I want to start by making it clear that my low rating is entirely related to the rudeness of the restaurant management towards another customer. But first my review.
This was my first time to deadrise. The restaurant location is on the second floor of a nondescript Building at Fort monroe. If you're looking for a place with "character", this is it. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and though we chose to sit indoors, the outdoor view was spectacular, overlooking the marina.
They had a number of specials posted on a chalk board, and though they specialize in seafood, my wife got the deadrise hamburger. I wanted the blackened Cobia, they were out, so I got the blackened Mahi-Mahi. Though it took a bit longer than normal for our meals, both were hot and flavorful when they came out. The Mahi-mahi in particular had lots of black beans and rice on one side and green beans and carrots on the other but I did not taste any blackening seasoning. It just tasted grilled. Even so, it was tasty. My wife thought the hamburger was a bit undercooked - she asked for it to be cooked medium - but she said it was good and juicy.
If my review stopped there, I probably give them four stars. However there was more. Sitting at the table next to us was two older gentleman who were enjoying the long leisurely meal the whole time we were there. At some point, while we were eating, we overheard one of the two gentlemen tell the waitress she had failed to give him his credit card back. There in ensued a calm 10 to 15 minute back and forth discussion between them and the waitress, with both looking for the card and not finding it. The gentleman got up and looked all around the table and in his wallet. Both remained calm and polite, but the waitress finally started saying there was nothing else she could do. We watched as the older gentleman got up and asked to speak to a manager. One of the waitresses pointed at a person who was at the drink station which was right on the other side of our table. He walked over to speak with her. She immediately seemed agitated and defensive. I was pretty surprised at her reaction since the customer was so calm about it.
I didnt see what happened next, but when we received our bill a few minutes later, I noticed that the holder that they bring your bill in had a slot for your credit card. But the slot in their folder did not have a bottom to it. When I put my card in the slot, it disappeared down inside the holder. It occurred to me that the same thing may have happened to the older gentleman's card. I got up and went over to share that information with the Manager. She was immediately defensive which surprised me. I explained that I was just an onlooker and was trying to help. As we spoke, another waitress walked up and pointedly told me that they had looked through all the holders three times. I explained that I had actually watched them look for it. They just opened and closed each holder. I repeated my observation that the holder's slots did not have bottoms in them, and that the card could be pushed down inside it. Just opening the holder might not be enough. At this point, I told the manager that she seemed a bit rude when she spoke to the older gentleman. She said the man had gotten in her face and she didn't appreciate that. Now the older gentleman and his friend had been sitting at the table on one side of us. The drink station was directly on the other side of us. Both locations were within 5 ft of our table. We could easily see that he had NOT gotten in her face or had been anything but polite to her. I finally told her I was just trying to help by suggesting where the card might be and then we left.
Its ironic that our waitress was so nice but her boss was so rude.
Though I liked the Deadrise and love the rustic location, unfortunately I will not be back, entirely because of their management. read more