Home > The Hungry Man > Archives > 2008 > June > 06 > Entry
UPDATED: Summer Deal Book Sneak Peek: Spoto’s Oakwood Grill
Just a quick heads up to readers: Spoto’s provided incorrect info — the Monday night barbecue deal won’t go into effect until late June/early July (I’d check with restaurant before you visit just to be safe). Also, the deal is not all-you-can eat — in this case, family-style refers to the fact that food is on platters for the table to share, but you can’t request seconds.
The original post follows, with dates corrected:
If you haven’t already heard, we’re planning a special Summer Deal Book in our TGIF section on June 20. It will list dozens of summertimes specials on dining, plus entertainment and family-fun activities. There are still a few more days (though June 10) for merchants to tell us about their specials (just go to this link).
In the meanwhile, I thought it might be fun to offer a sneak peak or two in the days leading up to the book. So here’s one on dining I immediately took note of: Spoto’s Oakwood Grill (shown above), one of the first (and still one of the better) eateries to emerge along the “restaurant row” of PGA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens, is hosting “Family BBQ Night” every Monday (starting in late June/early July) through Oct. 27. For $17 per person, you get BBQ ribs, chicken or pulled pork, French fries, BBQ baked beans and cole slaw, all served family style (brought to your table on platters). Kids (10 and under) get free pizza with the deal. That’s a great value at any restaurant, but Spoto’s is not your run-of-the-mill rib shack — it’s a fairly high-end place that does things in a classy manner. Oh, and if you want ice cream or sorbet with your meal, it’s just $3 more per person.
Needless to say, I’m definitely planning a Monday visit there sometime this summer.
Comments
By Joe
June 8, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
Spoto’s Oakwood Grill may have a nice atmoshpere, but as far as service is concerned, there is none. The waitstaff could care less about the guests, as is evident in the empty water glasses, dirty or no silverware, no table maintenance, wine not poured from purchased bottles, etc. Spoto’s deserves everything it has coming to them, which from what I see, is an out-of-business sign.
By Rand
June 9, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this
Taking your advice, my friends and I went to Spoto’s Oakwood Grill on Monday night and we asked to have the unlimited BBQ special ($17).
However, the waitress told us she knew nothing about it — and initially assured us that Spoto’s had never offered an “all you can eat” anything.
Disappointed, yet hungering for BBQ, I ordereded the half-rack of baby back ribs and chicken combo ($21), which eventually came with a small portion of cole slaw and some fries.
I say eventually because it took more than 30 minutes for any food to appear on our table after the waitress took our order. Not even bread!
She did stop by in the interim to drop off a warm napkin and a lemon slice — which I would have really appreciated after the ribs instead. But that was not to be.
In passing she admitted that she had heard “something” about the offer we came in for, but that said no more.
The ribs were great, but the chicken was more than disapointing.
While one of my friends had ordered the BBQ chicken and was served at least a quarter chicken, my plate had a small, pressed piece of chicken breast, completely devoid of any moisture. If it wasn’t for the great BBQ sauce, it probably would have been completely devoid of flavor as well. For the extra $5 for the ribs and chicken combo, I had expected something more like what my friend had been served.
After I had cleaned my plate, I half expected the waitress to ask if I wanted a little more of anything. After all how much could another rib or two, some cole slaw, or a few fries cost the restaurant? (I wasn’t about to have any more of their chicken). But alas, no offer was made.
She did bring the dessert menu, but we passed. (The $3 advertised ice cream would have been a nice, but …).
To their credit, when the bill came, the restaurant had comped us for our ice teas and diet cokes. Although that could have been merely an oversight.
So, aside from the great company at dinner, the meal was a bust.
On the way out, when I cancelled my reservations for a Father’s Day brunch, I thought someone would ask, “Why?” But, no one did.
Dad will understand. He deserves — and expects — better food and service on his special day.
While Spoto’s Oakwood Grill has lost a customer — or three — I’ll still go to Spoto’s other restaurants for seafood. Unless, of course, the problems have become chain-wide.
By Joe
June 10, 2008 7:27 AM | Link to this
Another satisfied customer for Oakwood Grill. That place is a joke.
By nick_reltro
December 29, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
http://www.message_cnatroccnare.com/