Santini Seafood and Steakhouse — Restaurant in Carteret

Went to Santini about a week ago. I realize they are just opening but they are very unorganized. On Friday we were told no available tables and to make reservation for Saturday. We said ok and attempted to make a reservation. We were told we had to make it on Saturday. That was fine. When we called Saturday we were told they weren't taking reservations because there were too many cancellations. That was also not a problem. We showed up on Saturday and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. While we were waiting it started to rain. There were several empty tables under the tent but they were uncleaned. We were offered a table in the rain. That was unacceptable. We waited another 15 minutes for a table to be cleared. After being seated we waited about 15 minutes before telling a waitress no one was attending us. 15 minutes later we were still waiting. Once we did get service we ordered sangria, appetizer s and a meal. Service was very slow. Sangria was fair, appetizer was passable, dinner was bland. When we were asked how food was we said it could have been spiced better. Waitress was polite and said ok. I doubt our comments received any recognition. I never mind paying for a good meal and good service but this was neither. Hopefully Santini gets their act together. It would be nice to have a quality seafood restaurant in Carteret. I am undecided if I will give them another try in a few weeks. Hopefully they get their act together. They will not survive long if they...

Very nice and clean. At right away and the waiter was very attentive. Appetizers: The shrimp cocktail was fresh and delicious. Fried calamari was overcooked and had weird gardeneira and peppers on it. The marinara sauce that came with it was thin and tasteless like tomato soup. Main course: first, I ordered the cowboy ribeye for 39$. Shortly after the waiter came back and said the cowboy ribeye was now 56$. I understand markets change, but i just felt that should be done before you hand me a menu. Chicken francaise was fresh and very tender and the sauce was plentiful but a bit strong in the wine flavor. I ordered the 16 oz filet with roasted potatoes. I asked if they could make it a baked potato, but they said they couldn't. I received the 8oz filet. It was cooked nicely but it was a bit mangled. Like someone cut it open to see how it was cooked. The vegetables were hot but tasted like they were frozen vegetables. The rice was a huge upside down cup shaped pile of tasteless yellow rice. And the potatoes were sliced very, I mean very thin and were fried. They were dry inside and tasted like a plain potato chip. Definitely not what my mind imagined when I read "roasted potatoes". All in all, the food was edible and fresh, except for the frozen vegetables, but I would probably...

Decided to try eating locally and damn did the pay off!!

Cane here with my family because I live locally and I was surprised I never came here before!

The food was impeccable and truly tasted like it was fresh and well tended to. Even though I had my own personal preferences with my meal it was hard for me to dislike anything they served. Along with entrees I got a lava cake and I'm not going to be able to find a better restaurant lava cake than this.

Food was an absolute 10/10

The service was amazing as well. Our server Brian came to serve us with a great attitude. One of my family members was torn on what meal to pick. Brian did not hesitate on assisting him, and did it with a very respectful tone and manner.

Service gets an easy 10/10

Atmosphere of the restaurant was nice and calm as the restaurant wasn't over lit, the music they provided was friendly and not too loud, and they provided sports entertainment on the TV's. (Which also had mellow volume, quite a bonus)

Atmosphere is an easy 10/10

Overall 30/30

Final thoughts: Being that it's a local restaurant and defnitely high caliber for a small restaurant like that. It'll be an easy decision to cone here again...