The Grouper Special
Tierra Verde, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Seafood / Raw Bar
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 2/5
Dined in: March 2018
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
The Island Grille and Raw Bar originally opened in 2010 and had such a large following of locals that they had to expand, and by 2016 opened at a new location in a building twice the size as the original. Tierra Verde is located at the southernmost point of the Saint Petersburg Peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico side in a group of keys that lead out to the Gibraltar of Tampa Bay, Fort De Soto. A small key with an old fort built in 1898 during the Spanish American War to protect the area. Just before you reach this Mullet Key, but after you leave the confines of Boca Ciega Inlet, you will cross The Island of Tierra Verde, home to several condominiums and a few restaurants. The Island Grille is one of them.
Menu:
- Appetizers
- Salads
- Sandwiches
- Raw Bar
- Entrees
- Pasta
- Soups
- Specials and Early Bird
- Breakfast
- Dessert
Like our first visit, we sat at the outside bar, next to the private boat docks, where you can park your boat and enter the restaurant property. The outside dining area proportionately is the same size as the inside and able to accommodate a large grouping of people. On our first visit, we shared some sushi oysters, smoked fish spread, and shrimp cocktail among a few other salads later on. My wife and I started with a few drinks beginning with Sables D’azure Rosé from AdVini wines, and I had the Jai Alai IPA (pronounced ‘hi lie’) from the Cigar City Brewing Company.
According to the winemakers’ tasting notes, the Sables D’azure blends the best selection of Rosé wines from the interior Valley of Provence and Sainte Victoire Terroir. These Côtes de Provence vineyards benefit fully from the Mediterranean climate: mild winters, early spring and moderate summers, when the sun’s continuous and beneficial rays ensure the vines produce fully mature grapes, oozing ripe juice. A dry fresh and clean Rosé wine, with crisp acidity, and a wonderful souvenir of Provence!
My wife enjoyed for her entree the Greek Salad with the classical toppings of crispy romaine, feta cheese, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, beets, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, onions, peperoncini’s and topped with a homemade potato salad served with an Italian dressing.
The Grouper is one of the more popular fish dishes you will see on a Florida menu since the Gulf of Mexico and the greater Caribbean is loaded with them, and not just one particular type, but several species. On the Island Grille menu, they have a traditional grouper which they can grill, dust with cajun spice, or fry. The boat dock I mentioned earlier is one of the ways they bring the fish in, as well as ordering them from a larger purveyor. On the special fresh market catch of the day was a grouper dinner dish dusted with seasoning and served with mashed potatoes and a fresh market vegetable medley of zucchini and squash, garnished with thyme and edible flowers.
I thought about trying the grouper cheeks which was an interest to me on our previous visit, but I did not see it on the menu, so it must be seasonal. Hopefully, they put it back on soon.
Dessert:
We did not get dessert on this trip, however, they had a few options that looked really good to include the chocolate fudge cake and a drunkin’ bread pudding.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
European Union:
France:
Other Noteworthy Seafood and Raw Bar Articles and Restaurants:
Jack Dusty’s Nautical themed eatery with crafted cocktails and raw bar at the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota Florida
Laurent Tourondel / BLT A swanky French-American Steakhouse fair with 14 restaurants
Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar Laid-back Cape Cod-style seafood restaurant in Austin, Texas
Salt Rock Grill Fine-dining waterfront spot for grilled fish and steaks with a raw bar in Indian Shores, Florida
Sea Salt A Fine-dining and innovative seafood restaurant a with the raw bar in St. Petersburg, Florida
The Oyster Bar Elegant tavern seafood with oysters and brunch in St. Petersburg, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Tierra Verde, Pinellas Bayway, and Pass-a-Grille reviews on Wine Dine and Play:
Hurricane Seafood Restaurant Beachside Victorian-Style seafood restaurant in St Pete Beach, Florida
Paradise Grille Beachside joint offering casual American eats in Pass-A-Grille, Florida
A Few Florida Favorites:
|
German Bites in Bavarian-style Tavern Ruskin, Florida, USA
|
Seminole, Florida USA
Thai and Japanese fare
|
Relaxed Tuscan-inspired Italian chain eatery
Sarasota, Florida, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Island Grille a 2 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants. The first review score was also 2 of 5 stars, so their score has remained the same from our last visit.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
11
|
10
|
1
|
Food quality
|
11
|
7
|
4
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
Customer service
|
11
|
7
|
4
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
10
|
8
|
2
|
Total regular points awarded
|
53
|
41
|
12
|
Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.773584905660377
|
||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0
|
||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.773584905660377
|
||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
|
2
|
**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
|
2 of 5 Stars:
77% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Fr Above The Average Dining Experience
|
Wine List:
|
|
Wine rating:
|
5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, California, Chile, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington State
|
Corkage fees:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
|
Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
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American, Seafood
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Local, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
|
Dress code:
|
Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
|
Child policy:
|
The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
|
Experiences:
|
Lounge, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Scenic views, and a Neighborhood Gem
|
Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
|
Public Lot
|
Wifi
|
The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
|
Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, with a smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
|
Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$
|
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
|
£
|
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$
|
Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
|
European Union (EUR)
|
€
|
Alcohol prices:
$24 USD
The Island Grill And Raw Bar:
210 Madonna Blvd
Tierra Verde, Florida
33715, USA
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727 767 0020
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Email contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time (GMT - 5:00)
|
Mon-Fri
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sat-Sun
9:00 am - 11:00 pm
Happy Hour: Mon-Fri
Opening until - 6:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Creatively presented high-energy Mediterranean Fare
Denver, Colorado, USA
|
Farm-to-fork upscale local chain for Southwestern cuisine
Austin, Texas, USA
|
Upscale eatery with butchery at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Other Pictures:
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| Picture courtesy of The Island Grille |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
