Top of Daytona

This place has so much potential. I’m sure when it was built, it was a great spot. They haven’t done much updating since.
We came in late for my grandmother’s 81^st birthday. I’m assuming the manager on duty was the one who sat us. He was annoyed that we were coming in a half hour before closing. I get it. I’ve worked at a restaurant. I know how annoying that is, but c’mon man, you could’ve just hidden it a little bit more. We also had a reservation for that time, so he could have just denied it when my Aunt called in.
There was a musician blaring loud, I mean loud live music. We could barely hear each other, and the table were originally going to sit at was right next to the bar. It was also no where near a window. (Which is the point right?) The manager scoffed and re-​sat us. Even though we were a bit further from the bar/​musician, we still were struggling to hear each other.
Our server (I can’t remember her name, though she had an accent, possibly Russian?), was actually really lovely. She was patient with our group and was super attentive. She didn’t rush us out of the place and she made my grandma feel special on her day. 5 stars for her.
I guess because of the «view,» (we came at night time) prices were a bit high, and the quality of food was not up to par with the cost. I will most likely never come back to Daytona Beach, but if I do, this is a place I will most likely not return to.

Service and view were excellent! However, the food was very lacking. I had the lamp chops and started with the mushroom dip. The dip had no real flavor and the toasted bread pieces were more stale than toast. I had to put salt on the lamb just to have some taste, which I’ve never done before. My drinks came quickly and were very well made and the service was very kind and accommodating. I would suggest get there early when it’s not busy and enjoy the drinks and view and then head to somewhere with actual good food.

Food was terrible. Even rice was old-​tasting, bland. Service was terrible on a slow night. Don’t recommend anything but view. I’ll never go back.

We walked in and walked right back out; this place has not been updated since 1982 and stinks like bad fish. It was about 6:30 when we walked in and there were only two tables filled! It looks like it caters to snow birds because of the décor and because entrees start at $ 30, except for the ‘early bird’ 4−6p menu. It did not seem like the type of place that would be able to deliver a meal worth over $ 100.

Friend recommended me this place. Walked in and asked to see a dinner menu, an hour and 10 mins before close. Manager on duty rolled his eyes and said he was going to send everyone home early tonight, so we didn’t stay. The place was empty for a reason. Would not recommend this to anyone.

We were dining last night for dinner and the food was cooked and presented perfect. Service was great as well and manager did come by to check and make sure we was enjoying everything. I highly recommend the food we will be back soon!!! Best meal in daytona beach hands down and highly recommend it.

My husband and I ate there on Saturday night, just slipping in in time for the early bird that ends at 6. He had the Russian dumplings (if you know about them… it was just plain old pelmeny) which were covered in mushrooms and onions. I had a salad with goat cheese. There was a saxophonist playing live music, but we were pretty far away from him. Truly most of the people there were elderly, as others have pointed out, but who cares? The server was friendly and attentive and seemed genuinely trying to make sure we had everything. I understand that much (some? all?) of the kitchen is Hungarian, and I would say that shows in the food. It was artfully displayed in a way I don’t see that often in the US. It is definitely «classy» for Daytona Beach and we quite enjoyed ourselves.

As a former employee in the nineties and long time local I maybe a little biased in this review. However their can be no argument that the Top has the best view in town. Really classic piano bar overlooking the Atlantic perfect for sunset dining. Menu pricey and food is not as great as the view but adequate. Service is friendly if not a tad stuffy. I like a cold one at the bar with a escargot app watching football, the rolling surf below and piano tunes. Everyone should go up to the Top at least once.

I will say that yes, the inside does need a modern facelift. It’s not run down looking, just old-​fasioned. And who cares if its mostly elderly people going there? That means it’s nice and quiet! The best time to go is sunset/​dusk. The view is unbeatable. Has never been super busy when I’ve gone, so I always get a good table.
The servers have always been nice and polite. Not necessarily the poshest attitude, but I’ve never had anything negative to say about them. Food is pretty good (unless you get the steak. Don’t get the steak). The lamb is good, the escargot is good (and fun to make your friends eat!).
Overall, I like coming here because the view is fantastic (go at sunset), and the food is pretty good.

We have eaten dinner here the past 4 years while staying at the Wyndham Hotel. It’s been a family favorite each year. Yes it’s old and yes it has an older clientele but really ??? It’s a truly fantastic experience all the way around !!!

I believe the demographics for this restaurant is 75 and up!
Cons: Old Dude singing tunes with a keyboard, Sea Gull poo splattered on the windows, antiquated décor, has a piccadilly feel, menu lacks an identity — escargot? russian dumplings? Portuguese sausage? really? Pricey!
Pro: the view of the ocean only when the sun is up unless you like a complete dark void.
This restaurant needs a complete overhaul or a franchise who knows how to run a business.
The sign on the building has missing letters. It reads as I recall «RESTA». Fix the sign people. Get rid of the old man and the keyboard. For god’s sake, he’s singing too loud (probably for the hearing impaired, go figure). Somebody call Chef Ramsey!

This is our second time my wife and I have eaten here, and besides the amazing view of the intercostal and the ocean, the food never ceases to amaze. Our server was very attentive and courteous. And, the ambiance is nostalgic. We’ll be back with family next time.

Fancy food. The menu is quite limited and definitely on the pricey side; but what really sets this place apart from the nearby restaurants is the view. You can see the ocean along with most, if not all, of Daytona. We ended up visiting on a rainy and muggy evening, full of thunder and lightning. The lightning show was pretty spectacular.
Now on to the food. The server recommended the Chilean Sea Bass, which he mentioned was fresh and never frozen. I would say that he was telling the truth. The fish was very delicious. Oh and escargot! If you’ve never had it before, try it out! I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to give it a shot. The garlic and butter definitely made my fears go away. Yum!

Pretty great restaurant with nice views. The food was a little overpriced, but tasted great. They also have early bird specials 4−6pm if you don’t want to pay full price for dinner. I got the Linguini Vangole but substituted the pasta for penne and it was amazing. My two year old also approved. Nice environment, I would definitely come back again.

This restaurant caters to an older demographic from the décor to the food. however the food was pretty good the service was awesome so far the best in Daytona. It was a lil expensive but I was still happy with our very romantic dinner

Dinner was… okay. Terrifically overpriced. Décor is strictly 70’s. We won’t be going back.

Great views! The food was reasonably priced but nothing to rave about. Clearly the décor is outdated and not much attention has been provided to updating. We visited on a Friday night expecting entertainment… there wasn’t any. The waitstaff were prompt and just okay. Probably wouldn’t go again.

We finally decided to try the Top of Daytona and are so glad we did. We really enjoyed the entire evening. Of course, the views were spectacular and we saw a gorgeous sunset. Our server, Nick, helped us select an outstanding bottle of wine. I had the Chilean sea bass and my brother had the beef stroganoff in a bread bowl, and shared a seared ahi tuna appetizer. We splurged on a chocolate cake ala mode for dessert and took a piece of key lime pie home for the next day. Everything was delicious. The service was attentive but not intrusive; Nick refilled our wine glasses when needed and kept our bread basket full; he was very pleasant with a good sense of humor. The singer was a nice touch; she sang a variety of songs and stopped by the table during her break with a request song list. It was fun to hear her sing some songs that we had chosen! The entrée prices ranged from about $ 18 to $ 35, with early bird specials lower, so the prices are not really any higher than similar upscale local restaurants. We do plan to visit again!

Before we start, please bow your head and repeat after me:
Thank God for snowbirds.
Wanna waste 2+ hours sitting in a rundown 1970’s-style restaurant bar masquerading as a high-​end ‘fine-​dining’ steak-​and-​seafood establishment lounge drinking over-​priced drinks while being forced to listen to a $ 100/​night former Elk’s Lodge karaōke winner squawking away on a «Mr. Microphone”-quality sound system as you wait and wait and wait and wait for your table, after you had arrived 15 minutes early and checked in with the hostess, who claims to be the owner’s wife, and who confirms that ‘yes, we have your reservation right here, and we will be seating you shortly’ — the same reservation for 2 that was supposed to have been for 95 minutes ago, and is still not ready?
But wait: there’s that magnificent view. Looking out over a dark, featureless ocean from 29 floors up, after the sun goes down and seeing nothing is the reason this place is still open? Kinda like looking down from 36,000 feet on your flight to Europe: really cool, for about the first 30 minutes. Then you realize that nothing changes, you’re still stuck in an uncomfortable seat, next to people you really wouldn’t choose to sit by on land, while your ears are accosted by noises you cannot turn off, as you continue to wait for something, anything to happen, other than being stuck sitting and staring at that same featureless expanse of water that was pretty cool for the first 30 minutes — almost 2 hours ago.
As an aside, the real beauty of Florida is actually going to the beach; walking the dunes; sitting alongside or boating on the Intercoastal waterway; driving through or riding bikes in the neighborhoods; watching the birds and the wildlife; visiting the myriad springs — so many things other than just sitting behind glass in a climate-​controlled tube in the sky and staring at the black, featureless nothingness that is the Atlantic Ocean after the sun goes down. But that’s just me.
Then you notice the guy sitting next to you is being served dinner at the bar, and you perk up because your stomach started growling as the aroma of his scorched vegetables and over-​cooked baked potato triggers your olfactory senses. His steak looks like the Waffle House special cut: thin, tiny, fatty, listless, with checkerboard grill-​marks mimicking Mickey D’s McRib Sandwich that has a machine-​formed ‘rib-​cutlet-​patty’ thing of undetermined origin with lines painted on it in an attempt to make folks believe it was prepared within a mile of an actual grill.
The massive effort he’s been putting into each bite as he saws and saws away at his steak with his steak knife makes us realize that perhaps this ‘fine-​dining’ establishment may exist solely to cater to the scores of remarkably ill-​informed snowbirds who each year flock to Daytona Beach, that are apparently willing to eat anything put in front of them as long as they can stare at that dark, featureless expanse of nothingness that the Atlantic Ocean becomes each night after the sun goes down. This place, this moment, right now: this must be one of those delightful memories of the Sunshine State that our fair tourists take back home with them after their week in paradise that somehow makes their having to live up north all their lives in places like Detroit or Cleveland or Milwaukee or Toledo or wherever they go back to so worthwhile.
Actually, I think we passed a Waffle House on our way here. Let’s forgo this magnificent view of black, featureless nothingness, and go get us one of those $ 7.99 steak-​and-​egg specials, before we drop another $ 40 on another round of drinks as we sit and suffer through another off-​key rendition of «Rocky-​Top» while we continue to get ignored by the owner’s wife for another hour.
The owner and his wife must say the exact same prayer every night:
Thank God for snowbirds.

Had a good meal at Top of Daytona. In it’s heyday I’m sure this place was amazing. It hasn’t kept up nearly as well as it’s counterparts in other major cities, such as «top of the mark“in San Francisco.
CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR COUPONS AND SPECIALS
We had a great special, $ 60 bottle of wine, one app, two entrees, one dessert for $ 95. We chose the lobster and NY Strip, so full price on this meal would have been about $ 150.
The wine list is pretty short. A lot of Kendall Jackson. Oysters Rockefeller to start we’re just ok. The New York strip was weird. It was cooked perfectly medium throughout but one end was tough and chewy. Frozen previously perhaps? Lobster tail was delicious and quite large. Bananas Foster for dessert was prepared table side and pretty good.
Waiter said one of the chefs was in the hospital, so the kitchen was moving a little slow. From start to finish our meal was 2 hours, seems pretty reasonable to me!