[snowbirdgator]

Maybe it is just me, but I have noticed that it seems that all the other villagers around here is complain about things. When it comes to a restuarant or shopping or whatever it may be. I cannot understand why all of you must be that way. I was reading about how everyone talks so negative about Whiskey Creek when they closed their doors. Do you guys realize people and restuarants make mistakes. Give them a chance to make it right. Don't run out and complain all the time. They were a good place to eat. Yeah they had their ups and downs, but who doesn't. Every business does. All the villagers expect perfection right out the gate and that is not possible. You have to give someone a fair chance to make things right. They had only been open for a little over a year. It does take time. I have gone to plenty of other place to eat withing the last month and have had worst experiences then I ever did at Whiskey Creek. I was at the Lighthouse the other day and my wife's food had a spider in it and they did nothing about it. I went to RJ Gators a couple weeks ago and it took someone about 10 minutes to finally wait on me. Did I run out and talk negative on those places? NO. I understand that things happen and that I am sure that the next time I go there, I will have a better experience. That is what all of you villagers, that think you are God need to do. Give a place a chance to make you experience right. Don't try to rush out and get a free meal just because your social security might be running out.

Live a little. Enjoy the rest of your life.

[rsandstrom]

I think the point is that at Whiskey Creek too many people have had bad food & bad service. Why take a chance for a repeat of the same when there are plenty of other good places around. Do me right the first time, or I won't give you a second chance.

I think they have too many untrained kids running these places. >

[jadebox]

I usually try a place a second time. Especially if the first time was right after they opened. Very seldom do I return if time 2 is a bad experience.

[Shirleevee]

I can excuse a restaurant being disorganized, the waitstaff leaving lots to be desired and long waits for food. Even an occasional bad meal.........I also believe in constructive criticism......tell the manager the problem, (nicely of course). You can't fix what you don't know about.

Shirleevee

[travelstiles]

It's dificult for any restaurant to keep good help when a number of the patrons are cheap with their tips. We were at Whiskey Creek the day of the Super Bowl, and a man was getting 8 drinks at the bar (2 for 1 scotch & somethings), and left 85 cents for a tip!
If you can't afford to leave a decent tip, don't eat out. Most (not all) retirees should be thankful that they have pensions, medical coverage and social security. These young kids are working for peanuts, will most likely never have a pension, and probably don't have medical benefits. Many are putting themselves through school.
I've found the best restaurants are those who have kept their staff for years, pay them well, and the regular clients always tip fairly (at LEAST 15%). And, as an earlier post said, speak to management before going out and bad mouthing a place.
Please take this into consideration when wondering why service might be so bad.

[rdmills]

Travel, I can't agree anymore. I was speaking with a bartender who told me that he was paying tax's on 12 percent of his gross sales. (If he rang up $20.00, uncle sam would take 12 percent.) He then needed at tip of $2.40 just to break even. I to have witnessed friends leaving peanuts for tips.

[ConeyIsBabe]

UMmmmmmmmmm....... I always visit a new restaurant with an open mind. If I get a bad meal from a new restaurant I might or might not go back. If I get a bad meal from a restaurant I always liked..... I don't complain, but I don't go back for a long time, if ever.

If, after a year, a new restaurant can't seem to "get it right" I certainly won't spend my money on less than perfect food or service.

Sorry, I expect and deserve perfection when dining out. ;D

[Puterguru]

I am happy to leave a .05 cent tip and have on several occasions for crappy terrible service. A tip is EARNED not a given. I went to Applebees and ate my entire lunch without a drink because the waitress was BS'ing with someone at the bar. I called her over, told her about it and left her a nickel. On the other hand I had an $80 bill at Carraba's recently and left the lady $30 because she was soo good. Again, tips are earned.

As far as the original post. All it takes is ONE GOOD MANAGER, that gives a crap about good customer service, good food and a clean restaurant. That is something a manager should require everytime that door opens. Restaurants do NOT need a "Year" to get their act together. :

[zcaveman]

A food critic for the New Jersey Star Ledger was asked why he panned restaurants without giving them a second chance. Maybe the chef was ill or having a bad day or there were food problems, etc.

His answer was that people expect good service and good food everytime they go out. They do not want to spend good money and get mediocre service or food. And that is the way he writes it up.

I have to agree. First of all, I do not go to a new restaurant for the first 30-60 days so they can train the service staff and get over the quirks of the new equipment. And then I ask around to see what other people thought of the place. Then I give it a try. If the service is lousy or the food is lousy, there are other restaurants to eat at. And I do not really care if people tell me it got better. It usually hasn't.

My biggest complaint in the restaurants in TV is trying to find the waitresss and get your check and get out after you eat. For some reason, they disappear. And I really don't feel like chasing them down.

[carlent]

Ok I have red all of these posts and all of you have missed the boat on this one (my opinion)
Here is the deal:
In order for TV to be a vibrant, successful community, the restaurant industry has to succeed. It must have the full support of the residents in The Villages and the community as a whole. Without that support, the quality of life at TV will slowly erode. Going out to restaurants is a huge activity at TV. Even thouth it seems like a lot of restaurants exist (about 70+) none of them can afford to go out of business. Granted, a few who really do not care about theri customers deserve to go out...but the vast majority try very hard to please the public. We as the public, owe them support and understanding. If your experience is not up to your standards, then examine your standards. Are they realistic? If you expect perfection....is that realistic? Of course the snwer is no. No one of us is perfect....we all make mistakes. so do restaurants....we must evualate what those mistakes are...and do they often repeat them. Or can you live with them and overlook some of the things that are not perfect. Give these operations a chance people....do not jump to bad mouth so freely. Appreciate what you have in TV. Tons of opporunity to go out and get a good meal. As the restaurant industry in TV gets stable....so does TV as a whole. Keep them in business....get rid of those that are really bad apples and appreciate what you have.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by carlent

Ok I have red all of these posts and all of you have missed the boat on this one (my opinion)
Here is the deal:
In order for TV to be a vibrant, successful community, the restaurant industry has to succeed. It must have the full support of the residents in The Villages and the community as a whole. Without that support, the quality of life at TV will slowly erode. Going out to restaurants is a huge activity at TV. Even thouth it seems like a lot of restaurants exist (about 70+) none of them can afford to go out of business. Granted, a few who really do not care about theri customers deserve to go out...but the vast majority try very hard to please the public. We as the public, owe them support and understanding. If your experience is not up to your standards, then examine your standards. Are they realistic? If you expect perfection....is that realistic? Of course the snwer is no. No one of us is perfect....we all make mistakes. so do restaurants....we must evualate what those mistakes are...and do they often repeat them. Or can you live with them and overlook some of the things that are not perfect. Give these operations a chance people....do not jump to bad mouth so freely. Appreciate what you have in TV. Tons of opporunity to go out and get a good meal. As the restaurant industry in TV gets stable....so does TV as a whole. Keep them in business....get rid of those that are really bad apples and appreciate what you have.

Seems to me you're putting the cart somewhat before the horse in your logic. I think in order for the restaurant industry to succeed there has to be an unfailing commitment on the part of the restaurant to provide superior service and superior food in a consistent manner.

If I go to a restaurant and they have what I consider bad atmosphere, or the food is sub-par, or the service is horrible, I am very, very likely not to go back. I don't owe a restaurant a second chance - I'm spending my money in their place. If I don't get what I consider to be a good value, I simply won't do it again.

The restaurants that get it right will survive. They aren't children that we have to be understanding of and coddle through into adulthood - they are businesses, and only deserve my business if they lure me in (I don't like Indian food, so even the very best Indian restaurant won't get me in the door), then serve me correctly (not too slow, get it right) and most importantly, and provide me with food I like at a price I find agreeable. If none of that happens, why is it my responsibility to try again? A new restaurant will open up, and it will either make it or not. Survival of the fittest!

I don't always want perfection, but it has to be an overall positive experience. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results?

[Irish Rover]

Hey Puterguru - you left a tip of $30 on an $80 tab?????? Almost 40% Please come to Missouri and visit Lake of the Ozarks - we might even consider paying for your flight. I'm alerting all of the wait staff just in case you decide to visit.

[ConeyIsBabe]

I eat out a lot in Grants Pass and some of the surrounding towns and I continue to patronize my favorite restaurants. My most favorite.... Thai BBQ is consistently EXCELLENT; I've never had a bad meal or inferior service and I always tip 20%.

In my opinion, the restaurant business has no room for error..... people can get sick or even die from contaminated food. Poor service reflects on the management and its training. If the restaurant can't get it perfect, they have no business being in business !

[Russ_Boston]

CIB - Perfect statement.

Carl - With 100K people eventually TV will have plenty of restaurants. The good ones will stick and the poorly managed ones will fail. Restaurants are no different that any other market. To succeed you need: a good idea; a good execution (food and service); a great manager (the key IMHO); a lot of hard work; and a little bit of luck.

Z hit it on the head when he talked about chasing down your waiter for the check. If you've ever worked in the business then you know the most important part of the plan is turnover. You only have so many tables during the rush and if you can satisfy the client with the food and the service the least you could do is TAKE THEIR MONEY and put new fannies in the seats. A good manager is all over that. Your profit margin erodes with every minute the client sits there without ordering anything additional. A manager has to stay on top of the staff to ensure that the waiter isn't trying to 'manage' their tables.

I'm not saying to rush the clients out the door but an attentive wait staff is the main thing that clients want.

As Dennis Miller closed with "That's jut my opinion, I might be wrong".

[blueeagle65]

There are just some nasty, mean people here that think the universe should revolve around them and whose face would probably break if they ever smiled. We can just hope that they soon get their fill of TV and move on and take their grey clouds with them.