WHERE WE WENT:
Gilligan's Island Bar
5253 Ocean Boulevard
Sarasota, FL
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Q
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 7
Menu - 6
Presentation - 6
Taste - 6
Price - 7
Service -8
Overall - 6.5
Atmosphere - If you are looking for a place to kick back and not care about the world around you, you've found it. Describing this place in one word: chill. Great location on the main drag in Siesta Key. It's the kind of place you would imagine they wouldn't even require shoes. There's almost a much bar space as there is seating, including a sweet tiki bar area. They have a patio seating area and a back section where they have live music. I felt a little shocked that our server didn't have dreads. You get the picture.
Menu
- The menu did offer a bit of variety. Salads, burgers, seafood, and more. All of your typical beach eats are represented. However, there wasn't any single signature or stand out dish that would make you want to go here as opposed to somewhere else.
Presentation - Honestly, a little boring. With as kitschy as the rest of the place was with the beach culture and island theme, we expected something a little more original than white plates and baskets.
Taste - The meal was a little underwhelming. The coconut shrimp were heavily battered and a little overcooked. The best part of that dish was actually the mango chutney dipping sauce, which I would recommend pairing with any seafood. Normally I would say you can't go wrong with cheese fries, but these tasted like they came straight out of a freezer bag. The cheese was a little bland too.
Price
-The fries were definitely the right portion for the price, if only they were more delicious. The shrimp were a little overpriced. Not worth it in our opinion.
Service - Our server was great. He was a really chill guy who took good care of us but didn't hover.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Maybe. If Ballyhoo is there, we're there. If not, we might go back for the right drink specials. We would really wanna explore the rest of what Siesta Key has to offer before making a return trip.
Here's a link to their website:
http://gilligansislandbar.com/
WHERE WE WENT:
Frenchy's Rockaway Grill
7 Rockaway Street
Clearwater, FL 33767
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Caribbean Grouper Sandwich, French Fries, Fried Clam Strips
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 9
Menu -10
Presentation - 6
Taste - 7
Price - 7
Service - 8
Overall - 8
Atmosphere - Frenchy's is an institution at Clearwater Beach. It's got a really chill vibe. Let's be real, it's impossible not to when you're actually on the beach. It's the kind of place that clothing is really optional, no need to cover up, and it's totally cool if you track sand in. It looks beachy with all of its bright colors. There's indoor and outdoor seating, but they might as well be the same thing. The whole restaurant is breezy and open. It's generally exactly the type of place we would like. The only thing that detracts from the atmosphere is the fact that it always is very overcrowded. The tables are tight together, constantly full. Even though it's a local joint, it seems very tourist-y.
Menu - Seafood! Seafood! Seafood! Being right on the water can have a serious effect on the fare served. The majority of the dishes involve some sort of seafood. They have everything from a Grouper Ruben to Tuna Poke to Calamari. If it's seafood they probably have it, or at least a version of it. You can get other meats. There's turf in the surf and turf after all. Vegetarian options are few and far between, and when you do find one, you better hope that you like fried food. While it's nice that there are some options, it would be better if they were healthy as well, a little something more than onion rings and mozzarella sticks.
Presentation - The presentation was nothing special, just diner
baskets and wax paper. A place this chill can get away with it, but it is a little disappointing. Being such a beachy place and especially with the high tourist population, they have room for really fun presentation, like neon plates or logo napkins. You can even afford to be a little chintzy.
Taste -The grouper sandwich was good, but not the best one we've ever had. It was just a little basic. The french fries followed suit. The clam strips were the best part of the meal. They were light and crisp with a perfect balance of clam and breading, and the breading was well seasoned.
Price
- It was honestly a little bit overpriced. You really can't expect anything else when you're sitting on the beach. That kind of proximity adds a little to the price, just like anywhere touristy. You're really paying for location and atmosphere as well.
Service -Our service was good. The entire section was slammed and it wold have been better of our server had a chance to take a breath. She constantly had a look on her face like she as trying to run through a list of things in her head to remember. And even with that she forgot to fill our drinks a few times.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Yeah, it's got a great vibe and it's really convenient on a beach day not to have to travel off the beach.
Here's a link to their website:
http://frenchysonline.com/
WHERE WE WENT:
The Captain's Table
1110 Beck Avenue
Panama City, FL 32405
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Shrimp Po' Boy, French Fries, Cheese Grits, Hushpuppies
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 6
Menu - 7
Presentation - 5
Taste - 6
Price - 7
Service - 6
Overall - 6
Atmosphere - The Captain's Table 's one word summation would be "dive." It's an old building, with peeling paint and in great need of renovation. Any little bits of decor are of old Florida photos, preserving the history of the town, which would be cool, if the amount was not so sparse. The idea could be executed really well,
if it seemed like there was any conscious effort to create a theme. It really looks like someone found a few old photos and keepsakes in the attic and just strew them around where they landed. The tables and chairs are old and rickety with torn cushions and wobbly legs that make you pay attention to your balance all meal. In spite of all of these really unappealing aspects, Captain's Table does manage to maintain an air of small town charm. This is the kind of place where the servers know you and you run into your neighbors on a Sunday afternoon. The chairs may be wobbly, but if you're from around here, then they're probably the same ones your great-grandparents sat in. It's located in the fantastic, historic old neighborhood of St. Andrews, surrounded by other quaint pieces of the town's history.
Menu
- There is pretty much all the kinds of seafood that you'd want. Since it's in the Panhandle, you know that anything you order is going to be super fresh. The oysters on the half shell are always the star. There are some standard options available in case you're not a fan of fishy fare. If you are a strict vegetarian though, good luck. You'll be relegated to maybe three choices, one of which is a less than appetizing side salad. While there is an abundance of seafood options, nothing is particularly unique or creative. There isn't any spark of culinary genius that you'd find in the big city.
Presentation - It's exactly the kind of presentation you would expect from a dive caliber joint.
Taste - We'll start with the good. Captain's Table has some of the BEST cheese grits ever. In the South, we take our grits pretty seriously, and these are serious. They are the perfect mix of creamy and cheesy. The hushpuppies are also delicious. They are have a nice after-kick to them. What wasn't so great was the po' boy. There wasn't a ton of shrimp and the bread was kinda stale. Where the bread was stale, the french fries have the exact opposite problem; they were soggy. While it's great that the hushpuppies and cheese were yummy, if you're a seafood restaurant then your main shrimp should be amazing.
Price
-The price is good. It helps that the food comes fresh out of the gulf. It's pretty comparable to any other similar place in the same market.
Service - Our waitress was kind of flighty. It took her a long while to come over and greet us and take our drink orders, and it was not a particularly busy time. My drink sat empty for a while, a couple of different times. She wasn't very friendly either. Not someone I would ask for their section.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Meh. It's a part of the community and it's at a great location. It wouldn't be our first choice for dinner, but it works.
WHERE WE WENT:
Pearl's Oyster House
299 South Main Street
Memphis, TN
38103
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Dynamite Shrimp & Crawfish Dip Appretizer combo, Seafood Alfredo and Crabcake Pick-Two, Shrimp & Grits, Brownie, Hushpuppies
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 10
Menu - 10
Presentation - 8
Taste - 10
Price - 9
Service - 8
Overall - 9.5
Atmosphere - Pearl's is oozing with swag. The deep red color behind the bar and dim lighting immediately set the mood when you walk through the door. The walls are primarily exposed brick, which gives an authentic vintage feel to the space, and are adorned with a variety of local art, as is characteristic of South Main. The main dining room is longer than it is wide with an extensive bar along the side. There's elevated seating toward the back (where we sat) that provides an awesome view of the restaurant and a prime position for people watching. The vibe of the restaurant makes you feel like you've wandered into a secret joint on a side street in New Orleans. Swag.
Menu
- The menu at Pearl's was expansive. With a name like Pearl's Oyster House you might expect it to be limited. They have seafood options of all kinds prepared in multiple different ways as well as some non-seafood options for those who might not be as interested. The have an excellent selection of beer and wine. They also advertise some unique items such as a signature drink called the Red Pearl (a mixture of Redd's and Fireball) and various kinds of shots that include oysters in them such as The Mexi Oyster Shooter (oyster, tequila, and Tabasco).
Presentation - The presentation was very nice. Everything (except the Shrimp & Grits) was served on white dishes and separated out by dish component. We really liked who each specific part of the dishes got their unique plating. The Shrimp & Grits was unique in that it came in a red and black bowl. It was topped with crispy onion straws which added a nice layer of texture and aesthetic appeal.
Taste
- Having lived on the Gulf Coast in Florida, it should be taken seriously when we say this was some of the best seafood we've had in a long time. The crawfish dip was creamy with a subtle spice and excellent blend of flavors. The hushpuppies were perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They had a surprising heat that made them all the more enjoyable. The shrimp & grits were delectable. The onion straws and ham were a touch we had never seen before and the grits were cooked perfectly served with something they call "muddy water broth" that was wonderfully flavorful. The only complaint about it was that the shrimp themselves were a little on the small side. The crab cake was one of the best we have ever had outside of Maryland, but as a personal preference we prefer when the crab meat is more chunked rather than shredded. The remoulade sauce came served on the side which was appreciated, because in excess it could have overwhelmed the dish. The seafood alfredo was incredible; it had the exact right amount of heat that was tempered by the cheesiness of the sauce that really complemented the scallops and crawfish. The brownie was delicious! Served with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and caramel, it was like a little piece of heaven. The only thing that seemed not to reach its full potential was the dynamite shrimp. With a name like that you expect an explosion of flavor, but all we really tasted was BBQ sauce.
Price - The price at Pearl's was overall pretty good. The shrimp and grits was a bargain at $10.99 for the amount of food that you got. The entree combo is the way to go if you want to taste multiple dishes. You can pick two for $15.99. The only thing that seemed a little on the expensive side was their oysters, but I guess when its your signature dish, you can afford it.
Service - Our waiter was lovely. He was friendly and treated us like old friends. The food was a little slow, but there was a LARGE party in the restaurant. We think that if that hadn't been the case it would have been perfect.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Absolutely! So far Pearl's Oyster House holds the title for our favorite Memphis Restaurant.This will definitely be a place we recommend and bring our friends and family when they visit.
Here's a link to their website:
http://www.pearlsoysterhouse.com/
Sarasota, FL
