Fans of the VK
 

Over the years, we have really enjoyed the VK, and will be back more often after we get the vaccine, #1 next week.....we have been real sissies lately, but can’t wait to get back out there regularly. Their home cooked meals are very good, and the prime rib on Saturdays......excellent! ⭐️

Love the Village Kitchen! Great food, fair price, and a staff that makes every visit pleasant. During the past year many restaurants didn't survive and closed down. It is great that the VK continued on and survived. We hope to be able to go there for many more years.

Went to VK for the first time a week ago during the week. There weren't many people inside but they had a lot of take out. I had the steak tip dinner.[emoji106]Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

They taking plastic yet ?

No plastic. Cash only. There is an ATM there. Should not keep anyone from enjoying a great and affordable meal!

I always have cash on me, I'm old school.[emoji16]Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

It's funny the differences between generations—though I keep cash in a few places for easy access in emergencies, I never have it in my wallet. In fact, I sold my old snowblower this week and threw the cash in a piggy bank and ended up paying with a debit card for a few Valentine's Day cards at the Dollar Tree today. Weird.

In any case, I've used checks the (few) times I've been to VK. (That's weirder, I think, for my generation).

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How many times is this going to be discussed? VK is a very successful business. Obviously what he does works for him. Either bring cash or don't go. Simple. :)

in Phoenix some small proprietors are now accepting Venmo. I think if it comes from your debit card there is no fee on either side. I know in my case that is true. Might be an option for VK

Plastic
 

I am with you Tis, stop with credit card bs already! The thread is about the great place that the VK is, as well as their awesome staff, and dealing with the virus etc... Stop with the no credit card slant on the thread every time!!!! We all pretty much understand cash or checks, if you don't like it; eat somewhere else to get your points or whatever it is that you like about the plastic, Jesus Mary and Joseph, they made a business decision umpteen years ago and that's there prerogative! BTW the VK and their entire staff rock!!!

Exactly and it wouldn't be so bad if it hadn't been discussed umpteen times!!:laugh:

Does Jesus, Mary, and Joseph own VK? Holy prime rib! :eek:

Nope, these folks do

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f...f0204~mv2.webp

credit card BS; one more thought
 

When a credit card is used, the establishment pays a fee, not insignificant in such a tight profit business. And in my experience, it also comes out of the tip...you leave $10, the waitstaff gets nine dollars and change...PIA too. Not to mention the extra time and paperwork.

I always tip more on card, always—mostly because it's not real money.

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Hi Bob and Sammy!

cash
 

I hardly ever have cash on me. I'm old but new school!

Credit cards vs cash
 

JMHO: Credit card or cash at restaurants. Here's the choices:

If you want to go to a restaurant and it allows payment by credit or debit card, feel free to use either to pay for your meal, or you can of course pay cash.

If you want to go to a restaurant that does not allow credit or debit card payments, there are 3 choices: Go to the bank to get cash; go to an ATM to get cash (usually one on site); or go to a place that accepts plastic.

We've gone to the VK a few times (wrong side of the lake for us) and used the ATM there. We go to Pop's and get cash from TDBank or Pop's ATM. Ditto for any other business that is cash only. I do not expect any business to change their model for my benefit. It has worked for them for many years, it's working for them in current times, and most likely will continue to do so in the future.

Dave

No cash?
 

If you have no cash, how do you tip when there isn't a bill? Hotel bellman, valet parking, gas dock, piano man, etc.

Wifey and I had lunch at the VK today.

The food was great as was the service.

We'll go again soon.

I hope they took your VISA! 😂😂😂😂😂

VK is tops!
 

Had early dinner (4:45 pm) last Friday at VK. The broiled haddock special was worth the trip from Alton. Only 3 cars in the lot and 3 booths occupied. There were many takeout orders called in when I was there. Glad to see the takeout business is keeping them going. When I left 3 snowmobiles pulled in for dinner. Can't wait to go back.

Last Friday was very busy in Meredith because of the fishing derby so I'm surprised VK wasn't busy. We tried to get into the Mug and it was packed.Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Since COVID started I try very hard to not touch cash.
Cash is normally pretty filthy to begin with.
With COVID it’s just asking for trouble.

The few times I’ve used cash since COVID I said keep the change.
Gets expensive buying an ice cream cone when you only have a $20, but I did exactly that a few times last summer. Figured they could use it any way.

I find just the opposite. I always spend more on a credit card. Yes cash is filthy but I live on the edge.[emoji1787]Besides, you are more likely to contract covid through the air than from contact of contaminated surfaces. You may have paid $20 for a covid flavored ice cream. Sent from my SM-G950U using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Since this is a VK thread, I will not deviate. We have been loyal VK customers for over 20 years. It became a family "big deal" to have each of our grandkids visit the VK within 2 weeks of birth...just a "thing" we had to do. Crazy for sure, but....! We got there for all 6 grandkids who all still love the VK.

As far as VK is concerned, I really do not carry a lot of cash, as with today's prices of goods, it seems I would need a lot of it in my wallet. That said, we keep a cash supply for tips and almost always write a check at VK. No issues from them but also we make sure the tips are cash only.

So there is always a clear way to enjoy the VK and still not be tied to hard cash or credit cards. I like that they keep the prices as low as possible and not have to pass on credit card fees. Love the business model...it works well and I hope they continue it for a long time!!!

Venmo - I've done it a fair amount.

Valet parking? Bellman?! I think we live very different lives.

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And tipping Billy Joel? :eek:

No dinners at VK for this season....
 

OMG....just read on their web site that the Village Kitchen will STOP serving dinner this season and will only be open for breakfast and lunch--7am-2pm Tues. thru Saturday and 7-12 on Sunday with hopes to re-open for dinner in the fall. This is indeed very disturbing news. Apparently some staff is being relocated to the Red Hill Dari for the summer. SAMIAM.....what is going on???? HELP....we need the VK for dinner !!!

That's very sad. I assume it is because he can't get enough help?

Actually, if you go to the General Discussion Threads, and click on "Staffing Issues for Summer of 2021" you can read Post #6 that the Village Kitchen was debating on cutting hours due to staffing issues (posted by Samiam himself).

I really enjoy the Village Kitchen but do understand that if he doesn't cut his hours he will no longer have the staffing to provide value quality meals (and I think all of us want to see him stay in business and thrive).

It's a sad state of affairs when something like this happens, but the same staffing issues are affecting other restaurants over much of the Country (for various reasons such as too much unemployment assistance by the Government).

I predict in 2022 we will be complaining about inflation and how the prices of meals (as well as everything else) have become too expensive.

A twist on the typical dinner hour
 

That is very sad news. We love the VK and hope that there will be a turnaround. One idea I have is this: since lots of people, especially seniors, prefer having their main meal in the middle of the day, why not offer daily dinner specials then? Tuesday would be chicken parm, Wednesday turkey dinner, Thursday something else terrific, fish on Friday, etc. Maybe smaller portions. Just putting this out there FWIW. This might be a welcome change for many who avoid night driving.
Good luck, Samiam!
Sue

Same can be said for Patrick’s Pub and O’s. They no longer are open for lunch during the week


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Time to buy stock in outdoor grill companies. :D

Time to hit the Market Basket in Plymouth which has a dining room area, up front, where you can eat their yummy prepared food at a very clean and quiet cafeteria style table or counter WITHOUT having to tip anyone. Is open from 6am-8pm Mon-Sat, and 6am-7pm on Sunday.

Just watch out for some young attractive woman, about age-25 with dark hair, accompanied by a guy back at their table, trying to get you to give her change for what had to be a phony hundred dollar bill. She goes ..... excuse me .... any chance you can change this hundred dollar bill for me? ...... I go ..... that CANNOT be a real hundred dollar bill! ...... she giggles and fast walks away? ..... is better to be safe than sorry. It was actually too large in size, length x width, to be real. .... and too brite green. Was a strange experience, there, on May 5 or 6 at about 7:30-pm. ..... I scratch my head ..... was she just kidding or what? ..... :eek2: .... So, I figure the best thing to do is just to forget about it, at the time.

Something that would not happen at the VK in Moultonborough, and was a little surprised by that, after all this is Plymouth New Hampshire, and not Plymouth, Massachusetts.

my favorite Lakes region meal the grilled haddock on Friday night is no more. very sad

I think you're put your finger on the two key issues:

No doubt Washington has not helped--both parties responsible here, with Trump banning immigrants and Biden sending cash relief.

But closer to home--the "value" and "become too expensive" you mention. I would guess the local issue is that the VK's insanely good prices make it difficult to draw staff that can get paid higher tips at other restaurants. Higher prices might solve the staffing issue, but would folks pay them at the VK?

Actually, waitstaff is not the problem. They do really well in spite of the lower prices people have been incredibly generous during the pandemic.
It's kitchen help that are in short supply. Can't really blame someone for collecting $600 weekly on unemployment as opposed to working in a hot kitchen for $600.
We hate to cut back our hours but just can't put that burden on our regular staff.....hoping to get back open in the fall when the enhanced unemployment benefits run out.

Understood--see my posts on kitchen staff compensation in the Summer 2021 labor thread.

I also recognize it's a lot easier opining as an armchair quarterback than actually running the game while 11 guys are trying to pummel you. I admire what you're doing, and I'll be in for breakfast and lunch. Stay strong!

Kitchen help pay inequity???
 

The Zuni Cafe, San Francisco, is going to eliminate tipping and add 20% to the bill and decrease the income-gap between wait staff and kitchen help.

I don't know...An only in San Fran thing? And they had to instill racism in the debate!

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/...e-16148343.php

This is what Danny Meyer (one of the country's most successful restauranteurs) tried in the Times article I posted on the Summer labor thread. It failed.

Tips
 

Don't a good number of restaurants require the waiters to give a percentage of their tips to a pool that is distributed to the rest of the staff ? After all the tip isent given just to take the order and place the food in front of the customer,it is also for the quality,speed of service and presentation which are all back room activities.
The European method of compensation seems much better

We just returned from M.D. brunch at V.K. Eggs Benedict....best ever. We were greeted by 2 very personable members of the waitstaff, who explained the dinner closing for the summer. They assured us that there would be turkey dinner on the noon menu on Wed., as well as the haddock on Fri., for those who have been fretting. Since the problem seems to be getting kitchen help, as opposed to waitstaff, my husband suggested (to me) having a tip jar just for kitchen staff...he thinks the patrons would step up and be supportive. Whaddaya think?

The answer is YES. I have enjoyed many that provide a tip jar for the Kitchen help, and the Wait staff puts a percentage of their tips in as well. I'd hope that this would help any Restaurant here.

In many respects, it would be much simpler to do away with tipping and merely raising the prices to assure proper wages for waitstaff and kitchen help.

New World, as we new it
 

Although at a young age of 8, before child age laws came about, I washed dishes at a Greyhound Bus Terminal Restaurant and later at the Reporter Restaurant in down town Santa Barbara California after school.

What ever worked for them worked for me at the time, and hopefully as things change, Restaurants will too. Today I believe in a living wage for all.

SAMIAM..... As we approach the end of summer, you had indicated earlier (See above) that there might be a chance for the VK to get back to regular hours in the fall. What are the plans going forward? A lot of us really miss dinner at the VK. Any chance that some dinner hour dining might be reinstated....even if it is for a few nights a week (Thurs., Fri., Sat )????? Have really missed dinners !

Thanks for thinking of us tummyman
Staffing problems haven't gone away yet but we're thinking that once summer is over we can try to get open(as you suggest)maybe 3 nights to start and possibly back to our old schedule later in the year.
Things seem to change almost daily since Covid came along so we just try to adjust with the times

New Dinner Hours
 

Great news !!!!!!! From the Village Kitchen web site:

BEGINNING OCTOBER 13TH, 2021 WE WILL BE OPEN FOR DINNER WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY @ 4PM.
Our hours will be:

Sunday: (Breakfast only)
7am - 1pm

Closed Monday

Tuesday: 7AM- 2PM (Breakfast and Lunch Only)
NO DINNER TUESDAY
​
Wednesday - Saturday
7AM - 8PM
Dinner Starts at 4pm
​

Great news!
 

We are all set to enjoy good old home cooking at the VK, followed by game nights at someone’s house. Fun times…

VK Hours
 

We'd planned to reopen wed through sat nights again but staffing is still difficult so we had to drop wednesday
Next week we will be serving thursday, friday and saturday nights with turkey dinner and chicken parm for thursday specials

Samiam; Thanks for the update, and thank you for your efforts to get your business back to the "new normal". You and your staff deserve a Big Thank You.

I agree…we are looking forward to our flight from my cooking. Thank you!

Since moving to Florida, the VK is most definitely one of the local restaurants I miss the most.

Back & Oh So Good!
 

My wife and I ate at the VK Friday evening, Steak Tips for me, wife had haddock, both delicious; Saturday am usual omelets and Saturday evening the large prime rib for me, my wife had the salmon, each meal was exceptional and the lg Prime Rib worth every penny!

We continue to love the VK, although, I think my wife's been pulling my leg about our stove not working!

Samiam, we're thrilled you and the team are back!

We had our delightful meal on opening night. Fabulous as always. Really missed Seth and the kitchen gang. Hope this is a new trend of opening, as the summer without VK was a killer. Thanks SAMIAM, and also to all the fabulous crew at VK !!!!!