[Skip]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

If that $15 or so minimum wage is pricing restaurants out of the range of (relatively) affluent Villagers, just think of what it is doing to the people whose ONLY “dining out” option is the burger-and-fries joint? Answer is obvious.

What good is a $15 minimum wage if you’re not working at all? Again, answer is obvious.

That minimum wage does not apply to servers working for tips. There's is $6.98/hour. Many workers would forgo that wage for an opportunity to work at higher tab restaurants like Bonefish, The Chop House, Rose Plantation and others. The larger their station, the more they make. Figure 3 tables in your station, 4 patrons each, $50pp meals, 18% tip, turned 3 times in your shift... You go home with $324 per night in tips (plus that measily $34.90 wage for 5 hours of work).
That's $93K per year!
Restaurant's wages are only $9K of that.

Skip

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Skip

That minimum wage does not apply to servers working for tips. There's is $6.98/hour. Many workers would forgo that wage for an opportunity to work at higher tab restaurants like Bonefish, The Chop House, Rose Plantation and others. The larger their station, the more they make. Figure 3 tables in your station, 4 patrons each, $50pp meals, 18% tip, turned 3 times in your shift... You go home with $324 per night in tips (plus that measily $34.90 wage for 5 hours of work).
That's $93K per year!
Restaurant's wages are only $9K of that.

Skip

The minimum wage is only part of what they get. If they don't get another $3-4/hr in tips, their employer must make up the difference...

Now, that doesn't change what you said about hi-end restaurants, but just a minor nit to pick...

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

We have found Kayame to be pretty good for takeout

We like Bamboo Bistro. I bit more expensive but the food is really good and the atmosphere very nice.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

We like Bamboo Bistro. I bit more expensive but the food is really good and the atmosphere very nice.

We like it as well. We will have dinner there but Koyame we have takeout.

However understand that Koyame was sold some months ago and the prior owners are refurbishing and opening a new place on 466. Will definitely give it a try

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

We like Bamboo Bistro. I bit more expensive but the food is really good and the atmosphere very nice.

Love their crab fried rice.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

The minimum wage is only part of what they get. If they don't get another $3-4/hr in tips, their employer must make up the difference...
Now, that doesn't change what you said about hi-end restaurants, but just a minor nit to pick...

Properly picked my friend. If the restaurant has no customers that day. The employee is guaranteed a standard wage. (Differs but restaurant owner.)
That said, they would still rather have the tips than the wage.
How interesting it is that in most of Europe, it is "service compris", yet here the bottom of the bill suggests 18%, 20%, 22% tip with the tax already added too.

Skip

[Skip]

BTW...
In the last year or so, how many of you noticed a 3% charge folded into your bill for credit card use? More and more restaurants seem to be doing that now. Especially in Leesburg.
And the suggested tip is based on food/drink, plus 7% tax, plus 3% fee. OMG!

Skip

[Garywt]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Just read on the online news site that the Farmshed venue is being taken over by the FMK Restaurant Group. That’s the best news I have heard regarding the Spanish Springs area in a long time. In my opinion FMK is the premier restaurant operator in the entire Villages, operating establishments like the Chop House and Blue Fin. Hopefully they will continue the excellence and open a comparable restaurant in Spaninh Springs. My vote would be for another seafood place similar to Blue Fin : )

Their website says they are being absorbed by FMK or something like that. We are not fans of The Chop House but we do like Belle Glade. Hopefully they will open another nice restaurant.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Skip

BTW...
In the last year or so, how many of you noticed a 3% charge folded into your bill for credit card use? More and more restaurants seem to be doing that now. Especially in Leesburg.
And the suggested tip is based on food/drink, plus 7% tax, plus 3% fee. OMG!

Skip

We have not seen that 3% charge. Tipping a higher percentage than in the past but only base it on the charge for the meal itself

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Garywt

Their website says they are being absorbed by FMK or something like that. We are not fans of The Chop House but we do like Belle Glade. Hopefully they will open another nice restaurant.

My excitement that FMK is opening up an operation in SS goes well beyond getting another quality restaurant in the area. Reading between the lines, we all know the developer won’t disclose to the general public any detailed future plans for the area. On the other hand, it’s highly likely an experienced and successful businesses operator such as FMK wouldn’t sign a lease and commit significant capital to a new business venture without answers to some critical questions about the areas future. I highly doubt FMK would make such a commitment without assurances that things like nightly entertainment and special events like the “Cruise In” are in the long term future plans of SS. Although nobody knows the future, this is no doubt a positive sign!

[walterray1]

Interesting about previous owners of Koyame. Do you know where on 466?

[JSR22]

Originally Posted by walterray1

Interesting about previous owners of Koyame. Do you know where on 466?

Southern Trace Plaza where the Chinese Buffet was located.

[walterray1]

They should do well there. Assume they will need a new name for the new restaurant. Will be interesting.

[bagboy]

Originally Posted by walterray1

They should do well there. Assume they will need a new name for the new restaurant. Will be interesting.

Kung Fu Chef Asian Restaurant

[REDCART]

Originally Posted by JSR22

Southern Trace Plaza where the Chinese Buffet was located.

This is a perfect example about “location” being critical for a business’s success. We always enjoyed Koyame but it was too damn far, unless we were in the neighborhood for another reason, which might happen only once or twice a year. Even though Southern Trace (466) is not around the corner for us, it’s a lot more convenient for us, and we eagerly look forward to a new and better Chinese food experience.