Marina Grog & Galley - Lake Lotawana

Chris R.

Joined 10 months ago

My 2nd time the Grog and Galley was much like my first. The 1st time 10 months ago, I was told that I couldn't eat appetizers and drinks in the dining room and the waiter was a rude pretentious jerk. Our server totally told us with an attitude that we could not order appetizers and dessert only from our table and that the bar was full so we had to order entrees! She even said it was their policy and she would have to go and ask the manager if we could stay at out table.

This time, yesterday (6/30), we bought a groupon and went to use it in the bar area after the negative experience from the time before. We had a $50 groupon and ordered a couple of appetizers and (2) drinks. My tab was $35. I handed them my groupon this time and was told I could not use it in the bar area. It was my 22nd anniversary, so I tried to speak to the owner about this obvious mistake, but he decides to talk to me in front of all patrons and tells me that there is no way he will honor it. He then goes on to say that he may consider honoring the Groupon for the $25 cash value as a favor! Really? I paid cash and left. Classless.

The Mushrooms are horrible, don't eat them! Scallops are good. Drinks were weak, but OK. The dining staff has been nothing but condescending, minus the bartender (young guy), who was the only decent person in the restaurant. For Appetizers, go to Rumors or Houlihans, because the food is very average here and if you want average, then you expect ambiance or great service, we got neither at G & G, and always get both at the aforementioned restaurants. I would never return to this place for free meals, let alone dine here again and pay for it! Worst experience on our anniversary! Thanks Grog and Galley for nothing!

Doesn't Recommend

Zach Z.

Joined 1 year ago

Take your business elsewhere!. They say, "When it comes to fine dining, the only thing we overlook is the water." But when the fact that owner tells members of the public that have never done anything at the restaurant but bring in a lot of business that they no longer want them to spend money in their establishment because it might make one of their infrequent customers and "friend" of the owner uncomfortable if they happen to be there and therefore are not welcome tells me that "friends" get preferential treatment and everyone else is just dirt for the owner to step on. Just remember that word of mouth is way more effective than any advertisement you can pay for and one bad review is worth way more than a good one! I agree that there are way better choices for the money in this part of town, the food isn't that great to begin with and the owner is a JERK!

Doesn't Recommend

Joanne Lee

Joined 3 years ago

Beware!!! It's a NO Talking - NO Laughing Zone!. This is the last place I would recommend taking a group (we had 9) for a variety of reasons. Our "Ladies Night Out" group drove here from Johnson County - For several years we have eaten at some of the nicest restaurants in the Kansas City Metro, Never have we been treated as we were here.

For starters, our table overlooked the parking lot. Forget those "amazing lake views" they advertise. Upon being seated, we looked over the Speciality Drink Menu, which we sampled and discussed while deciding on an entree. This was normal conversation with hardly a laugh. The restaurant noise, overall, was high enough that you could not hear from one end of our long table to the other. So, occasionally voices were probably raised somewhat to be heard, but nothing out of the ordinary for 9 women discussing the menu.

Apparently, Jack, the owner, thought we were being too loud and asked us to "keep it down". We then ordered and within minutes the salads arrived and before the waitress could serve them, Jack, again asks us to be quiet. We asked him if he would like us to leave. He said "that would be fine". We paid for our drinks, left the upset waitress a tip and left Jack with what would have been close to a $1,000.00 tab. The couple next to us said we were not bothering them at all.

Two of us had been there before - None of us will be back!

Having eaten all over the world and from coast to coast with groups much larger than 9, never have I ever been asked to "be quiet". Marina Grog and Galley has probably some of highest prices that I have experienced in the US or Abroad in the very best restaurants, for a meal that is mediocre at best and does not even guarantee a lake view,

There are so many wounderful restaurants in the area with amazing atmosphere, appreciative owners and staff, reasonable prices and absolutely delicious food.

My recommendation: Put this one at the bottom of your list! IT IS SOOOO NOT WORTH IT!!!!

Doesn't Recommend

beachy gul

Joined 2 years ago

Not great food or service. Went to celebrate a birthday, Service was slow. Steaks were mediocre, potato was cold, Waitress sat down at the bar to have her meal and we couldn't get her attention to help with a undercooked steak. We ordered a dessert and the waitresses comment was."Let me see if the cook is still here'" WHAT???? Then she came back to say she just caught him and we could get our dessert. WOW.And this was a $170.00 meal for 2. Won't go back !!

Doesn't Recommend

Bereft

Joined 4 years ago

Manhattan Prices, Sizzler Food. I bought a $40 Kansas CIty strip, justly expecting a great steak for the price. It was over cooked, tough, burnt on the outside, and completely devoid of flavor. The clam chowder, while reasonably endowed with potatoes and cream, was suspiciously light on clams. The lakeside setting is very pleasant if a little shy of the website's photos. The prices are shooking. The food is below average.

To be fair my wife had the Hawaiian snapper and loved it. But for me this restaurant didn't deliver.

Recommends

nurse64137

Joined 4 years ago

Simply OUTSTANDING in EVERY WAY!!!. I found this restaurant by pure good fortune. My scallops and crab mac & cheese were superb. My friend's Walleye was, too, and we joked how this place made McCormick & Schmick's look like Long John Silvers!! Our server was delightful as was the host/owner. The decor was lovely and suited the lakefront setting perfectly. I'll definitely be back--as often as possible!!

Doesn't Recommend

cb1408

Joined 6 years ago

Decline in this restaurant. I read the reviews posted on this site and feel in agreement with the 1st several reviews. The food is over priced, the service was average or less and the owner ( Jack) is indeed rude and not customer oriented. My husband and I have been going to this restaurant for special occasions almost since it opened and have enjoyed the steaks and services over the years. Then a couple of months ago I choose this site for my group of 6 ladies that meet once a month for a fun place to dine and get together. I was embarrassed that I choose this site for the group. We had reservations and had expected a nice table. Instead we were "stuck" upstairs in an area that barely got service and the food was well below par. No one in my group enjoyed their meal and grew weary of waiting for any kind of service. I wrote an email to the owner and posted on another food site about my disappointment. I simple was asking if they were having an off nite and felt they had declined from the past years. The owner responded to me with a sharp scolding for my comments and said that everyone else loved his restaurant and I was the 1st person to complain. He basically said he didn't believe me and didn't appreciate my posting of poor service. His tone was not businesslike at all. He whined on and on about how hard he and his wife work, etc. It was helpful to see the other postings detailing the same experience as mine. I clearly will not go back to this place. There are just too many other good choices that are more convenient. I think you need to be in the owner's "in crowd" to get good service there.

Doesn't Recommend

leadoff55

Joined 6 years ago

Poor Service, Below Average Food. My wife and I were really excited to be spending our anniversary on the dock enjoying the view of the water at Lake Lotawana. We had made our reservation two weeks in advanced and were assured that we would have a table overlooking the beautiful lake. Upon our visit we were seated inside the restaurant instead of outside on the dock. After several attempts of convincing our rude hostess that our reservation we settled for a seat inside.

After contemplating whether or not to leave at this point we opted to stay since it can be very difficult finding a restaurant on a Friday evening. To make a long story short, the food was terrible and overpriced. I would strongly recommed not visiting this restaurant. The restaurant is dark, and the demographic(s) of the typical customer is over sixty years old, white, and they probably reside within a close proximity of Eastern Jackson County. For the price of our meal, I will be sure to visit the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review by Christy Buena. Located on the shore of Lake Lotawana, the steakhouse serves meat and seafood entrees and offers waterfront views.

Doesn't Recommend

elk1900

Joined 7 years ago

Special Occasion ruined by this restaurant. Save your money. Food quality mediocre at best. Management did not act upon issues or offer any form of compensation for our complete dissatisfaction. We will not return.

Waiter and especially bus boy service was outstanding.