Surf Rider Restaurant — Restaurant in Hampton

Although there are a few Surf Rider restaurants in the region, my fiancée and I had tried them all but chose the Hampton location to be the absolute best! Then yesterday happened. I had my final visit to Surf Rider Hampton. First, after the hostess seated us, we waited 15 minutes before we were even acknowledged.  When they realized that we’d been forgotten, both the server and the hostess came over and apologized. Mistakes happen; forgiven. However, their service and food have declined significantly; they need something like Restaurant Rescue if they are to survive as a restaurant. I had several issues that I believe are valid concerns. Let me preface these comments by saying that I do a LOT of online reviews but most of them are Five-Star; I simply tell it like it is. I DID NOT want to give a negative public review on my favorite restaurant so I politely asked to speak to the manager, thinking that talking with him, the issues would be resolved or explained and there would be no need for a negative review. Unfortunately, my chat with the "general manager," did not help. His appearance was so unprofessional that I wondered why this person was approaching our table. He wore khaki pants and a seemingly much worn red Polo-type shirt that needed ironing or replacement, and he wore a baseball cap. He just didn't look like he worked there, he was unkempt. Nonetheless, I began to speak with him and all along, he seemed totally disinterested in what I had to say. I even explained that I was talking with him for his benefit so that I would not need to make a public review. People, Surf Rider's signature dish is the "award winning crab cakes". I would certainly agree...the first few times we visited. Unfortunately, the delicious crab cakes from Surf Rider are a thing of the past. The crab cakes are now mostly a mushy filler with a few flakes of crab meat. It was pretty bad. He tried to defend the crab cakes saying the recipe has not changed. That may be true but the preparation has changed from a Five-Star crab cake to the consistency of sweet potato pie filling. Anyway, I had a few things to address with Zack but before I could finish, he started walking away as he mumbled, "Sorry you had a bad experience." I called him back to again explain that I the only thing bad was the crab cakes. Again, seeming hurried and unconcerned, he very unenthusiastically said, "Thanks." Oh, before he scurried away, I did get to mention one more of the several things I wanted to ask him.  I asked about the whole colossal broccoli thing.  Per the menu, you get two sides with your entrée. EXCEPT IF YOU GET BROCCOLI, you get no other side item. But if you get the broccoli, you get a super-dooper family sized portion.  I do like broccoli but I don’t need a half pound with a meal. His only response to that question was, “We’ve always done it that way,” as if that makes it good, right or reasonable. I’m sure that some people eat the whole broccoli tree and that is fine.  Yet, he was unwilling to consider the idea of offering a choice of the big broccoli or a normal portion of broccoli with a second side. When he walked away after simply trying to defend bad food, I realized that a well circulated review would be necessary. This is a very expensive restaurant and it used to be very much worth the drive and the cost. Alas it seems to have become a really bad restaurant with great atmosphere and it is wasting a great location. I truly believe that the manager is the root of the problems that will eventually close their doors. Zack needs some help desperately! He needs more management training and he needs to learn what customer service means. If I owned the place, I'd immediately remove him from the position until he can be prepared to handle the job. Get a haircut, trim his unkempt beard and moustache, dress like a leader rather than like the guy cleaning tables. These things will make his employees and customers respect him and then, Surf Rider Hampton might survive. I'll never know. Happy eating to all, caveat emptor, let the buyer...

We were there in early May around 6 pm on a Wed. I went, hoping, they had shrimp and grits, but alas I got the Fettuccine Alfredo and added shrimp and clams. I got a bowl of clam chowder as an appetizer. The meal came with a side salad. They were out of the Hot Crab dip. My dining partner got 1/2 doz oysters and a meal. I'm sorry but I can't everything he ate. He did have a single crab cake. He reported that it was very good! Very little extraneous filling. It was made with almost no filler and may have been entirely made of crabmeat and fried to perfection. He spent his childhood in the NE and grew up eating crab. He told me that it was a crab cake he would recommend. For an appetizer he had the Calamari. He reported that it was decent. A little too much breading for his taste but it was still good. The dipping sauce provided was tasty. I don't remember exactly what else he ate. But, I do remember the hush puppies he had because he got 2 with his meal and then he ordered an extra 3 on the side. The hush puppies looked and tasted like they were from a frozen or canned mixture. You know, there was no cornbread flavor. The interior texture was smooth with no discernible, anything. Just plain old round, dipped and fried, hush puppies. The clam chowder I had was, ok. It had very little clams, in fact I remember one of two bites of clams, in my bowl. I can extrapolate that in a cup of soup there would be 0 to 1. The potatoes were very soft. As if they had been sitting all day and not freshly made. My side salad on the other hand was top notch. Very fresh, very good, and very tasty. I ate it all. My main course, Fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp and clams was worth every penny. ALL of it tasted fresh and cooked to order. The shrimp and clams were exceptional! The penne noodles were al dente to perfection. The sauce and cheese was as good as it gets. I was very happy with the freshness of the shrimp, clams and veggies with my meal. The hostess and waitress both did a good job of making us feel welcome and they seemed happy we were there. I got my first choice of beer on the menu, Blue Moon, as did my dining partner. The view was excellent! We sat at a table that overlooked the docks outside. It was a very serene and peaceful view and I enjoyed it immensely. Finding this restaurant was no easy task and I have come to appreciate Google maps for getting...

One of the worst dining experiences I have had in years. Short story: 50 min wait (for no reason), mediocre food, high priced appetizers, slow and understaffed.

Long Story: We showed up and was told it would be a 20 minute wait (for two people). After 40 min and noticing there were lots (at least 8-10) open tables and being 20 min later than we had been told, we asked what the issue was. The Lady told us her manager wouldn't let her seat any more people. About that time a group of 6 came right behind us and was told 1hr and 20 min wait. They were the only people to show up after us. So for almost two hours they were planning on not seating anyone. This wasn't because it was packed because like I said there was a quarter to a third of the restaurant open. After we finally got seated, the manager must have told her to open the flood gates because then everyone was seated immediately after arrival.

After we were seated, we got our drinks right away and ordered beings we had 45 min to look at the menu already. We ordered the crab cake sandwich and a hamburger which were fine. However, the shrimp cocktail that we ordered was $7 and change and had 8 shrimp on it with two lemon wedges. Come on Really? A dollar a shrimp? I assumed beings it was almost $8 that it would have been fairly sizable but it was barely enough for one person much less two.

Another thing to note was how slow the wait staff was. They didn't staff anyone to buss the tables so that played a big part into why their waitresses were so slow as well as why their tables were not bussed the entire time we there (better part of 2 and half hrs). The couple that was seated in front of us were seated right when they walked through the door, however they still had nothing but water by the time we left. They had been there for approximately 25 minutes which was how long it took for us to get the check after we had finished eating.

Hopefully this helps. I usually don't restaurant bash or even write reviews but this was just such a bad experience for us both that I felt it was...