Old City House Inn and Restaurant

Our dining experience was excellent, and that's what this rating is based on. The Alcazar room itself was far below acceptable. The bed was comfortable, but the bathroom pocket door was very hard to move. The shower door was misadjusted and once shut all the way, my wife had to work on it from outside while I tried from inside for several minutes. We were afraid we'd break the glass. There was also a lot of mold in the shower, and no AC control in the room.

The outdoor seating looked lovely, and our server, Jorge, was mostly attentive. Still, we left disappointed after the Thanksgiving meal. The turkey came in oddly uniform slices that looked like wrapped cheese, the brown gravy was far too salty, and the stuffing didn't have much flavor. For two people, the $179.40 bill felt like holiday pricing for cafeteria food. We decided to take dessert to go after two outdoor heaters were moved and started blowing straight at our table. Then, on the way out, we realized there were no forks in the bag and had to go back in for them. Maybe the kitchen was having an off night, but on the strength of this visit, we won't return or recommend the restaurant. We'd booked because it was highly regarded and were really looking forward to a special holiday dinner.

The downtown location is great, and much of the food was very good. The suggested She Crab Bisque ($14.56) was excellent and nicely seasoned, as was the Red & Golden Beet Salad ($16.64), which had plenty of beets. The Beef Tenderloin ($50.96) was cooked perfectly, and the fish of the day ($42) was a good size. The asparagus was tough and the potato a little overcooked, but still not bad. Everything was beautifully presented, and the chilled La Jolie Fleur Rose ($47.84) paired well. The real problem was the seating decision. A family of nine, including four screaming kids, was seated next to our table for two. It made for a really unpleasant atmosphere, with loud conversation and behavior more suited to a playground. I mentioned it to Robin, our waitress, but she didn't seem able to do much, or particularly concerned, and management seemed no more interested. They tried to make up for it with a comped bread pudding and ice cream, but we had to sit through all the noise to eat it. This will be our only visit.

My sister and I picked this room for our holiday trip to Saint Augustine and the Nights of Lights because it had a daybed. She got the large bed, and I tried the daybed. It's the most uncomfortable hotel furniture I've ever slept on. Maybe a toddler could manage it, but I don't think anyone older than six could sleep comfortably. Even the staff had trouble setting it up and getting a sheet on. There are lots of other fantastic options in Saint Augustine, so we won't stay at this B&B again.