Southern California Twist On Chicago-Style Foods
Pinellas Park, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: American, Californian
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: ?/5
Dined in: August 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:
BJ’s Zomato rating:
This is my wife and I’s second visit and review on Wine dine and Play to BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse with our first being two years before. With so many restaurant choices around the Tampa Bay, going back for secondary reviews can be few far and in-between unless we really enjoy the place and go back time and time again. Not to say that BJ’s was not enjoyable, but being a goof twenty-five-minute drive, it is one of those places that we would stop into if we were in the neighborhood. BJ’s first restaurant opened in 1978, focusing on handcrafted beers with a blending of Southern California cuisine mixed with a Chicago flair especially with the pizzas. Their claim to fame is the house-made Pizookies. Besides bar foods and atmosphere they are known for being an in-house brewery operating six breweries in five different states, offering seasonal and year-round selections. With the very extensive menu’s they have also updated and are now in compliance with the new FDA food labeling laws requiring nutrition information on menus for restaurants with more than twenty locations of the same name chain restaurant.
Menu:
- Appetizers
- Pizza
- Soups and Salads
- Lunch Specials
- Pasta Favorites
- Entree Salads
- Handcrafted Burgers
- Enlightened Favorites
- Entrees
- Desserts
- Kids Menu
On our previous visit, we had the margarita flatbread which had ample amounts of cheese and fresh basil, along with the avocado egg rolls with a soy dipping sauce, which we ordered once again. On the first visit, I was not thrilled with the taste, so hopefully, on this visit, there would be some improvement, or if not then the corporate recipe that they follow needs some adjustment. The start of the experience already had the point score crashing and burning as the service was not very good. We were ignored for a long period of time, even though the large restaurant only had a few tables occupied. We had to flag the bartender down to help us, and finally, when the server made herself present to us, the service throughout the stay was about as mediocre as you can get for a chain.
My wife had a glass of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc which according to the winemakers’ tasting notes boasts fresh, vivid classic flavors that consistently showcase the diverse qualities of Marlborough wines. The taste is fresh, crisp and clean with zesty flavors of ripe tropical fruits, especially passionfruit and pineapple with subtle hints of green herbs. The wine is intensely flavored with balanced mouthwatering acidity and a generous finish. I had a pint of the Scarecrow Gone Rouge, a collaboration Saison beer between BJ’s and Rogue Brewery from Ashland, Oregon. According to the tasting, this refreshing beer is distinctively different from other Saison-style craft beers. The addition of coriander, Angelica root and elderflower contributes an array of spice, herb, earthy and floral flavors. Sorachi Ace hops contribute distinct citrus and dill notes. Fermentation-derived flavors from a Belgian yeast strain contribute even more fruit and spice complexity, including a hint of banana. ABV is 6.20% with 20 IBU’s.
As mentioned earlier we both tried the avocado egg roll and margarita flatbread a second time. As before the avocado in the roll lacked flavor and it needed the dipping sauces, while the flatbread was just as advertised, flatbread with cheese, tomato, and basil. The new addition that we tried was the sashimi-grade ahi poke dish with yellow and green onions, poke sauce, avocado, and wonton chips over a bed of lettuce. The tuna was fresh, lightly seasoned, and with sauces was a perfect tasting dish that made up for the other menu items we had. For presentation, the tuna sat on a coleslaw mix with the avocado on top. This differed from the menu and website pictures of the product which looked mouthwateringly appealing as well. That picture compared to mine had the tuna and avocado mixed together by hand, placed on the plate over some lettuce in a mound configuration with the chips sticking out of the side.
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| BJ's / Ahi Poke courtesy of BJ's Restaurant |
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| BJ's / The Poke served to us at BJ's Restaurant |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit was we wanted to enjoy some happy hour treats and drinks, though one day we may try their famous house-made Pizookies.
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:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
New Zealand:
Other noteworthy California cuisine articles and restaurants similar to BJ’s:
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Now Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone Restaurant Italian CIA School restaurant in Calistoga, California (Now Gatehouse Restaurant)
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Pinellas Park restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Casual local Chain for traditional meals
Pinellas Park, Florida USA
|
Cafe for Phở and Bánh Mì
Pinellas Park, Florida USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
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Relaxed Tuscan-inspired Italian chain eatery
Sarasota, Florida, USA
|
Seminole, Florida USA
Thai and Japanese fare
|
Pass-a-Grille / St Pete Beach
Beachside Victorian-Style seafood restaurant
|
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 BJ’s a 0.5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were a very basic restaurant dining experience. The first review score was 1 of 5 stars, so they did not improve from our last visit, and do to customer service, food presentation, and quality of taste, the score was dragged further down.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for BJ’s
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Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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10
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1
|
Food quality
|
10
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4
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6
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Plate presentation
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10
|
9
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1
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Customer service
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13
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5
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8
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Alcohol and other beverages
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8
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5
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3
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Total regular points awarded
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52
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33
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19
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.634615384615385
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“Wow” factor BONUS
|
5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
|
0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.634615384615385
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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0.5
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**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:
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0.5 of 5 Stars:
64% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
A Very Basic Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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BJ’s Wine rating:
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4 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, California, New Zealand, Washington State
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Corkage fees:
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BJ’s 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
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Cuisine Style at BJ’s:
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American
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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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!
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BJ’s Experiences:
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Modern, Trendy, Hotspot, Great bar, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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BJ’s has a public lot
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Wifi:
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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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Low to Medium
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Smoking:
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BJ’s is a non-smoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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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)
|
$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Alcohol prices:
$14.00 USD
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse:
The Shoppes at Park Place
800 Park Blvd.
Pinellas Park
Florida 33781
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727 525 4640
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Website Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Mon-Thur
11:00 am - 12:00 am
Friday
11:00 am - 1:00 am
Saturday
11:00 am - 12:00 am
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Social Media
And
Accolades for BJ’s:
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BJ’s Facebook link
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BJ’s on Twitter
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BJ’s on Pinterest
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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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French-American Fine Dining
Yountville, California, USA
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Elegant Modern Australian with Molecular Gastronomic
Melbourne, Australia
|
Acclaimed high-concept inspired Farm to Table tavern
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
Other BJ’s Pictures:
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| BJ's / Avocado Roll |
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| BJ's / Margharita Flatbread |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
