Orion, when you ate at Lavinia's a year ago there was a different chef. The restaurant was sold early this past winter, however the name was not changed. The Coe House was in operation for many years, then underwent a 'rebrand' about 3 1/2 years ago. A very experienced chef (25+ years experience, classic culinary education) was hired and the menu and vibe was revamped. After two very successful years the restaurant was sold (early winter of this past year) to the current owner and his son. Despite the confusion on this page, Lavinia's is NOT owned (nor has it ever been owned) by the owner of Canoe. There was a bartender at Lavinia's, Scott, who is wonderful. Not to be confused with the owner of Canoe. (Btw, you can find Scott behind the bar at Lago in Meredith if you're looking for a fantastic cocktail and good stories.) The new owner's son, Brandon McGuff, is young culinary graduate with lots of enthusiasm, but not a ton of experience. He and his dad have spent their first season trying to find their paces and there may have been a few bumps in the road, but don't write them off just yet. A new restaurant deserves a full year to see if they can stand the test. They've still got a few months left to prove they've got the stuff.

Oh, they're good
 

Blacksheep, I haven't written them off. In fact, I've been back a couple of times since the bad experience and was very satisfied with the whole experience each time. I was just making the point that even a great restaurant can get stressed beyond their capacity limits in high-season. ....and that's why I rarely eat out on weekends in the summer up here.

3 checks? Really? I'm sure Lavina's staff was equally as unimpressed with your group as you were with them.

I think you are being quite harsh. Some people in the group have several drinks and some do not have any. Some people have gotten tired of partially paying for drinks when they don't drink. Also some people order 3 courses and other's may order one course. I would rather give my extra cash to a charity. With your attitude I am quite sure some people may not be impressed with you. Of course you may be so wealthy that you always pay the entire bill when you are out to dinner with others. GOOD FOR YOU!

I always tell the server to give us separate checks before ordering the meals.

Asking after the meals are served really isn't fair to the server.

Yup, common practice with us too. We go out with 2 or 3 other couples and always ask for separate checks before we order. We've never had an issue with any server at any restaurant we've been to regarding our request. We do it for the same reason GBG does it.

We do the same. If we have dinner with friends that eat and drink as much as we do we may ask the waiter if it's okay to split the check.
We have rarely been at a restaurant when one person can pick up the check for the table.

We get one check and throw a card down for each couple. We don't ask for separate checks (but we all drink about the same amount:D)

I certainly can understand asking for separate checks before ordering- it is no different than having 3 couples at 3 separate tables at that point.

Regarding Lavinias, it has been hit or miss with us this year. Unfortunately, we have had more recent misses.

I guess I have always felt if your friendly enough to sit at the same table and break bread, you should be friendly enough to break up the check...

Dan

Most restaurants use computerized POS systems that make splitting the check very simple. It's really not, typically, a big deal. Perhaps your server was stressed, new, or both...

You let the server know that you will need separate checks BEFORE you order. Nothing new there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Coming soon!
 

The waitstaff will be carrying a tablet that will send the order directly to the kitchen and POS! There is even a possibility you can order ahead of time on a web-enabled device and your food and drinks will be ready when you arrive! :D

I didn't mean to be harsh. You just brought me back to my college days as a waiter at a high-end Boston restaurant. Our waitstaff always lamented the folks who broke up checks. Those who did this were typically demanding and more often than not they were lousy tippers.

My position on splitting checks has nothing to do with being wealthy or not being wealthy. Rather, it has to do with averages. Sometimes splitting a check equally will help you and sometimes it will hurt you but at the end of the day, over the long run, it all equals out so why bother? The next time you go out to a restaurant have a drink, enjoy your meal and dinning partners and stop paying attention to who is ordering desert or an extra drink! I think you'll enjoy yourself more if you follow my advice. Give it a try and let me know.

I'm with you.

That deserves a ......."Denny Crane." You must be Alan Shore

Hey Denny, is Alan still afraid of clowns? :D

From what I understand he is only afraid of clowns when it is raining out and they are dancing on the trash cans.

When we go out with friends who drink more we just make up the difference when it comes time to write in the tip. Our friends will leave more of the required 20%. We don't burden the server with seperate checks.

Actually BroadHopper; the future has come on this one. I, thru baygo, introduced an Ipad system to my staff back in May that fits your futuristic vission. It baled me out big-time during a period of staffing challenges. I'll be tweaking it ove the winter to include some really neat features. In the mean time... seperate checks are easy to proccess.

I've designed the program to adapt to other restaurants and am working towards a freware model.

Axioms
 

I have worked (many years ago), and still eat in many restaurants of various types and price ranges. It is my considered opinion that the following two axioms apply to all restaurants, but more so as the average tab increases:

1) No matter how wrong, the customer is ALWAYS right.

2) The Golden Rule: He who has the gold, makes the rules.

For example. I'll put up with a lot from a restaurant that serves good food for $10 a person and go back regularly. However, if I'm being charged $30+ for a meal, they better not seat me next to the rest room or kitchen and my water glass better be kept full. --And anything else I can think of at the time. [For $50+ I demand tap-dancing waiters.]

As for Lavinia's...

My wife and I were in the neighborhood last year and stopped in slightly before opening. We were seated at the bar. Because we were time-constrained, we each ordered a salad (don't remember the particulars). The wait staff was attentive to our needs and the kitchen prepared two very excellent salads before opening (the croutons were exceptional and actually enhanced the salad for a change). Although priced toward the high end, the total package was well worth it and we will stop in again when in the area at dinner time.

Something for everyone
 

We stopped in Lavinias a few nights ago, arriving around 6pm. It was very quiet and wait staff was very friendly and attentive. Got the clam chowder and think it is one of the top three I've ever had, with a very nice smoked-bacon flavor. I followed that with the fish tacos and they were delicious! They are also the cheapest thing on the menu. They use blackened fish and have a LOT of flavor, and certainly not fishy. They are very spicy, so I'd recommend getting the hot spicy mayo on side and not on the taco so you can dip it to the level you can stand (did I say it was hot-spicy?:fire:). I will be getting those again. My wife had the salmon and really liked it. The somewhat high cost of the salmon averaged out the whole bill to make it overall a fair transaction, IMHO. I will be back. :liplick:

I was with a group of eight last night at Lavinia's (4 couples). We asked ahead of time for separate checks. My meal was fabulous! Tomato bisque soup, the scallops (served on sautéed spinach and onions) and smashed baby potatoes (very tasty). When the checks came they were accurate to the penny. We don't go out a lot but this meal was the best this season.

Another Positive Experience!
 

Just wanted to add to the pile of positive press that Lavinia's has earned itself. My wife and I headed out there last night for an early reservation for our anniversary. Prices were comparable, the restaurant was clean (and had a really neat layout!), and service was attentive but not overbearing.

The quality of food was great--we split the house salad, I got the Pork Ragout for a main dish and the wifey got the Belknap Burger. The Ragout had freshly made pasta and great flavors throughout and the burger (though cooked to my wife's medium well taste instead of my preference, medium rare) was juicy and very flavorful as were the fries. Dessert was pecan pie for me and the almond cake for her, both of which were great.

We had that and a drink apiece and it came to about a hundred including tip which I'd consider a pretty decent value for an upscale dining experience on the water. Cheers!

and another one!
 

we went Saturday evening about 7:30pm, it was packed, but found two seats at the bar and treated superbly by the bartender Kayliegh!!

The clam chowder was yummy, as previous posters have pointed out it has a nice smoked bacon flavor, but it wasn't overwhelming...

I had the duck, which was locally raised, very tender and great flavor...

My delightful date had the salmon, which was cooked perfectly (slightly rare), very moist and also great flavor.

The braised vegtables were very good, but I actually preferred the risotto that came with the salmon and managed to hijack most of it off my wife's plate :)

Kayliegh made a great martini and cosmo, and although she was busy pouring drinks for the rest of the restaurant, also made sure we were well taken care of.

We opted to share the 'Funny Bone' dessert... rich chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse and vanilla ice-cream... a nice way to end the evening!

eat on! -PIG

Tried the Tavern menu tonight. Short but perfect! $5 for two pulled pork carnitas...plus happy hour... Great deal and the food was great. Now there's a bunch if options for any budget without sacrificing quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Forgive me in advance if I'm wrong Blacksheep, but isn't your husband the chef at Lago's? If that is true it seems a little disingenuous that you seem to be promoting them and steering people away from Lavinia's as an impartial observer.

Nice Article on Lavinia's Chef in the Citizen Today
 

Here is a link to the Article. Nice to see Chef McGuff giving back to students who want to pursue a career as a chef / restaurant owner.

http://thecitizen.villagesoup.com/p/...aurant/1259073

Posting tonight on Lavinia's FB page advertising 'two drinks for $5 and $1.50 pork tacos. Can you beat the 15 taco challenge?' Omg what has happened to Lavina's? I know the winter can be tough, but this grand dam deserves more dignity that THIS. Sad to see this.

Lavinia's
 

I think it's a great angle for this time of year. The tacos just so your aware, are not your avg taco either. Slow braised shredded pork. Fantastic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lavinia's
 

Since when is it undignified to provide awesome value? We all know the restaurant biz is tough in the winter in the Lakes Region. I think it's smart business for Lavinia's to entice people into their restaurant who otherwise would never go.

don't look the gift horse in the mouth...
 

I say it's a great venue and a great deal... why question it... let's eat, drink, and be merry!!

nom nom nom -PIG

Once again,Blacksheep makes a dig at Lavinia's.......wonder if there might be a reason.
Hmmmmm

Blacksheep, did your husband used to work at Lavinia's when the food was incredibly "out of this world"??...And now working at Lago's??

It's no secret that my husband and I had a connection to Lavinia's - not a secret on this page, nor is it a secret to SAMIAM, who is also vested in her best interest, as he owns the building. However, if you read the entire thread you'll see that I've offered as much SUPPORT as I have criticism. Chef McGuff knows exactly who I am when, and if, he cares to read my posts. I am not alone in expressing that it seems that Lavinia's needs to figure out who she wants to be; fine dining, casual, pub-focused, or an all-you-can eat taco bar where you can also fill up on cheap drinks. She pops up on my FB feed from time to time - we still care about the restaurant and want to see it be successful, particularly b/c we know it can be done. I don't say anything here that I wouldn't say directly to Brandon if we were in the same room. Happy New Year.

I think their multi faceted approach to dining in general is genius. Nothing to figure out at all.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hate comments from people with agendas, known or unknown. If you don't like the way a restaurant is run, don't patronize it or, if you're feeling particularly disappointed, bring it up to management. To come on here, a public forum, just to criticize a choice a restaurant has made--nothing to do with the quality, etc. of the experience--under the guise of wanting to see it succeed is disingenuous. If, to continue offering a fine dining experience in summer, Lavinia's needs to simplify for winter, so be it. I'm seasonal, and really wouldn't spend the money to dine there in season, but things like this would get me to take a road trip to check on camp and drop in.

.
 

A little disclaimer letting us all know that your husband worked there and was either let go, or left on his own accord would have been nice...

Tried Lavinias
 

Finally got a chance to eat at Lavinia's last night. Sat in the tavern, which was fairly full with tight seating. Nice building, decent meal, but ordered burgers "medium" got well done. Kind of underwhelmed, but probably will try again and order something a bit more interesting.
I have had better burgers at chain restaurants such as Smokey Bones and Chilis..

Research
 

Before you go off on blacksheep, you should do your research. In post 25, she states she had an interest in Lavinia's at one time. If you do a little more research, it appears that SAMIAM is taking digs at blacksheep while complaining she is taking digs at Lavinia's. Since he owns the building which houses Lavinia's (something he never stated in this thread, but which blacksheep pointed out), he's the one with the current vested interest. Why is there a double-standard?

Throughout the thread, blacksheep has been very supportive of the current owner and chef. Let's not treat blacksheep like a blacksheep.

what ??
 

So it turns out that people with a vested interest in the success or failure of establishments are posting comments regarding the quality etc of this and I would assume other businesses . Unbelievable ! Not really , that's one of the problems you run into with open forums . This does bring into question the value of these reviews , the fix , both good and bad , is in.
Suggestion : if you have any interest cant you try to hold yourself back and not post your opinion about quality etc .