The Carriage Wine and Market: Dauphin Island — Restaurant in Dauphin Island

Regarding menu and interior design, this is the most elevated small plate and bar establishment I’ve experienced since living on the Gulf Coast for two years. That being said, there is beyond a lot of room for improvement. We had to order at the bar Instead of having our order taken at the table. Wait staff was vaping in plain sight and didn’t seem to wash hands before retrieving food from the kitchen to bring to customers based on how fast that happened. All of our food was brought out together, instead of separating it into appetizers and mains. Once the food was brought to the table, it was almost 20 minutes before wait staff came back to check on food quality and to see if we needed anything else to drink. Half of the food was way too salty. The bar mix was tasty $4 for a tiny ramekin was ridiculously expensive. The onion dip with gluten-free pita was tasty. Wait staff failed to bring small plates to serve and share. The jalapeño pimento cheese was extremely salty and otherwise bland; certainly not spicy. The tortillas with my husband’s tacos did not seem to have been heated. The taco filling temperature was not hot or even sort of warm.The cilantro or dill sauce on the tacos was so salty as to be inedible. The cheddar cheese on the tacos didn’t seem to go with any of the rest of what it was assembled with. The honey, lemon dressing on the red white and blue salad was refreshing once I tossed it by hand in the plate myself. When the salad came to the table, the arugula, berries and feta on the plate were fresh yet completely dry as all the dressing was at the bottom of the plate. The most offensive/hilarious part of this whole experience was that my husband wanted a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. As none were sold by the glass, he went to the wine market which is under the same ownership and roof as the restaurant to buy a bottle priced at $17. He asked if he could have it, chilled and served at the table. He was told that he could for a $20 corkage fee. Y’all, corkage fees are for when bottles are brought from outside of an establishment. We won’t be back until this place’s processes and overall...

Best food and drinks I've had so far on the island (!), if you want something a bit more upscale and high quality than the sandwich shop/tourist restaurants. Great wine list, especially wines by the glass. The wine tastings offer a nice change as well. I love their wine store, where I can purchase some gourmet items; i.e., good crackers and cheese, etc., and better quality bottles. Best fresh, raw Gulf oysters I've had on island as well. Tangy, sweet, juicy. The cheeseboard is yummy, and the other seafood appetizers and entrees fresh and delish. I'd love to see some weekly specials (food, not price), since I'm here for a few months and ya'll have the best food, so I can come every week and not have to ferry over to G.S. for variety (feedback, not criticism). Loving the new fall menu, which has tasting serving sizes for wines (2.5 oz.)! That means I can get 3 different glasses at once to see which I enjoy best. Grateful for the sparkling menu, which is ample. Friendly, prompt service! I can't say enough about the stellar service I've received each time I visit. Everyone is very friendly and makes me feel welcome. I'd give 5 stars for atmosphere, but the music inside is sometimes so loud I can't hear my friend talk, so we sit outside away from the speakers, but it can get hot on the patio. (Music for dining should accompany...not overpower). Love the interior banquettes and overall vibe, indoor and out. Great patio--dog friendly, too. Across from a public access beach, so sometimes there's a nice ocean breeze. But it can get hot, even with the fans. Some shades or something to keep the sun off the tables would be nice, and fans that cover the entire table, IMO. During the heat of the day, there's only 1-2 tables in shade and the fans only blow onto one person at the table, so you literally get the 'hot seat'. The patio is perfect unless you're there during midday-- Hey, some of us sleep in and eat lunch...

Okay, we were excited to see DI getting a wine bar! Waited for it to open with great anticipation and on a girls' trip tried it out last Wednesday around 5pm. The indoor space is very small and only available table seating was outside which was pretty nice because it was a beautiful day, but in the heat would have prefered indoor. Didn't see a table that would have seated 9 people inside anyway. But we tried to made the best of it. Food menu mentions limited availability and wait person/bartender wasn't sure what was available, so we decided just to get cocktails. Wait staff/bartender was very patient and sweet, but obviously inexperienced. There were nine of us, and we each ordered one of 6 different "specialty" cocktails: rose colored glasses, Island margaritas otr, french g&t, paloma, carriage breeze and one other one. I mention all the drinks because they, although different, had one thing in common. All were extremely watered down. I had the $16 Rose Colored Glasses cocktail, which is supposed to have teguila, lillet blanc and rose lemonade. This could have been a very tasty drink if it hadn't been totally watered down. No alcohol flavor and only slight lemonade flavor. The margaritas arrived, looking like clear liquid over ice, didn't have any lime juice in it. The taste was described 'like rock candy' without the lime juice...shouldn't it have tasted like tequila? hmm...but that was quickly rectified by bartender, who came to table with lime juice, but not the tequila. I don't want to put down the bartender as she had a nice personality and was embarressed about the margarita and she did apologize profusely. Needless to say, we left after the one drink. Management should have had an experienced bar person to train her, especially on opening week. Wish I could say more positive things about this place. Bathroom was clean. Maybe in time they will iron...