Waterfront — Restaurant in Stuart

Went here to celebrate my best friend’s birthday. It was a group of seven of us and we were seated really quickly outside. So, the important thing to note here is that there are two menus. One for inside and one for outside. The outside menu doesn’t have entrees, just handhelds and tacos, with a ton of apps. While the inside menu has more of your steaks, more expensive wines, etc. so if you’re wanting more of that upscale, “date night vibe,” or trying to impress someone you more than likely shouldn’t (cause you should be yourself really) that’s where you want to go. But, if you’re celebrating a birthday, I’d say go outside. It’s covered, it has fans, and me and my friends got to sit at a table facing the water. Which was beautiful cause of the sunset. I’m a sucker for a good sunset. Nonetheless though, the vibes were immaculate.

Shout out to Dylan the waiter, bro was looking out for the table from the jump. I got two drinks: the Durazno Margarita and the Blackberry Bliss (both $16). Not really into smoked drinks, kinda reminds me of BBQ, which I love bbq, but I don’t want those vibes for my drinks. It was sweet but like I said that smoky aftertaste just lingers. But it came recommend and I’m always down to try new things. The second drink I had was better, I’m a sweet drink type of person, and granted I could’ve had it sweeter but it was a good palette cleanser from the smoky drink. Would’ve ordered that second drink twice.

Food wise, for apps I got the Calamari which was fried. It came with three different sauces San Marzano sauce, sriracha aioli and sweet Thai chili aioli. All for $18. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re sharing with six other people. Portions are good for maybe two if I’m being honest. So if you’re trying to be a big back with the apps, I’d say either order a second order or eat it all yourself. Second app I got was the Moroccan Cigars. Honestly, whoever came up with that, deserves good things in life. Okay, first off it’s a deconstructed eggroll. A bit gimmicky, yeah but what they have for gimmicks, and an $18 price tag, they do make up for in just rich flavor. It’s braised beef short rib and smoked Gouda cheese with golden BBQ sauce (a yellow BBQ so a mustard base). And honestly, the BBQ sauce was so good. It’s sweet, which a lot of mustard base BBQs are so that was such a beautiful flavor profile. And the short rib was very tender. Like I said, I’m not really big on gimmicks like a deconstructed egg roll, but I do like when chefs do their thing and deliver a good item of food. So I can’t be too mad. I should’ve been a big back and kept that all for myself.

Dylan had recommended the salmon BLT which is Grilled Salmon, bibb lettuce, tomato, smoked applewood bacon, and caper dill aioli on a ciabatta roll. and honestly a vibe. Like 10/10. I’ve never had a salmon BLT before, and honestly before asking Dylan for a recommendation I saw that and was like “aint no way that’s good.” But I’m a big stickler if a waiter gives a recommendation and says even he eats it and loves it, which Dylan did, I’m gonna take that man at his word. And he was right. I absolutely loved the salmon BLT and honestly next time I’m there, I’ll order two. It is $20, but it’s worth it.

So overall it was a really good meal. Would definitely comeback. Dylan was a really great waiter, super serviceable to my friends and I. He definitely deserves to work not only just outside, but especially inside. I highly recommend that if you go to waterfront, ask if Dylan can be your server. Dude is hilarious and keeps that same energy with any table he works. Bro was a vibe. So hoping he gets the praise and admiration...

I had previously left a 5-star review from our first visit to Waterfront (largely due to our server Frankie’s excellent job after we were never greeted at our table & the hostesses were too busy on their phones to greet us or be marginally friendly. I digress) but alas I find myself having to edit my initial review because tonight’s experience left me feeling like I never want to dine here again.

I made a reservation for 6:45 for the “patio”, upon arriving in a heavy rainstorm, I went inside the entrance to see if there was a way to get to the patio without having to walk along the uncovered slippery ramp beside the building. The inside hostess told me that was the only way but there were plenty of seats inside if I’d like to change my reservation. I said that was a considerate offer but I’ll wait under the portico for my husband, I’d let him know that’s an option.

My husband found parking and the rain had let up enough so we proceeded to the ramp & approached the patio hostess. Here’s why I logged back in to change my review. Immediately the patio hostess acted as if I was bothering her. I gave her my name & she says that our reservation is in the dining room (w/ snark), plus she added “…plus we barely have any availability down here anyways”. I was feeling irritated because we had quite literally just (1) been told our res was for the patio (2) walked in the rain to the patio (3) rudely told to go back through the rain to the dining room. The patio hostess offered to walk us back to the dining room, but the clear tone from her was that I was in the wrong, I even tried to hurriedly open my phone to show “patio” on my reservation but she interrupted me & spun the iPad around to point out the table in the dining room with our name on it (this was pointed out to me in a very “duh” kind of way).

My husband & I walk back up the ramp & I have zero desire to spend any money at a place that would allow their hostesses to be brazenly rude. He walks back inside trying to make heads or tails or what just happened. The dining room hostess tells him that I asked to be moved inside and she would never just move someone. But that’s exactly what she did. I almost 100% of the time allow space for misinterpretation or other miscommunication but there is absolutely no way anything I said could have been taken incorrectly. I literally stated, “Oh, thank you for offering, we love the patio but I’ll check with my husband, I think he has an umbrella so we’ll be good”.

Unfortunately, I’ve read through every 1 star review and a large number involve hostesses and a large number also have a canned “blah blah…that’s not our standard…blah blah…”. Actions speak louder than copy & pasted replies. You all need to hire better and/or train better all around. With the exception of Frankie…the only server we’ve ever had there that was not a total...

Updated review, December 2023:

We visited Waterfront for the second time yesterday, and I have to say it improved a lot. It was a cool spot to begin with, but now it seems the menu was upgraded. We dined upstairs this time. it's just as cool as the bottom part. Our server was great, too. Cocktails were delicious. Love me some Kool-Berry Thyme! We tried a bunch of appetizers - oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and avocado wedges. We were very happy with all of them. As mains, we did the house burger, scallops, and ribeye. Again, everyone was very happy with their choices, no complaints, just tasty. The fries that go with the burger... not really fries, but rather potato slices (?) are great. It was definitely a great evening!

Also, a big change from when Waterfront was first opened, and my (not so) tiny rant down below... now gluten free options are clearly marked, AND there's gf bread too, if you want a sandwitch. The information on the website isn't correct (there is a "gluten free menu" that contains some non gf options), but the actual menu in the restaurant is clear. Also, the tacos are not marked as gf, but all the hard shell ones can be. In other words: there are lots of options!

Original review from February or March 2023: 4/5 (4/5 food, rest 5/5)

Good, not great. The place definitely looks cool and has an attractive vibe. Our server was nice, too. The food needs some work, though. We had burgers, crabcake sandwiches, and tacos, and all of us concluded that those could be a bit less dry, even if generally everything was tasty. I can speak more for the tacos - I'd add the sauce either at the bottom too (now it's only at the top) or layer it halfway through the meat. The fries were absolutely amazing, and so were the drinks.

I'm happy to come back after a while or when the upstairs opens. The place is not perfect but has potential.

As for gluten free situation... since I'm able to survive a bit of cross-contamination, I didn't ask and simply ordered corn tacos, feeling fine. I do believe that there's nothing gluten free dedicated though. Advise for owners: it's 2023, it should be a standard to mark the gluten free options in the menu, and if you cannot make it celiac-friendly simply add that information clearly at the bottom or sth. Celiacs won't be mad at you once they visit (assuming you also publish that information on your website), and gluten free sensitive people will be glad they will know what they can order upfront. Plus, as I said, it's freaking 2023. It's really a BASIC INFORMATION in...