Surf Rider — Restaurant in Poquoson

This has been my favorite restaurant for years....we went there for my birthday Thursday night 8/22/24, a group of 9...the food was horrible. One cousin got a crabcake plate and hers was good. My brother and I got the fried Seafood Platter like we always do and it was horrible it did not even look the same. Somebody did not know how to cook Seafood. Its like the Resturant got Dementia all of a sudden after all these years. The breading was WAY over used u had a hard time finding the seafood in it and it was cooked too much, too hard, brown, crispy, tastless, all taste the same. It wasn't burnt just no flavor but whatever horrible breading they used. I have NEVER had seafoid there like that in my life. And I won't again either and I will make sure and tell every one I can they have gone down in the pits. My brother got butter beans as a side they had zero salt or seasoning (I mean even butter) in them. When I made my to go I said u are not going to eat ur butter beans and he told me and I said I will doctor them up and I did. My Mother got a Fish Basket and she had the same breading cook problem. We are local people, my Father had his own Deadrise and caught seafood for a living. We know how to cook it and eat it and enjoy it.....we always did previously at Surfrider ....I have no idea what...

My wife and I Went to check out new surf rider that we loved before. We ride motor cycle and had motor cycle clothing on. People were inside but we were asked to wait outside. There were plenty of seating available. When we were outside numerous people went in but did not come out. The girls outside said inside was for elderly people. I am 68. There were numerous people younger than us inside. Perhaps they do not think our class of people fit there clientele. Found the seafood combo went up about $4 or $5 dollars. $29 now. Asked for fries with no salt. Waitress said she did not think they could do that. I asked her to write it on order anyway. When order came waitress dumped out a vegetable on table. She picked up the big pieces and left the juices on table. Waitress brought back napkins and left on table and walked off. I guess we were suppose to clean up. Did not happen. Got my fries saturated with salt. So salty could not eat. Amounts have gone down. My scalps were cut in half to make the meal. My piece of fish looked like as small as a fish stick. Drinks were served in small flimsy cups that look like solo cups with surf rider on it. Other people had glasses. When you grab it to drink cup collapsed and almost spills drink. Will not go...

I have been going to Surf Rider for about 20 years now. Granted, most of those years were for the location in Hampton off Kecoughtan rd. However, I have been frequenting the Poquoson location ever since they first opened there. In general, I would have rated both locations about a 4-4.5. However, my latest excursion to celebrate my wifes birthday attending by most of our family ( 8 people ), was somewhat dissapointing. The server seemed out of sorts and was somewhat slow to react and at one point towards the end of our meal, disappeared for at least 10 minutes. Mainly however, this was about the quality of food we received. I have eaten their fried clam strips at least 2 dozen times and they are always delicious. This time, they were battered way too much and really just did not have a good flavor. This was on top of my wife ordered scallops and because the menu was not clear, getting bay scallops vs. sea scallops. She was so disappointed, she barely ate any of them and said they were not good at all. After surveying the rest of the family after exiting the restaurant, no one was too pleased with their meals either! Wow, such a disappointment. I think it will be a long time before we frequent the Poquoson...