Dolphin Bar and Shrimp House — Restaurant in Jensen Beach

Disappointing.

The building and location state a high caliber you won’t realize from the staff or food. But then after poor service and food, I started looking around a bit more. Couldn’t believe seeing cob webs on the foyer chandelier. Gets worse the closer you look. Kind of starts to resemble the Munster Mansion. Salad bar is pretty good. Nothing to really rave about. I’ve had better and more varied salad bar at Sizzler style restaurants. We had escargot starter. One of the cups didn’t even have a snail or mushroom in it…just butter and seasonings. Bread on side of the escargot—one piece toasted burnt black on one side which was presented with the black side down. The other pieces were barely toasted at all. I had bacon wrapped shrimp which I’ve heard some of my friend say is great. Presentation was nice but tasted of sugar. We sat indoors at about 3:15 pm. I don’t think I ever saw so many wait staff running around and really not appearing to get anything done. We would have mentioned one of the 6 escargot was absent on delivery (maybe the food busser was hungry?) to our waitress, but she never ever asked how things were. Never looked me in the eye at start. Went back to salad bar for some water melon at end of dinner. When I came back, dirty dishes still there. I moved them to an adjacent empty table…it just happened a person clearing adjacent table walked by, and seeing me do this, very nicely said, “You don’t have to do that”. I said, “I know”, and set them on the other table. The busser walked on and returned a minute or so and took them away. I don’t think our waitress knew of this at all. If she did, she opted to say nothing.

Had we been asked how things are, I probably wouldn’t be writing this review. Who knows, maybe someone would have found the missing escargot? Can’t have gone far? I tipped the most my conscience would allow.

Thought I might say something to receptionist on leaving if asked…with nobody else in foyer area…we departed in silence. They were on devices.

I am highly unlikely to return and I definitely wouldn’t bring anybody there to dine. Can’t trust anyone I might treat will get excellent (much less good) food and service.

Thank you in advance for hearing me.

*Update to review a week later. Dolphin Bar did reach out to me within the week as I see they have with others. Admirable, but I opted not to reply. I provided enough information and hope they improve.

*Further update. I’ve been back to The Dolphin several times over the recent year or so. I’ve learned, it’s just a mixed bag. Usually very good, occasionally excellent, sometimes lacking. Luck of the draw on wait staff seems to be what counts. The food seems consistent. I remain disappointed in the escargot (toast burnt and very small snails they try to bulk up with button mushrooms) but everything else is very good. A time it was excellent; a club I’m in wanted to have lunch as a group and choose the Dolphin. The chief waitress (for our four or five tables of about 30 persons) was outstanding! Managed many details quickly and fast! Managed the two or so persons who were at her side responding to her instructions. Wish I had written her name as would state it here. Multiple checks went perfect! The lobby cob webs are gone and has a fresh feel. Much...

Took my daughter and niece to lunch on July 7. I have only eaten at this restaurant for events and the food and service was always good. Our experience yesterday was at best subpar and should have NEVER left the kitchen. All food was cold and had an odd taste to it. It appeared to have been hot at some point in the day or the day before and left sitting until an unlucky table ordered it. Our server (who was super nice), asked how the food was and I should have returned everything, paid for our drinks and left. I did not want to complain as I felt nothing that she replaced our dishes with would be any different than what was served to us first/second course. Fast forward a few hours later, we all started having stomach issues that continued through the night and as of today July 8, we all knew we had food poisoning. My niece has the worst of it as she consumed shellfish.

I did contact the manager on duty to let her know since they were busy that day and multiple other people had to be sick as well. There is no way it was just our table. She offered an apology and said she would address it with the chef and that was it.

In retrospect, I wish we went to ANY OTHER restaurant within a 30 mile radius as it was top tier pricing for food that tasted like garbage with a steaming pile of food poisoning. The food poisoning was the only thing “hot” from that meal and in the worst way possible.

We won’t be going back and regret the decision to go in the first place. I feel like this is something they have heard multiple times before and have consistently brushed under the rug. They definitely need a new chef, food runner and BOH manager that expos to check quality before food leaves the kitchen. Unacceptable all the...

Had a delicious lunch on a Friday. Started with Pama Mule and Golden Dolphin Rita. Both drinks flavorful with a good portion alcohol. Calamari was ok. Marinara sauce was good containing green herbs in the mild sauce. My husband loved his shrimp and gouda cheese grits. 6 large very fresh grilled shrimp with bacon bits and a spicy grits. I had coconut fried shrimp with plantains. Both our 2nd sides were cole slaw. A very fresh cut blend not very wet nor loaded with mayo or some other fat. Really good. We split an orange sunset cake. Wow, highly recommended dense orange cake with orange custard. Very homemade dessert. See attached photos.

Now in high season I am sure this wonderful restaurant will have a long wait on Sunday afternoons. Outdoor patio right on the water with a view. If you spend time on Hutchinson Island, the restaurant is a short drive over the Ocean Blvd. bridge, then turn right at Sewalls Point driving north on Sewalls Point Rd. Worth your visit. We drove from home in south Palm Beach Cty. Would do it again. Our server Christine was attentive and professional. UPDATE 2nd. visit 08/2018: Our second visit this year. We split a smoked dolphin dip served with crackers, chopped pickled jalapenos, chopped red onion and chopped tomatoes. Excellent. My husband really enjoyed mango halibut with couscous. I liked my hangar steak salad of properly prepared, tender steak. We bioth drank a Dolphin Golden Rita. See attached photos. For dessert we highly recommend their Orange cake. Outstanding. I recommend eating one shared and the second taken home. Service was also great. Ask for Christine L. as...