Island Time Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Brandenton Beach

Our vacation fell on my husband and my 4 year wedding anniversary. Since we were vacationing with my parents, they offered to babysit our kids (yes!!!) and we got to enjoy a nice dinner. Hubs told me I could chose, so, I decided on this place (which he now tells me I'm not in charge of picking restaurant selections after this one, if that tells you anything, lol). We are staying on Holmes Beach, so we had to drive down to Bradenton Beach (or we could have taken the trolley). It was a nice drive to that part of the island, with the road winding along the curves of the beach. It was nice being along the ocean. I was a little skeptical of the entree selection after reading the reviews, and when we got there, I could see why the reviews were the way they were. We walked into an open air restaurant with a live band playing, which was really nice ambiance. There are two entrances to the restaurant and we apparently went in the one where they were not seating people, as there was a sign that asked us to go to the other side of the restaurant for hostess. She politely asked us if we wanted to sit inside or outside, and since it was nice out, and kind of loud inside we decided to sit outside. She sat us at a table that was wobbly, which got kind of annoying as we talked and ate our food, but wobbly tables don't make or break an experience, lol. Our server came over very quickly and took my drink order, while my husband was in the restroom. Our server promptly returned to bring me my order and take his order. At that time we ordered an appetizer. While we were still looking at the menus, and trying to decide what to order. I was going to try the Mahi, or the Filet Mignon, but after getting there and sitting down, it really felt more like a bar from my early 20's where my friends and I would go to get a buzz, and move along to the next one. It kind of smelled musky like a bar usually does. At this point I decided to go with bar food, instead of a fancy dinner entree like Filet Mignon, probably a good choice per all the other reviews. The appetizer was fairly quick in coming out, which was a bonus, because these days, you order an appetizer, and it comes out with your meal, which completely defeats the purpose of the darn appetizer in the first place. We ordered the almond crusted coconut shrimp, and they were huge! They were butterflied and the topping was good. There were slivered almonds on them and the homemade marmalade was quite good. The only complaint I had with it, is that the almond-coconut topping is not very sweet, and they were sort of bland. The shrimp was very fresh though. I ended up ordering a BLT with cole slaw, and homemade potato chips. I asked for a pickle spear on the side, no problemo. He ordered the fish tacos, with cole slaw and homemade potato chips. Our server was really good, attentive, and fast, no complaints. The food came out fairly quick and it looked appetizing. My sandwich was good, a bit on the small side, but it was good. Served on ciabatta bread and the mayo was on the side. The homemade chips were a little overdone and the cole slaw was so bland, it was inedible. Sad face, because I love cole slaw. My pickle spear was to die for! My husband got his fish tacos, and took the first bite, and found a long hair in the taco. Ummmm...pretty gross. He asked if me if he should send it back or not, and he decided it wasn't worth it...because who knows what would happen when he gets a new one...maybe more hair?? He picked through it, pretty disgusted, and ate a bit more of it after closely examining it. He said the tacos were okay, flavor-wise, but the hair pretty much spoiled any good thing about his meal. He felt the chips were overdone as well, and he didn't touch the cole slaw after the first bite. Like I said, the server was top notch, and the atmosphere was fun, but the food was mediocre, and not worth it. Go for a drink, and listen the live music, enjoy the fresh ocean air, maybe get an appetizer, but I would strongly suggest not eating a meal here, unless...

Would give zero stars if I could. THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER. SMELLED THE ROTTEN FISH TACOS BEFORE THEY EVEN REACHED THE TABLE. Walked in and asked for a table for four. Was told by the hostess to wait in the bar and notified that we could order food there in the bar if we wanted. We are on vacation so we are all happy to be there and smiling and friendly. Cruised over to the bar and sat down. Bartender promptly points a finger in my 18 year old daughter’s face and says “you can’t sit here”. No smile, no explanation. So she and my sister went to sit at a small two top table with the drink the bartender reluctantly filled only to have a waitress from the patio walk up and say “well, are you just going to sit here and not order anything”. We told her we couldn’t all sit and order because the other waitress wouldn’t let us put two more chairs at the table. In fact, she actually made us move the two chairs we tried to bring to the table so that we could sit there and order. A few seconds later (after having been told it would be a 30 minute wait) we are placed outside with the bugs in the heat. While we are sitting there with cars and monkey buses blowing exhaust in our faces, at least five tables open up inside. Now, we have been kicked off of our barstools by the bartender and bawled out by some little girl in the bar when we tried to sit down at her table after the bartender pointed a finger in our faces and said “you can’t sit here”, and we’ve thrown outside in in the alley. Food finally shows up after a good half hour and it isn’t even edible. The fish smells so pungent and rotten that we smelled it before it even reached the table. Absolutely disgusting. I sent it back. I get fresher fish at my local Tom Thumb in the middle of the County! From top to bottom this restaurant is a disgrace! Bartender pointing finger our faces and throwing a drink tab at me and walking away without even so much as a thank you or can I get you anything else, managers and waitresses fighting over stations and throwing customers in the heat and car exhaust because some little girl complained about where we were told to wait! The good reviews must be lies. The servers were despicable, the food was so bad it wound definitely have made someone sick. Their fish tacos must be made using the dead fish that are washing up on the beach. Save your money and your life and take your business...

I am pretty sure I have reviewed Island Time in the past and gave it a very good review. That has all changed along with the change in management/ownership or whatever happened about 9 months ago. We have been frequenting this place since we moved to the area and have brought many of our friends and family who visit Florida to give them a great taste of the island. We did that about 9 months ago and noticed a significant change in the quality of service and food. Since then we have gone to other places on the island. This time we were invited to go listen to the live music so we went. It has gotten worse. The staff looked overworked, frustrated, and everything but welcoming. The cleanliness was poor. The menu has changed significantly. This can often be good if it is for the better and bringing in new items but they did not. Based on what is now on the menu and what we ordered this is my guess; they changed vendors to a lower cost canned and frozen product selection and got rid of the chef and cooking staff for a kitchen staff who only knows how to scoop food out of containers, cook frozen food, and use a microwave or fryer. The food no longer is fresh, flavorful, and appealing. It no longer has the "island" type food vibe we loved and brought so many friends to try. I would equate it now to a shady roadside bar not an island bar. To really add to the distaste, they now have red solo cup lights hanging on the outside over the patio seating. I know this is the south but come on this is also Anna Maria island, be proud of where you have your business. People can get that vibe at another dive if they want it. If you are visiting, I would suggest you walk another block to something better. If you are a local I would guess you have already made a change. I would have given it a one star if it had not been for the great live music. That is the only thing they have...