Cypress - Hits and a Miss

Cypress is one of my husband's favorite restaurants in town. Mostly because of a dish called the Low Country Boil, which he affectionately calls the Down Under Thunder (don't ask, I won't tell). I have to admit, I cannot share the same sentiment. Now, before you kill me, try to understand me.

I am not a southern girl. I was not raised on things like grits and okra and crawfish. I'm from the midwest. I'm a steak and potatoes kinda girl (which, is exactly what I ordered at Cypress this night, but I digress). And southern food hasn't grown on me much in the past year and a half that I've lived in Tallahassee. I can't stand boiled peanuts. I won't touch collard greens. And I still don't like grits. Even with lots of cheese and butter. No, thank you very much. I'll stick to my mashed potatoes.

Now, Cypress is all about southern cuisine with a fancy twist. They take regional favorites and update them with creative preparations. For me, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But I go there because I love my husband and he loves the Down Und....I mean, the Low Country Boil.

The restaurant itself is a casual, yet contemporary place. With walls painted red, purple, sage and yellow and paintings featuring palm trees and mossy oaks, it's a cross section of southern hospitality and upscale chic.

We ordered a few drinks to start, my husband selected a beer and I picked the Watermelon Margarita Martini. It's a refreshingly sweet little drink made with real watermelon that reminded me of those summer days of my youth when I'd sit out on the back porch eating fresh watermelon and spitting the seeds into the yard. I must warn you, however, that it is definitely on the sweeter side, so if you don't like your alcohol very sugary, you might want to stay away from this one. But I thought it was delightful.

Next, I convinced my husband to order the Sesame Tuna appetizer. I'm not quite sure why, but I've been on a bit of a seared tuna kick lately. A year ago, I couldn't stand it. Now, I crave it. Such is the circle of life. Anyway, I was super excited about this appetizer and was practically foaming at the mouth when they set it down on our table. The presentation was absolutely spectacular, it looked like a real work of art! As I picked one up and took my first bite, my enthusiasm quickly waned. The tuna was so fatty, that I couldn't even bite the darn thing. So here I am at this nice, gourmet restaurant with half a tuna slice hanging out of my mouth and me trying to rip it off with my fingers. It was not a pleasant scene. Meanwhile, my (slightly more civilized) husband was trying to cut his with a knife and also having no luck. It was the most unappetizing appetizer I've ever had in my life. I eventually put the whole thing in my mouth, but chewing it could not dissect the fat either. On top of that, the tuna was not fresh, and the salsa and sprouts they put on top of the tuna did nothing to give the dish any flavor. I was so thoroughly disgusted that I couldn't even eat another one.

Thank goodness our main entrees made up for the appetizer. Okay, so you already know my husband loves his Low Country Boil. It's a hodge podge of shrimp, scallops, sausage, corn, potatoes, onions and okra in what my husband calls "a very flavorful broth" (sorry ladies and gentlemen, he's a man of few words). I myself, am not one for the hodge podge type meals. I don't do crock pot cooking, or pot pies or pot roast or any of that jazz because to me everything ends up tasting like potatoes. And don't get me wrong, I like potatoes, but I don't want my shrimp to taste like potatoes too. But if hubby had his way, he'd drink the broth when he was through.

I ordered the Filet Mignon which was encrusted with seasonings and topped with sauteed mushrooms and some caramelized onions (that I promptly picked off). It was also served with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The filet was delicious, I ordered it cooked medium and it practically melted in my mouth. It was served with the house steak sauce (that brown stuff you see under the potatoes), which was spicy, smoky and sweet and the perfect compliment for pretty much everything on the plate. The asparagus were crispy and perfectly seasoned. And the mashed potatoes were smooth and buttery. If I had one beef (no pun intended) with my meal, it would be that I could have done without the scallions in my mashed potatoes. I'm not sure what compels people to put corn, onions or anything else in their mashed potatoes, but I like mine perfectly plain. Cause where I come from, if it ain't broke, don't add extra shit to it.

This is pretty typical of my other Cypress experiences. Sometimes I order something I end up loving, sometimes I order something I end up hating. It's always a coin toss. But when you love someone, you sometimes do things you wouldn't ordinarily do. Ain't love grand?

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - B

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $$$

Restaurant Info:

Cypress Restaurant

320 E Tennessee St.

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-513-1100

Website Link

Bagelheads - Spice Up Your Sandwich

After hitting the gym on Saturday, we decided to stop off at Bagelheads to grab some lunch. I'd never eaten here before, but had heard some pretty good things through the grapevine and was excited to give it a try. It's a cheery little place off Apalachee Pkwy, whose interior is decked out in bright yellow and blue. There are about 12 tables inside and a long bar against the window with plenty of stools and I can only imagine the place is packed during the week.

As we sauntered up to the counter to place our order, we noticed that they serve nothing but Boar's Head meats and cheeses - so we were off to a good start. They've got quite a few sandwich options to choose from, or if you don't see exactly what you want among their specialty sandwiches - you can create your own bagel sandwich from their bevy of meats, cheeses and toppings. Plus, they've also got fresh salad selections for all you leaf lovers out there. Hubby chose the Manhattan Monster on a Parmesan Bagel and I created my own Ham, Swiss and Mayo on an Everything Bagel. You also get to choose whether you want your bagel toasted or your cheese melted. Hubby said no to both. I said yes to melted cheese....mmmm......melty. Plus, every sandwich comes with coleslaw and a pickle (a sandwich shop after my own heart)!

Okay, let me take just a second to praise their coleslaw. This ain't your average, everyday coleslaw. No sir. This was a refreshingly crunchy coleslaw. They use sliced almonds, sesame seeds and scallions to give the slaw a deliciously crispy, crunchy texture. And whatever sauce they use is not overly sweet, tart or tangy. It's light and refreshing with only a hint of sweetness. I could have eaten a whole barrel of this coleslaw and my tummy would not have protested at all. I just love when restaurants put just as much thought and effort into their side dishes as they do their main ones. It's the little things, ya know?

Okay, back to the bagel sandwiches. There's just something about a bagel sandwich that makes it so much better than a regular sandwich. I think because bread = boring. I love sandwich places that spice things up with different types of breads. One of my favorite sandwich places of all time, Isaac's of Pennsylvania, uses pretzel bread on their sandwiches and I must admit, they're pretty spectacular. But a bagel's not too shabby either. Especially fresh bagels, like those at Bagelheads. Their bagels are made every day from scratch with no added fats, oils or preservatives. And their motto is: "If we would not serve it to you in our home, we would not serve it to you in our restaurant." As it should be.

I like to get the everything bagels because they pack such a punch of flavor what with the salt and garlic and sesame and poppy seeds and so on and so forth. However, I did end up a bit jealous that hubby's sandwich actually had coleslaw on it, as much as I ended up liking that coleslaw. The cuts of meat were fresh and juicy and the melted cheese on my sandwich was ooey-gooey and delicious. I think this was just the first of many beautiful lunches we'd have together, Bagelheads and me, I certainly think it was.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - A

Presentation - B

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Bagelheads

1935 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-574-1122

Hours: Mon-Fri 6am-2pm, Sat 7am-3pm, Sun 8am-2pm

Website Link

Soup Swift - Soups and Salads and Sandwiches, Oh My!

There's a quaint little cafe off Miccosukee Road that serves up fresh soups, salads and sandwiches every day, and it goes by the name of Soup Swift. How fresh, you ask? So fresh, that their menu of offerings changes daily, and is dependent upon which fruits and vegetables are in season at that exact moment. It doesn't get any fresher unless you go out to the field and pick the stuff yourself!

But when I say quaint, I do mean, quaint. There are only 6 tables inside and they only seat 2 people each. However, there are also 2 picnic tables outside if you have larger groups and can stand the heat. Me, I generally call ahead, pick something up and eat it at home where I can catch up on the latest reality TV shows that I've got recorded on my DVR. Oh, don't judge me, you know you love 'em too!

Today for lunch, I ordered some Sweet Potato Soup and the Apple, Cheddar and Bacon Salad. Driving home with that bag on the passenger seat had my stomach grumbling so loud, I could barely hear the radio!

Obviously, if a place is called Soup Swift, then they'd better do soup pretty darn good. Well, trust me, they do. All of their soups are handcrafted and slow cooked to perfection. They don't add any artificial stuff and they use very little salt, so you only get the fresh taste of the fresh ingredients!

The sweet potato soup is one of my absolute favorites! I've never even seen this type of soup offered anywhere else, and I just have to say, it's ingenious! It's a rich, creamy soup (no lumps here, baby!), that's got that sweet potatoey flavor in every bite! They also add a few spiced pecans to the top (that's those brown things floating in the middle), and it gives the soup just a little kick. If you've ever had a butternut squash soup, it's very similar to that, but sweeter, of course! You know I licked the bowl. Mmm hmm.

And then there was the apple, cheddar and bacon salad. Now, I know what you're thinkin'. I could have just made this salad myself. But there are some days when you just don't feel like taking the time to fry up the bacon and slice the cheese and the apple - especially on your lunch break. And since my Wednesday had a case of the Mondays, I REALLY didn't feel like it. So, there.

This salad was absolutely scrumptious! All of the ingredients were fresh - no wilted lettuce or browning apple - and it was served with a perfectly complimentary dijon shallot vinaigrette dressing. It was sort of like a lighter version of a honey mustard, and I used every last drop!

Soup Swift is only open for lunch, but they just changed their hours so that they are now open on Saturdays as well. Good news for all you ladies that lunch on the weekends! Make sure to keep your eyes peeled as you drive down Miccosukee near Riggins Rd. or you might miss it! Soup Swift is tucked next to a medical center that takes up most of the real estate, but they do put a little sandwich board out front with their logo on it to make it easier to spot. It's definitely worth checking out if you need a mid-week pick me up, and can't stand to down another greasy bag of fast food. Happy lunching!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B (cute, but a bit tiny inside)

Taste - A

Presentation - A

Service - A

Price - $

Restaurant Info:

Soup Swift

2510 Miccosukee Rd

Tallahassee FL 32308

850-576-SOUP

Hours: Mon - Sat 11am - 3:30pm

Website Link

Bahn Thai - Spicy & Sweet

Just south of the Capitol building on Monroe St., lies the best little Thai place in Tallahassee, Bahn Thai. It's a quaint little joint, where hundreds of polaroids of smiling patrons are tacked up on the entryway wall, the tablecloths are bright and cheerful and the restaurant is draped in metallic garland and twinkle lights. They've got framed posters of Thailand along with various cultural dolls and nick-knacks galore, but the best stuff to check out just happens to be at the checkout counter - where the first $1 they made back in 1979 is browning and crumbling inside a laminated pouch, and a gold placard proclaims, "When I'm right, nobody remembers. When I'm wrong, nobody forgets." Ain't that the truth?

The friendly staff greets you right away and ushers you over to a booth or table, depending on what you prefer. They're quick with waters and asking if you're ready to order, as I assume most people who go there are regulars who always order the same thing. We started with an order of Spring Rolls, which must be made to order because they always come out piping hot. I always make sure to have a heaping helping of their sweet and sour sauce, which actually looks like applesauce, and tastes divine. I almost always take my spoon and eat whatever is left of the sauce on my plate, even after I devour my spring roll!

For our main courses, I ordered Chicken Pad Thai and hubby ordered Shrimp Fried Rice. At Bahn Thai, you always choose how spicy you want it - mild, medium or hot. I'm a wimp, and never go past mild because medium always makes my nose run and I just don't like having to eat with the sniffles. On this night, the kid at the table behind us ordered hot (I'm not sure he'd ever had Thai before) and I thought he was going to have a heart attack. BE WARNED - THAI HOT IS NOT FOR SISSIES!

Okay, I have to take just a second to rave about their Pad Thai. I've had Pad Thai in a lot of places - Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, New York, LA and probably a few other cities I have yet to mention - and I believe the Pad Thai at Bahn Thai is the best Pad Thai I've ever had in MY LIFE. That's right. Not just the best Pad Thai in Tallahassee. The best I've EVER HAD.

Here's why I think it's so good:

1. It's not runny - some places use a sauce that ends up falling off the noodles and pools at the bottom of your bowl or plate, and I hate that.

2. It's sweet, but not too sweet - some places go overboard on sweetness and it becomes too tart to be enjoyable.

3. The noodles are the perfect length - there's nothing worse than trying to roll up your noodles on your fork and then having them all fall off as soon as you try to take a bite, the noodles here are all perfectly portioned so you can just fork and go.

4. They mix in the crushed peanuts - some places just put a lump of crushed peanuts on the side of the plate, but they actually mix the peanuts in for you so you get peanuts in every single bite!

5. They don't overdo it - no one can eat a gargantuan sized portion of Pad Thai and in my experience, it doesn't hold up well in terms of leftovers, so I don't like to take any home with me, and I hate wasted food.

The other thing I like to do to my Pad Thai is add cashews to my order. If you like nuts, and you haven't tried this, give it a whirl. They'll charge you a bit extra, but in my opinion, the sweetness of the cashews compliment the dish nicely while giving a bit of added crunch.

Okay, so, enough about the Pad Thai. On to my husband's meal, the Shrimp Fried Rice. I must say, my husband is somewhat of a fried rice freak. If we go somewhere and fried rice is on the menu, he orders it, no question. Fried rice is a bit bland for my taste, plus I know there's onions in there, so I normally stay away. But the fried rice at Bahn Thai is actually very flavorful and spicy with lots of veggies and the rice is that nice sticky type. So, normally I have a few forkfuls of his dish as well, and then my nose starts running and I have to return to my mild Pad Thai. (*snuff, snuff*)

One other thing to note - if it's your first time to Bahn Thai, read the review that is tacked to the front of their menu. It gives details about how the woman who owns the joint still works there from sun up to sun down every day even though she's in her 70's! It's a compelling story, and worth the time it takes to read it. All I have to say is, she must be doing something right because the food there is top notch.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - A

Service - A

Presentation - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Bahn Thai

1319 S Monroe St

Tallahassee FL 32301

850-224-4765

Website Link

Tapas - I've got BIG LOVE for those small plates

Before catching a movie on Saturday night, we stopped off at Tapas to grab a bite. I must admit, Tapas is one of my favorite new Tallahassee restaurants. It opened in early 2009 and every time I go, it's always packed with people, so I'm sure they're enjoying great success. Since "tapas" means "small plates" in Spanish, I'm going to give you a few short reasons why I absolutely love this place (small, short - same thing really, right?).

1. The most expensive dish on the menu is $13
2. Their menu options change frequently enough to keep things fresh, but not so often that it drives you crazy
3. It's great for people who have "diner's remorse" and wish they would have ordered what their date did - because everyone HAS to share
   
4. Each dish is packed full of tantalizing flavors
   
5. You leave full, but not the-top-button-on-my-jeans-is-gonna-blow-stuffed
   

This list could, of course, go on and on. I haven't even mentioned how sleek, modern and illustrious the interior is. I haven't spoken a word about the outdoor seating area outfitted with ceiling fans and comfy pillows. And I haven't done the extensive wine list, shared with their neighbor and sister venue, The Winery, any justice. And I also forgot to mention how the kitchen is an open air, exposed operation that sits right behind the bar where any wine-sipping patron can marvel at the culinary magic happening right before their eyes. So you see, there's really a lot to love about Tapas.

On this evening, we started out with something simple - the cheese and fruit plate. Although, Tapas couldn't just do your normal cheese and grapes - Oh, NO. They spiced it up with sliced peaches, ripe cherries and summer strawberries. And that white blob in the middle - that's goat cheese. I'm talking, melts in your mouth goat cheese. Muah! (*kisses fingers*)

Our second plate had me moaning and groaning with pure pleasure! It was the tuna 'raro' and boy, was it spectacular. They take pieces of seared tuna crusted with island spices and layer them on top of fried plantain chips and coat them with avocado salsa, lime crema and blood orange-mojo vinaigrette. When you take a bite out of one of these little treats, the explosion of flavors that happen in your mouth are out of this world! I could have eaten like 10 of these in a row. It was the perfect combination of crunchy, fresh, sweet, spicy and melty.......oh, damn, it was good.

For our third and final (*sigh*) plate, we picked the kobe sliders. Tapas has recently revamped their kobe slider toppings and ours came with pear slices, goat (I think!) cheese and fresh lettuce. Now, it may not sound like pear and beef would go together, but it was a refreshing twist and I absolutely adored it.

Every time I go to Tapas I end up ordering something different, and for me, that's half the fun! And each new dish seems to be inexplicably better than the last. But enough talk - you should go out and try it for yourself, already!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A+

Service - A

Presentation - A+

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Tapas

1122 Thomasville Rd, Suite 8

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-224-TAPA

Website Link

Morelia's - Me Gusta

This Friday, hubby and I decided to satisfy our mexican tooth for dinner. And as far as we're concerned, there's only one truly authentic mexican restaurant in Tallahassee - Morelia's. As soon as you walk into the joint, you're greeted by a friendly hostess who quickly shows you to your table. The decor inside Morelia's is sparse, but showcases mexican sombreros and ponchos against red and gold swathed walls.

The first thing you have to do at Morelia's - and this is a MUST - is order a margarita. They've got three alcohol levels - regular, golden and top shelf - and four sizes - small, medium, large and extra large. We ordered up 2 medium golden margaritas, our usual. Now, I will warn you - by anyone else's standards, this would probably be a large. But their small is like an extra small, you take two gulps and your done. So the medium, even though it's the size of your head, is what you should settle for. Hubby made the mistake of ordering a large once, and it was the size of a swimming pool. I'd hate to see what the extra large is like!

We also got the queso dip, because well, we just can't help ourselves. Chips without queso is like peanut butter without the jelly - it's just wrooooong. And their queso is pretty darn good, very cheesy with a slight spicy kick. You'll be ordering another margarita before you know it! They give you chips and salsa free here, so if queso's not your thing (what are you? crazy???), their salsa's also very tasty.

The other thing you should know about Morelia's is that you will get a TON of food. If it's just you and a date, you should consider splitting something because the portions are overflowing. Hubby and I split the chicken fajitas - which come out to your table nice and sizzlin'. The fajitas themselves are made with chicken, green peppers, onions and tomatoes, but they also come with mexican rice, beans and cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo and lettuce on the side. See....i told you - a TON of food. Between the two of us, that was plenty. And the fajitas were only about $10. 

The chicken has a nice flavoring to it, and when combined with whatever you like - I do a little sour cream, guac, beans, rice and peppers - it's a south of the border delight!

The only drawback is that the service can be a bit slow at times. On this night, our waitress was too busy speaking spanish with the table behind us (they might have been friends) that she rarely checked in on us. We must have waited at least 15 minutes after we were done eating before we could even ask her for our check. But, we had nowhere to go, so we didn't really mind. And we had to finish our noggin'-sized margaritas anyway!

Tally Foodie Rating:

Taste - A

Atmosphere - B

Service - B-

Presentation - B

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Morelia's

1400 Village Square Blvd, Suite 35

Tallahassee FL 32312

850-907-9173

Masa - Translation: Mmmmmmm

As a nice little mid-week break, hubby and I paid a visit to one of our favorite restaurants, Masa. It's a swanky little asian-fusion restaurant whose menu offers refreshing twists on sushi, seafood and some traditional chinese and thai dishes. The walls are painted a dark and moody maroon and grey and decorated with large paintings of feathers. The tables and chairs are a dark espresso wood, the drapes are heavy and the lighting is low. It gives the place a very romantic and dramatic feel. The kitchen and sushi bar are both exposed, and diners can sit at the counter and watch their food being prepared, if they so choose.

We decided to start with a little sushi as an appetizer and this roll is one of my favorites. It's called the Green Monster and it's made with fried shrimp, cream cheese, sprouts, avocado and crushed wasabi peas on top. It's a nice roll for sushi novices who are grossed out by the raw stuff, but equally pleasurable for sushi gurus looking for something a little creative. The wasabi peas aren't too spicy, and they give the roll a nice added crunch!

For our main courses, hubby chose his usual - Grilled Miso Chilean Sea Bass w/Mango Salsa and I selected something I had never tried before - Masa's Seafood Trio, a combination of lobster tail, sea scallop and jumbo shrimp grilled and served in a red curry coconut sauce. If your mouth is watering just reading the description of these dishes, you will be equally delighted when this cuisine graces your palette.

The sea bass is grilled to perfection and the sauce is so deliciously sweet that the fish just melts in your mouth. Add a bit of mango salsa atop the fish and you get a little kick of spice with the sugary tang of the mango fruit. It's one of those dishes that you won't stop eating until every last bit of it has gone down your gullet. My husband even asked me if he was allowed to lick the plate!

The seafood trio was also an amazing dish. Again, the seafood was cooked perfectly, not one bite was chewy and overdone. The lobster tail is just for show, because when you lift it up, you discover that the meat has already been separated from the tail and coated in the sumptuous sauce. I could wax poetic about this sauce forever, but I'll spare you. It's equal bits spicy and sweet, creamy and light, sinful and divine. Some curries cause your nose to run with just one whiff of the dish, but not this one. It was absolutely and unequivocally perfect. Mmmmmm.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A+

Service - A

Presentation - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

Masa

1001 N. Monroe St.

Tallahassee FL

850-847-0003

Hours: Mon - Thurs 11am-9:30pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-9pm

Website Link

The Cake Shop - Little Slices of Heaven

Because I am a tad addicted to cupcakes at the moment (okay, a tad maybe the understatement of the year) I decided to check out the cupcakes over at The Cake Shop. It's a quaint little bakery off John Knox Rd. that many Tallahasseeians (I'm just going to keep using that term until someone tells me different) are deeply devoted to. I ordered a cake from The Cake Shop a few months back and while it was good, I wasn't head over heels. However, it was a fairly simple cake - marble with buttercream icing. The cupcakes however, are a horse of a different color. 

Just walking into The Cake Shop and smelling the fresh aromas will have your sweet tooth standing up and screaming for a piece of something - anything - and as quickly as possible. The pastel yellow walls are bright and cheerful, the country style interior is warm and inviting and they even offer free WiFi! I selected 6 cupcakes from their decadent collection, even though I had only planned on getting 4. I chose 2 Peanut Butter Fudge, 1 Chocolate Sundae, 1 Caramel Cream, 1 Marble and 1 Red Velvet. Don't they look yumdillyicious?

These are the big kahuna cupcakes - full size, full flavor, fully satisfying. The cake part of the cupcake is light and fluffy and tastes just like you're biting into Cloud 9. And the bevy of toppings heaped on each cupcake are only bested by those cupcakes that are injected with cream. That's right - some of their cupcakes, like the Caramel Cream featured below, actually have cream INSIDE the cupcake. Just when you think it can't get any better - it does. And the icing itself is rich, creamy and oh so delicious.

At only $2 each, the cupcakes from The Cake Shop are less expensive than the ones offered at Lucy & Leo's, and they're bigger ta boot! Although both are equally excellent in the flavor department. What do you guys think? Are you Team Cake Shop or Team L&L?

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - A

Taste - A+

Service - A

Presentation - A

Price - $

Bakery Info:

The Cake Shop

200 John Knox Rd

Tallahassee FL 32303

850-386-CAKE

Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 5:30pm, Sat 9am - 12pm

Website Link

Fish Bonz - Meh, just okay

In March, hubby and I attended the Chef's Sampler benefiting the Children's Home Society at the Tallahassee Mall. It's a culinary event where over 50 of the top chefs from local restaurants come together and offer a sampling of their best food and drink, all in one place. We had a wonderful time and were exposed to a few restaurants we had never heard of before. One of which, was Fish Bonz in Thomasville.

After checking out their fabulous website, plastered with beautiful photography of delectable dishes, we decided to go there for our wedding anniversary this year. So, on Saturday night, we made the 45 min drive from Tallahassee, FL to Thomasville, GA in high anticipation. We were expecting a lavish gourmet restaurant packed to the gills with people who would wait as we sauntered in with our 6pm reservations and were escorted straight to our table. Unfortunately, that was not the case. We barely found the restaurant as it is part of the local Quality Inn. Hmmm....we thought - not a very good sign.

Although small, the restaurant had about 15 tables, yet only 2 were occupied, another bad sign. Maybe this is just a diamond in the rough, we thought. Plus, we had driven all this way. So we took our seats. Fish Bonz makes a valiant effort at being a gourmet restaurant. We were immediately brought soft brown bread, served with both butter and an olive tapenade, which was actually delicious. Okay, we thought, this place may not be half bad.

Next, we both ordered cups of the Lobster Bisque, which is touted on the menu not only as "famous" but "award-winning." I think this was what they were serving at the Chef's Sampler that had me so intrigued. While it was very creamy, it was a bit light on the lobster. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it wasn't the worst either. And I managed to finish the entire cup.

For entrees, hubby chose the Pistachio Crusted Mahi with Wasabi Sauce, and I selected the Surf & Turf special - a filet topped with blue cheese served with shrimp scampi. Each entree is served with a house salad with your choice of dressing (I chose honey mustard b/c it's my favorite). But the salad also, was nothing to write home about. The mushrooms and sprouts, again, attempted to take the salad to the next level, but if they really wanted to spice it up, they could have done blue cheese, grapes or pecans instead. 

As you can see, the presentation of our entrees was actually pretty thoughtful. And the food looked yummy too! So we dug in straight away. My first bite was a shrimpy, drenched in lemon butter sauce and topped with cheese. The scampi preparation was good, but the shrimp were just a tad overcooked. Next, I took a bite of my filet drenched in blue cheese. Again, not the best steak I've ever had, but not the worst either. There was a very "meaty" quality about it that I'm not quite sure how to describe. It wasn't the normal, melt-in-your-mouth, filet. Hubby's pistachio crusted mahi was also just okay. The wasabi sauce could have had a bit more kick to it to give the dish a bit more flavor, and the fish was probably a tad overcooked. His meal came with pepper jack cheese grits, which were very flavorful, and for a girl who doesn't like grits, that's saying a LOT.

All in all, we weren't disappointed with our meal, but we weren't overjoyed either. I'd classify it as a tad above mediocre. I'm not sure it was worth the drive, but I always enjoy going somewhere new. And of course, spending time with my hubby.

Tally Foodie Rating:

Atmosphere - B

Taste - B

Service - A

Presentation - A

Price - $$

Restaurant Info:

15138 Highway 19 South

Thomasville, GA

Hours: Mon - Sat 5-9pm

Website Link