Nadia our waitress in the bar for the 90 minute wait was fantastic. Made us feel like the time was sliding by without a care. Cocktails were delicous and the wines by the glass seemed reasonable for the venue. \r
\r
Paula at our table was gracious and playful and we watched her handle each of her tables differently, giving each the service the customers seemed to need. Great reads. Her recommendations were excellent and she didn't try to oversell us.\r
\r
The stone crabs are incredible and worth trying at least once in your life (or thirty times in a month if you can get it). Sweet, meaty and served with such a rich and tangy mustard sauce I actually had almost all the drawn butter they gave me left at the end of the meal (it just wasn't as good as their sauce or the crab with nothing at all).\r
\r
Sides of sweet potato fries and creamed spinach studded with roasted garlic gilded the the lilly nicely on this vacation treat dinner and the key lime pie we didn't have room for in the restaurant is worth the togo bag. I'm not sure the hotel staff could have found a crumb left the next morning.\r
\r
But...and this 'but' really pissed me off...That maitre'd must have pocketed at least over a thousand in cold hard cash while we were there waiting an hour and a half for a table as he ran a "two-lines" system. Grease the palm and your name moves up the official waiting list to the 'preferred' waiting list. Watched it happen at least a half dozen times myself. Some he knew so well they tipped him on the way out. I call shenanigans. You're an institution and will have crowds flocking. Don't pull that wink, nudge we'll put your name down crap with me and expect me to feel gracious that you found a table for little old me.
more