Down the Hatch Seafood Company — Restaurant in Ponce Inlet

Our party of four had a thoroughly unsatisfactory evening at Down the Hatch on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Both the service and the food were seriously lacking. First, the service: We ordered and received our drinks, but the server made no attempt to determine which drink was mine and which my sister's. We tasted and then switched. The glasses were identical, yes, but it was her job to keep them straight, and she just plopped them down in the middle, willy-nilly. Another member of our group never got any water, only his cocktail. Then we waited and waited, with no further attention, as the tables around us got their dishes, ate, and left. Any decent server would've noticed that we were sitting there with no food and would've addressed the problem. Finally, one of us tracked her down -- twice! Still more waiting. At length, the manager showed up to tell us that the server had not punched in our order, so the kitchen knew nothing about it. I said, "We won't be back." She said, "Because she made a mistake?" No, because she made a whole series of them. Things got even worse. We finally received our salads, but I ate only a little of mine since the server's thumb was stuck well inside every salad bowl -- ugh -- and I assume the same when she collected them from the kitchen. The lettuce was none too fresh, anyway. I got a shock when my entree finally appeared. It was listed on the menu as "Pasta Primavera," but it was no such thing. I understand that this is a seafood restaurant, not an Italian one, but if the dish is billed as Pasta Primavera, that's what it should be. I suggest a more accurate name: "Generic Flat Noodles in a Scanty, Bland Marinara Sauce from a Jar, Topped with a Few Steamed, Sliced Vegetables." None of the other three in our party, who did order seafood, finished their entrees since they were not enjoyable enough to bother with. I can say that the hushpuppies were good. After all that, the manager didn't charge us for the entrees -- appreciated, but we would have much preferred tasty dinners, competently...

Don’t have anything nice to say about the manager who discriminates against customers. People go to have a nice time. Manager discriminated against a person who has a sight disability. Refused service thinking she was intoxicated. Even though the party explained they had helped their friend who had a sight disability put a flip flop on that fell off because she couldn’t see to do it they were still refused service. What should have been a joyous occasion for the customers and a money maker for the bartenders it was ruined because one narrow minded individual on a power trip can’t tell the difference between a disability and drunkenness. That manager shouldn’t be allowed to control anything or anyone. Definitely needs education. I will never spend another dime in there and I will tell everyone I know and people I don’t not to go there.

In response to the reply from business- the woman who left in the car was so disheartened that she was discriminated so she left for the rest of the day. No one in the group was intoxicated as it was the first stop of the day. No one else agreed with the manager who didn’t pay any attention to anything other than she needed help getting a flip flop off that fell off. The bartenders etc did not agree. The manager did in fact discriminate and then when he was fully informed of the disability was cocky and rude. Then said sorry if you feel discriminated against. Your manager is very poorly trained in customer service and dealing with disabilities on any level. Again manager was fully informed. So to say oh how was anyone to know about a disability-they were informed a couple of times. Needless to say I will be more than happy to file a complaint with the BBB. I will also be more than happy to let the world know what an incompetent, uneducated, rude manager you have. I will also be taking my business else where. I will let everyone I know and those I don’t not to spend their...

I grew up coming here by water but lately was really disappointed. I pulled up to their dock and proceeded to head to the bar and grab a drink. I recently had my new jet ski 50 hour serviced and a new battery installed. When I went to leave the battery was dead. I asked around for a jump box and the bartender checked but didn't have one and I made a joke saying I would have given her a million dollars and several of the bar customers even went back to their house to check. Suddenly a young employee from inside approached and had a new one. I used it to start my ski to check if it worked and headed inside to pay my tab. The employee came over and said I owed her $80 per use. I thought she was kidding. She said it was a $300 jump box and wasn't letting it get used for free. I looked it up and it was $49 bucks on amazon. She laughed and said well do you need it or not. I told her mariners code is common courtesy and I wasn't gonna fill her greed. Customers were all disgusted and talking about it. The manager came over screaming at me for telling everyone and I explained that they heard it I didn't need to tell them. She said can it be dropped because the incident was slowly being talked about by everyone. The sun was setting as I sat on the dock trying to start my ski. I explained that it was illegal to ride at night and dangerous but they didn't care. They even called the cops because some of the customers were getting upset by the incident. The cops knew us and laughed about it. I got a ride to hidden treasure and Jerry's tiki bar where I was able to fix the incident. (Two very awesome businesses that even stayed open a little later to help their patrons. I wouldn't go here if I was paid to and just be weary of where you spend your money in...