Sandbar - Opal Sands Resort — Restaurant in Clearwater

I've been to the Sandbar multiple times, but my recent visit will sadly make me hesitate before going back. I was staying at the adjoining Opal Sands Resort (owner of this restaurant) with family, and we decided to grab a bite to eat after walking the beach. The location, atmosphere, food & drink options are great. It's a perfect location to grab a drink with friends and watch the sunset. As for the food, our recent visit led to a member of our party becoming violently ill after eating their stone crab. It was no more than an hour afterward, we were back in the room that he became sick. Almost a half-hour later, we needed to run out to buy some medicine. We decided to report this to the hotel manager so they could correct the issue before it happened to anyone else. He handled the situation perfectly and said he would speak to the restaurant manager and head chef. Obviously, this impacted the rest of our stay at their resort and no one expects this to happen while on vacation, but it seems they had a bad batch of crab. This happened on Nov. 30, 2016, and hopefully, isn't a widespread event (we saw multiple people eating crab that day). It's now the following day and he believes the crab was frozen and possibly improperly handled: it was difficult to crack open, slightly chewier than normal crab, and the water in the tray, from the melted ice, had a strong fishy odor. Don't let this review stop you from giving them a try. They have a good variety of drinks, and I've been here multiple times before with no issues. I just wanted to write this in the unlikely case someone else had their crab and became ill but also help the restaurant to prevent something like this from...

EDIT 2nd experience: Below you can see our first review. We had a great experience the first time, unfortunately our second visit wasn’t so great.. First off we sit down and our greeted eventually by waitress “Lucille”. She took our drink order, brought over our drinks and we never saw her again. She walked past our table about 25 times and didn’t even look over to us once. I attempted to ask to take an order and she turned immediately to the opposite direction. No problem, a nice guy noticed we were not being taken care of and came over to help us out. Then, a large table of people came in and were crowding the entire place walking around hanging over people taking videos, not 1 person said anything.... then... out of nowhere one of these musty people from that table started sneezing all over people not covering his mouth (he sneezed on someone’s back at 1 point). I advised the employee we wanted to move and let him know. His response was “yeah I saw that they seem strange” but did nothing about it. Eventually we got our dinner which did taste good but we couldn’t drink the rum bucket because bugs were in it. Overall second experience I feel ripped off and pretty disrespected.

1st Experience: Our first restaurant in Clearwater what a great experience! Amazing, attentive service and the food was delicious. Pulled pork nachos were very good, but the burger was on point. I would definitely recommend getting the onion rings probably the best I’ve ever had. Rum buckets are $10 refills and taste very good, not to strong and not too weak just the...

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/5 stars)

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this gem of a restaurant, and words cannot express the sheer delight I experienced. The pulled pork nachos were nothing short of a revelation—a symphony of flavors that danced on my taste buds long after the last bite. Four months have passed since that unforgettable meal, and the memory still lingers, beckoning me back for more.

What truly sets this establishment apart, however, is not just the culinary genius behind the dishes but the exceptional service that accompanies it. Our waiter, a true maestro of hospitality, elevated our dining experience to unparalleled heights. Without a word from us, he astutely discerned our desire for a better view and seamlessly orchestrated a move to a table that afforded us an even more enchanting ambiance.

The attention to detail extended beyond the plate and into the very fabric of our evening. It's a rare find to encounter such attentiveness and genuine care in service.

Adding to the allure is the reasonable pricing, which only enhances the overall value of the experience. This establishment proves that one can savor excellence without breaking the bank.

In conclusion, this culinary haven has left an indelible mark on my gastronomic journey. Each visit promises not just a meal but a rendezvous with perfection. Without a doubt, I will be a returning patron, making this my go-to spot whenever I find myself in town. Ten out of five stars—because five just isn't enough for an experience of...