Old Florida Fish House Restaurant

**beachgrl** · 04-19-2009, 01:26 PM

We ate at the Old Fla. Fish House last night....Sat. April18,2009. We had read reviews in Southern Living and some of our party had been there before. I asked for a lite salad dressing or low fat...something I would think most restaurants today would offer....Our waiter was SO rude to me...you would have thought I was at McDonald's and had asked for fresh fish....I wish I could recall his name..but he had a huge bandage on his neck....Our food was fair....the service...rude.....the bill ....ridiculously expensive for the food and the whole experience...not pleasant...mainly because of the initial reaction by the waiter....they can really set the tone for the dinner...I will take The Red Bar and or Cafe 30A any day over this place.....OVERRATED!!!!!!!!!! Train your waiters...most people think healthy when eating today or at least as healthy as possible...We left the appropriate tip but I have to say it was not done because we wanted to do it....YUCK.....

**cabythesea** · 04-19-2009, 03:05 PM

Too bad you found out what a lot of already knew...

**scooterbug44** · 04-19-2009, 04:01 PM

Sadly, they've really gone downhill. It used to be a great place to go out and meet people for food, dancing, & drinks.

The bands are still good and the sushi is a smart way to get food w/o playing kitchen roulette, but for "dining" there are much better options. The service level (or lack thereof) is freaking ridiculous!

**SWGB** · 04-19-2009, 04:16 PM

Here's a little secret about Southern Living, those reviews are never bad and usually the staff has been treated with lavish off menu items and expensive wines. Not once has the staff from Southern Living ever paid for a thing at Captain Anderson's and they, surprise surprise, get named restaurant of the year continuously.

OFFH is only good for Sushi and drinks. The actual menu itself is usually only enjoyed by people who consider Red Lobster quality food. Sad to say, but that restaurant could be so much more.

**beachgrl** · 04-19-2009, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by SWGB

Here's a little secret about Southern Living, those reviews are never bad and usually the staff has been treated with lavish off menu items and expensive wines. Not once has the staff from Southern Living ever paid for a thing at Captain Anderson's and they, surprise surprise, get named restaurant of the year continuously.

OFFH is only good for Sushi and drinks. The actual menu itself is usually only enjoyed by people who consider Red Lobster quality food. Sad to say, but that restaurant could be so much more.

True...should have thought of that...recently went to an "Art Gallery" in Waverly, Al. as rec. by S. Living and it was NOTHING like they presented it....a total waste of our time......good thought on that....Thanks....

**TreeFrog** · 04-19-2009, 06:37 PM

Remember folks, "Search" is your friend. Sad to say, OFFH has lots of negative reviews on other SoWal threads. I don't go there anymore, except for sushi.

**Angelrlc** · 04-19-2009, 08:33 PM

Well, Im sorry you had a bad experience at the Fish House. This is honestly the place that I feel the most comfortable going because of how friendly the staff is to people that I have seen (at least once a week for the past four years). Everybody has a bad day and perhaps that was the servers day. The sushi is awesome and so are the musicians!

I normally go for sushi, however their grouper I had the other week for enjoyed by several people.

I have eaten at most of the restaurants on 30A and the majority has been great!

We are going to try lunch at the new restaurant at former Yanni's called Cafe Bouchee..looking forward to trying something new!

**SWGB** · 04-19-2009, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by TreeFrog

Remember folks, "Search" is your friend. Sad to say, OFFH has lots of negative reviews on other SoWal threads. I don't go there anymore, except for sushi.

It's not just sowal, there's some pretty scathing reviews on other sites as well.

**ray** · 04-19-2009, 11:06 PM

tried the fla fish house 2 months ago with there 2-1 deals and me and the family thought the food was good. Now take it there were only 4-6 tables full so the service was good.without the 2-1 deals its way too expensive

**CampCreekLou** · 04-20-2009, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

Sadly, they've really gone downhill. It used to be a great place to go out and meet people for food, dancing, & drinks.

The bands are still good and the sushi is a smart way to get food w/o playing kitchen roulette, but for "dining" there are much better options. The service level (or lack thereof) is freaking ridiculous!

Completely concur. Service, food, prices. All poor. What happened?

We were there last December, which will be the last time for dinner.

**yummy** · 04-20-2009, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by CampCreekLou

Completely concur. Service, food, prices. All poor. What happened?

We were there last December, which will be the last time for dinner.

I totally concur. We stopped going after giving it three tries, with no improvement in food or service. Bring back the awesome Mexican restaurant (Luna del Mar?) that used to be there!!! It was wonderful!!

**Babyblue** · 04-20-2009, 08:22 PM

Caf� Bouchee..was GREAT. Breakfast all day. $7.50 for 2 eggs, biscuit, grits and apple wood smoked bacon. All ready in about 5-7 minutes.

**Angelrlc** · 04-20-2009, 09:10 PM

It was Luna Del Mar that used to be there. And yes, food was awesome. Cafe Bouchee was great and can't wait to try their breakfast. I still have never had bad service at the Fish House, always treated like family.

**silvershark** · 04-20-2009, 09:10 PM

Agree with SWGB....OFFH could be so much more. What a location and the building itself
has alot of character. Is this locally owned? We have yet to enjoy the food. Time for someone
to put a little effort into updating/refining the menu.

**SWGB** · 04-20-2009, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by silvershark

Agree with SWGB....OFFH could be so much more. What a location and the building itself
has alot of character. Is this locally owned? We have yet to enjoy the food. Time for someone
to put a little effort into updating/refining the menu.

I'm putting away my can opener and leaving that can of worms for someone else.

**Miss Kitty** · 04-21-2009, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by SWGB

I'm putting away my can opener and leaving that can of worms for someone else.

How many of those can openers do you have?

I haven't been to OFFH recently, but have fond memories of some great drinks and dancing there.

**Smiling JOe** · 04-21-2009, 08:25 AM

I went to OFFH recently and enjoyed watching Geoff and Tim play some good tunes.

**STL Don** · 04-21-2009, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by Miss Kitty

How many of those can openers do you have?

I haven't been to OFFH recently, but have fond memories of some great drinks and dancing there.

I remember seeing someone dancing with silverware there--props are important!

**go2beach** · 04-25-2009, 01:02 AM

You tell em Beach Girl. We were there also...large party, food and drinks and the service was poor. Same waiter you had.....did not care if we enjoyed the food or not and it was so overcooked. The price of the meal was far too much for the amount and quality of food we got. The tuna was cooked so dry you could not eat it all.....poor experience for 200.00

**DuneLaker** · 04-25-2009, 08:33 PM

Too bad. My service and what I've ordered have always been good. I realize some of their bad comments received on past posts were politically motivated with issues that had nothing to do with food and service. (that's another story) Next time I go, which will probably be soon, I'll try to mention some of these comments to some of the staff who are always gracious to me. The location is too great, and the atmosphere and local flavor is too valuable, to let it languish and not be successful. Besides, some of our best SoWal talent performs here and I certainly want to support them.

**Miss Kitty** · 04-26-2009, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by STL Don

I remember seeing someone dancing with silverware there--props are important!

...and they let me dance on the chairs, too!

**DuneAHH** · 04-26-2009, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Miss Kitty

...and they let me dance on the chairs, too!

You always have your priorities in order

**SanctuaryBeach** · 04-28-2009, 11:02 PM

we had similar experiences. food and service have gone completely downhill. entertainment is great, but i do not recommend actually eating the food at this restaurant. very overpriced.
wish they would go back to being as consistent and good as they were when it first opened!
makes me miss bayou ann's and luna del mar!

**cater** · 04-29-2009, 08:14 AM

The Old Florida Fish has a NEW menu.............VERY GOOD !!!!!!!!!!!!
Try it again........... The seafood pasta is GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!

**Seasheller** · 04-29-2009, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by cater

the old florida fish has a new menu.............very good !!!!!!!!!!!!
try it again........... The seafood pasta is great !!!!!!!!!!!

That's great! How new?

**kwag** · 05-03-2009, 04:22 PM

who ever commented good about cafe bouchee, thanks sooo much!!
oh i forgot, im the owners daughter...... but if u ever need somewhere to eat, go to cafe bouchee. sometimes we are down at breakfast and sometimes at lunch.... so if u would please come at any time between 7:00 and 2:00, i'd really appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**SWGB** · 05-03-2009, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by kwag

who ever commented good about cafe bouchee, thanks sooo much!!
oh i forgot, im the owners daughter...... but if u ever need somewhere to eat, go to cafe bouchee. sometimes we are down at breakfast and sometimes at lunch.... so if u would please come at any time between 7:00 and 2:00, i'd really appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll definitely see you then, I love a late lunch, but I also hate being the people that won't leave.

**kwag** · 05-03-2009, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Babyblue

Caf� Bouchee..was GREAT. Breakfast all day. $7.50 for 2 eggs, biscuit, grits and apple wood smoked bacon. All ready in about 5-7 minutes.

Thanks so much for trying our restaurant and posting this comment, we look forward to serving you again soon!
Kerrie & John Wagner,
Cafe Bouchee

**kwag** · 05-03-2009, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Angelrlc

It was Luna Del Mar that used to be there. And yes, food was awesome. Cafe Bouchee was great and can't wait to try their breakfast. I still have never had bad service at the Fish House, always treated like family.

Please come try our veal grillades and grits or our egg's benedict, they have had lot's of great comments!

**kwag** · 05-03-2009, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Angelrlc

Well, Im sorry you had a bad experience at the Fish House. This is honestly the place that I feel the most comfortable going because of how friendly the staff is to people that I have seen (at least once a week for the past four years). Everybody has a bad day and perhaps that was the servers day. The sushi is awesome and so are the musicians!

I normally go for sushi, however their grouper I had the other week for enjoyed by several people.

I have eaten at most of the restaurants on 30A and the majority has been great!

We are going to try lunch at the new restaurant at former Yanni's called Cafe Bouchee..looking forward to trying something new!

If you have not tried us yet, please do! The crab cakes are wonderful, as well as the fish or shrimp po-boy.

**John R** · 05-04-2009, 09:38 AM

Cafe Bouchee, I'm looking forward to dining in your restaurant, it sounds great.

Perhaps Cafe Bouchee should create a login and post photos, menus, specials, etc. Currently all this good dialog is in a fish house thread and will be lost when this thread eventually heads to the bottom of the page.

**BeachRum1962** · 05-31-2009, 11:21 AM

The Old Florida Fish house advertises 2 for 1 entrees but as soon as you receive a menu, the bait and switch starts. Some of us ate the 2 for 1, some did not and were all ordering drinks and bottles of wine and we all know to tip at the full, non discounted price so the full court press about how the 2 for 1 menu was inferior to the main menu was not necessary. The food was good, sushi was very good, but not worth the prices (even at 2 for 1). A couple in our party had serious issues with the service although I did not. Probably will not return though.

**Green Knight** · 06-01-2009, 01:23 PM

I am actually shocked TOFFH is still in business....I don't know anyone that ever has anything positive to say about the food or especially the service...I am pretty laid back and having been in the business don't get overly upset about dining issues but that place stretched my patience one to many times..In my best Anti-McArthur Voice."I shall not return"

**Angelrlc** · 06-01-2009, 02:20 PM

The sushi is why most of the people I know go to the Fish House. I have personally never had bad service. Plus the artists they have perform are amazing.

**bchtravlr** · 06-02-2009, 05:34 PM

I stopped going to TOFFH several years ago after complaining to Kerry the owner that the Bar staff was stealing/overcharging from customers. Many others complained to the same to deaf ears.

He finally fired this stealing duo recently and we have returned with some regularity. The current bar staff is top shelf!!

I agree with many other locals, that the sushi is the primary reason we go, and then the band, which is at the top of the 30A music. They need to pay attention to the customer needs as multiple other locations on 30A are offering a sushi option!