From Burrata to Lobster, Bon Appétit
Dunedin, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Contemporary American, European
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
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:
Bon Appétit Zomato rating:
Bon Appétit Executive Chef:
Klaus Riedl
Sous Chef:
Cirino Cruz
Bon Appétit Waterfront Restaurant owned by Peter Kreuziger and his wife offers a casual eclectic blend of classical European and American cuisines using simple, fresh, and sometimes organic ingredients. You can enjoy waterfront dining on tables presented with linen tablecloths, upscale place settings, and fantastic views of the St. Joseph Sound in Dunedin, Florida.
First settled in 1852 and incorporated in 1899, the city of Dunedin’s name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh and is home to several beaches, including Honeymoon Island, and Caladesi Islands State Park. The downtown business district is notable for its absence of large commercial signage, corporate franchise restaurants, or chain retail stores plus is home to the Dunedin Brewery, Florida's oldest microbrewery. Near the Bon Appétit are a Farmer’s Market, Art Walk, Fashion Show, food festivals, and more events that happen every month. You can enjoy the same menu and Gulf views at the alfresco marina cafe and terrace, or the waterfront Bar all attached to the main restaurant, overlooking the St. Joseph Sound. Chef Klaus Riedl creates the menus to showcase weekly specials, comfort foods, and seasonal items all in addition to the regular menu. If you’re arriving by boat you can also dock free of charge at the Dunedin Public Marina, adjacent to the restaurant.
Menu:
- Chef Specials
- Small Plates and Such
- Salads
- Soups
- Favorites
- Comfort Food Specials
- Chef’s Recommendations
- Featured Entrees
- Three Course Specials
- Kids Menu
- Waterside Table Menu
- Sunday Brunch
- Desserts
My wife and I sat at the outdoor waterfront bar enjoying the breeze coming off the sound on this warm summer day just after the lunch rush seeing that the cafe, terrace, and the bar was still busy with people. My wife had a glass of rosé from the Fleur de Mer winery in Provence, France which according to the winemakers' notes is a classic Provençal Rosé that evokes aromas and flavors of fresh watermelon, cherry, subtle citrus, lavender, and Mediterranean herbs. It is medium-bodied, fresh and elegant with a soft texture and mineral finish. Balanced and refreshing acidity. Fleur de Mer is crafted by winemaker Florian Lacroux of the 50-year-old cooperative, Les Maîtres Vignerons de Saint-Tropez. I had water as I was still a little hung over from the night before, and not in the mood to drink.
We shared the first dish of a burrata over a roasted tomato beet salad with micro greens, a bacon balsamic vinaigrette, and a grilled baguette topped with an olive oil drizzle. Burrata means "buttered" in Italian. At first glance, burrata resembles a ball of mozzarella. But it is softer, and when cut, has an interior that spills or goo’s out, revealing a soft stringy curd of fresh cream. If you love fresh mozzarella, ricotta, or any type of cream cheese (I love brie!!), this will be right up your alley. Burrata is not to be mistaken for mozzarella, and it is not buffala mozzarella, although it's made from buffalo milk. Burrata is however made from the little scraps of mozzarella di bufala that are leftover in the cheesemakers vat, that used to get discarded until a cheese genius somewhere at sometime discovered how good the leftovers really were. Burrata originates from Puglia, Italy and any imported burrata will be from that region, plus restaurants are now making it more in-house as well.
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| Bon Appétit / Burrata |
As my entree arrived, my wife got a serving of the French onion soup gratinée (to cook au gratin). The Gruyere was melted onto the top of the soup bowl and crusted over to a dark golden brown, with a wonderful aroma and excellent tasting soup, with strong beef and red wine flavor profiles, and a sweeter onion taste. The other soup listed on their menu was a shrimp and smoked sausage gumbo.
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| Bon Appétit / French onion soup gratinée |
For my entree, I had the lobster avocado stack, with a heaping scoop of both avocado and lobster-shaped from a round bowl, topped with micro greens and dollops of a European brandy dressing. The avocado was fresh, with a little seasoning flavor, while the lobster was perfectly poached and cooled. As I ate the dish I felt that it was missing something, and could have used a lemon slurry or vinaigrette on top of the brandy dressing, but overall still a good dish.
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| Bon Appétit / Lobster Avocado Stack |
Though my wife and I had a light meal, she had been several times before going back many years, it was a wonderful outing and I look forward to returning in the future to try more of the menu.
Dessert:
We did not partake in dessert during this visit, but some of the items on their menu of interest include a chocolate mousse, strawberry coupe with melba sauce, an assorted mini pastry sampler, and a white, milk, and dark Chocolate Parfait called the trilogy.
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
European Union:
France:
Other noteworthy contemporary American articles and restaurants similar to Bon Appétit:
Also known as American fare, comfort, or classic American, as large as the United States is, it also encompasses many cuisine variations. These include the native Indian prior to European colonization, Hawaiian, and not forgetting the melting pot of immigrants that came and fused their styles together to make America. This list will be of restaurants that represent the broader base of American cuisine, using styles from all parts of the country on their menus. Pot roast, chicken fried steak, BLT’s, and hamburgers make up some of the junk we eat. aka the Cuisine of the United States
91 Wood Fire Oven Refined rustic American fare in Canton, Ohio
Charleston’s Restaurant Casual American eatery; reviewed in Indianapolis, Indiana
Cypress Refined creative American eats in Charleston, South Carolina
Grace 17.20 Modern and contemporary American cuisine in Peachtree Corners, Georgia
Mad Fish A casual Gourmet American Cuisine restaurant in a Retro-Style Diner in St Pete Beach, Florida
Reflections Bar and Grill American favorites in the Westin Hotel at the airport in Detroit, Michigan
Salt Rock Grill Fine dining waterfront spot for grilled fish and steaks with a raw bar in Indian Shores, Florida
The Biltmore Dining Room Seasonal American cuisine in Asheville, North Carolina
The Zink Kitchen + Bar Modern and sleek American cuisine in Centennial, Colorado
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Dunedin restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Homey seafood eatery in a 1903 cottage
Dunedin, Florida USA
|
Casual Bar and Grille at the Beso Del Sol Resort
Dunedin, Florida USA
|
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
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Weekly, Organic, Sustainable
Gulfport, Florida, USA
|
Multi-day festival and tasting
Key West, Florida, USA
|
Nautically themed eatery with crafted cocktails and raw bar
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 Bon Appétit a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Bon Appétit Waterfront Restaurant
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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11
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11
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0
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Food quality
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11
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8
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3
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Plate presentation
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10
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10
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0
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Customer service
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11
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6
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5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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8
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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53
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43
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10
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.811320754716981
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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1
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0188679245283019
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.830188679245283
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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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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3 of 5 Stars:
83% Rating with a 1 point “wow” bonus
Exceed My Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Bon Appétit Wine rating:
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5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, Oregon
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Corkage fees:
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Bon Appétit has a corkage fee of $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Bon Appétit:
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American, European-Continental
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Smart casual to 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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Bon Appétit Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Trendy, Lounge, Business parties, Romantic, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Classy, Upscale, 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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Bon Appétit has complimentary valet on weekends, plus a private lot, and a boat dock
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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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Bon Appétit is a non-smoking restaurant with a non-smoking patio and bar
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Patio or terrace:
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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:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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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:
$9.00 USD
Bon Appétit:
148 Marina Plaza
Dunedin, Florida
34698
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727-733-2151
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Online reservations
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Website Contact:
Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Fri - Sat
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Sun - Thur
11:30 am - 9:00 pm
Happy Hour: Daily
11:30 pm - 6:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Bon Appétit:
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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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Landmark Mexican Restaurant
Austin, Texas, USA
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Traditional Spanish & Cuban chain since 1905
Ybor City & Sarasota, Florida, USA
|
Acclaimed soul food spot for fried chicken
New Orlean’s, Louisiana, USA
|
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
