C Level - Seafood & Steakhouse Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

TL;DR: Don't come in groups of 6 or more, don't order appetizers, don't order extra bread. It's overrated. Attitude toward negative reviews is toxic.

We decided on dinner at C-Level grill because of the amazing reviews and pictures of awesome looking food. We were able to make a reservation since we heard they fill up quickly. Unfortunately, they were completely out of chicken and pickles (we like fried pickles). With that, the kids in our group and our diabetic relative were disappointed. Additionally, the Kids menu has items that are not actually on the menu anymore and they do not have the ability to make.

Our table was very closely packed in with others and squeezing by other patrons to get to the bathroom was a chore.

The decor left much to be desired. It reminded me of my in-laws guest bathroom more than a restaurant. The ceiling was covered in spray foam insulation. That said, I've had some good food in plain and ugly places.

The bread provided is subpart at best. It's almost identical to the yeast rolls we pickup at the grocery store. Additional "bread service" is NOT complimentary.

I passed on a salad but it looked absolutely pathetic and did not do well at our table for those who ordered it.

I am not a crab person, but everyone else raved over the Crab Queso we got. They described it as "crab, queso and spices" (after it was half done they didn't want anymore saying that once they weren't starving, it was more like a little crab mixed in Velveeta). To me it tasted like leftover crab meat mixed in premade queso.

The Smoked Tuna Dip was just not as good as I've had elsewhere in PCB.

My wife tried the chocolate lover's martini, but found it not to her taste. I thought it was pretty good. A heavy cream and chocolate flavor on a dry base without any unnecessary sweetness. It was not a hit with anyone else.

At this point we are collectively worried about the rest of the meal. Appetizers and drinks seem to indicate that this will not exceed the cheaper options available on Front Beach Road even if it's a good meal.

Several in our group got the C-Platter. They all loved the shrimp and the snow crab legs. My sister had the grilled pineapple and raved about it. My wife practically force fed me shrimp (was delicious). The grouper was ok, and some of our group said the flounder was good as well.

I had the Mahi Mahi and found it to be up to par with an excellent parmesan sauce. I had an Anita root beer and a water to drink. Both were empty before I finished eating and I was never offered a refill. To be fair, other servers seemed to be consistently checking on their tables (regardless of party size).

Sides: Truffle New potatoes - good, but not my thing Fries - well salted with a decent flavor from whatever else was fried in the same grease (fishy). Sweet Potato Fries - crispy, delicious and hot. Saffron Rice - I felt like it was a bit overcooked, but it tasted right flavor-wise.

Considering the price of the meal and the service, I regret ordering subpart appetizers, coming in a group of 6+ (automatic gratuity with terrible service), and ordering the Saffron Rice. Rarely seeing the server felt like a side effect of the auto 20% tip (~$60) that you pay when the group id 6+ people. I understand the reason behind it, but it felt abused for this visit.

I probably won't be back, but only because several other restaurants have shown me better food/service.

Edit: Someone mentioned "alarming" trends in the reviews here. It looks like the response to negative reviews is fairly toxic. Not...

Visiting Panama City from Illinois and decided to try C Level with my wife. There's a lot to cover here, so here we go. Walking in, the hostess was extremely polite. Our wait time was about 20min on a Friday night at 6pm. After we were seated our waiter came over and introduced himself as Tyler. Tyler is a fantastic waiter, he told us the special for the evening and house favorites. Also told us a little background about how long he's been working. He started in the dish room when he was 16 and worked up. Just turned 21 and has been working here for 6 years. That's impressive givin the younger generations work ethic these days(good work Tyler's parents😎). We ordered the cheese sticks for an appetizer, and they were incredible. My wife ordered the fried grouper, salad with grilled pineapple. She said it was AMAZING!! I highly recommend getting the pineapple unbelievably good!! I ordered the bang bang shrimp. It came out in a half cut pineapple dished out. Filled with the most amazing rice I've ever had topped with the bang bang shrimp. I HIGHLY recommend this dish. It is literally the best I've ever had anywhere. Going back, I forgot to mention when I was reading the menu and noticed 2 things on the menu. 1 - It said at the top "Friends don't let Friends eat at Franchises". In the owner/operator restaurant business I don't think I've ever read a more clear and direct statement. 2 - It said at the bottom every day at least 1 of the brothers is working at the restaurant. Sure enough mid way through the meal Chaz one of the brothers came by, introduced himself. We chatted, he gave us some great insight about his restaurant and the area, SUPER NICE GUY! We started talking about grits and he explained how they make theirs in house out of guda cheese. He said hold on, went to the kitchen and brought us out a small dish of it to try. I've never had grits that had so many layers of flavor, YOU HAVE TO TRY! Been coming to Florida for over 10yrs, Clearwater, Daytona, and now Panama city eating at all different places. Out of all 3 locations of restaurantsI've eaten at, C Levels is my #1 restaurant out of all. I HIGHLY recommend taking time during your vacation to Panama City to stop in at C Level, ask for Tyler(tip him good)! You WILL NOT be...

Walking into the resturant, I was immediately struck by the warm, welcoming atmosphere. We were previously at another restaurant and it just wasn't suitable for our 2 infants so we left and came here. From start to finish, the entire experience was nothing short of spectacular, largely thanks to our incredible waitress, Colleen. From the moment she greeted our table, Colleen exuded a genuine warmth and professionalism that put us at ease. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the entire menu, offering insightful recommendations and patiently answering all of our questions about the daily specials and preparation methods. Her passion for the food was evident, and it made us even more excited to dive in. We started with the crab queso dip and chips, which was delicious, and my partner had the shrimp & grits, a rich and creamy delight. I also got the crabcakes, cooked to perfection, with a key lime pie martini, that tasted like I was eating the real dessert. Our friends savored every bite of the prime rib, that was perfectly tender and juicy. Each dish was a testament to the kitchen's commitment to quality ingredients and expert execution. But honestly, what truly elevated our evening was Colleen's impeccable service. She anticipated our needs without being intrusive, ensuring our water glasses were always full, and checking in at just the right moments. She had a fantastic sense of humor, sharing a few laughs with us, was great with the babies, and made us feel genuinely valued as customers. She even helped us choose the perfect drink pairing, which complemented our meals beautifully. By the end of the evening, we felt like we'd been treated to a truly personalized dining experience. Colleen wasn't just taking our order; she was enhancing our entire experience. C Level undoubtedly serves some of the best seafood I've had in a long time, but it's the outstanding service, particularly from waitstaff like Colleen, that will have us eagerly planning our next visit. If you're looking for a fantastic seafood meal with service that goes above and beyond, ask for Colleen – you won't be...