Elizabeth G
Google
My experience was far from what you'd expect from a restaurant in this area.
From the start, the service was chaotic and disorganized. It was clear the place was understaffed, and the server seemed unsure about the menu. Couldn't answer simple questions about 3 dishes we wanted some details on. We ordered mussels and a bread basket of ciabatta, but the bread arrived a full 15 minutes before the mussels. Had to request the bread be warmed after mussels got there. There was no flow or coordination, and the delays kept stacking up.When our entrées finally arrived, it took the server ages to check back in with us. I ordered the octopus, which was overcooked, dry, and tasted like it had been sitting under heat lamps far too long. When I mentioned the issue and asked to see a menu to order something else, the chef came over — not to help, but to argue. He defensively said, "I sold 20 of these plates tonight and no one complained." (Mind you, the restaurant was barely half full on a Saturday night.) Not only was the response dismissive, but it completely missed the mark in terms of hospitality.I requested to replace it with the grilled watermelon salad and asked for shrimp on top. Before I could clarify that I wanted the shrimp blackened, the chef cut me off and walked away. What came out was oily, poorly pan-seared shrimp that clearly hadn’t been cooked with care.
My guest had the lobster ravioli and described it as just average — nothing special and definitely not memorable.
Overall, this was an unprofessional and uncomfortable dining experience. The food was underwhelming, the staff was not attentive, and the chef’s attitude was surprisingly combative. With so many great options in Brickell, I would not return or recommend Ahu Mar.