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Coastal Flats

Discussion in 'Area Restaurants, Dining and Food' started by StevieD, Feb 10, 2007.

  1. StevieD

    StevieD New Member

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    OK, so has anyone been to Coastal Flats (either Fairfax or Tysons locations)? Had dinner there tonight (Fairfax location). Used call ahead seating (was told the wait time was 90 minutes) - arrived about 90 minutes later and then had to wait another 40 minutes to seat. The hostess apologized for the wait (apparently some mixup) and offered us an appetizer on the house (so far so good). We ordered drinks and an appetizer, then ordered dinner. I ordered the Lobster Roll (being from Maine, I am a sucker for a good lobster roll)- food came out quickly (actually, too quickly as we had just been given our appetizer - timing was way off), but the Lobster Roll was way too salty - in fact, almost inedible. I sent it back and asked for another, but I was told that the lobster salad was all from the same batch so they brought me a shrimp roll instead. I didn't send this one back, but it too was way too salty. On our last visit, my wife ordered the shrimp roll and had the same experience. Once I got home I googled Coastal Flats and found several reviews which mentioned the same issue (salty food). Has anyone else had this problem?

    Anyway, we won't be back anytime soon. They were very nice (no problem sending the lobster roll back), but the oversalty food and long wait time just were not worth the trouble.
     
  2. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

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    you are from Maine and you ordered a lobster roll in VA??? My wife is a Mainer and she won't order lobstah south of Portland.

    for what its worth, this chain (coastal flats, sweetwater, carlylye, etc.) is usually a good bet for a decent meal/experience.
     
  3. StevieD

    StevieD New Member

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    Desperate measures, Wahoogeek. I haven't been back to Maine in several years and when the waitress said it was a featured special for the evening I buckled - big mistake. I guess I should have listened to the unofficial Maine credo "You can't get there from here" (metaphorically speaking).
     
  4. JenCo

    JenCo New Member

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    We've had problems with their sister company Sweetwater Tavern. Both with timing of food (just get the appetizers & here comes the salads & entrees at the same time). Also their chips recently have been WAY too salty. Not a little too salty WAY WAY too salty:)
     
  5. Tech Head

    Tech Head New Member

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    Anything more on them opening a restaurant in Brambleton Town Center?
     
  6. christinaandrob

    christinaandrob New Member

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    They are opening a restaurant at Lansdowne Town Center called "The Dock." Someone posted about it recently.
     
  7. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    No..but new stores have been added to the Town Center:
    Include:
    Birkenstocks
    Cradle and Crayon (Location at Reston Town Center)
    The Nest Egg (Location at FFX Town Center)
    The Papery
    Some fine closet design store.

    Thats the latest....You can check out KLNB Retails website.
     
  8. wahoogeek

    wahoogeek New Member

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    as someone who has been going to these restaurants since their creation, we too have noticed a decline in their service.... at mike's, coastal flats and sweetwaters, our food has been rushed with entrees arriving before appetizers/salads are done. I'm pretty much convinced this is not a random, just luck of timing thing. They have people waiting out the door so the faster you get served, the more people who can be served a check...
     
  9. T8ergirl

    T8ergirl New Member

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    We've been to Coastal Flats many times and have really enjoyed it. We've done the call ahead and not had the problem you described. We take our 3 year old there and they servers are always fantastic with him. I've had the lobster roll 2 or 3 times and did not think it was inordinately salty. I also thought it was 'good enough' for Virginia, but certainly not a "Rt.1 - lobsters boiling on the side of the road" experience! I'll say though--T8erman always gets the ribs and they absolutely melt in your mouth. Plus, they have an unusual mustard sauce that is fantastic. And he hates mustard!
     
  10. ayayagirl

    ayayagirl New Member

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    For what it's worth, I think I read somewhere, you should never order the specials in a restaurant because that is usually the food they are trying to get rid of due to spoilage. Not sure if that is true or not, just what I read.
     
  11. Silly Yak

    Silly Yak Member

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    My big thing is that they offer a gluten-free menu. The steak I had was really good too!
     
  12. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Many times it's just the opposite......they may have just gotten something in fresh or unique. Sometimes a chef will create something new and try it out as a "special" to gauge customer response.
     

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