Sanibel's — Restaurant in High Point

Sanibel’s Seafood: Disappointing Experience After Three Years

I hadn’t been to Sanibel’s Seafood in three years, but my husband and I were in the mood for seafood and decided to give them another shot. Unfortunately, our experience this time was disappointing, and I feel compelled to share the issues we encountered to help others make an informed decision.

We placed our order right when they opened at 3:00 PM and were told it would be ready in 15 minutes. My husband arrived to pick up the food at 3:15 PM, but he was informed that the order was not ready yet. He didn’t receive our food until 3:30 PM, which made us expect it to be hot and fresh, especially considering they had just opened. However, as soon as we unpacked our meal at home, I noticed it was only lukewarm at best. Initially, I thought it might have been the condiments cooling things down, but after touching various parts of the meal, I realized everything was barely warm. For a $31.92 takeout order, cold food was the last thing we expected, especially right after they opened.

When my husband called the restaurant to address this, we encountered customer service that only added to our frustration. The woman on the phone repeatedly referred to us as “honey,” which felt dismissive and unprofessional. She informed us that if we returned the uneaten food, they might “possibly” replace it—an offer that felt more like an inconvenience than an apology. In my experience with other takeout establishments, if there’s an issue, the manager usually assures you that they’ll make it right, even if it means taking your information for a future replacement. But at Sanibel’s, they refused to let me speak with a manager, and the response we got was, “I just work here.” Not only did they fail to make it right, but the dismissive attitude made it clear that customer satisfaction wasn’t a priority.

In addition to the lack of customer service, the restaurant’s setup adds to the inconvenience. The parking lot is small and difficult to navigate, especially during busy hours. The inside pickup area is also very compact, and although they do try to get customers in and out quickly, it doesn’t leave much space or comfort while you wait. Despite the limited number of people there, the experience felt rushed, and we were left with an impression that efficiency mattered more than service.

I understand the challenges of inflation and increased costs, but when you’re paying nearly $32 for a takeout order, you expect hot, fresh food and courteous customer service. It’s not always practical for everyone to immediately return to the restaurant, and many customers might not have a way to reheat their meal at home. That “just microwave it” approach is unacceptable when ordering food meant to be eaten hot and fresh. Sanibel’s missed the mark not only in the quality of our meal but in how they handled our concern, and their reluctance to stand behind their product is disappointing.

I had hoped that Sanibel’s might still be the great restaurant I remembered, but this experience proved otherwise. I won’t be returning, and I’d caution anyone considering Sanibel’s to weigh these factors before spending...

Every North Carolina town of a certain size needs at least one classic fried seafood joint. In High Point, Sanibel’s fits the bill. This is the kind of place that looks untouched by time. But you don’t go here for ambiance or innovation. You go to a Sanibel’s because you want cheap, plentiful fried fish that won’t make you sick, and by that measure, Sanibel’s delivers.

Sanibel’s occupies a largish space up North Main with plenty of seating and parking alike. There is a separate entrance for take-out orders, which is what I opted for. I called in ahead, and everything was ready at the time of pick-up.

Though the menu offers steaks, salads, and pasta dishes, seafood is the main draw here. You can get it broiled or fried, in single items or in combinations. My wife and I each went with a small fried combination platter, which came equipped with slaw, hushpuppies, and a choice of potato. We came away with flounder-perch-baked potato and shrimp-clams-fries respectively.

By and large, the food was tasty and satisfying in a predictable, comfort-food way. Everything fried was well-breaded and crispy without excess grease, and there were zero freshness concerns. The popcorn shrimp were tiny yet addictive and won the approval of our begging cat as well. While neither the fries nor the slaw was anything special, the onion-ring lookalike hushpuppies were a standout.

Sanibel’s represents an exceptional value for the money spent. For under $12 per, each “small” combination platter yielded two generously portioned meals’ worth of food. One shudders to think just how much a “large” would include.

I cannot attest to Sanibel’s dine-in experience, and I’m in no rush to find out if they do broiled seafood as well as they do fried, but takeout from this place seems like a smart bet for anyone with a fried fish craving or simply a few...

I used to love this place until recently! I usually get scallops with my combination and the last three times I’ve got them the fried skin is separate from the scallop and they are tough and spongy..the shrimp are precooked before ordering..I can go without scallops but what has done it for me was the attitude I received from one of the lady’s in the takeout area! I couldn’t order by phone bc their phone was not working so when ordering inside I let the lady know I just wanted extra tarter no other sauces with my two plates..she ignored me asked me about cocktail..no just extra tarter she kept it wrote down as “T” I get my bag I have 2 cups I asked for more the lady pulls out a calculator and says 90 cents..why!?? She says bc I should have 2 tarter and 2 cocktails I said no I have no cocktail just two tarters ((had the original lady not ignored my request I wouldn’t be having this conversation)) she wants me to show her my bag so she can check((mind you social distancing)) she looks in the bad and sees there’s only 2 she gives me two more leaving the other two in her hand back I said I need those two she gets the calculator..the man behind me says I’ll pay for it!! He does she hands them over..the original lady says there is a sign right here...excuse me there are signs alll over mainly for them not the customer.. she rolled her eyes I asked for the manager..I should have asked for a refund bc the food was trashed it wasn’t good. We will...