11/04/09

nothing special

by cpo65

I mean grits!!! I know we are in a Southern state but you pay to eat grits with vegetables and a fish at a restaurant. You can eat that at my grandmas home. The price is ok!, of course for what they serve. There is nothing special to the whole menu, I tried twice, and even do the ambience is pretty, all employees look stress and the food is so generic, trust me you will not impress your guess at 18 Seaborad!

• Pros: ambience
• Cons: cheap ingredient, nothing wow!

06/24/09

Great Father's Day

by NatD

Excellent service! Sean was very attentive, and efficient. He answered all of our questions, and provided suggestions when needed. He was friendly without being overly familiar. When we decided to split the soup and salad, both the soup and the salad were brought it as two separate portions. Very few restaurants offer this type of service! Carolina coast she-crab soup was very good, majority of restaurants over salt it and put too much starch. Sandy Creek Farm bibb lettuce and beet salad was excellent! What an intersting way to incorporate beets, and the pistachio vinaigrette added just the right flare. New Bank Scallops with Green tomato marmalade, accompanied by Caper creme fraiche brocolli and Old Mill of Guilford cheddar grits were had excellent taste, and beautiful presentation. Thank you for a great Father's Day!

• Pros: Excellent service, uncommon food, reasonable price
• Cons: music is a bit too loud for my taste

05/03/09

A great place for a for no special occasion

by audries

They remember you after you first visit, the food is great and so is the service. We go to 18 seaboard almost every weekend. They also have a very nice lunch menu. The design of the restaurant is beautiful.

• Pros: Food,Service and Parking

04/23/09

Fabulous Food, Gorgeous Surroundings, Outstanding Service

by KellyMcB

Chef Jason Smith has created an oasis for the foodies of the Triangle. The location is great (close to downtown & Glenwood South, but with plenty of PARKING). The decor is sophisticated and soothing. The service is impeccable, and Chef Jason Smith has created a menu of unique dishes, packed with fresh local ingredients, that never fails to delight. I crave the Grilled Asparagus Chopped Salad (nothing like it anywhere else), and anything Jason does with a fish is spectacular. The wine list is thoughtful, with nice variety, and the staff is incredibly warm and welcoming. Perfect spot for a romantic interlude, a power lunch, or an important group dinner. (Tucker and Kira both make a mean martini, too!)

• Pros: Food, Service, Setting, Wine List, Chef Jason Smith

02/08/09

Great birthday, will return!

by greenwayra

My brother took me here on a recent Thursday for my birthday- and what a treat!! Although we were seated about 15 minutes after our reservation, the bar was friendly and we enjoyed some delicious champagne... Our table was adorable and right next to giant bay windows, and our server was so friendly and refreshingly honest! The rest of the staff and even the other patrons were so relaxed and happy. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the beet salad (my first great beets ever - wow. so good) and the Crackling pork dish. Although the restaurant was quite full it seemed to be running very smoth. Then as a surprise and "our compliments" - they brought me a delicious small dessert with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" written in chocalate on the plate. I'd definitely say that the chef really enjoys the natural taste/flavor of meat and doesn't over-season it, and it seems the ambiance only compliments the delightful service and food. I would go back in a HEARTBEAT. Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening!

• Pros: Top notch customer service, good simple food that is not overpriced
• Cons: had to wait 15 minutes past reservation

02/02/09

Thrid great time here

by Todaw55

We have eaten at 18 Seabaord three times over the last 12 months and found it extremely delicous and consistent. The last time everyone in the group had a different item and everyone was pleased. It is the type of restaurant that changes there menu which we like. The server took very good care of us with a full bar on a weeknight. She recommended several appitizers and one of her favorites that was new. The food is priced very fairly and the ambience is great. Try the Short Rib pasta, it is very different but delicious and "meaty" and only $16.00. We are fans and will be back!!!

• Pros: Fair prices/good food/menu changes
• Cons: Hard to find the first time

01/28/09

Centipede in the salad and bad service with an attitude

by aimwah

The night before Thanksgiving a group of 4 found themselves at 18 Seaborad hoping to have a wonderful night out, but what they got was an insect in their salad, average food, attitude and bad service.

The salads arrived and with about 3 bites left one of the men in the group found a CENTIPEDE?ALIVE? in his salad. They asked for a manager, but apparently there wasn't one on duty b/c the Sommelier came back to the table. He apologized PROFUSELY and said, "I am so very sorry, I will definitely take care of you tonight".

But he did not "take care of" anything...The bill came and not only was the bill OVER $300, the centipede salad was still on the bill at FULL PRICE & a 2nd bottle of wine (chosen by the Sommelier) was $68 (well over the price limit of $30 which the Sommelier had been told earlier in the evening). The only compensation that was given was a free creme brule, which had been offered to the group AND DECLINED by the group, but brought to the table anyway.

The person that had been served the centipede contacted a manager the day after Thanksgiving and spoke w/ a mgr who offered to mail a $75 gift cert (GC) and have the owner call them back, but OVER A WEEK LATER...no GC & no phone call. Another call was placed to the owner, however he was defensive, unsympathetic and ultimately took the side of the Sommelier. He made lame excuses for not returning the phone call and grudgingly offered to send the group a $100 gift certificate. REALLY? THAT?S IT??? A hundred dollars, to share between 4 people, after being served a LIVE INSECT & treated badly?

How can a business owner, in this economy, afford to treat customers w/ such disregard and disrespect? There are LOTS of GREAT restaurants in Raleigh, but 18 Seaboard is NOT one of them. Go someplace where the owner will appreciate your business & provide fantastic food? NOT LIVE CENTIPEDES and ATTITUDE. You'd be better off going to Zely & Ritz or Oakwood Cafe or even McDonalds for that matter

• Pros: Seated quickly b/c the restaurant was practically empty the night before Thanksgiving
• Cons: Centipede in salad

12/30/08

Finally a great night start to finish!!!

by 3dogday

Wow! These guys get it. As we entered the restaurant we were greeted by a gentleman and lady who looked as though they enjoyed us being there. We were led to a table in the busy dining room where our server came over to tell us about the chef's special. Our drinks arrived promptly and my margarita was wonderful. We shared an appetizer of fried green tomatoes which being from up north I had never had but loved. One other in our party got the crab soup and said it was good. Our entrees arrived shortly after we finished our first course and mine and my wifes were prepared perfectly. The feel of this place is hard to create. The staff profesional but not snooty. The vibe lively, nice, and very relaxing. The food not over priced and delicious without being too expensive. We skipped dessert for after dinner drinks at the bar where the bartender was one of the best I have seen in Raleigh. As we left the gentleman who spoke to us as we came in held open the door and asked how everything was. I told him how happy we all were and I could tell he enjoyed hearing this as he introduced himself. First class southern hospitality. We will return!!!

• Pros: Great value-perfect profesionalism
• Cons: rear entrance

12/20/08

Great Christmas party!!!!

by steelemac

My office had our holiday lunch here this week and we were all most impressed. I had a Salmon salad that I think was the best salmon I have ever had and my boss had the crispy pork dish which he can't stop raving about. We had there home made potato chips which were hot they were so fresh and the desserts we all shared were great as well. I will be back for girls night and glad to find a new hot spot.

• Pros: Food great, fast service for lunch lots of parking
• Cons: Loud from all of the parties

12/18/08

Great time twice in one month

by thenowtime

We tried this restaurant two years ago and had a nice time but had not been back because we don't go downtown often. I had an office lunch party and a Christmas dinner gathering there twice this Dec. and loved both. The lunch menu is great because all of the entrees are very resonable and creative but not over the top. I had the shrimp and grits which were different and better than any I have had elsewhere including Charleston, S.C. At dinner I loved my grilled Salmon dish and the mojito cocktail as well as the wine the host picked out. The server seemed to be on top of everything but not invasive and the buzz in the restaurant was fun but profisional. We all commented on how the staff seemed to be accomadating and on point even though the restaurant was very full. We will be back soon!!!

• Pros: Perfect Salmon!--staff on point
• Cons: far from n raleigh but worth the drive w/ parking