Duke's Brewhouse — Restaurant in Winter Haven

Saw the other day that the brunch barn had become a wing house type joint and decided to give the place a try.

Advertises as wings spirits and sports. There were definitely ample tv's aplenty with multiple college games on display. As expected waitress staff was wearing dukes and football jerry's. The vast majority of the girls looked professional with just the right amount showing and not showing. A few were in shorts that were to loose that didn't look the image a few even worse were trying to squeeze into to small a size. Look not fat shaming but better to go to loose then popping over out in the industry.

Service I would rate as standard maybe slightly below average. I do not know why these waitresses ignore tables with multiple females sitting at them but neither myself nor my wife mind the flirty smile but barring that don't forgot our tartar sauce, let our drinks empty out. Come ask me about my drink when it's getting down to the last sip. Pay my table the same amount of attention you would pay a table of nothing but men.

The food was pretty decent. The mozzarella sticks by today's restraunt standards amazing they were properly hot with a good stringyness to the cheese. I have no idea why so many restraunts in the area can't deep fry cheese sticks but it was nice they could. My American dip itself was quality, on a tasty bread with some pretty good sliced roast beef on it. Strangely it was served with brown gravy not aus jus and even worse the dipping juice was cold.

The wife got the fried shrimp she enjoyed but her late tartar sauce was the Heinz squeeze kind I.e. mayonnaise with pickle relish flavoring. The wings we ordered came out piping hot. The chicken might of been slightly over but I am ok with the kitchen playing it safe there. The sauce was amazing.

The spirits advertised was a huge disconnect. When I hear the word spirits I am expecting to see a craft cocktail menu. Whether this be a cheapo depo basic cocktail menu like one you would see at any chain restraunt or a more premium one bases off the taste in the area. (Bourbon and vodkas from what I have seen) instead I was met with confusion when asking what the specialty drinks were and met with answers about draft beers. Draft is not spirits. And yes I know brewhouse is in the name but spirits are advertised on the sign.

Overall will give the restraunt another try. The food was decent to good the atmosphere was nice a little more attention and friendliness from the staff and sime bar and kitchen deciscions that were confusing kept this from being a better review but I do look forward to giving dukes a second chance.

My wife wanted my waitress if she can figure out who she was to know she's cute and she would of loved a little more...

I have ordered with Dukes on Doordash and it's been ok. Today was the first time we went into Duke's. Nice place and waitress was nice and polite.

Food was the worst thing I have ever had before. The white gravy on the country fried stakes was almost clear likewater with parsley flakes. The mashed potatoes was the worst thing I have ever tasted. Took one bite and couldn't eat any of it. Same for my moms as well. Order the country fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy with steamed broccoli and a small Ceasars salad.

The waitress was nice and friendly but the food I wouldn't even feed to my pet. I cant believe the difference in a few years thos place took. We would ordered on Doordash during covid in 2020 and 2021 however had stopped doing that and on a fluck decided let's actually go to Winter Haven from Auburndale and go check them out. They have a cool place to hang out but the food was such a let down. I can't state enough one bite and couldn't move past the taste.

The manager never came to the table since we were only give one meal off of ticket we boxed everything up and took it home stopped off at Arby's for dinner and while there called the restaurant to speak with manager now for full picture there was only two tables in the entire place with people when we left a young couple and a part of 3 at a booth. Took the manager 3 minutes to come to the phone he said he was aware of the problem before we even boxed up the food and paid for it but must have been busy counting money in the back and didn't come out to the table. He kept saying our food is great and we said just walk back there and try the potatoes something is seriously wrong. He kinda blew it off. He said that we could come back and try something else on the house like shepherds pie now if someone says your mash potatoes are bad why recommend something with that item. 🤔 the guy wasn't mean or anything he just didn't believe the food was an issue. He finally refunded the meal in full which at least he did do. If they would have someone tasting what they served us I can say it wouldn't of left the kitchen. Maybe go for drinks and not foods with their potatoes and fried foods with the gravy. For over $70 for three dinners you expect to get past the bite...

Do not be fooled by the negative reviews others have posted about this restaurant. If there is any truth to their words then it was not seen during my visit. This restaurant met and exceeded all the expectations I had for it. For starters the atmosphere is wonderful. There are big screen televisions surrounding the entire seating area giving each person sitting a perfect view of any sporting event that is being televised. The outside seating area also has televisions so the excellent views extend to the outer area, also. There are too many beer options to choose from, including their own Duke's brand of beer. While I did not try one of their brews I was pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive their draft beer selections are. During their happy hour (11am-7pm daily) a 16oz draft is only $2.75. The menu is also consistent with other restaurant's catering to a sports bar crowd. I ordered the original burger (which on Tuesday's is only $5.99 and includes fries) with cheddar cheese and bacon (this added $1.68 total). The flavor of the burger was absolutely outstanding. One thing I really loved was how they put the burger together. Most restaurants will put the cheese on the burger, melt it, and then place the bacon on. This restaurant put the bacon on first and then melted the cheese over it. I found this great as the bacon was able to stay on the burger as opposed to falling out as it usually does when done the other way. The french fries also were very tasty and had a nice seasoning. All told we had three draft beers and two of the original burgers (plus the cheese and bacon on mine) and our check was only a shade over $23. We were sat immediately and the service was outstanding. The server paid attention to our needs and a few minutes before happy hour ended at 7pm she came over to ask if I wanted another beer since it was about to end. All in all this restaurant is far better than the negative reviews make it out to be. Whether or not my experience is the norm or the exception is up to others to decide when they visit it. I would highly recommend it based on my first visit and I know I...