After reading varied opinions on this restaurant, my wife and I decided to give it a shot during a recent get-away weekend at the Cheeca Lodge. After calling for a reservation (as suggested) and settling on a specific time, we arrived approximately 10 minutes early to find a near-empty restaurant. The hostess told us we would have a short wait before being seated. For what, I don't know, because no one was there. But we sat and waited outside- no big deal.
Upon being seated, we were given a half-hearted greeting by the server, who seemed to wish he was anywhere else than there working that evening. The lighting outside was so poor and dim that we could not make out what we were eating.The appetizers (crab potstickers) were small and overpriced, and the main courses (Kobe sirloin with a strange garlic paste? and lobster) were again small portioned and not very tasty. At least the dessert, a key lime combo, was tasty.
The worst thing overall was the amount of time we had to wait for the server to bring food, drinks, etc. to the table after we requested, then check up on us occasionally (looked like he only had two other tables), and retrieve the check. We waited almost 15 minutes after our meal was finished to be asked about a dessert, and another 15 minutes after we finished dessert to be able to request our bill. A highly-acclaimed restaurnat should not leave its patrons waiting for long peiods of time without any attention!
I would NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone, unless you like small portions, non-existent lighting, overpriced food, and POOR, POOR service. Where did these people learn how to treat customers!!!!!

Stayed at Cheeca Lodge over New Year's and the week after. After a pitiful "Special 4 Course New Year's Dinner" experience(terrible, harried service and horrible filet/ quality of meat), we were hesitant to try Atlantics Edge. Should have listened to our gut feeling. Service was slow, slow, slow. My husband, son, and I all ordered the Kobe sirloin at $40 dollars a pop. We ordered 3 different temps ranging from rare to medium. The embarassingly thin steaks came out cooked all the same and were tough as leather and without flavor. Would definitly not eat there again.

Atlantic's Edge is an American Express Platinum Card listed restaurant, so I had high expectations. I had my Platinum travel advisor make my reservation and made special notation this would be a birthday celebration for myself and a friend. We arrived a little early at a mostly empty restaurant and were told it would be a few minutes before our table would be ready. It was suggested we wait in the bar. A good 15 minutes passed and I once again went back to the mostly empty restaurant and was told yes, our table was ready.

Instead of being ushered to one of the empty tables directly in front of the window, we were literally seated at a table in a hallway connecting the kitchen to the main dining area! To my shock, I immediately asked the "maitre'd" if we could be seated at one of the abundant empty tables in the main dining room. I was told that those tables had been reserved for guests staying at the hotel.

It was quite some time before anyone arrived at our table and offered a choice of water. Then someone appeared and asked if we would like to order drinks. After 15 minutes in the bar, I didn't care for another drink and we both ordered iced teas. Some more time passed before a waitress appeared, rushed, at our table. Still the main dining room remained mostly empty. She hurridly told us the specials and said she would return to take our order. A good 10 minutes passed and she again rushed back to our table. Main dining room still mostly empty. I ordered one of the seafood specials and was told "oh, we ran out of that." Mind you, this was 7pm. I quickly chose a small filet steak, as did my dining companion. Another 45 minutes passed and we flagged down a bus boy to ask if he could catch our server and find out what was happening with our dinners. The waitress appeared and explained the steaks were taking long because we ordered them well done. No apology. She made it seem our faults for ordering them well done.

Shortly after, the steaks appeared and looked like tiny black charcoals. They were virtually inedible. Again, the waitress was no where to be seen. We were on the point of walking out when the waitress turned up. When we complained about the steaks, she said "you ordered them well done." No apology.

I ordered a slice of fancy chocolate cake for my friend's birthday. The restaurant had been adivsed this was a birthday celebration. No candle, no song. Nothing but the skinny slice of cake shoved in front of my companion and a fork placed beside it. Not even a second fork was brought as most restaurants do for possible sharing.

This entire "dining" experience lasted over 2 hours. The tables in the main dining room still remained mostly empty. The check was brought and was about $150 with tip. It was a horrible, costly experience and my friend and I both concluded the restaurant was mostly empty due to other folks knowing how terrible the service and food are in this restaurant. I cannot imagine this still remains an American Express Platinum Card recommended restaurant.

My wife and I stayed at Cheeca Lodge this past weekend to celebrate her birthday. We do some research and read the reviews on Atlantic Edge. We decided to stay on property for our first night and made reservations for 8PM. We arrived at eight and were seated promptly at a beautiful beachside table with a great view of the full moon over the Atlantic and the long pier. Within seconds of being seated, we were greeted by a server with a choice of sparkling or still water. Having read the previous post, I asked for "tap water" and was told they only had the two offered but there WAS NO CHARGE for them.

Our server was Nuris who was a delight and genuinely full of fun while being professional. We shared the Caesar, a cup of Lobster Bisque, and my wife and I each had the catch of the day, Snapper, each prepared differently. Celebrating her birthday, any excuse is better than none, we both had numerous glasses of wine. We finished off the evening with a piece of great Key Lime pie topped with a candle that Nuris added while she sang Happy Birthday to my wife. At the end of the dinner, Nuris took up the check and gleefully told us that the last two glasses of wine were "on her"!!

I'm very glad to say I gave a 30% tip which is high for me but the atmosphere, service, and food made this a VERY memorable evening.

We fell in love with Cheeca and Islamorada and will be back soon. MY birthday's in August. I have to add that while at Cheeca we saw many rude, dis-courteous "tourists" who apparently don't have the words please/thank you in their vocabulary. Many times an experience is directly related to attitude both by the server AND the customer.