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.