Closed due to health reasons, roaches i was told.

:BigApplause:

More facts
 

Already someone that supposedly worked there, "remembers the day he fired me". The 70s were pretty good to me, but I am pretty sure, I would remember if I had been fired. Take it for what it is worth from another person in the know!

To the person who stated something to the effect of, "you take two minutes and run over to Walgreens to pick up beer", would also mean that you have broken Florida liquor laws, and that would just be something else you could heap on Kris for doing "wrong".

The Villagers are a very lucrative collection of residents. The Villages itself however is not immune to the openings and closings of both privately held, chain and franchise restaurants. Competition from within does not aid the pre-existing clubs.

One of the bigger issues in The Villages is the Villagers themselves. There is a fine line between entitlement and discerning. As stated before, I have been in the restaurant business for many years now. I have never faced the challenges anywhere that I did there, and that is one of the reasons I chose to leave working there. A few incidents stay in immediate memory because of how ludicrous the guests were but there were many. Starting pre-opening...we were actually doing mass interviews and a group of residents stroll in and walk to the kitchen to show their friends "their club". When I say a group, I mean somewhere between 12-15 strangers just doing what they pleased. Really? Another incident, a gentleman came in one morning right after we started serving breakfast. He asked for a table at 12:15 for lunch for his golf group of 12 men. I agreed to his request and he agreed to call me when they were teeing off on 17 so we could start the process. Well, 2:45 rolls around and his table that we saved for an extended period of time was now in use with no immediate chance of his group which had now grown to 20 being seated. Even though he did not hold up to any portion of his agreement, somehow we were in the wrong...up to the point that he chest bumped me when I asked him to leave due to his cursing and shouting. All his "friends" could do was tell me "he gets like that when he has been drinking and his golf game is off". Really? Another incident that jumps to mind is the weekend group that grew on one visit from 21 to 54 people in the matter of an hour or two, and then I get verbally abused by the group leader when I couldn't provide them with the level of service a "paying group of this size deserved". Lets start with the fact that most restaurants without true banquet facilities cannot even handle a group that large pre-planned, but a walkup crowd that constantly moved from seat to seat as other new friends joined in, yet somehow when my server can't remember one person who has moved to three different seats location and therfore a drink doesnt get delivered in a timely manner. THEN, you want 27 different checks also in a timely manner. Really?

Someone will post that other places handle those type crowds, and many of those that have tried in The Villages are no longer in business. I could go on and on and on about incidents unique to that area, but I won't. I have worked everywhere in the business from owning my own beer/wine pub to high end dining and everything in between. Dealt with tourists from all over the world, far wealthier clientele than The Villagers, and the salt of the earth locals, and nowhere have I found a more demanding (not discerning) collection of individuals as reside in The Villages. Those of you who have your minds made up will continue to badmouth Havana, Kris, and probably me now that I have spoken up. That is your right, but please before using my name or Kris', please know the facts. Since Kris is the only person up there that I continue to keep in contact with, anyone who states a fact relating to me is flat out lying. Plain and simple. Hopefully many of you will take a step back, and give Havana another chance. Since my blood pressure goes through the roof when I read lies and half truths and "facts" from folks whose only experience in the business is eating, I will not continue to post on this forum. The facts from me are absolute from within, not from a friend of a friend of a friend who read something online and had a bad meal there once and chooses to jump on the beating up bandwagon.

There is a difference between opinion and vindictiveness. If you don't like Havana, then don't go there, but WHY you folks find it your mission in life to beat up restaurants up there is beyond me. If you don't like a TV show, most folks change the channel. Consider doing the same. Change to another location, but do not continue to beat up those that honestly you have no real reason to. You just had a bad meal or two or bad service a time or two or you were a big chunk of the reason your experience was bad (see previous incidents of groups in The Villages) and you just don't want to admit it. But stop with the bashing, it serves NO ONE well except your own ego to see your opinion in print. Really!!

I totally agree. There are a few restaurants that I don't like for what ever reason. If I don't like it, I just don't go. I don't want them to close because some people like them, they just aren't my cup of tea. To get on here & work so hard to try to get everyone to hate a place hoping they will close is beyond my realm of thinking. I just don't get it. Move on ! Go where you like & be happy !!!
Really, life is just to short. What amazes me is most people really don't have a clue.

They can't run to Walgreens or any where else to buy beer or alcohol for a restaurant. They will lose their liquor license. Some places may take a chance and do that or borrow liquor from another restaurant, but you are definitely not suppose to do that.

Havana was packed tonight!!!!! Could not get a seat in the rtestaurant.

Davidhoe,

Those who complain the most go out to dinner, once a week / once a month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad to hear that. I want everyone in the Villages to succeed. I don't want to see anyone close. Thank you for letting us know !:clap2:

I'll own up to being wrong to say they should've run over to Walgreens to buy beer, if that harms the liquor license (they do differ from state to state, and in private country club situations state by state). However, I see no excuse for serving a plate of food that was literally refrigerator burned and stinky, and I see no excuse for a golf course bar being out of beer in early afternoon, twice within a week. It's not like the place can't know there would be golfers coming in for drinks after starting to play golf 3-4 hours before.

And it's not about the food nor beer, because nobody's gonna starve or die of thirst here. It's the lack of interest in serving the customer, who should not be stereotyped and labeled with all Villagers as cheap, entitled, and demanding snots as a sizable number definitely are.

I've said it myself many times here that some are disgraceful in refusing to tip decently when tipped-worker minimum wage is a "whopping" $4.77 per hour, or they refuse to tip "because we were told our amenities fee covers that in TV" or other such rumored and convenient excuses.

That being said, I think Havana has used up its chances to blame people or factors other than its own management. The customers and the employees are not in a position to make decisions about hiring the right people to overhaul, or design a turnaround plan to carry out, to resurrect this business. Only the owners and competent top managers can do that.

Good to hear.

I think many many people really want Havana to improve and stay open. The club has such a lovely ambiance and great location.

Didn't know that. Maybe some laws should be changed? Not sure how that protects anyone other than the vendors. But it is what it is. Thanks for the info.

How about making sure you buy enough in the first place. Wouldn't that still point to mismanagement concepts?

Now that is a good idea !!:pepper2:

In regards to running out of items I've been told by workers and managers that there is a minimum dollar amount on orders that are placed and they have to order from certain distributors only. So IF your running low on an item they still have to come up with the minimum $ amount to place an order. This can become quite costly. Recently at another favorite watering hole they were out of a few items on the bar and again was told the order had gone in but they had to get their minimum order first so they ran out. So those places that have more then one eating establishment in TV have it a little easier then the single establishment.

If Havana was packed last night , tel us more......HOw was the show!!....how was the food and service???

We couldn't get a table for 10. Went off campus.

Have the filthy roach infested conditions in the kitchen been reversed? And if so, how do we know that?

We have a dozen CC restaurants in The Villages. They are all pretty much the same. They all have access to the same labor pool. They all buy there supplies from the same set of vendors. And actually if I had to rank the setting, facility, decor, Havana would be at or near the top. They all have access to the same customer base, same advertising, and all should be successful. We could all rank them top to bottom and the list would be pretty close. There is only one major difference between them. Management. It is really the only thing different. Management owns 100% of all problems and success with any business. And that is why Havana has failed since it opened. There is no other valid reason. And until management is changed it will continue to fail.

debate
 

So, did you lose the debate ???

I too want every club in the Villages to succeed and I too think Havana is a beautiful club. However the health reports are not bogus or malicious. That really must change to expect anyone to want to go there. Anyone can have an off night or get a bad meal or server but the Havana health reports did not happen because of a one day mess up. I would love to go back but that makes me a little worried.

I know we saw the Health Dept.reports from Havana and there were issues but I bet every restaurant or club in TV has issues. If they were published w who knows how bad. they might be. In went by there tonight on the way to Leesburg and the parking lot was 1/2 full. When Orange Blossum was closing how many people complained about the filthy conditions of the rugs, floor etc. I wonder what their kitchen looked like. How many others ???/

Debate ? Did I miss something ?

Hey,

I have been here for three years and because Havana is close and I play the 27 holes there so often, I've ate there many many times. I recall having an OK club sandwich but I also remember some very poorly prepared meals. I have given up on meals and stick to apitzeres and beer. I am sorry, but that is the way I see Havana. Every time I hear about a new chef or manager, we give it a try and will continue to do so. Because of the proximity to our home, we want Havana to succeed, but as of yet, we are very disappointed. I have never seen a roach, but I have witnessed very poor quality food too many times for one restaurant.

Inspection will always show up something.
Perhaps you did not hear about any reports at other Restuarants.

Boy, have you missed the point!

Health reports/inspections have been posted on numerous threads. Go read them for yourself.

As always, I couldn't have said it any better. It IS true with any business.

Is it true that Havana was closed for a few days due to health violations?

from what I was told by a worker at Havana they had a plumbing issue, a broken pipe that was more involved then they originally thought.

Right. Because of the proximity to our home we wish them success. However, how many "one more" chances can you give Havana?

Thanks Russ. I too wish Havana success. It is such a great place, setting, decor, layout, outside seating, but they need a proven restaurant manager in order to turn it around. Someone with a solid track record of running a great place to eat. Until that happens it will continue to be a repeat of failures with bad food and bad service. That is the only viable fix.

Had dinner July 4 at Havanna Country Club. Great food and service. The singing waiters and waitresses were fabulous!

Havana has put themselves in a position they might have to serve "outstanding" rather than acceptable food to get people back. I love the place, but not sure I'm ready to try again just yet.

What do they sing?

I was told
it was opera...........

Opera, oh joy. Not my cup of tea. But, good luck to all.

Another strike!

It goes from bad to worse......and who wants singers instead of good food and service in the first place!

They all sing lots of different songs. Not necessarily heavy opera.

La Cucaracha ???

Now I remember the other reason we don't go there:)