The Waterman Fish - Charlotte

The service was a bit confusing. I sat at the bar, and while three different staff members acknowledged me and greeted me, none actually stopped to take my order. I eventually had to flag someone down to ask if I could place an order. The food took about ten minutes to arrive, and it was quite decent. I sampled the fish on its own, without the bun or condiments, but found it lacking in flavor. However, the portion of fries was quite generous.

This restaurant is a sister company to Sea Level downtown, and we absolutely loved it! It’s easy to find, although the parking lot can be quite crowded. We were quickly seated on a Wednesday night. Initially, it took a little while for a waitress to come to our table, but once she did, our food and drinks started coming out right away. I have no complaints—the service was fantastic, truly embodying the spirit of teamwork. The food was incredibly delicious; I felt like I was in heaven! My husband even said we want to come here every week. I can’t wait to return!

Upon our arrival, Courtney greeted us at the door and asked if we preferred to sit inside or outside. We opted for the outdoor seating upstairs, although there is also a downstairs option available. Just a note: there's no elevator. Our server, KC, who also serves as the bartender, welcomed us warmly and mixed up a delightful sweet drink for me that was absolutely delicious. My husband chose an IPA beer. For an appetizer, we shared the Crispy Calamari with a sweet chili sauce, which was incredibly tasty—I would definitely order it again! For our main course, my husband had a fish taco while we both enjoyed the salmon tacos. We also shared a basket of sweet tots, and I had a refreshing sweet tea. Everything was delicious! The general manager, Mel, stopped by to greet us and ensure we were satisfied with our meal. She was very friendly, just like the rest of the staff. We will certainly be returning in the future!

I can’t believe it took us that long to try out the Waterman Fish Bar. We enjoyed an evening with cocktails and food on the rooftop patio. It probably has one of the best views of Charlotte, the pictures and videos doesn’t do it justice. The chicken sandwich, fried calamari and mussels were awesome. Even if you don’t like seafood there is a meal for you. They also have weekly specials, so definitely give them a follow on Instagram to stay up to date. This was not our last visit.

I have mixed feelings about this experience. This was my first time here and the idea to go here was better in my head. The reality is that this concept of a trendy mid-town seafood restaurant kind of misses the mark. Food is decent, but a little over priced for what it is, however it was the service that made us feel like we were distracting them from their social hour . Our server was slow or not present, had to ask others for items or go to the bar. Probably will be a while before I try this place again.