Rich S.
Google
Uppity and genuinely unpleasant experience. We were asked to have a guest remove his hat right off the bat—absurd for a restaurant that isn’t nearly good enough to justify any dress code, but just to set the tone...
Service was among the worst I’ve experienced. Four people ordered drinks and we all asked for water; two glasses arrived, just 2. After asking twice more, it still took over 20 minutes to get the remaining two glasses. They were refilled where convenient, once, empty rest of the night, and the size of a Dixie cup. Drink orders: one arrived after apps, drink order 2 sat at the bar for roughly 15 minutes without delivery. When we attempted to retrieve them ourselves as we could see them at the bar, we were told we couldn’t take them. Only after the manager intervened did the drinks finally arrive.
From the start of her poor efforts, the server was clearly trying to rush / turn the table. Several of us have years of restaurant experience, and the lack of attentiveness and basic hospitality was obvious and entirely off-putting. If she was inexperienced, she shouldn’t have been at this place. If she was experienced, that’s worse—there was zero tact and less customer awareness or attentiveness. The attitude felt performative, as if “Bal Harbour snootiness” was part of the role. It didn’t land.
Management was good, and the young men did attempt damage control, effectively but a bit too late, which is the only positive note. The compped drinks didn’t redeem the experience: the dirty martini arrived without olive juice; when requested it to be corrected, a weak side of olive juice was brought instead. Make it right maybe??
I wouldn’t return under any circumstances. Beyond the restaurant, the general vibe of the area was cold and judgmental—people there were more interested in posturing, wearing all black, gray or white, looking down their nose at passers by
..so weird to see a culture of that other than being out enjoying themselves. Money without warmth is just gross noise, no where on the area exuded such stark judgy nonsensical and patently uncool atmosphere. This place, and the surrounding scene, left no impression other than superficial and joyless. Hard pass. These Bal Harbor people have found a way to collectively put off a vibe that just sucks. Food was fine, actually sushi was way better than expected, and French dip was amazing. Lots to work on otherwise, but had to add that...