The "A Disaster, But The Food Was Good! Story

It was an ordinary day.  Down-loading the photos I had taken with my iPhone of the Island Grill in Ocean City, New Jersey where we had just eaten our evening meal.  The menu tonight featured some of the most unusual offerings for dinner in the restaurant at the north end of the city.  

"Dinner Specials"  Click to enlarge.

Specials such as Grilled Kangaroo & Pear Purse Ravioli, Kobe Truffle Burger, Camel Burger, Elk Burger and Wild Boar Tenderloin with Sautéed Haystack Onions were listed on the Dinner Special.  The menu items were rather unique, but the service will keep us from returning to this restaurant that for years has been one of our favorites.  My wife and I, along with our daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters waited about 30 minutes before being seated.  That's not unusual for a good restaurant during the summer months in Ocean City.  But, after being seated, at two different tables, the evening turned into a disaster.  

Family Courtney, Dave, Camille and daughter Brynn.

My wife and I had one waiter while the other four had another waitress.  The table next to us, with 10 young adults, had been seated over 30 minutes before and still had no food or drinks in front of them.  Carol and I feared it may happen to us, but we were waited on immediately and had a drink and salad in front of us in about 10 minutes.  

Across from them, we are eating our meal.  This photo was
taken less than a minuted after the one above and as you
can see we have our meal while they don't even have water.

The other part of our family waited close to 20 minutes before the waitress stopped to take the drink orders.  Carol and I actually had our meal brought to us before the table of 10 had their salads in front of them.  Our meals were very good with Carol having Seafood Mac & Cheese while I had Lobster Raviolis in a Blush Sauce.  

My meal of lobster raviolis in blush sauce.

The pasta covering on the ravioli was rather unique with multi-colored strips of pasta.  We felt as if we should wait until the rest of our party had their meal, but knew it might take quite some time.  As we ate our meal, our family's waitress arrived to take their drink and salad orders.  

Carol's meal of Seafood Mac & Cheese.

As we finished our dinner, our family was just having their meal delivered.  Their food did look delicious, but the lateness of its arrival took some of the enjoyment away from their meal.  Since we had walked to the restaurant, we chose not to wait outside the restaurant in the heat, and headed home.  They did report their meal to be delicious, but the experience will be taken to another restaurant next year in hopes of better service.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.