Sanderlings Restaurant — Restaurant in Capitola

I come eat here probably 2-3 times a year for the past few years. The service is really slow and the food quality is on par with cafeteria food. But I still come to enjoy the outdoor seating before heading down to the beach.

On July 3rd I had a very unpleasant experience with the restaurant front receptionist (I believe her name was Helena). I entered the restaurant and requested outdoor seating and was led to a table by the staff. After waiting 15 minutes with no one stopping by (not even water), a lady (Helena), approached us and asked if we are here for service, why are we sitting here, and then told us we are not allowed to sit here because it is reserved. She was extremely rude as if I snuck past the staff and seated myself. After about 30 seconds of questioning me, I told Helena that her staff sat me here. Then she starts interrogating me on who that person was and what was she wearing. After I described the other person she realizes I didn't pick out a seat myself, her attitude changed and then proceeded to relocate our party of two to another table.

I have no issues moving to another table if the staff made a mistake. But seriously, there is no need to assume the customer sat themselves bypassing you. The restaurant has a sophisticated computer system with seating software. If the system was properly used the seat I was originally taken to should have shown unavailable. But instead of checking with her staff, she comes at me out of nowhere.

Then at my new table, I waited another 15 minutes for someone to take my order, 30 minutes for the food. So it took an hour to get food for two but they threw in some shade from Helena for free within the first 15 minutes.

I will give this place a pass in the future. I rather buy some food and beverages and picnic...

Holy smokes, the food here was tremendous. I don't like going to fancy restaurants, I always leave feeling like I've been taken advantage of. I honestly have never left a restaurant where I paid more than $100 for two people and felt like it wasn't a mistake. Not so with Sanderlings. We got there a little before dinner started and each had a bowl of clam chowder. It was not warm enough, but the chowder itself was really really good (and we just moved back here from new england a few months ago). I had a had a mixed drink with bourbon which was a little too heavy on the liqueur, but I'm a purist and should have just had my bourbon neat anyway. My wife liked her drink. Anyhow, the coolness of the chowder and nonperfect drink are what knocked a star off. If I were just rating the entree it'd be five stars all the way. I got the rack of lamb which was on special, and she got the duck. And let me tell you, the way that lamb was cooked... it brings tears to me eyes... god I can still taste it... I mean, it was PERFECT from skin to bone, and you bet I was gnawing them bones like a hungry street dog at the end, yes I was. But I was also full at the end! The sweet potato and greens were also fabulous. Yes, the food was scrumtrulescent, and there was an appropriate quantity of said food. So thank you, Sanderlings. I wandered into your establishment on a whim after my hike got rained out, and I'm...

Seascape resort is a beautiful stunning resort, nice accommodations, lots of room to play and explore and yet the most memorable part of our stay here was our dinner at Sanderlings. Memorable because the food was so horrible. Clam chowder was thin and soupy bot chowdery, and the two bites of clams in it were sandy, I’m not really sure how you manage that 2/2 bowls. The entrees were… flavorful but not the kind of flavors that would make you want to come back. I had the fish which was fine and aesthetically pleasing I guess but somehow dry and bland despite all the sauce they added to the dish. My husbands dish was by far the most unforgettable. Have you ever left chicken in the croc pot for too long and had it come out dry despite all the sauce that was added? Thats what this reminded me of, aesthetically 0/10 for the sloppy skin that seemed like it was just thrown on there. And what are those giant beans? My god, just because they are unique doesnt make them fine dining. And perhaps this place wouldnt market itself as fine dining but the menu is priced as such, nearly $300 for our family of 5 to have this unforgettable meal. Kid menu is mid, not horrible but unimpressive as well. Overall the menu is trying too hard and not succeeding, maybe add a burger? I’ve paid $30 for a dry burger before and been less disappointed. Waitress was very...