Thao Vu
Google
My husband and I chose to dine at Ophelia’s while on vacation in Sarasota to celebrate a special occasion. Based on numerous positive reviews on Google and Yelp, we expected an exceptional dining experience at what is widely regarded as the best romantic restaurant in the area.
Given the restaurant’s reputation and price point, we had high expectations for both the food and service. While I acknowledge that I did not make a reservation, which resulted in us being seated at the bar rather than in the main dining area, the ambiance was still beautiful and romantic, with lovely views of the water.
For our meal, my husband ordered the lobster bisque and lobster risotto, while I opted for the jumbo lump crab cakes and Ophelia’s paella. The food was outstanding—each dish was well-prepared, and my personal favorite was the crab cakes. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his selections and finished both dishes.
Unfortunately, while the food met our expectations, the service did not. Our server, whose name we were never given, forgot our appetizers, resulting in the crab cakes and lobster bisque sitting out before being brought to us. We had barely taken two bites when she returned to inform us that our entrées had also arrived. She offered to take them back to keep them warm, but at that point, I was already frustrated and chose to keep them at the table.
Additionally, our drinks were not refilled until we specifically requested it, and even then, it was the manager—not our server—who assisted us. In fact, the manager provided better service than our assigned server. After our entrées were served, our server was completely absent. I eventually had to approach the hostess stand to request our check, at which point the manager stepped in once again to assist. However, even after we promptly placed our card with the check, our server continued to prioritize other tables, bar patrons, and a specific table behind us while we waited unnecessarily.
For a dining experience that exceeded $200, the level of service was unacceptable—far below the standard we would expect from a highly-rated fine dining establishment. Given the glowing reviews, I was truly shocked by our experience. While the food was excellent, the poor service significantly diminished what should have been a memorable evening.