Featured Restaurant on Rick's DineSite Journal

DineSite: Seagars
Website:
http://www.seagarsdestin.com
Location:  
Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa
4000 Sandestin Blvd., South
Destin, Florida 32550
800-367-1271
(850) 267-9500
Fax: (850) 267-3076

seagars@sandestinbeachhilton.com
 
Cuisine: American
Review: 18.25/20

 

Journal entries: Date, Atmosphere, Food, Winelist, Service, Other
March 7, 2007

Atmosphere - The room is nicely laid out for comfort, intimacy, sufficient privacy, and elegance. There are several private rooms that can accommodate from four to forty including the wine room pictured above. There are several alcoves for intimate and semi-private dinner for two to five. The music from the adjacent bar that permeates the restaurant is classy and delightful.
Atmosphere - 4.5/5

Food - The foie gras was superb as were the salads. Ala carte sides were acceptable but uninspiring as was the creme' brulee desert. The chocolate soufle may have been a far better choice, I suspect. This is a quintessential steak house. Steaks were excellent in cut, quality, selection, and preparation. the kobe beef preparation was tremendous. The small lobster tail starter as an entree left much to be desired. Overall, the dinner was unspectacular. The setting, atmosphere, stellar service, and substantial winelist made it an effective and successful business or special occasion dinner, none-the-less. 
Food - 3.75/5

Wine - The winelist is superb -  comprehensive, broad, somewhat deep in some places, imaginative, but not overwhelming or overdone. There is a tremendous selection of wines by the glass including many premium fine wines (Dariouish Viogner, Nickel & Nickle, Pahlmeyer Merlot, and Dalla Valle Napa cab). There is a nice selection of half bottles, large format bottles, and special Sommelier's Favorites. The selection is primarily American with broad coverage from California, French Bordeaux, Burgundy, a few Rhones, Australia, Italy, Spain, and some other New World selections. There are a few allocated or hard to obtain wines and a few vertical selections that span four or five vintages (Shafer Hillside, Silver Oak, Jarvis, Caymus Special Select, Mondavi Reserve). Prices are moderate to high although there are thoughtful and acceptable budget selections for all price points. I found a dozen choice selections at reasonable prices I would enjoy and recommend, and a dozen more favorites that I would highly recommend that reward the price-point - Karl Lawrence, Lewis Reserve, Pride, and Darioush from California, and Mollydooker, Hazy Blur, and Grange from Australia. Captain Bob surprised us with a undiscovered and unknown new selection from Stags Leap - Husic Vineyards cabernet, and he wasn't afraid to save me from experimenting with an untried selection that he woefully disfavored. A nice compliment of desert wines and sparklers round out the list which boasts 800 selections and an inventory of 9000 - certainly something for everyone.
Wine - 5/5

Service was excellent - personable, professional, well informed, attentive, but not intrusive. Captain Bob and his team are consummate professionals who take their roles seriously and pay attention detail as well as address the expected. They know their food  and wine selections and options well and can execute in their exposition and presentation. They achieve the difficult - providing excellent service, attentive, available, yet unpretentious or distracting. The menu suggestions and explanations for the food, deserts as well as the wine were helpful, informative, and added to the overall dining experience.   
Service - 5/5

Overall - 18.25/20

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