Nautilus Diner — Restaurant in Maryland

November 29, 2021 My husband planned a surprise birthday trip of two nights at a super nice B&B for me. On the way to our destination we stopped in for lunch at the Crofton dinner called The Nautilus for our first experience today. There was no host person to greet us when we arrived so we waited. I looked over their dessert display case and made a few observation comments to Tim as we waited and waited. Finally a customer approached to pay their bill and the manager rang them up. I then had to say we were two people waiting to be seated. The ambiance was very nice. My hopes remained high even though service seemed slow. A waiter took our drink orders and I said it was our first visit and I needed time to read the novel thick menu. The waiter did not offer any specials or suggestions.

He ordered a patty melt and I ordered the (customer recommended) French dip with the Maryland vegetable crab soup and fries.

On first taste of the Maryland veg/crab soup I thought it taste exactly like Campbell’s vegetable soup that crab bits & lots of black pepper to make it spicy. This was what I said so to my husband and later to the waiter, he informed me it was made from scratch daily and did not offer to exchange it. I had my doubts it as I had earlier heard another visitor warn away her friend from ordering the soup saying it saying it was too salty. Since another customer had recommended it I ordered it and ate it anyhow even though I didn’t like it that much. I was hungry.

At no time we’re we asked “how is your food” once it had arrived and we had time to taste it: my fries were very under cooked, and My French Dip sandwich was extremely bland in taste with the au jus greasy and odd tasting. Butter?

The waiter did not check with us during our meal and forgot about the refill I requested. We had flag him down to request our check. The table next to us also began putting on their coats and masks in an very obvious attempt to signal someone to give them service.

The restroom was badly in need of attention.

At the register the people ahead complained slow service. We paid tipped the waiter anyhow and left.

Now I am at our destination and my first evening at our B&B ruined. I have been having belly cramps on the way and results of those symptoms; Do I have a case of mild food poisoning. On the way home if I remember I will be stopping in and giving the manager an ear full. I will DEMAND A...

The server was very professional and accommodating. We came here for a 90th birthday celebration. The reason, I am giving this such a low review is the manager's attitude and the food quality. I had the Southwest omelette and the crumb cake pancakes topped with apple filler. Neither dish was anything to write home about. The omelette, especially, needed more seasoning. After a confusing back and forth, the manager told us that he could take the cake we brought to a fridge in the back. We believed that he was going to keep it there until we were ready for it. When we finished our brunch, we asked the server about the cake. He wasn't told about it. Nonetheless, he walked ceremonially back with the cake, which was now topped with a lit candle. The manager eventually came up to us and chastised us for...eating the cake. He argued that if we got sick, he was liable for it. It would've been understandable if he had let us know that from the beginning. Instead he took his frustration out on us for his own ambiguity. He then proceeded to yell (yes. YELL) at the server for giving us the cake. We made sure to tip the server extra. He said that everybody's used to the manager's temper at that point. We were having a good time until the manager got involved. Again, there is nothing wrong with the policy. It's just that, it would've been much more professional and less mature of the manager to 1. clearly explain the policy from the beginning so as to avoid confusion, and 2. in the event the policy was broken, to calmly explain it to the customers and the employee. In case anyone is wondering which manager I'm talking about, it's the tall older...

Today was my first and last time visiting this diner. I had family visiting from out of state and decided to try the nautilus. There was 1 couple in front of us and it took the host at least 7 minutes to appear to sit them down. He comes back to takes to our table us plots a pile on menus on the table and says "here" and walks off. So I past out the menus to the 6 of us. We sat for 10 minutes before our server finally appeared to take our drink order. He brings our drinks and take our order. We eventually get our food it is edible but nothing special or seasoned and the whole time our server was M.I.A. Drinks have gone empty and no one to even check to see if we needed anything. By this time we are over the experience. We catch a glimpse of our server to ask for refills and condiments which he gets them quickly and disappears again. We are done and waiting to see the server again so we can get to go boxes and check. He appears again; we get the check and go to pay for it and split it 5 ways. The cashier couldn't split it so she asked our server to do it and he catches an attitude and says "well you didn't tell to me to split it 5 ways". You didn't asked, you assumed it was one check nor you didn't mention it couldn't be split. No we are standing in front of him 1 by 1 to tell him what each of us ordered. The front end cared nothing about our experience as it is getting worst and the manager is standing there watching this unfold. The only reason I gave this place 2 stars is their portion size. The service absolutely stinks there is nothing hospitable about...