Talk of The Villages Florida
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Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   Restaurant Discussions (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/)
-   -   Havana (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/restaurant-discussions-90/havana-84890/)

Matzy 03-11-2014 04:53 PM
I like Havana and the singing waiters, very enjoyable. In case of food??? Well, depends on one's expectations, I always was satisfied with food and service there (I m going with the expression 'if I like it I will tell that to the public, if something was wrong I will tell it to the waiter/chef/manager' because it is/was MY opinion'.
And, that i learned from my dad: If I wan't to find a "hair" in the soup, I'll find it.

PaPaLarry 03-12-2014 07:12 AM
Finally!!!! No more complaints about Havana. (Now called Hemmingway's) I know some liked the singing waiters etc, but now it's back to quality food. I always seem to get a good meal at Lopez Legacy, so I'm pretty sure the same quality will be at Hemmingway's. Let's give them a chance before we criticize them. I wish them well, and hopefully us "Villagers" will be the winner's!!!!

shcisamax 03-12-2014 07:37 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv (Post 843618)
I love music of all styles, and think it is key to most any party, reunion, or reception.

But. The country clubs dining rooms here are not for receptions and "shows". They are for TV residents to dine with our visiting relatives, friends or previewing guests, many of whom we do not see very often because they live across the country. We go out to dinner together so we do not have to shop, cook, and cleanup while we converse with them and try to catch up on years' worth of conversation.

These dining rooms are NOT an audition venue for up and coming Broadway or Hollywood wannabees to get the waiter experience they WILL need when they're a dime a dozen trying to get hired as a musician in NY or LA.

Diners should not have to yell to be heard. Period. And the food should be excellent and the service should be quietly understated.....as in: servers are right there ready to be attentive to be of service for every food and beverage need/request....NOT "I'm singing for tips from you".
This is a joke, right? In what restaurant bible is it written that there can't be music? There are many who think a little different ambiance is a nice or fun thing. There are so many restaurants here if one doesn't like singing waiters, there are infinite other choices.

Whether there are singing waiters or great music, if it is loud or silent, whether it gives entertainment by "wannabees" or not, I am excited to see what will ensue.

Bonny 03-12-2014 07:59 AM
I enjoyed the singing waiters and waitresses. They had beautiful voices and it was something different.

KathieI 03-12-2014 08:14 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Golf-Tinker (Post 843757)
After it's long anticipated opening for about three months (on a sliding scale) Havana enjoyed acceptance by the community. Following his master plan, Kris dumped George Stella (which changed the kitchen forever), then his operation manager, Dameon (name in my files), the bartenders (they were making too much in tips), the waitstaff (can't allow you to work those hours), and so on. For all too many year, I prayed his reign of stupidity would end. I suggest we all come to the parking lot some night soon and party to demonstrate the rise of Havana once again. The bad king has been disposed. Long live Havana.

Jim

Wow, I agree... Havana was doomed early on because of the thick-headedness of an owner who thought he knew everything and no one else knew anything, especially his staff. All that you said is so true, if a waiter/male or female, was great but making too much in tips, he would literally move them to another section and not listen to any of his customers. If the bathrooms were filthy, he would yell at the staff to clean it up, in between their other duties,, UGH!! This was from the early days, and when we would confront him with a list of issues to improve his beautiful restaurant, he would totally ignore us and dismiss us as not knowing how to run a business.

I helped run the kitchen at a charity breakfast because he did not inform any staff or make the proper preparations to accommodate the event early in AM. It was a disaster. He still wouldn't listen, thank goodness the event went well, but not because of his efforts.

I agree, a party is due in the parking lot to celebrate the start of a new beginning!! Havana is really a pretty place, with a wonderful view and has so much potential but was ruined by a Czar.!!! Let's celebrate.

Chi-Town 03-12-2014 08:34 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonny (Post 844021)
I enjoyed the singing waiters and waitresses. They had beautiful voices and it was something different.
I agree totally. One of the main reasons we all moved to The Villages was for the year 'round entertainment, and the singing waiters and waitresses sure were entertaining.

Villager Dude 03-12-2014 10:52 AM
Viva Havanna
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chi-Town (Post 844049)
I agree totally. One of the main reasons we all moved to The Villages was for the year 'round entertainment, and the singing waiters and waitresses sure were entertaining.
WE remember when Havana opened and was impressed with the architecture and enjoyed the nice outdoor area.

When we moved here permanently in Nov 2012 we were very disappointed with the Operation and did not go there even though we live 1 mile form it in Amelia.

We love Lopez but occasionally we do not go up there due to the distance.

Lopez taking over Havana is great news and we are looking forward to it.

VIVA HAVANA !

skyc6 03-12-2014 11:09 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv (Post 843618)
I love music of all styles, and think it is key to most any party, reunion, or reception.

But. The country clubs dining rooms here are not for receptions and "shows". They are for TV residents to dine with our visiting relatives, friends or previewing guests, many of whom we do not see very often because they live across the country. We go out to dinner together so we do not have to shop, cook, and cleanup while we converse with them and try to catch up on years' worth of conversation.

These dining rooms are NOT an audition venue for up and coming Broadway or Hollywood wannabees to get the waiter experience they WILL need when they're a dime a dozen trying to get hired as a musician in NY or LA.

Diners should not have to yell to be heard. Period. And the food should be excellent and the service should be quietly understated.....as in: servers are right there ready to be attentive to be of service for every food and beverage need/request....NOT "I'm singing for tips from you".
GEE, Thanks for the heads up on restaurant ettiquette. We have many restaurants and country clubs here in TV, so hopefully, those who may enjoy music can choose the appropriate ones to frequent. You could do the same! There is something here for everyone and differences can be interesting. Your name suggests that you LOVE The Villages, yet your rants say something else. How about we wait to shoot down the new place until it actually opens? Possibly lots of people will like it and if you don;t, then don't go there! Personally, I enjoy the music. These are not Hollywood wannabees at all; they are members of the Central Florida Lyric Opera, and to hear them with dinner at no extra charge is for some a treat! When someone is so hard to please, staying home is an option as well.

Bonny 03-12-2014 11:29 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by skyc6 (Post 844171)
GEE, Thanks for the heads up on restaurant ettiquette. We have many restaurants and country clubs here in TV, so hopefully, those who may enjoy music can choose the appropriate ones to frequent. You could do the same! There is something here for everyone and differences can be interesting. Your name suggests that you LOVE The Villages, yet your rants say something else. How about we wait to shoot down the new place until it actually opens? Possibly lots of people will like it and if you don;t, then don't go there! Personally, I enjoy the music. These are not Hollywood wannabees at all; they are members of the Central Florida Lyric Opera, and to hear them with dinner at no extra charge is for some a treat! When someone is so hard to please, staying home is an option as well.
:BigApplause: I agree !!

memason 03-12-2014 11:42 AM
From the Gourmet Club website:

Havana Country Club, 2484 O'Dell Circle, The Villages, FL. 430-3200. (American) B/L/D. Closed on 3/10/14 while new owner, John McDonough of Legacy Restaurant at Lopez Country Club makes some renovations and changes the menu and staff. The "Singing Waiters" will not return. The restaurant will be called Hemingway's (see that listing). Due to reopen in April, 2014.

ROCKETMAN 03-12-2014 11:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by shcisamax (Post 844005)
This is a joke, right? In what restaurant bible is it written that there can't be music? There are many who think a little different ambiance is a nice or fun thing. There are so many restaurants here if one doesn't like singing waiters, there are infinite other choices.

Whether there are singing waiters or great music, if it is loud or silent, whether it gives entertainment by "wannabees" or not, I am excited to see what will ensue.
If you don't like music you can go to cane garden any night of the week and never have any entertainment. They have good food and a good happy hour 3-5 with every drink 2 for 1, even top shelf.:BigApplause:

ilovetv 03-12-2014 12:56 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by shcisamax (Post 844005)
This is a joke, right? In what restaurant bible is it written that there can't be music? There are many who think a little different ambiance is a nice or fun thing. There are so many restaurants here if one doesn't like singing waiters, there are infinite other choices.

Whether there are singing waiters or great music, if it is loud or silent, whether it gives entertainment by "wannabees" or not, I am excited to see what will ensue.
No, it's not a joke. Throughout this thread and the others about the singing waiters, people have said it's too loud to be able to converse. In fact, it was too loud to converse in Havana BEFORE singing waiters were added in. Just a few posts before mine somebody said they had to "yell" across their table because of the singing waiters.

There's a big difference between having relaxing cocktail piano or other low-key instrumentals playing in the bar or off to the side, and having singing waiters belting out Oklahoma and Mame type show tunes.

Plus, throughout this thread and the others, people have said time after time that they would like to have the Lopez type dining and ambience here in this part of TV near Havana, where we are 11 miles from Nancy Lopez CC and 5 miles from Arnold Palmer, and those and the clubs like Cane and Mallory are packed with people from their own surrounding neighborhoods. People living right around Havana would like to pack IT too, but not if the atmosphere is aggravating and the food/service is bad like it's been.

Hopefully the new management is taking these things into account.

keithwand 03-12-2014 01:01 PM
Page 24 in the "restaurant bible".:D
Never experienced the singing waiters because we stayed away but friends enjoyed them obviously more the the food.
We are looking forward to the change as location and ambiance are great.
Definitely will try it when they open.

CraigC 03-12-2014 01:34 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv (Post 844233)
No, it's not a joke. Throughout this thread and the others about the singing waiters, people have said it's too loud to be able to converse. In fact, it was too loud to converse in Havana BEFORE singing waiters were added in. Just a few posts before mine somebody said they had to "yell" across their table because of the singing waiters.

There's a big difference between having relaxing cocktail piano or other low-key instrumentals playing in the bar or off to the side, and having singing waiters belting out Oklahoma and Mame type show tunes.

Plus, throughout this thread and the others, people have said time after time that they would like to have the Lopez type dining and ambience here in this part of TV near Havana, where we are 11 miles from Nancy Lopez CC and 5 miles from Arnold Palmer, and those and the clubs like Cane and Mallory are packed with people from their own surrounding neighborhoods. People living right around Havana would like to pack IT too, but not if the atmosphere is aggravating and the food/service is bad like it's been.

Hopefully the new management is taking these things into account.
Agree 100%. We went once, and attempted to yell across the table. A dozen or so of our friends have been since the singing waiters began, and none went back a second time because of the noise level. A few people may like them once as a novelty, but I think the owners know that very, very few will like to return on a regular basis. We thought they were very talented, but we prefer to be able to speak to the others in our party when we eat out. There is certainly no shortage of loud music in various eating establishments in The Villages!

raynan 03-12-2014 01:54 PM
Maybe they could have the singing waiters/waitresses once a week and those who like it could go that night and everyone else would still have plenty of other nights to go. I thought it was a nice idea but it was very loud and every night was just too much.

shcisamax 03-12-2014 02:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv (Post 843618)

But. The country clubs dining rooms here are not for receptions and "shows". They are for TV residents to dine with our visiting relatives, friends or previewing guests, many of whom we do not see very often because they live across the country. We go out to dinner together so we do not have to shop, cook, and cleanup while we converse with them and try to catch up on years' worth of conversation.

WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT THE COUNTRY CLUBS ARE ONLY FOR TV RESIDENTS TO DINE WITH THEIR VISITING RELATIVES, FRIENDS, ETC?

These dining rooms are NOT an audition venue for up and coming Broadway or Hollywood wannabees to get the waiter experience they WILL need when they're a dime a dozen trying to get hired as a musician in NY or LA.

THAT IS A BIT SUPERCILIOUS AND, WHILE I AGREE IT WAS A BIT MUCH, PERHAPS A SPECIFIC DAY ONCE A WEEK AS SUGGESTED WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER IDEA SO YOU THERE WAS THE OPTION.

Diners should not have to yell to be heard. Period. And the food should be excellent and the service should be quietly understated.....as in: servers are right there ready to be attentive to be of service for every food and beverage need/request.....
YOU DO REALIZE YOU ARE IN THE VILLAGES, RIGHT? YOU BETTER NOT GO IN TO ANY RESTAURANT DURING SNOWBIRD SEASON. FRANKLY, THAT ACTUALLY ELIMINATES A HUGE AMOUNT OF THE RESTAURANTS HERE YEAR ROUND! YOU MAY NEED TO GET TO LE BERNADIN OR THE FOUR SEASONS FOR THE LEVEL OF CULINARY GREATNESS YOU ARE SEEKING.

THAT SAID,
I agree totally with you that Havana was substandard on so many levels and I, too, am looking forward to the management team and their ideas. Can't wait to see the menu. But I just think some of those comments were a little pejorative. Anyway, see you in the new and undoubtedly improved restaurant.

shcisamax 03-12-2014 02:26 PM
I apologize for not figuring out how to put my comments interwoven in the prior post. I am just way over my head in tech here :)

CFrance 03-12-2014 02:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by raynan (Post 844273)
Maybe they could have the singing waiters/waitresses once a week and those who like it could go that night and everyone else would still have plenty of other nights to go. I thought it was a nice idea but it was very loud and every night was just too much.
That is an excellent compromise. I admit I am not a fan of dining while being entertained--I like one or the other, separately. I love opera, classical music, and oldies but like peace and quiet during dinner in order to talk to my companions. A lot of times the music is so loud there is no way to hold a conversation.

I do like that the singing entertainment in most restaurants starts at a certain time, so we and our guests can work around that.

shcisamax 03-12-2014 03:06 PM
I think, for the most part, the acoustics are not very good in the restaurants. I have been in Palmer at a table for six and could only hear the people next to me.

gomoho 03-12-2014 03:07 PM
Could someone please turn the volume down:duck:

shcisamax 03-12-2014 03:42 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by gomoho (Post 844300)
Could someone please turn the volume down:duck:
Good one.

graciegirl 03-12-2014 04:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 844290)
That is an excellent compromise. I admit I am not a fan of dining while being entertained--I like one or the other, separately. I love opera, classical music, and oldies but like peace and quiet during dinner in order to talk to my companions. A lot of times the music is so loud there is no way to hold a conversation.

I do like that the singing entertainment in most restaurants starts at a certain time, so we and our guests can work around that.



I agree. Now that I have these damned expensive "hearers" that turn up everything, the music drowns out any chance for me to hear any conversation. I realize that is my problem and is not everyone's but it is nice to have a choice. I too love music of practically all kinds.

Bogie Shooter 03-12-2014 04:30 PM
Was it not a part of the announcement that the singing waiter's would not be a part of the new "Hemmingway" restaurant?
What is the purpose of all the debate about the singing waiters?
How can posters bash the "new " restaurant concept and they have not even opened the doors yet?
Do some posters on TOTV even have a clue?
People in the area of Colony keep whining about not having any places to dine, now one is coming and fault is already being aired. I just don't get it!

ilovetv 03-12-2014 04:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CFrance (Post 844290)
That is an excellent compromise. I admit I am not a fan of dining while being entertained--I like one or the other, separately. I love opera, classical music, and oldies but like peace and quiet during dinner in order to talk to my companions. A lot of times the music is so loud there is no way to hold a conversation.

I do like that the singing entertainment in most restaurants starts at a certain time, so we and our guests can work around that.
Thank you.

ilovetv 03-12-2014 04:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 844344)
Was it not a part of the announcement that the singing waiter's would not be a part of the new "Hemmingway" restaurant?
What is the purpose of all the debate about the singing waiters?
How can posters bash the "new " restaurant concept and they have not even opened the doors yet?
Do some posters on TOTV even have a clue?
People in the area of Colony keep whining about not having any places to dine, now one is coming and fault is already being aired. I just don't get it!
It's being debated because some want them to stay, while others--who want to be able to converse without yelling--want them to be there but less often, i.e. once or twice a week.

DougB 03-12-2014 04:34 PM
Turn it up!

Bogie Shooter 03-12-2014 04:44 PM
Give it up!

CFrance 03-12-2014 04:48 PM
Turn it down!

shcisamax 03-12-2014 04:50 PM
I didn't see people bashing the new restaurant. From what I saw, I thought everyone was really excited to be out with the old and in with the new. What's to bash if it is the same owners as Lopez? I didn't see people lamenting there would be no singers just some saying they enjoyed it in the last restaurant. Whether they have the singers or not, I expect great things from this renovation! If it is anything like Lopez, you will be able to hear which seems to be the major issue here.

PaPaLarry 03-12-2014 07:08 PM
Looks like we can't wait to look forward to great food and conversation at the Hemmingway!!! Let's give it a chance, and see how we like it. My money is on the restaurant. I can go to Katie Bells, if I want music also. They have the stage for it.

TomOB 03-12-2014 08:29 PM
Please give them a week or two to work out the kinks before bashing them. I hope they open during the off season so they aren't swamped the first night and get bashed here because someone had to wait 20 minutes for something.

schoochntl34@yahoo.com 03-16-2014 07:58 PM
Give it time. They'll bash this new restaurant too!!!

NJblue 03-21-2014 11:59 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ilovetv (Post 844233)
No, it's not a joke. Throughout this thread and the others about the singing waiters, people have said it's too loud to be able to converse. In fact, it was too loud to converse in Havana BEFORE singing waiters were added in. Just a few posts before mine somebody said they had to "yell" across their table because of the singing waiters.

There's a big difference between having relaxing cocktail piano or other low-key instrumentals playing in the bar or off to the side, and having singing waiters belting out Oklahoma and Mame type show tunes.

Plus, throughout this thread and the others, people have said time after time that they would like to have the Lopez type dining and ambience here in this part of TV near Havana, where we are 11 miles from Nancy Lopez CC and 5 miles from Arnold Palmer, and those and the clubs like Cane and Mallory are packed with people from their own surrounding neighborhoods. People living right around Havana would like to pack IT too, but not if the atmosphere is aggravating and the food/service is bad like it's been.

Hopefully the new management is taking these things into account.
I agree. I go to a restaurant to dine and converse. If I want to be entertained, I go to any number of venues around that have entertainment as their focus. Trying to mix the two makes for bad dining AND bad entertainment.

nitehawk 03-22-2014 09:16 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by NJblue (Post 849261)
I agree. I go to a restaurant to dine and converse. If I want to be entertained, I go to any number of venues around that have entertainment as their focus. Trying to mix the two makes for bad dining AND bad entertainment.
I am the opposite... I enjoy entertainment while I dine ... and i loved the good entertainment they had there....


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