My husband and I ate at Beach Store Cafe Sunday evening. When we left we turned to each other and simultaneously said "that was awful".
We picked up the menus on a counter near the door and took a seat. The head wait lady whisked...by, took those menus and said that they might not be correct ones and handed us some others. Why keep the wrong ones at the door ?? No biggie!!! She gave us a run down of what wasn't available and additions. Another wait person came by and we ordered tempura veg and squid to share ($12) as a starter and 2 burgers with fries for main ($16). Wine arrived and about 15 minutes later our starter and burgers were all plonked on the table at the same time. I asked the waiter why and he just said "sorry" and raced off. Tempura IT WAS NOT. Not a panko breadcrumb in sight. It was battered, deep fried zucchini (courgette) and cauliflower, small squid all stuck together in lumps with the veg, Over fried (brown) and greasy. It was served with a very overpowering thyme/mayo sauce. Thumbs Down. Meanwhile our very well browned burger bun, half leaf of Cos (Romaine) lettuce,1 tomato slice, bland meat patty and very brown fries (see pic) got colder and soggier. Thumbs down.
The head wait person swung by about half way thru our meal and asked how our meal was. I only got as far as saying " not so good, the starter and main arrived together" she offered another burger, another glass of wine, which was appreciated but we'd had enough. Because...
Looking at the other meals going out from the servery to other diners, the fried ones were over cooked (brown) and the lady next to me looked like she had a salad swimming in oil. I saw a pizza go out that seemed half the topping was missing. Maybe the customers ordered this for dietary reasons.
Yes I should have said something sooner but I'm not sure it would have made a difference. The 2 cooks (they could not be described as chefs) looked as excited about the meals they were presenting as having the plague. These meals were not made with love or passion and it showed.
This was my 3rd try at Beach Cafe this summer. 3 times disappointed, 3rd strike - OUT. For a quality meal now a ferry and drive to the mainland will be preferable.
I have tried to support 'local'. Maybe I've ordered the wrong things. I'm not prepared to take another risk.
Lovely location, historical and quaint. Close to ferry dock but needs better management, excited cooks and oil that's changed often and used sparingly.More