October 2019 review / August 2018 review / October 2017 review / May 2017 review / January 2016 review
The Autumn Menu
St. Petersburg, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Seafood, Chain
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined: October 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:
Bonefish Grill Zomato rating:
Bonefish Grill was founded in St Petersburg, Florida in 2000 by Tim Curci and Chris Parker. In October of 2001 Bloomin' Brands, headquartered in Tampa, Florida acquired the restaurant which at the time, had three locations. Today they have seven franchised restaurants and 151 corporate-owned and operated Grills across 28 states.
This is my wife and I’s fifth visit and review on Wine Dine and Play to our two Bonefish St Petersburg locations, where during previous visits we had the bone-in ribeye with truffle macaroni and cheese, bang-bang shrimp, stone crab claws, saucy shrimp appetizer, the six-ounce filet and a surf upgrade with the turf of Maryland crab cakes filled with jumbo lump crab meat and topped with red remoulade sauce, and the fish taco to name a few.
Bonefish Grill Menu:
• Starters + Sharing
• Soups + Greens
• Grilled Fish
• Wood-Grilled Steaks + Chops
• Sautéed, Baked + Steamed
• Hand-Held
• Bowls
• Fresh Sides
• Deluxe Sides
• Desserts
My wife started with an Indigo Sunset is vodka infused cocktail added to the menu on October 4 to celebrate National Vodka Day. The cocktail turns from deep indigo blue to pale purple just like the elusive sunset. It is made with Grey Goose Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, white cranberry juice, and fresh lime sour layered with magic color-changing Butterfly Pea Flower Tea, which turns this cocktail from deep indigo blue to pale purple. From just-squeezed juices to edible garnishes and techniques that maximize every flavor in the cocktail, the bar-fresh cocktails bring seasonal elements to each hand-crafted drink served says Shelby Clites, the national beverage director for Bonefish Grill.
For starters, we began with the char-broiled oysters and the bacon macaroni and cheese. The oysters were prepared New Orleans style, based on the original recipe from Drago's Seafood Restaurant meaning they are grilled on the half shell with garlic butter, grated Parmesan and Romano cheeses, seasoned with oregano and black pepper. There were six that came to the order along with some crispy bread. It was hard to detect the true level of brine from the oysters since it was masked by the cheese, which also contains an amount of sodium. The texture was pillowy to the firm with notes of woody earth and lingering flavors enhanced by the garlic and butter. The umami was complex and savory which again may have been enhanced by the mass use of dairy, but overall a very enjoyable starter.
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| Bonefish Grill / Char-Broiled Oysters |
The bacon macaroni and cheese was extremely creamy with large elbow noodles, a light dusting of breadcrumbs, then topped with crispy chopped up pieces of bacon. Every bite was pure delight. It was served in a smaller oval-shaped dish lightly spiced with a very pronounced thicker creamed texture and a nice finish of brine and smokiness from the bacon.
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| Bonefish Grill / Bacon Macaroni and Cheese |
Before the entrees came out my wife and I switched from cocktails to wine. She had a glass of the SAVED Magic Marker Rosé from California which according to the winemakers’ tasting notes has a deep salmon color crafted primarily from Grenache, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese. On the nose, it offers alluring aromas of white peach. Its flavors are brightly layered with notes of tangerine, strawberries, and green apple. As a favorite every time we come to Bonefish Grill I have a few glasses of the Federalist Zinfandel which is grown near the Lodi AVA. The Federalist wine was named after the old American Federalist movement, today they are known by my political party affiliation, the Libertarians. On my first visit to Bonefish Grill in the early 2000s while living near Atlanta, Georgia the name alone attracted me to placing the order. According to the winemakers’ notes, the nose has a robust fruit with a bright berry fruit character. On the palate it has a lively acidity allows it to partner well with a wide variety of foods. The wine is aged 12 months in 25% new oak, with a blend of 93% Zinfandel and 7% Syrah.
Every year during the autumn menu cycle for Bonefish Grill they add a few favorites like the swordfish with pumpkin ravioli. On our third visit and review on Wine Dine and Play last October we dined at the Tyrone Boulevard location and enjoyed this same dish as it is a special that is on the menu for a short time only. The swordfish is what I consider a medium-bodied flavored fish with a meaty texture, versus a flaky mild fish which is more common selling fish at restaurants. The fish is char-grilled with basic salt and pepper seasonings. The pumpkin stuffed ravioli is a preprepared product that is dropped in boiling water, then removed to be cooked in butter, shallots, sage and crumbled feta cheese, all topped with crispy onions and served with a side of green beans.
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| Bonefish Grill / Swordfish with Pumpkin Ravioli |
For my entree, I also chose a seasonal item from the autumn menu of gnocchi Thermidor featuring shrimp and chunked lobster pieces on a bed of sautéed potato gnocchi in a butter-garlic bed with cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and peas. The dish is then finished by being tossed in a sherry cream sauce and lobster stock. After being plated, the dish is then hit with a generous portion of parmesan cheese. The presentation was very pleasing, following the modern plating techniques and rule of odds. The sauce was lightly creamy blended with a slight alcohol flavor and strong hints of the shellfish stock. The shrimp was a little chewy either from being cooked a little too long, or aged a little longer in the refrigerator before being cooked. The smell and flavors of the dish were fresh so there was no complaint there, or for any other part of the dish.
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| Bonefish Grill / Gnocchi Thermidor |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit, but on previous visits, we have had the pumpkin creme brûlée.
Check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
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
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
Other noteworthy seafood articles and restaurants similar to Bonefish Grill:
Seafood cuisine is any form of sea life regarded as food by humans. Seafood prominently includes fish and shellfish. A seafood restaurant is a restaurant that specializes in seafood cuisine and seafood dishes. They may include freshwater fish, sushi, raw bars, or rarer items such as the deadly Fugu Blowfish.
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
Hank’s Seafood A classy southern seafood eatery house in Charleston, South Carolina
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Perla’s Seafood and Oyster Bar Laid-back Cape Cod-style seafood restaurant in Austin, Texas
Red Snapper Kiwi “fush n’ chups” takeaway restaurant in Sumner, New Zealand
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other St. Petersburg restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Modest South-Central Asian cuisine
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
Modern café-tavern chain with Greek eats
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
creative sushi + pan-Asian regional menu
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Few Florida Favorites:
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California cuisine & fine dining chain
Orlando, Florida, USA
|
Breakfast plus coffee beans from around the world
Matlacha, Florida, USA
|
Laid-back pizza bar featuring
stone-baked artisan pizzas
Indian Rocks Beach, 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 ambience, 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 Bonefish a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants. The other four visits review scores were also 3 of 5 stars, so they have remained at the same excellence as my previous visits.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Bonefish Grill
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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
|
11
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0
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Food quality
|
11
|
8
|
3
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Plate presentation
|
10
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10
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0
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Customer service
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13
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8
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5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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10
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7
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3
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Total regular points awarded
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55
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44
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.8
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.8
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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:
80% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Bonefish Grill Wine rating:
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5 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Italy
New World selections:
Argentina, New Zealand, California, Oregon, Australia, Washington State
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Corkage fees:
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Bonefish charges $10.00 per bottle, and the wine you bring in cannot be on their wine list. See the wine list link above before bringing your own bottle.
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Bonefish Grill:
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American, Chain, Seafood
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Sustainable, 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 wears 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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Bonefish Grill Experiences:
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Modern, Business parties, 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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Bonefish Grill 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
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Smoking:
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Bonefish Grill 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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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Alcohol prices:
$42.00 USD
Bonefish Grill:
5062 4th St North
St Petersburg
Florida 33703
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 727 521 3434
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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 - 10:30 pm
Fri - Sat
11:00 am - 11:30 pm
Sunday
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Bonefish Grill:
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****
The world’s 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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High-End Japanese Steakhouse
San Francisco, California, USA
|
Prohibition-themed New American cuisine Restaurant - password required
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Bistro w/Southern & Lowcountry cuisine
Charleston, South Carolina, 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
