Margaritaville Restaurant - Destin — Restaurant in Destin

I hate to leave a negative review for any place — and this one is especially hard to write for a place that holds a place so near and dear to my heart (huge Jimmy Buffett fan here with tickets to see him perform in Nashville in July). But our experience was so bad that I will most likely never return to this location...at least not for many, many more years when things have had time to change — and this is spoken as someone who vacations in Destin at least once, if not twice a year. First, it’s my honeymoon, and we want to stick with places to eat we’ve been to before and know we should have a good experience at. It’s 9:03 p.m. when we arrive (June 14th), and we go to put our name in at the hostess stand. The restaurant doesn’t close until 10, and we can tell there are several empty seats with no one waiting, so we assumed we could get right in with no issue (we also intentionally set out later so crowds could die down a bit). We’re asked how many we have in our party, which there were two of us. But then there was some hesitation among the hosts, and we’re told you aren’t seating any new people... Again, there are numerous empty tables and the restaurant is open for another entire hour. I should have asked to speak with a manager right then and there, but we had just come from a couple other places that had closed at 8(?....it’s the middle of tourist season and you’re closing before it gets dark? I know there are worker shortages right now, but really?), so we were in no mood to argue about it. We just wanted to eat. So we went over to the bar, even though neither of us drink. To his credit, the bartender (and in our case...server) couldn’t have been nicer. I made sure to leave him a good tip because the awful service we received most certainly wasn’t his fault. That said, the couple beside us sat down at exactly the same time as us and received their food a good 30 minutes before us. They had cheeseburgers, which take a considerable amount of time to cook. We had chicken tenders and fish tacos...a deep fried meal that can be ready in five minutes. Not only that, but I also ordered a side salad with my meal. My entree came out before the salad, and I only received the salad when I mentioned I didn’t get it. Oh, but it gets better. EVERY PIECE OF LETTUCE IN THE SALAD WAS ROTTEN. I’ve included a pic in this review. Look, I’m ok with one or two pieces of lettuce being bad. Not every head of lettuce is perfect, and I can easily pick out a bad piece or two. But I make salads often at home. This lettuce had to have sat in the fridge for at least two or three days to have become that spoiled. Lettuce just doesn’t go bad like that in a day. Completely and utterly unacceptable for any restaurant and ESPECIALLY one where I pay $78 after tip for chicken tenders and fish tacos... Finally, there wasn’t anything to distinguish the restaurant (at least where we were sitting) from any other. I didn’t hear a single Jimmy Buffett song played, nor were any concerts playing on TV like the last time I came... Like...how? Why? That was the whole point of coming and overpaying for a meal that half of which I could have gotten at Zaxby’s and would have been much more filling, better tasting and far less expensive. It was just an all-around bad experience with the exception of our server, and I don’t know that I will ever be back...at least not to...

To get into the harbor boardwalk you pay $20 payable upon leaving. Margaritaville sits on the middle of the boardwalk and serves as both a bar and restaurant. The restaurant is open so you have ocean view on one side and directly looking down at the boardwalk on the opposite side. This place is open with ceiling fans running, closer you sit near the boating dock the more air you feel circulated. At times just a tiny bit stuffy otherwise very airy. Wait time for a table was under 2 minutes. They had a very large crowd so it took a bit to get drinks ordered. I had the fountain soda which was awful, both Coke and the root beer. I was offered Coke from another source but tried the root beer. Went flat very quickly. Others in my party ordered cocktails, both virgin and alcohol based and said they were very good with many varieties to choose from. To get the food order took even longer but our server was extremely accommodating and wasn't at fault. They did bring the mashed potatoes for our baby first within 15 minutes. To get our order took forever but again, the establishment was VERY busy and on a weekday at that. When we finally received the food, the wait was WORTH EVERY MINUTE!!! Literally the best I've ever had at any restaurant. Refills were kept up re regularly. One lady came around offering group pictures but were pricey. As you were eating you can watch the boats pull back into the harbor and would sound their horn waving at the patrons. Tons of ambiance with servers bring entertainment to the guests. Out door seating area was offered. A bit on the expensive side, for 2 people with 1 baby, the bill was over $110. Menu had a very large option for different tastes. Children's menu was very diverse. A souvenir shop right outside with T shirts being the main merchandise, starting price was $40. Additional options included cups, license plates, etc. Boardwalk itself has zip lining, boat rides, train for kids that runs up and down, huge chair for picture options. Also has a free fall and rock climb. Up and firm both sides offers many different stores, eating options, ice cream, souvenir trinkets, VR experience, escape room to name just a few. Something for everyone. No smoking section but I lit up in the parking lot and wasn't approached at all. Definitely will...

Worst Birthday Dinner ever. Very Disrespectful staff from the start 3 host busy talking rather then helping never was greeted at the door stood at the host stand for 2 mins staring at them talk. I had to say something to them to end their conversation and have them take our names for the wait list. Went to the bar and ordered food due to a 2 hour wait while we waited for our table it was busy I had no issue with that. People allowed to vape at the bar was pretty disrespectful. When our food came out it was visually under cooked and I asked the bar tender Josh if he could take it back to be cooked longer he said "No, the cooks were to busy for him to take it back i would have to take it like that and walked away." So I ripped the chicken in half it was gooey and clearly undercooked. When he came back over I told him he needs to take it back again he looked at me and said he will have to order a new plate now because I touched it. Which wouldn't of happened if he would of taken it back when he first brought it over because I told him it wasn't done before I touched it. Waited another 40 mins for a new plate. We had to ask him for silverware and condiments because he never brought them over. The silver wear were dirty so we had to ask for new ones. And something green floating in the glass of water we asked for. After eating at the bar our table was finally ready so we left the bar to go to our table for desert and wait for the Thursday night fireworks. Waiter Thomas (Tommy) was the only staff member who treated us with class. He noticed our original waitress for that table never came to check on us after 20 mins of being seated. He began waiting the table himself instead. Very respectful very friendly came over multiple times to check on us, May be one of the best waiters I've ever had anywhere. Tommy is the only reason I gave 2 stars instead of a 1 star review. •men's bathroom only one sink works other is broken, both soap dispensers are broken but automatic cover is removed on one so you manually pump the soap to use it. Floors are wet and slippery walking back to the floor from bathroom on a down grade sloap it was like walking on ice. No wet floor signs or ways...