Jackie Chase
Google
The Worst Birthday Dinner Experience
I wish I could write a glowing review about my recent birthday dinner at Gulfstream, but unfortunately, the experience was nothing short of a disaster. For context, this was meant to be a special occasion—I’ve been celebrating my birthdays at Gulfstream for the past 15 years and have always had wonderful experiences. This year, however, was a major disappointment.
We had a 6 PM reservation that had been booked more than a month in advance. Given we were coming from LA, we proactively called at 3 PM to inquire about shifting the reservation to 6:30 PM due to potential traffic delays. We were reassured on the phone that it wouldn’t be a problem. Despite our best efforts, we arrived at 6:42 PM due to traffic, only to be told by the host, Tatum, that our table had been released. What followed was a lack of communication, professionalism, and an utter disregard for customer service.
We were directed to wait on the patio with a drink and were informed it would take 30-40 minutes for the next table to become available. Though disappointed, we agreed and tried to be patient. After 65 minutes passed, my daughter went inside to follow up about our table. Shockingly, we were told it would be an additional 25-35 minutes. At that point, we gave up and opted to take a spot at the bar, even though it was extremely loud and made it impossible to hold a conversation.
Roughly 15 minutes later, a high-top table in the bar area opened up. We approached the host stand once again to request the table, and this was nearly 90 minutes after we had originally arrived for our reservation. Eventually seated, we placed our order and settled in with the hope things would improve moving forward. Unfortunately, the service and considerations during the meal were just as disappointing.
I ordered the Seared Tuna Salad, while my husband had the Chopped Salad, along with drinks. When my husband didn’t finish his salad, he asked for a box to take it home, but instead, it was thrown out by mistake. To make matters worse, the manager on duty, Eric, stopped by our table with little more than a quick “sorry” for the unacceptable delays and poor experience. No solution, no real apology, no acknowledgment of how upsetting the evening had been for us.
By the time we finished our meal, we were offered dessert for my birthday. However, at that point, I couldn’t wait to leave. Instead, we went across the street to Rothschild’s, where we salvaged the evening with espresso martinis and dessert.
What stings the most is how Gulfstream has been a part of my birthday tradition for the past 15 years. During the pandemic, my family even supported the restaurant with takeout orders. To walk away feeling neglected, dismissed, and completely unappreciated as a loyal customer was heartbreaking. Needless to say, I will not be returning anytime soon.
If Gulfstream values its regular customers, they need to overhaul their reservation policies, improve internal communication, and train their staff on how to offer genuine hospitality. For a restaurant I once held in high regard, this experience was nothing short of unacceptable.