Randazzo's Clam Bar

05/10/09

skip this one

by remski at Citysearch

If -1 was on the rating scale i would give it -5.

Here is what we ordered.

Baked clams --> tasted like rubber bands

Crab cakes --> burnt and tasted like rubber bands

Shrimp scampi --> tasteless, just like eating cardboard.

Oysters --> those were actually good but only because nobody had a chance to mess it up.

All condiments like dressing, sour cream, oyster sauce, cole slaw were in PLASTIC CONTAINERS !!!

ahh.. they also serve plastic cups !!!

And the meals are $15-20 !!!

Service was good. But when we commented on the food the manager didnt even bother to talk to us.

i just have no words for this place...

but if you like re-heated food.. this place is for you..

no.. i eat re-heated food and i wouldnt come back there.

• Pros: couldnt fine any
• Cons: disgusting food

09/09/08

the best seafood. period.

by babysladkaya at Citysearch

We have been going to Randazzo for more than 10 years now and I am happy to report that there have been no issues with food and no rude waitresses and no water spilled on anyone. Rather, it was mostly my kdis spiling water all over which was promptly cleaned by the friendly waitresses. People who are going out on Father's Day and Mother's Day should know better that these two days are an absolute zoo and even the most impeccable restaurant is going to have incidents. We have not had a singular bad experience. And now, to my favorite part, the food. We usually order baked clams, calamari, lobster bisque soup and zuppa di mussels in the red sauce. All dished are fresh and delicious. We recently tried zuppa di mussels in the white sauce and my husband absolutely loved it. Before kids came along, we would eat at Randazzo every week and then we stopped going out for like two years and when we resumed, that first time I could not get enough. They are taking credit cards now, but back then, it was cash only and we almost ran out of cash because all of a sudden, I was craving more and more of the food. I don't know how anyone could not love this place and I was a "newcomer" there as well and treated nicely. I think it's all about the expectations. If you are thinking that this is Le Bernardin, fogget about it! This is Brooklyn and the place feels like your old grandma's kitchen where things are down to Earth but feel so familiar, you just feel that time had stopped. So, take a trip to Sh.Bay, walk the canal, shop for off price designer stuff at Loehmann's and discover this place.

• Pros: Fresh seafood, friendly service, down to earth atmosphere
• Cons: parking on sat night could be pretty tough.

06/15/08

Bad service - owner did not make amends

by dragonchien at Citysearch

The raw bar is ok, the food is ok. Our own waitress was actually wonderful - if you ever go, she's the only young female waitress that is pretty.

Went there for father's day and braved the rainstorm to make it across town to eat there. When they brought out raw oysters and clams, the water that was in them that they use to clean them spilled on my mother and her purse. My mother shrieked from the ice water and the server who brought them yelled at my mother to "relax - it's only water". She didn't even offer a napkin to wipe or even bother to apologize, she shook her head and walked away. I was appalled at that and on top of that the average price of a dish is $18.95!! We ordered over $145 worth of food (there were 6 of us) and not once did anyone come to give napkins or an apology. We had to ask for napkins to clean my mother up.

So after we received all our dishes we notified our waitress our displeasure and she profusely apologized on behalf of the lady who spilled the water on my mother. If you're on the look out - it's the older fat lady with the dark (dye-job) short boy cut hair. She offered to notify the owner who came over and just simply said "Sorry" - not sincerely and he didn't even offer a discount on the bill or at least free dessert. He just said "sorry" and walked away. Seriously, you should walk away from a dining experience with an overall satisfaction at paying what you pay given today's economy, but I can honestly I would never eat there again, the food was average and the disrespect to my mother was unacceptable.

I'm tired of NY restaurants that are willing to sacrifice service and offer moderate food. Competition is tough, gas prices are on the rise, offer us something to be satisfied about!

• Pros: parking in the rear
• Cons: bad service, owner non responsive, cash only