I post the same experience as many others: walked into an empty restaurant at 6:00 pm on a Saturday evening and was told that the restaurant was "fully booked" with reservations, including the empty bar. When I pointed out that the place was empty and why couldn't we sit in the bar, I was told, "you can leave now." Well, okay, I did leave, and I will continue to post dismal reviews. I've eaten here before and the food is marginal. Nothing to come back for as there are too many other good places in Sanford to eat
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Bud D.
Excellent food , service & atmosphere , our new go to place for date night , Sanfords best kept secret
Tanya M.
Myself & my husband went here and ordered the Filet steak with mashed potatoes and beans, we also ordered the ribs and a wedge salad. Did not take any pictures of food because the steak had a lot of pepper on it so the flavor of the steak was overpowered. The pepper from the steak also overpowered the mashed potatoes. The short ribs was good and a nice portion. We go to restaurants all the time and we have never been told while walking to be seated that we have an hour so hurry up and order your food, we were also told at arrival that we could not make a reservation in yelp but we know we can. In all we give second chances so we will return for a better experience
Denisse Borges
It was ok.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Magaly Marie
I have mixed emotions about this restaurant.My husband and I went there for the first time without a reservation but we walked in because we saw the restaurant was EMPTY and because it had pretty good reviews. We went last Friday around 5pm. We walked in and they said we could only sit at the bar or outside (it was windy and raining)...confused, we sat at the bar.When I tell you the restaurant was fully EMPTY, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING.But then I thought "maybe they have like a big party coming or something..."FOOD:For appetizer we ordered the Shrimp Dip.It was a 10/10 ($16)We would come back just for this delicious dip.For Entrée, my husband ordered the special of the day Steak Diane with mashed potatoes. He said it was a 9/10 ($31)I ordered the Trout with risotto. The risotto and the vegetables were cold but the trout was really good. I give it a 7/10 ($28)For dessert we tried the Piña Colada Bread Pudding ($9.50) it was good, but it tasted like a churro with dulce de leche sauce. I have no idea why they called it a Piña Colada Bread Pudding 7/10All that being said, we were probably there for 1 hour and 40 mins...only one family of 4 walked in and apparently they had a reservation. Two other couples came in but they also told them they could only seat outside or at the bar still with probably over 18 tables available. For me, that's just bad customer service.The two ladies at the bar were very nice and they did a great job taking care of us.Overall, I think the food is overpriced for what you get. Their shrimp dip was the highlight of the night but in my opinion there's better restaurants out there with better food, prices and customer service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Terra Good
We were super excited to try this restaurant in Sanford. Unfortunately, we felt that the food did not live up to the reviews or expensive price. We split the short ribs/risotto, based on the positive reviews. It came out cold and risotto wasn’t fully cooked. We normally never complain or send things back. At first, we were told they would comp our drinks for the trouble. That didn’t feel sufficient since the drinks were great, it was the food that was unsatisfactory. When I asked to speak to the manager, she was very abrupt and unfriendly. Saying “what do you want me to do?!” Luckily, my husband, who never complains stood his ground. They ultimately took the meal off the bill, and we were happy to pay for the drinks we enjoyed. Unfortunately, the way this all was handled will be what keeps us from ever giving this restaurant another shot. It’s so easy for a manager to be apologetic and just make things right for the sake of the brand and to keep customers. Guess this isn’t important at this restaurant. Too bad…
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Drew
One of the best restaurants in sanford, don't forget to make a
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp & Grits, Red Crab Arrabiata
Ed C.
Tucked away in a quieter section of Sanford, the District is clean and quiet with a very nice selection of entrees.
JD Pearson
Found this place without recommendation on the internet what's going to a nearby concert so thought why not? Not only surprised but pleasantly surprised. Incredible food decent value great service wonderful place. Will definitely be
Great food and a really nice place to eat.Lack vegan amd vegetarian options is the only reason we don’t visit any more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Louann Angelo
Great find! Awesome cocktails, amazing menu, polished presentation and superb wait staff. A gem on 2nd st in Sanford. Who would have known. Pistachio crusted trout was a hit out of the ball park! Chef truly knows what he's doing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Diane G.
Have eaten at The District twice and it was excellent both times. First time I had the special for the evening which was perfectly cooked halibut with red potatoes, corn and a delicious sauce and my husband had the steak au poivre cooked to a perfect medium rare. The second time they had run out of the special so we both had the steak au poivre and once again both filets were perfect. We love this place. We look forward to coming back....
Mary B.
Food and atmosphere was great.... They had very unusual specialty drinks also.... Definitely a great place to have a drink or dinner.
Jim Buckle
We've been multiple times and everything we tried has been delicious. Huge fan of the Short rib and Trout. The pork chop is also fantastic, it's hard to decide what I want.
Nice place to have a relaxed dinner with your partner or friends, the food is delicious. And great cocktail selections.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp & Grits, Bourbon Bone-In Porkchop, Crème Brûlée, Sesame Crusted Yellowfin Tuna, Bourbon Brine Bone-In Pork chop24
I post the same experience as many others: walked into an empty restaurant at 6:00 pm on a Saturday evening and was told that the restaurant was "fully booked" with reservations, including the empty bar. When I pointed out that the place was empty and why couldn't we sit in the bar, I was told, "you can leave now." Well, okay, I did leave, and I will continue to post dismal reviews. I've eaten here before and the food is marginal. Nothing to come back for as there are too many other good places in Sanford to eat
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Excellent food , service & atmosphere , our new go to place for date night , Sanfords best kept secret
Myself & my husband went here and ordered the Filet steak with mashed potatoes and beans, we also ordered the ribs and a wedge salad. Did not take any pictures of food because the steak had a lot of pepper on it so the flavor of the steak was overpowered. The pepper from the steak also overpowered the mashed potatoes. The short ribs was good and a nice portion. We go to restaurants all the time and we have never been told while walking to be seated that we have an hour so hurry up and order your food, we were also told at arrival that we could not make a reservation in yelp but we know we can. In all we give second chances so we will return for a better experience
It was ok.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
I have mixed emotions about this restaurant.My husband and I went there for the first time without a reservation but we walked in because we saw the restaurant was EMPTY and because it had pretty good reviews. We went last Friday around 5pm. We walked in and they said we could only sit at the bar or outside (it was windy and raining)...confused, we sat at the bar.When I tell you the restaurant was fully EMPTY, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING.But then I thought "maybe they have like a big party coming or something..."FOOD:For appetizer we ordered the Shrimp Dip.It was a 10/10 ($16)We would come back just for this delicious dip.For Entrée, my husband ordered the special of the day Steak Diane with mashed potatoes. He said it was a 9/10 ($31)I ordered the Trout with risotto. The risotto and the vegetables were cold but the trout was really good. I give it a 7/10 ($28)For dessert we tried the Piña Colada Bread Pudding ($9.50) it was good, but it tasted like a churro with dulce de leche sauce. I have no idea why they called it a Piña Colada Bread Pudding 7/10All that being said, we were probably there for 1 hour and 40 mins...only one family of 4 walked in and apparently they had a reservation. Two other couples came in but they also told them they could only seat outside or at the bar still with probably over 18 tables available. For me, that's just bad customer service.The two ladies at the bar were very nice and they did a great job taking care of us.Overall, I think the food is overpriced for what you get. Their shrimp dip was the highlight of the night but in my opinion there's better restaurants out there with better food, prices and customer service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
We were super excited to try this restaurant in Sanford. Unfortunately, we felt that the food did not live up to the reviews or expensive price. We split the short ribs/risotto, based on the positive reviews. It came out cold and risotto wasn’t fully cooked. We normally never complain or send things back. At first, we were told they would comp our drinks for the trouble. That didn’t feel sufficient since the drinks were great, it was the food that was unsatisfactory. When I asked to speak to the manager, she was very abrupt and unfriendly. Saying “what do you want me to do?!” Luckily, my husband, who never complains stood his ground. They ultimately took the meal off the bill, and we were happy to pay for the drinks we enjoyed. Unfortunately, the way this all was handled will be what keeps us from ever giving this restaurant another shot. It’s so easy for a manager to be apologetic and just make things right for the sake of the brand and to keep customers. Guess this isn’t important at this restaurant. Too bad…
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
One of the best restaurants in sanford, don't forget to make a
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp & Grits, Red Crab Arrabiata
Tucked away in a quieter section of Sanford, the District is clean and quiet with a very nice selection of entrees.
Found this place without recommendation on the internet what's going to a nearby concert so thought why not? Not only surprised but pleasantly surprised. Incredible food decent value great service wonderful place. Will definitely be
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sesame Crusted Yellowfin Tuna
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and a really nice place to eat.Lack vegan amd vegetarian options is the only reason we don’t visit any more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great find! Awesome cocktails, amazing menu, polished presentation and superb wait staff. A gem on 2nd st in Sanford. Who would have known. Pistachio crusted trout was a hit out of the ball park! Chef truly knows what he's doing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Have eaten at The District twice and it was excellent both times. First time I had the special for the evening which was perfectly cooked halibut with red potatoes, corn and a delicious sauce and my husband had the steak au poivre cooked to a perfect medium rare. The second time they had run out of the special so we both had the steak au poivre and once again both filets were perfect. We love this place. We look forward to coming back....
Food and atmosphere was great.... They had very unusual specialty drinks also.... Definitely a great place to have a drink or dinner.
We've been multiple times and everything we tried has been delicious. Huge fan of the Short rib and Trout. The pork chop is also fantastic, it's hard to decide what I want.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5