4.1
Good
288 Reviews
4089 The Strand East, Columbus · 6.11 miles
Customers’ favorites
- Open Fire Roasted Shellfish Platter Large
- Loaded Hummus with Lamb
- Yellowfin Tuna Tartare
- Baba Ganoush with Pita
“I’ve been to Del Mar many times over the years, and it has consistently been one of my favorite places to dine. My go-to dishes are the tomato salad, the open-fire roasted shellfish platter, and the lobster spaghetti — and they are excellent every single time. During my visit tonight, I ordered the lobster bisque, the tomato salad, and the lobster spaghetti, and the food was just as wonderful as always. The quality of the cuisine is one of the reasons I continue to come back. Another reason I return so often is the outstanding service I’ve received from many members of the staff. Over my visits, I’ve had several exceptional servers — Emma, Hope, Shelby, and one or two others whose names I unfortunately can’t quite recall (possibly Ella or Lydia). All of them have been attentive, thoughtful, and consistently professional. But if I had to highlight one person above the rest, it would be Emma without hesitation. Emma represents the very best of what great service looks like. She is attentive, detail-oriented, and always checks in to ensure I have everything I need. One example that really illustrates her level of care: whenever I order the tomato salad, she has the kitchen chop it up to make it easier for me because of my visual impairment — even though I’ve never asked her to do this. I don’t expect every server to do this, because everyone is different, and not everyone knows or thinks of these kinds of details. But the fact that she notices, takes initiative, and consistently goes out of her way means a lot to me, and it makes my dining experience smoother every time. Her consideration doesn’t end when the check is paid, either. Even after I’ve finished my meal and am simply sitting for a little while to finish my drink or wait for my ride, she still checks in on me periodically to make sure I’m comfortable and don’t need anything else. That level of consistent, genuine care is rare, and it’s one of the many reasons she stands out. If any end-of-year recognition or promotions are being considered, she absolutely deserves to be at the top of the list. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the service during my visit tonight. My server introduced himself as Ed, and while I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt — especially since I cannot see facial expressions or body language due to my visual impairment — the overall lack of attentiveness was noticeable. Before my lobster bisque came out, he stopped by briefly to say that he had dropped off a soup spoon. I said “thank you” and asked for a Pepsi, but I didn’t realize he had already walked away while I was speaking — something that can happen to me because I can’t see when someone leaves. The Pepsi didn’t arrive then. When the lobster bisque came out, I asked again for a Pepsi. Later, when I reached for the drink, I realized there was no straw. I felt around the table to check if he had placed one somewhere I might not have noticed, but there wasn’t one. The next time he came by was when my entrée — the lobster spaghetti — was served, and that was finally the moment when I could ask for a straw. These are small things individually, but they added up and affected the experience. The part that concerned me most, however, happened when it came time to pay. When Ed brought the check, I handed him my credit card. After processing it, he came back with the touchscreen payment device and said, “The machine is in front of you,” as though I would be able to see or operate it. When I politely explained that I couldn’t see the screen, he responded with, “So with the 20%, your total came to $114.05,” which made it clear that he had already selected the tip amount on my behalf. To be clear, I was planning to tip 20% anyway — so the amount itself is not the issue. What bothered me was the assumption and the lack of communication before making that decision. With servers like Emma and the others I’ve mentioned, I typically tell them, “Can you please add 20%?” and they take care of it with no problem. In this case, that communication was skipped entirely. Overall”
Lebanese · $
