Lake Harris Hideaway — Restaurant in Florida

We saw this place on a YouTube channel that we follow. We travel through this area once or twice a month. We are all the time looking for new and different or unique places to eat at. The boating dock is convenient and great for a stop while out fishing, boating etc. Atmosphere is relaxing, outdoors but sheltered with screens that can be lowered when flying insects become a nuisance. Music was playing but low enough that a conversation could be held without yelling. I give this to them, they had fans hung from any open area and it was comfortable at 87 degrees in Florida on a lake. And anyone know inland water and Florida humidity is not the best combination We were not here during their live music events but it is done 3 days a week. There are 2 bars one inside and the other out by the dining area. Plenty of parking across the street which is convenient when pulling a trailer or boat. Easy to turn around to park, especially at lunchtime during the week. We tried the grouper sandwich and blackened grouper basket. The grouper basket, blackened, it tasted great, plenty of fries, a cup of coleslaw and 3 hush puppies. For$17. (-+) the amount of grouper was small. There was more fry’s than anything. Coleslaw was not at all what we expected. If you are into a slaw heavy on vinegar and little to no mayonnaise, this is for you. For the fried grouper sandwich close to same price, again lots of fry’s, over cooked or the oil needs to be changed. The sandwich came as you requested on a nice sized hoagie but the grouper portion was thin. We had tea, sweet and unsweetened, very good. Just like we like it. Seating was placed with plenty of room between tables unfortunately the chairs reminded me of Adirondack chairs only taller and metal. Very uncomfortable. High top tables with traditional chairs are available as well as bar stools. Our waitress Michelle, very nice, accurate with our orders. However, I noticed she was a bit more attentive to my husband. Not saying that’s bad, but, when she checked on us during the meal she was quick to ask him if he needed a refill. After his response and style, unsweetened, she made a move to leave. I had to speak up to request a refill as well. I’m not insecure and don’t generally mention acts of the sort. But she also showed him interest in ordering first. Maybe I’m old school, but typically the lady is asked first. My husband the gentleman motioned for me to order instead. At least that’s what I’ve observed every where else. Finally, will we go back? Probably, but not if it’s out of our way. Because we have driven out of the way for a...

As this is one a few choices when you are on the Harris side from the water, you’re sort of stuck with what you got. This place used to be great - the past few years it has gone down the tubes quickly.

The food is average and overpriced, the atmosphere is great and the service is non-existent. Bathrooms are very clean.

We fish the lake and have been coming for years and if there were any other options we would exercise them. I don’t think there is anyone managing this place, and if there is, they need to take some courses on best practices to get servers to tables in a timely manner and orders taken and served. As it sits right now, there are no designated “stations” that a server has…..it’s a “free for all” so a server can have a table at the very end, one in the middle and another on the other side. How can servers give their customers great service when they are running all over the place? We arrived at 2:19 on a Friday (there were 7 tables plus ours here) and we weren’t even greeted for 14 minutes. Yes, I timed it because I wanted to see if they have improved from the past. They have not. We even had servers walk by and not dare look in our direction for fear of having to take a table close to shift end. We never say anything, smile through the process because let’s face it, in todays society, people can be vindictive and I don’t want anything to be added to my food that I didn’t order. As a matter of fact, I started typing this out at 3:12 and our server at 3:24 just came by for the first time after serving our food to us. It has been over a 20 minute wait to get a check and pay. We always tip 20% but its just what we do, not because of the service.

The absolute best thing that this place could do is to have a “order window” where a number is given and food is delivered to the seats. Either that or actually have set stations for servers. Thank goodness we only have to do this once or...

I was originally writing a one star review but near the end of our meal a lady that was working saw that my son wanted a donut and made his day giving him one.

Originally I walked in 10 minutes before opening. My kid and I walked all throughout the back and inside with everyone working avoiding eye contact and not even acknowledging our presence. It was about 5 minutes after opening that the first person approached while sitting at the bar. All she asked us was what we wanted to drink then we had to wait what felt like 10 minutes before she asked if we wanted menus. Like what was she thinking we just came to drink water? The waitress was horrible. She was super dry and never smiled like she hated her life. We finished eating and sat there waiting for boxes to go and a check for about 15 minutes while everyone “working” walked around laughing. I made effort the entire time to get someone to look our way and see that we needed assistance without yelling throughout the room and that didn’t happen till someone that wasn’t even my waitress happened to walk close enough that I could get her attention. It really sucks to have this experience here because this place has been a staple in the community for a long time and I just bought a new house right down the road so I was hoping to bring my kids here and have it as our special day place with the gators and eveything because my son loves them. Sadly instead of it being a good time we just felt out of place and even my 3 year old son wanted to leave. I doubt he will ever want to go here again and I hyped it up so...