Ria H.
Yelp
If you don't mind being completely ignored after your food is delivered this is the place for you!
Full disclosure, the food is Amazing! If I wanted food from here again I would order dinner TO GO! The service, or at least our server, sucks (shorter arrogant red-headed guy) along with the "protect my guy" manager we encountered. Full details below!
Husband & I were traveling, decided to check out St Augustine, asked several local people where would they eat. More than 2 mentioned Harry's. So we went. When we arrived our server (youngish brunette female) immediately got our drink order & waters. When she returned with our drinks she explained it was "shift change" & we were being handed off to another server (I've worked in F&B this is lazy hostessing/management, don't seat people in a section where the server's shift is ending (especially when you have at least 3 hostesses who could track this) then no 'handoff' issues).
Not a problem, the 2nd server showed up (short red-headed guy mildly arrogant but not bad so far) took our food order & left. Delivered our food after a while (not an issue) & this is when things started getting weird. We placed an order for dinner drinks, me wine to go with my steak medallions, my husband a refill on his Old Fashioned. Server runs off with that order, comes immediately back & asks my husband about Bourbon preferences. After an explanation from the server he chooses what sounds like the one he would like & commenting on how good the first one tasted. The server runs off again, only to return to tell my husband he picked the wrong Bourbon as his previous one was made with the "other" less appealing sounding choice. To which we respond, ok make it with that one then. Again the server states but, it's not the one you think you'll like. I say "Well make it with that, he enjoyed it before."
In anticipation of imminent drinks we sat & chatted allowing our food to chill a bit. Finally we started eating. I delayed eating my steak hoping he would appear with the wine.
Finally, after our plates were cleaned, all our glasses emptied, my husband went out to see if he could find our server, he immediately returned, stating that what looked like our drinks were sitting on the bar.
We sat & waited for a bit longer & finally we got the attention of another server. We told her what had occurred & asked if our server was ok, had something happened to him. She offered to get the manager.
My husband left for the restroom & some guy comes walking towards the table with wine & a cocktail in his hands. After repeated no & no thank you, we're tired of waiting, no thank you we finished our dinner already, he says "Whst you don't want these now?" While once again attempting to deposit them on the table. He finally got it when the no became a NO, we just want our check! Off he toddles with drinks in hand.
My husband returned & once again the guy who had attempted to deliver the drinks walks up. Now he tells us he's one of the managers. Also this was just a mix up as there was a shift change. We explained, we were aware & both servers had discussed this. We then explained the rest, along with the disappearance of our server, our concern for his health/wellbeing or whatever emergency must have kept him from returning. When we were assured nothing had happened, we then added how no one had offered bread service, water refills or so much as a boo or go to hell, since our food was delivered. We also shared that the food was amazing, it was the service that sucked!
We were reassured they would investigate & figure out what went wrong so it never happens again (we're passing through & really don't care our dinner was ruined). At my puzzled frown he suddenly added "Oh & we'll take off your previous drinks."
Seriously? So glad this wasn't an event, a birthday, anniversary or special occasion but, no worries. If we ever find ourselves wanting food from this establishment, we'll order To Go, eat at the hotel bar & get our drinks there too. Poor front end manager, excellent kitchen. Amazing chef & remember our food was almost cold by the time we started eating waiting on our drinks to come. Can't imagine the bliss it would have been HOT!