We've been to this restaurant several times. It's a good place to come when you're at Village at Sandhills. Our waiter was pretty slow coming to the table. He was also slow getting the drinks to us. I ordered the Chicken Spring Rolls and the Caesar Salad today. The Spring Rolls were pretty greasy today.... Actually they were very greasy. I probably should have sent them back. My Caesar Salad dressing wasn't very good today either. The salad itself was very fresh, but the dressing ruined it. I also tried the grilled shrimp another person in our party got. They weren't that great either. I did hear that the Lump Crab sandwich was good. The sweet potato fries were pretty good too. I hope the next time we come back, things are better. If they are, I'll update my review.
(3)
Jessica W.
Where do I even begin.. I would give this place 0 stars but I can't so they get one. When my date and I walked in the hostess was standing there twiddling her thumbs doing nothing. When we told her it was a party of two, she asked us to please wait while she cleaned a table for us. She then disappeared for about 5 minutes only to come back and say "Sorry guys, just one more minute." And then she walked off again. That should have been a sign there that we should leave and go elsewhere but this place was recommended to us by a friend so we remained optimistic. She wasn't gone very long the second time, and we were then seated. I'm not exactly sure what took her so long or why she had to clean a table because all of the booths were empty. The only people seated in there were at the bar. We got our teas and they were good. I guess I could say the one star is for the tea. It wasn't too sweet which is nice because a lot of places around here can go overboard with the sugar. Then the waitress brought out the bread. I'm convinced no one eats this and it's used to clean the tables and/or dishes, it is literally the consistency of a Scotch-Brite. It's served with oil with a swirl of balsamic vinegar, which sits at your table and creates a disgusting aroma. Then our entrees came. I ordered shrimp and grits because I figured there was no way you could mess that up. I was wrong. The serving was very small (which didn't really matter seeing as I only took a few bites and realized I couldn't stomach the food). The spinach tasted like it had soy sauce or something in it, which on top of grits was very unpleasant. And the brown gravy on the grits was just disgusting. I took a few bites but had to give up because it was making me queasy. My date ordered fish, which had some kind of sauce on it. It was on top of a bed of vegetables which appeared undercooked. We picked at our food for a bit and we decided to give up and leave as quickly as possible. We went to Marble Slab afterwards to redeem ourselves from the horrible dinner but was stomach was too upset to enjoy any ice cream. And the nausea continued for several hours. I'm not sure if it was from the actual food or just me being disgusted by the experience. I've honestly never been to a restaurant where everything was inedible. I definitely won't be going back to this place. And we will never take advice from this friend again.
(1)
Sam C.
Have not been here in a while. My Bride needed to return something at Sandhills so we decided to have late dinner. I like the overall look of the place. It has a great Bar and the staff greeted us warmly in spite of our 9pm arrival. My Bride was not very hungry and ordered the Cesar Salad and the Roasted Chicken Spring Rolls. It must have been good because she left not a crouton nor hint of a Spring Roll. I had the Sword Fish Special. I have to admit I don't tend to order Sword Fish due to the pressure from "Long Line Fisheries" but, the description of the preparation pulled me in. The presentation was perfect with the Fish placed on a Potato Cake with a side of slaw. The chef pulled it all together with an Orange Chipotle. The Sword Fish was grilled to perfection. The Potato Cake was flavorful and when dredged through the Chipotle...... Even Better. The slaw was excellent. I had to ask what was in it as I was missing something..... The Chef had shaved Brussel Sprouts into the slaw. Awesome. The meal coupled with superb service could not have been better! Will definitely be back!
Bartender was rude. Ran out of basics during happy hour on a Tuesday. This is a disgrace to what the Village intended.
(2)
KeiKei B.
This restaurant is mediocre at best. The bar is great but the food is always the same and the menu suffers from the non-variety kind. I have been here many times and the menu never changes or features local ingredients and farm to table fresh fare. I had the trout and was unimpressed. The skin was not crispy and it was over dredged in sauce. The veggies were blanched but without salt or flavor. The waitress forgot the bread and was slow to refill unsweet tea. She told me that no-one ever orders it. The meals are overpriced. We paid almost $50 for lunch but the portions were lunch size. I am always game for a great meal that is worth the pricing but this place is full of itself. My table mate goes here all the time and swears by it, as does his friends. But they abhor change and cannot be relied on to make an objective opinion. They go here because they have alway gone here. If I am forced to go again, I will eat first and drink when I get there. But not unsweet tea. Might not get a refill.
(2)
Justin W.
The atmosphere is great for a nice formal or even a semi- relaxed night out. I had the Chilean Sea Bass and it was exquisite. It had a crispy seared caramel exterior with a moist sweet pure white interior. My wife enjoyed a succulent seared Tuna steak over a bed of fresh greens and sweetened walnuts. The reason for the four star rating is that the Sea Bass sides, shrimp fried rice and cooked spinach, lacked texture and flavor. They were a real let down after biting into the amazing fish. All in all though a wonderful restaurant and a great night out!
(4)
Megan B.
My husband and I decided to stop in due to a friend's recommendation to try it out. Everything was good until we got our entrees. Both of the steaks were over cooked and tasted like they were the frozen kind. We sent both back and told them to make them rare. The bar tender was very nice about it and apologized. The manager, John, can back to us and was very rude and just a smart ass to us. We know how to cook meat and know what we like and he made us out to be stupid. When we got our "meat" back it still wasn't good. The bar tender again apologized to us unlike the manager. I wouldn't go back again.
(1)
Jasmine J.
Took over 20 minutes for a server to come and take our drink order even though the restaurant was not busy at all and all of our food was not worth the wait or the price. Our appetizers were fine (hence the 2 stars) but everything else was mediocre at best & seriously $8 to add 4 lousy oysters to a salad? I'd recommend saving your time by going somewhere else.
(2)
Greg B.
Great place for food and drinks. You can even get your sports fix here. The atmosphere is nice and quite but you can cheer for your team. This place is probably has the best customer service in Columbia. This place gets my only 5 star rating.
(5)
David H.
This place is horrible.... We went there for Happy Hour for a friend's birthday and after three drinks the Bartender said she was no longer comfortable serving us.... We will not go back again.... When we talked to the manager she started out saying how she could be sued and the business could be sued if something happened but then said she was looking out for us.... what a lie...
(1)
M A.
This is my second time eating here and I did not enjoy my meal either time. The meals are over priced in my opinion for the quality of food. Tonight I had the #3 fried seafood platter which comes with shrimp, scallops, oyster, and flounder. The seafood did not taste fresh and this is a $23 meal at a place called 'Blue Fin'. The expectation is fresh seafood. I asked our table host (who was great) and she explained to me that people ask her that all the time but the seafood is fresh. The problem is they fry everything together and that's why some things are harder than others. The food wasn't only friend unevenly but did not taste good. I will not go back because the food is overpriced and do not taste good.
(2)
Deb B.
The menu choices are exceptional. The filet was cooked perfectly. The wait staff was very attentive.
(4)
Kyle K.
Went in on Valentine's day and was completely blown away. The restaurant's owner/manager was at the front desk, explaining to another couple that he'd had 100s of reservations that night. I'd been turning to leave when he explained to all of us standing there that he'd try to seat us if we could wait a little bit. I figured why not - could go have a seat at the bar, have a drink and wait a while. I didn't get the chance to, as he seated us almost immediately. The man had hundreds of guests worth of guaranteed business, and had no reason at all to accommodate me, but he did. Bluefin values its customers. Service was prompt and friendly, and the food and drink recommendations were excellent. The seared black pepper tuna was fantastic. My steak was cooked perfectly, the bleu cheese topping was excellent and the garlic mustard butter I ordered with it went perfectly with the rest of it. Kudos to you, Bluefin. You didn't have to deliver, but you did. That's five stars to me, anyway.
(5)
Emery E.
Coming from 14 years in the restaurant industry during my younger years, I am very forgiving to any restaurant when things are subpar. When my wife and I ate dinner at BlueFin though they seemed to be very challenged. The server did not know the menu well, to help us with some suggestions. The service was slow, and both dinner entrees were below expectations. I will not attempt to bore anyone with anymore complaining, cause I don't think Yelp is the place for that, but I do believe it should be used by restauranteurs to help improve in all areas by reading their establishments reviews.
(2)
Swetha G.
Very friendly service and average to slightly above average food. My friend and I met for brunch at Bluefin today and every staff person we encountered was so welcoming and so nice. We brought her three dogs with us and had a table outside, and without even having to ask, our waiter went inside and brought small water bowls for each dog so they could stay hydrated, this was super sweet and so kind of them. As for the food, we both ordered Eggs Benedict (mine was w/o the bacon) and got coffees to drink. I thought the Eggs Benedict was good, not the best I've had, but not bad either. The accompanying potatoes were very good and seasoned nicely. I thought the coffee was really good, it was a darker roast, and was richer and had more caffeine to it, we both gulped away. I see from other reviews this may not be the best spot for seafood. However for brunch, they did not disappoint, and I'd definitely recommend giving them business. Once again, service was very good, and I'd be glad to go back.
(4)
Nakiba B.
I went here for the very first time a while ago on a first date. As far as atmosphere goes, it was pretty nice, kind of quiet (it was a Sunday afternoon) and seemed very promising, I was very excited to try the food. Well, to start off, our waitress brought us some bread with what I assume was olive oil with some type of spices (basil, thyme???) sprinkling in while we waited for our meals. I was starving so I wasted no type digging in...it was GROSS. I don't know which was worse...the bread with the weird seasoning in it or that olive oil mixture she gave us with it. It didn't do too well with the fact that I had coffee earlier on an almost empty stomach, I actually thought I would need to excuse myself to go puke after eating it and that has never happened to me before. Finally, our entrees came out and I must say I was very disappointed. I ordered a pasta dish with shrimp and a cream sauce and it was runny and flavorless. I pretty much skipped the pasta and just ate all the shrimp out of it. I thought it might have just been me who found the food to be mediocre but my date said he didn't care too much about what he ordered either. And now that I've come to this site and read other people's opinions, I know it wasn't just me. The service was sort of slow to say they weren't that busy but I actually think that was a good thing for me because I needed to let my stomach settle before I even tried to eat that pasta. I can say our server was really nice and very helpful. I MAY try to go there again just to try out something else but as far as it goes right now, not recommended.
(2)
Lisa S.
We visited Bluefin for a special occasion, a 30th anniversary. We were very disappointed by the lack of quality for the price we paid. The childrens menu is printed on a tiny receipt. The drinks were nothing special as was the food. Our shrimp were over cooked, the broccoli was room temperature and the portion was embarrassing considering the price! The mussels carried from good to bitter, some of them were not fresh. Will go to Bonefish the next time.
(1)
John Thomas R.
Best salmon in town! Just make sure you order the chicken if you want to taste salmon . Loljk. It's all good!
(5)
Connie B.
Very poor dining experience. Waitress spilled drink, 3 out of the 4 orders arrived wrong, missing side of collard greens arrived with the check. Blue Fin used to be a decent restaurant. I am not sure if it is under new management, or if it has simply gone down hill with time. Unfortunately, we will not be returning.
(1)
Mathew L.
The seafood in Columbia! Well decorated, great vibes, great service, and amazing food. Guaranteed a quality experience!
(5)
Dawn R.
The food, atmosphere and service were all good BUT towards the end of the service I happened to look up and noticed cakes of dirt on the ceiling fans. This made me lose my appetite because the fans were on so I left soon after seeing that .
(3)
Andrea G.
After the waitress spilled a drink all over my lap, an apathetic apology was given. The meal continued with a large host of errors that would have been overlooked had the waitress shown more effort and compassion for these situations. The dining experience with this server was the worst I have ever had. Upon receiving our checks, which also contained errors (including charging me for everything except the spilled drink), the management seemed to handily take care of the situation stating I should have received my meal free. However, this quickly changed when the waitress decided to divulge the lag in receiving the corrected checks was due to me having "decided to tell my manager that I spilled a drink on you...so, he has been chewing me out". They held my friends' credit card hostage and would not return it. And sure enough, this resulted in them fraudulently double charging them. In the end, they did comp my and my husband's meal, but left us with a bad taste for the venue in the way they handled the situation and treated my friends. A complete and utter lack of professionalism. If you are too bored, tired, altered to perform your job, find another vocation.
(1)
Melissa F.
Love this place! The food is great! The staff is very friendly and helpful! Definitely a place I enjoy visiting!
(5)
Alba A.
Was there last week order a martini ... I was not pleased to see that in a place that pretend to be better than average martini glass was filled only half!!! What's the sense on having normal size glasses if you going to fill only half ! Also wine poring was very slim... And the icing on the cake bartender girl not the best attitude ! Didn't order food since I wasn't happy with my drink...
(1)
John H.
Bluefin has to step up the service and deliver consistently, but it's a good seafood place for NE area... Lunch is good and not too expensive. Unlike some of the other reviews, I'm good on the food - been 4-5 times and it's been on par each time. The service is where the challenge is..
(4)
Michael T.
Oh Northeast Columbia, how desperately for great seafood dost thou yearn. But the road is bleak and no in sight. There are several restaurants in NE Columbia that offer a few great seafood options, but we are still lacking a great seafood restaurant. Bluefin is definitely not that solution. I've been to Bluefin twice, once about a year ago, and again yesterday. I went yesterday at the behest of a couple of others that claimed they had improved. They were mistaken. The reason for giving them two stars instead of one is pretty simple. They are a better option than a certain crimson crustacean, which really isn't saying much, but hey, it's something. This is the 3rd of 4th iteration of a restaurant in this location and the decor has carried through. The decor is actually very nice. Nice artwork, intricate woodworking, comfortable seating, etc. If only the food matched the quality of the FF&E. I am going to just hit on some quick points because most people have probably quit reading by now or have already made up their mind one way or another, so some bullet points: - Service is bad. On a Monday night, we had a nice server, but the place was empty, and several times we wouldn't see her for ten minutes at a time. - Salads are decent, nothing special - Shellfish showcase the lower quality of the product. Mussels were grainy and falling apart, obviously frozen or old product - Cod was mediocre. Just oven roasted with no seasoning, served with a dipping sauce. Nothing special to it, but edible.. but $20 for 8 oz of average cod with 2 veg...guess they're trying to still pay off the decor - Roasted corn and zucchini swimming in butter...why oh why do Southerners insist on destroying the health and subtlety of vegetables with a pound of butter - Other reviews mention good bread, we never got any If you want a bar, this might not be a bad option. If you're looking for fish and chips or some fried seafood on par with chain restaurants, this might be an option for you. If you're looking for good seafood, steer clear.
(2)
William S.
Just lost my Bluefin virginity and it was well worth it. The service, atmosphere,and location were all right on point. And the meatloaf was out of this world...that's right - slammin' meatloaf at a seafood joint!
(5)
Brock B.
The food is decent. The problem was that the manager is a complete asshole. His demeanor and attitude suck, as if we were blessed to come into his establishment and spend our money there. His wait staff literally seem afraid of him and he has this gestapo mentality. Will never go back . DON"T Go here! There are plenty of great seafood places in the area. This manager/owner is a real problem. Get a clue ass wipe!
(1)
Ron V.
Good steaks. Cod and salmon are good. The last time we ate here we ordered an appetizer and the waitress came out with our entrees about 3 minutes after the appetizer. Could use some improvement there. I agree with the other review regarding adding too much balsamic to the bread dipping oil. You only need a few drops of the balsamic or you over do it.
(3)
Westwood D.
Stopped in for a couple beers. There were a couple good beers on tap. I had a Sweetwater 420 and a Baltic Porter. The bartender was friendly. Nothing special but no complaints.
(3)
Maggie L.
If you like greasy, soggy seafood and poorly cooked steaks, this is the restaurant for you! You will get your steak raw or burnt, none of the sides you request with come with your meal, and if you are 6 months pregnant the waitress will forget your order completely. The "free" bread is so-so, nothing spectacular though the servers will pour entirely too much vinegar in your oil mixture which is disgusting. The fried flounder was awful, it was as though they soaked the fish in grease. My husband had the sweet potato fries as a side and I had asparagus; the fries were cold and asparagus was way over-cooked. After you complain because A. None of the entrees coming out are correct for your party B. The Waitress has yet to refill any ones drink C. Your wife still hasn't gotten her food and everyone else at the table is finished; The Manager will come over and apologize. She will give you a crappy coupon. But she will still charge your entire party a 20% "Service Charge". Though the side salad was alright.
(1)
Mike G.
I ate here last night and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I love scallops, but too often receive them overcooked. These were cooked to PERFECTION! The risotto wad delicious as was the bread. Some other reviews seemed less than enthusiastic so I will try again. Maybe some people are impossible to please.
(4)
Matthew H.
Free bread OK but to much vinegar in dip. Fast service kept tea full but to much ice so she had to keep refilling often. I ordered the black Angus Burger. It was good but they didn't have the right bread since the bread maker didn't come in as expected. Fries are good and you can taste the sugar which was odd for me. Bathrooms are Clean and well stocked.
(3)
Brittany and Tim L.
First time going in we wanted to grab a snack before going to the movies. we went in because it wasn't crowded and has a great atmosphere. walking inside the decor is elegant. there is a round bar in the middle with leather chairs and booths all over. we sat a a table near the bar and ordered the she crab soup. OMG the best i have ever had. Not fishy and so creamy, yummie!! We went to our movie and came back to explore the bar menu. Shrimp cocktail with real homemade cocktail sauce. be careful if you don't like spicy stay away from this. it has real horseradish and is very good. we ordered the crab cakes with a remoulade and i wish there were more on the plate. they were gone before i could blink. Our second time we drove here to eat dinner. (our drive to this place is 45 mins and we did it all for the food). I got the seared Ahi tuna with an orange chili soy sauce and asparagus. my hubby got the sirloin steak, crab cake, mashed sweet potatoes. we both got salad or soup with the meal. i got the she crab again and he got the Cesar salad. The tuna melted in your mouth and the steak was tender and juicy. we walked out paying $45. again we went the the movies and came back for drinks. This time we got dessert. The key lime pie was amazing and was better than sex!!! The tiramasu was heaven on earth and is made with marscapone cheese and baileys' again OMG!!! This is now our favorite place to eat in the whole world!!!!!!!! Say high to Darrel who works at the bar and Joe who is the GM. Thanks guys you rock UPDATED 01/11/2010 Well the past two times that we have been here it hasn't been the same. My tuna was overcooked and the food has been salty. The one waitress we got brought a raw burger to someone at my table who ordered it med-well. and then proceeded to tell them that that was med-well when there was blood dripping all over the plate. And began giving us an attitude hard core. Then we were charged an extra 4@ for the she crab soup as a side item which we were never charged before. We talked with the GM and told him about our waitress attitude and he took care of it. The chef does things his way and won't listen to the comments made by his customers. A few changes and this restaurant could have a 5 star. The Brie cheese plate and tiramsu was amazing as always
(4)
Brian A.
The service is good, but the food needs some improvement. The wine pours are so slim. For a nice Cab wine at $9.00 a glass, the smallest pours I have ever seen at a place. I would come back, but the feedback from manager when i commented on the small pour was replied that is their standard pour. Ok, then I guess I wont be back!! Dont think this place is going to make it.
(2)
Nick B.
The food was good, but in my opinion not to the caliber of Blue Marlin downtown. The atmosphere was simple nothing worth noting. The best part of this place is the bread they give you with vinegar mix. Not a bad place to try, definitely one of the better places in Sandhill to visit.
(3)
Karina G.
There isn't too much competition for seafood in the NE area, so I'm glad that Bluefin is here, but they could do with a little work on their service. I agree with Maggie that, of the few times I've been there, the service was a little slow and the servers have not been personable. Of the meals I can recall, the portion of scallops was very tiny (4 of the tiniest little scallops I've ever seen in my life!) and the accompanying risotto was decent but a little too buttery. The salmon served on the green salad with apples and candied walnuts with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing was delicious (though if the chef is reading this, please add a gorgonzola cheese!). Brittany is right that seared ahi tuna is nicely done with a very well-accompanied dressing. My husband has ordered the latter twice now. The wine list is decent with a wide variety including some nice malbecs and bubblies, though the server couldn't recommend any particulars. The decor is quite elegant but there isn't much of an atmosphere inside, but with friendlier and more responsive servers, this restaurant could be quite enjoyable and I would go there more frequently. Earlier in the Fall it was quite fun to sit outside and people watch, but it's late December and far too cold now.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Juke Box Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Sherry C.
We've been to this restaurant several times. It's a good place to come when you're at Village at Sandhills. Our waiter was pretty slow coming to the table. He was also slow getting the drinks to us. I ordered the Chicken Spring Rolls and the Caesar Salad today. The Spring Rolls were pretty greasy today.... Actually they were very greasy. I probably should have sent them back. My Caesar Salad dressing wasn't very good today either. The salad itself was very fresh, but the dressing ruined it. I also tried the grilled shrimp another person in our party got. They weren't that great either. I did hear that the Lump Crab sandwich was good. The sweet potato fries were pretty good too. I hope the next time we come back, things are better. If they are, I'll update my review.
(3)Jessica W.
Where do I even begin.. I would give this place 0 stars but I can't so they get one. When my date and I walked in the hostess was standing there twiddling her thumbs doing nothing. When we told her it was a party of two, she asked us to please wait while she cleaned a table for us. She then disappeared for about 5 minutes only to come back and say "Sorry guys, just one more minute." And then she walked off again. That should have been a sign there that we should leave and go elsewhere but this place was recommended to us by a friend so we remained optimistic. She wasn't gone very long the second time, and we were then seated. I'm not exactly sure what took her so long or why she had to clean a table because all of the booths were empty. The only people seated in there were at the bar. We got our teas and they were good. I guess I could say the one star is for the tea. It wasn't too sweet which is nice because a lot of places around here can go overboard with the sugar. Then the waitress brought out the bread. I'm convinced no one eats this and it's used to clean the tables and/or dishes, it is literally the consistency of a Scotch-Brite. It's served with oil with a swirl of balsamic vinegar, which sits at your table and creates a disgusting aroma. Then our entrees came. I ordered shrimp and grits because I figured there was no way you could mess that up. I was wrong. The serving was very small (which didn't really matter seeing as I only took a few bites and realized I couldn't stomach the food). The spinach tasted like it had soy sauce or something in it, which on top of grits was very unpleasant. And the brown gravy on the grits was just disgusting. I took a few bites but had to give up because it was making me queasy. My date ordered fish, which had some kind of sauce on it. It was on top of a bed of vegetables which appeared undercooked. We picked at our food for a bit and we decided to give up and leave as quickly as possible. We went to Marble Slab afterwards to redeem ourselves from the horrible dinner but was stomach was too upset to enjoy any ice cream. And the nausea continued for several hours. I'm not sure if it was from the actual food or just me being disgusted by the experience. I've honestly never been to a restaurant where everything was inedible. I definitely won't be going back to this place. And we will never take advice from this friend again.
(1)Sam C.
Have not been here in a while. My Bride needed to return something at Sandhills so we decided to have late dinner. I like the overall look of the place. It has a great Bar and the staff greeted us warmly in spite of our 9pm arrival. My Bride was not very hungry and ordered the Cesar Salad and the Roasted Chicken Spring Rolls. It must have been good because she left not a crouton nor hint of a Spring Roll. I had the Sword Fish Special. I have to admit I don't tend to order Sword Fish due to the pressure from "Long Line Fisheries" but, the description of the preparation pulled me in. The presentation was perfect with the Fish placed on a Potato Cake with a side of slaw. The chef pulled it all together with an Orange Chipotle. The Sword Fish was grilled to perfection. The Potato Cake was flavorful and when dredged through the Chipotle...... Even Better. The slaw was excellent. I had to ask what was in it as I was missing something..... The Chef had shaved Brussel Sprouts into the slaw. Awesome. The meal coupled with superb service could not have been better! Will definitely be back!
(5)Oscar B.
"" Opted out of seafood, went for FILET MIGNON "" ENTRANCE: The entrance experience feels a little tacky with the clustering of employees at the entryway. However, this place could really be a sexy date night venue. I enjoyed the ambience once I got past the entrance. Moving on... SETTING: The layout of the tables allows for flexibility of small group (4 adults) of friends, business, or a romantic dinner-for-two setting. Once you're inside, the environment is mature, yet not outdated. I didn't see any neglected dirty tables, but rather, an ongoing effort to keep tables clean and clear of trash. The lighting was dim to moderate throughout. Most of the lighting came from above your table, unless you sit at the bar. SERVICE: The service was consistent from start to finish. The hostess was very amiable and professional in her conversations. My glass did not go dry. But then, I'm not a big drinker when I'm dining. I didn't know much about their food, so I was cheerfully guided through some recommendations. I did not feel rushed while dining here. Everything went smoothly from start to finish--even offered dessert at the end! PRICE: It's not a cheap meal. Don't get fixated on the price when you dine here! (If you're a frequently cheap diner, this is not the place for you.) Many upper-caliber establishments don't spend too much time on their cheap menu items, so the quality of your meal tends to suffer if that's all you order. I would tell you how much I paid, but I won't here (sorry). If you're here, the focus is obviously not the price anyway. FOOD: Start with the free bread; it's not that good. The bread was very dense and required lots of olive oil to soften it to taste. However, it was free--why dwell on it anyway. I was recommended to try the filet mignon. I'm glad I did! It was cooked exactly as I expected. The filet mignon was very juicy and tender (even though I like my steaks medium-well). The flavor was consistent in every bite. The plate came with mashed potatoes and cooked spinach. I can't exactly describe how the spinach was cooked but the flavor was thoroughly enjoyable and the texture was delicate. All three items were stacked together; spinach under mashed potato, under filet mignon. The mashed potatoes were delicious and didn't need any gravy. The juice from the steak and the spinach complemented the spuds. =) Dessert consisted of white chocolate créme brûlée. I have no regrets from ordering it. I probably would've ordered another one if I had room for it. But I was already full halfway into eating this delicious treat.
(4)Nat C.
Bartender was rude. Ran out of basics during happy hour on a Tuesday. This is a disgrace to what the Village intended.
(2)KeiKei B.
This restaurant is mediocre at best. The bar is great but the food is always the same and the menu suffers from the non-variety kind. I have been here many times and the menu never changes or features local ingredients and farm to table fresh fare. I had the trout and was unimpressed. The skin was not crispy and it was over dredged in sauce. The veggies were blanched but without salt or flavor. The waitress forgot the bread and was slow to refill unsweet tea. She told me that no-one ever orders it. The meals are overpriced. We paid almost $50 for lunch but the portions were lunch size. I am always game for a great meal that is worth the pricing but this place is full of itself. My table mate goes here all the time and swears by it, as does his friends. But they abhor change and cannot be relied on to make an objective opinion. They go here because they have alway gone here. If I am forced to go again, I will eat first and drink when I get there. But not unsweet tea. Might not get a refill.
(2)Justin W.
The atmosphere is great for a nice formal or even a semi- relaxed night out. I had the Chilean Sea Bass and it was exquisite. It had a crispy seared caramel exterior with a moist sweet pure white interior. My wife enjoyed a succulent seared Tuna steak over a bed of fresh greens and sweetened walnuts. The reason for the four star rating is that the Sea Bass sides, shrimp fried rice and cooked spinach, lacked texture and flavor. They were a real let down after biting into the amazing fish. All in all though a wonderful restaurant and a great night out!
(4)Megan B.
My husband and I decided to stop in due to a friend's recommendation to try it out. Everything was good until we got our entrees. Both of the steaks were over cooked and tasted like they were the frozen kind. We sent both back and told them to make them rare. The bar tender was very nice about it and apologized. The manager, John, can back to us and was very rude and just a smart ass to us. We know how to cook meat and know what we like and he made us out to be stupid. When we got our "meat" back it still wasn't good. The bar tender again apologized to us unlike the manager. I wouldn't go back again.
(1)Jasmine J.
Took over 20 minutes for a server to come and take our drink order even though the restaurant was not busy at all and all of our food was not worth the wait or the price. Our appetizers were fine (hence the 2 stars) but everything else was mediocre at best & seriously $8 to add 4 lousy oysters to a salad? I'd recommend saving your time by going somewhere else.
(2)Greg B.
Great place for food and drinks. You can even get your sports fix here. The atmosphere is nice and quite but you can cheer for your team. This place is probably has the best customer service in Columbia. This place gets my only 5 star rating.
(5)David H.
This place is horrible.... We went there for Happy Hour for a friend's birthday and after three drinks the Bartender said she was no longer comfortable serving us.... We will not go back again.... When we talked to the manager she started out saying how she could be sued and the business could be sued if something happened but then said she was looking out for us.... what a lie...
(1)M A.
This is my second time eating here and I did not enjoy my meal either time. The meals are over priced in my opinion for the quality of food. Tonight I had the #3 fried seafood platter which comes with shrimp, scallops, oyster, and flounder. The seafood did not taste fresh and this is a $23 meal at a place called 'Blue Fin'. The expectation is fresh seafood. I asked our table host (who was great) and she explained to me that people ask her that all the time but the seafood is fresh. The problem is they fry everything together and that's why some things are harder than others. The food wasn't only friend unevenly but did not taste good. I will not go back because the food is overpriced and do not taste good.
(2)Deb B.
The menu choices are exceptional. The filet was cooked perfectly. The wait staff was very attentive.
(4)Kyle K.
Went in on Valentine's day and was completely blown away. The restaurant's owner/manager was at the front desk, explaining to another couple that he'd had 100s of reservations that night. I'd been turning to leave when he explained to all of us standing there that he'd try to seat us if we could wait a little bit. I figured why not - could go have a seat at the bar, have a drink and wait a while. I didn't get the chance to, as he seated us almost immediately. The man had hundreds of guests worth of guaranteed business, and had no reason at all to accommodate me, but he did. Bluefin values its customers. Service was prompt and friendly, and the food and drink recommendations were excellent. The seared black pepper tuna was fantastic. My steak was cooked perfectly, the bleu cheese topping was excellent and the garlic mustard butter I ordered with it went perfectly with the rest of it. Kudos to you, Bluefin. You didn't have to deliver, but you did. That's five stars to me, anyway.
(5)Emery E.
Coming from 14 years in the restaurant industry during my younger years, I am very forgiving to any restaurant when things are subpar. When my wife and I ate dinner at BlueFin though they seemed to be very challenged. The server did not know the menu well, to help us with some suggestions. The service was slow, and both dinner entrees were below expectations. I will not attempt to bore anyone with anymore complaining, cause I don't think Yelp is the place for that, but I do believe it should be used by restauranteurs to help improve in all areas by reading their establishments reviews.
(2)Swetha G.
Very friendly service and average to slightly above average food. My friend and I met for brunch at Bluefin today and every staff person we encountered was so welcoming and so nice. We brought her three dogs with us and had a table outside, and without even having to ask, our waiter went inside and brought small water bowls for each dog so they could stay hydrated, this was super sweet and so kind of them. As for the food, we both ordered Eggs Benedict (mine was w/o the bacon) and got coffees to drink. I thought the Eggs Benedict was good, not the best I've had, but not bad either. The accompanying potatoes were very good and seasoned nicely. I thought the coffee was really good, it was a darker roast, and was richer and had more caffeine to it, we both gulped away. I see from other reviews this may not be the best spot for seafood. However for brunch, they did not disappoint, and I'd definitely recommend giving them business. Once again, service was very good, and I'd be glad to go back.
(4)Nakiba B.
I went here for the very first time a while ago on a first date. As far as atmosphere goes, it was pretty nice, kind of quiet (it was a Sunday afternoon) and seemed very promising, I was very excited to try the food. Well, to start off, our waitress brought us some bread with what I assume was olive oil with some type of spices (basil, thyme???) sprinkling in while we waited for our meals. I was starving so I wasted no type digging in...it was GROSS. I don't know which was worse...the bread with the weird seasoning in it or that olive oil mixture she gave us with it. It didn't do too well with the fact that I had coffee earlier on an almost empty stomach, I actually thought I would need to excuse myself to go puke after eating it and that has never happened to me before. Finally, our entrees came out and I must say I was very disappointed. I ordered a pasta dish with shrimp and a cream sauce and it was runny and flavorless. I pretty much skipped the pasta and just ate all the shrimp out of it. I thought it might have just been me who found the food to be mediocre but my date said he didn't care too much about what he ordered either. And now that I've come to this site and read other people's opinions, I know it wasn't just me. The service was sort of slow to say they weren't that busy but I actually think that was a good thing for me because I needed to let my stomach settle before I even tried to eat that pasta. I can say our server was really nice and very helpful. I MAY try to go there again just to try out something else but as far as it goes right now, not recommended.
(2)Lisa S.
We visited Bluefin for a special occasion, a 30th anniversary. We were very disappointed by the lack of quality for the price we paid. The childrens menu is printed on a tiny receipt. The drinks were nothing special as was the food. Our shrimp were over cooked, the broccoli was room temperature and the portion was embarrassing considering the price! The mussels carried from good to bitter, some of them were not fresh. Will go to Bonefish the next time.
(1)John Thomas R.
Best salmon in town! Just make sure you order the chicken if you want to taste salmon . Loljk. It's all good!
(5)Connie B.
Very poor dining experience. Waitress spilled drink, 3 out of the 4 orders arrived wrong, missing side of collard greens arrived with the check. Blue Fin used to be a decent restaurant. I am not sure if it is under new management, or if it has simply gone down hill with time. Unfortunately, we will not be returning.
(1)Mathew L.
The seafood in Columbia! Well decorated, great vibes, great service, and amazing food. Guaranteed a quality experience!
(5)Dawn R.
The food, atmosphere and service were all good BUT towards the end of the service I happened to look up and noticed cakes of dirt on the ceiling fans. This made me lose my appetite because the fans were on so I left soon after seeing that .
(3)Andrea G.
After the waitress spilled a drink all over my lap, an apathetic apology was given. The meal continued with a large host of errors that would have been overlooked had the waitress shown more effort and compassion for these situations. The dining experience with this server was the worst I have ever had. Upon receiving our checks, which also contained errors (including charging me for everything except the spilled drink), the management seemed to handily take care of the situation stating I should have received my meal free. However, this quickly changed when the waitress decided to divulge the lag in receiving the corrected checks was due to me having "decided to tell my manager that I spilled a drink on you...so, he has been chewing me out". They held my friends' credit card hostage and would not return it. And sure enough, this resulted in them fraudulently double charging them. In the end, they did comp my and my husband's meal, but left us with a bad taste for the venue in the way they handled the situation and treated my friends. A complete and utter lack of professionalism. If you are too bored, tired, altered to perform your job, find another vocation.
(1)Melissa F.
Love this place! The food is great! The staff is very friendly and helpful! Definitely a place I enjoy visiting!
(5)Alba A.
Was there last week order a martini ... I was not pleased to see that in a place that pretend to be better than average martini glass was filled only half!!! What's the sense on having normal size glasses if you going to fill only half ! Also wine poring was very slim... And the icing on the cake bartender girl not the best attitude ! Didn't order food since I wasn't happy with my drink...
(1)John H.
Bluefin has to step up the service and deliver consistently, but it's a good seafood place for NE area... Lunch is good and not too expensive. Unlike some of the other reviews, I'm good on the food - been 4-5 times and it's been on par each time. The service is where the challenge is..
(4)Michael T.
Oh Northeast Columbia, how desperately for great seafood dost thou yearn. But the road is bleak and no in sight. There are several restaurants in NE Columbia that offer a few great seafood options, but we are still lacking a great seafood restaurant. Bluefin is definitely not that solution. I've been to Bluefin twice, once about a year ago, and again yesterday. I went yesterday at the behest of a couple of others that claimed they had improved. They were mistaken. The reason for giving them two stars instead of one is pretty simple. They are a better option than a certain crimson crustacean, which really isn't saying much, but hey, it's something. This is the 3rd of 4th iteration of a restaurant in this location and the decor has carried through. The decor is actually very nice. Nice artwork, intricate woodworking, comfortable seating, etc. If only the food matched the quality of the FF&E. I am going to just hit on some quick points because most people have probably quit reading by now or have already made up their mind one way or another, so some bullet points: - Service is bad. On a Monday night, we had a nice server, but the place was empty, and several times we wouldn't see her for ten minutes at a time. - Salads are decent, nothing special - Shellfish showcase the lower quality of the product. Mussels were grainy and falling apart, obviously frozen or old product - Cod was mediocre. Just oven roasted with no seasoning, served with a dipping sauce. Nothing special to it, but edible.. but $20 for 8 oz of average cod with 2 veg...guess they're trying to still pay off the decor - Roasted corn and zucchini swimming in butter...why oh why do Southerners insist on destroying the health and subtlety of vegetables with a pound of butter - Other reviews mention good bread, we never got any If you want a bar, this might not be a bad option. If you're looking for fish and chips or some fried seafood on par with chain restaurants, this might be an option for you. If you're looking for good seafood, steer clear.
(2)William S.
Just lost my Bluefin virginity and it was well worth it. The service, atmosphere,and location were all right on point. And the meatloaf was out of this world...that's right - slammin' meatloaf at a seafood joint!
(5)Brock B.
The food is decent. The problem was that the manager is a complete asshole. His demeanor and attitude suck, as if we were blessed to come into his establishment and spend our money there. His wait staff literally seem afraid of him and he has this gestapo mentality. Will never go back . DON"T Go here! There are plenty of great seafood places in the area. This manager/owner is a real problem. Get a clue ass wipe!
(1)Ron V.
Good steaks. Cod and salmon are good. The last time we ate here we ordered an appetizer and the waitress came out with our entrees about 3 minutes after the appetizer. Could use some improvement there. I agree with the other review regarding adding too much balsamic to the bread dipping oil. You only need a few drops of the balsamic or you over do it.
(3)Westwood D.
Stopped in for a couple beers. There were a couple good beers on tap. I had a Sweetwater 420 and a Baltic Porter. The bartender was friendly. Nothing special but no complaints.
(3)Maggie L.
If you like greasy, soggy seafood and poorly cooked steaks, this is the restaurant for you! You will get your steak raw or burnt, none of the sides you request with come with your meal, and if you are 6 months pregnant the waitress will forget your order completely. The "free" bread is so-so, nothing spectacular though the servers will pour entirely too much vinegar in your oil mixture which is disgusting. The fried flounder was awful, it was as though they soaked the fish in grease. My husband had the sweet potato fries as a side and I had asparagus; the fries were cold and asparagus was way over-cooked. After you complain because A. None of the entrees coming out are correct for your party B. The Waitress has yet to refill any ones drink C. Your wife still hasn't gotten her food and everyone else at the table is finished; The Manager will come over and apologize. She will give you a crappy coupon. But she will still charge your entire party a 20% "Service Charge". Though the side salad was alright.
(1)Mike G.
I ate here last night and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I love scallops, but too often receive them overcooked. These were cooked to PERFECTION! The risotto wad delicious as was the bread. Some other reviews seemed less than enthusiastic so I will try again. Maybe some people are impossible to please.
(4)Matthew H.
Free bread OK but to much vinegar in dip. Fast service kept tea full but to much ice so she had to keep refilling often. I ordered the black Angus Burger. It was good but they didn't have the right bread since the bread maker didn't come in as expected. Fries are good and you can taste the sugar which was odd for me. Bathrooms are Clean and well stocked.
(3)Brittany and Tim L.
First time going in we wanted to grab a snack before going to the movies. we went in because it wasn't crowded and has a great atmosphere. walking inside the decor is elegant. there is a round bar in the middle with leather chairs and booths all over. we sat a a table near the bar and ordered the she crab soup. OMG the best i have ever had. Not fishy and so creamy, yummie!! We went to our movie and came back to explore the bar menu. Shrimp cocktail with real homemade cocktail sauce. be careful if you don't like spicy stay away from this. it has real horseradish and is very good. we ordered the crab cakes with a remoulade and i wish there were more on the plate. they were gone before i could blink. Our second time we drove here to eat dinner. (our drive to this place is 45 mins and we did it all for the food). I got the seared Ahi tuna with an orange chili soy sauce and asparagus. my hubby got the sirloin steak, crab cake, mashed sweet potatoes. we both got salad or soup with the meal. i got the she crab again and he got the Cesar salad. The tuna melted in your mouth and the steak was tender and juicy. we walked out paying $45. again we went the the movies and came back for drinks. This time we got dessert. The key lime pie was amazing and was better than sex!!! The tiramasu was heaven on earth and is made with marscapone cheese and baileys' again OMG!!! This is now our favorite place to eat in the whole world!!!!!!!! Say high to Darrel who works at the bar and Joe who is the GM. Thanks guys you rock UPDATED 01/11/2010 Well the past two times that we have been here it hasn't been the same. My tuna was overcooked and the food has been salty. The one waitress we got brought a raw burger to someone at my table who ordered it med-well. and then proceeded to tell them that that was med-well when there was blood dripping all over the plate. And began giving us an attitude hard core. Then we were charged an extra 4@ for the she crab soup as a side item which we were never charged before. We talked with the GM and told him about our waitress attitude and he took care of it. The chef does things his way and won't listen to the comments made by his customers. A few changes and this restaurant could have a 5 star. The Brie cheese plate and tiramsu was amazing as always
(4)Brian A.
The service is good, but the food needs some improvement. The wine pours are so slim. For a nice Cab wine at $9.00 a glass, the smallest pours I have ever seen at a place. I would come back, but the feedback from manager when i commented on the small pour was replied that is their standard pour. Ok, then I guess I wont be back!! Dont think this place is going to make it.
(2)Nick B.
The food was good, but in my opinion not to the caliber of Blue Marlin downtown. The atmosphere was simple nothing worth noting. The best part of this place is the bread they give you with vinegar mix. Not a bad place to try, definitely one of the better places in Sandhill to visit.
(3)Karina G.
There isn't too much competition for seafood in the NE area, so I'm glad that Bluefin is here, but they could do with a little work on their service. I agree with Maggie that, of the few times I've been there, the service was a little slow and the servers have not been personable. Of the meals I can recall, the portion of scallops was very tiny (4 of the tiniest little scallops I've ever seen in my life!) and the accompanying risotto was decent but a little too buttery. The salmon served on the green salad with apples and candied walnuts with a raspberry vinaigrette dressing was delicious (though if the chef is reading this, please add a gorgonzola cheese!). Brittany is right that seared ahi tuna is nicely done with a very well-accompanied dressing. My husband has ordered the latter twice now. The wine list is decent with a wide variety including some nice malbecs and bubblies, though the server couldn't recommend any particulars. The decor is quite elegant but there isn't much of an atmosphere inside, but with friendlier and more responsive servers, this restaurant could be quite enjoyable and I would go there more frequently. Earlier in the Fall it was quite fun to sit outside and people watch, but it's late December and far too cold now.
(3)