How is Harbor Docks doing?

I ate there recently and had great food. They are currently remodeling the sushi/hibatchi area and updating the place so they are ready to go for the busy season.

BTW, what did they say when you told them about your unsatisfactory meal?

I ate there recently and had great food. They are currently remodeling the sushi/hibatchi area and updating the place so they are ready to go for the busy season.

BTW, what did they say when you told them about your unsatisfactory meal?

They replaced the first bad plate, but unfortunately it turned out to be the crab topping that was the culprit, not the fish underneath. After we figured that out and sent the second plate back, they made a third plate without crabmeat, which was good, but by then my dining companion had long finished his meal.

They were ok about it, but not as enthusiastic about making it right as I would have expected, considering that this crab really stank, and that we've been regulars there for about 6 years, and that I had my camera on the table - but to be fair, they were going through a bit of upheaval at the time. They did not comp the plate, but charged for the lower-priced last plate that didn't have crab.

I am really glad to hear of your good experience, as we usually make our first meal of the trip dinner at Harbor Docks, and I would hate to change that tradition. This was the first, and only, bad meal we've ever had there, and we usually go there 2-3 times per trip, over a 2-3 week period. It's good to know that they seem to have recovered from last winter's tumult. Thank you for the feedback!

Anyone else have a recent experience at Harbor Docks?

I was in HD back in Dec. 08 and the food was less than average. I haven't been back. I've been a customer there since they opened but there are too many good restaurants to pay HD prices for lunchmeat.

We took out of town guests in October, and were embarrassed. It actually smelled bad in there, and the food was not very good.

We ended up wishing we had tried Dewey Destin's instead.

We took out of town guests in October, and were embarrassed. It actually smelled bad in there, and the food was not very good.

We ended up wishing we had tried Dewey Destin's instead.

Wow. Keep those reports coming, folks!

Won't recommend HD, to my many clients!

My company has MANY guests coming to the area, from all over the country. I'm still fairly new and this a good info for me, to NOT recommend Harbor Docks! Sorry, but, you don't get a second chance, to make a first impression! If this were one comment, maybe, I would recommend them. But, seems like Pandora's Box, has been opened!

My company has MANY guests coming to the area, from all over the country. I'm still fairly new and this a good info for me, to NOT recommend Harbor Docks! Sorry, but, you don't get a second chance, to make a first impression! If this were one comment, maybe, I would recommend them. But, seems like Pandora's Box, has been opened!

Diane - as the person who opened Pandora's box, let me tell you that we've enjoyed many meals at Harbor Docks over the last 8 years - last February was the first time we ever had an issue there. And, like any restaurant, HD has always had its supporters and detractors.

I posted this thread to learn whether or not HD had recovered from the poor experience we had last year (apparently, a shakeup in the kitchen and menu had a lot to do with it). Judging from the posts in this thread so far, there are still differing opinions, and I'd like to hear more.

It seems to me that someone in your position (as opposed to my position of once-a-year-tourist-for-3-weeks) should try the place yourself before deciding whether or not to recommend it to others.

I appreciate and respect all three of the opinions below, and I want to encourage others to report their recent experiences, good or bad, but I don't want to see this restaurant singled out for shunning just because I asked about it - unless it clearly deserves it.

I'll also note that there are places that I visited once, or had one so-so experience at, which I dropped off my list, only to return after a period of time to a good experience - last year, two restaurants in that category were KennyDs and Callahan's, which were both terrific in 09. I am hoping that will happen this year with Smiling Fish and Seagrove Market.

Many restaurants rely heavily on 'word of mouth" to bring diners through their doors. I've been told by numerous owners they don't pay for advertising because "word of mouth" is the best and it's free. It is not. It requires you to open the restaurant, have a properly trained staff, a strict eye on food quality, and make sure EVERY diner is satisfied with the food, service, and overall dining experience. This is not cheap or easy or sometimes possible, as can be evidenced by the dire circumstances many places in our area find themselves. A restaurant gets one shot. If it is not a positive experience, I do not return. Very simple. I am not interested in the many excuses I'm given. "The chef is off tonight", "We are short-staffed", "We didn't notice" and the list goes on. Disinterested staff, mediocre food, and high prices are enough to cause negative "word of mouth". Harbor Docks has been an institution in Destin for years and it has changed a lot. Years ago I would go and really enjoy myself. The food was never any great shakes, but it was average fare at a decent price and they had a pretty decent atmosphere. This area is replete with old establishments who have outlived their glory years and just hang by a thread from closing. Harbor Docks is not one of these. Mr. Morgan would have had a fit and comped your entire meal, if he would have been aware you had been served spoiled crab, not once, but twice. Absolutely ridiculous. In serious situations, and I consider possible shellfish poisoning serious, forget the server, the manager on duty, and talk directly to the owner. If that isn't possible at the moment, there is always tomorrow. Mr. Morgan, I guarantee, would want to know about your experience. Consistently good is better than occasionally great in the restaurant business. I love your site, Plays With Food.

Reason for my opinion

Their website reviews alone, give a little cause for concern, in a recommendation. Just my opinion and I'm in titled, to it. I will probably go ahead and try it for myself, anyway. I will also give my personal experience, then.

Diane - as the person who opened Pandora's box, let me tell you that we've enjoyed many meals at Harbor Docks over the last 8 years - last February was the first time we ever had an issue there. And, like any restaurant, HD has always had its supporters and detractors.

I posted this thread to learn whether or not HD had recovered from the poor experience we had last year (apparently, a shakeup in the kitchen and menu had a lot to do with it). Judging from the posts in this thread so far, there are still differing opinions, and I'd like to hear more.

It seems to me that someone in your position (as opposed to my position of once-a-year-tourist-for-3-weeks) should try the place yourself before deciding whether or not to recommend it to others.

I appreciate and respect all three of the opinions below, and I want to encourage others to report their recent experiences, good or bad, but I don't want to see this restaurant singled out for shunning just because I asked about it - unless it clearly deserves it.

I'll also note that there are places that I visited once, or had one so-so experience at, which I dropped off my list, only to return after a period of time to a good experience - last year, two restaurants in that category were KennyDs and Callahan's, which were both terrific in 09. I am hoping that will happen this year with Smiling Fish and Seagrove Market.

I don't think you can name a restaurant in the US or even the World that doesn't have at least one customer who isn't satisfied. You simply can't please all of the people all of the time. Whether it be a truly bad experience, someone who is having a bad day, or someone who simply can't be pleased.

It runs the gambit from truly bad service, food, or experience to people who aren't happy with the steak they got at a seafood place. Keep in mind that every persons palate is different and something that is pleasing to one might be revolting to another. Regardless of the reviews if you have had a good or great experience in the past you should try it again and please remember that if you're not happy to speak to your server first, followed by the manager, and if necessary the owner. Many times people have a horrible experience at a restaurant, pay, leave, and then anonymously slander them on the internet. it's not just a sowal thing, check out any number of travel and restaurant sites where people complain bitterly and then run when the owner/manager gets on and wishes to correct the issue.

Every restaurant has it's off night, I don't care how nice, fancy, well known, popular, or even dedicated the staff are. Avoiding a restaurant that you have enjoyed for years due to one experience is akin to selling a car you've owned for years and boycotting the manufacturer because it back fired one time.

P.S. This is not directed at anyone or place, just some general observations.

We used to go to Harbor Docks for years! Always on the list for every vacation. Our first meal out when we returned (the trip when we bought our lot) we stopped at HD. It was NOTHING like we had remembered. The food was like it was from a totally different restaurant.

We have decided to give it another try real soon as we so loved it in the past.

Perhaps it was just a glitch.

G

I have had many clients who "couldn't be pleased" for what ever reason and I didn't expect them to stay clients. Over the years my expectations have grown in certain areas and lessened in others. I use to eat about whatever was put in front of me, because that was the way I was raised. But when I started to earn money, pick up dinner tabs for four or six people, pay for my own food, and prepare it myself, I became more discerning. I don't offer excuses in my business, and my expectation of others is the same. I realized early that few are interested in explanations or excuses, however valid they may be. If I got rancid crabmeat on my plate, I guarantee I will first speak with the owner. As Gordon Ramsey so often says " You could #@&!% kill somebody serving them that!" The old chestnut of the excuse "everybody has an off night" just isn't good enough, but unfortunately it has become the mantra of an entire industry when things are not right.

I'm not saying it's an excuse, it's a reason for a bad experience. How the restaurant handles it should be the ultimate determining factor of a return trip.

We have lived in the Okaloosa/Walton co area all our lives. True natives! In that time I've seen many restaurants come and go. Some were excellent restaurants that I mourned. Some deserved to die a quick death. And then there are those that become an institution and somehow carry a meek but large enough following despite meh food, and/or price and service problems. I recently had the worst, and most expensive, meal of my life at one of the local-oldie restaurants in Okaloosa co. No, I didn't complain because I was with a group of friends who don't get together much and didn't want to wrinkle the evening, which is why I'm not naming the restaurant (not Harbor Docks). But HOLY JESUS BATMAN it was bad.

We have never been excited about HD for entree items. The food is uninventive, if often adqeuately prepared, and priced a little too high. In today's foodie environment, much of the standard fare that a lot of us grew up with thinking of as "restaurant food" just doesn't cut it anymore. When out of town visitors ask for a recommendation, I never think of HD. It's more of a comfort zone for regulars (locals and tourists with fond memories) than a culinary powerhouse, and the prices are too high to put it into fish house category, where expectations are simpler.

Now, sometimes we have a girls night and will meet at HD for sushi, which has always been very tasty (although I'm no sushi expert) and priced competitively. The atmosphere in the sushi bar is lively/fun and the HD location is a convenient half-way point for those on either end of the FWB and Sowal. The last time we ate sushi there, it was the same as it has always been. I didn't notice any quality or service decline.

We only go for sushi and hibatchi, so I can't comment on the other food, but it has gone downhill slightly. Still a great place to get together and good, just not great like it was.

Not sure about the hibachi, but the sushi is a separate business and overseen by the best sushi roller in the area Yoshi. I love that woman!

Plays--

I visited last March thanks to your very helpful blog. The first visit I went alone for lunch, and it was delightful; food and service. The second visit later in the week with my SO was less so. My food was good, but the service was not. We ordered a sushi roll, and after our mains were served they told us that there would be a delay with the sushi. They seemed unhappy when we canceled the order. Also, they left it on the check. My husband was also not impressed with the size of his meal for the price.

We will be in the Okaloosa Island area during the last week of Feb '10 and I can't wait. I will probably go for lunch when my husband is unable to join me, and check it out again. I will DEFINITELY be going to the Silver Sands breakfast. Like you, I love those biscuits and gravy + cheese grits.

From your blog, I know that you go in the February time frame. Do you blog during your vacation or do you compile it all after you return home? I was specifically looking forward to your reccomendations for this year, but our trip was moved up.

Enjoy your vacation and I hope to do the same!

I haven't eaten at HD lately because I try to ration my travel time and avoid Destin traffic when possible. They now operate 5 establishments and (I think) have an interest in a 6th: HD & Camille's in Destin, Dharma Blue in PCola (the name sounds like something from LOST), and Chuck's Fish House in Tuscaloosa and now Birmingham. Does Charles Morgan still have an interest in Old Florida Fish House? I've usually loved the food at HD and been satisfied with OFFH.