St. John's River Grille — Restaurant in DeLand

UPDATED REVIEW JULY 3, 2022: I need to update my review, unfortunately. Mostly to make management aware. You guys have a good thing there. Don't blow it! The location is beautiful. The only one like it unless you drive to Astor or Debary. My husband's parents were in town for my sister-in-law's 30th wedding anniversary. We love the river and our last experience was great so we wanted to take them here for their last night. Seven adults and three children. Upon arrival at 6:30 on a Sunday, we were notified that they were doing fried food only and a few other random menu items. So we decide to sit down anyway. We were seated on the back open porch which was gorgeous. It was raining, but it was protected and we saw manatees floating by and even a double rainbow. As we were ordering our drinks, the waitress (who was very sweet) informs us that maybe the kitchen will "open back up" because another large party just came in. So obviously they COULD do other food, they just wouldn't. So we ask if they can do the Gator Mac and Cheese in particular. The waitress went to ask the kitchen and they say yes.... well, for $16, they brought out fried gator bites on top of a child's microwaved Mac and cheese. We know because my other niece got the kids mac and cheese and it was the exact same thing. My niece was disappointed because it has been so good before. It is supposed to be in a creamy sauce with sauteed peppers and onions. We ate the gator bites off the top, and stuck the Mac and Cheese at the kids table where it belonged... I will say the wings were very good. My sister-in-law got the Paris Mule and it was literally only ginger beer, none of the other mixers or liquor it was supposed to have. So while we will probably return because this is the only choice in the area, management should know and take heed. To be a successful restaurant, you need to be consistent. We all work hard for our money... and we chose to dine with you. Your location is beautiful! Don't blow it!

PRIOR REVIEW IN MAY 2022. We pulled in on our boat. Such a beautiful restaurant and outside screened area. We had Tessa as our waitress. She was amazing!!! So friendly and pleasant and really really good, remembered everything!! Our fish sandwiches and wings were amazing. And also the Mermaid bucket. Sooooo good! Thank you so...

Third trip here in the past year. First trip last March we waited about 20 minutes to be visited by the server who took our drink orders and disappeared for another 20 minutes. After she took our order we got our food in about 30 minutes. Food was very good. The second trip last May was very similar to the first trip. Took quite a while for our server to show up to the table but once our order was placed it wasn't too long of a wait to get our food and again it was very good. Today was a visit to hell. Got seated immediately but didn't see the server for 35 minutes even after bugging the hostess three times that he hadn't been to our table. Tables around us that were seated after us had ordered their food within 15 minutes of being seated. When the server did show up he was in a big hurry to get away but did, at our insistence, take both our drink and food order. After we got our drinks we didn't see him for another 45 minutes when he stopped by to tell us that the kitchen was pretty backed up. A few minutes later another young man brought a tray of chips to the table and again apologized for the kitchen being backed up. We got our food 75 minutes after we placed the order and the order was messed up. Chips instead of the fries that my wife ordered and a side Caesar salad instead of the full salad that I ordered. The food was good but not as good as the two previous visits. The only thing our server did promptly was bring us the check.

FYI only one of the 4 servers we saw did a good job of being on the floor and checking on their customers. The other three never showed up except to take the order, or deliver the drinks and food.

If the kitchen is that far behind then we should have been told before we were seated. We...

...dropped in for lunch today, first time customers. We were greeted by the bartender yelling across the room from the bar (while on the phone) that we were early, we would not be seated and our order would not be taken. Point please???? No greeting. No, hey you all are a bit early, we will be right with you. A party of four gentlemen came in right behind us and were told the same thing, the only difference was she did take the phone away from her face before yelling at them. This did very little to promote a nice lunch on the river mood. And just curious, why was the door open if you weren't ready for customers? Thankfully, a very polite young girl stepped in and told us she would get a table for us, but not before being scolded by the bartender, letting her know we would not be seated or served until after 11. In spite of this, she did take us to a table where we were greeted by yet another person. She was also very friendly, she took our drink order, but was quick to remind us that we were early and our food order would not be taken until after 11am (remember that this all started at 10:50) The drinks came out wrong, no ice and the glasses were very sticky around the rims. At this point, lunch buddy has to convince me why we should stay here.. Our waitress came to the table, after 11. She was very courteous, made recommendations and gave great customer service. The food was very good. The whole experience took over two hours (alittle slow overall for lunch), but I am glad we didn't let the rants of the bartender turn us away from what turned out to be a nice lunch. We have out of town family that plan to use the campsite this fall, will advise them...