So, everyone kept yapping about Devon Seafood and Steak out in Kendall. “Oh, it’s so fancy,” “Oh, the seafood is to die for.” My wedding anniversary was rollin’ around, and I figured, okay, let’s give this place a shot. See if it lives up to the hype, you know? Making the reservation online was no big deal, that part was easy. That’s always a good start, I guess.
Then came the drive. Kendall traffic, what can I say? It is what it is. I found the place, and parking was the usual scavenger hunt. You circle around a few times, hope for the best. We finally snagged a spot that wasn’t a mile away, thank goodness.
First Impressions and Getting Seated
I walked in, and yeah, it looked the part. Dim lights, lots of dark wood, felt kinda… serious? Like you’re supposed to whisper. The hostess smiled, checked our reservation, and led us to a table. So far, so standard. The kind of place you take someone when you want to look like you’re making an effort, if you catch my drift. It felt a bit stuffy right off the bat, not really my usual scene, but hey, it was for the anniversary.
Our server popped up pretty quick. Nice enough fella, went through the specials with a whole spiel. We decided to get some drinks first, settled in a bit. I got an old fashioned, my wife got some white wine. Drinks were fine, nothing to write home about, but not bad either. You know, a drink is a drink mostly, unless they really mess it up, and they didn’t, so that was okay.
The Main Event: Food Time
We decided to get some appetizers. I remembered someone mentioning their Shrimp Scampi, so we went with that. It came out, looked decent enough on the plate. Taste? Well, it was shrimp. And garlic. Pretty straightforward. Not bad, but was it like, “wow, best scampi ever?” Nah. It was just… scampi. I’ve made better at home, if I’m being honest, and for a lot less money. But hey, we weren’t there for my home cooking, so I kept that thought to myself mostly.
For the main course, I was in a steak mood. They call themselves “Seafood and Steak,” right? So I went for their Ribeye. Medium rare, like always. My wife, she went for the Seared Scallops. She’s a big scallop fan, so she was pretty hopeful.
- My Ribeye: It came out looking pretty good, nice sear on it. First cut, looked like they hit the medium rare okay. But the flavor? It was… fine. Just fine. For the price they were asking, I expected a bit more. Like, a bit more oomph, you know? It wasn’t tough or anything, but it wasn’t melting in my mouth either. Just a steak. A pretty expensive one at that.
- Wife’s Scallops: She said her scallops were actually pretty good. Cooked nice and tender, not rubbery. So, score one for the seafood side of their name, I guess. At least one of us was pretty happy with the main dish.
We got a side of their Lobster Mac & Cheese to share. Because, why not? It’s always a gamble with those fancy mac and cheeses. This one was… cheesy. Had some lobster bits, not a ton, but they were there. Again, it was okay. Didn’t knock my socks off. I’ve had some that are just a creamy, dreamy mess of goodness. This was more like, “yep, that’s mac and cheese with some lobster in it, and it costs extra.”
Service and The Bill
As the night went on, the place got busier. And our server? He kinda disappeared into the void. Getting a water refill took some serious eye contact and a bit of hand-waving. It’s always a bit annoying when that happens. You’re paying good money, you expect someone to at least check in, right? Felt like we were on our own for a good chunk of the meal. Not the kind of attention I expect when the bill is heading north of a hundred bucks easily.
We skipped dessert. Honestly, by that point, I wasn’t really feeling like shelling out more cash for something that might also just be “fine.” The bill came, and yeah, it was up there. What you’d expect for a place like that in Kendall, I suppose. You’re paying for the white tablecloths and the dimly lit ambiance as much as the food. Maybe more for the ambiance.
Final Thoughts, Would I Go Back?
So, Devon Seafood and Steak. Was it terrible? No, not at all. Was it amazing? Eh, not really. It was… an experience. One of those places you go to for an occasion, tick the box, and then you probably don’t rush back unless someone else is paying or you really, really need to impress someone who’s into that sort of scene.
It’s funny, sometimes I think these places bank on their reputation and location. They know people will come. The food doesn’t have to be earth-shattering, just good enough. And “good enough” is what we got, for a premium price. Maybe I’m just getting old and cynical. Or maybe I just expect more when I’m spending that kind of money. There are other spots, you know? Places where the food really sings, and the service doesn’t make you feel like you’re playing hide and seek. Next anniversary, I think I’ll try one of those instead. Or just cook at home. Probably be better, and definitely cheaper. That’s my two cents on it, anyway. Take it or leave it.
