Tin Fish Boca — Restaurant in Florida

The short story is very mediocre food and atmosphere at upscale prices. Would not return and you shouldn't bother.

I visited Tin Fish on a Saturday off-season at 8pm and sat in the main dining room. Here is some detail about my expereince for those that like to read reviews:

Before I throw shade on this place, I'll mention that our server did a pretty good job and she seemed lovely. Unfortunately, her efforts didn't make up for what was otherwise a very disappointing night.

Food: First was the Bone Fish Grill knock-off "Kaboom" shrimp. Now I love Bang Bang shrimp at Bone Fish and I was fully prepared to love the Kaboom shrimp. But it was fair at best. The chef tried to walk the line between being sweet and spicy but it would up being just boring. The Branzino filet was bland and served with a weird tasting slaw (you can also get rice). The tiramisu was odd, crunchy lady fingers drowned in a sickly sweet sauce. The oyster shells were filled to the brim with water. Yes, you will say, oysters served with some water in the shell or "liquor" is a good thing. But this water was excessive and that indicates poor handling or storage. In the sprit of being nice, I have to say the baked clams were pretty good.

Flies buzzing our plate didn't help our vibe.

Atmosphere: I don't think this restaurant, only three months old, knows who they want to be or how to deal with customers, especially unhappy ones.

The style of the menu displayed online is very casual looking but the restaurant is actually more formal - white table cloths, fancy lighting, crown molding - all in a small strip mall setting. The pricing says "upscale" too - $40ish for an order of fresh fish.

Second, it's loud. The place was only half full when we arrived and it was uncomfortably loud. I can't imagine what the space is like at full volume. Our server told me I was "lucky" not to have come an hour earlier.

To cap it off, we had a poorly resolved dispute about our bill.

There were two Branzino options on the menu, one on the main menu and one on the evening's special menu. My wife ordered the less expensive of the two options, a $28 option vs. the $42 on the special menu. We realized after the meal that they had brought us the more expensive option. When we pointed this out to the waiter, she talked to the manager and they declined to credit me the $14 difference.

This manager decided to lose a local customer and risk a bad Google review over $14 on a $132 tab. ...

What a weird experience we had on Sunday. Party of 4. First time for us. Decor is strange—half French , half empty basement painted coldly in black and white. Most liked the dinner. We are generally nice, cooperative, nondemanding and appreciative. But…First they led us, in an empty restaurant, to a table right in front of the kitchen doors. We asked to go to an empty table near the window. The waitress was half surly, half nice. Told me I couldn’t get my salad with my appetizer sized dinner because it would be ready sooner. Then they brought the wrong salad. 15 minutes later they brought the right one. My friend and I had mussels. They brought one serving and told us to share it because the other serving wasn’t ready yet. No plate, only the bread plate and a soup bowl for both of us for the shells. 20 minutes later they brought out the other order for us to “share.” No new plates, nothing more for the shells. The table wobbled, but the manager came to fix it. Because it’s nearby, and because some of the food was good, we may it again, but don’t tell me I can’t have my own portion of food and don’t tell me I can’t have salad with my dinner. And don’t—don’t—lead me to the worst table in the room when there are better ones available (nice try). And, to the manager, a little customer service training would...

Went with a very good friend for lunch. Hostess attempted to seat us in bar area. Too dark, so my friend asked for the other side which has windows for light. There was 2 other tables already seated and we made the third party. Waiter was running back and forth getting the first party of 3 men their beverages and completely ignored us and the other party of two (husband and wife). After 10 minutes the husband went to the hostess to complain about the lack of service. The waiter kept running back and forth and then the wife went up to complain. The waiter was finally finished and approached us. I told him to wait on the husband/wife first. He took their, took our order, brought out my ice tea and our orders were placed. We had ordered two fried oyster sandwiches, which, of course came out very fast. The other couple, who had ordered fish, complained as ours came out first. Oyster sandwiches were very good as was the coleslaw (I am sure has sugar in the dressing). I had to as for a refill on my ice tea as our waiter zipped past. No tables check, was not on top of his "3" tables (note: food runner brings your food). Goo back, maybe, impressed, food was very good, nice formal atmosphere,...