Dale's Seafood of Whiteville — Restaurant in Whiteville

This used to be a really good place to dine but has definitely declined over the past few years. We used to dine here every weekend and now that has diminished to only a couple times a year. Tonight's experience was very poor and left a bad taste in my mouth. I doubt there will be a return visit in the future. Upon arrival, we stood over 5 mins waiting for a hostess to greet and seat us. Once at a table, our waitress was immediate with menu's and taking drink orders. I was very specific, and asked for a large milk with a 2nd glass of ice on the side. She questioned the request by reciting, "you want a glass of milk with ice in it?" I said no, and again told her, a large milk with a 2nd glass of ice on the side. She finally understood, got our drinks and took our food orders. I ordered a regular seafood plate which normally comes with shrimp, fish, clam strips and crab. I asked to substitute the clams for oysters and accepted the upcharge. After 45 minutes, our plates were distributed and mine had, shrimp, fish, scallops, oysters and crab. I questioned this as I do not like scallops and the waitress proceeded to tell me, she could take it back and they would remove it or, I could just keep it, as they had given me extra food. We went round and round several times because i do not like scallops and didnt want them but wanted them replaced with the portions of what i did want and previously ordered and she tried to argue with me, saying it would be better for me to just keep what they gave me because they gave me 5 things, not 4. Therefore, i should just keep it, that they would not replace with anything else, they would only remove it from my plate. After seeing my agitation increase, i think it finally sunk in what i was saying. The plates are supposed to be prepared by specific portion amounts, not by the number of items. Especially items not ordered or wanted. So she finally asked if she could bring me something else instead? My plate consisted of 32 friend shrimp, 27 scallops, 1 stuffed crab, 1 fish and 7 oysters...(7)! I said i would like to get the rest of the comparison portion of oysters, to the shrimp and scallops and she said, she could bring me more shrimp or another fish but, if i wanted the more oysters, she would have to charge me for those. (After i was already being charged extra for the 7 already on my plate.) For the sake of further argument, i said, just bring another fish and she did. We did eat what was served but the quality itself was poor with the fish and oysters being overcooked, dried out and rubbery. Upon paying, the cashier said nothing! No greeting or asking how everything was? Like they used to do. So I asked her, "you're not gonna ask how everything was?" She looked up and said, "nope. We usually don't." I said ya'll used to, trying to coax her into asking but, again, nothing was said. So after paying and leaving no tip, which she seen, I walked away and wasn't offered to come again or have a good night, merry Christmas or happy holidays. Nothing! This place has really changed a lot and not for the better. I would advise anyone reading this, to go to Mc Donald's or Burger King to get a fish sandwich, rather than wasting your time and money here. Wishing everyone happy holidays and a...

Anyone who knows me knows I support small businesses especially restaurants.

Sadly this time was a failure. Long busy day with a lot of driving. There were no restaurants that I could find. 30 minutes from home I ran across this place and was especially excited it was a seafood place.

Immediately seated. Waitress (Dana) super nice. Told her it was my first time and I needed to look at the menu. Small menu for a seafood house and it looked like the only fish served was flounder. I stay away from flounder because it has so little meat. Then I find at the bottom they also have catfish and whitefish platters .I like catfish but decided on the whitefish. I ask about what comes on the platter and I was told "Virginia Mullet". I never have had that fish so I decided to try it. I'm told it's 3 pieces with fries and coleslaw. Perfect. But I also opt to add the DIY salad bar which was very good.

The plate finally comes out and it looks great. I had laid out a napkin for any trash I had which I always do. I grab the first piece of fish with my hands and it crumbles apart before I can get it near my mouth. The 2nd piece does the same thing with half. I barely get a taste and there is less meat than the flounder. Dana comes by and checks on me and I show her the large pile of crumble and tell her what happens. She apologized and offered to go back and get me more. I just tell her to bring out one piece as I'm losing my appetite. I then try the coleslaw and it's on the dry side and warm. I expect my coleslaw creamy and cold. I finally eat the 3 piece of fish and there is hardly any meat. I've had it and ready to leave. It's been a while and my replacement fish hasn't come out and I start gathering my phone to leave and Dana brings out a rather large delicious looking piece of fish. I don't say anything to her but I sat back down. This piece as some meat on it but still less than flounder.

I don't know if it was the fish or how it was cooked but my stomach started getting queasy from the grease. I wouldn't recommend this fish to anyone.

Dana did a good job and tried to make things right. I didn't blame her and left her a good tip but I don't recommend this place. There are several places, fast food just pass this place that I should have stopped or just drove the last 30 minutes home but I had been on the road for hours and missed lunch so I was really looking forward to a good meal....

The experience was somewhat surreal!! I was made to feel excluded even though I was a paying customer. I ordered my food for take out and had a seat to wait patiently for my deluxe platter. I watched ppl come and go while patrons who dined in received there food, ate, left and new patrons seat at those tables. After an hour of ppl coming, ordering, receiving there food and leaving. I asked the young lady who took my order about my food. She picked up a bag that had clearly been sitting there for some time as it was cool bordering on cold and said here you go!! I looked in plate and order was incorrect. She glared at me as if I had offended her for bringing it up. Stated "Well see, I wrote it on the ticket, the kitchen guys didn't do it right". Took it back and within a min was back so it was clear they just rifled through the plate barehanded to "Pick out" the incorrect items scattered through out the plate and brought it right back to me!! Now as I stated at the beginning, the experience started out SURREAL!! As I walked in the ENTIRE restuarant was packed with all ppl of one ethnic background. I am not of the same ethnic background and it was like all sound stopped when I arrived. As I sat patiently waiting for my food and watching the crowd and patrons coming in they all were of the same ethnic background as well as ALL staff and patrons having dinner. All were served prior to me asking for my plate without any issues or delays. So after my experience, and how the young lady brought the plate back "opened" which was clearly rifled through in anger, along with the feeling that I was not welcome due to my skin color I left with the plate, but threw it in the trash out of Fear that something was done to the food unsavoury back in the kitchen!! I grabbed something from a more hospitable restaurant that time didn't "Stand Still" when I walked in!!

I will never return to this establishment unless I have someone of the same ethnic background as the staff and ALL of the customers to pick up food while I sit outside.

Clearly ALL are not...