Margarittaville at Pier Park

Begin dinning experience. We are greeted by a very nice server who takes our drink order and teases us by suggesting we try the nachos for an appetizer only to immediately leave before we can agree.

She returns approximately 10 minutes later with our drinks and we are finally able to order the nachos as well as our main entrees. Our nachos arrive and there are definitely enough for the 4 of us and were a pretty good start despite there being quite a few “plain chips.” The ones that were loaded with the toppings though were great! During the wait for our food we partake in a shouting match which is really just small talk but the music was so loud we could barely hear our own thoughts. I was pleasantly surprised that they played more than just your typical Jimmy Buffet hits though those were sprinkled into the mix of course. There was a large plane hanging from the ceiling and at some point it gets even louder, which I didn’t realize was possible, and the plane gives birth to a disco ball which in turn births a giant upside down salt shaker. At that point in time it was obvious we were locals because as we sat there unfazed, everyone around us was standing up with cameras snapping and some were even standing on their chairs. Oh and I should mention the man and women who are approximately 12 feet tall dancing directly behind my husband. No they were not freakishly tall they were just on stilts, and were there to make balloon animals for the kids.

Skip to the food. My husband ordered Coconut Shrimp which came with mashed potatoes and fresh steamed vegetables. He said the shrimp was bland but the sweet dipping sauce was good. He enjoyed the potatoes but the steamed veggies were severely undercooked. Our friends ordered a hamburger and fries and the fish tacos. Feedback was the burger was pretty good but the fish tacos were so tasteless our friend sent them back and stuck with munching on the nachos. I ordered the Crab Cake dinner which came with 2 crab cakes, steamed vegetables, and roasted red potatoes. My veggies were also undercooked and the potatoes were ok, but the crab cakes were very good. I had a Desdemona Raspberry Rita which was good and the others all enjoyed a beer that is only available through the restaurant. (Sorry I can’t remember the name.) Overall it was a good experience but mostly because we were with great company. We all thought it was way too loud and the food was only moderate. Definitely worth only a one time visit for locals as the atmosphere caters more to the tourists. If you’re a visitor to the area, give it a try. If nothing else go hang out at the bar on the patio. It has a great view of our pristine emerald water and snow white sandy beach.