Truluck's Ocean's Finest Seafood & Crab

We used to frequent the Boca Truluck's before it closed and I found the differences in tonight's dining experience negative. It was not only (2022) Thanksgiving, it was also my birthday, so knowing I was having dinner at Truluck's, I anticipated a wonderful culinary experience, as well as superior service.

We asked for our meal to be paced moderately - not rushed. Very quickly we were brought our appetizers. The shrimp in the shrimp cocktail were large, but tasteless & the amount of cocktail sauce was meager - I consider those factors more important than the dry ice dramatically misting beneath them.

When our waiter left our table, it was too long a wait till he appeared again. Others brought the bread (no more delicious assorted rolls - now something akin to four Hawaiian rolls stuck together) and a small amount of butter. We asked for more butter, but were ignored. No one checked to see that we were out of water for an hour.

Our 2nd course and entree order were the next time we spoke with our waiter, though he'd been one of those we asked for more water & butter.

Within seconds our 2nd course came. The lobster bisque was as amazing as it always was in Boca. Finally the water was replenished. Again, we asked the waiter not to rush our entrees. When I received mine, the filet mignon was okay, a strange pinch of unrecognizable spices were in a small vessel on the plate alongside an overroasted half-garlic, which was unrecognizable at first. I had asked for a small amount of the chef's steak sauce & the waiter immediately informed me that would be $3 extra. As I had been taken out for my birthday, which the restaurant knew in advance, I thought that was cheap/rude. (Nothing like the manner of the Boca service.) The runner never brought it. He had no clue as to what I was referring to & left the table. When he returned I'd already begun my filet. I used my fork to taste test the sauce that was finally brought for the upcharge & did not care for it. This, when the waiter returned, another hour later, to see how all was, I explained about the sauce & he removed it. All I could do was hope the charge would not appear on the bill.

The time frame of dinner became 6pm to 10:30pm. I got the feeling this was their way of saying, "You didn't want it fast paced? Well, how's this for slow? Is it slow enough for you?!" The host stopped by when we were first seated and was quite cordial. In the latter part of the meal at coffee, the manager stopped by, introduced himself & dropped off his card. Interesting, I thought, but no complaints.

Bottomline: Mizner Park, you're idiots for losing Truluck's. Truluck's Ft. Lauderdale, stick to what was great, never tamper with greatness.