They have no clue when telling you what the wait time is. 30-35 minutes means 60 Plus. Do not mind waiting. Just be realistic

[karostay]

I have been told 30 to 35 min wait countless times..In my experience have never waited more than 20.The food customer service and atmosphere
well worth hour wait

[missypie]

Its just hard to tell how long. We sit outside and enjoy our wine and talk to people. It is just wonderful. We go there very week. They have many year round regulars.

[Carl in Tampa]

It's snowbird season. I always expect a 60 minute wait for evening meal, especially on weekends. That's why I seldom go for an evening meal on weekends.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by nkrifats

They have no clue when telling you what the wait time is. 30-35 minutes means 60 Plus. Do not mind waiting. Just be realistic

Go to dinner an hour later or an hour earlier.........................

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

It's snowbird season. I always expect a 60 minute wait for evening meal, especially on weekends. That's why I seldom go for an evening meal on weekends.

I'm one of those snowbirds who make it so tough on the rest of you, and I read about these awful waits in snowbird season regularly. Yet when we are in TV in February and March we eat out virtually every night, and seldom wait more that 25-30 minutes for a table for four. In fact I cannot remember a time over the last four years when we have waited more than 45 minutes. We eat at most of the country clubs, and most of the other popular restaurants, and avoid Bonefish at 6 PM, and Lopez on Lobster night. Admittedly, some of our longer waits have been at the Lighthouse, but they are tolerable. I simply don't see the problem with wait times that others regularly report.

[VillagesFlorida]

We rarely eat out in the evenings anymore. No problem getting into most restaurants early to mid afternoon. We feel better, eating our bigger meal at that time of day. We former Mainers love that we can get haddock at The Lighthouse.

[OBXNana]

Originally Posted by missypie

Its just hard to tell how long. We sit outside and enjoy our wine and talk to people. It is just wonderful. We go there very week. They have many year round regulars.

Could not agree more! I just wish we were there to enjoy the surroundings more.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

I'm one of those snowbirds who make it so tough on the rest of you, and I read about these awful waits in snowbird season regularly. Yet when we are in TV in February and March we eat out virtually every night, and seldom wait more that 25-30 minutes for a table for four. In fact I cannot remember a time over the last four years when we have waited more than 45 minutes. We eat at most of the country clubs, and most of the other popular restaurants, and avoid Bonefish at 6 PM, and Lopez on Lobster night. Admittedly, some of our longer waits have been at the Lighthouse, but they are tolerable. I simply don't see the problem with wait times that others regularly report.

Snowbirds, welcome from me!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I think that they tell people less time that they actually expect so that people stay and wait. Usually if I'm told more than 15 minutes I'll go elsewhere. But, if I'm told ten minutes and it goes to twenty then I feel like I've already invested the time so I might as well wait it out.
I'm sure that I'm not the only one who feels this way. Many people would leave and go someplace else if they were told the wait is an hour, but once they've waited for thirty five minutes they keep thinking that it's going to be any minute now so they might as well stay.
I'll go back to restaurants that have done this to me, but if there is any wait at all I leave. Sometimes I'll let them know that last time they told me ten minutes and it was thirty so I'm not waiting around to find out what the real time will be.

[redwitch]

Sometimes it is just hard to predict. People will linger longer over a meal. The kitchen fouls up and has to redo something. The server mucks up and forgets part of an order. So, while the wait may have been 30 minutes by normal standards, something happens and the wait becomes much longer. Tschit happens.

I do agree that if I go to a restaurant and it consistently underestimates the wait time, I go elsewhere. That is a disservice to their customers.

[dah1020]

I have to laugh at the trend of some of the talk and comments on here and it seems like they come from the vacationing birds in their wonderland at their so aghast at the thought of having to wait to eat at the restaurants and how dare those village workers use the bathrooms at the pools

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by dah352

I have to laugh at the trend of some of the talk and comments on here and it seems like they come from the vacationing birds in their wonderland at their so aghast at the thought of having to wait to eat at the restaurants and how dare those village workers use the bathrooms at the pools

Maybe some but not all. Probably a poor assumption.

[rubicon]

People eat out for varying reasons. In our household we view it as a break away, a treat. So the thought that one has to wait 15 minutes plus to be seated, concern about quality, service etc. we elect to do it seldom because too often it ends up being buyers remorse.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

I'm one of those snowbirds who make it so tough on the rest of you, and I read about these awful waits in snowbird season regularly. Yet when we are in TV in February and March we eat out virtually every night, and seldom wait more that 25-30 minutes for a table for four. In fact I cannot remember a time over the last four years when we have waited more than 45 minutes. We eat at most of the country clubs, and most of the other popular restaurants, and avoid Bonefish at 6 PM, and Lopez on Lobster night. Admittedly, some of our longer waits have been at the Lighthouse, but they are tolerable. I simply don't see the problem with wait times that others regularly report.

Well, I for one and many others as well like when the snowbirds and renters are here.
Yes, the wait is usually longer, but we like to eat early a lot so it's okay with us.
I love to see places busy and everyone having a good time and businesses making money !
A lot of single parents work as servers and bartenders. This is the season that helps them get some extra money to provide for their families.
Yes, sometimes it gets pretty down crowded, but it's all good.
Welcome back !!