Lavinia's

[Greene's Basin Girl]

A group of us had dinner at Lavinia's on Sunday evening. Unfortunately it was not good. We were so very disappointed because the last time we were there it was great. We never received our bread until we were done with our meal. It wasn't that they forgot- they simply ran out. Three of us ordered the House Pasta and none of us liked it. It was overcooked and salty. My husband had duck. He said it was served lukewarm and the portion was small. We asked for three separate checks. We received three separate checks, but all three of them were the same check. They eventually found the other two checks. Maybe we should have waited until after Labor Day when the crowds subside. It is to bad because we live here year round. These restaurants have to survive on a great deal of local business in the off season. We will not return for a very long time and we live close by.

[Orion]

I've had my best dinner in the Lakes Region about a year or so ago at this restaurant and I've also had my worst a few months later. The best was during the week when they weren't too busy and the worst was a Friday night when they were busy. Yes, they ran out of bread on us on that busy night, too. So, bottom line, is they are not good at peak load, but are outstanding otherwise, IMHO.

[blacksheep]

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.

[Orion]

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.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

A group of us had dinner at Lavinia's on Sunday evening. Unfortunately it was not good. We were so very disappointed because the last time we were there it was great. We never received our bread until we were done with our meal. It wasn't that they forgot- they simply ran out. Three of us ordered the House Pasta and none of us liked it. It was overcooked and salty. My husband had duck. He said it was served lukewarm and the portion was small. We asked for three separate checks. We received three separate checks, but all three of them were the same check. They eventually found the other two checks. Maybe we should have waited until after Labor Day when the crowds subside. It is to bad because we live here year round. These restaurants have to survive on a great deal of local business in the off season. We will not return for a very long time and we live close by.

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

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

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!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

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.

[Happy Gourmand]

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.

[Chaselady]

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.

[VitaBene]

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)

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.

[ishoot308]

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

[blacksheep]

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...

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by blacksheep

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...

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!

[baygo]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

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!

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.

[Crusty]

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.

[Orion]

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?). 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.

[JTA]

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.

[polarisman14]

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!

[Pine Island Guy]

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

[Bumble2249]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

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!

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


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

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 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.

[Denny Crane]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

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

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Denny Crane

I'm with you.

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

Hey Denny, is Alan still afraid of clowns?

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Hey Denny, is Alan still afraid of clowns?

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

[4Fun]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

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.

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.