Floatway Cafe

Doesn't Recommend

sesheri

Joined 6 years ago

Absolutely Horrid. I was extremely disappointed with this restaurant. Despite having made reservations, I had to wait twenty minutes for my table. The waitress was inattentive generally and took forever to come to take our order. The meal choices I wanted had run out (which was not revealed until after I attempted to order them). I ended up getting meat that was undercooked (not cooked to specifications) and very salty. The side options were basically french fries and onion rings (with fancy names) and brussell sprouts. I ordered the french fries. They were the best thing about the meal. I would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER go to this restaurant again or recommend it to anyone.

Recommends

kleint

Joined 11 years ago

Great food, warmer restaurant (and people). UPDATE -

Floataway has improved its game - both with the renovation and more attention to service. I've been back several times (most recently this past week) and they no longer deserve the rebuke (tho they definitely deserved it at the time).

I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.

It's one of the best spots in the neighborhood.

____________________________________________________________________

OLD REVIEW:

It saddens me to say that Floataway Cafe is no longer the restaurant it used to be. I've just returned from an evening that was highly unsatisfactory. While the food remains delicious, the service and management seemed completely out of touch with reality. It made me think that they've somehow started to think that no matter how poor the service is, they will continue to earn the rave reviews. Someone in the back of the kitchen needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Things have gotten so dismal in the front of the house that I can no longer recommend this restaurant to my friends or visitors.

Some key points:

We arrived precisely on time for our reservation. We were made to wait 30 minutes (with nary a word from the hostess as to why). This was at 9PM in the evening. I understand that this is an inexact science, but it could have been handled much better.

Wait, wait, wait, wait for a server to show up.

She finally does and takes our drink order. Little did we know that this would be the theme throughout the entire evening.

This culminated with her chatting with a friend who had come into the restaurant as we waited 20 minutes (no exaggeration!) to just process our bill (in a nearly empty restaurant).

On top of the glacial service, the restaurant was freezing cold. This wasn't just a matter of of 68 vs. 72, but someone joked that they had turned off the heat to clear the tables. I was wearing socks and loafers and even my feet were cold.

Our bill for three people came to more than 200.00 - I think we deserved more in terms of service and comfort. To be fair, the appetizers and entrees were delicious.

Maybe I should ask them if they would consider takeout - because I am not going to put up with that horrific level of service again.

Recommends

soniwick

Joined 6 years ago

Floataway Cafe - An Average Experience. The food was average compared to the prices. I had the Magherita Pizza, which was average. I have definitely tried better pizzas. The Trout with the seasonal veges is definitely a better choice. Service was prompt.

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cubeless

Joined 7 years ago

Good food, but ambiance and wine list would keep me away. We all know that the restaurant is hidden amongst office suites in an industrial park. I can live with that if the restaurant makes you forget that once you walk in its doors. Floataway does not. I felt like I was in a garage all night. It just felt cheap. The chairs were uncomfortable, the table looked like an outdoor patio table from Miami in the 50's, the cinder block walls were painted like my elementary school cafeteria. For the menu prices, I would have expected a little more class. One last thing on the surroundings....to use the bathroom, you have to exit using a fire door out into a strange corridor lined with office space. It's just plain weird.

Fortunately the food was excellent. My only gripe on the food was the mere 4 choices for non-pasta entrees. The steak was done well. Pasta was fresh and delicious. The pizza was average in my opinion. The cheese selection was also quite nice served with nice accompaniments. And dessert also delicious (warm chocolate cake with banana ice cream). Service was also excellent...very attentive.

My last gripe is the wine list. While there were some uncommon and interesting bottles, it is priced poorly. There are very few selections under $40. This is unacceptable. Over half the list is priced $60 and up and it's not a big list...one page for both whites and reds. There is definitely more variety and value in the whites than the reds.

Overall, the food is good, the menu creative, and the service attentive. But for my money and with the fine selection of top notch restaurants in the ATL area, I won't return to this bizarrely placed and decorated restaurant.

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mannyny

Joined 7 years ago

Great service. Extremely helpful sommelier, she definitely knew what she was doing. The food is truly luscious and memorable. Tremendous ambiance. My only gripe is that it took me forever to find this place, because it's so nicely tucked away.

Recommends

5chastain5

Joined 9 years ago

still wonderful. This is definitely one of the best restaurants in atlanta. I had not been in several years but it was just as good as I remembered. Still is a bit difficult to find though. Everything is so fresh you really want to come early for dinner as they always run out of many of the items. If I could change anything it would be the expensive wine list. Just isn't necessary to have such expensive wine.

Recommends

littlelady82

Joined 7 years ago

A Wonderful Evening. I dined here with two others for my birthday. It was a Thursday night and even though we didn't have reservations we were seated promptly in the beautiful little courtyard outside the restraurant. Unlike many patios in the city, there were no sounds of traffic or busy streets. Just a perfect, quiet spring evening. Our meals (red snapper, oven roasted chicken and georgia trout) were delicious, our waiter attentive and helpful, and the desserts were simply devine! (a chocolate torte with chantilly cream is not too sweet and perfect with a cup of the french press coffee!) We also enjoyed a delightful bottle of wine. A bit pricey for me, but perfect for a special occassion (birthday, anniversary).

Doesn't Recommend

sm630

Joined 7 years ago

Overrated Restaurant. Atmosphere is uninviting, uncomfortable, had awkward seating and very difficult to find. I was not impressed at all with the food, was actually a very bad meal. Will not be returning to this restaurant.

Recommends

margaret69

Joined 7 years ago

MLK Weekend. We arrived @ Floataway for our 8 pm reservation and were asked to wait at the bar for several minutes while our table was prepared. It was worth the short wait! After being seated, we very much enjoyed a fantastic array of house-cured salumis. Boyfriend had skate wing with bacon and cherry reduction, and I thought he would cry, it was so good. My lamb pasta was also nice. This is definitely one of the best meals I've had in Atlanta! I actually preferred Floataway to Bacchanalia.

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elanisa

Joined 8 years ago

Love It! Romantic! Exceptional Quality!. I went with my husband and my sister and her husband for a night on the town. This is a beautifully modern setting and the food is Excellent!!! The owners have an organic farm where most of the vegetables greens are grown. The whole menu is organic- so fresh, it is wonderfull!! The ingredients are truly farm fresh and eco-friendly. The Menu is a little confusing, but the wait staff is more than willing to explain. I am definately dining here again!!!!