Harbor Cafe — Restaurant in Clarksville

Harbor Cafe is an interesting experience. The building is beautiful inside and out, the food presentation was spot on, and the mixed drinks were delicious. However, the atmosphere seemed crowded, the prices were high for what we received, and the food didn't seem exceptional to justify the price.

Harbor Cafe sits on Lowe's Drive, cornering Wilma Rudolph Boulevard. As said before, the building is beautiful. However, the entrance is not where I expected, facing the entrance of the parking lot. In fact, it faces the retaining wall at the back of the plot, something I considered a strange place to put an entrance. It wasn't clearly marked or indicated, and the placing left me wondering if I was entering a side door or employee entrance.

Once inside, I noticed that the decor was very attractive and warm. Staff were well-dressed and walked with purpose, a good distinction from some restaurants with servers milling about with nothing to do. I had a friend inside who had already secured a table, and he escorted me inside the dining room itself. Therefore, I have no experience with the host staff. Our server was polite, though there was enough of a din in the room that I couldn't make out her name. Our table was close to others, as I expected to better accommodate more customers, but I very soon began to feel claustrophobic. This may not mean much coming from an introvert, so take that as you will.

The menu was large and unwieldy. Prices were high. The cheapest steak they had was an eight-ounce sirloin for $16.50. I'm not a rich man, but I am capable and willing to pay for an expensive cut if it's worth it in either quality or quantity. That was not the case here. The steak was $2 an ounce, a high price, and so I expected the quality to vastly outweigh the cost. While it was cooked to my preferred temperature (mid-rare), however, it was rather bland. I could have cooked this steak on my grill at home, and likely made it tastier. For $16.50, I absolutely expected more, and I didn't get it. My friends had similar opinions. Our food was cooked right, and one of my friends and his wife enjoyed their calimari, but the steaks were underwhelming for everyone, especially when considering how much we paid for them. Perhaps that's our fault. Harbor Cafe is themed after seafood, and so I fully expect them to specialize in that style of food. Perhaps if I wanted the steak I was expecting, I would be better served eating at a dedicated steakhouse.

A bright point, however, was the drinks. This may not say much, as I expect it doesn't take a lot to enjoy a mixed drink, but we absolutely loved our drinks. In particular, the Fishbowl was delicious. Everyone at the table partook in this (say what you will about that), and we all agreed that drink was worth every penny they charged. Our own individual drinks were also delicious, very attractively presented (garnish and all), and were reasonably priced.

All in all, Harbor Cafe was a mixed bag. It was attractive inside and out, and the staff were certainly busy. The food was not what I expected, though I was asking for food outside their specialty, so maybe I shouldn't expect anything extraordinary.

Those...

Harbor Cafe!!! A great eatery! This has to be my favorite place to eat anytime. Staff is fun, friendly and always happy to get you what you need.

My last visit(12/2020) was via carside pick up.I was pleasantly pleased how quick my order was ready. I was specific with my order. I asked for A1, which was in the bag🌠. Even asked for iced tea no ice🌠 and a side up of ice🌠It pleases me when the server takes the order correct❤

Like normal I always check my meal before leaving the parking lot for quality and temperature( yes I check because I want my meals to be fired fresh and hot) and steak was at a perfect medium well!! ⭐

Upon looking for my drink I thought they forgot it, nope! It was bagged up inside the huge bag with no ice and a extra cup of ice this pleased me. I don't like watered down tea.

I order a Ny Strip, Fresh cooked veggies, sweet potatoes with brown sugar butter mixture and sweet tea.

😐😐One small down fall which I think could Improve there curbside service. Is heavy duty cutlery. The cutlery worked but was flimsy and was difficult to cut my steak. This meal cost me approximately $29 and I only give them four stars this time because I think for a meal to cost me $29 The Cutlery should be top notch😐😐

Overall steak was juicy, lightly seasoned and the vegetables were done to my liking of a bite to my veg my potato the was huge ,could have used more brow sugar topping. Oh an my steak was sauteed with onions and mushroom. The cook must know what he's doing because by the time I made it home my steak was sitting in the seasoned juices it was cooked in and wrapped in foil to keep it nice and tender!

Due to covid I am eating out less but this was a welcomed treat to everything being how I remember it is dining in!!

If you go.. You will enjoy the ambiance and the experience perfect for...

Okay, for starters our waitress was excellent. So, nothing negative to report there at all. Got in quick, but it was an hour after we were seated that the main food was delivered. Got the app in about 15 minutes or so. We ordered the oysters Rockefeller. Tasted okay, but smelled kinda bad too. Not worth $13. Ordered an Asian-styled soup that tasted like dirty dishwater and stunk. Sent it back. Did NOT try the broccoli and cheese since I had already struck out on the first soup. Nasty, grainy, FROZEN and thawed bread. Cheap store bought "whipped spread" packets. The $24 prime rib was next. FROZEN meat...tough with little seasoning, if any. Ordered bacon fries with cheese and ranch on the side. Semi-soggy FROZEN and thawed fries. We ordered a side of mushrooms for the prime rib...the verdict...?...canned mushrooms from the store emptied into a dish and tossed in butter or something for serving. We ordered basic salads that were okay but had that special Waffle House feel and taste to them. Ranch was not house made but bottled. In short, EVERYTHING in this restaurant seemed to come out of their freezer. Nothing tasted fresh at all. Stay home and cook... YOU can do better than here.

Total BIll: $75 + 10 tip. Decor: Dated, drab, old cup rings on the table, bathrooms unkempt, 1 TV scrolled pics of their food (I genuinely wish this were the case because I would have rather chewed on the TV screen), heavy metal/rock playing above??? Why??? Fine dining should have quiet comforting music playing.

The theme of this restaurant is so confusing. The HUGE menu is not simple, direct and inviting but overpriced, misleadind, and just down right weird. Folks, underneath it all too I got the sense that this is really a bar pretending to be a restaurant. Please DON'T waste your money here. Frozen food from the grocery is...