Recently visited SlaughterHouse while visiting family that live in the area. We came on a Sunday…read moreafternoon in July, and it was my first time visiting since the new ownership took over.
I have been here several times before, but only when it was Robinson's. We loved not only the food, but the atmosphere and staff of the restaurant. Since this was our first time in town since it sold, we were excited to come and see the place now under new ownership.
Along with the restaurant portion, there is a seafood market where you can purchase fresh seafood to take home and cook. All of this is caught locally and specifically for the fish market and restaurant. The market is within the same building as the restaurant, and has its own entrance.
The building is located on 24, and stands alone with a dedicated parking lot. I have personally never had trouble finding a spot when dining here.
When we arrived, there were some patrons but it was not crowded. We were dining with a party of 6, and were seated right away in the back dining room.
At this restaurant, complimentary hush puppies are served for the table. I am typically not a huge hush puppy fan, but these have always been a favorite of mine. They will also bring refills of them, which is a plus!
Typically when we go here, most of our group orders the AYCE option. This usually includes three fish items, from which you can choose to have all three, only two, or even one of the items. These choices rotate frequently, as I have been told previously it is based on what they catch and have available. So, the AYCE items today might not be what is available next week. It also comes with cole slaw and a choice of grits, soup, or chowder. However, you can switch those out for a side salad if you ask.
I have enjoyed the soup and chowder previously, but opted for the salad this time. I also opted for all three fish. This is what I will usually get, and then with any additional orders get what I enjoyed the most. Note for the AYCE is that it is not a buffet, but served via table service. You then simply put in more orders for additional plates.
The fish I got were alright. Shrimp is my favorite seafood, so I enjoyed those a lot. The Catfish was also tasty. The crab cake was extremely dough-heavy, and lacked really any crab flavor. Everyone I was dining with agreed the crab cake was the least enjoyable of the three. We had all had the crab cake here previously, so I am assuming this is a new recipe. I ended up ordering a second round of the Catfish and Shrimp.
The Cole Slaw was definitely a new recipe. It was extremely dressing-heavy, and lacked much flavor beyond that. Some of our group liked it, but some did not. This might be a personal preference, so you may like it. I would personally pass on this next time.
The service was below average during this visit. As stated before, the restaurant was nowhere close to full. The food took a very long time to come out, and then the subsequent orders for AYCE took a great deal of time. I believe most of the items are cooked to order, but comparing it to previous trips, the service was very slow. Our waitress was kind, but I would hope that the service would improve as the new ownership gets more comfortable.
I have always been impressed with the value of this restaurant. For it being fresh seafood, it really is an unbeatable deal. This trip, the AYCE was $19.99. I think it is a good value, especially considering most, if not all, of the seafood is caught fresh for the restaurant by the Robinson's. I have been told that is how they keep their prices so low, which makes sense. It seems like with the new ownership, a lot of the menu prices for regular items increased, along with the AYCE. With inflation and other factors, I understand that the prices are going to go up. But, for fresh seafood and a local business, I think it is still a fair value.
We got to briefly speak with one of the new owners, and she shared about how she came to owning the business. She had worked here for a number of years, and when the Robinson's were looking to sell, it was the right opportunity for her to buy. It seems like she understands the business, but is changing some things and putting her own mark on it.
Overall, I was not impressed not unimpressed with this visit. I like how the menu seems to be mostly the same, and especially that the AYCE is still an option. It seems like the service and speed of service could both use work. I hope that the new ownership takes suggestions and requests from regular patrons as to what they want to see, and what they like and dislike about the food. This restaurant has been a staple in the community for years, and I hope some of the charm and signature food that makes it so beloved will remain.
I would recommend anyone in the area looking for some fresh, local seafood to stop here and try it out. I will be back the next time I am in Florida, but hope that it improves from this past experience I had!
