Ale Pie House — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Oh, where to start on a bad meal at Ale Pie House? We went here using a Living Social voucher, and I'm glad I didn't pay full price for this experience. Let's begin before you even step inside. The parking situation is atrocious. There is only enough parking for 8-10 cars in the lot, and the nearby businesses all have "Tow-away Zone" signs posted, so that's not an option while they are open. The service was mediocre at best, and not what I would consider "rapid". The original server either hadn't been there long or poorly trained, as she had no idea what was available on tap in the bar. A different server came to take our entree order, and she skipped one of my party of 3 when taking entree orders. We ordered the steamed clams in white wine sauce as an app, and they arrived at the table about 20 minutes after we ordered them. Both the clams and the accompanying bread were delivered just above room temperature, and the clams would have been fairly tasty if they would have been hot. The bread had to be dipped in the wine sauce in order to give it any flavor at all. On to the meal itself. I ordered a meat calzone, and my wife and daughter split a seafood combo in white wine sauce (which was a plus, as my wife was the person that was ignored earlier during entree ordering). The food arrived and the first thing I noticed was that the crust of my calzone was nearly identical in temperature to the clams and bread that were previously delivered. After I cut into it, it became obvious that it hadn't cooked long enough, as most of the cheese inside had not even melted. The seafood combo was about the same temperature, even though the scallops had been overcooked to the point of resembling rubber "Super Balls". The server, when asked about the seafood, replied that it was frozen, which I find interesting given that Jacksonville is a major seafood port in FL. I returned my meal as inedible, and requested that the charge be removed from my check, which was done without any issues. Wife and daughter ate part of the combo and had the remainder boxed up for the trip home. I can say a few good things about this restaurant: The beer was cold and not flat, they have a decent selection of drafts on tap for beer drinkers, the sweet tea is really good, and the server was nice enough to send us home with a Chocolate Trio dessert on the house for our troubles. The dessert was reportedly the highlight of the evening, according to the ladies. I can honestly say that I will never darken the doors of the Ale Pie House again after tonight, and I sincerely hope that this review either gets the restaurant to improve or helps someone avoid an...

Ok, I'm tough, but...fair! Ale Pie House is...simply..marvelous!! I dont want you to go there because we like quiet, cozy places nobody knows about! But... this place is sumpin special! My wife & I were there a few days before Christmas, 12/13, actually, as we had purchased a couple of discount tickets on LOCAL FLAVOR. OMG!! Wife is a pizza lover extreme!! She ordered meat lovers pizza, the $25 varity!! When she wants pizza, she wants PIZZA!! She was dead on!! Thin crust, the best pizza I've ever had, & i'm 84!!! WE CALLED IT "INSANE"! I ordered 'sketti with hot Italian sausage!! There was so much sausage I thought the waitress, STEPANIE, must have added extra herself, lookin fo a bigger tip!! Then, I ran out of red sauce about the time the 0wner, MARIO, was coming around to all the tables to see how customers were doing. We told him how delicious everything was but that I had run out of red sauce. He nearly broke my 100 yd dash High School record getting me a HUGE cup of sauce! WHAT A PLACE!! It's our new go-to spot for pizza, sketti, & everything Italian!! Hey, my office was in San Francisco for 17 years!! Literally, Dozens of Italian Restaurants at which I've eaten!! & I was on an expense account, so I ate at the finest!! Mario ranks with the best SF...

Horrible! I think I'm trying something new and I see I need to stick to going to Carmines Pie House.

I came in to place a to-go order. The place was not busy at all! There were only 3 couples seated. The two ladies working seemed flustered but one gave me a menu and the other offered me something to drink. I place my order and pay. I was told it'll be about 15 mins so I wait in my car. I return in 20 mins and is told they're working on it- it's not ready. I return to my car and wait another 15 mins. This time going back in one of the ladies says they've been having printing difficulties and there's a chance the kitchen hasn't received the ticket. She goes up stairs to check. When she returns she says they're making it now, they didn't get the order but I'll give you a piece of cake for your wait. I tell her I don't want a slice of cake and that I would like my money back. She then ask, if I still want the pizza. I tell her no. I am given a refund. After waiting 40 mins all you offer is a slice of cake and expect me to wait another 20 mins... No thank you. If you know you're having order challenges every order needs to be double checked to make sure the kitchen upstairs is getting it! My first and last time coming here. I'll stick to Carmines. They...