Went to The Ship Inn for an early Saturday night dinner. We were the only ones in the Lighthouse Grille area. Our waiter was pretty good. He did forget to get my wine, but that was about his only flaw. However, I ordered the filet mignon to split with my daughter. They were nice enough to serve it on two plates. I ordered it medium rare. I cut into both and they were medium at best. They were taken back and soon two other plates were served. These steaks were flat, but cooked to order. OK, never had my filet pounded flat before. Then to taste it. It melted in my mouth, but they amount of salt they put on it was overwhelming! The mushroom sauce is some kind of barbeque sauce with a few mushrooms thrown in. The potatoes and vegetables were good. When we received the check, there was an overcharge. I told the waiter and the manager came over. She was very rude but took care of the problem. Not impressed. Felt the food was very overpriced for what we received and the manager better take some customer service classes. We won't be back.
(2)
Patty V.
We visited this wonderful establishment last night on 8/22/13. The food & service was beyond outstanding. Myself, husband, son & friends of ours met here for dinner. I had the seafood penne pasta in creamy garlic sauce, my husband had the filet and our son had the strip which was featured as one of the evening specials. Our son is an Culinary Chef and raved about how amazing the food & service was. It was amazing to speak with the general manager & also our son met the owner, what an amazing staff, our server Emily was professional. For the finishing touch we had coffee & my husband had trio crème brulee, our son had house cappuccino, and the trio crème brulee which consist of 3 minis of raspberry, vanilla, chocolate... It was an amazing experience! We highly recommend Ship Inn :)
(5)
Bonnie F.
My husband and I have been here three times. Once was for an event with a set menu and private room and twice for dinner. The portions are good and the food is typically well executed. The menu is very basic american; nothing exceptional and very typical compared to the other early american inns in the area such as Kimberton or Dilworthtown. I can't say that I've had a dish that we just outright didn't like. If you go on a weeknight, the place is usually not well-attended so service is good and sitting in one of the front rooms is charming and cozy. One of our dinners was on a Saturday night when things were busier. They put us in the back of the restaurant. The back has a completely different ambiance than the front. Whereas the front is intended to be early american/rustic, the back is cheap and tacky and doesn't look like it's been renovated since the 1980's. If I recall correctly, it was some sort of a nautical theme. It's the type of place you would expect to dine at down the shore. It was pretty awful and the ambiance just stinks. They also seemed to forget about us back there; service was very slow. My in-laws have complained terribly about the service on a Saturday night so it seems to be a recurring problem for them. The wine list is not that great; lower quality wines that don't reflect the prices of the food and the type of place they seem to want to be. Overall, I would recommended they manage their house better on the weekends and they really need to overhaul the back and their wine list. Honestly, I would not dine there again if the back is all they offered me. Be sure to make a reservation and ask for a seat in the front.
(3)
Jess M.
Went to dinner at ship inn on a Friday night. Upon walking in we found out it was karaoke night. Due to past experiences, we were not too excited to eat dinner during other patron's singing. However, we were pleasantly surprised! Everyone who got up to sing had a pretty good voice and we basically got a dinner and a show! To add to the night our waitress was attentive and friendly to everyone in the room... The night was full of great food, good karaoke and a super friendly crowd. I'm sure we'll be making it back sometime soon!
(4)
Lee E.
Don't take my three stars as a bad experience. In my opinion they are trying to hard. Everyone was nice and food was good. The menu selection was not what I would of expected and the prices were higher than were necessary. I'm visiting from out of town and like to try local places as opposed to chains. I probably wouldn't go back again but only due to price and menu.
(3)
T E.
Have been here a few times in the past few months while conducting business n the area. Everything I've had has been awesome! Just getting around to the review. Service is top notch and food flavor and presentation is consistent. WiFi available and a big screen TV at the bar. I've enjoyed the historical dining rooms as well as the casual area on a Karaoke night. Karaoke night is the first Friday of every month and really attracts great singers who seem to be regulars. (this was like dinner and a show and a great time). In addition, they have live music every Friday night in the lounge...a great place to meet up for drinks and a bar appetizer. I've had a petite filet that you can cut with a spoon, juicy and flavorful and a fresh lobster tail. When the manager checked on our dining experience, we were told the filet's are all hand cut daily and the seafood is fresh, not frozen. Looks like the Ship Inn has made some great improvements in the staffing department. Drinks at the bar and in the lounge area is always a popular neighborhood spot and I noticed the bar is attracts a busy crowd. I recommend you try it.
(5)
Peter D.
Caesar salad was pretty basic but solid. Had the steak Diane (which in full disclosure did not know what it was) and it was also above average. The place looked interesting and bartenders/waitstaff were great.
(4)
Amber P.
Went here over the summer on Monday night for my birthday. It was our first time but had heard good things about the food. We had the crab and artichoke dip as a sampler, and then steak and seafood options for our meals. All of it was delicious. Our server was well informed and very attentive. Afterwards we had another drink at the bar, which was actually surprising full for a Monday evening, the bachelor was on the TV per one of the other customers requests (which frankly I enjoyed), and it was just a nice relaxed atmosphere despite the more formal dining area. After filling out a comment card we got a hand written thank you from our server, and a coupon for a appetizer on our next visit, nice and unexpected. They have a nice patio that we definitely plan to visit when it warms up. They're worth a visit in my opinion.
(4)
James Y.
I've been here a few times for lunch, and now finally for dinner. I've always had excellent food and service. I always like their calamari appetizer. The ribeye was very good, though the cut was not as large as you might get from a steakhouse. The crab cakes were very good and meaty. Service was excellent too. Why not 5 stars? I'm cheap I guess and the prices are a little more then I like to spend when I dine out. So it won't be a regular place for me, but for special occasions I'd consider going there. Just to help put things in perspective, my comfort limit is $20-25 for an entree. My ribeye special entree was $32.
I wholeheartedly agree with many of the comments here on Yelp about the Ship Inn Restaurant in Malvern, Pa. We made reservation through Open Table for Christmas Eve. We reserved a table for 5. A couple days prior Ship Inn called to confirm a table for 2 (not a big deal) Then this: Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2014 2:18 PM To: Colin Subject: Your Ship Inn Seafood and Steak Reservation Cancellation Dear Colin, Ship Inn Seafood and Steak has canceled your reservation for 5 on Wednesday, December 24, 2014. If you have questions about your canceled reservation, please contact Ship Inn Seafood and Steak at (610) 363-7200. We hope to see you on OpenTable soon! Sincerely, OpenTable Member Services As you can imagine had a somewhat panicked reaction and immediately reached for the phone so I could spend twenty minutes on hold while they figured it out. Our reservation had not been cancelled. No one knew why I got the e-mail. In retrospect I would have been better off just going elsewhere. We arrived on time. The greeting upon entry included blank stares from staff in the foyer. The Manager Lady asked my name and began setting up a table in one of their "fancy" rooms with a fireplace. I had my kids with me, and prefer their less fancy dining room so I asked if that would be OK. She said "let me check"...and then sat us in the bar. My Mother-in-Law was not pleased. The table was not fully set, and one side had you sitting with your back to the actual bar and the door where bar patrons could come and go. The waiter came over looking as though he had just learned he was responsible for a table outside of his section, and was even more disappointed when we answered "why yes we would like to see menus" My mother-in-law was not pleased. If you have kids, the Ship Inn would like you to know that they do not like children. I know this because when I bring my children to a restaurant I don't feed them beforehand. This being the case they tend to be hungry. I know the Ship Inn does not like children because they do not offer hungry children anything hungry children would remotely consider eating. Those of you with children will know what I mean. The waiter was very clear in explaining their menu was unalterably complete in its offerings. If your child isn't into steak or seafood exactly as it is listed on the menu too bad. (way to maximize your per seat sales oh bean counting guru) I would have gladly paid a fixed amount in excess of the typical cost for the option of something my kids could eat. I get it, it's a holiday, and you need to keep the doors open. Charge a flat $19.95 for kids and give me a couple choices! As it was my son ate NOTHING so how's your genius per seat sales plan look now? To the food: Greatest quote ever: My eight year old daughter (forced to order the Shrimp Lejon) said "dad, you know that Chinese takeout place we go" "Yeah honey?" "I've had better shrimp there" She wasn't talking about the sauce or flavors. The shrimp was skinny and overcooked. My medium rare Steak was still mooing while my wife's medium rare steak was on the well side. Crab Ravioli were wonderful...all three of the cutest little, teeny tiny pieces you've ever seen. The rest I want bore you with but $240 later I have one last thing to convey: pre*ten*tious /prten(t)SHs/ Adjective: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. "A pretentious literary device" (like what I'm doing now) Synonyms: affected, ostentatious, showy;
(1)
Mercedes M.
My husband and I just moved into the area and we were looking for a quiet, comfortable restaurant to have dinner with some good friends who live locally. We found the ship inn and despite mixed online reviews my dining experience was superb. We came in early on a Wednesday night and were seated in a smartly ordained and cleanly set dining room at the front of the house. We had the whole room to ourselves for the first half hour, at a spacious table near the old hearth, before other diners began to trickle in. I absolutely love cozy old buildings like this btw. Charming woodwork and hand cut stone really take you back to revolutionary times and make a great atmosphere for enjoying dinner. Our server, Eric, was extremely polite, knowledgeable, and offered great recommendations. Never had to ask for bread or to have our cocktails filled. All our courses came out perfectly timed. Very attentive yet not imposing. This is service worth paying for! Will request him in the future. The food was exceptional. I started with a fresh strawberry salad and we shared an order of the calamari. Whatever they bread the squid with is delicious. Light, golden brown with a hint of saltiness. For dinner I had the crab cakes. Hands down some of the best crab cakes I've ever had and I used to spend my summer's in Maryland. No filler and seared to perfection. My husband had a 12 oz. Veal chop with shrimp and was equally impressed. For dessert we shared lightly fried cheese cake spring rolls with caramelized strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Mmmm:-) Over all I had a phenomenal experience at the ship inn. We will be returning and I will recommend to my friends!
(5)
Louis C.
There are some very low star reviews on here so I made sure to read very carefully before going to the ship inn. Most of these bad reviews were not warranted, people complaining about not being able to order off menu and complaining that after changing their seating preference last minute on Christmas Eve they didn't like their tables. I had a great experience at the ship inn, very welcoming with great food. I saddled up to the bar and was greeted warmly and quickly. I had the crab spinach artichoke dip and it was excellent, and it didn't have that layer of grease you would expect to see if they used cheap cheese. I ordered the NY strip steak next and it was perfectly cooked. A nice crust on the outside and rare on the inside it almost looked like they had sous vide the steak it was so perfect. Two beers and an espresso later I walked out only spending $55 before tip. All in all great meal and great folks, good work ships inn!
(4)
Kathy S.
We celebrated my sons college graduation with a party of eight at the ship inn recently. My crab cakes were probably the best I've ever had. Everyone raved about their food! Our servers could not have been more attentive and gracious. Thank you ship inn for flawlessly accommodating us on this special evening.
(5)
Kevin Z.
My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary and they were wonderful. We had artichoke crab dip for an appetizer and it rocked. The fillet mignon medallions were great. And we had champagne on the house to celebrate. Wonderful experience.
(4)
Chad E.
I ate at the Ship Inn on Sunday evening... It was overall pretty average. Nothing special. I had a caeser salad, which had tomatoes and the lettuce was a little old. The bread was rationed... They only allowed us to have a piece of bread per person. We had to ask for more... They gave us to much butter, not proportioned well with the bread. We also ordered the Spinach and Crab dip with pita bread, which was very tasty. But we were also rationed on the pita bread which was agitating also. For main courses i ordered a filet mignon with a lobster tail add on. The lobster was good. But the steak was overcooked for my liking, and quite bland. The other two people I was with ordered steaks also and they said they were bland too. The potatoes were yummy, and so was the "spatzle" special, which was also good. The atmosphere was interesting. It is an old building, and it is cozy, but some of the wallpaper is not fitting to the restaraunt. Also the music is very uncalled for. It is a random mix of songs that do not go well with the restaraunt either. It was very expensive for 3 people it was $140. Overall sub-par.
(2)
Peter H.
Went for Happy Hour last night with a group. . The bartender was obnoxious. Acted as if we were bothering him being there at all and then having the temerity to order a drink. Not friendly. Downright rude at times. I spoke to other patrons who said he was always like that with people and that of old patrons won't go any longer because of him.
(1)
Kathy P.
We had reservations for New Year's Eve dinner for 7:00. We arrived about 20 minutes early to have a drink at the bar. The bartender was not very friendly. I left the bar area to tell someone that we had arrived for our reservations. I stood in the lobby for about 10 minutes and no one took the time to speak to me, so I went back to the bar. Our group of 7 finally made it to our table. We were seated in a lovely small room by a fireplace. We asked the waiter very nicely if we could have individual checks - he responded not tonight. The waiter was totally over worked - he had no help with our table. He was both busboy and waiter. The service was very slow. We did not even order our dinners until an hour after being seated. Our drink orders came fairly quickly. There was a special menu for New Year's Eve which turned out to be a little different than the menu online for the special evening. Everyone in our party ordered a salad except for one person. The waiter asked if we wanted a small or large salad when we ordered, but when he delivered the salads he said they only had one size that night. The salads were very large and delicious - very good dressing. I had the poached pear salad. Our entrees were very tasty. I had the salmon which came with mashed potatoes and squash. The portions were just right. It could have been a little hotter. Everyone in our party enjoyed their entrees. We also ordered a few desserts to share. I was surprised when they delivered the desserts already split for each person. Overall, the food was good but the service was a little slow because I don't think they had enough help for a busy New Year's Eve.
(3)
Paul K.
Recently went for my wife's birthday, after we had not been there in about 2 years. The good: They have nice dining areas, very pretty and one of those increasingly rare nice restaurants that's not trying to be a pub or slow fast food, just a classic place. The OK: The food was just ok. The portions are a bit small, I got the seafood paella was pretty weak, rice is cheap to put in and this barely had any. Nothing was memorable about the food or it's execution and it took forever to come out we were there over 2 hours and no the drinks were not flowing...which brings me to... The ugly: Some of the worst service I have had in awhile. The server, a fellow who's name starts with a B would probably not be capable to work in a McDondalds. Asked a question about a wine, his response was "I have no idea what that wine is. The food service was slow and we had to tell him we wanted to order, he did not ask even after sitting for 15 mins, yes we do want to order food! But the worst was the amount of time this guy spent on his cell phone. Right within view this guy is checking his phone, then answering his phone, and even making a call! He dropped our check, walked 10 feet away and actually whipped the phone out and called somebody. I don't see that a fast food place let alone a place I am dropping over 100 bucks at, and maybe that was why I our food was coming out so slow Needless to say it's not Bs fault, it's who ever is managing him, training him(or rather not training on wines) and hiring him. I hoped to see the manager come by or when we walked by but I saw nobody that looked like they were in charge during the entire meal. I would write an email to Ship Inn but they don't actually have "contact us" option on their website. I hope get a manager there that starts keeping a better eye on service, because I want the place to succeed.
(2)
Ed M.
I had the filet mignon 6oz cut and it was average good, but I had better for the price. On the other hand, the potatoes and veggies were really good but the portion was small. For dessert I had a really good chocolate pecan pie but the cup of coffee was mediocre. If you like to dine in a historic building and enjoy the ambience, then this place may be your cup of tea. Enjoy!
(3)
Chantelle C.
I have been to the Ship Inn a few times and my meals have been great. The only issue I have with this place is the staff. For the price, you would expect pretty good service, but don't depend on that. The first time I went there we were waiting to be seated and were completely ignored by all who passed by for 15 minutes and the restaurant wasn't very busy. Another time I went with my boyfriend who has a severe food allergy. We immediately told our waiter so that she could check with the chef about our meal dishes. He asked about a dish and she said that it was fine to order...well it wasn't! We had to leave our dinner early because he had a reaction to the food. I was so upset by this that I contacted the manager to tell him that his staff needs to be more careful with such a serious health issue. He apologized and gave us a voucher for a meal. I used it, had a delicious meal and moved on.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Dawn C.
Went to The Ship Inn for an early Saturday night dinner. We were the only ones in the Lighthouse Grille area. Our waiter was pretty good. He did forget to get my wine, but that was about his only flaw. However, I ordered the filet mignon to split with my daughter. They were nice enough to serve it on two plates. I ordered it medium rare. I cut into both and they were medium at best. They were taken back and soon two other plates were served. These steaks were flat, but cooked to order. OK, never had my filet pounded flat before. Then to taste it. It melted in my mouth, but they amount of salt they put on it was overwhelming! The mushroom sauce is some kind of barbeque sauce with a few mushrooms thrown in. The potatoes and vegetables were good. When we received the check, there was an overcharge. I told the waiter and the manager came over. She was very rude but took care of the problem. Not impressed. Felt the food was very overpriced for what we received and the manager better take some customer service classes. We won't be back.
(2)Patty V.
We visited this wonderful establishment last night on 8/22/13. The food & service was beyond outstanding. Myself, husband, son & friends of ours met here for dinner. I had the seafood penne pasta in creamy garlic sauce, my husband had the filet and our son had the strip which was featured as one of the evening specials. Our son is an Culinary Chef and raved about how amazing the food & service was. It was amazing to speak with the general manager & also our son met the owner, what an amazing staff, our server Emily was professional. For the finishing touch we had coffee & my husband had trio crème brulee, our son had house cappuccino, and the trio crème brulee which consist of 3 minis of raspberry, vanilla, chocolate... It was an amazing experience! We highly recommend Ship Inn :)
(5)Bonnie F.
My husband and I have been here three times. Once was for an event with a set menu and private room and twice for dinner. The portions are good and the food is typically well executed. The menu is very basic american; nothing exceptional and very typical compared to the other early american inns in the area such as Kimberton or Dilworthtown. I can't say that I've had a dish that we just outright didn't like. If you go on a weeknight, the place is usually not well-attended so service is good and sitting in one of the front rooms is charming and cozy. One of our dinners was on a Saturday night when things were busier. They put us in the back of the restaurant. The back has a completely different ambiance than the front. Whereas the front is intended to be early american/rustic, the back is cheap and tacky and doesn't look like it's been renovated since the 1980's. If I recall correctly, it was some sort of a nautical theme. It's the type of place you would expect to dine at down the shore. It was pretty awful and the ambiance just stinks. They also seemed to forget about us back there; service was very slow. My in-laws have complained terribly about the service on a Saturday night so it seems to be a recurring problem for them. The wine list is not that great; lower quality wines that don't reflect the prices of the food and the type of place they seem to want to be. Overall, I would recommended they manage their house better on the weekends and they really need to overhaul the back and their wine list. Honestly, I would not dine there again if the back is all they offered me. Be sure to make a reservation and ask for a seat in the front.
(3)Jess M.
Went to dinner at ship inn on a Friday night. Upon walking in we found out it was karaoke night. Due to past experiences, we were not too excited to eat dinner during other patron's singing. However, we were pleasantly surprised! Everyone who got up to sing had a pretty good voice and we basically got a dinner and a show! To add to the night our waitress was attentive and friendly to everyone in the room... The night was full of great food, good karaoke and a super friendly crowd. I'm sure we'll be making it back sometime soon!
(4)Lee E.
Don't take my three stars as a bad experience. In my opinion they are trying to hard. Everyone was nice and food was good. The menu selection was not what I would of expected and the prices were higher than were necessary. I'm visiting from out of town and like to try local places as opposed to chains. I probably wouldn't go back again but only due to price and menu.
(3)T E.
Have been here a few times in the past few months while conducting business n the area. Everything I've had has been awesome! Just getting around to the review. Service is top notch and food flavor and presentation is consistent. WiFi available and a big screen TV at the bar. I've enjoyed the historical dining rooms as well as the casual area on a Karaoke night. Karaoke night is the first Friday of every month and really attracts great singers who seem to be regulars. (this was like dinner and a show and a great time). In addition, they have live music every Friday night in the lounge...a great place to meet up for drinks and a bar appetizer. I've had a petite filet that you can cut with a spoon, juicy and flavorful and a fresh lobster tail. When the manager checked on our dining experience, we were told the filet's are all hand cut daily and the seafood is fresh, not frozen. Looks like the Ship Inn has made some great improvements in the staffing department. Drinks at the bar and in the lounge area is always a popular neighborhood spot and I noticed the bar is attracts a busy crowd. I recommend you try it.
(5)Peter D.
Caesar salad was pretty basic but solid. Had the steak Diane (which in full disclosure did not know what it was) and it was also above average. The place looked interesting and bartenders/waitstaff were great.
(4)Amber P.
Went here over the summer on Monday night for my birthday. It was our first time but had heard good things about the food. We had the crab and artichoke dip as a sampler, and then steak and seafood options for our meals. All of it was delicious. Our server was well informed and very attentive. Afterwards we had another drink at the bar, which was actually surprising full for a Monday evening, the bachelor was on the TV per one of the other customers requests (which frankly I enjoyed), and it was just a nice relaxed atmosphere despite the more formal dining area. After filling out a comment card we got a hand written thank you from our server, and a coupon for a appetizer on our next visit, nice and unexpected. They have a nice patio that we definitely plan to visit when it warms up. They're worth a visit in my opinion.
(4)James Y.
I've been here a few times for lunch, and now finally for dinner. I've always had excellent food and service. I always like their calamari appetizer. The ribeye was very good, though the cut was not as large as you might get from a steakhouse. The crab cakes were very good and meaty. Service was excellent too. Why not 5 stars? I'm cheap I guess and the prices are a little more then I like to spend when I dine out. So it won't be a regular place for me, but for special occasions I'd consider going there. Just to help put things in perspective, my comfort limit is $20-25 for an entree. My ribeye special entree was $32.
(4)Chris S.
I have a rule to not work with businesses that make bad first impressions. I broke my own rule with Ship Inn, so I probably shouldn't be surprised at the results. This review is based solely on our one experience, and we understand it may be a unique situation. We called to get some basic information about the menu and forgot to check on a detail, so we called back. The second person we talked to contradicted the first and wasn't particularly friendly. We made a reservation anyway, thus breaking our own rule. Showing up a few minutes before our reservation, a medium size group was in front of us, and we all waited several minutes without being acknowledged. When we asked for a hostess, the response was curt, and when the hostess arrived, her attitude was poor, almost as if we had been rude by asking for someone. We were seated in the restaurant, but had made a reservation for the lounge, based on information we had received from the phone call. The concern was whether we were able to order all items from the menu in either or both places; because it appeared we were indeed able to order everything from the main restaurant menu, we were okay with staying. The hostess came over to inquire whether we would prefer to be in the lounge, and we stated we were comfortable staying where we were. I'm not sure if she had a problem with that, because it seemed to bother her. We waited several minutes for a server, and for our water glasses to be filled. My glass was greasy. The server was not knowledgeable about the wine selection. Our two glasses (of different wines) were unsatisfactory and tasted like the bottles had been opened a long time. Our order of calamari was all breading with no "meat" to speak of. The preparation of the chicken special was heavy-handed, with a brown sauce that did nothing to bring out the flavors of the spinach and mushrooms. The pasta, crab, and shrimp entrée was thrown together with a flavorless pasta, only a little bit of crab, and shrimp that tasted like fried chicken. The Chicken Francaise was extremely lemony and overcooked. Even though we left most of our meals and appetizer unfinished and provided direct feedback on how bad the calamari was, no attempt was made to address this, nor was the calamari removed from the bill. So, we left utterly disappointed and most certainly will not return.
(1)Colin M.
I wholeheartedly agree with many of the comments here on Yelp about the Ship Inn Restaurant in Malvern, Pa. We made reservation through Open Table for Christmas Eve. We reserved a table for 5. A couple days prior Ship Inn called to confirm a table for 2 (not a big deal) Then this: Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2014 2:18 PM To: Colin Subject: Your Ship Inn Seafood and Steak Reservation Cancellation Dear Colin, Ship Inn Seafood and Steak has canceled your reservation for 5 on Wednesday, December 24, 2014. If you have questions about your canceled reservation, please contact Ship Inn Seafood and Steak at (610) 363-7200. We hope to see you on OpenTable soon! Sincerely, OpenTable Member Services As you can imagine had a somewhat panicked reaction and immediately reached for the phone so I could spend twenty minutes on hold while they figured it out. Our reservation had not been cancelled. No one knew why I got the e-mail. In retrospect I would have been better off just going elsewhere. We arrived on time. The greeting upon entry included blank stares from staff in the foyer. The Manager Lady asked my name and began setting up a table in one of their "fancy" rooms with a fireplace. I had my kids with me, and prefer their less fancy dining room so I asked if that would be OK. She said "let me check"...and then sat us in the bar. My Mother-in-Law was not pleased. The table was not fully set, and one side had you sitting with your back to the actual bar and the door where bar patrons could come and go. The waiter came over looking as though he had just learned he was responsible for a table outside of his section, and was even more disappointed when we answered "why yes we would like to see menus" My mother-in-law was not pleased. If you have kids, the Ship Inn would like you to know that they do not like children. I know this because when I bring my children to a restaurant I don't feed them beforehand. This being the case they tend to be hungry. I know the Ship Inn does not like children because they do not offer hungry children anything hungry children would remotely consider eating. Those of you with children will know what I mean. The waiter was very clear in explaining their menu was unalterably complete in its offerings. If your child isn't into steak or seafood exactly as it is listed on the menu too bad. (way to maximize your per seat sales oh bean counting guru) I would have gladly paid a fixed amount in excess of the typical cost for the option of something my kids could eat. I get it, it's a holiday, and you need to keep the doors open. Charge a flat $19.95 for kids and give me a couple choices! As it was my son ate NOTHING so how's your genius per seat sales plan look now? To the food: Greatest quote ever: My eight year old daughter (forced to order the Shrimp Lejon) said "dad, you know that Chinese takeout place we go" "Yeah honey?" "I've had better shrimp there" She wasn't talking about the sauce or flavors. The shrimp was skinny and overcooked. My medium rare Steak was still mooing while my wife's medium rare steak was on the well side. Crab Ravioli were wonderful...all three of the cutest little, teeny tiny pieces you've ever seen. The rest I want bore you with but $240 later I have one last thing to convey: pre*ten*tious /prten(t)SHs/ Adjective: Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. "A pretentious literary device" (like what I'm doing now) Synonyms: affected, ostentatious, showy;
(1)Mercedes M.
My husband and I just moved into the area and we were looking for a quiet, comfortable restaurant to have dinner with some good friends who live locally. We found the ship inn and despite mixed online reviews my dining experience was superb. We came in early on a Wednesday night and were seated in a smartly ordained and cleanly set dining room at the front of the house. We had the whole room to ourselves for the first half hour, at a spacious table near the old hearth, before other diners began to trickle in. I absolutely love cozy old buildings like this btw. Charming woodwork and hand cut stone really take you back to revolutionary times and make a great atmosphere for enjoying dinner. Our server, Eric, was extremely polite, knowledgeable, and offered great recommendations. Never had to ask for bread or to have our cocktails filled. All our courses came out perfectly timed. Very attentive yet not imposing. This is service worth paying for! Will request him in the future. The food was exceptional. I started with a fresh strawberry salad and we shared an order of the calamari. Whatever they bread the squid with is delicious. Light, golden brown with a hint of saltiness. For dinner I had the crab cakes. Hands down some of the best crab cakes I've ever had and I used to spend my summer's in Maryland. No filler and seared to perfection. My husband had a 12 oz. Veal chop with shrimp and was equally impressed. For dessert we shared lightly fried cheese cake spring rolls with caramelized strawberries and vanilla ice cream. Mmmm:-) Over all I had a phenomenal experience at the ship inn. We will be returning and I will recommend to my friends!
(5)Louis C.
There are some very low star reviews on here so I made sure to read very carefully before going to the ship inn. Most of these bad reviews were not warranted, people complaining about not being able to order off menu and complaining that after changing their seating preference last minute on Christmas Eve they didn't like their tables. I had a great experience at the ship inn, very welcoming with great food. I saddled up to the bar and was greeted warmly and quickly. I had the crab spinach artichoke dip and it was excellent, and it didn't have that layer of grease you would expect to see if they used cheap cheese. I ordered the NY strip steak next and it was perfectly cooked. A nice crust on the outside and rare on the inside it almost looked like they had sous vide the steak it was so perfect. Two beers and an espresso later I walked out only spending $55 before tip. All in all great meal and great folks, good work ships inn!
(4)Kathy S.
We celebrated my sons college graduation with a party of eight at the ship inn recently. My crab cakes were probably the best I've ever had. Everyone raved about their food! Our servers could not have been more attentive and gracious. Thank you ship inn for flawlessly accommodating us on this special evening.
(5)Kevin Z.
My girlfriend and I went here for our anniversary and they were wonderful. We had artichoke crab dip for an appetizer and it rocked. The fillet mignon medallions were great. And we had champagne on the house to celebrate. Wonderful experience.
(4)Chad E.
I ate at the Ship Inn on Sunday evening... It was overall pretty average. Nothing special. I had a caeser salad, which had tomatoes and the lettuce was a little old. The bread was rationed... They only allowed us to have a piece of bread per person. We had to ask for more... They gave us to much butter, not proportioned well with the bread. We also ordered the Spinach and Crab dip with pita bread, which was very tasty. But we were also rationed on the pita bread which was agitating also. For main courses i ordered a filet mignon with a lobster tail add on. The lobster was good. But the steak was overcooked for my liking, and quite bland. The other two people I was with ordered steaks also and they said they were bland too. The potatoes were yummy, and so was the "spatzle" special, which was also good. The atmosphere was interesting. It is an old building, and it is cozy, but some of the wallpaper is not fitting to the restaraunt. Also the music is very uncalled for. It is a random mix of songs that do not go well with the restaraunt either. It was very expensive for 3 people it was $140. Overall sub-par.
(2)Peter H.
Went for Happy Hour last night with a group. . The bartender was obnoxious. Acted as if we were bothering him being there at all and then having the temerity to order a drink. Not friendly. Downright rude at times. I spoke to other patrons who said he was always like that with people and that of old patrons won't go any longer because of him.
(1)Kathy P.
We had reservations for New Year's Eve dinner for 7:00. We arrived about 20 minutes early to have a drink at the bar. The bartender was not very friendly. I left the bar area to tell someone that we had arrived for our reservations. I stood in the lobby for about 10 minutes and no one took the time to speak to me, so I went back to the bar. Our group of 7 finally made it to our table. We were seated in a lovely small room by a fireplace. We asked the waiter very nicely if we could have individual checks - he responded not tonight. The waiter was totally over worked - he had no help with our table. He was both busboy and waiter. The service was very slow. We did not even order our dinners until an hour after being seated. Our drink orders came fairly quickly. There was a special menu for New Year's Eve which turned out to be a little different than the menu online for the special evening. Everyone in our party ordered a salad except for one person. The waiter asked if we wanted a small or large salad when we ordered, but when he delivered the salads he said they only had one size that night. The salads were very large and delicious - very good dressing. I had the poached pear salad. Our entrees were very tasty. I had the salmon which came with mashed potatoes and squash. The portions were just right. It could have been a little hotter. Everyone in our party enjoyed their entrees. We also ordered a few desserts to share. I was surprised when they delivered the desserts already split for each person. Overall, the food was good but the service was a little slow because I don't think they had enough help for a busy New Year's Eve.
(3)Paul K.
Recently went for my wife's birthday, after we had not been there in about 2 years. The good: They have nice dining areas, very pretty and one of those increasingly rare nice restaurants that's not trying to be a pub or slow fast food, just a classic place. The OK: The food was just ok. The portions are a bit small, I got the seafood paella was pretty weak, rice is cheap to put in and this barely had any. Nothing was memorable about the food or it's execution and it took forever to come out we were there over 2 hours and no the drinks were not flowing...which brings me to... The ugly: Some of the worst service I have had in awhile. The server, a fellow who's name starts with a B would probably not be capable to work in a McDondalds. Asked a question about a wine, his response was "I have no idea what that wine is. The food service was slow and we had to tell him we wanted to order, he did not ask even after sitting for 15 mins, yes we do want to order food! But the worst was the amount of time this guy spent on his cell phone. Right within view this guy is checking his phone, then answering his phone, and even making a call! He dropped our check, walked 10 feet away and actually whipped the phone out and called somebody. I don't see that a fast food place let alone a place I am dropping over 100 bucks at, and maybe that was why I our food was coming out so slow Needless to say it's not Bs fault, it's who ever is managing him, training him(or rather not training on wines) and hiring him. I hoped to see the manager come by or when we walked by but I saw nobody that looked like they were in charge during the entire meal. I would write an email to Ship Inn but they don't actually have "contact us" option on their website. I hope get a manager there that starts keeping a better eye on service, because I want the place to succeed.
(2)Ed M.
I had the filet mignon 6oz cut and it was average good, but I had better for the price. On the other hand, the potatoes and veggies were really good but the portion was small. For dessert I had a really good chocolate pecan pie but the cup of coffee was mediocre. If you like to dine in a historic building and enjoy the ambience, then this place may be your cup of tea. Enjoy!
(3)Chantelle C.
I have been to the Ship Inn a few times and my meals have been great. The only issue I have with this place is the staff. For the price, you would expect pretty good service, but don't depend on that. The first time I went there we were waiting to be seated and were completely ignored by all who passed by for 15 minutes and the restaurant wasn't very busy. Another time I went with my boyfriend who has a severe food allergy. We immediately told our waiter so that she could check with the chef about our meal dishes. He asked about a dish and she said that it was fine to order...well it wasn't! We had to leave our dinner early because he had a reaction to the food. I was so upset by this that I contacted the manager to tell him that his staff needs to be more careful with such a serious health issue. He apologized and gave us a voucher for a meal. I used it, had a delicious meal and moved on.
(3)