6. Shrimp Factory

We went to the Shrimp Factory and while the food was pretty, the service was awful. Our server suffered from a very, very bad case of generalized indifference. As a matter of fact, so did the manager. On the good side, the Lobster Bisque soup was good. The salmon was good, but the angel hair that it sat on was oily and soggy... and too limp. The tossed salad had way too much of a mayonnaise taste. We were 6 in our party and that might have been the bad number as they instantly charge 18% gratuity for a party of six.. which had 4 adults, 14 year old and a 7 year old. My husband and I shared a meal and the manager brought our food, and we asked for an extra plate and he said he would bring it, but he never did, so we used the salad plate. When we told the waiter that we never got our plate, he said, "Oh really?"... but we still never got our plate... My son never got his straw, and the waiter said, "Oh really?" ... There was just a lack of interest on his part. We mentioned it to the manager and he wasn't moved either. We almost asked the waiter, "If there were 5 of us, would that have made a difference?" So, the experience was lousy due to the poor service. It is indeed a tourist trap!

Last night (Aug 4, 2008 around 8:30 PM), my husband and I had a lovely dinner on our first night in Savannah, but not at the Shrimp Factory. We went in, and the hostess walked us around trying to find a clean table for us. We circled around and got back to the host stand. When we got there, another couple walked in. They asked the hostess for a table. She left us standing alone, walked the new couple to a perfectly good table and seated them before us. They were walk-ins, like us. Then she came back to us, told us she'd try to find us a table, then went and cashed out a couple of parties at the register. We left, confused about what her behavior, and went to Vic's on the River. The service, food and drinks were fantastic there. Plus, the view from the bar was spectacular. We had a quiet table in the corner and were thrilled with the experience. DO NOT go to the Shrimp Factory, unless you want to be treated like cattle.

great food and atmosphere, seafood gumbo the best ever, salad with special caesar dressing exceptional, service was excellent, would go back again and again