Oceans Grille — Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale

I purchased $100 gift card today [04/08/21], as well as a to-go food order, from Oceans Grille at 11:57 am. I noticed the tax on the printed invoice/receipt was high, so I asked the female bartender, who was performing the transaction, if she accidently taxed me on the gift card rather than just on the to-go food order. The bar tender advised me that their cash register is "old" and that she must tax me on the gift card--"there is no other way for me to do it," she replied. On the printed receipt/invoice, the gift card appeared as a "food" item. The bartender made no attempt to remove the tax or to process or ring up the gift card differently with her cash register system.

I pointed out to the bartender that she is taxing me, the gift card purchaser, and also taxing the gift card recipient when the recipient uses the gift card in the future to purchase food/beverage items with the gift card. I advised the bartender that this double taxation is illegal. She did not agree with my assessment of the situation and tried to argue that the tax charged to me on the gift card is "no different from the fee you pay for a gift card at CVS." I advised the bartender that a gift card fee, such as the fee a person must pay on an American Express or Visa gift card, is entirely different than tax. The bar tender quickly brushed me off and told me my only options were to purchase the gift card with tax applied or she can void the transaction for me. I ultimately agreed to purchase the gift card with tax applied to the transaction because the intended recipient had specifically requested I purchase the gift card from Oceans Grille.

Based on the above event, it is clear that: (1) Oceans Grille has a restaurant-wide policy that all gift cards must be taxed at the time of purchase AND when the recipient used the gift card to purchase food/beverage items, or (2) the double taxation issue/concern is specific to this bartender [i.e., she, alone, does not know how to properly complete the transaction without tax being applied]

Based on the bartender's statement, "there is no other way for me to do it," and the fact that she made no attempt whatsoever to ring up the transaction differently so that tax did not apply, I can only conclude that she has processed several gift card transactions at Oceans Grille with tax attached to the transaction, which leads me further to believe that this is a restaurant-wide double tax issue, practice, and procedure. In other words, it does not appear my experience today was an isolated event and that there must be several other instances--maybe even hundreds or thousands of other instances--in which Oceans Grille has double taxed the gift card purchaser and gift card recipient. As such, this matter should be...

We are locals and we love to dine in the area at nights, a few weekends ago we decided to have breakfast in the area, we chose oceans grille because of the atmosphere open seating patio great, server seemed pleasant,ordered tea didn't receive a spoon, ok. Ordered the ice coffee was fabulous (now a fan of ice coffee)ordered a veggies omelet special with bagels; the bagel was old as if it's been on the shelf for long weeks ,it spoiled the taste of the breakfast. The other choice ordered was the special- poached eggs with cornedbeef hash with a glass of bloody mary ,I asked if they could serve my eggs on an English muffin instead of toast he said they don't serve it with muffins just toast, I then asked if they serve pumpernickel again no just wheat, white the traditional toast so in my mind they stick to what's posted on the menu,the server asked me a question which I thought was very peculiar; how do you want the eggs, wow I figured this was a very tailored style restaurant so I said oh make mine a little firmer that the usual rummy eggs then.when my meal came it was fried eggs and hash was fired burned but at least it was still soft on the inside not pleasing to look at but still tasted good, how do you change a poached egg to a fried egg, then it's not a poached egg.I told the server that he got it wrong and the menu stated poached, he said you said fried eggs, at that point he didn't say sorry I misunderstood you which showed me that he was beyond reasoning; doesn't he know what poached eggs are? He then sent the cashier who reiterated that it was changed because I ordered it that way, why did she evencone out to our table if not to say sorry we misunderstood you . I wasn't looking for a discount or a freeby. Bad taste in my mouth as to Customer's Satisfaction, we would have stayed longer and orderd more items to test the kitchen ,we grade the Restaurants by their breakfast, lunch and servers. Sad part was that the server avoided our table until the replacement eggs were just about to be served, at this time the rest of my meal was cold. I didn't complain just smiled but he lost a great tip ,yes I tipped but just the average required amount for our $80 breakfast. It seemed like our table wasn't the only table he got wrong because the table with the party of 7 had sent 2 of their orders back for adjustments and they too were disappointed with most of the food; as we were also. I have no problem with the cost of any meal as long as I'm satisfied now I really know why I don't like chain restaurants. mediocre service is expected on the bread line and even that shouldn't be;...

I wonder where the good reviews for this restaurant with pictures are coming from. I don't see how!! We had a horrible 1st visit! the Morning of 2/23/2025. The Worst Service Ever!! In This Area!! We live at a Condo across the street and it was our 1st time visiting this place!! When we first walked inside the restaurant we let them know that we were there for breakfast and they gave us the menu and we went to sit outside. After a few minutes we kept trying to get a few server's attention as we were ready to order our breakfast, they kept ignoring us for more than 30 minutes! They keep cleaning tables around us without talking to us!! Not offer water or even acknowledge that we were sitting there waiting for service. No excuse, they weren't short of staff, we counted around 4 or 5 servers just walking around us outside cleaning tables and doing random stuff instead of attending to the customers waiting for service, then we heard one of the servers telling a customer that the breakfast period was just over! WOW! Unbelievable! We left! and my husband and I decided we will never go back or bring our guest to be embarrassed that way again. We then walked to the New Giorgio's Bakery and Bistro down the street and what a difference in Service, they appreciated our 1st visit and food and service was wonderful! ————— Your reply probably without investigating or asking your servers working that morning or even looking at your cameras (if you have them in the patio area) show me how you don’t care and that is not a smart approach to a bad customer experience. We are here my husband and I just a few months a year from Texas and we do not have any affiliation with Giorgio's Bakery that just open 🙄that’s ridiculous and...