[jtdraig]

The answer to multiple questions:

1. I posted this on behalf of the group that ate there. Most are talkofthevillages people but I talked to the individual who made the reservation and worked with the waitstaff and talked to the manager. This morning, all of the Group played golf and continued to confirm what occurred at Glenview. I posted this for the individual who had the direct discussion with the manager and is not a member of this website...however, she will be joining.

2. This is a Group who has been in the Villages for 4+ years. Most are generous tippers. For example, my wife and I believe that 25% is appropriate for exemplary service. None of the waitstaff was a problem in this occurrence. They don't set the policies. They serve the food and advise of charges that management has set. The waitstaff was appropriately tipped.

3. This was a professional exchange as confirmed by more than six of the members who witnessed the discussion with the Manager.

4. We have had positive experiences at Glenview. This one was over the top ugly and needed to be reported. As it turns out, one of the members of the Group knows the GM and will be having a discussion about this incident and the restaurant manager.

5. One can only hope that this was an aberration but with the attitude of the manager, in my opinion, this is a potential problem for Glenview.

That is all I can report.

[Mudder]

We went with a group to Glenview for lunch today. One person asked for extra lemons in her water, the waitperson said that will be 75 cents extra, everyone expressed shock. Waitperson explained that because of cold winter citrus prices are up now. So person said she didn't want extra lemons. Waitperson brought them anyway, didn't charge for them. We all felt for the waitperson having to tell us about the new extra charge, she seemed embarassed about having to say it. Food was good , served in a quick effecient manner. We like it there, will continue going there.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Mudder

We went with a group to Glenview for lunch today. One person asked for extra lemons in her water, the waitperson said that will be 75 cents extra, everyone expressed shock. Waitperson explained that because of cold winter citrus prices are up now. So person said she didn't want extra lemons. Waitperson brought them anyway, didn't charge for them. We all felt for the waitperson having to tell us about the new extra charge, she seemed embarassed about having to say it. Food was good , served in a quick effecient manner. We like it there, will continue going there.

This is off track...but. Our granddaughter who is a junior in college has had a summer job being a waitress at Max and Ermas. She said that a lot of people order water and extra lemons and make their own lemonade.

When they make their own lemonade the customer saves money, the restaurant loses money and the waitress doesn't get that lemonade as a percentage on her tip. Maybe that was happening too, on top of the bad citrus season...who knows? Hard to know why the restaurant doesn't raise prices and absorb the charge.

It is very rude to tell a patron to "take it or leave it." That isn't how you encourage business for sure. I always wonder how people fail to see that bottom line.

[jtdraig]

Originally Posted by Mudder

We went with a group to Glenview for lunch today. One person asked for extra lemons in her water, the waitperson said that will be 75 cents extra, everyone expressed shock. Waitperson explained that because of cold winter citrus prices are up now. So person said she didn't want extra lemons. Waitperson brought them anyway, didn't charge for them. We all felt for the waitperson having to tell us about the new extra charge, she seemed embarassed about having to say it. Food was good , served in a quick effecient manner. We like it there, will continue going there.

Rock and roll....good for you!

[Autoshow]

Originally Posted by jtdraig

A group of women went to Glenview yesterday for lunch. There were eight of them. The food and service were OK BUT one woman asked for a little cup of salad dressing "That will be 75 cents extra"; another asked for an additional slice of lemon "That will be 15 cents extra"..and when barely done were asked to leave because another group was coming behind them. When these issues were addressed to the Manager: "You are only a group of eight, you won't have any impact on us".....Nice attitude for a Manager. We won't be going back there at all.

Apparently the writer of this was not there,I doubt very much that it happened the way he is saying,I myself go there often, and also with big groups 10 to 14 and never have been treated like that or witnessed anything like that. I would suggest you check the facts first,and not go by hearsay.
Things like that do the restaurant harm that it does not deserve.

[schotzyb]

Originally Posted by autoshow

Apparently the writer of this was not there,I doubt very much that it happened the way he is saying,I myself go there often, and also with big groups 10 to 14 and never have been treated like that or witnessed anything like that. I would suggest you check the facts first,and not go by hearsay.
Things like that do the restaurant harm that it does not deserve.

The original poster has been a member here since 2007 and has made some valuable posts. I doubt very seriously that he has an ulterior motive for making this post. And besides that, my golf group has experienced the exact same thing he describes in his post

I would wait until we can get the scoop on this matter from the parties who were actually there like the diner and her companions or better yet the manager involved before making up your mind. Hopefully, one of these people will post the story on TOTV.

[texasfal]

I was with my 7 friends last Sunday for lunch. My girlfriend asked for extra lemon for her iced tea. They told her it was 15 cents a slice. Then they lost her order. All 7 of us were finished before they brought her food out. No apology from the server or the manager. Only told, the computer dropped her order.

[redwitch]

Originally Posted by autoshow

Apparently the writer of this was not there,I doubt very much that it happened the way he is saying,I myself go there often, and also with big groups 10 to 14 and never have been treated like that or witnessed anything like that. I would suggest you check the facts first,and not go by hearsay.
Things like that do the restaurant harm that it does not deserve.

Maybe if only jt had posted about an incident like this without having been present, it might well qualify as an attempt to harm the restaurant, but if you read this thread carefully, there were at least two separate incidents reported where a manager told a customer to not come back if s/he didn't like the policies; several confirmations of the additional charges for extras.

This is not the first thread complaining about the poor management at Glenview. There have been a few. I wonder if the problem is one manager since the complaints are not consistent. If so, it is past time for that manager to get out of the public service industry.

Again, I really wish someone would talk to the GM of Glenview and ask the GM to do a post here explaining policies and what, if anything, is planned to rectify some of the issues mentioned here.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by jtdraig

The answer to multiple questions:




4. We have had positive experiences at Glenview. This one was over the top ugly and needed to be reported. As it turns out, one of the members of the Group knows the GM and will be having a discussion about this incident and the restaurant manager.


That is all I can report.

Has this happened? If not it should be done very soon by one or more members of the offended group. After your meeting I believe it would be appropriate for you to share the results here on TOTV.

[sunday]

I spoke with the GM last night... Although he wishes not to engage this forum, he did express sincere apologies for any confusion or feeling of ill will towards his policy's.

He explianed that they run negitive profit margins(out of pocket) for 3 month in the summer in an attempt to keep ALL of their staff employed, and are trying a couple different approaches to avoid taking "across the board" price increases. This winter they don't want to do away with all the great special menus and promotions as they traditionally only run in the summer months. They realized that the "nit-picking" was a bad idea, have stopped the sundry charges, and are exploring other options.

Next, I asked about the the situation mentioned by the poster... The manager in question was him and he had read the complaint on idine. His account is that only 20% of 1 side of the conversation is mentioned in this grievence. That the party in question was finished eating and paid when they volenterily relinquished the table to make room for the volume of people piled at the front door(one of the groups posted here, this was last Tuesday). One member and an aquantence approached him, expressing concern over this dressing up-charge. His version is that she was rather indignant, with no desire for discussion on the matter or to come to an amicable resolution. She had said that she was not coming back, ever, on the front end of the conversation and several times there-in. He added, that he loves his guests and will work with anyone on any issue, mentioning his willingness to do so, with regularity, against his policies on large groups and reservations. He said, "Glenview's kitchen is 850sqft, we're just not equipt to service large groups with out a pre-ordered menu." adding, "we do all the time...but in the best interest of all of or guests, it has to be on our terms. Some people don't understand that. We do what when can when we can, some groups are willing to work with us other's are not."

I hope this brings some clearity.

On a side note, we had the twin Lobster tails... Service and food.... Supreme.

[Bogie Shooter]

Isn't it great when you hear both sides of a story?

[chuckster]

Thanks for the post Sunday.

Bogie.....How true as some just can't stand to tell the true "facts" of an incident and are apt to embellish second hand info. jmho

Knew there was more to hear. we are there 2 times weekly and don't seem to have the same negative issues mentioned. Comes down to personal attitudes (manners) and "reasonable" expectations. again jmho

[redwitch]

It's really a shame the GM doesn't want to post here. It really does make a difference. Even so, sounds like Sunday did a good job on the issue of up-charges and the one incident and letting us know the GM's side of the story. However, there's still the question of the second incident where the manager again told the customer to not come back. Once with an irritating customer I can understand, twice is a bit much.

As I've said, I'm not a frequenter of Glenview (love Cane Garden too much, but haven't been there in a while, either), so I really have no clue how good or bad it is. However, it is a golf course restaurant. Large groups are part and parcel of the agenda for them. That he says they're not equipped for a large group makes little sense to me. Sounds like some really poor planning on someone's part if the kitchen is too small to accommodate a large group -- what does it do when it is full? A large group really isn't that much more difficult than having tables show up at the same time.

[BlueHeronFan]

Wow!, Negative profit margins for 3 months. Sounds like a refresher course in Econ 101 is in order. That $.15 slice of lemon sure is going to drive up the income, and keeping everyone employed when there are no customers for the Positive profit margin. How progressive of this manager.

I've been to Cane Gardens during the summer and it has been packed nearly every time.

Here is all that is needed.

Excellent Service.
Decent menu.
Specials that are available during the slow season to bring in customers. More customers equal more spending, equal more cash flow. sheesh!
Treating everybody as if you want them to return because the experience is so positive.

Then it sort of takes care of itself due word of mouth.

btw, I have been to Glenview ONCE. Let's just leave it at that.