How is Harbor Docks doing?

[Plays With Food]

Let me start by saying that I know that Harbor Docks has both dedicated fans and dedicated detractors.

Until last winter, I was a dedicated fan. When I last visited them in Winter 2009, they were going through major kitchen and menu changes, and I received the first (and to date, only) plate of downright bad food from them (actually, it was two different plates with different species of fish, but unfortunately the same spoiled crabmeat). While this has not turned me to the detractor side, I am interested in hearing from anyone who has actually eaten there since March 2009, who can tell how their food and dining experience was.

Thank you in advance! Can't wait to get down there!

 

[scooterbug44]

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?

 

[Plays With Food]

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?

 

[Shockleysprings]

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.

 

[Here4Good]

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.

 

[Plays With Food]

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!

 

[Diane4145]

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!

 

[Plays With Food]

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.

 

[Desso]

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.

 

[Diane4145]

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.