One of our stand-by restaurants these days is Bonefish Grill. It used to be Outback, but when they moved to a larger location here in Charlottesville, they outgrew their wait staff. The service suffered, we had a bad experience and we looked for another spot to eat on short notice.
We have eaten at Bonefish off and on since they opened about 10 years ago, but without reservations, we often faced a long line waiting for a table. But back when we ate at Outback, we frequently sat at the bar and ate dinner. We tried this at Bonefish a couple months ago and haven’t sat at a table since. The bartenders are friendly, attentive and we can usually pull up a couple stools and order at once, even on the busiest of nights.
One of our favorites at Bonefish Grill is the Bang-Bang Shrimp. A spicy dish, it’s just $6 on Wednesdays and the last time Nancy and I spilt an order, I believe I counted 23 shrimp. I love the sauce and the greens beneath. It’s a real bargain.
We also like their Fish & Chips and Nancy ordered a cod dish with cheese and sauces recently that was top notch. When they have soft crabs as an appetizer, I’ll order two of those as an entrée. My friends, Greg and Leia Leffler recently ordered the Chilean Sea Bass that Greg said was phenomenal.
Bonefish is a relatively new operation, started in Petersburg, Florida by a couple of fishermen, Tim Curci and Chris Parker. The chain is now owned by Outback and operates several hundred stores.
By the way, if you order a glass of wine, always ask the price. Nancy ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and we paid a king’s ransom when the bill came. Always ask first.
Next time you’re hungry and haven’t made reservations, try Bonefish and sit at the bar. We may see you there.