[784caroline]

Last night we went to the Donna and Dunning show at Katie Belles. This was our first look at the "new" Katie Belles and our initial reaction was "its nice". There was plenty of room between tables, its definitely clean (its brand new), service was attentive, nice pictures and stained glass features. Its is awkward to get up stairs (Elevator is available).....so you are just not going to happen to walk into this place...you need to know its there and want to go there.

Food served started with a small Romaine lettuce salad w/ Italian dressing on the table. You were then offered a choice of 3 main courses 1) Pot Roast, 2) Ham Steak and 3) Baked Tilapia. Our group had the pot roast and tilapia and both were enjoyable. Best way to describe these meals is they were good $13 entrees. Free coffee, tea or cokes were also offered. Wine was avalabile at $6-10 per glass was well as full bar.

The show itself started promptly and lasted approx. 1 1/2 hours..it was very good. Both are great singers and put a lot of energy into the show and the character they portray.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Someone earlier described the new Katie Belles as a dinner show, at best...and I must agree. In its current format I doubt if KB will be as successful as hoped for....unless new shows are added to the schedule. Only 60-70% of the tables were occupied for our show....and its peak season. We are scheduled to see Rocky and the Rollers at Katie Belles for one of their DOO-OP performances next month where they bring a name entertainer in. Besides the fact that 2 tickets cost approx $95(remember you are getting 2 dinners valued at Approx $13 each or $26), If it were just Rocky, I think he would blow out the place with their sound system. I think we will see more changes and adjustments to the venue at Katie Belles for now it is a good restaurant (but not great) and people don't know what to expect when they attend a performance.

BTW: I was not a frequent attendee at the OLD Katie Belles but always did have our visitors drop by to see the classic stage. Visitors were always in awe when they saw that set up. That will not be the case today.

[perrjojo]

A nice review of Katie Bille's. Thank you.

[2BNTV]

The price of the dinners seem to be the same as before!

Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore have always been a great show.

I will making plans to see them again and again!

[rustyp]

Dunning Shaw and Donna Moore have sold out Monday nights in Jan and Feb for years. 60-70% table occupancy last Monday? Population explosion in The Villages last two years. What's happening?

[Darlene Lansing]

I appreciate your review , thanks a lot !!!! We were wondering !!

[OldManTime]

Originally Posted by 784caroline

Last night we went to the Donna and Dunning show at Katie Belles. This was our first look at the "new" Katie Belles and our initial reaction was "its nice". There was plenty of room between tables, its definitely clean (its brand new), service was attentive, nice pictures and stained glass features. Its is awkward to get up stairs (Elevator is available).....so you are just not going to happen to walk into this place...you need to know its there and want to go there.

Food served started with a small Romaine lettuce salad w/ Italian dressing on the table. You were then offered a choice of 3 main courses 1) Pot Roast, 2) Ham Steak and 3) Baked Tilapia. Our group had the pot roast and tilapia and both were enjoyable. Best way to describe these meals is they were good $13 entrees. Free coffee, tea or cokes were also offered. Wine was avalabile at $6-10 per glass was well as full bar.

The show itself started promptly and lasted approx. 1 1/2 hours..it was very good. Both are great singers and put a lot of energy into the show and the character they portray.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Someone earlier described the new Katie Belles as a dinner show, at best...and I must agree. In its current format I doubt if KB will be as successful as hoped for....unless new shows are added to the schedule. Only 60-70% of the tables were occupied for our show....and its peak season. We are scheduled to see Rocky and the Rollers at Katie Belles for one of their DOO-OP performances next month where they bring a name entertainer in. Besides the fact that 2 tickets cost approx $95(remember you are getting 2 dinners valued at Approx $13 each or $26), If it were just Rocky, I think he would blow out the place with their sound system. I think we will see more changes and adjustments to the venue at Katie Belles for now it is a good restaurant (but not great) and people don't know what to expect when they attend a performance.

BTW: I was not a frequent attendee at the OLD Katie Belles but always did have our visitors drop by to see the classic stage. Visitors were always in awe when they saw that set up. That will not be the case today.

And many of us saw the same show, 8 to 10 years ago, weekly, it all was free then.

[dp000]

Talked to the reservation lady at Katie Belles this morning and told her I was a little confused about how the restaurant works. Here is what she said to me: Monday and Tuesday and special events (Valentines Day, etc.) there will be only 3 items on the menu to choose from and they only sell the seats in the show area. The rest of the restaurant will be empty, that might explain why for the Monday show it was only 60% full. I think that is a waste of seating, but I could be wrong.
Personally, I think they are flying by the seat of their pants, and it will take awhile before they get their act together. The customers will dictate what Katie Belles will eventually be doing or they will fail.

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by dp000

Talked to the reservation lady at Katie Belles this morning and told her I was a little confused about how the restaurant works. Here is what she said to me: Monday and Tuesday and special events (Valentines Day, etc.) there will be only 3 items on the menu to choose from and they only sell the seats in the show area. The rest of the restaurant will be empty, that might explain why for the Monday show it was only 60% full. I think that is a waste of seating, but I could be wrong.
Personally, I think they are flying by the seat of their pants, and it will take awhile before they get their act together. The customers will dictate what Katie Belles will eventually be doing or they will fail.

...

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by dp000

Talked to the reservation lady at Katie Belles this morning and told her I was a little confused about how the restaurant works. Here is what she said to me: Monday and Tuesday and special events (Valentines Day, etc.) there will be only 3 items on the menu to choose from and they only sell the seats in the show area. The rest of the restaurant will be empty, that might explain why for the Monday show it was only 60% full. I think that is a waste of seating, but I could be wrong.
Personally, I think they are flying by the seat of their pants, and it will take awhile before they get their act together. The customers will dictate what Katie Belles will eventually be doing or they will fail.