trip report so far

and thanks for the post on your trip.

JB,

In my humble opinion, you are a jerk for saying that budget seems to be an issue with me.

You're right. It is. The amount we spent to visit Grayton is a lot of money to people like us.

We spent about the same amount to visit last year. We stayed at Blue Mountain.

It was our 2nd trip to cafe 30-a, and it was the 2nd time that it underwhelmed us. The service was excellent. The FOOD was not.

And yes, Red Bar's crab cakes are bad. Maybe they're good for that area, just like Cocoon's BBQ might be good for that area but not stand up in Memphis. (For the record, I did not make it to Cocoon's, so I am not saying anything negative about it, just repeating what I read on this board).

I'm sorry I said bad things about your "sacred" restaurants. We enjoyed GREATLY everything about Red Bar exCEPT for the crabcakes. We ate there AGAIN after having bad crabcakes there. We just didn't order crabcakes.

I think the regular posters and locals on this board should be more careful about antagonizing the tourists, especially if you own rental properties.

Then again, if you own a million dollar house in Grayton, you don't need my weekly rental fee, do you.

:boxing:

Yes, welcome to the Board, and I'm glad you like to vacation in Sowal. Personally I wouldn't be on these boards if I didn't care about other people's opinions and where they vacation. That's the purpose of these boards-to communicate and exchange opinions and suggestions. So feel free to share.

And I completely understand why you weren't impressed with the crabcakes at the RedBar. I had crabcakes in Baltimore recently, and they came out the size of softballs! And they were lump crabmeat, the best I've ever had.

JB,

In my humble opinion, you are a jerk for saying that budget seems to be an issue with me.

You're right. It is. The amount we spent to visit Grayton is a lot of money to people like us.

We spent about the same amount to visit last year. We stayed at Blue Mountain.

It was our 2nd trip to cafe 30-a, and it was the 2nd time that it underwhelmed us. The service was excellent. The FOOD was not.

And yes, Red Bar's crab cakes are bad. Maybe they're good for that area, just like Cocoon's BBQ might be good for that area but not stand up in Memphis. (For the record, I did not make it to Cocoon's, so I am not saying anything negative about it, just repeating what I read on this board).

I'm sorry I said bad things about your "sacred" restaurants. We enjoyed GREATLY everything about Red Bar exCEPT for the crabcakes. We ate there AGAIN after having bad crabcakes there. We just didn't order crabcakes.

I think the regular posters and locals on this board should be more careful about antagonizing the tourists, especially if you own rental properties.

Then again, if you own a million dollar house in Grayton, you don't need my weekly rental fee, do you.

Good God. Have you missed your meds today? I don't see how my last post could have been any more polite. Heck, I am on a budget when I visit as well. That's why we visit during the spring and fall when the rates are reasonable. How could you possibly take offense to that? No one is "antagonizing" you. Sheesh. Just asking a few questions and to be honest, trying to give some advice.

And I was just kidding about the DDTs (although you did ask). Now we are all DDTs that is why they are widening 331.

Love, Love, Love

to SoWal. I for one am glad you and your family came to visit us. Ignore the negative posters. Some people are just cranky!

I did not take your comments as negative. Food is very subjective. There are some restaurants in our area that some people love and I just don't get it.
I hope you have had a wonderful experience. It is one of my favorite places on earth and I hope you come back again.

What kind of food are you looking for? Maybe I can suggest some other places.

Some people are just cranky!

Yes, they are. Especially ones who refer to long-time posters as "rude" and "a jerk" and accuse them of being elitist because they have the chutzpah to get away from the perpetual group hug around here and call someone out when it is necessary.

For the record, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving a less-than-glowing report of a restaurant - any restaurant. Just do it in the proper way.

But you don't just come on here say something like "[insert restarurant name] really sucks. We'll never go back." That's not fair to the members of this board, and it's not fair to the restaurant. I'm sure the poster thought this was completely innocent. His/her subsequent replies, however, have precipitated this post.

Restaurants are dropping like flies in SoWal. We don't need someone who visits a few days a year giving them another nudge toward non-existance.

Sorry to make an example of a newbie, but what's right is right.

Yes, they are. Especially ones who refer to long-time posters as "rude" and "a jerk" and accuse them of being elitist because they have the chutzpah to get away from the perpetual group hug around here and call someone out when it is necessary.

For the record, there is absolutely nothing wrong with giving a less-than-glowing report of a restaurant - any restaurant. Just do it in the proper way.

But you don't just come on here say something like "[insert restarurant name] really sucks. We'll never go back." That's not fair to the members of this board, and it's not fair to the restaurant. I'm sure the poster thought this was completely innocent. His/her subsequent replies, however, have precipitated this post.

Restaurants are dropping like flies in SoWal. We don't need someone who visits a few days a year giving them another nudge toward non-existance.

Sorry to make an example of a newbie, but what's right is right.

JB, I have respectfully agree to disagree with you on this. I took her post as what it was, and honest critique. HER feelings about HER vacation. We will not all alway's love the same things and we should feel like we can give honest reports of our vacations without getting slammed for them. That is just my honest opinion.

Kathy, there is nothing wrong with honesty. But don't slam a restaurant and say you are never going there again without giving any details whatsoever, then get defensive when someone calls you on it.

It's just not the right thing to do.

Rant complete.

But you don't just come on here say something like "[insert restarurant name] really sucks. We'll never go back."

I saw absolutely nothing even close to this verbiage in her post. If you are going to disagree with something she says in her post, then disagree with something that she ACTUALLY said.

I said "something like." It's called paraphrasing. I think the poster deleted her original post, but it said this regarding Cafe 30-A "Had a sort of disappointing trip to cafe 30a- think we're done with it." Nothing more.

Now, is that fair to those who may be planning to go there, or to the owners and employees of that establishment?"

It's a hit-and-run slam of a restaurant that we NEED in this area - regardless of the "verbiage."

sorry for the confusion. The underwater shots were taken by RiverOtter or Grayton Bound. They were having difficulties uploading them so I did it for them. They are really cool pics. RO was bragging about the underwater camera a while back, and I called BS about it being "WATERPROOF." Boy was I wrong. I would have never had the guts to try that. It is a nice camera.

Glad you like my other pics too.

How did those pics end up in this thread

JB,

In my humble opinion, you are a jerk for saying that budget seems to be an issue with me.

You're right. It is. The amount we spent to visit Grayton is a lot of money to people like us.

We spent about the same amount to visit last year. We stayed at Blue Mountain.

It was our 2nd trip to cafe 30-a, and it was the 2nd time that it underwhelmed us. The service was excellent. The FOOD was not.

And yes, Red Bar's crab cakes are bad. Maybe they're good for that area, just like Cocoon's BBQ might be good for that area but not stand up in Memphis. (For the record, I did not make it to Cocoon's, so I am not saying anything negative about it, just repeating what I read on this board).

I'm sorry I said bad things about your "sacred" restaurants. We enjoyed GREATLY everything about Red Bar exCEPT for the crabcakes. We ate there AGAIN after having bad crabcakes there. We just didn't order crabcakes.

I think the regular posters and locals on this board should be more careful about antagonizing the tourists, especially if you own rental properties.

Then again, if you own a million dollar house in Grayton, you don't need my weekly rental fee, do you.

Sorry, but I cannot help but to jump in. Way too many posts below this one which I have not read (I feel another sand box fight behind them). Anywho, I don't think that ls2006... is over the edge. Perhaps presenting a little more info in the original post stating why ... would have satisfied everyone. IMHO, Cafe 30A is okay. Food and service is good, but I would rather cook a nice dinner at home. RedBar - I rarely eat there -- avg service and mediocre food (yes, I have eaten the crab cakes). I enjoy the atmosphere, music and drinks at the Red Bar at least once a week. I would never dream of waiting to be seated at the RedBar and this would add to my reasons for not eating there.

I don't remember the other points I was going to make, but do note some general tips:

If you live in Memphis or Chicago, do not eat bbq elsewhere.
If you live in SoWal, do not go on vacation at another beach.
If you live near the sea with fresh seafood available, do not eat seafood in a landlocked state.
If you grew up on a farm, avoid eating canned foods which you did not can.
If you go to a steakhouse, don't order chicken or fish.

Just a few tips on life. ;-)

How did those pics end up in this thread

That is where I posted. They didn't seem to fit elsewhere. Later, I posted them to the general photo album.

Well put SJ! :clap_1:

Sorry, but I cannot help but to jump in. Way too many posts below this one which I have not read (I feel another sand box fight behind them). Anywho, I don't think that ls2006... is over the edge. Perhaps presenting a little more info in the original post stating why ... would have satisfied everyone. IMHO, Cafe 30A is okay. Food and service is good, but I would rather cook a nice dinner at home. RedBar - I rarely eat there -- avg service and mediocre food (yes, I have eaten the crab cakes). I enjoy the atmosphere, music and drinks at the Red Bar at least once a week. I would never dream of waiting to be seated at the RedBar and this would add to my reasons for not eating there.

I don't remember the other points I was going to make, but do note some general tips:

If you live in Memphis or Chicago, do not eat bbq elsewhere.
If you live in SoWal, do not go on vacation at another beach.
If you live near the sea with fresh seafood available, do not eat seafood in a landlocked state.
If you grew up on a farm, avoid eating canned foods which you did not can.
If you go to a steakhouse, don't order chicken or fish.

Just a few tips on life. ;-)

Right on, dude! :clap_1:

... and one more life tip which I recently learned (thankfully not through first-hand experience) is ... don't eat the rock candy in the urinal!

... and one more life tip which I recently learned (thankfully not through first-hand experience) is ... don't eat the rock candy in the urinal!

[insert restarurant name] really sucks. We'll never go back!

sums up my feelings exactly! no wonder we are all losing resturants all over, not just in sowal.

i hope it has something to do with memories being sweeter with time, cause i know the last 3 i went to (here and there) were way better before - dust in the corners, cold bread and warm salad whereas the memory was of succulence and admirability

cutting costs to make bigger profits or more production i suspect, or they just don't care anymore

you can always look up the recipes on the internet and make the same meals at home for half the price or less

10 steps to happiness in the home:

1) start the grill and put on the goodies, including the bread on the high rack, and start the salads chilling!

2) a glass of homebrewed each for starters

3) then one whole strawberry each to cleanse the palette - from the garden

4) salads of field greens, superb croutons and a bottle of fancy dressing - $10.00 freezer chilled plates AND salad fork! are free

5) hot crusty oven gold bread and flavored spread - $5.00 while waiting for the appetizer - real butter knife is free

6) flip the food on the grill and pull off the appetizer

7) grilled bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer - $5.00 toothpicks are free

8) by the time you're done with the appetizer, the food on the grills ready!

9) whole florida pompano, red snapper and pan-seared grouper (free)

10) drop the dishes in the dishwasher, set for potscrubber and out to the deck with a bottle of wine to watch the stars - PRICELESS (no driving, no duis, no idiots, no bad service, no bad food, no dirty bathrooms or dirty silverware or dirty napkins)

... and one more life tip which I recently learned (thankfully not through first-hand experience) is ... don't eat the rock candy in the urinal!

Where were ya last week Nearly chipped a tooth

[insert restarurant name] really sucks. We'll never go back!

sums up my feelings exactly! no wonder we are all losing resturants all over, not just in sowal.

i hope it has something to do with memories being sweeter with time, cause i know the last 3 i went to (here and there) were way better before - dust in the corners, cold bread and warm salad whereas the memory was of succulence and admirability

cutting costs to make bigger profits or more production i suspect, or they just don't care anymore

We're coming down in August. We've always made a Brunos pizza a "must". We've always had way too much food at Capo's. The stromboli was really good.
This year we had planned to FINALLY remember to go to Pandora's at G.B. for the prime rib. Had heard lots of good things about it.

But alas, Brunos has changed their pizza, resulting in many less than favorable reviews.
The last I heard, Capo's was a crater awaiting condo construction.
And Pandora's had changed management, also resulting in less than favorable reviews as far as management itself was concerned. (the staff at last report was still excellent)

So what's a 1 week visitor on a tight budget (for us this means maybe $250 to spend during the week, not 1 night) to do?
Looks like carryout chicken from Publix. Anything from The Donut Hole. Pizza from Amore. And the assorted grilled foods cooked myself. I can live with that.
But I sure will miss my Brunos pizza.

[insert restarurant name] really sucks. We'll never go back!

sums up my feelings exactly! no wonder we are all losing resturants all over, not just in sowal.

I think many of them are just plain scared they will end up like Sandor's or the plethora of other restaurants in the area that have been gobbled up by developers or are unable to maintain managable operating costs. Still, that is not an excuse for half-assing it with regard to food and service.

Even if you don't like a particular place, it still promotes the overall good of other restaurants when there is more competition. We are reaching a point where there simply won't be any more restaurants on 30-A (save the places at existing developments like Fish out of Water and Onano).

Therefore, if there is anything we, as board members, can do (or not do), to help keep these places going, then we need to do just that. It's a public board. Be careful what you say. People's livlihoods may be at stake.

I don't want to see the day when the section of 98 that runs north of 30-A looks like freaking PCB with Taco Bells, Wendy's, O'Charley's, etc dotting the landscape.

We're coming down in August. We've always made a Brunos pizza a "must". We've always had way too much food at Capo's. The stromboli was really good.
This year we had planned to FINALLY remember to go to Pandora's at G.B. for the prime rib. Had heard lots of good things about it.

But alas, Brunos has changed their pizza, resulting in many less than favorable reviews.
The last I heard, Capo's was a crater awaiting condo construction.
And Pandora's had changed management, also resulting in less than favorable reviews as far as management itself was concerned. (the staff at last report was still excellent)

So what's a 1 week visitor on a tight budget (for us this means maybe $250 to spend during the week, not 1 night) to do?
Looks like carryout chicken from Publix. Anything from The Donut Hole. Pizza from Amore. And the assorted grilled foods cooked myself. I can live with that.
But I sure will miss my Brunos pizza.

Don't forget about yummy Cocoons! Oops....just heard his place is up for sale too!

I really appreciate the honesty of the board. I am coming and i want to know what sucks. I also would like to know why. That way, when we come we can spend our money wisely. With gasoline prices and the other prices, a budget is a necessity. Hope I do not offend any of you, because I have really come to like this board. It is unique.