The Hope Farm — Restaurant in Fairhope

We had our wedding here in late May and we wanted to love it, even choosing this venue over a waterfront venue, which was our original idea. However there were some serious lapses in the service that left us feeling very overwhelmed during our wedding day and we are trying not to look back on it and remember the regrets. Some of the issues: -The florals were not put out. We actually hand-made floral arrangements from peonies and roses and dropped them off the night before to be set out during the reception. However these were not set out and my husband had to ask for them to be placed on the tables about 1 hour into the reception. Only after my uncle decided to take matters into his own hands and start setting things up did the staff decide to put some of the decorations out. Many decorations weren’t ever set out, including custom napkins we had made with our name and wedding date that were to be handed out with the cake. -No wedding coordinator. THF offered a day of wedding coordinator, which we thought was a nice service that we saw a lot of the venues nearby have been doing. However, we did not know that the wedding coordinator did not cover timeline or vendor drop off or pick up. Basically, the coordinator was really just to coordinate the food. Had this been communicated we would have happily hired a day of coordinator however we didn’t find out until DURING the reception that there was no one present to perform these tasks. Fortunately, our incredible photographer stepped up and handled the timeline, however a lot of our wedding day was still spent trying to put out fires rather than enjoy ourselves. For instance, we had a miscommunication with our vendor installing the dance floor and my husband had to go try to figure it out while he was trying to get ready for the ceremony although we were under the impression that THF would cover the vendor communication. We were told Bentley was to be our day of coordinator, however I did not find out he was not present until after I had been referring people to him for most of the morning. Another woman was to take his place however I did not get a chance to speak with her during the event. This change was probably the reason for a lot of the other mishaps since we don’t think any of the other staff was briefed about what needed to be done for our wedding. We understand that THF was opening another restaurant this weekend which I know takes a lot of man power and work, but it just felt upsetting that it seemed our wedding was kind of placed on the back burner. Some other issues also occurred that were more minor, such as umbrellas not being placed out on a hot day or losing the toast champagne glasses. Overall, we just didn’t really feel cared for or appreciated during this event. We would have appreciated better communication and better service on our wedding day. It’s a bummer that we can’t go back and re-do it so that things worked out better. On the bright side, the food and drink were really good and the venue was beautiful so our pictures turned out really well. Maybe we just had bad timing with THF since we have heard others have had a good experience there, but overall we did not feel that our special day was treated with the same kindness and respect that we would...

I want to be objective but it’s difficult when you spend $125 and I only had soup as my entree. The ambiance deserves 5 stars. A beautiful space. But this star review is for food. We interacted with our server and she was delightful and professional. However, she was not the person to bring out dishes to table. Another girl brought them out and she was less than friendly and she was awkward bringing dishes and sort of plopped our respective dishes on the table and walked away…

Bartender did not know how to make a bar made ginger ale. Unfiltered tap water served at table.

Had to send the stuffed redfish back because it was overly spiced beyond expectation.

Roasted half chicken was more blacken than roasted. Raw slices of beets in the dish, very odd combination. Artistically appealing, but the taste was off. Overwhelming taste of lime and too salty.

A total disappointment was the bone marrow. My husband has had many many times and loves bone marrow when it’s offered. There was not even enough marrow for one small piece of bread (which was not fresh, sort of stale and stiff, not toasted). Mushrooms were placed atop the split bone which concealed how little marrow there was for $21. The mussels were the dish we preferred but they were doused with a very healthy amount of raw jalapeños on top. Why???

The Farm Salad was not presented as described. It was not baby romaine. It was whole fully grown romaine leaves, sort of deconstructed, which made it messy to eat. Once again, the dressing was overpowered with chili flavor.

Every dish we had was overly spiced! Just not sure what the draw is at this restaurant. We saw a couple with just a charcuterie board as their meal, this perhaps is the best idea.

Very strange dessert menu and neither of us could connect the flavors in our minds from the descriptions. We had just spent over a week in Houston (a food lovers town) dining at all our favorites (from Cultivated F&B at The Lancaster downtown to Taste of Texas and everything in between). So perhaps we’re being too judgmental…. Had high hopes for this establishment as we travel between Florida and Texas often and always stay in Fairhope, AL (darling town by the way).

The Hope Farm gives the impression of a five star dining experience, which it charges for but doesn’t deliver in...

This my family’s second time at the Hope Farm. We liked this place and planned to return again. However, tonight, February 4, 2021 we did return, and we were having a nice relaxing birthday celebration when suddenly at 6 pm a band of four musicians started to play very very loudly. Because my family was enjoying being and sitting safely outside and our steak had just been served on the table we did not want to move inside. But we could not hear ourselves talk. We had to yell across the table of four to be heard by our family members as they cupped their ears to try to hear what everyone was saying. This was a really bad attack on our birthday dinner for my wife. It just ruined the delightful ambiance and surroundings of The Hope Farm. We asked the waitress if they could turn down the amplified music. She said they could not (a response that I do not believe). When the band played and sang softly we could talk and hear one another just fine. Our birthday celebration at The Hope Farm was Ruined! This was a very expensive way to find out to not eat at The Hope Farm during the time the band plays. If you want to have a quiet meal during band playing time, avoid this place at all cost.

In response to owner’s request for suggestions, mine would be that you have a beautiful place with great ambiance. But while eating outside, the band was just entirely too loud. You were seated right behind us with another gentleman enjoying wine until the band started to play then promptly went inside while they were playing. I looked inside to mention this to you, but I could not find you. We were in the corner and the music was loud. We tried to find a better place(with our steak getting cold) but out in front of the band, the music was heart vibrating noise. I checked out the small flatter tables around the corner of the band and it was loud there, too.

Just have your bands play softer or amp down the music while people are dining. Later in the evening, the loud music may be appropriate. If that is not possible, put them back in the open area between the dining tables and the large fireplace area in the back, or at the fireplace area. Easy fix. Band noise just ruined the last half of our birthday celebration for my wife. Hope this doesn’t...