Butler's Eighteen East Restaurant — Restaurant in Avon Park

I would like to start off by saying that I had previously given this restaurant a review of 5 glowing stars. I have eaten here several times in the last year and I've always brought people here who were visiting me but after Saturday 3/29/25 I have deleted that review to write this one because I had a terrible experience. So here I'm writing this in hopes that they'll take the constructive criticism to heart.

So we get to the restaurant and they are pretty busy. I run over and tell them we have 4 & a baby they are like okay 4.... AND A BABY?? I'm like "yes" and she says between 1-1.5hrs because they have two big parties ahead of me. I tell everyone in the party so we went for a walk and after several minutes mom and baby were getting hungry. We decided that maybe we will go somewhere else so as we go to get the cars and I said "Hey I'm going to run back and see if the time has changed just to make sure." I go back and talk to the waitress with red hair and tell her that I was told 1-1.5hrs and we have a hungry mom and baby so I'd like to confirm the wait time because if it is we still that long we were going to go somewhere else which was no big deal and she says okay don't worry we have one table cleared and two more tables finishing so the third one is yours, it'll be about 20 minutes. So I tell everyone and we decided to wait. Then we wait about 30 minutes and the older short blonde woman who told me a hour or more comes out and asks who was there first, and then took a group before us who got there after us. Then asks me how many AGAIN "how many people?" I tell her again and after I say 4 with a baby she gets loud like "idk where to seat all of you, what am I supposed to do?" I'm like I'm not trying to argue with you and I'm not raising my voice ma'am but the woman inside told me 20 minutes and she goes "we never tell anyone 20 minutes" like I'm a damn liar. Then tells me that it will be another 1-1.5hrs after already waiting 45-50 minutes. So we just walked away and I will never come here again, bring anyone there again, nor will I talk this place up again... Which is really a shame because I really like the owner and love the food. I just won't be treated like that way nor will I ever deal with anyone that acts like...

I travel frequently, and I'm always looking for new local places. As you may expect some are hits and some are misses. This place was a GRAND SLAM! From the genuine welcome when I walked in the door and then my bartender/server (Denise) demonstrating a deep knowledge of the dishes I asked about I knew I was in good environment. Over a Hendricks and Tonic (with lime) I reviewed the menu and the specials menu. From the regular menu I chose the fish dip appetizer, and from the specials I went with the elevated Poke Bowl. Fish dip was served up with freshly toasted pita points, and the dip was nice and smoky with a little bit of heat and a balsamic drizzle. Sometimes fish dip can be bland, but certainly not tonight! There was plenty to share, but being by myself I managed to handle it alone. The poke bowl was unique and delicious. Plenty of ahi tuna, button mushrooms, pickled okra and kimchi all on multigrain rice base. The sleeper on the bowl? Those little circles of wasabi! WOW! I love heat and spice and that wasabi was seriously some of the hottest I've ever had -- just a touch added an entirely new dimension into each bite. I'm not normally a dessert person, but since everything else had gone so well, I went with the salted caramel cheesecake. It was also very good, with a light raspberry drizzle. Aside from the friendly atmosphere and great food, I really enjoyed seeing a team of people from both the front and the back of the house working together and having fun. There's no doubt that while it's work, these people are enjoying themselves, and are actively engaged in making sure everyone's experience is the best it can be. Are you near Avon Park? If the answer is yes, make this place a destination. Even if you're NOT -- it's...

Let's hope the staff, kitchen and owner can accept some constructive criticism. Let me also add some full disclosure. I have worked in many restaurants, over the years, so I understand all the challenges and I acknowledge that some nights are more challenging than others.

That said, Eighteen East is hit or miss, I believe, depending on who's chefing the kitchen. The staff is efficient but like so many small cities (like Sebring, FL) there seems a general lack of incentive to take anything to the next level.

First visit Salmon was exceptional, veggies were fresh, crisp and delicious. The in and out potatoes were half cooked. Disappointing. Beer from tap was a tad flat too, which hey, I can let slide...sometimes a pull from bottom of a keg can do that.

Second time in, exceptionally tasty burger and hand cut fries, although again either inattentive staff or kitchen, not sure which. My dish arrived with an allergen item that could've meant a trip to the hospital had I consumed it. (I stressed two times, "white onions only" Burger arrived with, you guessed it, red onions). I asked for a glass of Pinot but wasn't given a choice of any except the one that arrived. I assumed they only carry one vineyard? The Pinot that arrived was okay but hey, choices are nice.

Overall, the food is very tasty, the atmosphere is tricky. I'm not the only patron who can detect an odd smell of mold. Not sure it's the age of the space, or something else. If I were the owner I'd jump on that.

Will I...