Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House — Restaurant in Jacksonville Beach

Came in last night and sat on the patio, there was 6 of us. Our server was Kayla. Everything started out fine. She told my friend not to get the house wine because it was gross and cheap, we appreciated that. I ordered a coke and corn nuggets, and was going to get a burger for my entree. I got the corn nuggets and the coke, and then for a long time, that was all we got. She disappeared, I finally got my order for my burger after waiting on our server to come check-in on us, and she never did, my friend had to get her attention from a table she was cleaning. I got my order in, and then we wouldn't see her again for a long time. My friend got a text from the babysitter saying that her baby was not wanting to go to sleep, so she would have to leave before the rest of us. After about 30 min, we finally saw the server, so she ask for the checks, because she knew she would need to leave before us and she didn't want to make the server take 2 trips cashing everyone out, she just went ahead and did the whole table. Everyone cashed out, I finally got my burger, no refill the entire time, no check-ins, nothing. She didn't even bring my food and apologize for the wait, someone else had to. I asked the other girl that brought my food if i could get a refill and a ranch and she never brought it. i was almost done with my food when kayla finally came to check-in on us. This is where I started getting annoyed. she did not come out to check on the food or to see how we were, she came back to ask me if she could take my payment for my check. I had cash, and was gong to leave it in the check presenter and have her keep the change, I was also eating a burger and fries with my hands so I did not want to touch cash at the moment. when I told her that I would just leave it when I was done, she acted like me paying with cash was crazy, her demeanor changed. My friend asked for a to-go box and a water to-go, she brought the box and brought a pitcher of water, and just filled up my friends cup. She then just asked for a cup to pour it into and the server looked at everyone's alcoholic beverages and was like "oh, a to-go cup? sure" very rudely. Everyones alcoholic drinks were empty and their ice was melted in them. I then started feeling strange vibes from her. She was whispering things to the host and they were staring at us, like they were talking about us. I think she thought that I was going to try and run off on the bill. I am a teacher, and i served my way through graduate and undergraduate school. Every person at that table was a server or a bartender. We tip 50% and would never walk off on a bill. As we were leaving, we stood out on the sidewalk, outside the patio saying our goodbye's, and I saw the server dash over to the table and grab the server books so fast. She went for them, before she went to clean it off. She went to where I was sitting first, and picked up the check presenter and opened it, she saw the cash, LIKE I SAID THERE WOULD BE, she looked over at the host and nodded yes to her, as if it was a "yes, she paid" nod. Which was my confirmation that the server was talking bad about us to her. My point though, is how dare she act like i was the thief, and that i was going to walk out on the bill, when she added the gratuity to the bill and did not tell us? At my job, we have a stamp we put on the receipt that says "gratuity has been added, and we also have to verbally tell them. The fact that you guys just add it, and not say anything is crazy. I know from experience, half the time, people do not even look at the bill and just hand over their cards. Then they add 20% on top of the bill, and the gratuity that is already added, and they're making double the tip. I myself did not notice the gratuity until someone mentioned it and would have been the one to double tip. That is stealing from customers! My friends felt like she was doing that to us because they are black. Please teach her how to treat people, or teach her how to be better at being rude to where your guests...

Hoptinger was a highly suggested place to eat during our trip to Jacksonville from a restaurant (brewery) around the corner. So we went there and things started off really well. A lady waitress asked us right away if we would like anything to drink. We didn’t know at that time so we ask for a few more minutes. A little bit later the male waiter (whom I will call “Stash”) came over and asked us what we would like to drink. My wife asked what the advertised “vodka drink special” is, and he said “I don’t know I just got here.” So she ordered a simple drink, and I asked for a sample of two different beers. Stash said he was busy and “would get my wife her drink and then take care of a few other customers.” Even though it was not that busy at that time, I was thinking he might have other commitments so it’s no big deal. So I waited patiently as he kept walking past me, helping others and watched as he started taking orders from new people.

My wife finished ¾ of her drink and I still have not heard back from Stash. All the bartenders kept walking past us until our original waitress saw me and asked what I wanted. I finally had the opportunity to asked for the two samples, tasted them, and ordered a beer right away. We then we ordered our food right away because we didn’t know when we would see them again. After we ordered our food my wife ordered another drink, and I am still drinking my first beer. Her drink was brought up right away from our first female waitress, and shortly after I finished my beer and I put my empty glass in front of me by the drink well. Time goes by and Stash had to walk past me at least a dozen of times, never looking at me, and then he noticed my wife’s drink is empty and asked her is she wanted another. She said yes, AND “my husband would like another beer.” I have never felt so ignored. We came to the conclusion Stash only wanted to serve the women.

It’s been about hour, and we are enjoying our drinks and our food still has not arrived. But we keep seeing burgers and the like being served to others well after we ordered. We didn’t think Firecracker Shrimp and a Buffalo Flatbread would take that long. Well it did take a ridiculous amount of time to receive our food, BUT it was really delicious.

As we are eating, Stash is cleaning up other patrons dirty glasses and places them directly in front of me. We finished eating and the line of dirty glasses just keeps growing. My beer is pretty much empty at this time and Stash never makes any eye contact or acknowledges my presence, and as usual walks away. Soon after he adds more dirty glasses in front of me and I finally asked if he could not place the dirty glasses in front of me. He actually said to me “What am I supposed to do the sink is full”. A few other words were exchanged between Stash and myself, then he hesitantly moved the glasses a couple of bar stools away from us.

At this point we decided to leave and for the first time in my life I left a zero dollar tip. I have spent many years in the service industry as a waiter and I know how to treat a customer. I am a minimum 20% tipper, but tonight was exceptionally terrible. I do feel sorry for the lady waitress helping us but Stash just ruined our evening. We could also see the embarrassment from the other staff members working behind the bar because they saw how Stash has treated (mistreated) us. Older people have money to leave a good tip while the younger crowd probably doesn’t, so you shouldn’t pick and choose who to be nice to. Needless to say we are not difficult people and I would like you to know the nice waiter from Jekyll received a 40% tip from us the...

Came in for brunch to celebrate my 15th anniversary with my SO and we were so happy that we picked this place to do that. When we came in, fairly early around 11am I think, the restaurant was fairly empty but there were a couple of other people at the bar where we sat. The bartender greeted us immediately and was very attentive throughout our entire meal. She helped us choose how to order our mimosas, we got the flight of juices which is what I would recommend, and chatted about the food to help us decide. Everything came very quickly, drinks and food, and was fantastic. We got the flight of juices which comes with a bottle, and we chose some juices that we wouldn't normally have as mimosas and now I think I love pear juice with my champagne. We got the cheese curd appetizer and those are always good (we frequent the five points location as well) cooked perfectly and a giant portion. My SO got the gentleman I think it was called on the brunch menu (a steak with eggs) and he said it was cooked perfectly and really tasty. His egg was cooked perfectly, he likes it over medium but still a runny yoke, and that doesn't always happen. I got the fried shrimp off of the regular menu and as always the shrimp were cooked well and a giant portion. The french fries are a favorite of mine, crispy on the outside but melty on the inside (iykyk about perfectly cooked potatoes). I literally ate everything on my plate, and I finished off most of the cheese curds as well. That's not a normal occurrence for me, I typically have to take food home with me but I was not taking any of this stuff home, I was eating it all right there because it was so good. The bar did get busy about 3/4 of the way through our meal, but the service from the bartenders never dropped. All the bartenders were very attentive, the one who took our order and everyone else. I'll definitely be back I don't know about this location because I'm not at the beach very often but I do...