Ambience was lovely...our waiter was excellent and very dapper in his tuxedo! But the most important part of the evening (the Food!) was blah, our Lobster Bisque as good, salad was okay, I had Chicken Orleans and hubby had Veal Piccata...both entrees were so tough we didn't eat it! The waiter did comp my meal
A “classy traditional restaurant”. Servers in tuxedos. Cesars salad made at the table. Very elegant. The grouper was fantastic and the dessert was amazing but first and foremost… the service was terrific.
Our organization booked a room for dinner for 40 people over a month in advance. We paid a deposit. A little more than a week before the event VERANDA canceled without real explanation. In fact, when we tried to get an answer, management was very rude and abrupt. We had collected the fee and signed our members up. Now we had to deal with 40 disappointed people who had made plans for that evening. I have been going to the Veranda for over 25 years and am embarrassed to have recommended them. I will never do so again nor will I patronize the place!
On top of being very expensive restaurant, they nickel and dime you to death. Room charge, cake sharing charge and when you try to substitute house salad for specialty salad they charge you full price instead of an upcharge. Service was poor, forgotten food and drinks. Would not split the bill when asked.
As a southerner, I thought the food was pretty good, but I just couldn't enjoy myself once I realized I was sitting between two portraits of confederate generals. At that point it dawned upon me that the waiters I could see were exclusively white guys. There were people of color but only bussers and kitchen staff, who wore different uniforms. I think there may have been a woman behind the bar, but that was it. This place is really creepy and needs to be banished back to 1850.
We have been going to the Veranda for over 40 years. Last night was our anniversary and we were looking forward to a relaxing evening. First stop was a glass of wine at the bar. Server was awesome as usual. Next to dinner. Great table. The server was one we had in the past who is average. We ordered an appetizer which was excellant salmon pate there were only 4 crackers and no serving utensils. Salad came very fast dressing was just okay. We both ordered steaks which arrived quickly as well. The meal was so salty we could not eat it. I still have a headache today from the salt. The server really didn't care. We were offered a dessert! Very Disappointing.
Food good, wait staff—interesting. Disappointment was after ordering a special bottle of wine another was substituted without consulting us and after checking on various wine sites the one substituted was NOT close in value to one that had been ordered. Waiter said that the GM had told him is was from the same winery—a Chilean wine for a California one??? Not quite the same winery.
My wife and I are snowbirds, and we eat out almost every day while in Florida. We had been to The Veranda before, because we like to experience "fine dining" at least once during our visit to Fort Myers. I ordered the fresh catch special, which was a pan seared red snapper, and my wife order the scallops off the menu. Her entree was $42.99, and my mine was $47.99. My wife really enjoyed the scallops. However; for $43 I would've expected more than 3 scallops. My fish was over-cooked. I couldn't cut the "crust" with my fork, and the flesh was dry. The service we got was good, and we enjoyed the ambience, but for the price we paid, I would've expected a higher quality meal.
Atmosphere, incredible. Food presentation and flavor was perfect. Wait staff was very professional yet fun. Escargot, crab cakes and stuffed mushrooms for starters were all good. Seared Jumbo Scallops and the Southern Sampler were great. Don't forget the key lime pie and homemade ice cream!!!Did I forget they make awesome signature martinis!
Our server was excellent..Winston. He was not only informative, but very courteous and on point! Food was amazing!! Definitely a top notch establishment! Can't wait to come back!