Beach Watch

07/22/2008 Posted by BeachBen

The wedding did happen as scheduled in a part of the restaurant with our utmost care of keeping the area privately. The bride did not ask for permission for a commercial photographer and he was not introduced. as there are other customers being served. The outside bar was not demanded or agreed, another bartender was not paid for. All events get a sheet to be filled out and signed. This is the contract with all major issues covered. The wedding took place close to six hours and at nine was no push as the restaurant is open on weekends till 10 p.m. Only two couples as regulars at the bar paid 3 times more than head count from the wedding. Any personal insult I would be useless I refuse. I designed and opened this restaurant after many others and oversee the scene to have everything in place and functional and not to jump in for some unpatient customers. So far the guests of the wedding were very pleased about the party as they told personally and did not share the frustration of the bride. We wish her the best in her marriage and life. To radislandboy: Yes, there is a place down the beach as Grill this gentleman may belong to. The Sunday Brunch was enjoyed from more than 4,000 people during the high season and still we have calls for it. To cupcake: They refused to pay anything, not the food they eat not the drinks they had. The Tuna is offered in the menu as grilled and this is what was served. They were offered a dessert on the house, a discount of $ 7 but refused any payment. To rascal555: The opinions about gourmet are certainly different in public. This place strives for middle class but some kind of perfection. Colors are gold, dark blue and windows with ocean, beach, umbrellas, bikinis, surfers, sky, sun and everything. A review saying food was horrid... is not very perfect, it is just useless. To you and other useless reviews: Be sure this place will enjoy many people (95,000 last year) for the rest of 19 years. Who can do better, proof it!

05/09/2008 Posted by ThanhHa106

So, about that wedding on April 26th...a few things went wrong but the main thing was the male host/owner. If you hate people that much, why would you want to own a restaurant on the beach with a beautiful view where people want to come hang and enjoy themselves? This place has so much potential, but he is ruining it with his bad attitude and unfriendly demeanor. Now, the only reason I even gave this place 2 stars is because the lemon chicken was quite good. The herb crusted mahi was good but needed a little more flavor or salt (they didn't put salt shakers on the tables). The female owner was pretty nice and helpful. She may not come off as the most friendly person, but I think she tries. She just needs to honor what was agreed, but that taught me to always get a contract from now on. I wish the bar would have been on the back patio where it was supposed to be because that's where the party was happening. It ruined the wedding a little bit because people kept hanging in the front. Also the bar on the patio looked run down and dirty. Maybe that's why they didn't want to use it, but they should have made it look nice and set a side bar back there. They just didn't want to hire another bartender. That male owner is useless. He just walks around with no smile picking on people. I don't recommend anyone having their special day here until the owners and that one mean waitress fix their attitudes. It's such a beautiful setting, but you don't feel that welcome to be there. It's such a shame. My husband and I want to go back there for our 1st anniversary, but not if it's still under same ownership. Message to the owners: please change your attitudes or sell the place to someone else who can make it a happy scene.

Pros: Beautiful view of the ocean, food is pretty good.

Cons: Attitude of male owner and one older waitress...she's rude.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

05/08/2008 Posted by ThanhHa1106

I had my wedding there April 26th. The ceremony was beautiful and so is the scene from the back patio, but this place can use many, many improvements. First off, I had asked for a contract 3 times from the female owner and never received one. I let it go trusting things will go as discussed. It was a BIG mistake not getting a contract. The bar was supposed to be on the back patio where the party was. Instead it was far in the front of the restaurant where guests had to walk back & forth. After awhile people just hung out in front away from the party and dancing because of the bar. They only hired one bartender for 90 guests and for people still dining in the restaurant. Some diners were ordering drinks off of our tab! The bartender was also slow as can be. Also, initially I discussed open bar with the owner and she said it was for 3 hours then last minute she changed it to 2 hours. After our ceremony, the waitress got a drink for my husband and I and later gave us a bill for $80! No explanation, we paid it just so we could have a good time and not argue. It was also agreed that the party would end at 10pm. By 9pm, they were pushing us out the door but we kept dancing. The waitress yelled at my friend to "FINISH YOUR DRINK NOW!" while I (the bride) was standing right next to him! The worst part is the male host/owner. When I walked in there in my wedding dress, he just looked at me, no hello or smile. It was uncomfortable. He was also harassing my photographer most of the time to not take photos or he would call the cops. This IS a wedding, he's supposed to take photos. He was rude to some of my guests I later heard. Some gave him compliments on the view and he just gave them a snide look. He acts as if he doesn't want you there. He doesn't help the restaurant either, the bartender needed help serving 90 guests. As an owner I would jump behind the bar to help, but all he does is walk around and looks mean and intimidating. Some of my friends were scared of him......

Pros: View is beautiful,especially for a wedding,food was pretty good.

Cons: Male host/owner is not friendly at all,rude waitress,female owner not honoring agreement made for wedding.

02/29/2008 Posted by cupcake66

I wish I would have read these other reviews before I went here. My first clue should have been an empty restaurant on a Friday night. My husband and I ordered our dinners, Mahi & seafood platter. For being an empty restaurant it took an extremely long time to get our meals. Mahi was so/so, but edible. Seafood Platter - Fried (2 shrimp, 2 scallops, 2 small pieces of fish), fries and scant amount of vegetables ($26). My husband took a bite of something that resembled an egg roll ,supposed to be fish, was sickened by the taste/texture and asked the waiter what kind of fish it was. Waiter took to kitchen, returned & said it was tuna and should not have been fried but seared & offered a "piece of dessert on the house" as a consolation. We declined dessert & the bill was brought. My husband had not finished his dinner and they already disposed of it. When the bill was given to us they charged us for the full meal. My husband attempted to speak to the RUDE owner who shrugged it off and refused to discount our bill in any manner. After a few minutes of banter back and forth with the Owners, and their threats to take us to court, they called the police because we weren't going to pay for something we didn't get. We were treated like criminals by the owners, the female owner basically barracaded the door so we couldn't leave. Police arrived, we told our side, they told theres and they ended up taking a whopping $5 off of our ($60+) bill and wanted trespass warnings issued to us (which police refused to do). The owner had also told us that they would accept cash only from us as we would dispute our credit card payment. They were told to accept the credit card by the police and if we wanted to dispute we were entitled to do so. She then asked me to sign and "agreement" that I settled the matter and I refused to do so. These people should NOT be in the hospitality business, cold ruthless TRASH. Should've went for the 29 cent McDonald's hamburger specials today!

Pros: Nice View

Cons: Everything else.

02/24/2008 Posted by radislandboy

It could have been so much better. Yes, the view IS wonderful...BUT that is it. Unfortunately, we went for the high-season Sunday brunch, so we were not able to have a choice of what we ate (not that it would be any better). The shrimp was unpeelable, roast beef was tough and chewy, and the fruit bowl was lacking. We were really disappointed. For $22 per person we did not want to sit in a cafeteria. It is unfortunate that a place with such a great location is unable to deliver on its potential. They have had plenty of time to work out the kinks. Our recommendation would be the Dania Beach Bar down the parking lot. We will not be going back. We wish we had read the reviews prior to going so we could have saved $100.

Pros: View

Cons: Everything else

01/13/2008 Posted by marikotoyono

I have lived in Dania for years. I think all Danians were very excited about a nice restaurant opening on the pier. Rumors flew for years about what it would be like and we finally saw the opening last January. I didn't try it until the summer, thinking that any new place would have a few a"bugs" to work out. I am now a regular and plan to work my way through everything on the menu. My favorite appetizers are the crab cakes (fresh and crabby), the spinach and artichoke dip, and the conch fritters which are just full of conch (they are just like the ones you get in the Bahamas, but the service is much better). They even have pizza! The Jamaican style chicken pizza is an absolute must for those that like it spicy. Their salad is not just any boring salad; it is loaded with baby greens and sweet grape tomatos and topped with an amazing dressing. Nothing here is from a bottle. My favorite dinner is the seafood fradiavlo just brimming with mussels, clams, fish, and calamari - made mild of spicy. Yum. Sit at the bar, the company is always fun and animated. I'll see you there!

Pros: Great views, VERY reasonable prices, friendly staff.

Cons: Although very clean it seems a little austere

12/13/2007 Posted by bigboy10

Well, we always check into the search engines and found this place with its "reviews" which made us very curious. Funny reading overprized, will not last longer as a year and even suggestions to coloring or pricing! We compared and did find a very well guarded and operated place with friendly prompt greeting and seating, attentitive and nice service people and extra fresh and very tasty food. A very awsome experience hardly expected. The place is in prime location and you can sit on the east terace over the ocean with the waves underneath, or you sit inside for a/c on one of all tables with window watching the beach crowed, bikinis, surfers and windsurfers. You can go there any day and any weather. It is just a mile from the A1A at the beach of Dania Beach on the fishing pier. Have a walk after your meal and enjoy a exceptional day off. The fish is mostly fresh catched out of the Ocean which is unbeatable and there are no other places like this in Florida. The chef/owner talked with us asking if we enjoyed everything and we will be there to christmas and New Years Eve, which offers for only $79 life music, 5 course dinner including oysters, lobster and Sushi, half bottle wine and champange toast. The place is for romantic dinner for two, just for hanging out watching the people or the waves, for weddings at the beach and rehersal in the restaurant, for anniversaries and any occasion. For regular visit you don't need to dress up as the place is casual but you need to have shoes and shirt. I can not understand the negative comments on this site but there are some employees or enemies trying to fail the restaurant rather than supporting such a unique and favorable establishment. All who read these comments please don't hesitate to give it a try you will not be disappointed at all. We have chosen it as our favorite restaurant and whenever we have the time we will be there to enjoy the genious building and built out as well as the effort of the friendly/ focused staff.

Pros: Thumbs up for exceptional experience

Cons: Dumb negative reviews not true

09/03/2007 Posted by rascal555

The view is the only only plus to this over-rated place. They're pricier then they need to be and the only ambiance is the ocean. Inside the colors are drab & tasteless...almost like a warehouse not yet finished. The food was horrid...it was a tasteless array of badly combined mix of flavors. The service was way too long for a practically empty place. We waited 30 minutes to get our food served. Then the server brought the wrong food & we had to wait all over again. My prediction...this place won't last another year. If it does, it can only do so by coming down on the prices & getting some real servers that know what they are doing. My advise to this restaurant...forget trying to look gourmet, just start serving some great food at a family price. And liven the place up with some vibrant colors & perhaps some music. Can you imagine this...our visit was during a holiday weekend at dinner time time...on a Saturday night...and very few patrons filled this restaurant...maybe it was an off night...I sense it was not. We will not be returning.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

08/29/2007 Posted by lwrose

We are fortunate to have this new restaurant.. Set out on Dania Beach Pier.... the view is exquisite. The menu offers plenty of choices from moderate to more expensive. Mahi Mahi or other fish sandwiches are delicious, as are the salads and individual pizzas. Delicious full dinners and sides are also available. The waitstaff personnel are pleasant and helpful. The facilities are extremely clean, and simply decorated with the all important view in mind. Best time to go is before dark. Tell your friends.....the restaurant is an asset to the community....we want to see it succeed! Don't be put off by reviews written during the early growing pains.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/30/2007 Posted by mac6556

It has a beautiful view!!! The employees acted like they didn't even want to be there and it was just a chore to serve us. We did not feel welcome at all. Food very OVER PRICED. We ordered Macadmian crusted mahi mahi - sounded good but could not eat it. Did not taste good at all. Not a lot of items on the menu to choose from. We tried it and wont' be back. Like I said, a beautiful view. Restaurant was very empty for a saturday evening. one of our drinks actually had a piece of chipped paint in it. Not good at all.

Pros: parking was good

Cons: food overpriced

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful