1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop — Restaurant in Florida

Instead of Karening myself a refund, I'll detail my experience: I chose this place for dinner/drinks with friends I had not seen in more than a year. One was visiting from out of state.

My friends got to 1912 earlier and enjoyed the rooftop bar, had nice things to say. We also had a beautiful outdoor table for dinner. The first person to greet our table was jovial and kind. Our server, however, was not. She continued trying to rush our party, even though the 3 other tables there before us stayed longer than we did, and none of them seemed to look like they were rushed to order or leave.

We explained we hadn't seen each other and were catching up, and that didn't stop her from coming around incessantly to rush our orders or ask if we needed "anything else" while continuing to leave dirty dishes on the table, not refilling softdrinks, or bringing more water, or offering to.

Our dinner bill for 3 people was more than $300. No biggie; price was not an issue for us - I'm stating this because oftentimes "campers" get a bad rap for sitting and not spending. I worked as a server, I get it. But if a camper is s p e n d i n g instead of sitting, and it's less than 2 hours at rooftop bar restaurant table on a busy Saturday night, them thar ain't campers!

Bad service inside the restaurant unfortunately is not the worst part, it was the service outside. I asked specifically if they had self-park and was told no, only valet and it was complimentary (as if that's why I wouldn't valet - spoiler alert it's actually bc of anxiety stemming from situations like these). I smiled and handed over my car keys, thanking the attendant.

Upon leaving, after being pushed out (they closed at 10, and started breaking down the restaurant at 9) a valet approached my friend (instead of me, the car owner) and tried to give her my car keys, explaining something was wrong with it and that it wouldn't start, and that he would be "around for the next couple minutes." At this point, you're probably imagining he's running to get the manager or offering to walk me to my car, WRONG AGAIN, BUCKO!! He didn't escort me to my car, nor offer to, in the dark across the street. He instead pointed in the general direction a of a shadowy parking lot that happened to be illuminated where my car was sitting, with the lights on. My e-brake was engaged and it was in neutral with the headlights on... Why? My car autos off when you lock the door, it's that simple; it actually autos off if you even SHUT the door after some time, if it is in park.

Left my car on, killed my battery, AND didn't even offer jumper cables?! Not a single apology either. THANK GOD MY TWO GIRLFRIENDS STAYED AND JUMPED MY CAR, after they also asked where my car was, and again, the valet just pointed.

Oh, our server who kept trying to push us out, might I add, was parked directly beside me in this lot. She left without saying a word or offering to help or check to see about cables or anything, and we all tipped more than 20% despite the bad service. I never complained, or was rude during this whole experience, but I am beside myself this morning.

The headlights were hot to the touch when my car wouldn't start. It was clicking and you weren't doing anything except standing around and you could have jumped it in 5 minutes. You could see my car lights were ON from the restaurant, and you just let it sit like that until it died then acted like "oh well, we're leaving soon, your car's like over there".

Now, attacking the food on top of this is merely adding insult to injury -- so buckle up crash dummy: it was incredibly sub par and lacking; some of it tasted downright bad, like the pasta. The only thing this place has going for it is a stellar view, and the price tag that matches.

If you force people to valet, maybe Google what that generally means needs to happen: you need to actually train your staff. Then again, common decency and kindness is common sense, but it sure as hell isn't common place -- as it seemed greatly lacking from my perspective at your...

One word. "Vanilla." With an amazing beachside location, you could go for the views, just don't go there hungry. The food and the service were both lacking. The food was very bland and "corporate." This is a hotel-run restaurant so I had lowered expectations going in. There's a reason Jimmy Buffett sings about the "menu at a Holiday Inn" but, I thought Marriott might have hired a chef and decided to try brunch. It's as if the food was pulled off the MDS truck, heated up and plated. No spice. No butter. No extra. First, the sharable. A ricotta orange pound cake. Presented well, but none of us thought it tasted any different than a Sara Lee out of the box. My fellow diner had the Arepa Shakshuka. It was cold. Imagine how a cold poached egg tastes. Sending it back was a chore because Marriott had one server attempting to work the entire brunch meal. Drink refills and contact with the server was minimal. Not her fault as she had the inside and outside areas to cover. I opted for the 1912 Benedict. An eggs Benedict variation that sounded good on the menu but turned out to be very plain, very...MEH. The C&P grits sounded exotic on the menu. "PURPLE GRITS, NEUSKE JALAPENO CHEDDAR BACON SAUSAGE, POACHED EGGS, SOFRITO." Those words describe a meal that should be packed with flavors but again...very plain. I had to get up and go hunt for salt and pepper for the table. Again, an over-extended server was trying to juggle too many tables. There is a rooftop area which probably affords some amazing ocean views but, based on the restaurant experience, I feel like it is probably just an extension of the hotel lobby bar. In my mind there's some sad bartender in his corporate white, linen, slate, and chalkboard uniform using a jigger for EVERY drink because cameras are watching. If you have a stuffy boss or boring co-workers bring them here. ...

NYE reservation for 2 made for 6:15pm arrived early and was seated at 6:11pm. Ce-Ce our waiter was pleasant and polite but lacked the internal timer one needs when waiting at a higher end restaurant. In fact, since 1912 bills itself as a higher end restaurant- I held them to higher standard that’s why only a 2 star overall rating. Location is on the beach with rooftop bar and plenty of indoor and outside seating. But incongruity is the theme here. Attire of waiters seems plain, but it was the bussers and food runners in shorts (cargos) that made me wonder why they were saying “high end” but acting like a “beach bar”?? At 6:31pm we finally received our water, and immediately ordered as we thought we would never see her again. The price fixe menu was not available unless both ordered it. Disappointing, but we each ordered the herbed chicken and empanadas to start. Our pork empanadas finally came at 6:46pm - they were good - the aioli and chimmichuri sauces were excellent. After a long 20 min wait a little after 7pm we were informed our entrees were “mistakenly given to another table” (hard to believed since we had some substitutions) but they were “rushing our order out”… great can’t wait for undercooked food… and that’s what we had. I mean the chicken and middlings (risotto type grain) was great but the carrots and green beans were raw-ish, hard and bland. Our additional side of “roasted” Brussels sprouts were not roasted (just steamed - or par-cooked/boiled) then Finished under the broiler - according to the Marriott branded Chef that came out to explain their (lack) of cooking method…it didn’t matter - we didn’t want them and they took them off our table and bill. We drank our wine and left - skipped dessert and spending anymore time or money here until they get their act together and figure out...