Davy's Locker

I came here with a couple of friends on the recommendation of a co-worker who had lived in the area for a number of years. We had intended to go to the tiki bar but due to the poor weather we sat inside which was not a problem at all, until we walked inside the dining room. The first thing that struck us was the awful smell (it honestly smelt a bit like cat urine) which was unsettling but did not cause us to leave.

After a long wait the waiter finally came over and dropped the menus on the table and walked off without introducing himself or even asking if we had wanted any drinks. A bit longer after we were able to wave down our server and ask for some drinks. Upon his return I received a bottle of coors light which had clearly had rust form under the cap, and had clearly had rusty water dripping down the side of the bottle. The fact that rust was all over the bottle did not deter our server from giving me this bottle however, something that I cannot even begin to understand from a serving standpoint.

After we ate our mediocre at best food we left and were done with the ordeal, or so we thought. It turns out that the restaurant had charged my meal and one of my friends meals on my credit card, not a huge problem being that my friend paid me, but in terms of service, very very poor.

I will not be returning to Davy's Locker, and judging by many of the other reviews here I would not recommend this place to anyone looking for good seafood.

Downhill over the last several years. I grew up in the south end, and the quality deterioration is evident. Where it once was awesome for family functions and group dining, it now serves almost exclusively the elderly who are usually overheard from the next table over fondly remembering what it once was. The last several times I've gone in, it's deserted. With good reason, as each time I go in the portions are smaller and the taste is changed for the worse, as has the price. Its spectacular views and ideal placement on the peninsula right next to the stretch of beach has been its saving grace Summer after Summer. That and the fish tanks are excellent distractions for the little ones, which is why they're nearly always covered with ketchup fingerprints.

Maybe it was just a bad night...a real bad night.  We were looking for a place we had never been to before to try some Southcoast seafood.  We are from Taunton and a drive down to New Bedford is reasonable for a good meal.

We arrived at Davy's Locker just before 8:00 Friday night.  We had made a reservation to be on the safe side, but upon arrival we opted to wait for a seat on the upstairs outdoor patio.  The 8:00 indoor seat would have been ready, but it was an 88 degree night so dining with a sea breeze seemed only right.  This is where it all began to go afoul.  

We were directed to go talk to the young lady in the black and white dress who said it would be a half hour so we went to the bar and had a drink.  We waited a spell and the Mrs went to make sure we hadn't been forgotten.  She was assured we were on the list.  Some more time passed then I went and asked.  I was told the table was being cleared and we could go upstairs.  It was now dark, and the upstairs does not have any lighting.  The lighting comes from a spotlight in the parking lot, so bring your night vision goggles or your flashlight app.

The upstairs has a bar setup, but no bar.  Crikey!  It's July 4 weekend and there is an empty bar on an outdoor deck overlooking the bay.  What are you people thinking.  There is, however, some staff member standing at the bar eating and drinking a soda and not much more.  She was certainly not helpful except to put down the umbrellas.

We were seated and we perused the very large menu.  We ordered another drink, which on the outside deck comes in plastic - not a problem for me.  It took a bit o'time for the drink to arrive.  OK, it's a holiday weekend, it could happen.

There are plenty of items to choose from so the problem was drilling down to one rather than not being able to find something to eat.  Our server seem harried.  I cannot remember if she even told us her name.  I think she was trying to train a new staff, and Friday night July 5 at a waterfront restaurant is not when you want to be saddled with newbies.  It was now after 9:00, and the kitchen was to be closing at 9:30.  I started with a bowl of chowder and for entrees we ordered Baked Stuffed Seafood and Chef Johnny's Mozambique.

The chowder arrived in a reasonable amount of time and it was pretty good.  It was thick enough to eat with a fork.  Hearty chowder beats briny chowder for me, hands down.  

Then we waited.  There were three fireworks displays across the bay.  And we waited.  We talked and watched some other groups come up stairs and look around and we waited.  We were finally told the kitchen was backed up.  Our server never asked us if we wanted another drink.  

There seemed to be a lot of milling about from servers.  I imagine the awkwardness of a.) not knowing what to do because there is no food to serve, and b.) not wanting to tell irritated patrons it is still going to be a while as it heads toward 10:00 leads to nervous milling.

Short story long...

Baked Stuffed Seafood - taste was good.  It's described as scallops, fish and shrimp topped with crabmeat stuffing.  I saw a shrimp and two scallops, but it was dark.  Did I mention there was no lighting on the deck.  Portion was pretty good size though, but the fish was the basis for the dish.  Baked potato and mixed vegetables were cooked adequately.

Chef Johnny's Mozambique - perhaps from the specials menu as it is not listed on the regular menu.  Pasta overcooked.  Shrimp still had tails which is not a problem, except they were impossible to see because all daylight had long escaped at this time.

We both left full and there is still some Mozambique to eat.  

Not bad meals, but not a real good value.  Both entrees were priced in the mid-teens and the drinks were not inexpensive, though not outrageously priced either.  Party of two, tip and tax included about $88.

I mentioned we were never asked if we wanted another cocktail.  We asked for a glass of water.  They offered two bottles of Poland Springs water because they ran out of ice.  Yes, I said it.  Ran out of ice on July 5 because the ice machine broke on what had been a 95 degree day.

Maybe it was just a bad night...a really bad night.  But as bad as it was, it was worse for the people that sat next to us, but that is their story to tell.