The Breezeway Restaurant & Bar
112 E 1st St, Sanford, FL, 32771
The Breezeway Restaurant & Bar Menu
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Address :
112 E 1st St
Sanford, FL, 32771 - Phone (407) 878-1284
- Website https://www.thebreezewayrestaurantandbar.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Steve F.
Having eaten at this establishment many, many times for both lunch and dinner, I felt the need to dispel some previous reviews with my own. First of all, everything is prepared fresh to order. Nothing, to my knowledge, is frozen - not the bread, not the twice baked potatoes, not the calamari, definitely not the fish. Quite a few people have complained about the service and/or time it takes to get your food. Like I said... the food is prepared and cooked fresh, to order. Order the chicken, fish or pork tenderloin that is fried? It is fried up fresh. Period. I could detail more but here's the deal... if you're looking for prepackaged, already prepared and simply heated, QUICK ARRIVING MEALS... eat at Olive Garden or some other chain establishment. Second, as far as food arriving that is cold, or a butter sauce that has congealed... I have eaten at this establishment 30+ times. I have never, ever received any order that was cold or tasted like it had been sitting in the kitchen. I have eaten here on very busy Fri and Sat nights, and when there were only 2 tables sat for a Sunday lunch. I have never received any meal that was sub-par. The service is not top notch fancy restaurant... where as they don't have 50 servers running around checking on tables every 30 seconds, which in my opinion, is a good thing. All I expect is to be greeted with a smile, answer questions on the menu, take my order down correctly, and serve the food promptly. None of those have ever been an issue at the Breezeway. The last thing I want is a server hanging over my table asking if everything is ok every 30 seconds. I really don't understand what some of you who review expect of service. As for the meals themselves, I've tasted just about everything on the menu, but usually opt for one of the specials (at least for dinner). We love to eat here during the happy hour on Friday nights to try multiple appetizers, since they are half price. All have been very good, with the shrimp being one of my favorites (basically a shrimp cocktail with some of the freshest shrimp I've had out). The grouper is always amazing, fresh, and cooked perfectly. The last detail I want to add is the price vs portion size. Let me put it this way... you get exactly what you pay for. Meals are a tad bit pricier than your usual chain options, but the portions are tremendous. I have absolutely no problem spending more on something that is a) fresh, b) cooked to order, and c) decent portion. You will not leave hungry. If you want to try something new, in regards to not one of your usual chain establishments that unfortunately, in our area, is what we're left to choose from... and eat food that is prepared uniquely, with care and love, and with a great atmosphere... the Breezeway is the place to be. I do not work here, I do not know the owner or anyone who works here personally... just wanted to give an honest review of a place that deserves it. I did have to laugh at one of the comments talking about the wine being 2 days old, or whatever the ridiculous statement was. Really?
(5)Julia W.
The Breezeway has been open for about one year now. Which is still fairly new in terms of restaurants in my opinion. Since I live in the downtown Sanford area, My family and I have dined here on a few occasions since its conception. Sanford has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the last few years, and as such it has affected each and every one of its small privately owned businesses. In spite of that, I can tell you that I've seen drastic improvements in the service and food quality here at The Breezeway since it's opening. The atmosphere has always been fantastic, whether it's enjoying the outdoor sidewalk and patio service during a lovely sunny day, or at night under its hundreds of twinkling lights. I do suggest The Big Fish sandwich or The Pork Tenderloin sandwich. I appreciate that The Breezeway does appear to take pride in their new little business, and that they have been taking the time to listen and learn from their consumers with regard to what they are expecting. The food was good- not amazing yet. The service was also good. The atmosphere was perfect. We enjoyed the live music, but it would be nice if it was a tad quieter, so that we could enjoy a dinner conversation without having to repeat ourselves. We will be back soon.
(4)Josh C.
Went here in the middle of the day, when it wasn't busy nor completely dead. Things started off well, got drinks quickly and ordered pretty quickly as well. Unfortunately that is the extent of the positive experience. It took an hour and twenty minutes to get food for two people (a burger and a sandwich) and our waitress didn't seem to think that was too outrageous. The food was decent but nothing special, and there is no way it should have taken as long as it did. Others in the restaurant seemed to have the same experience, since many of them seemed to be commenting on how long their food took. Definitely won't be coming back here for some mediocre food that took forever.
(1)Sean M.
Perhaps it was just an off night for The Breezeway crew last night; this being our first time having stopped in for an evening meal there, there's no way for us to be sure. The service was alright. They were obviously busy and our server was training someone. So taking that into consideration, I give the service 3 stars. I ordered a $7 glass of Pinot Noir that as soon as it was placed in front of me I could tell it was from a two-day opened bottle at best. The vinegar smell was obvious. So as not to risk getting another glass from the same bottle, I ended up trading in for a glass of Chardonnay that was much better. As for the meal, I ordered the house special which was three breaded grouper filets served in a white wine lemon-butter sauce with side of linguine and a twice-baked potato. My fiancé opted for the fried shrimp with twice-baked potato for a side and a side salad. The bread that was served prior to the arrival of the salad tasted like a prefab frozen bread with a last minute attempt to dress it with a scarce few crumbs of asiago. It even looked like a last minute idea. The salad arrived with what was supposed to be bleu cheese dressing. Soupy and tasting more like a mix of thousand island with ricotta cheese, it was probably the poorest excuse for bleu cheese dressing I've come across in a while. The food arrived after some time. When it did arrive, again, I could immediately see that it had been sitting back in the kitchen for a while. The white wine lemon-butter sauce had already congealed. The twice-baked potatoes looked twice-baked and three-times frozen prior to. The only thing on either of our plates that was remotely hot enough to serve was my fiancé's shrimp. When I explained to our server that the food was just plain cold, she apologized and found the manager (or owner, I'm not sure what he was). He apologized as well and attempted to re-do our meals. I explained that we would just like to pay for drinks and move on with our evening. He was gracious enough and again apologized. He comped the meals, but we did pay for our drinks. Good enough. Now we have eaten Sunday brunch there before on a couple of occasions (they no longer do Sunday brunch, unfortunately) and it was fantastic. The cheesy grits they served were delicious and they fried their eggs in bacon grease which, to me, is the only way to fry eggs. I know that horrifies some of you out there. Not only was the breakfast excellent but their coffee was delicious to boot. I started to look forward to our Sunday morning breakfast at The Breezeway, but sadly, that's a thing of the past.
(2)Elaine B.
Great service. Grouper sandwich, fish tacos and fried green tomato caprese were all great!
(4)roaches F.
Great place! Wish I was an investor in The Breezeway. This place is going to be a winner - the owners are very savvy about what people like and are hand's-on and local; the servers know everyone in town; the food is very well prepared; the prices are reasonable; the atmosphere is very convivial with both an inside and outside area; there's plenty of easily-accessible parking; the location can't be beat - what's not to like? Try the New Zealand mussels - cooked just right - tender and tasty - prepared and placed in front of you in a large bowl of a to-die-for garlic/butter reduction - ask for extra bread in order to sop up all of the little morsels of amazing flavors enveloped in that delightful and flavorful reduction at the bottom of the bowl. Save room - time to move on to one of the best dinner values in FL - The Mayor. This huge rib-eye steak is advertised on the menu as being 26 oz - at least - and looks awesome when delivered sizzling hot and cooked to perfection to your table. The chef makes magic happen with some secret rub prior to grilling - the delectable, crusty exterior shows perfect grill marks and really adds an amazing mouth-feel to every bite. The medium-rare middle is oh-so-tender - you can almost skip using the large steak knife accompanying your meal. Did I also mention what a bargain this steak is? How about under $30 including a cold, crispy, fresh mixed green salad, a side (potato/twice-baked/greeen of the day), and a basket of hot bread - an incredible value for a steak dinner that will hold its own in comparison to Ruth's, Fleming's, or Morton's - for far less than half the price. One minor quibble - I hope the owners consider upgrading their wine selections - a meal this good deserves an equally impressive wine accompaniment. All in all, a wonderful place - for eats, or just drinks - has finally arrived in downtown Sanford. Congratulations to the owners for taking the time to think through, build out, and then deliver on a first-class experience in our humble little town.
(5)kelley s.
Yes, my dirty martini was amazing! BUT!!!! the service was not... our bartender was amazing until her "boss" came around and scolded her infront of us for pouring a tad too much when she made our tinis... As a manager myself, that is rude and horrible management. We also were served less than par calamari...frozen season less calamari does not hit the spot. The mussels were great and so was the bread. They have remodeled it and made it a lot brighter so that's great. But...there's a new place right next door that offered MUCH better service so I'll be heading over there first. SORRY!
(3)Romy S.
We have been going to the Breezeway almost since the day it opened. It is one of our favorite restaurants in Sanford. Management regularly walks the tables and enquires about your experience. Love the filet, fried shrimp, burger, and ribeye. Management even started to carry angry orchard after I asked about it. They are very dog friendly and we frequently take ours with us to dinner. Overall, the service we have had has been fine. There are some servers we prefer to others but there has never been a really bad service experience. There was one incident with the kitchen but management resolved it immediately and there has never been a problem since. The Breezeway is our go to place and there have been times we go there 2-3 times a week.
(5)Marc G.
Had lunch planned with a friend for today and read the review by Heather McPherson in the Sentinel on Sunday, so thought this would be a great place for us to go for a late lunch. This is a very nice, very cozy, comfortable place with more dining tables outside. The staff was as friendly and helpful as could be. At first glance, there is so much on the menu and you might wonder how they can do all that and well at the same time. Because of the size of the menu, it took us a little while to order, but then we were in no rush & neither did we feel rushed at any time during our stay. My friend ordered the Philly Cheesesteak and I had the Grouper sandwich. I was going to order it blackened, but when I asked the server if the blackening was spicy she said no, but also added that she doesn't like blackening nor spicy food. To me the main part to blackening a piece of meat is for the proper spices used. So, with that said, I decided to go with fried. The grouper that was served was an oversized plank falling all over the kaiser roll. It was served with homemade tartar sauce that was just yummy and I opted for the french fries. At first glance, it was definitely a nice sized portion, but when I picked up the sandwich, the heft of it blew me away. The grouper was breaded and fried to a nice crispiness on the outside, but was still moist and flaky inside. In other words, perfection!! The fries were nicely done, but just a tad salty, not that stopped me from finishing them off. Now to the saltiness. My friend asked me to taste her sandwich because at first she felt it was just so oversalted. I did take a bite, but didn't taste it at first and maybe it was where I took the bite from. Because, as I was finishing it up I caught a saltiness that appeared to be coming from the vegetables in the sandwich. So maybe the chef might have had a touch of a heavy hand with the salt, but none of our meal was surely unpalatable. All in all, I look forward to going back there and possibly for dinner. The place is not cheap by any means, but I firmly believe that you are getting value for your money here. Bon apetit Sanford!!
(4)Reggie R.
Gave them a three service was fair with a smile . Lunch Specail was good we had chicken bruschetta which I thought was good the cool air in the breezeway is a plus and felt great ,down side is you have to contend with the flies for your lunch.I had a vodka and cran which I thought was a bit on the weak side but none the less the overall experience was good .I would visit the breezeway again when I pass thru Sanford my old home town.
(3)Karen C.
The atmosphere was really great as were the drinks and not that expensive. I was really impressed with the menu, kind of mundane. The signature pork sandwich DEFINITELY gets you a lot for the money, but as far as taste, kind if bland and I thought the fries were kinda sub par. They have sooo much potential and the bartender was very nice, but they could realllly ramp up with a more exciting menu.
(3)Douglas W.
Had the Mahi tacos with green beans and sauce. Highly recommended. Stopped in for lunch and was immediately seated and my order was placed. I was able to drive there, order, eat, and get back to work in 1 hour without rushing. Thanks Jade!
(5)Howard B.
This is the 5th restaurant in this location in 9 years and one of the top 3. The new owner put what appears to be a fair amount of investment into the new place and I think so far it works. We had lunch there today and really enjoyed the food which appeared to be made fresh and by hand. The mozzarella wedges (fried cheese) and marinara was excellent, although 4 pieces would have been better for the price. The chicken salad sandwich was nice and light and very tasty, made with chunk white meat, mayo, celery, onion and dill. The burgers were good and juicy with a basic seasoning for a decent burger. My mother had a fried eggplant sandwich, noting it was light (not heavy fried) cut into thin layers and delicious. As always the outdoor breezeway seating is a nice atmosphere and of course dog friendly. The only draw back to outdoor seating is the smokers. I think this is the place that will last fairly long in this location. We will definitely return.
(4)Casey C.
I signed up on Yelp specifically to complain about this place. I was in Sanford to watch a friend perform and needed a quick bite. I chose Breezeway and chose wrong! Aside from the fact that my order was completely screwed up, and took forever to get the food made me sick! I was up all night and still dealing with the repercussions the next day. Stay away!
(1)Susan L.
50 minutes after ordering two sandwiches, we paid for the two iced teas that we had been sipping and left. While waiting for our meal, we were surprised that no one had stopped at our table to explain why our food had not arrived. After we saw a party of four who had arrived long after we were seated receive their food, we stopped our server to ask her when we would get our meals. She stated that the chef had just arrived and that she would put a rush on our order. We had a train to catch, so we left (after waiting more than 50 minutes). The service was terrible; can't attest to the food since we never got any. Will never go back to the place.
(1)Kim C.
Excellent good and service. Amazing burger. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)Kathy P.
Had lunch today and we were very pleased. My husband had the pork tenderloin and was good but would have preferred it grilled...the caesar salad was delicious ,,,,, I had the grilled fish sandwich and it was very good.... Want to go back and try dinner!
(4)Gayle H.
I really love the food, and love to sit outside to eat in the breezeway area, but we had to walk out due to the too loud music. It books singers that set up speakers way too large for such a small space. I would love to be able to talk to my friends during dinner. Too bad, great use of space.
(3)BJ E.
Great across the board...music, atmosphere, service & food. As a Hoosier, I really appreciated the breaded tenderloin sandwich. The only issue I had (very minor) was that they didn't have draft beer & the bottled beer wasn't ice cold. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Brett T.
I was born and raised in Iowa, and that was hands down the finest pork tenderloin sandwich I've ever eaten. Go Hawkeyes! Great friendly service. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
(5)Mary C.
Some friends and I tried out this restaurant after a long day of kayaking. It hit the spot! The weather was beautiful so we ate outside. I love eating outside, but burn easily in the sun, so the fully covered breezeway was perfect. The food was fantastic! We all had a taste of everything that was ordered and it was all delicious. I had the salmon and cleaned my plate! Our waitress was very friendly and on top of everything. We never had to flag her down for drink refills, extra napkins, etc. She was great. When our food came out the waitress let us know that there was a hold up on one of the orders, so she brought out some delicious warm bread with herbed olive oil on it for my friend to nibble on while she waited for her food. There was also a really excellent live musician with a band-in-a-box and a guitar. He was a great addition to the ambiance, but wasn't too loud (so talking to each other wasn't difficult). I can't think of anything bad to say about this restaurant. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area. :-)
(5)Justin M.
Really a let down. After reading some good reviews of this place, I was hopeful that it would be better than the last restaurant in this space, two blonde's and a shrimp. While Two Blonde's had decent food (sometimes), their service was always pretty bad. Unfortunately, both the food and the service was a miss on our visit. First let's talk about the service. Slow doesn't even cover it. We were seated outside after finally flagging down an employee to get a table, and our server came over a few minutes later. Apparently she was also the only outside bartender, with about 4 people at the bar, and no other tables occupied outside. She took our drink orders and then went to go make them. I'm not sure what she was doing, but it took about 8 minutes to pour a glass of wine, pop the cap off of a beer, mix crown and ginger ale together, and make a margarita. The restaurant actually cleared out a bit by the time our meal was all said and done, but I'm sorry to say the service didn't speed up any. Next the menu. A fair amount of your standard appetizers (calamari, crab cakes) and sandwiches, but not anything very impressive for dinner. They had three steaks on the menu, a couple of fish dishes (fried, blackened, grilled, even one with cheese and marinara sauce?), a grilled veggie skewer, and a chicken pasta dish. No care seemed to have been taken in developing any sort of composed dish, you just choose an entree, choose a side, and choose a caesar or a house salad. Underwhelming to say the least. I ordered a steak (a ribeye) and my wife ordered a fried fish plate. My steak came out inconsistently cooked. I ordered it med-rare, and parts of it were medium and parts were very rare. The flavor wasn't inedible, but I could have used a bit less black pepper. It made it seem as though they were masking the flavor of a poor quality cut of meat, which it tasted and looked like it was. The steak may have been a little bit better if they had remembered to put on the blue cheese topping that I had ordered. The filling of the twice baked potato that I got as my side was tasty, but the half potato shell it was served in was almost completely raw. The whole thing looked like it had been prepped a few days ago and microwaved before being put on the plate. My wife's fish was a good sized portion, but it did not seem like it was a fresh piece of meat. When my wife asked for the tartar sauce that didn't come on the plate (it was on the menu description), the server brought her a cup of curry mayonnaise. I'm not a hard to please person, but there seemed to be missteps at each point in our meal, and the slow service is inexcusable when there are only 7 other people in the restaurant. I'll not be coming back, and I'm so disappointed because it's such a great space!
(2)Moire W.
My friend and I ordered a steak for lunch. It was nice big and delicious. My friend is a little picky but was so happy that all her requirements were met with a smile. The vegetables are fresh and flavorful, the caesar salad great and the steak was really superb. The server was friendly and did not over serve which can be a problem.
(5)Paul G.
Keep German beer in stock and I will probably never go back to Hollerbacks. The food is real good and they had some Paulaner Octoberfest leftover from last year. So many people come to Sanford for German beer at Willow Tree. If other bars want people to give them a try they should carry a few german beers in stock.
(3)Debra M.
Went to The Breezeway after a good review in the Orlando Sentinel. Got seated right away, since there was no one in any of the tables. 5 or 6 people sitting at the bar. Waitress was timely in coming over and getting our drink order and then following up with our food order. When another party came in we overheard their different waitress tell them the specials etc...Ours didnt do that. But ok, I ordered the french onion soup, it was awful, tasted burnt, cup filled with really awful tasting stale bread, and maybe a tsp of cheese on top! I had to search to find the cheese! Definitely a miss on that! Then we sat and sat and sat, The waitress checked on our food order twice. Still no food...Now remember we were the only ones in the inside of the restaurant, There were only 2 tables of people in the outside dining area. So there is really no excuse that our meal should take almost a half hour to cook. I could understand if we got burgers or something like that. I ordered the appetizer firecracker shrimp - which touted it as tempura battered shrimp with thai sauce...was small shrimp but the batter needs to be more battery if thats a word,,The taste was ok and there was plenty of it. My husband thought he got a ham sandwich but they brought him out a chicken sandwich, I guess the confusion came because the two sandwichs had similar names. The waitress was attentive, hubby got several refills on his soda. If the kitchen is going to be this slow,,maybe popcorn or chips or bread on the table? Prices were normal, no big or great deals. Bill was 30 dollars for lunch, and he only had soda and i had water. Dont know if I would go back for just ok food.
(2)Cindy B.
Came here on Valentine's Day around 2:00. Sat outside. They were busy but didn't seem overly busy. The outside hostess seemed stressed. We were waiting a long time for someone to take our drink order and it seemed the hostess got an inside waitress to come out. I ordered the fish and chips which was one of the specials. The food came out fast and she left immediately after placing it on the table. I was finished with one out of two large pieces of fish before she came back and I needed hot sauce for the fish and ketchup for my fries. The batter on the fish was soggy. She also never asked if we wanted another drink.
(2)Crystal E.
Pork tenderloin sandwich fills my cravings! But it's loud, crowded and the service is always slow.
(4)Meghan R.
We visited The Breezeway on a Friday around 5:30 pm. It was a hot one, so we chose to sit inside. Most aspects of our visit were just OK. The service was ok (but not great), the food was ok (but not great), but the happy hour drink specials were great! I ordered an Angry Orchard having no idea what the price was (no one ever told us what the happy hour specials were). I wanted the cider, so I wasn't too worried about the price. Imagine my surprise when my bill showed up and I was only charged $2 for my drink. How great is that? I enjoyed my meal, but it wasn't anything overly special. I wanted fried shrimp and that was exactly what I got. The shrimp itself was big and tasty, but the breading could have used some more seasoning (there wasn't much at all). I did really enjoy the fresh green beans that came with my meal. I'm always happy when restaurants serve up fresh veggies instead of canned ones. Unfortunately, the rest of my party weren't very impressed with their meals at all. Bummer huh? I enjoyed my meal mainly due to the company, so I'm not sure if the food would get me to come back again. I may give them another try during the winter time as many of the reviews I've read talked about enjoying the outside portion of the restaurant. The happy hour could definitely get me back for another shot.
(3)Steve E.
The Blackened Mahi Mahi with dirty rice was very good. The music was an eclectic mix of 70's and 80's which was a bit odd (given its 2015) but the atmosphere was laid back and a nice find for downtown Sanford. I liked it much better than Hollerbach which seems to garner high praise.
(4)Natasha T.
Amazing service, food and entertainment!!
(5)Mendy M.
Really excellent ambiance and a beautiful day in Sanford! We sat on the outside patio relaxing before our flight home to Tn. My husband and I often compare and rate our selections and for once, I won! While his blackened grouper sandwich and home style fries were very good, I ordered the blackened Mahi Mahi tacos and they were spectacular! A very fresh caught meaty blackened fish...and a fresh made mango salsa not even on the menu yet was a excellent offset of taste. We met chef Justin who came out to great us and said that the sauce was actually for a special tonight he was doing. It also had a hint of jalapeño that gave that just the right kick at the end! Super excellent place and can't wait to come back!
(5)Bridget S.
Second try, epic fail. We had a table of 5 and sat outside. Not enough waiters/waitresses. And did the cook take a lunch beak? It took over one hour to have our lunch brought to the table. Others who arrived after us were were served before us. I wen to find the waitress and asked about our lunch, her reply: our was next. We continued to wait and two other tables were served before ours. Finally lunch arrived and my salad had old lettuce with dry overcooked chicken. The fish looked greasy that one at our table had ordered. I so much wanted them to be enjoyable. Pro: inside and outdoor area inviting and cute.
(1)Crystal M.
Not really impressed. My bf and I were on vacation and stopped by this place. We sat outside, it was a sunday. Granted, the waiter warned us the kitchen was a little backed up - but even our drinks took 20 minutes. Our waiter seemed very aloof, he kept forgetting to bring things, I ordered a drink and he forgot until he came over to ask if I wanted another one of what I was having and I again ordered the drink. He kept coming by to tell us how much "longer" for our drinks and food..but the bar was steps away from us - drinks should not have taken that long. The food was mediocre, nothing to rave about. My bf had a chicken breast sandwich and I had the mahi mahi tacos. The two pieces of mahi mahi were the size of my 2 fingers so it could have been a larger serving, the taste was fine but again nothing to write home about.
(2)Pam H.
This is a unique spot in downtown Sanford. As the name implies, there is a huge breezeway patio area that has a bar and live music. I enjoyed sitting out here and listening to the band and enjoying the weather. The service was great, our server was efficient and helpful. However, the food was just ok. We ordered salads and appetizers. The wedge salad was really good, a half head of lettuce with lots of bacon and blue cheese. No complaints there! Of the appetizers, the firecracker shrimp was the favorite. The sauce was a nice combination of tangy and spicy. The fried mushrooms, served with tiger sauce, were alright, not terrible but not amazing. The crab cakes were just a big disappointment. Mushy and bland. I wouldn't completely write this place off, as their drink selection was enjoyable. I would come back for drinks and to take in the live entertainment. The berry me in the breezeway was refreshing and the Hemingway was fun and delish!
(3)Andra L.
LOVE the staff and LOVE the sandwiches! Definitely one of my go to places in downtown Sanford. Never disappointing and always leave full and happy.
(5)Kelly G.
We were in at an off time so service was great. The food was very good. I had the 1st Street sandwich. I recommend it. The slaw was cool & refreshing. My companion ordered off the kids menu. The chicken fingers & fries were very tasty & fresh. So during lunch, this restaurant is adequate for kids. I will have to return for an evening & check out the bands.
(4)Cathy U.
Michelle, If you in fact read my review you would have found the date and time within the first sentence. Don't think we will be going back. Cathy U.
(1)A B.
I continue to struggle with The Breezeway. They are SO inconsistent. I've had great service and also been forgotten about. Many times them seem short staffed. A ton of locals love this place but I'm still not sold on it and I've been at least six times. They run out of food often and twice were out of Bud Light - huh? Who runs out of Bud Light??? Honestly, I think they need to tighten the reigns with their staff and have a better process for ordering their inventory so they rarely would be out of something offered on the menu. Jury is still out...
(3)Tony F.
I'm not sure what happened here tonight. Normally when we go here everything runs smoothly. Food is great and the service is great. Tonight however it all fell apart. Don't get me wrong the food is still great. Tonight the staff was short and service to say the least was really poor at best. I had to go and get our server to let her know we were ready to order. Seamed to take awhile to get our food and other around us were still waiting just to get drinks. Fires were greasy and had to get a fresh order. Food was good but not as before. Took forever to get extra tarter sauce. Asked the Bartender who was also taking tables and she just kinda had a "really" look on her face. Then she made a smart comment to one of the other servers about taking tables. Turns out the bartender is a Asst. Manager. The music that was playing was to loud and was crap. Sounded like someone's personal list on there phone but was not what should have been playing. So now time to pay out bill. Was part cash and part on our credit card. We never received any change back because I guess the server thought she was getting an $11 tip. I was going to tip 20% but guess she felt she was worth more. I asked if the owner was in tonight and the girl said "oh he is in and out all the time". It showed tonight. I'm sure it he was in this would have never happened and I would not be writing this. Hope they get it together there. It's really a nice place but tonight made me wish we had gone to get pizza...
(3)Jen V.
Our large group of us came in for the first time today in hopes of having an early dinner. We ordered drinks, some of us ordered appetizers and salads. An hour and twenty minutes later we inquired about our meals. All of us were quite hungry. Our waitress went back to the kitchen and asked about how much longer until she'd be able to serve us. "It should all be ready in at least 20 more minutes," she said. Beside myself I asked, "Twenty MORE minutes? On top of the hour and twenty minutes we've already waited?! At least three other tables with larger parties were seated well after us and have all gotten their meals?!" The waitress said with a sigh, "Very sorry about this. I wish I had an answer for you. Your meals should be up soon." Exasperated, disappointed and still hungry, we asked for our checks. On our way to a movie, we didn't have another twenty minutes to wait. I requested to speak with the owner, who apparently was the manager on duty. Upon speaking with him, I recounted all that happened up to that point. He had no idea what happened but assured us he would "figure out what happened," and that they "would do better next time." Sorry, sir. For me there will not be a next time.
(1)Russell V.
I just had one of the best steaks I've ate in a long time. My girlfriend had very good blackened Mahi Mahi. The firecracker shrimp for apetizer(spellin) was mouth watering. Our server was very good did not have to ask for anything. She was on top of it. We will most difinitly be back for more!!! plus had good live entertainment. was not too loud and could still have a conversation.
(5)Julia W.
The Breezeway has been open for about one year now. Which is still fairly new in terms of restaurants in my opinion. Since I live in the downtown Sanford area, My family and I have dined here on a few occasions since its conception. Sanford has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the last few years, and as such it has affected each and every one of its small privately owned businesses. In spite of that, I can tell you that I've seen drastic improvements in the service and food quality here at The Breezeway since it's opening. The atmosphere has always been fantastic, whether it's enjoying the outdoor sidewalk and patio service during a lovely sunny day, or at night under its hundreds of twinkling lights. I do suggest The Big Fish sandwich or The Pork Tenderloin sandwich. I appreciate that The Breezeway does appear to take pride in their new little business, and that they have been taking the time to listen and learn from their consumers with regard to what they are expecting. The food was good- not amazing yet. The service was also good. The atmosphere was perfect. We enjoyed the live music, but it would be nice if it was a tad quieter, so that we could enjoy a dinner conversation without having to repeat ourselves. We will be back soon.
(4)Josh C.
Went here in the middle of the day, when it wasn't busy nor completely dead. Things started off well, got drinks quickly and ordered pretty quickly as well. Unfortunately that is the extent of the positive experience. It took an hour and twenty minutes to get food for two people (a burger and a sandwich) and our waitress didn't seem to think that was too outrageous. The food was decent but nothing special, and there is no way it should have taken as long as it did. Others in the restaurant seemed to have the same experience, since many of them seemed to be commenting on how long their food took. Definitely won't be coming back here for some mediocre food that took forever.
(1)BJ E.
Great across the board...music, atmosphere, service & food. As a Hoosier, I really appreciated the breaded tenderloin sandwich. The only issue I had (very minor) was that they didn't have draft beer & the bottled beer wasn't ice cold. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Brett T.
I was born and raised in Iowa, and that was hands down the finest pork tenderloin sandwich I've ever eaten. Go Hawkeyes! Great friendly service. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
(5)Elaine B.
Great service. Grouper sandwich, fish tacos and fried green tomato caprese were all great!
(4)roaches F.
Great place! Wish I was an investor in The Breezeway. This place is going to be a winner - the owners are very savvy about what people like and are hand's-on and local; the servers know everyone in town; the food is very well prepared; the prices are reasonable; the atmosphere is very convivial with both an inside and outside area; there's plenty of easily-accessible parking; the location can't be beat - what's not to like? Try the New Zealand mussels - cooked just right - tender and tasty - prepared and placed in front of you in a large bowl of a to-die-for garlic/butter reduction - ask for extra bread in order to sop up all of the little morsels of amazing flavors enveloped in that delightful and flavorful reduction at the bottom of the bowl. Save room - time to move on to one of the best dinner values in FL - The Mayor. This huge rib-eye steak is advertised on the menu as being 26 oz - at least - and looks awesome when delivered sizzling hot and cooked to perfection to your table. The chef makes magic happen with some secret rub prior to grilling - the delectable, crusty exterior shows perfect grill marks and really adds an amazing mouth-feel to every bite. The medium-rare middle is oh-so-tender - you can almost skip using the large steak knife accompanying your meal. Did I also mention what a bargain this steak is? How about under $30 including a cold, crispy, fresh mixed green salad, a side (potato/twice-baked/greeen of the day), and a basket of hot bread - an incredible value for a steak dinner that will hold its own in comparison to Ruth's, Fleming's, or Morton's - for far less than half the price. One minor quibble - I hope the owners consider upgrading their wine selections - a meal this good deserves an equally impressive wine accompaniment. All in all, a wonderful place - for eats, or just drinks - has finally arrived in downtown Sanford. Congratulations to the owners for taking the time to think through, build out, and then deliver on a first-class experience in our humble little town.
(5)kelley s.
Yes, my dirty martini was amazing! BUT!!!! the service was not... our bartender was amazing until her "boss" came around and scolded her infront of us for pouring a tad too much when she made our tinis... As a manager myself, that is rude and horrible management. We also were served less than par calamari...frozen season less calamari does not hit the spot. The mussels were great and so was the bread. They have remodeled it and made it a lot brighter so that's great. But...there's a new place right next door that offered MUCH better service so I'll be heading over there first. SORRY!
(3)Todd B.
Hats off to the young Chef tonight. I got "The Mayor". And "the Mayor" runs this town. 26 oz boneless Ribeye. Perfect temp and tasty, but I must say a side blew me away. Broccoli! Often overlook and over/under done. Not tonight. Damn near the best I've ever had! Plus the cocktail I was served was SO good. "I'll be back."
(5)Amanda W.
Michelle I'm not sure how to reply to your post... But we were in at 8pm on Saturday the 17th. I appreciate your reply and if we are in Sanford we will try again
(5)Rod H.
Great place for a drink and live music. I have mixed feelings on the food. The sandwiches are huge, but they need more flavor.
(3)Heather P.
Don't come here for food. It's a beautiful place for drinks. Our party of five came here for a late lunch. We were the only people at the restaurant and we sat on the beautiful outdoor patio. The waitress provided us with menus and drink suggestions. I ordered a well margarita and a water. The rest of the party order waters, unsweetened iced teas, and a diet coke in addition to drinks. When the water arrived (well before any alcoholic drinks) the first person who tasted it commented that it tasted "moldy." This of course made everyone rush to taste their own water and we all agreed the water had "fuzzy mouth feel" that you do NOT ever want with water. The waitress laughed and took the drinks away. The other drinks were fine and the margaritas were good. We ordered blackened grouper bites, two clam chowder, fish tacos, french onion soup, and a garden salad. The food took almost an hour. We considered leaving and just paying for the drinks. The waitress claimed the chef just got in or had called out or something. I wasn't quite sure about the story. However, we didn't have anything else to do so we waited. The salad and french onion soup I was told were very good. The clam chowder was also good, though apparently not great. The fish tacos were apparently sub-par. The fish was very soggy tasting (it was broiled) and not good. I also though the fish bites were not good. I was surprised because they noted that the fish was super fresh. I heartily disagree. It smelled slightly and I did not finish my meal. Overall, the food was not good. Also, water with "mouth feel" is always a bad sign. Regrettably, we will not be returning. The place is beautiful and probably a fun bar. However, it does not succeed as a restaurant.
(2)Jody R.
Wonderful seafood! They get fresh seafood from Lombardi's so everything at our table was fantastic. Everything was well-flavored and cooked perfectly. Prices were quite good for the caliber of food. We sat outside and had a spectacular server. Our group was starving after kayaking all day and she brought us bread to hold us over. Fun atmosphere.
(5)Michelle H.
Stuffed Maui is amazing, as well as other menu items. Quiet & cozy inside. Servers very nice.
(5)Frank A.
Really, ordered over 45 min ago and still nothing, ok understaffed , people that showed up way after U.S. Are eating WTF
(1)Tom A.
Had a great experience today and it was our first time here. This is a hidden gem in Sanford and if you haven't been here I highly recommend it. The outdoor seating is really nice and the ambience is perfect. There was a girl singing outside named Alex and she was singing acoustically and it was very enjoyable. The best part of all was our server Ariel she was personable and recommended some great food. The portion sizes are really big and the salad dressings are made in house. We will definitely be back soon for dinner.
(5)Ron C.
We had lunch at The Breezeway yesterday. We went there because they have live entertainment (which was excellent, BTW). Our server was Tiffany. Several things really impressed me. The food was great, with huge portions. The fried mushrooms are awesome (get the "Tiger" sauce") The wedge salad was HUGE and very well done - more than I could eat. My wife had the chicken caprese salad - also huge, with a great presentation. Tiffany was very much on top of everything. I was especially impressed that she was was very attentive to drinks at our table - always quick with refills and checking to see if we needed anything. Tiffany, along with great food, make this a place you will want to visit, for sure.
(5)Darlene L.
I was at the breezeway today for a birthday lunch celebration for two of my friends, this was the first time I've been there and very very satisfied with my blackened salmon and twice baked potato DELICIOUS and Michelle the waitress is FANTASTIC.
(5)SandJ K.
We've been here for lunch and second time for dinner. Food is good to very good (they have a great special, a piece of grouper with a crab cake topped with etouffe...yummo) and the place being in downtown Sanford has some character. It's not fine dining but service is friendly, drinks are good (some 'specials' which are DT-darn tasty) and if you want you can sit outside weather permitting (covered Breezeway!). If you focus on them having good drinks and food, casual service in a casual setting you'll be fine. If there was a "four and a half stars" I'd use it.
(4)Mike P.
While up in Sanford I stopped by for lunch with my son-in-law and his buddies for a bite to eat. We waited about 5 minutes at the hostess stand outside before someone approached us. We were seated at the table closest to the hostess station. After I took a picture of the specials board, I went and sat down. As usual I ordered the Iced Tea with lime. She returned very promptly with my tea but the drinks ordered from the bar seemed to take a bit of time. Our server recommended the red snapper sandwich but quickly told me the soup was not up to par when I asked about it. I really appreciated her candor because it was apparent she tasted the food before the start of her shift. That sandwich was presented beautifully and the placement of the tail was a nice touch. It was apparent that tartar sauce was not from a jar and was delightful. I am NOT a big fan of tartar sauce but when done right, I can go a little crazy with it. I tasted the fish and without the tarter sauce it was amazing but with it, that sandwich was amazing. I put about half of the container on my sandwich and it was just the right amount. The shaved red onion was a great touch because of the light flavor of the fish. The red snapper had a slightly heavier breading than I prefer but the taste was outrageous in a good way. The seasoning used accented the red snapper beautifully. Some of the guys wanted hot sauce and our server took a while to come back so we asked another server for some hot sauce. The fries were OK but would have been better if they were fresh made. If you are going to make an amazing Red Snapper sandwich, make your OWN french fries. Something as small as fresh made fries makes a huge difference to me when the sandwich is this good! I dipped my fried in that tartar sauce and it helped me to forget they were from a bag. Our server noticed me looking for a refill on my sea and quickly rushed over to the table but I wish she had come and checked on us a time or two more frequently. In spite of the few misses I would still come back here for a Red Snapper sandwich that amazing.
(4)Bruce K.
Three weeks later, my last lunch in Sanford and I headed back to where I had my best lunch in Sanford: The Breezeway. Today was a much nicer day and so we sat outside in the aptly named breezeway which gave us some shade from the hot sun but still a good bit of wind and a nice view of the traffic on main street. Rather than the fish sandwich, I went with the "Sanford Special" which is a piece of Indiana-raised pork, breaded and fried. Well, it was huge. At least 8 or 9 inches square. Yes it was thin, but it was still a whole lot of pork tenderloin. More than half of it went into the box to eat later. Jeez! As usual, the sweet tea was excellent as was the service. Really enjoyed coming back to The Breezeway!
(5)Cat R.
Passed by a bunch of times on the way to other places, now will make this one a destination because of bar manager Bobby. I had been having a bad time of it, was dragged out by my sister. Bobby's kindness and brilliant hospitality and spunky attitude turned a terrible day into a lovely one. He went out of his way to make me feel good, while still being attentive and friendly with every patron there, and also expertly managing a bar and several wait staff, all at the same time. His food recommendation was awesome (try the crab cakes, yum!) and drink inventions are fantastic, ask him to concoct you an original! Many thanks, I will return as long as he is there!
(5)Gina J.
Went for lunch with a group of moms with small kids (there were 5 ladies 4 kids). The waitress all but rolled her eyes when she saw us. Service was slow even though we were the only table at that time. The food was far from good but the main problem was our waitress. She was short, snappy and flat out rude. None of us will be returning or recommeding them to our large group.
(2)John K.
Loved our meal here - good service too. Wife's fish sandwich (blackened) was delicious and the pork tenderloin was enough for three meals.
(4)Christina G.
Could really be a great atmosphere but the food is nothing to write home about. We've tried just about everything and it's all underwhelming for the price. The service is so-so. Just doesn't seem organized or prepared to handle a large crowd.
(2)Nancy B.
My husband and I shared the Steamboat. Two salads and bread and were delighted with the mussels, shrimp and calamari with scampi sauce. Very light and amazing taste. Jacob our waiter was excellent. Other reviews complained of poor service but inside was packed and we had excellent service
(5)Kyle H.
The blackened grouper everyone mentioned was decent... Nothing to write home about. The server recommended a shrimp poor-boy of some sort with mozzerella and tomato sauce to my wife. Those poor shrimp died in vein! They were good quality, but completely tasteless. I tried their signature rum drink, don't remmember what it was called, but it was served in those chiller machines and was again recommended by the waitress. If you enjoy coconut flavored mouthwash, I suggest you order two. Nothing was bad, but my problem was that nothing was good! The fish sandwich was cooked and seasoned well, but an un-toasted bun offered no texture and the fish was lost in the sea of bread. Done correctly, they'd have a signature dish.
(2)Freddy S.
Went last night around 10 pm. Food was great as were the drinks, though we did not have many. Our waitress, a young lady named Shelby was efficient and friendly. The owner, Rick, was around making sure all was good. And it was. Corvina with crab and Cajun crawfish sauce with delicious. The fish was very fresh and masterfully prepared. cream of mushroom soup was decadent. An excellent value for the money. We will be back again soon.
(4)J N.
Bland cold food. Not good and took way too long. Actually, the fries where the only good thing. We went around 1 on the Friday before Easter. We ordered hamburgers, pork tenderloin sandwich and boneless wings. It took an hour to get our food.
(1)Amanda W.
I came out to The Breezeway a second time with my husband and 2 friends. We were in downtown Sanford for a little bit of a bar crawl and wanted to get some food before commencing on our night of debauchery. My first choice when eating in downtown Sanford is always the Willow Tree, but that comes with a heavy price tag, so we thought we'd give the Breezeway a shot for dinner. The place was packed, and we were promptly seated at one of the tables on the patio near the water fountain. Unfortunately this meant that the 2 sitting on the end near the fountain got splashed the entire time. The patio is also made of brick, so don't expect your table to be level. The service was really slow, we sat for about 15 minutes before a waitress even acknowledged us. After that she was very friendly, just took a long time for food service. I was surprised to see how pricey their menu was, we could have honestly eaten at the WIllow Tree for around the same price (sans the Boot). Their appetizers range in price from about $7-$14, and their entrees from $9-$30. I got the Fish Reuben with fries and a side salad. It was okay but at a $14 price tag I was a little put off. My husband got the fish tacos. They came unassembled. If I had ordered them and had to put them together myself I would have been pissed, but my husband said they were good once he got them together. We each had a few drinks, and between the two of us our bill was over $60. I wouldn't write this place off for lunch, but for dinner it just seems there are a lot better options at a better price tag in the area.
(3)Scott M.
I was in Sanford from Colorado for Valentines Day and stopped by the Breezeway. for lunch. Everything about the place was awesome- good food, good service, nice atmosphere and reasonable prices ! I had the blackened fish tacos and my wife had a burger. Both excellent. We had 2 others in our party and they were also very satisfied. One of the owners, Rick, stopped by our table to chat and showed a personal interest in our visit. If you live in the Central Florida area you need to try this place. Scott from Denver.
(5)M G.
Service was friendly as advertised but slow. Then we made the mistake of ordering steak at a seafood grill. While the cook got the temperature right, the quality of the ribeye prevented it from being completely edible. Twice-baked potatoes were inedible. But the worst part was when the waitress realized there was a problem with the food, she completely disappeared for the rest of the evening. We would not have stiffed her since it wasn't her fault about the food quality, but some servers do that. This shows poor training.
(1)Maggie L.
We had a wonderful experience here. We were greeted and seated right away. We chose to sit inside as it was a little chilly out for me, otherwise we would have sat outside to enjoy the live performer. Our waiter and also a bartender, Clay, came over to our table and got our drink order. While he was getting that two other waitresses came over to make sure we were being taken care of (awesome)! Clay helped us with our dinner order, we asked a lot of questions as it was our first time there, he was extremely helpful and attentive. The only drawback was that they ran out of wine glasses so we had our wine served to us in some sort of glass coffee/cordial looking thing BUT Clay even had that taken care of by the end of the dinner (apparently they need to get more wine glasses)! Even the GM stopped by our table to make sure all was well. The Big Fish was truly that and I liked it a lot. My husband had the crab cakes and he said they were very tasty! Great food, fantastic service and just a wonderful experience!
(5)Terri C.
Shrimp appetizer was great but the service was horrible. We had to get our own drinks at the bar repeatedly because our server was MIA most of the time or forgot to bring drinks. Our server also tried to add an addition $36 to a $16 dollar bill. We left cash which he did not count toward the bill. Do not use cash to pay and watch your credit card bills if you visit this place !
(2)Ron J.
Three strikes, you're out. This week's last attempt to have a meal at The Breezeway was yet another abort. In a nutshell: The courtyard was crawling with loud karaoke participants, so we sat in the quieter dining area inside - where we normally sit. We were told at the outset the wait would be 35 minutes, but if we were a little patient, we'd have a salad and drinks in "5 minutes" and some cheese bread, so we acquiesced. Bad move. One waiter took my wife's order, then another took mine later on when the first waiter disappeared. But alas, when first waiter saw second waiter in action, 'suddenly' he appeared, only to be informed: "I'm taking the other half of the order". This parsing of orders between servers in an already dicey eating situation certainly didn't inspire confidence. Suffice it to say, a few hastily gathered cubes of bread were plopped on our table whence they tasted like lukewarm, stale old fare that had been quickly heated up. The drinks and salad never came, even after 15 minutes of waiting - despite the fact that our original waiter walked passed us 3 times with plates of food for the noisy attendees outside. At that point, a younger couple who arrived shortly after we did, got up and left. And we soon joined them. No managers, no apologies and an overall disheveled and sloppy appearance to the place and the kitchen as we walked out. Sorry - there are just too many food establishments in Central Florida to have to stress oneself while waiting for a beer or a salad - let alone a meal - and spending ones' hard earned money while doing so. Unfortunately, this is an establishment that doesn't seem to care about its patrons, because business has apparently picked up of late. So it's like, 'why bother'? For us, that translates to a poor business model and consequently, we don't recommend The Breezeway.
(1)Andy S.
Live music was a plus, but every single plate carried out of the kitchen made my mouth water. We ordered the crab cakes and house made slaw and licked the plate clean. Highly recommended
(5)Rebekah G.
A few girlfriends and myself came to this friendly little place with the perfect name, The Breezeway for a drink last Saturday night. The weather was perfect so this was a nice place we could sit outside and enjoy it. The bar staff was extremely nice and the drinks were priced well. There was a guy playing a keyboard and had a "band in a box" and he was killing it. He said he could play anything and he pretty much proved himself to be right! Had it not gotten a little too chilly for us Florida girls we would have stayed a little longer. We didn't eat so I can't talk about food but the drinks we tasty. I will hopefully be visiting this place again soon.
(4)Mike P.
While up in Sanford I stopped by for lunch with my son-in-law and his buddies for a bite to eat. We waited about 5 minutes at the hostess stand outside before someone approached us. We were seated at the table closest to the hostess station. After I took a picture of the specials board, I went and sat down. As usual I ordered the Iced Tea with lime. She returned very promptly with my tea but the drinks ordered from the bar seemed to take a bit of time. Our server recommended the red snapper sandwich but quickly told me the soup was not up to par when I asked about it. I really appreciated her candor because it was apparent she tasted the food before the start of her shift. That sandwich was presented beautifully and the placement of the tail was a nice touch. It was apparent that tartar sauce was not from a jar and was delightful. I am NOT a big fan of tartar sauce but when done right, I can go a little crazy with it. I tasted the fish and without the tarter sauce it was amazing but with it, that sandwich was amazing. I put about half of the container on my sandwich and it was just the right amount. The shaved red onion was a great touch because of the light flavor of the fish. The red snapper had a slightly heavier breading than I prefer but the taste was outrageous in a good way. The seasoning used accented the red snapper beautifully. Some of the guys wanted hot sauce and our server took a while to come back so we asked another server for some hot sauce. The fries were OK but would have been better if they were fresh made. If you are going to make an amazing Red Snapper sandwich, make your OWN french fries. Something as small as fresh made fries makes a huge difference to me when the sandwich is this good! I dipped my fried in that tartar sauce and it helped me to forget they were from a bag. Our server noticed me looking for a refill on my sea and quickly rushed over to the table but I wish she had come and checked on us a time or two more frequently. In spite of the few misses I would still come back here for a Red Snapper sandwich that amazing.
(4)Bruce K.
Three weeks later, my last lunch in Sanford and I headed back to where I had my best lunch in Sanford: The Breezeway. Today was a much nicer day and so we sat outside in the aptly named breezeway which gave us some shade from the hot sun but still a good bit of wind and a nice view of the traffic on main street. Rather than the fish sandwich, I went with the "Sanford Special" which is a piece of Indiana-raised pork, breaded and fried. Well, it was huge. At least 8 or 9 inches square. Yes it was thin, but it was still a whole lot of pork tenderloin. More than half of it went into the box to eat later. Jeez! As usual, the sweet tea was excellent as was the service. Really enjoyed coming back to The Breezeway!
(5)Todd B.
Hats off to the young Chef tonight. I got "The Mayor". And "the Mayor" runs this town. 26 oz boneless Ribeye. Perfect temp and tasty, but I must say a side blew me away. Broccoli! Often overlook and over/under done. Not tonight. Damn near the best I've ever had! Plus the cocktail I was served was SO good. "I'll be back."
(5)Amanda W.
Michelle I'm not sure how to reply to your post... But we were in at 8pm on Saturday the 17th. I appreciate your reply and if we are in Sanford we will try again
(5)Maggie L.
We had a wonderful experience here. We were greeted and seated right away. We chose to sit inside as it was a little chilly out for me, otherwise we would have sat outside to enjoy the live performer. Our waiter and also a bartender, Clay, came over to our table and got our drink order. While he was getting that two other waitresses came over to make sure we were being taken care of (awesome)! Clay helped us with our dinner order, we asked a lot of questions as it was our first time there, he was extremely helpful and attentive. The only drawback was that they ran out of wine glasses so we had our wine served to us in some sort of glass coffee/cordial looking thing BUT Clay even had that taken care of by the end of the dinner (apparently they need to get more wine glasses)! Even the GM stopped by our table to make sure all was well. The Big Fish was truly that and I liked it a lot. My husband had the crab cakes and he said they were very tasty! Great food, fantastic service and just a wonderful experience!
(5)Darlene L.
I was at the breezeway today for a birthday lunch celebration for two of my friends, this was the first time I've been there and very very satisfied with my blackened salmon and twice baked potato DELICIOUS and Michelle the waitress is FANTASTIC.
(5)SandJ K.
We've been here for lunch and second time for dinner. Food is good to very good (they have a great special, a piece of grouper with a crab cake topped with etouffe...yummo) and the place being in downtown Sanford has some character. It's not fine dining but service is friendly, drinks are good (some 'specials' which are DT-darn tasty) and if you want you can sit outside weather permitting (covered Breezeway!). If you focus on them having good drinks and food, casual service in a casual setting you'll be fine. If there was a "four and a half stars" I'd use it.
(4)Tom A.
Had a great experience today and it was our first time here. This is a hidden gem in Sanford and if you haven't been here I highly recommend it. The outdoor seating is really nice and the ambience is perfect. There was a girl singing outside named Alex and she was singing acoustically and it was very enjoyable. The best part of all was our server Ariel she was personable and recommended some great food. The portion sizes are really big and the salad dressings are made in house. We will definitely be back soon for dinner.
(5)Ron C.
We had lunch at The Breezeway yesterday. We went there because they have live entertainment (which was excellent, BTW). Our server was Tiffany. Several things really impressed me. The food was great, with huge portions. The fried mushrooms are awesome (get the "Tiger" sauce") The wedge salad was HUGE and very well done - more than I could eat. My wife had the chicken caprese salad - also huge, with a great presentation. Tiffany was very much on top of everything. I was especially impressed that she was was very attentive to drinks at our table - always quick with refills and checking to see if we needed anything. Tiffany, along with great food, make this a place you will want to visit, for sure.
(5)Jody R.
Wonderful seafood! They get fresh seafood from Lombardi's so everything at our table was fantastic. Everything was well-flavored and cooked perfectly. Prices were quite good for the caliber of food. We sat outside and had a spectacular server. Our group was starving after kayaking all day and she brought us bread to hold us over. Fun atmosphere.
(5)Michelle H.
Stuffed Maui is amazing, as well as other menu items. Quiet & cozy inside. Servers very nice.
(5)Frank A.
Really, ordered over 45 min ago and still nothing, ok understaffed , people that showed up way after U.S. Are eating WTF
(1)Meghan R.
We visited The Breezeway on a Friday around 5:30 pm. It was a hot one, so we chose to sit inside. Most aspects of our visit were just OK. The service was ok (but not great), the food was ok (but not great), but the happy hour drink specials were great! I ordered an Angry Orchard having no idea what the price was (no one ever told us what the happy hour specials were). I wanted the cider, so I wasn't too worried about the price. Imagine my surprise when my bill showed up and I was only charged $2 for my drink. How great is that? I enjoyed my meal, but it wasn't anything overly special. I wanted fried shrimp and that was exactly what I got. The shrimp itself was big and tasty, but the breading could have used some more seasoning (there wasn't much at all). I did really enjoy the fresh green beans that came with my meal. I'm always happy when restaurants serve up fresh veggies instead of canned ones. Unfortunately, the rest of my party weren't very impressed with their meals at all. Bummer huh? I enjoyed my meal mainly due to the company, so I'm not sure if the food would get me to come back again. I may give them another try during the winter time as many of the reviews I've read talked about enjoying the outside portion of the restaurant. The happy hour could definitely get me back for another shot.
(3)Steve E.
The Blackened Mahi Mahi with dirty rice was very good. The music was an eclectic mix of 70's and 80's which was a bit odd (given its 2015) but the atmosphere was laid back and a nice find for downtown Sanford. I liked it much better than Hollerbach which seems to garner high praise.
(4)Natasha T.
Amazing service, food and entertainment!!
(5)Mendy M.
Really excellent ambiance and a beautiful day in Sanford! We sat on the outside patio relaxing before our flight home to Tn. My husband and I often compare and rate our selections and for once, I won! While his blackened grouper sandwich and home style fries were very good, I ordered the blackened Mahi Mahi tacos and they were spectacular! A very fresh caught meaty blackened fish...and a fresh made mango salsa not even on the menu yet was a excellent offset of taste. We met chef Justin who came out to great us and said that the sauce was actually for a special tonight he was doing. It also had a hint of jalapeño that gave that just the right kick at the end! Super excellent place and can't wait to come back!
(5)Bridget S.
Second try, epic fail. We had a table of 5 and sat outside. Not enough waiters/waitresses. And did the cook take a lunch beak? It took over one hour to have our lunch brought to the table. Others who arrived after us were were served before us. I wen to find the waitress and asked about our lunch, her reply: our was next. We continued to wait and two other tables were served before ours. Finally lunch arrived and my salad had old lettuce with dry overcooked chicken. The fish looked greasy that one at our table had ordered. I so much wanted them to be enjoyable. Pro: inside and outdoor area inviting and cute.
(1)Crystal M.
Not really impressed. My bf and I were on vacation and stopped by this place. We sat outside, it was a sunday. Granted, the waiter warned us the kitchen was a little backed up - but even our drinks took 20 minutes. Our waiter seemed very aloof, he kept forgetting to bring things, I ordered a drink and he forgot until he came over to ask if I wanted another one of what I was having and I again ordered the drink. He kept coming by to tell us how much "longer" for our drinks and food..but the bar was steps away from us - drinks should not have taken that long. The food was mediocre, nothing to rave about. My bf had a chicken breast sandwich and I had the mahi mahi tacos. The two pieces of mahi mahi were the size of my 2 fingers so it could have been a larger serving, the taste was fine but again nothing to write home about.
(2)Pam H.
This is a unique spot in downtown Sanford. As the name implies, there is a huge breezeway patio area that has a bar and live music. I enjoyed sitting out here and listening to the band and enjoying the weather. The service was great, our server was efficient and helpful. However, the food was just ok. We ordered salads and appetizers. The wedge salad was really good, a half head of lettuce with lots of bacon and blue cheese. No complaints there! Of the appetizers, the firecracker shrimp was the favorite. The sauce was a nice combination of tangy and spicy. The fried mushrooms, served with tiger sauce, were alright, not terrible but not amazing. The crab cakes were just a big disappointment. Mushy and bland. I wouldn't completely write this place off, as their drink selection was enjoyable. I would come back for drinks and to take in the live entertainment. The berry me in the breezeway was refreshing and the Hemingway was fun and delish!
(3)Andra L.
LOVE the staff and LOVE the sandwiches! Definitely one of my go to places in downtown Sanford. Never disappointing and always leave full and happy.
(5)Kelly G.
We were in at an off time so service was great. The food was very good. I had the 1st Street sandwich. I recommend it. The slaw was cool & refreshing. My companion ordered off the kids menu. The chicken fingers & fries were very tasty & fresh. So during lunch, this restaurant is adequate for kids. I will have to return for an evening & check out the bands.
(4)Cathy U.
Michelle, If you in fact read my review you would have found the date and time within the first sentence. Don't think we will be going back. Cathy U.
(1)A B.
I continue to struggle with The Breezeway. They are SO inconsistent. I've had great service and also been forgotten about. Many times them seem short staffed. A ton of locals love this place but I'm still not sold on it and I've been at least six times. They run out of food often and twice were out of Bud Light - huh? Who runs out of Bud Light??? Honestly, I think they need to tighten the reigns with their staff and have a better process for ordering their inventory so they rarely would be out of something offered on the menu. Jury is still out...
(3)Rod H.
Great place for a drink and live music. I have mixed feelings on the food. The sandwiches are huge, but they need more flavor.
(3)Cindy B.
Came here on Valentine's Day around 2:00. Sat outside. They were busy but didn't seem overly busy. The outside hostess seemed stressed. We were waiting a long time for someone to take our drink order and it seemed the hostess got an inside waitress to come out. I ordered the fish and chips which was one of the specials. The food came out fast and she left immediately after placing it on the table. I was finished with one out of two large pieces of fish before she came back and I needed hot sauce for the fish and ketchup for my fries. The batter on the fish was soggy. She also never asked if we wanted another drink.
(2)Crystal E.
Pork tenderloin sandwich fills my cravings! But it's loud, crowded and the service is always slow.
(4)Tony F.
I'm not sure what happened here tonight. Normally when we go here everything runs smoothly. Food is great and the service is great. Tonight however it all fell apart. Don't get me wrong the food is still great. Tonight the staff was short and service to say the least was really poor at best. I had to go and get our server to let her know we were ready to order. Seamed to take awhile to get our food and other around us were still waiting just to get drinks. Fires were greasy and had to get a fresh order. Food was good but not as before. Took forever to get extra tarter sauce. Asked the Bartender who was also taking tables and she just kinda had a "really" look on her face. Then she made a smart comment to one of the other servers about taking tables. Turns out the bartender is a Asst. Manager. The music that was playing was to loud and was crap. Sounded like someone's personal list on there phone but was not what should have been playing. So now time to pay out bill. Was part cash and part on our credit card. We never received any change back because I guess the server thought she was getting an $11 tip. I was going to tip 20% but guess she felt she was worth more. I asked if the owner was in tonight and the girl said "oh he is in and out all the time". It showed tonight. I'm sure it he was in this would have never happened and I would not be writing this. Hope they get it together there. It's really a nice place but tonight made me wish we had gone to get pizza...
(3)Terri C.
Shrimp appetizer was great but the service was horrible. We had to get our own drinks at the bar repeatedly because our server was MIA most of the time or forgot to bring drinks. Our server also tried to add an addition $36 to a $16 dollar bill. We left cash which he did not count toward the bill. Do not use cash to pay and watch your credit card bills if you visit this place !
(2)Nancy B.
My husband and I shared the Steamboat. Two salads and bread and were delighted with the mussels, shrimp and calamari with scampi sauce. Very light and amazing taste. Jacob our waiter was excellent. Other reviews complained of poor service but inside was packed and we had excellent service
(5)Jen V.
Our large group of us came in for the first time today in hopes of having an early dinner. We ordered drinks, some of us ordered appetizers and salads. An hour and twenty minutes later we inquired about our meals. All of us were quite hungry. Our waitress went back to the kitchen and asked about how much longer until she'd be able to serve us. "It should all be ready in at least 20 more minutes," she said. Beside myself I asked, "Twenty MORE minutes? On top of the hour and twenty minutes we've already waited?! At least three other tables with larger parties were seated well after us and have all gotten their meals?!" The waitress said with a sigh, "Very sorry about this. I wish I had an answer for you. Your meals should be up soon." Exasperated, disappointed and still hungry, we asked for our checks. On our way to a movie, we didn't have another twenty minutes to wait. I requested to speak with the owner, who apparently was the manager on duty. Upon speaking with him, I recounted all that happened up to that point. He had no idea what happened but assured us he would "figure out what happened," and that they "would do better next time." Sorry, sir. For me there will not be a next time.
(1)Russell V.
I just had one of the best steaks I've ate in a long time. My girlfriend had very good blackened Mahi Mahi. The firecracker shrimp for apetizer(spellin) was mouth watering. Our server was very good did not have to ask for anything. She was on top of it. We will most difinitly be back for more!!! plus had good live entertainment. was not too loud and could still have a conversation.
(5)Heather P.
Don't come here for food. It's a beautiful place for drinks. Our party of five came here for a late lunch. We were the only people at the restaurant and we sat on the beautiful outdoor patio. The waitress provided us with menus and drink suggestions. I ordered a well margarita and a water. The rest of the party order waters, unsweetened iced teas, and a diet coke in addition to drinks. When the water arrived (well before any alcoholic drinks) the first person who tasted it commented that it tasted "moldy." This of course made everyone rush to taste their own water and we all agreed the water had "fuzzy mouth feel" that you do NOT ever want with water. The waitress laughed and took the drinks away. The other drinks were fine and the margaritas were good. We ordered blackened grouper bites, two clam chowder, fish tacos, french onion soup, and a garden salad. The food took almost an hour. We considered leaving and just paying for the drinks. The waitress claimed the chef just got in or had called out or something. I wasn't quite sure about the story. However, we didn't have anything else to do so we waited. The salad and french onion soup I was told were very good. The clam chowder was also good, though apparently not great. The fish tacos were apparently sub-par. The fish was very soggy tasting (it was broiled) and not good. I also though the fish bites were not good. I was surprised because they noted that the fish was super fresh. I heartily disagree. It smelled slightly and I did not finish my meal. Overall, the food was not good. Also, water with "mouth feel" is always a bad sign. Regrettably, we will not be returning. The place is beautiful and probably a fun bar. However, it does not succeed as a restaurant.
(2)Kyle H.
The blackened grouper everyone mentioned was decent... Nothing to write home about. The server recommended a shrimp poor-boy of some sort with mozzerella and tomato sauce to my wife. Those poor shrimp died in vein! They were good quality, but completely tasteless. I tried their signature rum drink, don't remmember what it was called, but it was served in those chiller machines and was again recommended by the waitress. If you enjoy coconut flavored mouthwash, I suggest you order two. Nothing was bad, but my problem was that nothing was good! The fish sandwich was cooked and seasoned well, but an un-toasted bun offered no texture and the fish was lost in the sea of bread. Done correctly, they'd have a signature dish.
(2)Freddy S.
Went last night around 10 pm. Food was great as were the drinks, though we did not have many. Our waitress, a young lady named Shelby was efficient and friendly. The owner, Rick, was around making sure all was good. And it was. Corvina with crab and Cajun crawfish sauce with delicious. The fish was very fresh and masterfully prepared. cream of mushroom soup was decadent. An excellent value for the money. We will be back again soon.
(4)J N.
Bland cold food. Not good and took way too long. Actually, the fries where the only good thing. We went around 1 on the Friday before Easter. We ordered hamburgers, pork tenderloin sandwich and boneless wings. It took an hour to get our food.
(1)Amanda W.
I came out to The Breezeway a second time with my husband and 2 friends. We were in downtown Sanford for a little bit of a bar crawl and wanted to get some food before commencing on our night of debauchery. My first choice when eating in downtown Sanford is always the Willow Tree, but that comes with a heavy price tag, so we thought we'd give the Breezeway a shot for dinner. The place was packed, and we were promptly seated at one of the tables on the patio near the water fountain. Unfortunately this meant that the 2 sitting on the end near the fountain got splashed the entire time. The patio is also made of brick, so don't expect your table to be level. The service was really slow, we sat for about 15 minutes before a waitress even acknowledged us. After that she was very friendly, just took a long time for food service. I was surprised to see how pricey their menu was, we could have honestly eaten at the WIllow Tree for around the same price (sans the Boot). Their appetizers range in price from about $7-$14, and their entrees from $9-$30. I got the Fish Reuben with fries and a side salad. It was okay but at a $14 price tag I was a little put off. My husband got the fish tacos. They came unassembled. If I had ordered them and had to put them together myself I would have been pissed, but my husband said they were good once he got them together. We each had a few drinks, and between the two of us our bill was over $60. I wouldn't write this place off for lunch, but for dinner it just seems there are a lot better options at a better price tag in the area.
(3)Ron J.
Three strikes, you're out. This week's last attempt to have a meal at The Breezeway was yet another abort. In a nutshell: The courtyard was crawling with loud karaoke participants, so we sat in the quieter dining area inside - where we normally sit. We were told at the outset the wait would be 35 minutes, but if we were a little patient, we'd have a salad and drinks in "5 minutes" and some cheese bread, so we acquiesced. Bad move. One waiter took my wife's order, then another took mine later on when the first waiter disappeared. But alas, when first waiter saw second waiter in action, 'suddenly' he appeared, only to be informed: "I'm taking the other half of the order". This parsing of orders between servers in an already dicey eating situation certainly didn't inspire confidence. Suffice it to say, a few hastily gathered cubes of bread were plopped on our table whence they tasted like lukewarm, stale old fare that had been quickly heated up. The drinks and salad never came, even after 15 minutes of waiting - despite the fact that our original waiter walked passed us 3 times with plates of food for the noisy attendees outside. At that point, a younger couple who arrived shortly after we did, got up and left. And we soon joined them. No managers, no apologies and an overall disheveled and sloppy appearance to the place and the kitchen as we walked out. Sorry - there are just too many food establishments in Central Florida to have to stress oneself while waiting for a beer or a salad - let alone a meal - and spending ones' hard earned money while doing so. Unfortunately, this is an establishment that doesn't seem to care about its patrons, because business has apparently picked up of late. So it's like, 'why bother'? For us, that translates to a poor business model and consequently, we don't recommend The Breezeway.
(1)Scott M.
I was in Sanford from Colorado for Valentines Day and stopped by the Breezeway. for lunch. Everything about the place was awesome- good food, good service, nice atmosphere and reasonable prices ! I had the blackened fish tacos and my wife had a burger. Both excellent. We had 2 others in our party and they were also very satisfied. One of the owners, Rick, stopped by our table to chat and showed a personal interest in our visit. If you live in the Central Florida area you need to try this place. Scott from Denver.
(5)M G.
Service was friendly as advertised but slow. Then we made the mistake of ordering steak at a seafood grill. While the cook got the temperature right, the quality of the ribeye prevented it from being completely edible. Twice-baked potatoes were inedible. But the worst part was when the waitress realized there was a problem with the food, she completely disappeared for the rest of the evening. We would not have stiffed her since it wasn't her fault about the food quality, but some servers do that. This shows poor training.
(1)Gina J.
Went for lunch with a group of moms with small kids (there were 5 ladies 4 kids). The waitress all but rolled her eyes when she saw us. Service was slow even though we were the only table at that time. The food was far from good but the main problem was our waitress. She was short, snappy and flat out rude. None of us will be returning or recommeding them to our large group.
(2)John K.
Loved our meal here - good service too. Wife's fish sandwich (blackened) was delicious and the pork tenderloin was enough for three meals.
(4)Christina G.
Could really be a great atmosphere but the food is nothing to write home about. We've tried just about everything and it's all underwhelming for the price. The service is so-so. Just doesn't seem organized or prepared to handle a large crowd.
(2)Andy S.
Live music was a plus, but every single plate carried out of the kitchen made my mouth water. We ordered the crab cakes and house made slaw and licked the plate clean. Highly recommended
(5)Mary C.
Some friends and I tried out this restaurant after a long day of kayaking. It hit the spot! The weather was beautiful so we ate outside. I love eating outside, but burn easily in the sun, so the fully covered breezeway was perfect. The food was fantastic! We all had a taste of everything that was ordered and it was all delicious. I had the salmon and cleaned my plate! Our waitress was very friendly and on top of everything. We never had to flag her down for drink refills, extra napkins, etc. She was great. When our food came out the waitress let us know that there was a hold up on one of the orders, so she brought out some delicious warm bread with herbed olive oil on it for my friend to nibble on while she waited for her food. There was also a really excellent live musician with a band-in-a-box and a guitar. He was a great addition to the ambiance, but wasn't too loud (so talking to each other wasn't difficult). I can't think of anything bad to say about this restaurant. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area. :-)
(5)Sue M.
Current Health Inspection: Well, for the 1st time, I cannot find one. I checked under every name possible. Sorry. This is called Breezeway for a reason. It's located in a breezeway and overflows onto the sidewalk. A prime spot for people watching, sun, air, with a great duo singing. Cleanliness was very good. The outside manager gets an A+ for attention to detail and being helpful. Service was good. We ordered the broiled fish sandwich (fish of the day was Haddock) and blackened mahi tacos. The salad that came w/this was surprisingly great. No iceberg! Escarole and a spring mix. Very fresh. The Haddock sandwich came w/a homemade tarter sauce. The fish was so huge it had to be cut in half and piled on the bun. I could find no fault w/it except that the fish was cold when it came to the table. The blackened mahi taco had a slightly spicy sauce on the mahi that was very tasty. There was a decent portion of it. The ambiance is what you come for and the food is very good too! EDIT: Thanks to a fellow reviewer found the health inspection listed under 'The' Breezeway for anyone else. 3 @ Risk violations and 2 Critical violations for:water source safe-hot & cold under pressure, toilet & hand washing facilities and mold in ice machine.
(4)Sean M.
Perhaps it was just an off night for The Breezeway crew last night; this being our first time having stopped in for an evening meal there, there's no way for us to be sure. The service was alright. They were obviously busy and our server was training someone. So taking that into consideration, I give the service 3 stars. I ordered a $7 glass of Pinot Noir that as soon as it was placed in front of me I could tell it was from a two-day opened bottle at best. The vinegar smell was obvious. So as not to risk getting another glass from the same bottle, I ended up trading in for a glass of Chardonnay that was much better. As for the meal, I ordered the house special which was three breaded grouper filets served in a white wine lemon-butter sauce with side of linguine and a twice-baked potato. My fiancé opted for the fried shrimp with twice-baked potato for a side and a side salad. The bread that was served prior to the arrival of the salad tasted like a prefab frozen bread with a last minute attempt to dress it with a scarce few crumbs of asiago. It even looked like a last minute idea. The salad arrived with what was supposed to be bleu cheese dressing. Soupy and tasting more like a mix of thousand island with ricotta cheese, it was probably the poorest excuse for bleu cheese dressing I've come across in a while. The food arrived after some time. When it did arrive, again, I could immediately see that it had been sitting back in the kitchen for a while. The white wine lemon-butter sauce had already congealed. The twice-baked potatoes looked twice-baked and three-times frozen prior to. The only thing on either of our plates that was remotely hot enough to serve was my fiancé's shrimp. When I explained to our server that the food was just plain cold, she apologized and found the manager (or owner, I'm not sure what he was). He apologized as well and attempted to re-do our meals. I explained that we would just like to pay for drinks and move on with our evening. He was gracious enough and again apologized. He comped the meals, but we did pay for our drinks. Good enough. Now we have eaten Sunday brunch there before on a couple of occasions (they no longer do Sunday brunch, unfortunately) and it was fantastic. The cheesy grits they served were delicious and they fried their eggs in bacon grease which, to me, is the only way to fry eggs. I know that horrifies some of you out there. Not only was the breakfast excellent but their coffee was delicious to boot. I started to look forward to our Sunday morning breakfast at The Breezeway, but sadly, that's a thing of the past.
(2)Marc G.
Had lunch planned with a friend for today and read the review by Heather McPherson in the Sentinel on Sunday, so thought this would be a great place for us to go for a late lunch. This is a very nice, very cozy, comfortable place with more dining tables outside. The staff was as friendly and helpful as could be. At first glance, there is so much on the menu and you might wonder how they can do all that and well at the same time. Because of the size of the menu, it took us a little while to order, but then we were in no rush & neither did we feel rushed at any time during our stay. My friend ordered the Philly Cheesesteak and I had the Grouper sandwich. I was going to order it blackened, but when I asked the server if the blackening was spicy she said no, but also added that she doesn't like blackening nor spicy food. To me the main part to blackening a piece of meat is for the proper spices used. So, with that said, I decided to go with fried. The grouper that was served was an oversized plank falling all over the kaiser roll. It was served with homemade tartar sauce that was just yummy and I opted for the french fries. At first glance, it was definitely a nice sized portion, but when I picked up the sandwich, the heft of it blew me away. The grouper was breaded and fried to a nice crispiness on the outside, but was still moist and flaky inside. In other words, perfection!! The fries were nicely done, but just a tad salty, not that stopped me from finishing them off. Now to the saltiness. My friend asked me to taste her sandwich because at first she felt it was just so oversalted. I did take a bite, but didn't taste it at first and maybe it was where I took the bite from. Because, as I was finishing it up I caught a saltiness that appeared to be coming from the vegetables in the sandwich. So maybe the chef might have had a touch of a heavy hand with the salt, but none of our meal was surely unpalatable. All in all, I look forward to going back there and possibly for dinner. The place is not cheap by any means, but I firmly believe that you are getting value for your money here. Bon apetit Sanford!!
(4)Howard B.
This is the 5th restaurant in this location in 9 years and one of the top 3. The new owner put what appears to be a fair amount of investment into the new place and I think so far it works. We had lunch there today and really enjoyed the food which appeared to be made fresh and by hand. The mozzarella wedges (fried cheese) and marinara was excellent, although 4 pieces would have been better for the price. The chicken salad sandwich was nice and light and very tasty, made with chunk white meat, mayo, celery, onion and dill. The burgers were good and juicy with a basic seasoning for a decent burger. My mother had a fried eggplant sandwich, noting it was light (not heavy fried) cut into thin layers and delicious. As always the outdoor breezeway seating is a nice atmosphere and of course dog friendly. The only draw back to outdoor seating is the smokers. I think this is the place that will last fairly long in this location. We will definitely return.
(4)Casey C.
I signed up on Yelp specifically to complain about this place. I was in Sanford to watch a friend perform and needed a quick bite. I chose Breezeway and chose wrong! Aside from the fact that my order was completely screwed up, and took forever to get the food made me sick! I was up all night and still dealing with the repercussions the next day. Stay away!
(1)Susan L.
50 minutes after ordering two sandwiches, we paid for the two iced teas that we had been sipping and left. While waiting for our meal, we were surprised that no one had stopped at our table to explain why our food had not arrived. After we saw a party of four who had arrived long after we were seated receive their food, we stopped our server to ask her when we would get our meals. She stated that the chef had just arrived and that she would put a rush on our order. We had a train to catch, so we left (after waiting more than 50 minutes). The service was terrible; can't attest to the food since we never got any. Will never go back to the place.
(1)Kim C.
Excellent good and service. Amazing burger. Will definitely be coming back.
(5)Rebekah G.
A few girlfriends and myself came to this friendly little place with the perfect name, The Breezeway for a drink last Saturday night. The weather was perfect so this was a nice place we could sit outside and enjoy it. The bar staff was extremely nice and the drinks were priced well. There was a guy playing a keyboard and had a "band in a box" and he was killing it. He said he could play anything and he pretty much proved himself to be right! Had it not gotten a little too chilly for us Florida girls we would have stayed a little longer. We didn't eat so I can't talk about food but the drinks we tasty. I will hopefully be visiting this place again soon.
(4)Justin M.
Really a let down. After reading some good reviews of this place, I was hopeful that it would be better than the last restaurant in this space, two blonde's and a shrimp. While Two Blonde's had decent food (sometimes), their service was always pretty bad. Unfortunately, both the food and the service was a miss on our visit. First let's talk about the service. Slow doesn't even cover it. We were seated outside after finally flagging down an employee to get a table, and our server came over a few minutes later. Apparently she was also the only outside bartender, with about 4 people at the bar, and no other tables occupied outside. She took our drink orders and then went to go make them. I'm not sure what she was doing, but it took about 8 minutes to pour a glass of wine, pop the cap off of a beer, mix crown and ginger ale together, and make a margarita. The restaurant actually cleared out a bit by the time our meal was all said and done, but I'm sorry to say the service didn't speed up any. Next the menu. A fair amount of your standard appetizers (calamari, crab cakes) and sandwiches, but not anything very impressive for dinner. They had three steaks on the menu, a couple of fish dishes (fried, blackened, grilled, even one with cheese and marinara sauce?), a grilled veggie skewer, and a chicken pasta dish. No care seemed to have been taken in developing any sort of composed dish, you just choose an entree, choose a side, and choose a caesar or a house salad. Underwhelming to say the least. I ordered a steak (a ribeye) and my wife ordered a fried fish plate. My steak came out inconsistently cooked. I ordered it med-rare, and parts of it were medium and parts were very rare. The flavor wasn't inedible, but I could have used a bit less black pepper. It made it seem as though they were masking the flavor of a poor quality cut of meat, which it tasted and looked like it was. The steak may have been a little bit better if they had remembered to put on the blue cheese topping that I had ordered. The filling of the twice baked potato that I got as my side was tasty, but the half potato shell it was served in was almost completely raw. The whole thing looked like it had been prepped a few days ago and microwaved before being put on the plate. My wife's fish was a good sized portion, but it did not seem like it was a fresh piece of meat. When my wife asked for the tartar sauce that didn't come on the plate (it was on the menu description), the server brought her a cup of curry mayonnaise. I'm not a hard to please person, but there seemed to be missteps at each point in our meal, and the slow service is inexcusable when there are only 7 other people in the restaurant. I'll not be coming back, and I'm so disappointed because it's such a great space!
(2)Moire W.
My friend and I ordered a steak for lunch. It was nice big and delicious. My friend is a little picky but was so happy that all her requirements were met with a smile. The vegetables are fresh and flavorful, the caesar salad great and the steak was really superb. The server was friendly and did not over serve which can be a problem.
(5)Paul G.
Keep German beer in stock and I will probably never go back to Hollerbacks. The food is real good and they had some Paulaner Octoberfest leftover from last year. So many people come to Sanford for German beer at Willow Tree. If other bars want people to give them a try they should carry a few german beers in stock.
(3)Cat R.
Passed by a bunch of times on the way to other places, now will make this one a destination because of bar manager Bobby. I had been having a bad time of it, was dragged out by my sister. Bobby's kindness and brilliant hospitality and spunky attitude turned a terrible day into a lovely one. He went out of his way to make me feel good, while still being attentive and friendly with every patron there, and also expertly managing a bar and several wait staff, all at the same time. His food recommendation was awesome (try the crab cakes, yum!) and drink inventions are fantastic, ask him to concoct you an original! Many thanks, I will return as long as he is there!
(5)Karen C.
The atmosphere was really great as were the drinks and not that expensive. I was really impressed with the menu, kind of mundane. The signature pork sandwich DEFINITELY gets you a lot for the money, but as far as taste, kind if bland and I thought the fries were kinda sub par. They have sooo much potential and the bartender was very nice, but they could realllly ramp up with a more exciting menu.
(3)Douglas W.
Had the Mahi tacos with green beans and sauce. Highly recommended. Stopped in for lunch and was immediately seated and my order was placed. I was able to drive there, order, eat, and get back to work in 1 hour without rushing. Thanks Jade!
(5)Reggie R.
Gave them a three service was fair with a smile . Lunch Specail was good we had chicken bruschetta which I thought was good the cool air in the breezeway is a plus and felt great ,down side is you have to contend with the flies for your lunch.I had a vodka and cran which I thought was a bit on the weak side but none the less the overall experience was good .I would visit the breezeway again when I pass thru Sanford my old home town.
(3)Gayle H.
I really love the food, and love to sit outside to eat in the breezeway area, but we had to walk out due to the too loud music. It books singers that set up speakers way too large for such a small space. I would love to be able to talk to my friends during dinner. Too bad, great use of space.
(3)Kathy P.
Had lunch today and we were very pleased. My husband had the pork tenderloin and was good but would have preferred it grilled...the caesar salad was delicious ,,,,, I had the grilled fish sandwich and it was very good.... Want to go back and try dinner!
(4)Romy S.
We have been going to the Breezeway almost since the day it opened. It is one of our favorite restaurants in Sanford. Management regularly walks the tables and enquires about your experience. Love the filet, fried shrimp, burger, and ribeye. Management even started to carry angry orchard after I asked about it. They are very dog friendly and we frequently take ours with us to dinner. Overall, the service we have had has been fine. There are some servers we prefer to others but there has never been a really bad service experience. There was one incident with the kitchen but management resolved it immediately and there has never been a problem since. The Breezeway is our go to place and there have been times we go there 2-3 times a week.
(5)Debra M.
Went to The Breezeway after a good review in the Orlando Sentinel. Got seated right away, since there was no one in any of the tables. 5 or 6 people sitting at the bar. Waitress was timely in coming over and getting our drink order and then following up with our food order. When another party came in we overheard their different waitress tell them the specials etc...Ours didnt do that. But ok, I ordered the french onion soup, it was awful, tasted burnt, cup filled with really awful tasting stale bread, and maybe a tsp of cheese on top! I had to search to find the cheese! Definitely a miss on that! Then we sat and sat and sat, The waitress checked on our food order twice. Still no food...Now remember we were the only ones in the inside of the restaurant, There were only 2 tables of people in the outside dining area. So there is really no excuse that our meal should take almost a half hour to cook. I could understand if we got burgers or something like that. I ordered the appetizer firecracker shrimp - which touted it as tempura battered shrimp with thai sauce...was small shrimp but the batter needs to be more battery if thats a word,,The taste was ok and there was plenty of it. My husband thought he got a ham sandwich but they brought him out a chicken sandwich, I guess the confusion came because the two sandwichs had similar names. The waitress was attentive, hubby got several refills on his soda. If the kitchen is going to be this slow,,maybe popcorn or chips or bread on the table? Prices were normal, no big or great deals. Bill was 30 dollars for lunch, and he only had soda and i had water. Dont know if I would go back for just ok food.
(2)Steve F.
Having eaten at this establishment many, many times for both lunch and dinner, I felt the need to dispel some previous reviews with my own. First of all, everything is prepared fresh to order. Nothing, to my knowledge, is frozen - not the bread, not the twice baked potatoes, not the calamari, definitely not the fish. Quite a few people have complained about the service and/or time it takes to get your food. Like I said... the food is prepared and cooked fresh, to order. Order the chicken, fish or pork tenderloin that is fried? It is fried up fresh. Period. I could detail more but here's the deal... if you're looking for prepackaged, already prepared and simply heated, QUICK ARRIVING MEALS... eat at Olive Garden or some other chain establishment. Second, as far as food arriving that is cold, or a butter sauce that has congealed... I have eaten at this establishment 30+ times. I have never, ever received any order that was cold or tasted like it had been sitting in the kitchen. I have eaten here on very busy Fri and Sat nights, and when there were only 2 tables sat for a Sunday lunch. I have never received any meal that was sub-par. The service is not top notch fancy restaurant... where as they don't have 50 servers running around checking on tables every 30 seconds, which in my opinion, is a good thing. All I expect is to be greeted with a smile, answer questions on the menu, take my order down correctly, and serve the food promptly. None of those have ever been an issue at the Breezeway. The last thing I want is a server hanging over my table asking if everything is ok every 30 seconds. I really don't understand what some of you who review expect of service. As for the meals themselves, I've tasted just about everything on the menu, but usually opt for one of the specials (at least for dinner). We love to eat here during the happy hour on Friday nights to try multiple appetizers, since they are half price. All have been very good, with the shrimp being one of my favorites (basically a shrimp cocktail with some of the freshest shrimp I've had out). The grouper is always amazing, fresh, and cooked perfectly. The last detail I want to add is the price vs portion size. Let me put it this way... you get exactly what you pay for. Meals are a tad bit pricier than your usual chain options, but the portions are tremendous. I have absolutely no problem spending more on something that is a) fresh, b) cooked to order, and c) decent portion. You will not leave hungry. If you want to try something new, in regards to not one of your usual chain establishments that unfortunately, in our area, is what we're left to choose from... and eat food that is prepared uniquely, with care and love, and with a great atmosphere... the Breezeway is the place to be. I do not work here, I do not know the owner or anyone who works here personally... just wanted to give an honest review of a place that deserves it. I did have to laugh at one of the comments talking about the wine being 2 days old, or whatever the ridiculous statement was. Really?
(5)