I recently had the pleasure of dining at Island Way Grill, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked through the door, I was captivated by the warm and inviting ambiance. However, what truly set this restaurant apart was the outstanding service provided by Matthew. His exceptional attentiveness, friendliness, and extensive knowledge truly made my visit remarkable.
Let's start with the food. The flavors at Island Way Grill were absolutely divine. Each dish I tried was expertly prepared, bursting with freshness, and had a delightful balance of flavors. The menu offered a wide variety of options, catering to different tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you are a seafood lover or prefer other culinary delights, this restaurant has something to satisfy every palate.
The ambiance at Island Way Grill was precisely what I was looking for in a dining experience. The restaurant boasts a charming coastal theme, transporting you to a tranquil beachside escape. The tasteful decor, combined with soft lighting and comfortable seating, created an atmosphere that was both inviting and relaxing. It's the perfect setting for an intimate dinner or a gathering with friends and family.
But what truly made my visit exceptional was the exceptional service provided by Matthew. From the moment he greeted us, his outgoing and friendly demeanor made us feel welcome and valued. He took the time to explain the menu in detail, recommending dishes based on our preferences. His knowledge of the ingredients was truly impressive.
Matthew's attention to detail was evident throughout the evening. He ensured that our drinks were always topped up, checked in on us regularly to ensure our satisfaction, and provided insightful recommendations that enhanced our dining experience. He went above and beyond in every aspect, making sure that our needs were met and exceeded.
It's rare to encounter such a dedicated and passionate individual in the service industry. Matthew's genuine enthusiasm for his work shone through in every interaction, making our visit truly memorable. His commitment to delivering exceptional customer service is highly commendable and speaks volumes about the values of Island Way Grill as a whole.
In conclusion, Island Way Grill is a hidden gem that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a remarkable dining experience. The delectable food, inviting ambiance, and the outstanding service provided by Matthew make this restaurant a true standout. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply looking for a memorable meal, Island Way Grill is the place to be. Kudos to the entire team for their dedication...
Read moreMy wife and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary on Clearwater Beach. We always like to go out to dinner to celebrate. We haven’t been to Island Way Grill in a long time so we chose this as is our place to celebrate our special occasion. When I made the reservations, I put on it that we are celebrating our 44th wedding anniversary.
Our experience started when we went up to the person handling reservations to check in. This girl turned out to be one of the managers. She put her finger in our face and said you’ll need to wait a minute. This was very rude. When we went into the main dining room I felt like I was in a high school cafeteria. It was so loud!!! We could barely hear each other talk. This wasn’t the romantic setting I was expecting from Island Way Grill. They gave us a little card when we checked in and it said “Happy anniversary and they put it on the table. I figured this was just the way that the server would know to bring us a complementary dessert or drink. The server never acknowledged our anniversary. We saw two large parties come in and sit down and get right back up and leave. They were talking about how loud it was in there. People dressed in flip-flops and shorts and T-shirts and baseball caps and I don’t remember Island Way being just another beach bar. We were dressed up so we felt awkward.
The food was nothing special and the service wasn’t very good. When we were finished eating, I was expecting the server to say “ for your anniversary we’re giving you a dessert or a drink”. That never happened so I asked him why they put a card on the table, what does it mean? He said it’s just a card. We don’t get anything. When we were leaving, I spoke to that same manager, who was working the check-in desk about it. I said we’ve been to many many restaurants in our 44 years and Island Way is the first one who never offered us anything for our anniversary except a card. I suggested she just not give cards as it’s very tacky. She said she has mentioned this to the owner and he just doesn’t want to give anything away.
Frank Chivas, the owner, his been in the restaurant business for many years. I remember when the Island Way opened it wasn’t anything like this. Back in the day Franks used to visit his restaurants often. I have a feeling he hasn’t been in this one in a very long time. Frank, you may need to go in for a visit. Just a warning, if it’s your birthday or anniversary you won’t get any dessert or drink on the house. We won’t be going back to the...
Read moreAmazing brunch buffet with a huge assortment of foods to choose from. Your meal comes with a mimosa and all soft drinks are included as well (coffee, tea, cappuccino and soda). We started with the seafood, freshly made sushi, peel and eat shrimp, freshly shucked oysters on the half shell and delicious fish spread. They also had a carving station with delicious looking ham and roast beef that I never did try because I LOVE OYSTERS and ate more than my fair share. The next room had some charcuterie, salads and fruit on one table (with a fall beet, pecan and brussel sprout salad )that I absolutely loved and will try to duplicate at home) and then chaffing dishes with many hot items including quiche, pasta, blackberry blintzes (YUM), french toast, bacon, sausage and much more. Most of it was top notch but there were a few less memorable dishes for me (probably just a personal taste issue on my part). The dessert table in the next room was awesome! All of my faves including cannolis, key lime pie, tiramisu, lemon squares and lemon coconut macaroons. The had cappuccino, which was too sweet for my liking, so I just had coffee with the most yummy cinnamon sugar donut holes. They also had some specialty items that they were making to order. You could request them from your server. They had a mini pumpkin spice waffle with a dollup of whipped cream and syrup on the side, which was delish. My daughter ordered the nutella and banana crepe, which she said was underwhelming (it had chocolate syrup drizzled on top and the crepe itself was very tough and chewy. She had to use a knife to get through it). We also ordered the bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese but it was never brought to us, so I can't comment on it. Our server spent a lot of time with the table behind us, because they were ordering a lot of cocktails and probably had a very high check total. We only ordered one cocktail that was an additional charge, so it felt like we didn't warrant as much of her attention as others who were spending more. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday and I told the server at the beginning. I was hoping that she would have tried to do something a little special for her but it was not acknowledged after her initial "happy birthday" at the beginning of the meal. Overall though it was top quality food, lovely atmosphere with Live Caribbean steel drum music playing and a beautiful view of the water. We will...
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