Smith's Landing Seafood Grill — Restaurant in Antioch

Lovely view.

Who owns this place??

I don’t want to be unkind.

For most of the staff, you can tell they care. It’s not a question of commitment. Except the hostesses. They were not welcoming. At all. They acted like we were there interrupting their private social occasion. They were indifferent. Really unpleasant way to enter a business. Isn’t the field called the “hospitality industry”?? Who is in charge here? Why aren’t the staff instructed to be pleasant and professional? It was the same on the way out, too. Interrupting their lives.

The rest of the staff seemed more invested but are just not well trained. Including the manager, who was nice enough but seemed a bit lost at sea. Our server seemed like a sweet person but never came to check on our appetizers, and we were forced to wait about 10 minutes for anyone to check if the mains were OK (they weren’t) - and then it was until our meals were more than half done before we received our wine, and we all had empty water glasses. And they stayed empty. It wasn’t a busy evening. She was either having an off night or doesn’t understand the rhythm of a dinner. She asked for our dessert orders while we were still eating dinner. That was a first. For a place that charges $40-$50 or even more for a main course, things should run smoothly. Bless her. She engaged with us and I appreciate that. If this is par for the course and not just an off night, I still think she has potential to be more of a pro - if anyone cared or was capable enough to manage well.

Which brings me to the food. The lumpia wrappers were doughy. Uncooked. Like raw pie shell. The $41 scallops were off - as in bad. Tasted like ammonia. The Shrimp Stroganoff was lukewarm, dry, and under-seasoned. The Cioppino was far too salty.

The desserts are uncreative.

We have eaten here once before when it actually was busy and things went better. The food was middling but things were fresh and the service went smoothly. What happened?

I appreciate that the manager took the bad items (lumpia, scallops) off the bill. It was a nice gesture, certainly. But we weren’t sure it was the manager at first because he came over to our table with dirty dishes in his hands and asked how things were as if he was just passing by. Our server had him come over to address the couple serious issues. (Spoiled fish and uncooked dough). He did not have the energy you’d expect and need as a manager of a large, trying-to-be-finer-dining business. Issues like this are top-down, particularly when there are so many pieces that are not working. It wasn’t just one or two things. It was the overall experience. Most things were not working, from customer service, to hygiene: things fell and were just left there on the dining room floor, food was actually spoiled and uncooked, poorly executed dishes, dull desserts that were half melted by the time they arrived.

(The hot fudge sundae was presented like a spilled ice cream cone. The “fudge” was thin and not at all hot. “Decorated” with mini M&Ms. A $12 price tag was insulting not only because it was poorly executed and seemed tired and like it had sat for a bit too long, but because there was no thought behind it. Haphazard.)

Did this place once operate at a higher standard? We paid $360 including tip (would have been $450 with tip if those two items hadn’t been removed from the tab.) That is a lot of money!!! The meal should be at the very least GOOD. Should be an excellent experience in every way for that kind of money!!

Again, I don’t want to be unkind. (Except about the disinterested, rude hostesses. Really unacceptable.) I am conscious of the fact that the staff I am talking about are human beings. So where does the problem arise? Is it the owner who’s to blame? Are they an absentee landlord who knows people will come for the views even if the food is middling so they phone it in? They only care about their net profits? It seems that way.

We will...

We made a reservation a week plus in advance for the day before Mother’s Day to take my mother to dinner who came in from out of town. Got seated, ordered and got drinks and waters. Took a little while to get, but we got them. Our waitress returned and brought water a few times. After we got our food (which my po boy sandwich was awful, dry and flavorless) she pretty much disappeared, dry drinks no water etc. she finally returned and we ordered dessert. (Probably a mistake after waiting 10+ mins for her to return) After about 10 mins we got it, ate it and at that point she disappeared again for 15+ mins. In that time we waited for the check . I had to use the restroom and of course she brought it while I was gone. I sat down put my card on the bill and waited. Again we were LONG done with dessert, drinks etc. after a LONG 20 mins wait for our waitress to return, (all the while they had about 5 employees tending to a private party with no more than 20 people, there were at least 3 employees standing there chatting at any time) I tried to get the attention of ANYONE walking by. I flagged down a hostess who looked me dead in the eye, looked away and kept walking! Finally I walked over to another waiter (who we have had on separate occasions) and asked if he could close us out. He said he couldn’t. Fine. I asked if he could find my waitress. He VERY rudely let me know “I’m doing something right now so give me a minute”. Apparently he’s only polite and pleasant when HIS TIP is on the line. At this point I was done and decided to leave without paying. They had my info from my reservation. If they wanted to get paid, they could call me. By my wife wanted to let them know how this all went down. She walked to the hostess desk and asked to speak to a manager so we could PAY. Again, another employee who told us “I’m busy”. She stood there for a good while before someone finally came to talk to her, upon which they let us know the guy at the hostess desk that was “too busy” to help her WAS one of the managers. She let them know the situation, at which point the manager let us know “we didn’t expect all these walk in’s” which apparently means we (who made reservations) got crap service because they had to talk to people at the hostess desk. All the while having a table they could have seated people if they would have CAME AND PICKED UP MY CHECK! they comped the desert (yippee) and we paid. No tip of course. All in all. We were there for over 2 hours. 45 mins of which was after we had eaten and got 1 dessert and sat there waiting for the check.

If you’re still reading this I’d also like to add the one guy shirtless, and another gal in a bikini dining there when we were there.. No shoes no shirt no service is apparently not a thing there.

We have eaten here many times before, including a few pretty large parties. But this will...

Bad and scary night out. First time dining indoors since COVID and was hoping for a great night with family. Beautiful restaurant and friendly staff. My hubby and I were the last of a party of 7 for a celebration of my Bro in Law Bill's bday and our Anniversary. They were already having drinks so when we sat the Waiter Jamal asked promptly if we wanted anything to drink I did not my hubby. Menus followed soon after but I wasn't quite ready being I just arrived. Told the rest to order if they wished. They all waited then we all placed our orders. I was first asked for a fillet mignon and baked potato Jamal said no potatoes. He offered an Italian Risotto. I said yes with asparagus as my veggie and had ordered a salad. Everyone else ordered. My salad never came they all were eating theirs and almost done. My hubby went up to Jamal said I didn't get my salad. Very apologetic he said sorry and went to get it. All the other orders had reached our table except mine. Then 10 mins or so later both arrived. Started with my salad then pushed it aside to try my meal. Was going to try the risotto first. Go to try it and my hubby pushed my hand away quickly. Thought I pick up the wrong fork. He said DON'T EAT THAT IT HAS CRAB!! You see I'm very allergic to any shell or sea food. I was in panic mode pushed my whole plate away. He had ordered the risotto and knew it had crab. They did have a primavera one which I thought I had. You see my Sister in Law immediately on her arrival alerted them of my severe allergy. Apparently it fell on deaf ear because if my Hubby hadn't notice the crab I would have gone into anaphylaxis and 911 would have been called. My sweet nephew Noah is training to be a Firefighter and Paramedic so he was so watchful of me and horrified of what could have happened. My hubby is a VNVet and assisted in trauma care in the jungle. Noah felt hopeless said as a Paramedic he couldn't do what his Uncle did in Nam. My hubby instructed Noah on an emergency tach where to cut and place a straw or hollowed pen. This wasn't my ideal of a nice family night out 🙄 Mistakes all the way around by kitchen staff and upper management not coming to me before I left to address what could have been a medical emergency. Extremely disappointed as I left and upset. I immediately called to speak to the manager on shift and recounted my whole bad...