Coast 236 Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Saugatuck

Let me tell you about what was supposed to be my birthday dinner celebration. This was not only the worst dining experience I have ever had, but it also represents a complete breach of expectations for what was promised and charged. We purchased the tasting menu with wine pairings, expecting a fine dining experience. What we received was unacceptable on every level: Underserved Wine Pairings – All six glasses were clearly under poured. At this price point, proper pours are a basic expectation. Miserable Portion Sizes – The food served was so minimal that each of us left hungry. If purchased a la carte, the same spend would have provided three to four times more food. Never before have I paid over $100 for a tasting menu and had to stop for fast food afterward. Shocking Management Conduct – This was the most insulting part of the experience. When we requested to speak with the manager, she deliberately stood behind glass doors doing nothing for 10 minutes before approaching us (We could see her from our table).When she finally did, she treated us with outright disrespect: ○First suggesting we purchase more food to solve the issue. ○Then offering to remove only two cheap salads from the bill. ○Finally returning with a meager discount that was presented with a dismissive, condescending attitude. She even had the audacity to “apologize” by saying it was standard protocol to tell patrons at ordering time that the tasting menu portion sizes are drastically reduced(If we had been told this ahead of time we could have possibly avoided this whole experience). She repeatedly told us her “hands were tied” and that “nothing could be done” to make our experience right. The entire interaction felt like haggling with a used car salesman, not resolving a legitimate customer complaint at a “high-end” establishment. Breach of Fine Dining Expectations – Beyond the food and service failures, the ambiance was far below fine dining standards: low-grade furniture, no tablecloths, cramped seating, and the inability to have a private conversation. This was supposed to be a special occasion. Instead, it was an outright embarrassment, a waste of money, and the only time in my life I have felt compelled to file a dispute with American Express. I was charged for an experience that the restaurant failed to deliver in every way, despite being given multiple opportunities to...

TLDR: A lovely atmosphere in an intimate setting with an interesting, constantly changing menu accompanied by a nice variety of wines and cocktails, and the best crème brûlée ever!

We visited in March (yes, I’m late on the review, and hence the snow in the pictures) and were excited to experience the Coast 236 “experience” 😎

We started off with wine- LOIMER GRUNER VELTLINER NIEDERÖSTERREICH, AUSTRIA lime zest • sugar snap pea • white pepper. We loved it! Perfect for seafood!

We decided that we were too picky to eat the full 6 or 9 course menu 😂🤣 (I’m a pescatarian and he doesn’t like fois gras, scallops or mushrooms), so we ordered off the regular menu. For the starter, we got the TUNA CRUDO - He couldn’t get past the “wetness” of the fish, (it was very wet to the point where it almost looked unappetizing) but I absolutely LOVED it! The grapefruit and capers paired beautifully with the texture of the tuna, and the micro cilantro, shallot and smoked maldon salt dissolved delectably on the tongue. I’m currently salivating whilst reliving the memory…🤣🤤

We both decided to order the same entrée: WARM WATER LOBSTER TAIL - 9-oz butter-poached lobster, tomato saffron broth, butter-roasted radish, parisienne gnocchi, smoked trout roe. I almost started singing “These are a few of my favorite things” 🎶 while reminiscing on the ingredients of this fabulous dish! I’d never thought of eating Smoked trout roe and gnocchi in the same dish, but holy deliciousness, Batman! 🦇 The lobster was fantastically tender and tasty.

We ordered the crème brûlée for dessert, and it was the loveliest crème brûlée I’ve ever tasted… so we ordered a second one to go 🤣. Our server informed us of another dessert that we didn’t want to try, but we were intrigued by the liqueur-soaked apples that garnished it, and she brought us some to try. They were fantastic, and I only wish I could remember what they were soaked in …🤔

We finished with a small bottle of LINDEMANS LAMBIC FRAMBOISE- a dessert favorite.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience for me, however, portion sizes are a bit small, even in comparison to other restaurants of this level. I did enjoy the creativity of the dishes and would potentially be interested in revisiting should we be back...

Atmosphere and initial impression at the door was a turn-off, but the food quality was EXCELLENT. We arrived at about 8 pm on Wed, July 5th, and the hostess greeted us. We said 2 for dinner (we are locals & live about 2 blocks away). She asked if we had a reservation, which I thought was strange because 50% of the tables were open. She said reservation only. I looked and saw the entire bar was open, not a single patron eating at the bar. She was turning us away, so I asked, "Can we eat at the bar?" She said she needed to ask first & it seemed like our business was not wanted. We were allowed to eat at the bar. We ordered Martini's and 2 entrées. The drinks were small but adequate. The food arrived within 15 minutes, and the salmon was perfectly done! The Halibut was amazing as well. We dined at the bar for about 1 hour total. Im not sure that I ever saw any of the staff smile or show some animation of any sort. I would say the food prices are moderate to moderately high, so I would expect more friendly interaction from start to finish. All the tables that were open when we came in were still open an hour later. Like I said earlier, we are locals, and I didn't feel welcome at all. The atmosphere is very quiet and all the furnishings and walls are white and devoid of color. I will give it another try soon and report back. The food was amazing, but everything else must step up a couple of notches. Remember, as a local guide, we pay for our meals & dining experience, so I will always give an honest, unbiased opinion. Stay tuned for more updates on...