Red Onion Mediterranean Restaurant — Restaurant in Destin

Unfortunately, I could not respond directly to the most recent review posted by Hanane , however as part of the “ other party” seated before them would like to leave a review and another side to the story.

First off , while turning into the restaurant from HWY 98, the entrance way was blocked by a large SUV , which was also blocking traffic on 98. It was pouring raining and several people were exiting the vehicle directly in front of the restaurant door while opening umbrellas.

After parking , when we walked inside there was a large group ahead of us speaking with the hostess.

She told them that it would be a 30 minute wait for a group of 8 people.

We were a group of three and yes it is correct , we did not have reservations.

The hostess had one open table and was willing to seat our party at it.

The lady with the other party was understandably upset, however, the hostess explained in a very professional and polite manner, that she only had one table, and that she could accommodate a party of three right now, but in 30 minutes, she would be able to accommodate their party of eight.

There are not a lot of places in Destin, where a party of eight can be accommodated within 30 minutes at 6:30 PM in the evening in the middle of peak tourist season.

I very seldom write reviews, however, in this case I felt the rest of the story needed to be told. We are local, we have eaten here many times and have always thoroughly enjoyed the food.

The same hostess has been there each time, she is always working very hard, and does her best to accommodate guests. The Red Onion is a small restaurant, there is limited seating, and 30 minutes is not an unreasonable wait for such a large party.

Thank you for the excellent food and look forward to dining there again in the future.

And just to add one final point no one was asked to wait outside in rain .

The interior of this restaurant is Not a large space, this group of individuals were standing directly in front of the swinging doors for the kitchen. The hostess explained that she could not have them standing there because not only were they blocking the entrance to the restaurant, but she was concerned that they would get hit by someone moving in and out of the kitchen.

There’s always going to be more than one side to a story, but this is definitely a great local restaurant with reasonable prices and...

In an area where restaurants and eateries alike debut below par, lackluster, exorbitant cuisine, Red Onion stands alone. In the literal sense, the restaurant is among the only of its class in the area. Sitting on the stretch of Harbor Boulevard, you may only see the quaint spot if you drive into the parking lot looking for coffee. Respectfully, painted white and blue walking into the eatery you are promised a Mediterranean delight. In my party of 2, we were immediately greeted warmly and invited to dine. The space is small giving service to thirty maximum, great for an intimate meal to be spent. The décor is very pleasant as the theme carries to a matching interior, congenial to one’s supple tastes. At this time we were the only guests dining in, again the environment was currently very clean, authentic, and importantly well staged as music and accompanied service filled the ambiance. The menu is a great selection for the scaled eatery, concise Mediterranean staples fish, lamb, beef, chicken and vegetarian options are all offered in a short segment of entrées, starters, and differing plates. My choice of the Swedish meatball dish was nothing less than satisfactory. I first appreciate the service of unveiling a silver platter to a generous portion of its constituents. The additional plate, a falafel and salad was beautifully presented as well with sizable portions. As for quality the falafel was textbook in texture with flavor far from underwhelming. The salads were fresh, and well presented with great taste. For the entrée, I enjoyed the potato and beef being well seasoned, with a favorable texture. I’d suggest more of garnishment or accompanying sauce for dish development. In my taste, the food quality leaves this menu and restaurant acclamatory, in itself and what it is surrounded by. In closing, Red Onion takes a well tailored approach to giving a gratifying restaurant experience. Service is exceptional, with attentive staff and examples of service practices. The quiet atmosphere was relaxing and made for enjoyable dining. The food was as expected and more, of great delivery in presenting, taste, cuisine, and standard. The environment was delightful which made for a splendid occasion. I will make a return and extoll this restaurant in eating recommendations to come. Thank...

My recent visit to Red Onion left me utterly disappointed and disgusted. The experience was marred by poorly cooked food, abysmal service, and a general lack of professionalism.

Let's start with the food. I ordered the soup, hoping for a warm and flavorful dish, but what I received was anything but. The taste was appalling, as if it had been left to simmer for far too long. Additionally, the rice accompanying the meal was undercooked, almost raw in some parts. Even the seemingly simple Feta cheese roll was a disaster - raw and unpleasant.

Unfortunately, the nightmare didn't end with the food. The service was shockingly terrible. Our server seemed completely oblivious to our needs and displayed a rude attitude from the moment we sat down. It was evident that she lacked any knowledge or understanding of proper customer service.

What baffled me the most was the server's response when we brought up the issue of the raw rice. Instead of apologizing or offering a solution, she seemed surprised and casually mentioned that it was cooked in a rice cooker. This lack of accountability and care for customer satisfaction was truly appalling.

Additionally, it's worth noting that although the server did offer mashed potatoes or fried potatoes to replace the rice, we declined as we simply wanted to pay and leave. We ended up paying $70 for a meal we didn't eat. The utensils were overused, the plates were sharp and in a horrible condition, and even the water was left untouched due to the overall unpleasant atmosphere.

In conclusion, my experience at Red Onion was nothing short of a disaster. From the poorly cooked food to the atrocious service and lack of basic hygiene standards, it's evident that this establishment has a long way to go in terms of quality and professionalism. I strongly advise against dining here until they make significant...