After waiting 15 minutes to pay I proceeded to the front desk to try to pay my bill there. Owners wife over charged my card. Huge headache which was not worth the average food. Horrible customer service and the owners refused to rectify the situation. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)
Paul E.
This is one of our favorites! We go here Everytime we vistit!
(4)
Wendy R.
I will say that yes, the inside does need a modern facelift. It's not run down looking, just old-fasioned. And who cares if its mostly elderly people going there? That means it's nice and quiet! The best time to go is sunset/ dusk. The view is unbeatable. Has never been super busy when I've gone, so I always get a good table. The servers have always been nice and polite. Not necessarily the poshest attitude, but I've never had anything negative to say about them. Food is pretty good (unless you get the steak. Don't get the steak). The lamb is good, the escargot is good (and fun to make your friends eat!). Overall, I like coming here because the view is fantastic (go at sunset), and the food is pretty good.
(4)
Jack K.
I believe the demographics for this restaurant is 75 and up! Cons: Old Dude singing tunes with a keyboard, Sea Gull poo splattered on the windows, antiquated decor, has a piccadilly feel, menu lacks an identity - escargot? russian dumplings? Portuguese sausage? really? Pricey! Pro: the view of the ocean only when the sun is up unless you like a complete dark void. This restaurant needs a complete overhaul or a franchise who knows how to run a business. The sign on the building has missing letters. It reads as I recall "RESTA". Fix the sign people. Get rid of the old man and the keyboard. For god's sake, he's singing too loud (probably for the hearing impaired, go figure). Somebody call Chef Ramsey!
(1)
Ulysses M.
Fancy food. The menu is quite limited and definitely on the pricey side; but what really sets this place apart from the nearby restaurants is the view. You can see the ocean along with most, if not all, of Daytona. We ended up visiting on a rainy and muggy evening, full of thunder and lightning. The lightning show was pretty spectacular. Now on to the food. The server recommended the Chilean Sea Bass, which he mentioned was fresh and never frozen. I would say that he was telling the truth. The fish was very delicious. Oh and escargot! If you've never had it before, try it out! I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to give it a shot. The garlic and butter definitely made my fears go away. Yum!
(4)
Paul P.
We have eaten dinner here the past 4 years while staying at the Wyndham Hotel. It's been a family favorite each year. Yes it's old and yes it has an older clientele but really ??? It's a truly fantastic experience all the way around !!!!!
(5)
Gene F.
This is our second time my wife and I have eaten here, and besides the amazing view of the intercostal and the ocean, the food never ceases to amaze. Our server was very attentive and courteous. And, the ambiance is nostalgic. We'll be back with family next time.
(4)
Christie B.
Had a good meal at Top of Daytona. In it's heyday I'm sure this place was amazing. It hasn't kept up nearly as well as it's counterparts in other major cities, such as "top of the mark"in San Francisco. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR COUPONS AND SPECIALS We had a great special, $60 bottle of wine, one app, two entrees, one dessert for $95. We chose the lobster and NY Strip, so full price on this meal would have been about $150. The wine list is pretty short. A lot of Kendall Jackson. Oysters Rockefeller to start we're just ok. The New York strip was weird. It was cooked perfectly medium throughout but one end was tough and chewy. Frozen previously perhaps? Lobster tail was delicious and quite large. Bananas Foster for dessert was prepared table side and pretty good. Waiter said one of the chefs was in the hospital, so the kitchen was moving a little slow. From start to finish our meal was 2 hours, seems pretty reasonable to me!
(3)
Jane P.
Dinner was...okay. Terrifically overpriced. Decor is strictly 70's. We won't be going back.
(2)
Yanelly F.
This restaurant caters to an older demographic from the decor to the food ..however the food was pretty good the service was awesome so far the best in Daytona. It was a lil expensive but I was still happy with our very romantic dinner
(4)
Lila W.
We finally decided to try the Top of Daytona and are so glad we did. We really enjoyed the entire evening. Of course, the views were spectacular and we saw a gorgeous sunset. Our server, Nick, helped us select an outstanding bottle of wine. I had the Chilean sea bass and my brother had the beef stroganoff in a bread bowl, and shared a seared ahi tuna appetizer. We splurged on a chocolate cake ala mode for dessert and took a piece of key lime pie home for the next day. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive but not intrusive; Nick refilled our wine glasses when needed and kept our bread basket full; he was very pleasant with a good sense of humor. The singer was a nice touch; she sang a variety of songs and stopped by the table during her break with a request song list. It was fun to hear her sing some songs that we had chosen! The entree prices ranged from about $18 to $35, with early bird specials lower, so the prices are not really any higher than similar upscale local restaurants. We do plan to visit again!
(4)
Brian S.
Great views! The food was reasonably priced but nothing to rave about. Clearly the decor is outdated and not much attention has been provided to updating. We visited on a Friday night expecting entertainment...there wasn't any. The waitstaff were prompt and just okay. Probably wouldn't go again.
(3)
Rachel P.
Pretty great restaurant with nice views. The food was a little overpriced, but tasted great. They also have early bird specials 4-6pm if you don't want to pay full price for dinner. I got the Linguini Vangole but substituted the pasta for penne and it was amazing. My two year old also approved. Nice environment, I would definitely come back again.
(4)
roaches F.
Before we start, please bow your head and repeat after me: Thank God for snowbirds. Wanna waste 2+ hours sitting in a rundown 1970's-style restaurant bar masquerading as a high-end 'fine-dining' steak-and-seafood establishment lounge drinking over-priced drinks while being forced to listen to a $100/night former Elk's Lodge karaoke winner squawking away on a "Mr. Microphone"-quality sound system as you wait and wait and wait and wait for your table, after you had arrived 15 minutes early and checked in with the hostess, who claims to be the owner's wife, and who confirms that 'yes, we have your reservation right here, and we will be seating you shortly' - the same reservation for 2 that was supposed to have been for 95 minutes ago, and is still not ready? But wait: there's that magnificent view. Looking out over a dark, featureless ocean from 29 floors up, after the sun goes down and seeing nothing is the reason this place is still open? Kinda like looking down from 36,000 feet on your flight to Europe: really cool, for about the first 30 minutes. Then you realize that nothing changes, you're still stuck in an uncomfortable seat, next to people you really wouldn't choose to sit by on land, while your ears are accosted by noises you cannot turn off, as you continue to wait for something, anything to happen, other than being stuck sitting and staring at that same featureless expanse of water that was pretty cool for the first 30 minutes - almost 2 hours ago. As an aside, the real beauty of Florida is actually going to the beach; walking the dunes; sitting alongside or boating on the Intercoastal waterway; driving through or riding bikes in the neighborhoods; watching the birds and the wildlife; visiting the myriad springs - so many things other than just sitting behind glass in a climate-controlled tube in the sky and staring at the black, featureless nothingness that is the Atlantic Ocean after the sun goes down. But that's just me. Then you notice the guy sitting next to you is being served dinner at the bar, and you perk up because your stomach started growling as the aroma of his scorched vegetables and over-cooked baked potato triggers your olfactory senses. His steak looks like the Waffle House special cut: thin, tiny, fatty, listless, with checkerboard grill-marks mimicking Mickey D's McRib Sandwich that has a machine-formed 'rib-cutlet-patty' thing of undetermined origin with lines painted on it in an attempt to make folks believe it was prepared within a mile of an actual grill. The massive effort he's been putting into each bite as he saws and saws away at his steak with his steak knife makes us realize that perhaps this 'fine-dining' establishment may exist solely to cater to the scores of remarkably ill-informed snowbirds who each year flock to Daytona Beach, that are apparently willing to eat anything put in front of them as long as they can stare at that dark, featureless expanse of nothingness that the Atlantic Ocean becomes each night after the sun goes down. This place, this moment, right now: this must be one of those delightful memories of the Sunshine State that our fair tourists take back home with them after their week in paradise that somehow makes their having to live up north all their lives in places like Detroit or Cleveland or Milwaukee or Toledo or wherever they go back to so worthwhile. Actually, I think we passed a Waffle House on our way here. Let's forgo this magnificent view of black, featureless nothingness, and go get us one of those $7.99 steak-and-egg specials, before we drop another $40 on another round of drinks as we sit and suffer through another off-key rendition of "Rocky-Top" while we continue to get ignored by the owner's wife for another hour. The owner and his wife must say the exact same prayer every night: Thank God for snowbirds.
(1)
Cristina D.
The view was amazing! But, I will agree with the other reviews in that the decor should be updated! It feels almost old country club-y. We went for happy hour on Tuesday. There is no music, so the sign should be changed on that. We had the raspberry glazed salmon and the steak burger. The steak burger was pretty good, and so was the salmon! Only complaint we made was that the raspberry glaze was a little too salty. Maybe order it on the side? I would suggest going to for happy hour though, because I didn't think the food was that good to be priced that high. Our server though, was great! She was knowledgeable about the menu, and she could answer all the questions we had!
(3)
Curt C.
Food was average and the service had a lot to be desired. For the amounts charged one would expect excellent service and attention to detail. Our wine glasses where empty for at least 15 minutes. The waiter was a magician and would disappear for long periods of time. We asked for the manager and the girl at the front desk acted as if she didn't know what one was, then went to the back and sent out our very inexperienced server to pretend to be the manager. Would only recommend for the view and bar.
(3)
Ralph C.
The view is great. That's it. Everything else drastically needs improvement. The old dirty dusty decor, the tired menu, wallpaper, dirty bad motel carpet, outdated glass block dividers (really?), it all needs an enema. There is barely anyone working there over the age of 30, which means pretty much kids are running the place, and when that happens, you get what you get. If there was an older manager there, he didnt show himself. The kitchen served us a filet ordered medium, and served it seared but raw on the inside. I'm not mincing words over shades of pink, i mean RAW on the inside. (Incidentally, the string beans were also browned, but raw..... Cook everything on "high" much?). When brought to the waitstaff attention, they offered to discount the bill slightly, then came back and said the manager said you ate most of it so we wont take it off the bill. i never asked for that. she offered, then acted as if i was trying to get over. Classic move of a rookie inexperienced kid manager. Bottom line, cooking a filet to order is "restaurant school 101" ,if you cant do it, you dont belong in the kitchen. I dont understand all the 4 and 5 star reviews honestly. other than the view, this place needs to be bought out, re done and blow the roof off. its a total dog now.. I eat out everywhere, pay huge money, and im realistic. even the elevator was dirty. I'm disappointed that the people of Daytona accept so little, or maybe they just don't know. Go there, order coffee, look out the window, thats it. save 200 dollars. Without the view, this place is out of business in 3 months guaranteed.
(2)
Barbara S.
View = 5 stars Food = 3 stars They have a 360 degree dining area on the 30 something floor with beautiful views over the ocean and river. It's a great place to see the sunset. Our waiter, Gene, was very personable. As far as the fake plants go that some of the other yelpers complained about: fake plants usually bother me, but not here. The view is so wonderful that who is looking at the plants which are mostly up by the ceiling?! I particularly liked their rice and the veggies were good as well. The Caesar salad was meh. The food in general was adequate but not memorable. Still, we will return. They have live music on Saturday nights and I think the other night is Tuesday. The view and overall experience is a solid 4.
(4)
Bobbi R.
Great place for celebration or just casual dinner. View is amazing, excellent service, vegetables cooked perfect, sea bass was pricey but excellent! Early Bird specials are a bonus...Celebrated Mom's 83rd birthday. .they fussed over her. Great time
(4)
Steve C.
Great atmosphere and great meal!! Read some bad reviews and was very skeptical to try... But we were glad we came!! If you get the chance get to the Top of Daytona!! Gabriel, our waiter, was super!!
(5)
David F.
I am confident that there are numerous people that would find this location a great find - but if you are looking for great food, your search doesn't end here.
(2)
Melissa M.
Really an amazing view. NOT rotating but every table seems to have a view. Best food we had in Daytona. I had the scallops. Really, really tasty. Great service! I would definitely go again.
(5)
Andrew S.
Oh Top of Daytona, how you try. I'll be blunt. I'm a northern snob, I like fancy restaurants and I know there's not much that Daytona had to offer. But come on. My first sight of the place was a weird, empty parking garage with no cars, and shitty plastic signs advertising the restaurant. Business management classes often talk about making a good first impression, and this probably wasn't the best. If the place was under construction that's one thing, but the garage has been like this for 3 years. Probably time to spruce the place up. Anyway, the restaurant was strangely empty for a Sunday night, and yet our waiter was yet to be found. If it was packed, I would have understood not seeing our waiter as much, but we were pretty much the only party sitting down for dinner, giving off the vibe of a North Korean banquet hall. As for the menu, holy shit read the fine print. Some highlights include sharing fees, and surcharges on the 3rd basket of bread, which by the way, good luck getting because you have to ask, and even then you won't even get the full amount of bread. For 7 people we had 5 teeny tiny rolls. Also, everything is pretty expensive for food that's one bar above mediocre. Nothing tasted bad per se, but prices are pretty ridiculous. I had the duck for my entree, no appetizer because by the time our waiter took our order I was so damn hungry I just wanted my main course and to get the hell out. The first half (the thigh) was pretty tender, with a cherry sauce that helped the flavor, and some steamed vegetables. The second half (leg) was dry as hell. Another notable thing was that my friend's medium rare steak was dry and chewy to the point where he started insulting it out of sheer frustration. ON THE PLUS SIDE, the scallops were very tasty. If for whatever reason you come here, get those. Seriously. Didn't have time for desert. By the time our waiter came back we were ready to get the hell out. However, they really do try. It's just a matter of low training. He was good at always refilling drinks without asking and he was never rude to us, but we just weren't his first priority. As for the atmosphere, what the hell? The one nice restaurant around and the guy at the bar had a fucking ripped up hooters t shirt on, and he was insulting a young bartender for not knowing how to make is drink. Not necessarily your fault T.o.D, but this is what you've created. Mediocre food for mediocre people. The view is nice though.
(2)
Ric K.
Well, it's been exactly one year to date on visiting Top of Daytona. The view is what is getting the great one star rating. Absolutely the best view of Daytona. On to the food....Five out of the seven people in the party had $33 sirloin steaks that were not prepared as ordered along with a lot of fat and gristle. The steaks were of the poorest quality I've experienced in a long time. One order of filet mignon ($43) was served cold.If I were the chef at this restaurant, I would be ashamed of the poor quality of the food that is being served at such a high price. On to the service. Service was very slow ,considering it was 3:00 in the afternoon with few people dining. I am not going to even give one star for service. Don't waste your money on the poor quality of food and service .
(1)
MN M.
Great view, but very outdated, old, dusty decor. Food is pricey but good - we had wonderful escargot, scallops, and ended with a yummy flambe. For five of us to dine (with wine) it was well over $200. The restaurant has a lot of possibility, and a wonderful romantic feel.
(4)
K M.
This place is a real throwback which, if you enjoy nostalgia, is great! I have been a few times now for happy hour and will eventually eat dinner there. For now, it's a wonderful place for the adult set to enjoy the view, funky entertainment, and wonderful bartender.
(4)
Keelan P.
AMAZING. The view, that is. And the Early Bird prices. Actually, ALL the prices were pretty good. Snapper with onion and corn relish was great. Early bird specials good. Stuffed flounder good here too. But the interior really needs some work. Very dated. I doubt it has had an update since the late 80s. Still, for Daytona, this place is pretty nice.
(3)
Stephen N.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is for the absolutely gorgeous view 29 floors up of the ocean, made the trip somewhat worth it, but that's where the thrill ends. Upon entering the building through a lobby that smelled of mold and construction, we were escorted up an escalator to the restaurant and lounge. We only came for happy hour drinks, so I cannot speak too much about the food, but the cheap decor (complete with grocery cart in the corner) that looks as though it has not changed since the 1980s, and the absolutely horrendous service at the bar, despite being the only two people in the place made for an awful experience, also the lack of cleanliness of the bar and rest of the restaurant alone made me not want to eat anything out of that kitchen. On top of all of this, there was no music playing, nothing on tv, and the bartender all but outright refused to talk to us other than to get our drink orders, made the place kind of boring as well. Maybe if they update the decor and the staff I'll be back, but I doubt it.
(2)
Rachel M.
This place is amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is great. The food is amazing. I highly recommend the chicken fettuccine Alfredo! This was literally the best Alfredo I've ever had. It was about 15$ for the entree but was well worth it since you could probably make it 3 meals. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Mark F.
I have been there twice for dinner, each time on a Saturday. The food has been consistently well-prepared and delicious, the service courteous and prompt, and the view is spectacular. Yet I don't like it very much. The reason is the "live music" they promote as a draw. It is ridiculous. This is a fancy place with white table cloths and formally dressed waiters and entrees from $19 (pasta) up to $50 or so--and the "live music" is a guy with a highly amplified synthesizer and a very loud mic pounding out honky tonk junk with a pounding bass. It is absurd to hear this karaoke style thumpity thump and Kenny Rogers, etc., in what is supposed to be a classy place. It is grotesquely inconsistent with what the place is trying to be. It is the kind of music that would fit in at a bowling alley bar or an open air burger joint on the beach. That kind of place. I have to wonder what the management is thinking.
(2)
Ryan L.
I signed up for yelp just to make this review. Yes, the view is spectacular. But for real, save your money. I've had better service at a diner while here in Daytona than at this place. We had a party of 6. One of our members did not receive a salad they had ordered. Ever since, our waitress was sassy during our whole experience. Another member of ours asked nicely for a refill of water to another waiter because ours was nowhere to be found. Seemed we were inconveniencing him. While waiting for our main dish, another member of our table had asked for another glass of wine. It took over a half hour to receive that glass of wine because she had forgot. Our friends decided to make a bet to see how screwed up our main dish would be when it showed up, not knowing this dish would take over two hours to receive. When the food finally came, of course an order of shrimp was missing. We had to ask her twice for it. We had also felt the need to conserve our water because no one came around to refill. This place was a waste of our time and money. The worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant.
(1)
John N.
My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day and I must say, this place has an amazing view of Daytona. I was also really surprised by the amount of gay tolerance at this restaurant. Everyone was incredibly nice here and the food was delicious. This place is a bit pricy but manageable, and it's a good place for dates rather than family dining. I would recommend this place for those looking for a nice restaurant in Daytona to take that special someone out for dinner.
(5)
Joe A.
We have been twice in the last month and plan to go again soon. Both times both food and service were excellent. A little pricey but the quality of the food was worth it. Old elevator is a little tacky but once you reach the "Top" the restaurant itself has been remodeled recently and the views are great.
(4)
C P.
The restaurant's name is Top of Daytona, the view was really amazing! however, the food was really BOTTOM OF DAYTONA! It was the worst experience, after i finished my filet Mignon, I had to run into the lady's room. Folks, next time if you plan to visit this restaurant, make sure you bring an adult diaper.
(1)
Steven S.
CP's review is so right ...the Top of Daytona is at the bottom of the food chain.
(1)
Dan R.
Feb 2013, went up for a drink had, a good time with the folks and had two good bartenders, Carlos and Adam. Our friends and I decided to stay for dinner. First off I like escargot and I don't see it offered at many restaurants so I had this for an appetizer and it was yummy. We all had entrees and the dinners were very good with nice service. Not to slow and not to fast. The restaurant could use some updating but it was fun and the food was good. A little hard to find since you have to walk in through the garage after you park in front of the building. But it's worth the effort. Try it, I was nicely surprised after reading some of the other reviews, sounds like two different restaurants. Dan
(4)
Benjamin U.
We came here for a nice classy place to have a couple drinks and soak in the view of Daytona! It was very nice! A few of the reviews said this place is outdated and one said the fake plants ruined the entire visit. Well, I will have to disagree. The decorations a fit the place very nicely! It looks great for the type of place it is. My girlfriend and I spent a few minutes wondering if it had been updated since the last review, and it hasn't according to our nice bar tender (might I add, he is generous with the alcohol, so sip conservatively). Also, the fake plants look just fine, and if you're looking that closely at the details, then you're missing the entire experience of the place. I went with my girlfriend, and my attention was paid to her while the atmosphere filled in the rest, making us both completely satisfied with our classy evening at the Top of Daytona!
(5)
Donna H.
This place is amazing! So unique, like no place else around! The views mostly, but the food , the entertainment, the service were all great. Had a really enjoyable evening with a girlfriend. I got the beef stroganoff, delicious!! The Russian dumplings were sooo good. Her shrimp dish from the early bird menu was good, nothing amazing just good. They had a violinist and a singer as it was a Saturday night. This just added to the ambiance which was so cool. I really love this place and will be back!
(5)
Emily A.
Positives: The view is absolutely amazing. Negatives: It really needs an update! The restaurant is covered in fake plants, bad wallpaper and border halfway up the wall, and that see-thru glass type of partition walls. Okay, let's get to this view. This restaurant is on the 29th floor and it absolutely unbelievable! I really recommend making a trip up there to see this view. We went just for drinks, and I'm so glad we did. The food was incredibly overpriced and the menu looked so dated. The view from the bar is just as great as from the dining area, so go for happy hour (4pm-6pm, 7 days a week, excluding holidays) where draft beers are only $3 and house wine $4. Don't expect friendly service at the bar - the bartender acts as though he's worked there (unhappily) for 20 years and never smiled once. He also loses many points for being rude to the sweet servers getting drinks for their tables from him. As funny as the lounge singer seemed, his music was fun & actually added something... it would have been deadly quiet in there without the tunes. His song list was extensive & he was fun to talk to.
(2)
Susan S.
ALL the food wonderful! There were 5 of us... we all enjoyed it very much! Escargot, Lobster Tower, seared swordfish and more- all excellently presented. They really need to get the proper glasses for drinks, mudslide and margarita were served in wine glasses. Server was a little slow but VERY professional!
(4)
Sherri D.
I came here with my mother, two sisters, and best friend on our last night of my sister's bachelorette party vacation in Daytona over Memorial Day weekend. We had been to a lot more of the affordable fried seafood, beachfront places that play live music (like Crabby Joe's, Inlet Harbor, Caribbean Jack's, etc.), and we decided for our last night we wanted it to be a little fancier, have some wine, and be more relaxed. Although we were hesitant because of some of the reviews, we still decided to do Top of Daytona since we could walk along the beach from our condo. I actually don't know what everyone was complaining about at all. I thought the food was excellent. We had the seafood linguini and the sea bass, both delicious, and all of us are pretty experienced with food growing up in Chicago. I also did not think the bill was outrageous since this was a middle/higher-end french restaurant with fresh seafood. I guess if I had to criticize, the decor is a bit outdated, but that doesn't detour me at all. It's Daytona Beach, not NYC, and I actually thought it was really pretty inside. The view was spectacular, and since it's a circular restaurant, you get a view from every angle. The part that made the experience great was the service. Our waiter was INCREDIBLY helpful. He offered to take pictures of us before we even asked. Made suggestions on food when we were in between choices. And he even switched out red potatoes for peruvian potatoes just because my mom wanted to try them so badly. Overall, I had an excellent time at Top of Daytona, and it was the perfect way to end our week vacation
(4)
Tee L.
The food was excellent! The service was equally as excellent. The view was superb. I really couldn't have asked for a better experience. There was live music also. My companions and I went on a Tuesday night. My compliments to the chef.
(4)
K M.
This place is a real throwback which, if you enjoy nostalgia, is great! I have been a few times now for happy hour and will eventually eat dinner there. For now, it's a wonderful place for the adult set to enjoy the view, funky entertainment, and wonderful bartender.
(4)
Keelan P.
AMAZING. The view, that is. And the Early Bird prices. Actually, ALL the prices were pretty good. Snapper with onion and corn relish was great. Early bird specials good. Stuffed flounder good here too. But the interior really needs some work. Very dated. I doubt it has had an update since the late 80s. Still, for Daytona, this place is pretty nice.
(3)
Andrew S.
Oh Top of Daytona, how you try. I'll be blunt. I'm a northern snob, I like fancy restaurants and I know there's not much that Daytona had to offer. But come on. My first sight of the place was a weird, empty parking garage with no cars, and shitty plastic signs advertising the restaurant. Business management classes often talk about making a good first impression, and this probably wasn't the best. If the place was under construction that's one thing, but the garage has been like this for 3 years. Probably time to spruce the place up. Anyway, the restaurant was strangely empty for a Sunday night, and yet our waiter was yet to be found. If it was packed, I would have understood not seeing our waiter as much, but we were pretty much the only party sitting down for dinner, giving off the vibe of a North Korean banquet hall. As for the menu, holy shit read the fine print. Some highlights include sharing fees, and surcharges on the 3rd basket of bread, which by the way, good luck getting because you have to ask, and even then you won't even get the full amount of bread. For 7 people we had 5 teeny tiny rolls. Also, everything is pretty expensive for food that's one bar above mediocre. Nothing tasted bad per se, but prices are pretty ridiculous. I had the duck for my entree, no appetizer because by the time our waiter took our order I was so damn hungry I just wanted my main course and to get the hell out. The first half (the thigh) was pretty tender, with a cherry sauce that helped the flavor, and some steamed vegetables. The second half (leg) was dry as hell. Another notable thing was that my friend's medium rare steak was dry and chewy to the point where he started insulting it out of sheer frustration. ON THE PLUS SIDE, the scallops were very tasty. If for whatever reason you come here, get those. Seriously. Didn't have time for desert. By the time our waiter came back we were ready to get the hell out. However, they really do try. It's just a matter of low training. He was good at always refilling drinks without asking and he was never rude to us, but we just weren't his first priority. As for the atmosphere, what the hell? The one nice restaurant around and the guy at the bar had a fucking ripped up hooters t shirt on, and he was insulting a young bartender for not knowing how to make is drink. Not necessarily your fault T.o.D, but this is what you've created. Mediocre food for mediocre people. The view is nice though.
(2)
Ric K.
Well, it's been exactly one year to date on visiting Top of Daytona. The view is what is getting the great one star rating. Absolutely the best view of Daytona. On to the food....Five out of the seven people in the party had $33 sirloin steaks that were not prepared as ordered along with a lot of fat and gristle. The steaks were of the poorest quality I've experienced in a long time. One order of filet mignon ($43) was served cold.If I were the chef at this restaurant, I would be ashamed of the poor quality of the food that is being served at such a high price. On to the service. Service was very slow ,considering it was 3:00 in the afternoon with few people dining. I am not going to even give one star for service. Don't waste your money on the poor quality of food and service .
(1)
MN M.
Great view, but very outdated, old, dusty decor. Food is pricey but good - we had wonderful escargot, scallops, and ended with a yummy flambe. For five of us to dine (with wine) it was well over $200. The restaurant has a lot of possibility, and a wonderful romantic feel.
(4)
Stephen N.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is for the absolutely gorgeous view 29 floors up of the ocean, made the trip somewhat worth it, but that's where the thrill ends. Upon entering the building through a lobby that smelled of mold and construction, we were escorted up an escalator to the restaurant and lounge. We only came for happy hour drinks, so I cannot speak too much about the food, but the cheap decor (complete with grocery cart in the corner) that looks as though it has not changed since the 1980s, and the absolutely horrendous service at the bar, despite being the only two people in the place made for an awful experience, also the lack of cleanliness of the bar and rest of the restaurant alone made me not want to eat anything out of that kitchen. On top of all of this, there was no music playing, nothing on tv, and the bartender all but outright refused to talk to us other than to get our drink orders, made the place kind of boring as well. Maybe if they update the decor and the staff I'll be back, but I doubt it.
(2)
Rachel M.
This place is amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is great. The food is amazing. I highly recommend the chicken fettuccine Alfredo! This was literally the best Alfredo I've ever had. It was about 15$ for the entree but was well worth it since you could probably make it 3 meals. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
Mark F.
I have been there twice for dinner, each time on a Saturday. The food has been consistently well-prepared and delicious, the service courteous and prompt, and the view is spectacular. Yet I don't like it very much. The reason is the "live music" they promote as a draw. It is ridiculous. This is a fancy place with white table cloths and formally dressed waiters and entrees from $19 (pasta) up to $50 or so--and the "live music" is a guy with a highly amplified synthesizer and a very loud mic pounding out honky tonk junk with a pounding bass. It is absurd to hear this karaoke style thumpity thump and Kenny Rogers, etc., in what is supposed to be a classy place. It is grotesquely inconsistent with what the place is trying to be. It is the kind of music that would fit in at a bowling alley bar or an open air burger joint on the beach. That kind of place. I have to wonder what the management is thinking.
(2)
Ryan L.
I signed up for yelp just to make this review. Yes, the view is spectacular. But for real, save your money. I've had better service at a diner while here in Daytona than at this place. We had a party of 6. One of our members did not receive a salad they had ordered. Ever since, our waitress was sassy during our whole experience. Another member of ours asked nicely for a refill of water to another waiter because ours was nowhere to be found. Seemed we were inconveniencing him. While waiting for our main dish, another member of our table had asked for another glass of wine. It took over a half hour to receive that glass of wine because she had forgot. Our friends decided to make a bet to see how screwed up our main dish would be when it showed up, not knowing this dish would take over two hours to receive. When the food finally came, of course an order of shrimp was missing. We had to ask her twice for it. We had also felt the need to conserve our water because no one came around to refill. This place was a waste of our time and money. The worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant.
(1)
John N.
My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day and I must say, this place has an amazing view of Daytona. I was also really surprised by the amount of gay tolerance at this restaurant. Everyone was incredibly nice here and the food was delicious. This place is a bit pricy but manageable, and it's a good place for dates rather than family dining. I would recommend this place for those looking for a nice restaurant in Daytona to take that special someone out for dinner.
(5)
Benjamin U.
We came here for a nice classy place to have a couple drinks and soak in the view of Daytona! It was very nice! A few of the reviews said this place is outdated and one said the fake plants ruined the entire visit. Well, I will have to disagree. The decorations a fit the place very nicely! It looks great for the type of place it is. My girlfriend and I spent a few minutes wondering if it had been updated since the last review, and it hasn't according to our nice bar tender (might I add, he is generous with the alcohol, so sip conservatively). Also, the fake plants look just fine, and if you're looking that closely at the details, then you're missing the entire experience of the place. I went with my girlfriend, and my attention was paid to her while the atmosphere filled in the rest, making us both completely satisfied with our classy evening at the Top of Daytona!
(5)
Donna H.
This place is amazing! So unique, like no place else around! The views mostly, but the food , the entertainment, the service were all great. Had a really enjoyable evening with a girlfriend. I got the beef stroganoff, delicious!! The Russian dumplings were sooo good. Her shrimp dish from the early bird menu was good, nothing amazing just good. They had a violinist and a singer as it was a Saturday night. This just added to the ambiance which was so cool. I really love this place and will be back!
(5)
Emily A.
Positives: The view is absolutely amazing. Negatives: It really needs an update! The restaurant is covered in fake plants, bad wallpaper and border halfway up the wall, and that see-thru glass type of partition walls. Okay, let's get to this view. This restaurant is on the 29th floor and it absolutely unbelievable! I really recommend making a trip up there to see this view. We went just for drinks, and I'm so glad we did. The food was incredibly overpriced and the menu looked so dated. The view from the bar is just as great as from the dining area, so go for happy hour (4pm-6pm, 7 days a week, excluding holidays) where draft beers are only $3 and house wine $4. Don't expect friendly service at the bar - the bartender acts as though he's worked there (unhappily) for 20 years and never smiled once. He also loses many points for being rude to the sweet servers getting drinks for their tables from him. As funny as the lounge singer seemed, his music was fun & actually added something... it would have been deadly quiet in there without the tunes. His song list was extensive & he was fun to talk to.
(2)
Sherri D.
I came here with my mother, two sisters, and best friend on our last night of my sister's bachelorette party vacation in Daytona over Memorial Day weekend. We had been to a lot more of the affordable fried seafood, beachfront places that play live music (like Crabby Joe's, Inlet Harbor, Caribbean Jack's, etc.), and we decided for our last night we wanted it to be a little fancier, have some wine, and be more relaxed. Although we were hesitant because of some of the reviews, we still decided to do Top of Daytona since we could walk along the beach from our condo. I actually don't know what everyone was complaining about at all. I thought the food was excellent. We had the seafood linguini and the sea bass, both delicious, and all of us are pretty experienced with food growing up in Chicago. I also did not think the bill was outrageous since this was a middle/higher-end french restaurant with fresh seafood. I guess if I had to criticize, the decor is a bit outdated, but that doesn't detour me at all. It's Daytona Beach, not NYC, and I actually thought it was really pretty inside. The view was spectacular, and since it's a circular restaurant, you get a view from every angle. The part that made the experience great was the service. Our waiter was INCREDIBLY helpful. He offered to take pictures of us before we even asked. Made suggestions on food when we were in between choices. And he even switched out red potatoes for peruvian potatoes just because my mom wanted to try them so badly. Overall, I had an excellent time at Top of Daytona, and it was the perfect way to end our week vacation
(4)
Tee L.
The food was excellent! The service was equally as excellent. The view was superb. I really couldn't have asked for a better experience. There was live music also. My companions and I went on a Tuesday night. My compliments to the chef.
(4)
Susan S.
ALL the food wonderful! There were 5 of us... we all enjoyed it very much! Escargot, Lobster Tower, seared swordfish and more- all excellently presented. They really need to get the proper glasses for drinks, mudslide and margarita were served in wine glasses. Server was a little slow but VERY professional!
(4)
Wendy R.
I will say that yes, the inside does need a modern facelift. It's not run down looking, just old-fasioned. And who cares if its mostly elderly people going there? That means it's nice and quiet! The best time to go is sunset/ dusk. The view is unbeatable. Has never been super busy when I've gone, so I always get a good table. The servers have always been nice and polite. Not necessarily the poshest attitude, but I've never had anything negative to say about them. Food is pretty good (unless you get the steak. Don't get the steak). The lamb is good, the escargot is good (and fun to make your friends eat!). Overall, I like coming here because the view is fantastic (go at sunset), and the food is pretty good.
(4)
Christina M.
After waiting 15 minutes to pay I proceeded to the front desk to try to pay my bill there. Owners wife over charged my card. Huge headache which was not worth the average food. Horrible customer service and the owners refused to rectify the situation. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)
Paul E.
This is one of our favorites! We go here Everytime we vistit!
(4)
Dan R.
Feb 2013, went up for a drink had, a good time with the folks and had two good bartenders, Carlos and Adam. Our friends and I decided to stay for dinner. First off I like escargot and I don't see it offered at many restaurants so I had this for an appetizer and it was yummy. We all had entrees and the dinners were very good with nice service. Not to slow and not to fast. The restaurant could use some updating but it was fun and the food was good. A little hard to find since you have to walk in through the garage after you park in front of the building. But it's worth the effort. Try it, I was nicely surprised after reading some of the other reviews, sounds like two different restaurants. Dan
(4)
Steven S.
CP's review is so right ...the Top of Daytona is at the bottom of the food chain.
(1)
Joe A.
We have been twice in the last month and plan to go again soon. Both times both food and service were excellent. A little pricey but the quality of the food was worth it. Old elevator is a little tacky but once you reach the "Top" the restaurant itself has been remodeled recently and the views are great.
(4)
C P.
The restaurant's name is Top of Daytona, the view was really amazing! however, the food was really BOTTOM OF DAYTONA! It was the worst experience, after i finished my filet Mignon, I had to run into the lady's room. Folks, next time if you plan to visit this restaurant, make sure you bring an adult diaper.
(1)
Jack K.
I believe the demographics for this restaurant is 75 and up! Cons: Old Dude singing tunes with a keyboard, Sea Gull poo splattered on the windows, antiquated decor, has a piccadilly feel, menu lacks an identity - escargot? russian dumplings? Portuguese sausage? really? Pricey! Pro: the view of the ocean only when the sun is up unless you like a complete dark void. This restaurant needs a complete overhaul or a franchise who knows how to run a business. The sign on the building has missing letters. It reads as I recall "RESTA". Fix the sign people. Get rid of the old man and the keyboard. For god's sake, he's singing too loud (probably for the hearing impaired, go figure). Somebody call Chef Ramsey!
(1)
Ulysses M.
Fancy food. The menu is quite limited and definitely on the pricey side; but what really sets this place apart from the nearby restaurants is the view. You can see the ocean along with most, if not all, of Daytona. We ended up visiting on a rainy and muggy evening, full of thunder and lightning. The lightning show was pretty spectacular. Now on to the food. The server recommended the Chilean Sea Bass, which he mentioned was fresh and never frozen. I would say that he was telling the truth. The fish was very delicious. Oh and escargot! If you've never had it before, try it out! I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to give it a shot. The garlic and butter definitely made my fears go away. Yum!
(4)
Paul P.
We have eaten dinner here the past 4 years while staying at the Wyndham Hotel. It's been a family favorite each year. Yes it's old and yes it has an older clientele but really ??? It's a truly fantastic experience all the way around !!!!!
(5)
Gene F.
This is our second time my wife and I have eaten here, and besides the amazing view of the intercostal and the ocean, the food never ceases to amaze. Our server was very attentive and courteous. And, the ambiance is nostalgic. We'll be back with family next time.
(4)
Christie B.
Had a good meal at Top of Daytona. In it's heyday I'm sure this place was amazing. It hasn't kept up nearly as well as it's counterparts in other major cities, such as "top of the mark"in San Francisco. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR COUPONS AND SPECIALS We had a great special, $60 bottle of wine, one app, two entrees, one dessert for $95. We chose the lobster and NY Strip, so full price on this meal would have been about $150. The wine list is pretty short. A lot of Kendall Jackson. Oysters Rockefeller to start we're just ok. The New York strip was weird. It was cooked perfectly medium throughout but one end was tough and chewy. Frozen previously perhaps? Lobster tail was delicious and quite large. Bananas Foster for dessert was prepared table side and pretty good. Waiter said one of the chefs was in the hospital, so the kitchen was moving a little slow. From start to finish our meal was 2 hours, seems pretty reasonable to me!
(3)
Jane P.
Dinner was...okay. Terrifically overpriced. Decor is strictly 70's. We won't be going back.
(2)
Yanelly F.
This restaurant caters to an older demographic from the decor to the food ..however the food was pretty good the service was awesome so far the best in Daytona. It was a lil expensive but I was still happy with our very romantic dinner
(4)
Lila W.
We finally decided to try the Top of Daytona and are so glad we did. We really enjoyed the entire evening. Of course, the views were spectacular and we saw a gorgeous sunset. Our server, Nick, helped us select an outstanding bottle of wine. I had the Chilean sea bass and my brother had the beef stroganoff in a bread bowl, and shared a seared ahi tuna appetizer. We splurged on a chocolate cake ala mode for dessert and took a piece of key lime pie home for the next day. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive but not intrusive; Nick refilled our wine glasses when needed and kept our bread basket full; he was very pleasant with a good sense of humor. The singer was a nice touch; she sang a variety of songs and stopped by the table during her break with a request song list. It was fun to hear her sing some songs that we had chosen! The entree prices ranged from about $18 to $35, with early bird specials lower, so the prices are not really any higher than similar upscale local restaurants. We do plan to visit again!
(4)
Brian S.
Great views! The food was reasonably priced but nothing to rave about. Clearly the decor is outdated and not much attention has been provided to updating. We visited on a Friday night expecting entertainment...there wasn't any. The waitstaff were prompt and just okay. Probably wouldn't go again.
(3)
Rachel P.
Pretty great restaurant with nice views. The food was a little overpriced, but tasted great. They also have early bird specials 4-6pm if you don't want to pay full price for dinner. I got the Linguini Vangole but substituted the pasta for penne and it was amazing. My two year old also approved. Nice environment, I would definitely come back again.
(4)
Cristina D.
The view was amazing! But, I will agree with the other reviews in that the decor should be updated! It feels almost old country club-y. We went for happy hour on Tuesday. There is no music, so the sign should be changed on that. We had the raspberry glazed salmon and the steak burger. The steak burger was pretty good, and so was the salmon! Only complaint we made was that the raspberry glaze was a little too salty. Maybe order it on the side? I would suggest going to for happy hour though, because I didn't think the food was that good to be priced that high. Our server though, was great! She was knowledgeable about the menu, and she could answer all the questions we had!
(3)
Curt C.
Food was average and the service had a lot to be desired. For the amounts charged one would expect excellent service and attention to detail. Our wine glasses where empty for at least 15 minutes. The waiter was a magician and would disappear for long periods of time. We asked for the manager and the girl at the front desk acted as if she didn't know what one was, then went to the back and sent out our very inexperienced server to pretend to be the manager. Would only recommend for the view and bar.
(3)
roaches F.
Before we start, please bow your head and repeat after me: Thank God for snowbirds. Wanna waste 2+ hours sitting in a rundown 1970's-style restaurant bar masquerading as a high-end 'fine-dining' steak-and-seafood establishment lounge drinking over-priced drinks while being forced to listen to a $100/night former Elk's Lodge karaoke winner squawking away on a "Mr. Microphone"-quality sound system as you wait and wait and wait and wait for your table, after you had arrived 15 minutes early and checked in with the hostess, who claims to be the owner's wife, and who confirms that 'yes, we have your reservation right here, and we will be seating you shortly' - the same reservation for 2 that was supposed to have been for 95 minutes ago, and is still not ready? But wait: there's that magnificent view. Looking out over a dark, featureless ocean from 29 floors up, after the sun goes down and seeing nothing is the reason this place is still open? Kinda like looking down from 36,000 feet on your flight to Europe: really cool, for about the first 30 minutes. Then you realize that nothing changes, you're still stuck in an uncomfortable seat, next to people you really wouldn't choose to sit by on land, while your ears are accosted by noises you cannot turn off, as you continue to wait for something, anything to happen, other than being stuck sitting and staring at that same featureless expanse of water that was pretty cool for the first 30 minutes - almost 2 hours ago. As an aside, the real beauty of Florida is actually going to the beach; walking the dunes; sitting alongside or boating on the Intercoastal waterway; driving through or riding bikes in the neighborhoods; watching the birds and the wildlife; visiting the myriad springs - so many things other than just sitting behind glass in a climate-controlled tube in the sky and staring at the black, featureless nothingness that is the Atlantic Ocean after the sun goes down. But that's just me. Then you notice the guy sitting next to you is being served dinner at the bar, and you perk up because your stomach started growling as the aroma of his scorched vegetables and over-cooked baked potato triggers your olfactory senses. His steak looks like the Waffle House special cut: thin, tiny, fatty, listless, with checkerboard grill-marks mimicking Mickey D's McRib Sandwich that has a machine-formed 'rib-cutlet-patty' thing of undetermined origin with lines painted on it in an attempt to make folks believe it was prepared within a mile of an actual grill. The massive effort he's been putting into each bite as he saws and saws away at his steak with his steak knife makes us realize that perhaps this 'fine-dining' establishment may exist solely to cater to the scores of remarkably ill-informed snowbirds who each year flock to Daytona Beach, that are apparently willing to eat anything put in front of them as long as they can stare at that dark, featureless expanse of nothingness that the Atlantic Ocean becomes each night after the sun goes down. This place, this moment, right now: this must be one of those delightful memories of the Sunshine State that our fair tourists take back home with them after their week in paradise that somehow makes their having to live up north all their lives in places like Detroit or Cleveland or Milwaukee or Toledo or wherever they go back to so worthwhile. Actually, I think we passed a Waffle House on our way here. Let's forgo this magnificent view of black, featureless nothingness, and go get us one of those $7.99 steak-and-egg specials, before we drop another $40 on another round of drinks as we sit and suffer through another off-key rendition of "Rocky-Top" while we continue to get ignored by the owner's wife for another hour. The owner and his wife must say the exact same prayer every night: Thank God for snowbirds.
(1)
Ralph C.
The view is great. That's it. Everything else drastically needs improvement. The old dirty dusty decor, the tired menu, wallpaper, dirty bad motel carpet, outdated glass block dividers (really?), it all needs an enema. There is barely anyone working there over the age of 30, which means pretty much kids are running the place, and when that happens, you get what you get. If there was an older manager there, he didnt show himself. The kitchen served us a filet ordered medium, and served it seared but raw on the inside. I'm not mincing words over shades of pink, i mean RAW on the inside. (Incidentally, the string beans were also browned, but raw..... Cook everything on "high" much?). When brought to the waitstaff attention, they offered to discount the bill slightly, then came back and said the manager said you ate most of it so we wont take it off the bill. i never asked for that. she offered, then acted as if i was trying to get over. Classic move of a rookie inexperienced kid manager. Bottom line, cooking a filet to order is "restaurant school 101" ,if you cant do it, you dont belong in the kitchen. I dont understand all the 4 and 5 star reviews honestly. other than the view, this place needs to be bought out, re done and blow the roof off. its a total dog now.. I eat out everywhere, pay huge money, and im realistic. even the elevator was dirty. I'm disappointed that the people of Daytona accept so little, or maybe they just don't know. Go there, order coffee, look out the window, thats it. save 200 dollars. Without the view, this place is out of business in 3 months guaranteed.
(2)
Barbara S.
View = 5 stars Food = 3 stars They have a 360 degree dining area on the 30 something floor with beautiful views over the ocean and river. It's a great place to see the sunset. Our waiter, Gene, was very personable. As far as the fake plants go that some of the other yelpers complained about: fake plants usually bother me, but not here. The view is so wonderful that who is looking at the plants which are mostly up by the ceiling?! I particularly liked their rice and the veggies were good as well. The Caesar salad was meh. The food in general was adequate but not memorable. Still, we will return. They have live music on Saturday nights and I think the other night is Tuesday. The view and overall experience is a solid 4.
(4)
Bobbi R.
Great place for celebration or just casual dinner. View is amazing, excellent service, vegetables cooked perfect, sea bass was pricey but excellent! Early Bird specials are a bonus...Celebrated Mom's 83rd birthday. .they fussed over her. Great time
(4)
Steve C.
Great atmosphere and great meal!! Read some bad reviews and was very skeptical to try... But we were glad we came!! If you get the chance get to the Top of Daytona!! Gabriel, our waiter, was super!!
(5)
David F.
I am confident that there are numerous people that would find this location a great find - but if you are looking for great food, your search doesn't end here.
(2)
Melissa M.
Really an amazing view. NOT rotating but every table seems to have a view. Best food we had in Daytona. I had the scallops. Really, really tasty. Great service! I would definitely go again.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :2625 S Atlantic Ave
Daytona Beach, FL, 32118
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Sat Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Christina M.
After waiting 15 minutes to pay I proceeded to the front desk to try to pay my bill there. Owners wife over charged my card. Huge headache which was not worth the average food. Horrible customer service and the owners refused to rectify the situation. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)Paul E.
This is one of our favorites! We go here Everytime we vistit!
(4)Wendy R.
I will say that yes, the inside does need a modern facelift. It's not run down looking, just old-fasioned. And who cares if its mostly elderly people going there? That means it's nice and quiet! The best time to go is sunset/ dusk. The view is unbeatable. Has never been super busy when I've gone, so I always get a good table. The servers have always been nice and polite. Not necessarily the poshest attitude, but I've never had anything negative to say about them. Food is pretty good (unless you get the steak. Don't get the steak). The lamb is good, the escargot is good (and fun to make your friends eat!). Overall, I like coming here because the view is fantastic (go at sunset), and the food is pretty good.
(4)Jack K.
I believe the demographics for this restaurant is 75 and up! Cons: Old Dude singing tunes with a keyboard, Sea Gull poo splattered on the windows, antiquated decor, has a piccadilly feel, menu lacks an identity - escargot? russian dumplings? Portuguese sausage? really? Pricey! Pro: the view of the ocean only when the sun is up unless you like a complete dark void. This restaurant needs a complete overhaul or a franchise who knows how to run a business. The sign on the building has missing letters. It reads as I recall "RESTA". Fix the sign people. Get rid of the old man and the keyboard. For god's sake, he's singing too loud (probably for the hearing impaired, go figure). Somebody call Chef Ramsey!
(1)Ulysses M.
Fancy food. The menu is quite limited and definitely on the pricey side; but what really sets this place apart from the nearby restaurants is the view. You can see the ocean along with most, if not all, of Daytona. We ended up visiting on a rainy and muggy evening, full of thunder and lightning. The lightning show was pretty spectacular. Now on to the food. The server recommended the Chilean Sea Bass, which he mentioned was fresh and never frozen. I would say that he was telling the truth. The fish was very delicious. Oh and escargot! If you've never had it before, try it out! I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to give it a shot. The garlic and butter definitely made my fears go away. Yum!
(4)Paul P.
We have eaten dinner here the past 4 years while staying at the Wyndham Hotel. It's been a family favorite each year. Yes it's old and yes it has an older clientele but really ??? It's a truly fantastic experience all the way around !!!!!
(5)Gene F.
This is our second time my wife and I have eaten here, and besides the amazing view of the intercostal and the ocean, the food never ceases to amaze. Our server was very attentive and courteous. And, the ambiance is nostalgic. We'll be back with family next time.
(4)Christie B.
Had a good meal at Top of Daytona. In it's heyday I'm sure this place was amazing. It hasn't kept up nearly as well as it's counterparts in other major cities, such as "top of the mark"in San Francisco. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR COUPONS AND SPECIALS We had a great special, $60 bottle of wine, one app, two entrees, one dessert for $95. We chose the lobster and NY Strip, so full price on this meal would have been about $150. The wine list is pretty short. A lot of Kendall Jackson. Oysters Rockefeller to start we're just ok. The New York strip was weird. It was cooked perfectly medium throughout but one end was tough and chewy. Frozen previously perhaps? Lobster tail was delicious and quite large. Bananas Foster for dessert was prepared table side and pretty good. Waiter said one of the chefs was in the hospital, so the kitchen was moving a little slow. From start to finish our meal was 2 hours, seems pretty reasonable to me!
(3)Jane P.
Dinner was...okay. Terrifically overpriced. Decor is strictly 70's. We won't be going back.
(2)Yanelly F.
This restaurant caters to an older demographic from the decor to the food ..however the food was pretty good the service was awesome so far the best in Daytona. It was a lil expensive but I was still happy with our very romantic dinner
(4)Lila W.
We finally decided to try the Top of Daytona and are so glad we did. We really enjoyed the entire evening. Of course, the views were spectacular and we saw a gorgeous sunset. Our server, Nick, helped us select an outstanding bottle of wine. I had the Chilean sea bass and my brother had the beef stroganoff in a bread bowl, and shared a seared ahi tuna appetizer. We splurged on a chocolate cake ala mode for dessert and took a piece of key lime pie home for the next day. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive but not intrusive; Nick refilled our wine glasses when needed and kept our bread basket full; he was very pleasant with a good sense of humor. The singer was a nice touch; she sang a variety of songs and stopped by the table during her break with a request song list. It was fun to hear her sing some songs that we had chosen! The entree prices ranged from about $18 to $35, with early bird specials lower, so the prices are not really any higher than similar upscale local restaurants. We do plan to visit again!
(4)Brian S.
Great views! The food was reasonably priced but nothing to rave about. Clearly the decor is outdated and not much attention has been provided to updating. We visited on a Friday night expecting entertainment...there wasn't any. The waitstaff were prompt and just okay. Probably wouldn't go again.
(3)Rachel P.
Pretty great restaurant with nice views. The food was a little overpriced, but tasted great. They also have early bird specials 4-6pm if you don't want to pay full price for dinner. I got the Linguini Vangole but substituted the pasta for penne and it was amazing. My two year old also approved. Nice environment, I would definitely come back again.
(4)roaches F.
Before we start, please bow your head and repeat after me: Thank God for snowbirds. Wanna waste 2+ hours sitting in a rundown 1970's-style restaurant bar masquerading as a high-end 'fine-dining' steak-and-seafood establishment lounge drinking over-priced drinks while being forced to listen to a $100/night former Elk's Lodge karaoke winner squawking away on a "Mr. Microphone"-quality sound system as you wait and wait and wait and wait for your table, after you had arrived 15 minutes early and checked in with the hostess, who claims to be the owner's wife, and who confirms that 'yes, we have your reservation right here, and we will be seating you shortly' - the same reservation for 2 that was supposed to have been for 95 minutes ago, and is still not ready? But wait: there's that magnificent view. Looking out over a dark, featureless ocean from 29 floors up, after the sun goes down and seeing nothing is the reason this place is still open? Kinda like looking down from 36,000 feet on your flight to Europe: really cool, for about the first 30 minutes. Then you realize that nothing changes, you're still stuck in an uncomfortable seat, next to people you really wouldn't choose to sit by on land, while your ears are accosted by noises you cannot turn off, as you continue to wait for something, anything to happen, other than being stuck sitting and staring at that same featureless expanse of water that was pretty cool for the first 30 minutes - almost 2 hours ago. As an aside, the real beauty of Florida is actually going to the beach; walking the dunes; sitting alongside or boating on the Intercoastal waterway; driving through or riding bikes in the neighborhoods; watching the birds and the wildlife; visiting the myriad springs - so many things other than just sitting behind glass in a climate-controlled tube in the sky and staring at the black, featureless nothingness that is the Atlantic Ocean after the sun goes down. But that's just me. Then you notice the guy sitting next to you is being served dinner at the bar, and you perk up because your stomach started growling as the aroma of his scorched vegetables and over-cooked baked potato triggers your olfactory senses. His steak looks like the Waffle House special cut: thin, tiny, fatty, listless, with checkerboard grill-marks mimicking Mickey D's McRib Sandwich that has a machine-formed 'rib-cutlet-patty' thing of undetermined origin with lines painted on it in an attempt to make folks believe it was prepared within a mile of an actual grill. The massive effort he's been putting into each bite as he saws and saws away at his steak with his steak knife makes us realize that perhaps this 'fine-dining' establishment may exist solely to cater to the scores of remarkably ill-informed snowbirds who each year flock to Daytona Beach, that are apparently willing to eat anything put in front of them as long as they can stare at that dark, featureless expanse of nothingness that the Atlantic Ocean becomes each night after the sun goes down. This place, this moment, right now: this must be one of those delightful memories of the Sunshine State that our fair tourists take back home with them after their week in paradise that somehow makes their having to live up north all their lives in places like Detroit or Cleveland or Milwaukee or Toledo or wherever they go back to so worthwhile. Actually, I think we passed a Waffle House on our way here. Let's forgo this magnificent view of black, featureless nothingness, and go get us one of those $7.99 steak-and-egg specials, before we drop another $40 on another round of drinks as we sit and suffer through another off-key rendition of "Rocky-Top" while we continue to get ignored by the owner's wife for another hour. The owner and his wife must say the exact same prayer every night: Thank God for snowbirds.
(1)Cristina D.
The view was amazing! But, I will agree with the other reviews in that the decor should be updated! It feels almost old country club-y. We went for happy hour on Tuesday. There is no music, so the sign should be changed on that. We had the raspberry glazed salmon and the steak burger. The steak burger was pretty good, and so was the salmon! Only complaint we made was that the raspberry glaze was a little too salty. Maybe order it on the side? I would suggest going to for happy hour though, because I didn't think the food was that good to be priced that high. Our server though, was great! She was knowledgeable about the menu, and she could answer all the questions we had!
(3)Curt C.
Food was average and the service had a lot to be desired. For the amounts charged one would expect excellent service and attention to detail. Our wine glasses where empty for at least 15 minutes. The waiter was a magician and would disappear for long periods of time. We asked for the manager and the girl at the front desk acted as if she didn't know what one was, then went to the back and sent out our very inexperienced server to pretend to be the manager. Would only recommend for the view and bar.
(3)Ralph C.
The view is great. That's it. Everything else drastically needs improvement. The old dirty dusty decor, the tired menu, wallpaper, dirty bad motel carpet, outdated glass block dividers (really?), it all needs an enema. There is barely anyone working there over the age of 30, which means pretty much kids are running the place, and when that happens, you get what you get. If there was an older manager there, he didnt show himself. The kitchen served us a filet ordered medium, and served it seared but raw on the inside. I'm not mincing words over shades of pink, i mean RAW on the inside. (Incidentally, the string beans were also browned, but raw..... Cook everything on "high" much?). When brought to the waitstaff attention, they offered to discount the bill slightly, then came back and said the manager said you ate most of it so we wont take it off the bill. i never asked for that. she offered, then acted as if i was trying to get over. Classic move of a rookie inexperienced kid manager. Bottom line, cooking a filet to order is "restaurant school 101" ,if you cant do it, you dont belong in the kitchen. I dont understand all the 4 and 5 star reviews honestly. other than the view, this place needs to be bought out, re done and blow the roof off. its a total dog now.. I eat out everywhere, pay huge money, and im realistic. even the elevator was dirty. I'm disappointed that the people of Daytona accept so little, or maybe they just don't know. Go there, order coffee, look out the window, thats it. save 200 dollars. Without the view, this place is out of business in 3 months guaranteed.
(2)Barbara S.
View = 5 stars Food = 3 stars They have a 360 degree dining area on the 30 something floor with beautiful views over the ocean and river. It's a great place to see the sunset. Our waiter, Gene, was very personable. As far as the fake plants go that some of the other yelpers complained about: fake plants usually bother me, but not here. The view is so wonderful that who is looking at the plants which are mostly up by the ceiling?! I particularly liked their rice and the veggies were good as well. The Caesar salad was meh. The food in general was adequate but not memorable. Still, we will return. They have live music on Saturday nights and I think the other night is Tuesday. The view and overall experience is a solid 4.
(4)Bobbi R.
Great place for celebration or just casual dinner. View is amazing, excellent service, vegetables cooked perfect, sea bass was pricey but excellent! Early Bird specials are a bonus...Celebrated Mom's 83rd birthday. .they fussed over her. Great time
(4)Steve C.
Great atmosphere and great meal!! Read some bad reviews and was very skeptical to try... But we were glad we came!! If you get the chance get to the Top of Daytona!! Gabriel, our waiter, was super!!
(5)David F.
I am confident that there are numerous people that would find this location a great find - but if you are looking for great food, your search doesn't end here.
(2)Melissa M.
Really an amazing view. NOT rotating but every table seems to have a view. Best food we had in Daytona. I had the scallops. Really, really tasty. Great service! I would definitely go again.
(5)Andrew S.
Oh Top of Daytona, how you try. I'll be blunt. I'm a northern snob, I like fancy restaurants and I know there's not much that Daytona had to offer. But come on. My first sight of the place was a weird, empty parking garage with no cars, and shitty plastic signs advertising the restaurant. Business management classes often talk about making a good first impression, and this probably wasn't the best. If the place was under construction that's one thing, but the garage has been like this for 3 years. Probably time to spruce the place up. Anyway, the restaurant was strangely empty for a Sunday night, and yet our waiter was yet to be found. If it was packed, I would have understood not seeing our waiter as much, but we were pretty much the only party sitting down for dinner, giving off the vibe of a North Korean banquet hall. As for the menu, holy shit read the fine print. Some highlights include sharing fees, and surcharges on the 3rd basket of bread, which by the way, good luck getting because you have to ask, and even then you won't even get the full amount of bread. For 7 people we had 5 teeny tiny rolls. Also, everything is pretty expensive for food that's one bar above mediocre. Nothing tasted bad per se, but prices are pretty ridiculous. I had the duck for my entree, no appetizer because by the time our waiter took our order I was so damn hungry I just wanted my main course and to get the hell out. The first half (the thigh) was pretty tender, with a cherry sauce that helped the flavor, and some steamed vegetables. The second half (leg) was dry as hell. Another notable thing was that my friend's medium rare steak was dry and chewy to the point where he started insulting it out of sheer frustration. ON THE PLUS SIDE, the scallops were very tasty. If for whatever reason you come here, get those. Seriously. Didn't have time for desert. By the time our waiter came back we were ready to get the hell out. However, they really do try. It's just a matter of low training. He was good at always refilling drinks without asking and he was never rude to us, but we just weren't his first priority. As for the atmosphere, what the hell? The one nice restaurant around and the guy at the bar had a fucking ripped up hooters t shirt on, and he was insulting a young bartender for not knowing how to make is drink. Not necessarily your fault T.o.D, but this is what you've created. Mediocre food for mediocre people. The view is nice though.
(2)Ric K.
Well, it's been exactly one year to date on visiting Top of Daytona. The view is what is getting the great one star rating. Absolutely the best view of Daytona. On to the food....Five out of the seven people in the party had $33 sirloin steaks that were not prepared as ordered along with a lot of fat and gristle. The steaks were of the poorest quality I've experienced in a long time. One order of filet mignon ($43) was served cold.If I were the chef at this restaurant, I would be ashamed of the poor quality of the food that is being served at such a high price. On to the service. Service was very slow ,considering it was 3:00 in the afternoon with few people dining. I am not going to even give one star for service. Don't waste your money on the poor quality of food and service .
(1)MN M.
Great view, but very outdated, old, dusty decor. Food is pricey but good - we had wonderful escargot, scallops, and ended with a yummy flambe. For five of us to dine (with wine) it was well over $200. The restaurant has a lot of possibility, and a wonderful romantic feel.
(4)K M.
This place is a real throwback which, if you enjoy nostalgia, is great! I have been a few times now for happy hour and will eventually eat dinner there. For now, it's a wonderful place for the adult set to enjoy the view, funky entertainment, and wonderful bartender.
(4)Keelan P.
AMAZING. The view, that is. And the Early Bird prices. Actually, ALL the prices were pretty good. Snapper with onion and corn relish was great. Early bird specials good. Stuffed flounder good here too. But the interior really needs some work. Very dated. I doubt it has had an update since the late 80s. Still, for Daytona, this place is pretty nice.
(3)Stephen N.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is for the absolutely gorgeous view 29 floors up of the ocean, made the trip somewhat worth it, but that's where the thrill ends. Upon entering the building through a lobby that smelled of mold and construction, we were escorted up an escalator to the restaurant and lounge. We only came for happy hour drinks, so I cannot speak too much about the food, but the cheap decor (complete with grocery cart in the corner) that looks as though it has not changed since the 1980s, and the absolutely horrendous service at the bar, despite being the only two people in the place made for an awful experience, also the lack of cleanliness of the bar and rest of the restaurant alone made me not want to eat anything out of that kitchen. On top of all of this, there was no music playing, nothing on tv, and the bartender all but outright refused to talk to us other than to get our drink orders, made the place kind of boring as well. Maybe if they update the decor and the staff I'll be back, but I doubt it.
(2)Rachel M.
This place is amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is great. The food is amazing. I highly recommend the chicken fettuccine Alfredo! This was literally the best Alfredo I've ever had. It was about 15$ for the entree but was well worth it since you could probably make it 3 meals. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Mark F.
I have been there twice for dinner, each time on a Saturday. The food has been consistently well-prepared and delicious, the service courteous and prompt, and the view is spectacular. Yet I don't like it very much. The reason is the "live music" they promote as a draw. It is ridiculous. This is a fancy place with white table cloths and formally dressed waiters and entrees from $19 (pasta) up to $50 or so--and the "live music" is a guy with a highly amplified synthesizer and a very loud mic pounding out honky tonk junk with a pounding bass. It is absurd to hear this karaoke style thumpity thump and Kenny Rogers, etc., in what is supposed to be a classy place. It is grotesquely inconsistent with what the place is trying to be. It is the kind of music that would fit in at a bowling alley bar or an open air burger joint on the beach. That kind of place. I have to wonder what the management is thinking.
(2)Ryan L.
I signed up for yelp just to make this review. Yes, the view is spectacular. But for real, save your money. I've had better service at a diner while here in Daytona than at this place. We had a party of 6. One of our members did not receive a salad they had ordered. Ever since, our waitress was sassy during our whole experience. Another member of ours asked nicely for a refill of water to another waiter because ours was nowhere to be found. Seemed we were inconveniencing him. While waiting for our main dish, another member of our table had asked for another glass of wine. It took over a half hour to receive that glass of wine because she had forgot. Our friends decided to make a bet to see how screwed up our main dish would be when it showed up, not knowing this dish would take over two hours to receive. When the food finally came, of course an order of shrimp was missing. We had to ask her twice for it. We had also felt the need to conserve our water because no one came around to refill. This place was a waste of our time and money. The worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant.
(1)John N.
My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day and I must say, this place has an amazing view of Daytona. I was also really surprised by the amount of gay tolerance at this restaurant. Everyone was incredibly nice here and the food was delicious. This place is a bit pricy but manageable, and it's a good place for dates rather than family dining. I would recommend this place for those looking for a nice restaurant in Daytona to take that special someone out for dinner.
(5)Joe A.
We have been twice in the last month and plan to go again soon. Both times both food and service were excellent. A little pricey but the quality of the food was worth it. Old elevator is a little tacky but once you reach the "Top" the restaurant itself has been remodeled recently and the views are great.
(4)C P.
The restaurant's name is Top of Daytona, the view was really amazing! however, the food was really BOTTOM OF DAYTONA! It was the worst experience, after i finished my filet Mignon, I had to run into the lady's room. Folks, next time if you plan to visit this restaurant, make sure you bring an adult diaper.
(1)Steven S.
CP's review is so right ...the Top of Daytona is at the bottom of the food chain.
(1)Dan R.
Feb 2013, went up for a drink had, a good time with the folks and had two good bartenders, Carlos and Adam. Our friends and I decided to stay for dinner. First off I like escargot and I don't see it offered at many restaurants so I had this for an appetizer and it was yummy. We all had entrees and the dinners were very good with nice service. Not to slow and not to fast. The restaurant could use some updating but it was fun and the food was good. A little hard to find since you have to walk in through the garage after you park in front of the building. But it's worth the effort. Try it, I was nicely surprised after reading some of the other reviews, sounds like two different restaurants. Dan
(4)Benjamin U.
We came here for a nice classy place to have a couple drinks and soak in the view of Daytona! It was very nice! A few of the reviews said this place is outdated and one said the fake plants ruined the entire visit. Well, I will have to disagree. The decorations a fit the place very nicely! It looks great for the type of place it is. My girlfriend and I spent a few minutes wondering if it had been updated since the last review, and it hasn't according to our nice bar tender (might I add, he is generous with the alcohol, so sip conservatively). Also, the fake plants look just fine, and if you're looking that closely at the details, then you're missing the entire experience of the place. I went with my girlfriend, and my attention was paid to her while the atmosphere filled in the rest, making us both completely satisfied with our classy evening at the Top of Daytona!
(5)Donna H.
This place is amazing! So unique, like no place else around! The views mostly, but the food , the entertainment, the service were all great. Had a really enjoyable evening with a girlfriend. I got the beef stroganoff, delicious!! The Russian dumplings were sooo good. Her shrimp dish from the early bird menu was good, nothing amazing just good. They had a violinist and a singer as it was a Saturday night. This just added to the ambiance which was so cool. I really love this place and will be back!
(5)Emily A.
Positives: The view is absolutely amazing. Negatives: It really needs an update! The restaurant is covered in fake plants, bad wallpaper and border halfway up the wall, and that see-thru glass type of partition walls. Okay, let's get to this view. This restaurant is on the 29th floor and it absolutely unbelievable! I really recommend making a trip up there to see this view. We went just for drinks, and I'm so glad we did. The food was incredibly overpriced and the menu looked so dated. The view from the bar is just as great as from the dining area, so go for happy hour (4pm-6pm, 7 days a week, excluding holidays) where draft beers are only $3 and house wine $4. Don't expect friendly service at the bar - the bartender acts as though he's worked there (unhappily) for 20 years and never smiled once. He also loses many points for being rude to the sweet servers getting drinks for their tables from him. As funny as the lounge singer seemed, his music was fun & actually added something... it would have been deadly quiet in there without the tunes. His song list was extensive & he was fun to talk to.
(2)Susan S.
ALL the food wonderful! There were 5 of us... we all enjoyed it very much! Escargot, Lobster Tower, seared swordfish and more- all excellently presented. They really need to get the proper glasses for drinks, mudslide and margarita were served in wine glasses. Server was a little slow but VERY professional!
(4)Sherri D.
I came here with my mother, two sisters, and best friend on our last night of my sister's bachelorette party vacation in Daytona over Memorial Day weekend. We had been to a lot more of the affordable fried seafood, beachfront places that play live music (like Crabby Joe's, Inlet Harbor, Caribbean Jack's, etc.), and we decided for our last night we wanted it to be a little fancier, have some wine, and be more relaxed. Although we were hesitant because of some of the reviews, we still decided to do Top of Daytona since we could walk along the beach from our condo. I actually don't know what everyone was complaining about at all. I thought the food was excellent. We had the seafood linguini and the sea bass, both delicious, and all of us are pretty experienced with food growing up in Chicago. I also did not think the bill was outrageous since this was a middle/higher-end french restaurant with fresh seafood. I guess if I had to criticize, the decor is a bit outdated, but that doesn't detour me at all. It's Daytona Beach, not NYC, and I actually thought it was really pretty inside. The view was spectacular, and since it's a circular restaurant, you get a view from every angle. The part that made the experience great was the service. Our waiter was INCREDIBLY helpful. He offered to take pictures of us before we even asked. Made suggestions on food when we were in between choices. And he even switched out red potatoes for peruvian potatoes just because my mom wanted to try them so badly. Overall, I had an excellent time at Top of Daytona, and it was the perfect way to end our week vacation
(4)Tee L.
The food was excellent! The service was equally as excellent. The view was superb. I really couldn't have asked for a better experience. There was live music also. My companions and I went on a Tuesday night. My compliments to the chef.
(4)K M.
This place is a real throwback which, if you enjoy nostalgia, is great! I have been a few times now for happy hour and will eventually eat dinner there. For now, it's a wonderful place for the adult set to enjoy the view, funky entertainment, and wonderful bartender.
(4)Keelan P.
AMAZING. The view, that is. And the Early Bird prices. Actually, ALL the prices were pretty good. Snapper with onion and corn relish was great. Early bird specials good. Stuffed flounder good here too. But the interior really needs some work. Very dated. I doubt it has had an update since the late 80s. Still, for Daytona, this place is pretty nice.
(3)Andrew S.
Oh Top of Daytona, how you try. I'll be blunt. I'm a northern snob, I like fancy restaurants and I know there's not much that Daytona had to offer. But come on. My first sight of the place was a weird, empty parking garage with no cars, and shitty plastic signs advertising the restaurant. Business management classes often talk about making a good first impression, and this probably wasn't the best. If the place was under construction that's one thing, but the garage has been like this for 3 years. Probably time to spruce the place up. Anyway, the restaurant was strangely empty for a Sunday night, and yet our waiter was yet to be found. If it was packed, I would have understood not seeing our waiter as much, but we were pretty much the only party sitting down for dinner, giving off the vibe of a North Korean banquet hall. As for the menu, holy shit read the fine print. Some highlights include sharing fees, and surcharges on the 3rd basket of bread, which by the way, good luck getting because you have to ask, and even then you won't even get the full amount of bread. For 7 people we had 5 teeny tiny rolls. Also, everything is pretty expensive for food that's one bar above mediocre. Nothing tasted bad per se, but prices are pretty ridiculous. I had the duck for my entree, no appetizer because by the time our waiter took our order I was so damn hungry I just wanted my main course and to get the hell out. The first half (the thigh) was pretty tender, with a cherry sauce that helped the flavor, and some steamed vegetables. The second half (leg) was dry as hell. Another notable thing was that my friend's medium rare steak was dry and chewy to the point where he started insulting it out of sheer frustration. ON THE PLUS SIDE, the scallops were very tasty. If for whatever reason you come here, get those. Seriously. Didn't have time for desert. By the time our waiter came back we were ready to get the hell out. However, they really do try. It's just a matter of low training. He was good at always refilling drinks without asking and he was never rude to us, but we just weren't his first priority. As for the atmosphere, what the hell? The one nice restaurant around and the guy at the bar had a fucking ripped up hooters t shirt on, and he was insulting a young bartender for not knowing how to make is drink. Not necessarily your fault T.o.D, but this is what you've created. Mediocre food for mediocre people. The view is nice though.
(2)Ric K.
Well, it's been exactly one year to date on visiting Top of Daytona. The view is what is getting the great one star rating. Absolutely the best view of Daytona. On to the food....Five out of the seven people in the party had $33 sirloin steaks that were not prepared as ordered along with a lot of fat and gristle. The steaks were of the poorest quality I've experienced in a long time. One order of filet mignon ($43) was served cold.If I were the chef at this restaurant, I would be ashamed of the poor quality of the food that is being served at such a high price. On to the service. Service was very slow ,considering it was 3:00 in the afternoon with few people dining. I am not going to even give one star for service. Don't waste your money on the poor quality of food and service .
(1)MN M.
Great view, but very outdated, old, dusty decor. Food is pricey but good - we had wonderful escargot, scallops, and ended with a yummy flambe. For five of us to dine (with wine) it was well over $200. The restaurant has a lot of possibility, and a wonderful romantic feel.
(4)Stephen N.
The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is for the absolutely gorgeous view 29 floors up of the ocean, made the trip somewhat worth it, but that's where the thrill ends. Upon entering the building through a lobby that smelled of mold and construction, we were escorted up an escalator to the restaurant and lounge. We only came for happy hour drinks, so I cannot speak too much about the food, but the cheap decor (complete with grocery cart in the corner) that looks as though it has not changed since the 1980s, and the absolutely horrendous service at the bar, despite being the only two people in the place made for an awful experience, also the lack of cleanliness of the bar and rest of the restaurant alone made me not want to eat anything out of that kitchen. On top of all of this, there was no music playing, nothing on tv, and the bartender all but outright refused to talk to us other than to get our drink orders, made the place kind of boring as well. Maybe if they update the decor and the staff I'll be back, but I doubt it.
(2)Rachel M.
This place is amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful and the staff is great. The food is amazing. I highly recommend the chicken fettuccine Alfredo! This was literally the best Alfredo I've ever had. It was about 15$ for the entree but was well worth it since you could probably make it 3 meals. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Mark F.
I have been there twice for dinner, each time on a Saturday. The food has been consistently well-prepared and delicious, the service courteous and prompt, and the view is spectacular. Yet I don't like it very much. The reason is the "live music" they promote as a draw. It is ridiculous. This is a fancy place with white table cloths and formally dressed waiters and entrees from $19 (pasta) up to $50 or so--and the "live music" is a guy with a highly amplified synthesizer and a very loud mic pounding out honky tonk junk with a pounding bass. It is absurd to hear this karaoke style thumpity thump and Kenny Rogers, etc., in what is supposed to be a classy place. It is grotesquely inconsistent with what the place is trying to be. It is the kind of music that would fit in at a bowling alley bar or an open air burger joint on the beach. That kind of place. I have to wonder what the management is thinking.
(2)Ryan L.
I signed up for yelp just to make this review. Yes, the view is spectacular. But for real, save your money. I've had better service at a diner while here in Daytona than at this place. We had a party of 6. One of our members did not receive a salad they had ordered. Ever since, our waitress was sassy during our whole experience. Another member of ours asked nicely for a refill of water to another waiter because ours was nowhere to be found. Seemed we were inconveniencing him. While waiting for our main dish, another member of our table had asked for another glass of wine. It took over a half hour to receive that glass of wine because she had forgot. Our friends decided to make a bet to see how screwed up our main dish would be when it showed up, not knowing this dish would take over two hours to receive. When the food finally came, of course an order of shrimp was missing. We had to ask her twice for it. We had also felt the need to conserve our water because no one came around to refill. This place was a waste of our time and money. The worst experience I have ever had at a restaurant.
(1)John N.
My boyfriend took me here for Valentines Day and I must say, this place has an amazing view of Daytona. I was also really surprised by the amount of gay tolerance at this restaurant. Everyone was incredibly nice here and the food was delicious. This place is a bit pricy but manageable, and it's a good place for dates rather than family dining. I would recommend this place for those looking for a nice restaurant in Daytona to take that special someone out for dinner.
(5)Benjamin U.
We came here for a nice classy place to have a couple drinks and soak in the view of Daytona! It was very nice! A few of the reviews said this place is outdated and one said the fake plants ruined the entire visit. Well, I will have to disagree. The decorations a fit the place very nicely! It looks great for the type of place it is. My girlfriend and I spent a few minutes wondering if it had been updated since the last review, and it hasn't according to our nice bar tender (might I add, he is generous with the alcohol, so sip conservatively). Also, the fake plants look just fine, and if you're looking that closely at the details, then you're missing the entire experience of the place. I went with my girlfriend, and my attention was paid to her while the atmosphere filled in the rest, making us both completely satisfied with our classy evening at the Top of Daytona!
(5)Donna H.
This place is amazing! So unique, like no place else around! The views mostly, but the food , the entertainment, the service were all great. Had a really enjoyable evening with a girlfriend. I got the beef stroganoff, delicious!! The Russian dumplings were sooo good. Her shrimp dish from the early bird menu was good, nothing amazing just good. They had a violinist and a singer as it was a Saturday night. This just added to the ambiance which was so cool. I really love this place and will be back!
(5)Emily A.
Positives: The view is absolutely amazing. Negatives: It really needs an update! The restaurant is covered in fake plants, bad wallpaper and border halfway up the wall, and that see-thru glass type of partition walls. Okay, let's get to this view. This restaurant is on the 29th floor and it absolutely unbelievable! I really recommend making a trip up there to see this view. We went just for drinks, and I'm so glad we did. The food was incredibly overpriced and the menu looked so dated. The view from the bar is just as great as from the dining area, so go for happy hour (4pm-6pm, 7 days a week, excluding holidays) where draft beers are only $3 and house wine $4. Don't expect friendly service at the bar - the bartender acts as though he's worked there (unhappily) for 20 years and never smiled once. He also loses many points for being rude to the sweet servers getting drinks for their tables from him. As funny as the lounge singer seemed, his music was fun & actually added something... it would have been deadly quiet in there without the tunes. His song list was extensive & he was fun to talk to.
(2)Sherri D.
I came here with my mother, two sisters, and best friend on our last night of my sister's bachelorette party vacation in Daytona over Memorial Day weekend. We had been to a lot more of the affordable fried seafood, beachfront places that play live music (like Crabby Joe's, Inlet Harbor, Caribbean Jack's, etc.), and we decided for our last night we wanted it to be a little fancier, have some wine, and be more relaxed. Although we were hesitant because of some of the reviews, we still decided to do Top of Daytona since we could walk along the beach from our condo. I actually don't know what everyone was complaining about at all. I thought the food was excellent. We had the seafood linguini and the sea bass, both delicious, and all of us are pretty experienced with food growing up in Chicago. I also did not think the bill was outrageous since this was a middle/higher-end french restaurant with fresh seafood. I guess if I had to criticize, the decor is a bit outdated, but that doesn't detour me at all. It's Daytona Beach, not NYC, and I actually thought it was really pretty inside. The view was spectacular, and since it's a circular restaurant, you get a view from every angle. The part that made the experience great was the service. Our waiter was INCREDIBLY helpful. He offered to take pictures of us before we even asked. Made suggestions on food when we were in between choices. And he even switched out red potatoes for peruvian potatoes just because my mom wanted to try them so badly. Overall, I had an excellent time at Top of Daytona, and it was the perfect way to end our week vacation
(4)Tee L.
The food was excellent! The service was equally as excellent. The view was superb. I really couldn't have asked for a better experience. There was live music also. My companions and I went on a Tuesday night. My compliments to the chef.
(4)Susan S.
ALL the food wonderful! There were 5 of us... we all enjoyed it very much! Escargot, Lobster Tower, seared swordfish and more- all excellently presented. They really need to get the proper glasses for drinks, mudslide and margarita were served in wine glasses. Server was a little slow but VERY professional!
(4)Wendy R.
I will say that yes, the inside does need a modern facelift. It's not run down looking, just old-fasioned. And who cares if its mostly elderly people going there? That means it's nice and quiet! The best time to go is sunset/ dusk. The view is unbeatable. Has never been super busy when I've gone, so I always get a good table. The servers have always been nice and polite. Not necessarily the poshest attitude, but I've never had anything negative to say about them. Food is pretty good (unless you get the steak. Don't get the steak). The lamb is good, the escargot is good (and fun to make your friends eat!). Overall, I like coming here because the view is fantastic (go at sunset), and the food is pretty good.
(4)Christina M.
After waiting 15 minutes to pay I proceeded to the front desk to try to pay my bill there. Owners wife over charged my card. Huge headache which was not worth the average food. Horrible customer service and the owners refused to rectify the situation. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)Paul E.
This is one of our favorites! We go here Everytime we vistit!
(4)Dan R.
Feb 2013, went up for a drink had, a good time with the folks and had two good bartenders, Carlos and Adam. Our friends and I decided to stay for dinner. First off I like escargot and I don't see it offered at many restaurants so I had this for an appetizer and it was yummy. We all had entrees and the dinners were very good with nice service. Not to slow and not to fast. The restaurant could use some updating but it was fun and the food was good. A little hard to find since you have to walk in through the garage after you park in front of the building. But it's worth the effort. Try it, I was nicely surprised after reading some of the other reviews, sounds like two different restaurants. Dan
(4)Steven S.
CP's review is so right ...the Top of Daytona is at the bottom of the food chain.
(1)Joe A.
We have been twice in the last month and plan to go again soon. Both times both food and service were excellent. A little pricey but the quality of the food was worth it. Old elevator is a little tacky but once you reach the "Top" the restaurant itself has been remodeled recently and the views are great.
(4)C P.
The restaurant's name is Top of Daytona, the view was really amazing! however, the food was really BOTTOM OF DAYTONA! It was the worst experience, after i finished my filet Mignon, I had to run into the lady's room. Folks, next time if you plan to visit this restaurant, make sure you bring an adult diaper.
(1)Jack K.
I believe the demographics for this restaurant is 75 and up! Cons: Old Dude singing tunes with a keyboard, Sea Gull poo splattered on the windows, antiquated decor, has a piccadilly feel, menu lacks an identity - escargot? russian dumplings? Portuguese sausage? really? Pricey! Pro: the view of the ocean only when the sun is up unless you like a complete dark void. This restaurant needs a complete overhaul or a franchise who knows how to run a business. The sign on the building has missing letters. It reads as I recall "RESTA". Fix the sign people. Get rid of the old man and the keyboard. For god's sake, he's singing too loud (probably for the hearing impaired, go figure). Somebody call Chef Ramsey!
(1)Ulysses M.
Fancy food. The menu is quite limited and definitely on the pricey side; but what really sets this place apart from the nearby restaurants is the view. You can see the ocean along with most, if not all, of Daytona. We ended up visiting on a rainy and muggy evening, full of thunder and lightning. The lightning show was pretty spectacular. Now on to the food. The server recommended the Chilean Sea Bass, which he mentioned was fresh and never frozen. I would say that he was telling the truth. The fish was very delicious. Oh and escargot! If you've never had it before, try it out! I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to give it a shot. The garlic and butter definitely made my fears go away. Yum!
(4)Paul P.
We have eaten dinner here the past 4 years while staying at the Wyndham Hotel. It's been a family favorite each year. Yes it's old and yes it has an older clientele but really ??? It's a truly fantastic experience all the way around !!!!!
(5)Gene F.
This is our second time my wife and I have eaten here, and besides the amazing view of the intercostal and the ocean, the food never ceases to amaze. Our server was very attentive and courteous. And, the ambiance is nostalgic. We'll be back with family next time.
(4)Christie B.
Had a good meal at Top of Daytona. In it's heyday I'm sure this place was amazing. It hasn't kept up nearly as well as it's counterparts in other major cities, such as "top of the mark"in San Francisco. CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR COUPONS AND SPECIALS We had a great special, $60 bottle of wine, one app, two entrees, one dessert for $95. We chose the lobster and NY Strip, so full price on this meal would have been about $150. The wine list is pretty short. A lot of Kendall Jackson. Oysters Rockefeller to start we're just ok. The New York strip was weird. It was cooked perfectly medium throughout but one end was tough and chewy. Frozen previously perhaps? Lobster tail was delicious and quite large. Bananas Foster for dessert was prepared table side and pretty good. Waiter said one of the chefs was in the hospital, so the kitchen was moving a little slow. From start to finish our meal was 2 hours, seems pretty reasonable to me!
(3)Jane P.
Dinner was...okay. Terrifically overpriced. Decor is strictly 70's. We won't be going back.
(2)Yanelly F.
This restaurant caters to an older demographic from the decor to the food ..however the food was pretty good the service was awesome so far the best in Daytona. It was a lil expensive but I was still happy with our very romantic dinner
(4)Lila W.
We finally decided to try the Top of Daytona and are so glad we did. We really enjoyed the entire evening. Of course, the views were spectacular and we saw a gorgeous sunset. Our server, Nick, helped us select an outstanding bottle of wine. I had the Chilean sea bass and my brother had the beef stroganoff in a bread bowl, and shared a seared ahi tuna appetizer. We splurged on a chocolate cake ala mode for dessert and took a piece of key lime pie home for the next day. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive but not intrusive; Nick refilled our wine glasses when needed and kept our bread basket full; he was very pleasant with a good sense of humor. The singer was a nice touch; she sang a variety of songs and stopped by the table during her break with a request song list. It was fun to hear her sing some songs that we had chosen! The entree prices ranged from about $18 to $35, with early bird specials lower, so the prices are not really any higher than similar upscale local restaurants. We do plan to visit again!
(4)Brian S.
Great views! The food was reasonably priced but nothing to rave about. Clearly the decor is outdated and not much attention has been provided to updating. We visited on a Friday night expecting entertainment...there wasn't any. The waitstaff were prompt and just okay. Probably wouldn't go again.
(3)Rachel P.
Pretty great restaurant with nice views. The food was a little overpriced, but tasted great. They also have early bird specials 4-6pm if you don't want to pay full price for dinner. I got the Linguini Vangole but substituted the pasta for penne and it was amazing. My two year old also approved. Nice environment, I would definitely come back again.
(4)Cristina D.
The view was amazing! But, I will agree with the other reviews in that the decor should be updated! It feels almost old country club-y. We went for happy hour on Tuesday. There is no music, so the sign should be changed on that. We had the raspberry glazed salmon and the steak burger. The steak burger was pretty good, and so was the salmon! Only complaint we made was that the raspberry glaze was a little too salty. Maybe order it on the side? I would suggest going to for happy hour though, because I didn't think the food was that good to be priced that high. Our server though, was great! She was knowledgeable about the menu, and she could answer all the questions we had!
(3)Curt C.
Food was average and the service had a lot to be desired. For the amounts charged one would expect excellent service and attention to detail. Our wine glasses where empty for at least 15 minutes. The waiter was a magician and would disappear for long periods of time. We asked for the manager and the girl at the front desk acted as if she didn't know what one was, then went to the back and sent out our very inexperienced server to pretend to be the manager. Would only recommend for the view and bar.
(3)roaches F.
Before we start, please bow your head and repeat after me: Thank God for snowbirds. Wanna waste 2+ hours sitting in a rundown 1970's-style restaurant bar masquerading as a high-end 'fine-dining' steak-and-seafood establishment lounge drinking over-priced drinks while being forced to listen to a $100/night former Elk's Lodge karaoke winner squawking away on a "Mr. Microphone"-quality sound system as you wait and wait and wait and wait for your table, after you had arrived 15 minutes early and checked in with the hostess, who claims to be the owner's wife, and who confirms that 'yes, we have your reservation right here, and we will be seating you shortly' - the same reservation for 2 that was supposed to have been for 95 minutes ago, and is still not ready? But wait: there's that magnificent view. Looking out over a dark, featureless ocean from 29 floors up, after the sun goes down and seeing nothing is the reason this place is still open? Kinda like looking down from 36,000 feet on your flight to Europe: really cool, for about the first 30 minutes. Then you realize that nothing changes, you're still stuck in an uncomfortable seat, next to people you really wouldn't choose to sit by on land, while your ears are accosted by noises you cannot turn off, as you continue to wait for something, anything to happen, other than being stuck sitting and staring at that same featureless expanse of water that was pretty cool for the first 30 minutes - almost 2 hours ago. As an aside, the real beauty of Florida is actually going to the beach; walking the dunes; sitting alongside or boating on the Intercoastal waterway; driving through or riding bikes in the neighborhoods; watching the birds and the wildlife; visiting the myriad springs - so many things other than just sitting behind glass in a climate-controlled tube in the sky and staring at the black, featureless nothingness that is the Atlantic Ocean after the sun goes down. But that's just me. Then you notice the guy sitting next to you is being served dinner at the bar, and you perk up because your stomach started growling as the aroma of his scorched vegetables and over-cooked baked potato triggers your olfactory senses. His steak looks like the Waffle House special cut: thin, tiny, fatty, listless, with checkerboard grill-marks mimicking Mickey D's McRib Sandwich that has a machine-formed 'rib-cutlet-patty' thing of undetermined origin with lines painted on it in an attempt to make folks believe it was prepared within a mile of an actual grill. The massive effort he's been putting into each bite as he saws and saws away at his steak with his steak knife makes us realize that perhaps this 'fine-dining' establishment may exist solely to cater to the scores of remarkably ill-informed snowbirds who each year flock to Daytona Beach, that are apparently willing to eat anything put in front of them as long as they can stare at that dark, featureless expanse of nothingness that the Atlantic Ocean becomes each night after the sun goes down. This place, this moment, right now: this must be one of those delightful memories of the Sunshine State that our fair tourists take back home with them after their week in paradise that somehow makes their having to live up north all their lives in places like Detroit or Cleveland or Milwaukee or Toledo or wherever they go back to so worthwhile. Actually, I think we passed a Waffle House on our way here. Let's forgo this magnificent view of black, featureless nothingness, and go get us one of those $7.99 steak-and-egg specials, before we drop another $40 on another round of drinks as we sit and suffer through another off-key rendition of "Rocky-Top" while we continue to get ignored by the owner's wife for another hour. The owner and his wife must say the exact same prayer every night: Thank God for snowbirds.
(1)Ralph C.
The view is great. That's it. Everything else drastically needs improvement. The old dirty dusty decor, the tired menu, wallpaper, dirty bad motel carpet, outdated glass block dividers (really?), it all needs an enema. There is barely anyone working there over the age of 30, which means pretty much kids are running the place, and when that happens, you get what you get. If there was an older manager there, he didnt show himself. The kitchen served us a filet ordered medium, and served it seared but raw on the inside. I'm not mincing words over shades of pink, i mean RAW on the inside. (Incidentally, the string beans were also browned, but raw..... Cook everything on "high" much?). When brought to the waitstaff attention, they offered to discount the bill slightly, then came back and said the manager said you ate most of it so we wont take it off the bill. i never asked for that. she offered, then acted as if i was trying to get over. Classic move of a rookie inexperienced kid manager. Bottom line, cooking a filet to order is "restaurant school 101" ,if you cant do it, you dont belong in the kitchen. I dont understand all the 4 and 5 star reviews honestly. other than the view, this place needs to be bought out, re done and blow the roof off. its a total dog now.. I eat out everywhere, pay huge money, and im realistic. even the elevator was dirty. I'm disappointed that the people of Daytona accept so little, or maybe they just don't know. Go there, order coffee, look out the window, thats it. save 200 dollars. Without the view, this place is out of business in 3 months guaranteed.
(2)Barbara S.
View = 5 stars Food = 3 stars They have a 360 degree dining area on the 30 something floor with beautiful views over the ocean and river. It's a great place to see the sunset. Our waiter, Gene, was very personable. As far as the fake plants go that some of the other yelpers complained about: fake plants usually bother me, but not here. The view is so wonderful that who is looking at the plants which are mostly up by the ceiling?! I particularly liked their rice and the veggies were good as well. The Caesar salad was meh. The food in general was adequate but not memorable. Still, we will return. They have live music on Saturday nights and I think the other night is Tuesday. The view and overall experience is a solid 4.
(4)Bobbi R.
Great place for celebration or just casual dinner. View is amazing, excellent service, vegetables cooked perfect, sea bass was pricey but excellent! Early Bird specials are a bonus...Celebrated Mom's 83rd birthday. .they fussed over her. Great time
(4)Steve C.
Great atmosphere and great meal!! Read some bad reviews and was very skeptical to try... But we were glad we came!! If you get the chance get to the Top of Daytona!! Gabriel, our waiter, was super!!
(5)David F.
I am confident that there are numerous people that would find this location a great find - but if you are looking for great food, your search doesn't end here.
(2)Melissa M.
Really an amazing view. NOT rotating but every table seems to have a view. Best food we had in Daytona. I had the scallops. Really, really tasty. Great service! I would definitely go again.
(5)