Poppy's Seafood Factory

May I start by saying the food I have had at Poppys has been excellent but as a snowbird from Canada I have a problem.

When I first visited Baytowne Wharf I checked out the various restaurants and compared menus from the racks outside each of them. I was delighted that Poppys offered early bird specials, something I was interested in because I do like to dine early and also like being compensated for doing so.

The first time I went I was not offered the special menu but the regular one and when I showed the other one and asked if this was still in effect and was told yes it was. I went again last night with two other people and again was given the regular menu and not offered the special one even though it was 5:00 p.m. and the snowbird specials were in effect between 5:00-7:00. I showed the waitress the menu and asked if I could order from this instead and she said she would check, she came back to say yes we could.

We all ordered from that menu but noticed that several groups came in after we did and were not offered the special menu but were given the regular menu instead, I felt like going over to these tables and telling them that there was another menu they could order from but I did not. When we finished our entrees the waitress took away my special menu, showed us what was available for dessert and took our orders for bread pudding which was on both the special and regular menu - the difference being $3.50 versus $5.00 on the regular menu.

When we were finished the bill was presented with the price for the dessert being $5.00 and not the special price.

We would like to know why this restaurant and other restaurants in the area are not promoting the special prices for diners eating early. At our table and at all of the other tables last night we found that the staff only seemed to be interested in charging the full price and thus being tipped accordingly.

I should have but did not question the higher price for dessert but left feeling I would not dine there again, which is a shame because the food is really good.

I live in Indianapolis and come to Destin each fall. I look so forward to eating at the Baytown Village due to the unique restaurant and cuisine varieties. For 3 years in a row I have been disappointed with the quality of food @ Poppy's. I purchased the Deluxe Seafood Bowl ($89) which includes a myriad of seafood including Alaskan King Crab legs. This year, once again,the seafood was overcooked and the King Crab legs smelled strong of ammonia which indicates spoiling. I mentioned the bad fish to the waiter who said they've never heard of crab legs going bad there and offered no reparation or replacing the spoiled food with good. I paid my full bill of $119 plus $20 tip but will never go back.
Mark Carter, Indpls, IN