Sanibel's - High Point

Sanibel’s Seafood: Disappointing Experience After Three Years I hadn’t been to Sanibel’s Seafood in three years, but my husband and I were in the mood for seafood and decided to give them another shot. Unfortunately, our experience this time was disappointing, and I feel compelled to share the issues we encountered to help others make an informed decision. We placed our order right when they opened at 3:00 PM and were told it would be ready in 15 minutes. My husband arrived to pick up the food at 3:15 PM, but he was informed that the order was not ready yet. He didn’t receive our food until 3:30 PM, which made us expect it to be hot and fresh, especially considering they had just opened. However, as soon as we unpacked our meal at home, I noticed it was only lukewarm at best. Initially, I thought it might have been the condiments cooling things down, but after touching various parts of the meal, I realized everything was barely warm. For a $31.92 takeout order, cold food was the last thing we expected, especially right after they opened. When my husband called the restaurant to address this, we encountered customer service that only added to our frustration. The woman on the phone repeatedly referred to us as “honey,” which felt dismissive and unprofessional. She informed us that if we returned the uneaten food, they might “possibly” replace it—an offer that felt more like an inconvenience than an apology. In my experience with other takeout establishments, if there’s an issue, the manager usually assures you that they’ll make it right, even if it means taking your information for a future replacement. But at Sanibel’s, they refused to let me speak with a manager, and the response we got was, “I just work here.” Not only did they fail to make it right, but the dismissive attitude made it clear that customer satisfaction wasn’t a priority. In addition to the lack of customer service, the restaurant’s setup adds to the inconvenience. The parking lot is small and difficult to navigate, especially during busy hours. The inside pickup area is also very compact, and although they do try to get customers in and out quickly, it doesn’t leave much space or comfort while you wait. Despite the limited number of people there, the experience felt rushed, and we were left with an impression that efficiency mattered more than service. I understand the challenges of inflation and increased costs, but when you’re paying nearly $32 for a takeout order, you expect hot, fresh food and courteous customer service. It’s not always practical for everyone to immediately return to the restaurant, and many customers might not have a way to reheat their meal at home. That “just microwave it” approach is unacceptable when ordering food meant to be eaten hot and fresh. Sanibel’s missed the mark not only in the quality of our meal but in how they handled our concern, and their reluctance to stand behind their product is disappointing. I had hoped that Sanibel’s might still be the great restaurant I remembered, but this experience proved otherwise. I won’t be returning, and I’d caution anyone considering Sanibel’s to weigh these factors before spending hard-earned money here.