Grillsmith - Countryside — Restaurant in Clearwater

Where to begin. First I love Grillsmith so invited a friend. I’ve been to this particular Grillsmith in the past years and it was fabulous, and I would always rave about it. We put our name on the list for an outdoor table. We’re told 15 min wait. The restaurant is not busy on this Saturday afternoon. The hostess asks if we want to go outside she can take my cell. I say no we are staying here and just going to look around the restaurant and get a cocktail. The bartender David comes over and we try to order a cocktail and remind you there are very few people at the bar and nobody else ordering cocktails. The bartender would come over and we would ask him if he had such and such and then he would walk away. No explanation just walk away. He did this three times and I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life. Bizarre behavior. Mind you this is before anythinb has been discussed about a table being missed or anything else. The fourth time he came over to take our drink order I literally looked at him and asked if he was ready to take our drink order. We ordered our drinks and the cocktails were fine. I closed out at the bar because I knew we were going to be getting a table and I didn’t want to be fussing with the bill when the hostess was ready for seating us. 15 min later I check on our table and she’s setting some new people. I ask if our table is ready and she says she called for us over and over. So now she said she’s going to add me back to the list I go back to the bar and I ask my companion. Did you hear her call us? No she says not a word. I asked the bartender did you hear our name called. Nope. About five minutes later, she calls for me and she asked me if I want a booth or a table and I tell her no we want to sit outside. So now she had forgotten we requested to sit outside. She acknowledged when we first asked for a table that we were going to sit outside, so I know she knew this. She then offers to sit us at a high top table outside . On the way out, I let her know that I’m a little upset at the fact that you didn’t call me and now you don’t know that we are sitting outside. Now she starts to argue with me and tell me that that’s not right and that she called for me and that because I didn’t give her my number to text me - she was not able to reach me. Mind you the bar is right next to the entrance of this restaurant We go outside and the table rocks and it’s a small table which I order a lot of food when I go out We take the table. Meanwhile, I ask her if I can speak with the manager she says - you can sit at another table if you want there’s a table over there you can have if you don’t like the high top. She doesn’t seem to see what the problem is and goes storming off to find the manager. The manager comes and proceeds to argue with us that his hostess is the sweetest person he has ever met, and couldn’t possibly have done anything wrong. My companion is looking at me and comments to me how useless it was to talk to this manager. He was obviously blinded to our concerns. He takes our order for some reason and that’s fine. Our salid arrives and we’re eating our salad for about two minutes when we realize we have no napkin or silverware like everyone else. We only have a fork on the salad plate - weird. Then literally less then five min later they bring our plates of food over to this tiny table where there is no room for it and we haven’t even begun to finish the salads. No silverware. Here is the kicker - The meat was not the typical cut of meat I get in ribeye from Grillsmith. This is a cafeteria steak at best. Neither of us ate our steak, and I took mine home and gave it to my very un-finicky dog. Of course we tipped accordingly and just Acknowledged that we would never be back again. I have to apologize to my friend that I brought her to this restaurant and this is her only experience with this...

This is a hard review to write. My husband and I frequent this location often and have always enjoyed our visit, but tonight was quite different. We entered the restaurant and there was a couple waiting, I went to the hostesses and she stated that it would be a 10 min wait. I asked if she wanted my name for the list she stated no, it wasn't needed and that we would be next. Another couple came in, the hostess told them it would be a 10 min wait and then asked if they would like seating inside or out (we didn't get that option). The couple told her it didn't matter and they sat to the opposite side of us to wait. A small group of 3 came in the hostess greeted them the same asked if they wanted seating in or out and then stated let me put your name on the list. I instantly looked up, but left it as is because she didn't ask the other couple about putting their name on the list. She calls the couple in front of us and have them seated. My husband went to the restroom and as I waited, about 5 mins later the hostess calls the other couple that came in after us to be seated. I immediately go to the hostess and ask why we were skipped and she says, "Oh Tanya right?" I tell her no, I'm not Tanya and she said oh I assumed you were. I ask why would you assume I was Tanya when you never took my name? She then proceeded to lie and say oh I thought I asked your name. I quickly corrected her and pointed out that I offered her my name for the list and she stated it wasn't needed. I also demanded an explanation of why I was skipped for seating and why I would be assumed a person by the name that she had listed. After her blatant profiling my husband walks up and I explain what's going on to him and he suggest we leave. This situation didn't sit well with me so I went back in and requested to speak to a manager. Of course the manager said all of the managerial things an apologized for the hostess's behavior, but the hostess herself never apologized nor attempted to correct the situation. I am over the blatant disrespect and profiling people of color have to deal with on a daily basis in this country. I just want to be treated as equal as my counterparts. This experience tonight shows that we are no where near that scenario and that we have a long way to go to get there. We will not be returning to Grill Smith any time soon, but I hope your experience turns out better...

Fifth or sixth visit review: I complete that I had previously reviewed Grillsmith Countryside, and as we were just there this evening, for the second time this week, I was compelled to get online and write one. So, since the last one was positive but low key, I'm rewriting. (Also, leaving my original text below)

I have never eaten in the dining room, and only sat at the bar. That being said, the bar staff here is unparalleled. Neil and Chris have waited on us several times. I wish I had enough words to describe how wonderfully amazing they are, but I don't. They are very personable, they know the menu like the back of their hand and are quick with on-point recommendations if you're not sure which direction you want to go. They both pour a delicious drink and you honestly feel like you've known them your entire life when talking to them.

As far as the food goes, the beef tip eggrolls are an absolute go to. Don't go easy on the horse sauce because it adds an element that takes them from good to great. The spicy Thai shrimp are my other favorite...similar to Bonefish's Bang Bang shrimp but better. They make a lot of their sauces in house, and even something as simple as blue cheese dressing is better there than most other places.

We will continue to patron this location. It's honestly one of my favorite spots in town.

First Visit Review: We sat at the bar. The bartender was very pleasant and made delicious drinks. The beef tip egg roll appetizer may very well be one of my new favorite things to eat. Ambiance was nice, even with a busy atmosphere I could still easily hear the conversation at my table. Well absolutely revisit this establishment, likely over...