Dolphin Den :: 95.75/100 (based on 2 reviews)
General Information
- Located: Avon, NC
- Hours: Dinner starts at 5pm
- Price Range: Entrees are about $18-$25
- Type: Family Restaurant
Food Information
- Selection of Turf: A few selections
- Pre-Meal Selection: Delicious Cornbread
- Entrees come with: Homemade Coleslaw and a side. For a small price, you can substitute a cesaer or house salad in place of the coleslaw.
My Experience
- I Got: Clam strips with fries & house salad with french dressing. The cornbread is absolutely AMAZING, the salad is well portioned and crisp. The clams were good and they give you large portions. Fries were tasty as well. The sweet tea was not salty, but had to add sugar.
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It Cost: $16.50ish with my drink and tip.
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Wait Time: we had to wait a little to get in because we had a table of ten but it was only about a 10 -15 minute wait. Go at 5 if you want a table soon, the restaurant is small. Food came out quickly.
Actual Review
- Cleanliness: 10/10 Very clean, everything in order.
- Service: 10/10 The waiter was not only cute, but efficient, and nice
- Wait Time: 8.5/10 Show up right around 5 or expect to wait awhile, but they do have many places for large parties.
- Family-Oriented: 10/10 Everyone can be pleased.
- Price: 9.5/10 Reasonable
- Taste: 9.5/10 Delicious
- Atmosphere: 10/10 Very decorated and beachy
- Location: 9/10 Not the best view but very easy to find. Parking in front is small but large side gravel lot is provided
- Variety: 8.5/10 Many different choices, but not THAT many turf choices. Good desserts, not a lot of side choices.
- Portion Size: 10/10 Way too much/perfect amount of food!
- Overall Rating: 95/100
In conclusion,
- I would recommend this restaurant: yes… the food is good and the best part is their infamous commercial which can be found here if the movie below does not load. It will make you go eat there. The jingle is so cute, it made us go. And we’ve been going for 3 or 4 years now. If you watch the local channel when you are in the OBX or just happen to be flippin’ through the channels, you’ll see it there, and it’s just so cute!
- You should definitely try their: Shrimp Linguini. I made the mistake of ordering clam strips this time instead of the linguini but you can see it on the commercial and it is delicious!
- Other comments/notes: Menu Found Here
My Experience
* I Got: Ceaser salad, fried chicken, and linguini. Ceaser was okay – the dressing was slightly off and the linguini was good, but had a bit too much olive oil. The chicken was absolutely perfect! The take real chicken breast, cut them up, batter them, and deep fry. The taste is phenomenal. I ended the meal with the famous Key Lime Pie, which I was too full to eat and took home for later. Even the next day, it was delicious.
*It Cost: $20, substituting the salad for cole slaw added 2.50 and had dessert.
*Wait Time: Not bad. Probably 5-10 minutes for a large family. They accommodate large families well with oversized booths and long tables.
Actual Review
* Cleanliness: 10/10
* Service: 10/10 Very efficient
* Wait Time: 9/10
* Family-Oriented: 10/10
* Price: 9.5/10
* Taste: 10/10
* Atmosphere: 10/10 – Lots to look at!
* Location: 9/10 – Unique looking building
* Variety: 9/10 – For a non-seafood eater, I was greatly satisfied with the options
* Portion Size: 10/10 – Couldn’t finish!
* Overall Rating: 96.5/100
In conclusion,
* I would recommend this restaurant: Absolutely! The staff is friendly, the menu is great, and prices are fair. With fried chicken, cornbread appetizer, and great tea, you can’t forget you’re in The South!
By: Maria on July 2, 2008
at 2:55 am
Last Friday, on our last night at the beach, my family ate at the Dolphin Den.
While the food was average, the waiter was the worst I’ve ever had. A tall gangly sort of beach bum looking guy, he was slow and never asked how our food was. We asked for more butter when he brought our meal, he never came back. My sister-in-law went to get him. When he came with the butter, he asked how things were and my brother-in-law said that our potatoes got cold waiting for the butter. At this point, the waiter started talking baby-talk in a sarcastic manner saying “Aw, is your potato cold? I’m so sorry. I wouldn’t want your potato to be cold.” and walked away.
When I went to complain to the manager, the hostess said there wasn’t one. When I ask for who was in charge, she said she would find someone, who turned out to be the cook, who, based on his manner was a friend of the waiter, saying the waiter was under some stress. He didn’t take us seriously until we implied we were documenting his answers for the owner.
In my entire life, I have never been so disrespected by a waiter. If you get anything like this kind of treatment, don’t pay the bill.
By: Bill on August 17, 2008
at 8:31 pm
Oh my gosh… I’ve never heard of such awful service at the Dolphin Den! We’ve gone for three years and have never once been disappointed. The service does change yearly though, so please do not be discouraged to never go back! If you guys would have a good server, I’m sure you would like this place! I’m so sad to hear of your awful experience… but if you are willing to give it another chance next year, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
By: Jessie on August 17, 2008
at 11:29 pm