had no server whatsoever; 2nd the server we spoke to left to go home; 3rd no one was apparently assigned to our table.

I was/am a newbie and didn't want to make a scene in my new home - so after 2 hours we left. I now know I should have asked to see a manager, but I also think one of the other servers who we asked to find someone to help us....should have done that. My take-away from this situation is to ask to speak to a manager. A lesson learned for me.
But it is a little hard for me as I tend to be a quiet and very mild mannered person. Its just easier for me to walk away - than to be confrontational (even nicely). I'll need to work on thickening my skin.

You will have similar problems in any resort area of Florida at this time of year.