Ellington's Jazz Club - SANIBEL

One person in our group of five asked our waitress, Fran, twice about the specials but still couldn’t hear her due to the volume. Ultimately, he gave up trying to find out what the specials were. Another member of our party ordered a margarita and a Diet Coke, receiving only the $21 margarita, while the soda never arrived. Three of us ordered wine, and one wanted a glass of water. I ordered the lobster bisque and the ribeye special, which came with potatoes and creamed spinach ($45). My wife chose grouper with potatoes and kale ($28) and requested a cup of clam chowder. Our waitress suggested she not order the clam chowder, claiming it wasn't good, and when my wife insisted on it, Fran said she wasn't sure if they had it but would bring a cup if they did. Why not just be honest and say they were out? There was no need for the misleading answer. The others in our party ordered a salad ($12) and scallops ($45), lobster ravioli ($32), and mushroom tortellini ($24). Here are some comments on the food: The lobster bisque tasted thin and unremarkable—I've had better from the store. The ribeye, though cooked to the correct medium-rare, was tough and fatty. The creamed spinach resembled a cold paste with a bitter taste. The grouper was acceptable, but the best part was the potatoes. The person who ordered the salad found a rotten tomato in it, and the scallops were bland. The lobster ravioli was deemed good but not exceptional, while the mushroom tortellini lacked any mushroom flavor at all. Our waitress never returned to see if we wanted to order more wine, despite two of us wanting another glass. To top off the disappointing evening, an 18% tip was automatically added to our bill. We had been considering this location for a New Year’s Eve gathering for around 20 people, with a $250 per person package. After this experience, however, I can't justify spending over $500 on lackluster food, poor service, and loud entertainment. In conclusion, if you're seeking average food that is overpriced, along with poor service and loud entertainment, Ellington’s Jazz Club on Sanibel Island might be for you. But if you want a quality restaurant with great food, attentive service, a lovely view, and reasonable prices, I recommend trying The Green Flash.