Newport Bay Seafood Broiler

08/29/09

Come for the location, stay for the crab cakes

by jc425

Ok let me just say that if we come here again, we are getting nothing but piles of crab cakes. These are probably the best crab cakes I have ever had, and I love crab cakes in general.

My wife & I had our 10th anniversary dinner here with our two small children in tow. The location really can't be beat, sitting out on the water, watching the river life float by.

The service could definitely be beat tonight, though. We clearly had a rookie server, who probably needed to spend another couple seasons in the minor leagues. Among his obvious rookie mistakes were not coming back and checking on the food. Too bad, because we had to send the prosciutto-wrapped sole back for being undercooked by flagging down another server. She whisked it away, and a manager came out to apologize (which we liked), but they didn't comp anything (which we didn't like so much). Still, when it came back the second time it was good.

The kids got the royal treatment, which really helped the experience for us. They had a nice kids menu, with some of the best-prepared kids fare I've seen, and plenty of things to keep them busy.

• Pros: Location, Crab Cakes, Kids treatment
• Cons: Service

07/09/08

Seriously?

by slooje32

Ok, I had a long scathing review written but decided to call the restaurant and complain first. Here is a summary of our experience:

- 20+ minutes before we were even acknowledged after sitting, 20+ more minutes before drinks arrived, and a minimum of 20+ more minutes and having to physically stand in front of waitress to get our order placed. Waitress was visibly upset when we asked for bread and brought our table of 7 two slices...not loaves...slices.

- 5 minutes after ordering, a side of a baked potato was requested and denied by the waitress because she "didn't want to upset the cook." Seriously, she said that.

- Terribly overcooked halibut and every other order placed. Didn't want to "upset the cook" further by complaining so after waiting at least another 30 minutes of waiving down our waitress and having to physically block her from passing by and blowing us off again, we got our check.

- After asking for the manager, our waitress told her the manager had left for the night. It was around 8pm.

- Waitress added a 18% tip to the bill even though there were 7 of us when they charge 18% for 8 or more, plus she was visibly upset we didn't give her an additional tip.

I have since called the manager and been assured that the manager is always on duty and the mandatory 18% tip is for tables of 8 or more. Our whole check is supposedly going to be completely reimbursed with a certificate for a free meal to one of their other restaurants. The manager was upset and duly so, but the fact is that we were lied to, treated terribly, and had a terrible experience. I eat out about 3 or 4 times a week and don,t write bad reviews, just chalking it up to bad luck, but this was too much. If you go, I hope you have better luck.

Sorry about the rant

• Pros: Telling this story of horror to friends
• Cons: Everything but the bread and the manager I just called to complain to.

11/14/06

Newport Bay has good seafood

by kee22

The seafood is good, but the quality is not always consistant. Sometimes when we have gone, it has been excellent. Other times, it has been ok. Overall, I still think that it is a good restaurant. The atmosphere is good...great family place.

• Pros: Good seafood, love their clam chowder