Gourmet American Cuisine In A Retro-Style Diner
St Pete Beach, Florida, USA
Cuisine Style: New American
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 4/5
Dined in: April 2018
Article updated: December 2019
Article updated: December 2019
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:
Mad Fish ratings on Zomato:
Executive Chef:
Oliver Harris
Mad Fish is a casual but upscale St. Pete Beach restaurant built to fashion a 1950s style diner situated next to the Grand Plaza Hotel, where my wife and I visit often with friends at Bongos Bar and Grille and Level 11 restaurant. We saw the Mad Fish restaurant several times as we left, and my wife had been a few times with friends. My first visit was the two of us celebrating an early birthday.
Mad Fish was founded to recreate the spirit of early twentieth-century visitors who traveled to St. Pete Beach by railroad. In 2016, Chef Oliver brought the dining car experience along with innovative American dishes with a twist on classic favorites, to locals, snowbirds, and travelers alike. At night the outside of the diner is lit up with neon, featuring live entertainment in our garden area Wednesdays through Sundays, while inside the darker interior with deep colored wood clashes with the blue-lit aquariums. The menu features a mixture of land and sea dishes ranging from $20 to $45, including a Chateaubriand. For allergen suffers, most of the menu is gluten-free, and they can also accommodate allergy suffers upon request.
Mad Fish Menu:
- Appetizers
- Salads
- Entrees
- Steaks
- Desserts
Our server was Marc, new to the job and just out of training, and did a very good job anticipating our needs, and very honest if he didn’t know something, he did not lie. My wife started with the house French Rosé, to which I do not remember the vineyard name, and it was not listed on the menu either, while I started with a glass of Cabernet from Santa Julia Organica from Argentina, and like the name implies, it is made from 100% organically grown grapes. According to the winemakers' notes, it has rich fruit flavors of plum and cherry, supported by spicy flavors and soft tannins. Violet-intense purple, concentrated and bright. A complex nose with varietals notes of ripe, fruits, figs, prunes, jam and raisins. A good body, with sweet tannins and well balanced by acidity, along with a lingering and complex finish. Founded in the early 1990s, Santa Julia is one of the emblematic Argentine wine brands, both in Argentina and around the world.
We both began with the drunken shrimp appetizer, six to the order sautéed in butter, black pepper, garlic, and accompanied by two pieces of Cuban bread. The shrimp were floating in the creamy butter sauce, loaded with flavor, and the bread was perfect to soak up the buttery broth. As a second starter, we shared the baked goat cheese with caramelized shallots, crostini and arugula garnish; a very simple dish that had good flavors with the onion, though it did lack in presentation, and honestly looked boring. If it was a blind tasting, I would have given two thumbs up.
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| Mad Fish / Drunken Shrimp |
My wife enjoyed a side salad with butter lettuce, crumbled feta, and cranberries, while I had a half order of the premium oysters. At this time my wife ordered a second glass a wine, and I switch from the Argentine Cabernet to the Chateau Saint Cosme from the Côtes du Rhône in the village of Gigondas. According to the winemaker in 2017, low yields produced wines with lots of intensity. Their vibrant fruit adds ‘crunchiness’ and salinity. As always, the bouquet is guided by the Syrah and the clay soils. Tannins are there but they are nicely rounded.
For entrees, my wife had the garlic risotto dish with a stir-fry vegetable blend consisting of zucchini, bell peppers, and onions. The seafood section of the menu consists of an Atlantic salmon, lobster crusted grouper, swordfish, and others. From the land, they have lamb, pork chops, and chicken plus an array of steaks that include a New York strip, Angus ribeye, a 20-ounce T-bone, and a filet mignon. I had the eight-ounce double wrapped in bacon and served with a mushroom gratin and mashed potatoes. I also added some sautéed asparagus to the plate.
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| Mad Fish / Filet Entree |
Dessert:
We were at Mad Fish to celebrate our birthdays a few weeks early, and settled on a cheesecake, with whipped cream and accompanied by some chocolate ice cream. Other dessert selection includes a crème brûlée, a flaky crusted key lime pie with Key West Limes, a classic Minnesota style apple pie à la Mode, and a flourless chocolate cake.
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:
South America:
Argentina INV:
Luján de Cuyo DOC - Mendoza
San Rafael DOC - Mendoza
Other Noteworthy New American Articles and Restaurants Similar to Mad Fish:
Also known as Modern American cuisine, or Contemporary American cuisine, the term "New American" refers to the wave of modernized cooking predominantly served at upscale fine dining restaurants that began in the 1980s. It is generally a type of fusion cuisine that assimilates flavors from the melting pot of traditional American cooking techniques and mixes it with foreign and sometimes molecular gastronomy components. There is an innovative use of seasoning and sauces, originally based on French, and Nouvelle cuisine, and it has progressed to include elements of Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean, and other cuisines.
Alinea Highly creative New American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois
Birch & Vine a local, organic, and top dining destination at The Birchwood in St. Petersburg, Florida
Brick and Mortar Rustic-chic new American dining in St. Petersburg, Florida
Bridge Street Bistro Third-floor terrace seafood-centric New American dining, Bradenton Beach, Florida
Cip’s Place New American Cuisine in a casual but elegantly relaxed setting, Sanibel Island, Florida
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Lobby at Twelve Boutique hotel bistro, new American, and Southern favorites at Atlantic Station, Atlanta
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
O’Bistro A casual style bistro focusing on the Mediterranean and New American Cuisine with a small eclectic flair in St Petersburg, Florida
Samantha’s Restaurant Mellow new American dishes in North Canton, Ohio
Sandbar Restaurant A Chef driven seafood restaurant in the City of Anna Maria Island, Florida
The Mad Hatter Waterfront upscale new American cuisine on Sanibel Island, Florida
The Mill Restaurant New American fare with a southern spin in St. Petersburg, Florida
Waterfront Restaurant and Craft Bar, Global seafood with a comfortable feel, City of Anna Maria, Florida
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
Zinc Bistro and Bar Southwestern-inspired new American fare in San Antonio, Texas
Zink Kitchen + Bar Restaurant Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St Pete Beach restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
|
Table-side Hibachi with a sushi bar
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
|
Med-Latin & tapas café with 360 views
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
|
New American Cuisine & Tapas
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
|
Casual American eats
At The Westin Harbour Island
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Old-school English-American Eatery
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Upscale Pan Asian Fare w/sushi
Orlando, 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 Mad Fish a 4 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, and was just outstanding.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Mad Fish
|
Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
|
Ambiance
|
11
|
11
|
0
|
Food quality
|
11
|
9
|
2
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
10
|
0
|
Customer service
|
12
|
8
|
4
|
Alcohol and other beverages
|
9
|
7
|
2
|
Total regular points awarded
|
53
|
45
|
8
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
|
0.849056603773585
| ||
“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
|
1
|
0
|
Total bonus percentage
|
0.0188679245283019
| ||
Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
|
0.867924528301887
| ||
Stars Awarded (see chart below)
|
0 - 5
|
4
|
**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:
|
4 of 5 Stars:
87% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
An Outstanding Dining Experience
|
Wine List:
| |
Wine rating:
|
5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, California, South Africa
|
Corkage fees:
|
This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
|
Cuisine Style:
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New American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Farm to Fork, Gluten-free, Local, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
|
Reservations:
|
Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
|
Dress code:
|
Smart casual to 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:
|
A place for foodies, Modern, Trendy, Romantic, Classy, Upscale, and a Neighborhood Gem.
|
Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
|
Parking:
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Private 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.
|
Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
|
Mad Fish is a non-smoking restaurant
|
Patio or terrace:
|
Yes
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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:
$38.00 USD
Mad Fish:
5200 Gulf Blvd
St. Petersburg, Florida
33706
Contact Information:
| Restaurant website: | Mad Fish |
Maître d or host:
| + 1 (727) 360-9200 |
| Website Contact: | Contact Mad Fish |
| Serving hours: Eastern Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00) | Dinner: Sun - Thur 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm Fri - Sat 4:00 pm - 9:30 pm Early Bird Dining: Mon - Fri 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Social Media
And
Accolades for Mad Fish:
| Mad Fish Facebook link |
| Mad Fish on Twitter @MadFishStPete | |
****
The world's best restaurants are 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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Refined and elegant creole fare since 1880
New Orlean’s, Louisiana, USA
|
Old-world classic Italian & Mediterranean
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Country-style local ingredients w/French flair
Constantia, South Africa
|
Other Pictures of Mad Fish:
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| Mad Fish / Goat Cheese |
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| Mad Fish / Oysters |
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| Mad Fish / Salad |
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| Mad Fish / Bread |
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| Mad Fish / Risotto and Vegetables |
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| Mad Fish / Entrance (picture courtesy of Mad Fish) |
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| Mad Fish / Prime Cut Meats (picture courtesy of Mad Fish) |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
