From the moment we stepped into this establishment - around 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, we knew we should have just turned around and left.
There were four people at the bar, and two parties at tables - one with four patrons, one with six.
We sat at the bar. It took the bartender (who we later found out was actually the OWNER), a good 10 minutes to take our drink order.
In addition to his lax approach, he had to write down the instructions for a drink - a Manhattan. (He didn't get it right after all).
By the time we finished our drinks, Ben, a young man of 25, was more experienced at bartending than the owner. He made the drink perfectly and was pleasant.
We witnessed the bartender/owner, sitting at the bar, drinking his beer - which he was obviously continuing from his attempt at bartending.
His wife joined him at the bar, and they continued socializing with each other.
We decided to choose something from the menu. The Scarborough Seafood Platter. Scallops, baby shrimp, crab cakettes, fried haddock and french fries.
Thirty minutes later, our food arrived - all of it BROWN - as though the oil in the fryolater had not been changed since the previous weekend. On top of that, the food was cold and flavorless.
So being a glutton for punishment, we ordered from the dessert menu. After 20 minutes, we asked Ben to check on the dessert - apple crisp. The owner's wife went to the kitchen to check. She came back with two heaping plates of food for herself and her family, who were all seated at a back table. Still waiting for the dessert, the husband then went into the kitchen and he too returned with two heaping plates of food for themselves and their family.
Finally, the apple crisp made it to us. Lo and behold, the apple crisp was hotter than the food. Not to mention, there were hardly any apples! It did however match the color of the seafood - BROWN.
Ben handed us our bill, and just as we were reviewing it, the icing on the cake - a BUG crawled directly toward us on the bar as though it was a finale to a horrible evening. YUCK!
Ben was the only pleasant thing about the whole experience. Not sure how this place stays in business when the owner is drinking on the job (and after) and the whole family is taking up a table, while the food suffers. Who's watching the kitchen?! This is definitely a case for Gordon Ramsey.
But he wouldn't eat there either.
Thank God this was paid for by a gift certificate. We certainly wouldn't spend hard earned money at this awful place.
more