Frigate's Waterfront Bar & Grill - Melbourne

Not impressed. The food is very expensive and service terrible, even though they mandate a 20 percent tip. We sat down at 6 pm. Wife and I ordered a glass of wine and a beer. Did not receive it until 6:25. Finally asked about ordering food at 6:30. Food arrived just after 7 pm. Wife and I ordered fish and chips as did a couple other members in our group. All the fish and chip orders were missing tartar sauce. Someone had to get up and request it. 10 minutes later tartar sauce arrives. One member in our group received a raw hamburger and had to send it back. I did not see it, but a couple of people who did said it was gross. When brought to the waitresse’s attention she apparently said ‘Well it looks like you ate most of it, but would you like another one? ‘ When we first sat down at 6 (this was a Tuesday) and asked a waitress if it was happy hour, she said she thought it was over at 6 even though their website menu says “Enjoy Happy Hour, Monday through Friday, 3 pm to 6:30” and goes on to list the cost of drinks. On every page of their menu there is a disclaimer that states “An automatic 20% Service Charge will be added to all customers bills to ensure fair wages to the staff”. Just a suggestion to the Manager and Owner(s) - if you paid your staff a fair wage in the first place and trained them better, they would be getting good tips for good service without you having to mandate a set rate. Sorry, but my wife and I will not ever be returning. Good luck.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

This is the 4th time we tried to book a large event with enough notice to staff correctly. Perfectly open to the catering aspect with 20 people. Everytime we try to book a large party theres always an issue. The last time we had our work dinner there, it was one server for over 20 people, it was so bad we havent been back since, its been about 3 years, so I call yesterday to see if maybe they are more organized because we do work dinners often, I call and the girl tells me to call back tomorrow so I can speak with the manager, I call and it sounded like the same girl, no manager, she tells me they cant accommodate our 20 people unless we change our time. No ma'am. You could have told me that yesterday. Yall gotta do better.

So for large parties I personally dont recommend, but smaller get togethers they do good.

Always enjoy great food and drinks here at Frigates..excellent location for couples and groups.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

20% tip added to bill automatically means terrible service according to our experience. Someone in our party ordered a Ceasar salad that was served when the main courses arrived. It had been sitting so long the dressing had pooled in the bottom of the bowl, like there wasn't any dressing on the salad. Waited 40 minutes for mains after starters. Food was okay with the risotto and cracked conch being the stand outs. Fish portions were good, but a little heavy on the beurre blanc wine sauce. Hand to wave down server to get water refilled. Manager stopped by to ask how our dinner was and after our recount said she would talk with staff and get back to us. Never saw her again. I think $274 for a party of 4 should warrant a little attention. Maybe outside would have been better service, but don't think we will be back. Too many other choices out there.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 1

Now automatically adding 20% to your bill without question regardless of how good or poor the service is. Excuse me, why am I obligated to give 20% on top of my bill? Hey frigates you want your people to make more money pay them more. Plenty of other good places to go to.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 3

Great time, great food, excellent service the best atmosphere. We were afraid the weather was going to dampen dinner, but the sky opened for us with beautiful weather and we had a wonderful time. Service was excellent!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Best Shrimp Panini ever. Definitely a must order

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Wonderful place to eat. Food was great.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food is good but not amazing. They added a 20% tip fee and the service did not meet the fee. I had to ask several times for refills. I’m all about tipping for a good job but 20% for slow not great service just isn’t right. The food itself is pricy so just too expensive for a lunch out. Overall just very very pricy for what it is and will not be back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

The food is amazing But the serves is not good what so ever there rally came to the table and our food took an hour to come out

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 1

There is a 20% required automatic service fee charge to every bill. In order to pay fair wages. That automatically sounded weird because why not just pay a fair wage? I guess if you think about it they want assistance with everyone that's involved in the restaurant. We went Saturday at around 130pm. They led us to a table and it was attached to a small area that had 20+ loud people at it. So that took away my want to relax on my birthday with my father in law and husband. It was loud. Then shortly after sitting us we were told we need to be done by 3pm because they had another 20+ group of people that were coming and we needed to be gone by then. Immediately more uncomfortableness. We hurried up and ordered as soon as the 3rd visit from our waitress happened. Attempted to enjoy our food but I was minus something and I felt very much like asking for something extra would be not a good idea. The river is beautiful. Although we had a giant standing fan near our heads for some reason we carried on and attempted to have our experience. None of us have been here before and thought it would be nice. After the 20+ group left they apologized for being loud. Then several servers came to clean up the area and setup the tables for the next party which our table was needed for I assume as they looked at us and looked at their watch several times to make sure we knew we weren't welcome. I mentioned to my server it was for my birthday, they do not have birthday offers, and because we were very much limited on time I couldn't get the dessert I wanted as it would take 15 minutes, at that time it was already 245pm and we had to be out by 3pm. I ordered the gf chocolate cake which was amazing. I was disappointed in my mahi as it was so small. I had a plate full of rice and beans and a side of fish for $22. And I was sort of jealous of my husband's and my father in laws plate as their $19 fish and chips came with a salad, coleslaw, fries and fish and dipping sauces. I did like my food. It was very good. But the amount was just disappointing as it was very thin and mostly the sauce. I still forced smiling and attempted to make this long overdue outing a good one. But I am left with such a bad taste in my mouth from the time we had there. Unfortunately the food and the view cannot make up for the customer service and the time restraints. The uncomfortableness felt and the lack of first time visitors excitement that I wanted to have. The bill was over $120 for 3 - $20 plates and 3 drinks and one piece of cake. We had approximately one hour and 30 minutes to enjoy it. By real estate standards the price for the time should put those fair wages into perspective. Sad to say we won't be back.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 3

Buyer beware! You will be up charged 20% of your bill whether you like it or not. Frigates’s have implemented a “20% service fee” on top of your $38 brunch cost automatically. Your brunch cost is now $45.60 per person. Surprise!! I personally do not appreciate being forced to pay the tip on my credit card, I typically pay the tip by cash. I’ve never seen a restaurant automatically ad 20%, I thought it was discretionary?

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 3

We had an hour and a half wait, but grabbed drinks from the bar and sat at a table right near the dock. It was magical. I recommend reservations, by the way. It is a popular place. The servers were helpful and friendly. We ordered the grouper with parmesan and herbs and it was melt in your mouth delicious. I also had a small cup of onion soup which had just the right amount of cheese, and as yummy. The prices were higher than we had expected for a bar and grill, but we would definitely go back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best part of this restaurant is the outside dining and beautiful view. The food was just okay. The server was friendly and professional.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 4

This place is amazing the Sunday brunch can’t be beat we have been coming here for years and it never disappoints

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5