The Floridian Restaurant — Restaurant in Saint Augustine

Wednesday, April 13, 2022, we decided to give The Floridian a try after a recommendation by a local. I must say I was somewhat disappointed! The hostess seated us outside on a wonderful evening and asked what we'd like to drink. I inquired about draft beers and was informed that our server would have a list of available brews. After about a 10 minute wait, our server greeted us. She read off the list of draft beers. Not a long list by any means. I chose 1 to sample. She came back and apologized that my chosen brew had just 'kicked'. I asked for a different one. Again she came back and said that it was unavailable and informed me of another from the list that was not on tap. This was approximately 1/3 of their available draft brews. As the remaining brews either didn't interest me or were humdrum selections (Yuengling, Bud Light, etc) I opted for water while my fiance had a Bud Light. Next we ordered an appetizer of "chips & dips". Incredibly we were once again informed that they were unavailable! "Chips & dips"? To their credit, they brought us a complimentary basket of their great bread with the 2 dips that usually accompany the chips; Lemon-garlic Chickpea hummus and Black Bean-Poblano dip served with crudite veggies. Both dips were very nice! My fiance ordered the "SOUTH-EAST FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH" ($16.75) and added their pimento cheese for it (+$3). For her side she chose the herb roasted new potatoes. The chicken was crispy outside & moist inside. Perfect! The potatoes were also very good. I wish I could stop there but, alas, I wanted something to eat as well. My challenge is that I've been undergoing major restorative dental work & am somewhat limited to foods on the softer side. Sadly, no crusty breads or steaks for me. I inquired about the soup du jour ($4.50 CUP/$7.00 BOWL) and the server described an interesting sounding tomato based soup. I also chose the "THE CHEESE BOARD ($16.50) Described as "A selection of Sweetgrass Dairy (Thomasville, GA) cheeses served alongside pan pugliese bread, seasonal fruit, apple butter, candied pecans, and FL honey" For me, here is where the last remaining wheels fell off the wagon. The server's description of the soup and what I was served were far apart. The soup contained the same crudite veggies that accompanied the bread we were served. Mostly raw & virtually uncooked & so inedible for me. It was also lacking flavor to my palate. I had asked what cheeses I could expect on the cheese board and was told "gouda, goat cheese and feta". Uh, not hardly! There was brie, which I would have nixed had I been informed of that. The goat cheese was very nice. There was also roquefort or blue, also nice and another cheese that I was unable to identify but pleasant. As for the promised accompaniments the 'seasonal fruit were 3 or 4 small & wafer thin slices of apple. The 'apple butter' was nothing like apple butter that I'm familiar with as a Pennsylvanian Dutchman. Rather it was more of a seasoned apple syrup and FL honey was nowhere to be found. The candied pecans were fine. Had we had a better experience, almost $70 for a light dinner, would have been acceptable but in this case, although we come to St. Augustine frequently, I doubt...

The Floridian was suggested by some colleagues in Tampa. We made reservations on 05/31 for my birthday dinner. Beautiful night, very warm, friendly atmosphere & clean. Hostess greeted us with smiles & suggested sitting at the bar until our table was ready. ANDREW, the bartender was AMAZING!! spot on, super friendly, delicious drinks and wonderful conversation. Even some locals sitting at the bar were friendly & offered some places to visit in the area. Time to eat!! We were seated at one of the bar area tables & excited to try the food. A surgeon colleague at work said the fish was to die for. This is where our night was was ruined... I'll make this short as it was SO much at once we couldn't even believe what was happening at a place like this. All of a sudden a single menu was "dropped" on the table sideways & upside down as she said nothing & walked away. Withholding judgement, we didn't think she was our waitress as she was dressed entirely different than the rest of the staff at this nice restaurant. (Big sloppy t-shirt to her thighs, a bright pink, ankle length satin skirt & the worse facial expressions ever) She finally returned, just stood there with the "I hate being here look on her face" & said "what can I get you" (like we were at McDonalds) My other half asked, "do you have any suggestions?" She mentioned a fish dish, he asked "is that good?" she said in such a mean voice "Every things good!" and curled her lip like we were bothering her then she just walked away. We ordered 2 meals which were EXCELLENT!!! BEST fish I have had in a very long time :-) Michael then made the mistake of asking for a small to go box which apparently was exhausting for her to go retrieve.(pics attached of the food in the box) Flung that on the table, NEVER told us her name, NEVER asked if we wanted drinks.. see the almost empty glasses when dinner was served picture (Michael had an empty glass 75% of the time & mine was gone) Once our plates were served, she NEVER returned not once to ask how it was, if we wanted anything etc.. He went to the bar to ask for our check, she dropped it on our table then turned to walk away.. I had had it with her attitude & ask nicely "are you always this rude to customers at this nice place?" She took 1 step back towards me to say something but withheld & had Andrew cash us out while she stood and just glared deeply the entire time at us until we left. The couple next to us leaned over and said they wouldn't be back as she ruined their night as well. I was a server & manager for decades at normal, very High end & members only restaurants therefore, I understand this industry which is also why I tip VERY WELL. I also understand that everyone has a "bad" night but when you are "on the floor working" you put you game face on and do your job because you are representing that establishment. TARA H. our server (which we only knew because it was printed on our bill) ruined our Floridian 1st time experience. I did not tip on a $125 bill as all she did was take my order. I would have easily left $40/$50 if it had been the experience we initially went there for. I hope TARA H. treats her future customers better or finds something else that...

While visiting the area this afternoon my wife received a recommendation for this restaurant from a shop worker nearby. Upon presenting to the hostess desk, we were told it was a 10-15 minute wait for non reservations which was fine with us. We were not called until 35 minutes later. I understand that things arise and if we had been acknowledged and informed of the long wait it would have been more hospitable. We were eventually escorted to our seat and greeted by a waiter who was nice. He brought us our water and ice tea and took our orders since we had a chance to decide what to order before being seated. Our main courses ("N grits") arrived and were a departure from the way the menu had described them to be (flounder and grits, and the shrimp and grits for myself). The grits were a plank of grits like how they get when they dry out in a pot; closer to fried polenta. I mistook it for a piece of cornbread at first. The shrimp was cooked well, but it included pickled vegetables similar to pico de gallo which I wasn't fond of personality, but it wasn't bad. It came with 5 average sized shrimp in a remoulade-colored sauce. My wife did enjoy her flounder but maintained that it was not quite what she was expecting either.

As far as the service and facility aspects go, our water and iced tea were never refilled. The waiter himself was seen doing everything he could do to the tables he was servicing, so to me this appeared to be a staffing issue and he was trying to do too much. He never stood still for a second.

The restaurant has ungendered restrooms which seemed to cause a bit of confusion and disappointment, based on the comments I overheard in line waiting to use one. This may not be a big deal to some diners, but a restaurant supporting a mental disability, to me, is mind-blowing. The restroom itself was clean and well stocked.

I cannot say whether or not I would give The Floridian a 2nd chance. The menu is more limited than most places, as there wasn't much else I would consider ordering that would...