Barnacle Bill's Seafood, Sarasota, FL

Since Gasparilla is going on this weekend, UD and I were loathe to drive anywhere near downtown...which pretty much limited us to either going north or south on I-75. Since we all know I-75 North is a culinary wasteland, it was a no-brainer.  It was a beautiful day and downtown Sarasota beckoned.  Downtown Sarasota is what I dream that downtown Tampa can become one day.  It is a cross between downtown St. Pete on steroids and a South Beach Mini-Me (albeit a geriatric one)...lots of twinkling lights in the palm trees, cool boutiques and art galleries, and interesting-looking restaurants.

I was starving when we parked so we made our decision quickly.  Barnacle Bill's offered a huge range of fresh seafood prepared in a plethora of ways (all the usual Florida suspects were on the menu...and then some).  The interior was casual and comfortable, with hardwood floors, paneled walls and minimalistic decor.  Proof was provided that the seafood is really fresh here.

I also found it kind of cool that the establishment's source for Alaskan King Crab is the ultimate "scene of the crime"...Dutch Harbor, Alaska, where "Deadliest Catch" is filmed (a fact they seem proud of).

Let's start with the appetizers, which were probably the low point of the meal.  Underdog and I had diametrically opposing views on these offerings and we are usually on the same page when it comes to food, reminding me again that taste is a very subjective matter.  Anyway, here goes:

One item on the menu posted outside the restaurant really helped pull me in and I couldn't wait to try it. The Shrimp and Lobster Chimichanga (with celery, shallots, tomato, asiago cheese, select herbs and spices folded in a flour tortilla and deep fried) sounded like manna for the savage, hormonal soul that is mine.  How could this possibly be bad???  It showed up looking like Halle Berry on the red carpet.  And, yet...I hated it.  Hated it bad...in a "wanted to throw it on the floor and stomp on it" kinda way (and not because it was "Pantene Girl" beautiful). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Watery, tasteless shrimp and lobster (water was actually dripping from the perfectly fried tortilla casing) were encased in this thing along with a few pieces of tomato and wilted lettuce (I'm not sure lettuce is ever good when heated unless it's grilled romaine). There was no cheese or spices that I could discern.  I found it bland and icky, but the hub-unit practically snorted it...so different courses for different horses, I guess.
 
Barnacle Bill's seems to know a lot about oysters (there were a wide variety of boutique oysters on the menu) and I do lurve them, so I was excited about trying the Oysters Rockefeller.  For $9.95, we got four small ones, which seemed a little stingy considering the price, size and venue.  I thought they were fine overall, though...fresh-tasting, good hollandaise, but the spinach was a tiny bit scant for my taste.  This was Jimbo's least favorite offering of the evening, so I guess we balanced each other out on the apps.

Oh...did I mention that we were there at 5:00 PM?  Underdog and I are both Baby Boomers ourselves, but even we felt particularly youthful sitting amidst the early evening crowd.  There's an early bird special for $11.95 that includes soup or salad and a generous list of menu items which we did not partake of, but which many others were obviously there for (can you say "Q-Tip City"?).  But, who can blame them...it's a great deal, and southwest Florida is God's Own Waiting Room, after all.  We were already getting adequate service, but our waiter clearly *perked* when when we tossed our Early Bird menus aside and began demonstrating our penchant for being ordering fiends.  I also must mention that the wine list at Barnacles is very nice with markups that are more than fair.  While many restaurants mark up their wines up to 200%, Barnacle's markups seemed to be closer to the 50-75% range. Bonus points.

Whenever Lobster Bisque is on the menu, it inevitably winds up in Sweet Polly's stomach and this one was no exception.  This was a good bisque (not the best I've ever had, and not enough sherry for my taste...but solid).  It was adorned with lobster morsels and a crouton, and was nice and creamy.  I particularly enjoyed dipping my hot, crusty bread slices in it.

As I stated previously, I do <3 me some oysters and since they were very prominent on Barnacle Bill's menu, I stayed on the mollusk path and order the Fried Oyster Dinner.  It was not disappointing...the oysters were perfectly battered and fried, and clearly very fresh.  The mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli/carrot combo were standard issue...no one in the kitchen was knocking themselves out in the side dish creativity department, but they were tasty and decently presented.

I'll take this moment to reiterate that when I'm sitting in a "real" restaurant (not at a dock-of-the-bay kinda place where I'm ripping the heads off of my shrimp and drinking beer out of the can...which can be delightful and has its precious place in my food-snarfing heart), I'm not crazy about plastic condiment cups or foil-wrapped butter pats. We spent $160 dollars on this dinner before tip and got both. I digress, though.

My Better Half ordered the Dungeness Crab entree, and proceeded to Hoover their little legs and claws clean with no complaints.  That was some fine, sweet crab!

Desserts were both delightful. Key lime pie was sheer perfection and had the taste and appearance of being house-made. SO good!

Creme Brulee Boy ordered his usual...with a twist.  The Honey Creme Brulee was really nicely done and the honey garnish added an interesting touch.

Bottom line:  This was a decent meal.  The seafood tasted fresh and was well prepared, if not cutting edge.  We got amazing treatment and service, both from our waiter and a lovely woman who seemed to be one of (or related to one of) the owners.  She was a constant presence in the dining room, making sure that everyone was happy.  It was classic Florida fare (nothing we haven't had before, but pretty tasty stuff overall).  Underdog likes to bring clients to this place for lunch because of its consistency and will continue to do so.  I on the other hand, prefer somewhat more innovative cuisine and probably won't be clamoring to return anytime soon.

Our $160 tab was largely due to the purchase of one $52 bottle of wine and two $9 glasses of wine.  There are deals to be had here, especially for Early Birds.  And, for the record, I am NOT an early bird.  I just like to eat lunch late.  Really late.  :/

http://www.barnaclebillsseafood.com/main_st.html

Spain Restaurant and Toma Bar, Tampa, FL

So...I've had tasty enough meals at Spain in downtown Tampa for lunch (in a high school cafeteria kinda way) featuring a hot line you slide your tray down while making your selections, with a self-serve soda setup just before you hit the cashier and carry your food into the relatively stark dining room. I have heard rumors of it morphing itself from a casual caterpillar into a sleek, urban butterfly after the sun went down and wanted to check it out.  Those rumors were not unfounded...the evening version of the restaurant was almost unrecognizable from its utilitarian daytime visage.  UD and I, along with our foodie friends "Meredith" and "Wayne" (aka Mary Beth and Wade - inside joke), found real epicurean serendipity in Spain-after-dark and dined like royalty for around $100 per couple including plenty of wine, sangria and mojitos for all.

We were all the mood for a tapas-style experience and our wonderful server Yesenia coached us through the menu, advised us on how much of each dish we needed to order for four people and offered several improvisational suggestions on how to help make the non-tapas items we wanted to try work better for sharing.  She did a fantastic job and greatly contributed to our enjoyment of the meal.

There was no way we were going to pass up Jamon Serrano, Queso Manchego and Cured Spanish Olives...almost like being in Barcelona again!

The Empanadillas de Carnes (spicy meat-stuffed mini pastries) were to die for, and some of the tastiest and most authentic I've had in this country. Crispy and muy rico!

Wade wanted to try the paella, and thank gawd he did because it was some of the best any of us have ever tasted.  Our veryfine server offered to bring small plates for everyone at the table so we could all share in this lovely offering, which was uber-saffrony and laden with really fresh-tasting shellfish.

Being the ordering fools that we were, plenty more tapas plates found their way to us.  Filete de Res sounded great on paper (sauteed filet mignon with onions, mushrooms and sherry) but was kind of unspecial in real life. The beef was very tender, but lacked flavor.  The mojitos rawked, however...at least Wade said they did.

Pimientos de Piquillo (pimentos stuffed with crab and shrimp in a spicy pimento sauce) were a real crowd pleaser at our table, albeit not my fave of the night.  The sauce was rich, creamy and delicious, but I thought it overpowered the seafood just a bit...not that it stopped me from eating them or anything crazy like that.  Others disagreed, however (the spousal unit proclaimed them "one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth")...so order with an open mind.

Snarfing onward, we shared an order of the Tortas de Cangrejo (crab cakes with chutney sauce) which were awesome...big chunks of lump crabmeat barely held together by random, stray breadcrumbs.  Really nice!

Undeterred by bursting seams, we demanded MORE.  Ceviche (which is not one of my favorite dishes) was deemed delish and fresh-tasting by the group.  I'm not a raw seafood lover, but it really did look pretty.  Look how generous the serving is...loaded up with shrimp and scallops marinated in lime and cilantro!

We also tried the Pulpo a la Gallaga (octopus with olive oil, garlic and paprika served over potatoes) which sadly didn't photograph all that well.  I really enjoyed it...the meat was sweet like a scallop with a more muscular texture similar to conch and the paprika gave it a zesty kick.  The rest of the gang thought the chef had been a little heavy-handed with the salt and spices, though.

Shockingly, we were not too full for dessert after this tapas overload.  I needed the Chocolate con Churros and they did not disappoint!  Far from the mushy churros you get at the Target cantina, these guys were deep-fried to uber-crisposity (Is that even a word??) on the outside and were tender and delicious on the inside.  And that chocolate dipping sauce....*thud*.  Amazing sweet finish.

The lure of Filloas Gallegas, which were crepes stuffed with Spanish cream, Grand Marnier and orange sauce, could not be resisted.  Ridiculously good.  Photos really do not begin to do justice to either dessert (your friendly photographer was getting slightly buzzed and over-relaxed when they were taken...notice how things become more and more out of focus as the evening wears on?). 

I totally underestimated this place.  I expected the food to be good, but I didn't expect it to "wow" me. It was a fantastic dinner, Spain's evening ambience was surprisingly nice and our service was low-key, friendly and excellent.  Good times!

Bummer...we've officially reached our gastronomic limits.

http://www.tomaspain.com/home.htm

My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Bernini, Tampa, FL

Is it poor form to blog the same restaurant twice?  I don't care...I'm doing it anyway.

Bernini in Ybor is that place that UD and I seem to find ourselves going back to time and again.  The ambience is great, food and service are always well above average...and they keep running this deal where entrees are 1/2 price and Finlandia martinis (and other vodka drinks) are $2 between 4:00 and 7:00 PM on weekdays.  Since I had the day off, the spousal unit cut out early so we could go see The Green Hornet *yawn* at the Ybor Muvico in the afternoon and then meander over to Bernini to check out their new menu at the early evening discount prices.  We got the most amazing service and recs from Gary...we will be asking for him when we return (as we most certainly will).

First off, the bread basket was a sight for sore eyes after 10 days (post new year's resolution) on the Atkins diet.  They have replaced the dipping oil with herb-infused butter, which was nice...but I do miss the olive oil. 

Step away from my bread basket and no one will get hurt.

Jimbo was also in heaven, his little accountant heart bursting with joy as he sipped his $2 vodka and tonics and calculated his 1/2 price entree savings.  Bread in one hand, "almost-free" cocktail in the other = doggyboy nirvana.  Kerching!

We tried one of the new appetizer items...Langostino Del Diavolo, which was described as "Crispy Langostinos in Crystal Marinara with White Wine and Crostini".  Epic fail...we both hated it. The sauce was way too spicy for the delicate, tiny lobster tails.  Gary asked for our feedback because this was a new item and we provided our honest opinon of the dish (and let him remove it, largely untouched).

APRIL UPDATE:  I returned to Bernini for lunch yesterday and had the opportunity to try the revamped version of this dish, which features the crispy langostinos with the marinara on the side along with two other alternative aioli-style dipping sauces, and my galpal and I hoovered down every morsel...I'm thrilled to report that this app has gone from "meh" to "marvy" IMHO. 

Jonesing for duck because I haven't had it in about six months, I went for the Crispy Duck with Dried Cherry and Vanilla Chianti Sauce with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Broccolini.  Ummm...this was sensational.  I had the duck once before here and haven't ordered it again because I found it a little dry on that occasion, but this duck was perfect...crispy on the outside, moist on the inside...and that sauce. Wowza!

Underdog never turns away from a veal chop offering and he has loved many basic Bernini veal chops in the past.  The new veal chop menu item is a Grilled Veal Chop Stuffed with Prosciutto and Fontina Cheese (and, honestly, I'm not sure you couldn't stuff a cow paddy with prosciutto and fontina and make it delicious) which was stellar!  It also came with awesome polenta fries (which are my new "tame the hormonal inner beast" meds) that you don't find much around these parts.  So good!

Of course I had no interest in dessert, but went along with the spousal unit because he seemed to want it so desperately.*CoughheisthereasonIcan'tshoehornmyassintoasize8Cough*  We locked horns over his desire for the Bernini Sampler, which was a combo of Flourless Chocolate Cake, Tiramisu and Creme Brulee, and my longing to try the new kid on the block...Aunt Cookie's Cassata Cake (pound cake layered with ricotta cream, whipped cream, chocolate chips and cherries).  Neither of us care that much for tiramisu, so our amazing server (did I mention that his name was Gary and that he was amazing???) offered to modify the sampler for us, substituting the Cassata Cake for the tiramisu.  OMG...I was all over this plate like Tiger Woods on an IHOP waitress.

So many desserts, so little time!  Life's short...why wasn't this my appetizer???

That Cassata Cake is in the top 5 desserts I've ever had in Hillsborough County...think Italian-Cream-Cake-meets-Chocolate-Covered-Cherry.  I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing. 



You can have the Cassata Cake...just keep your fork out of my Creme Brulee!

I <3 you Bernini...see you again soon!

http://www.berniniofybor.com/

My blog entries contain the unmitigated, and sometimes unforgiving, dining truths and perceptions I experience as an ordinary restaurant patron. Every meal I post about has been fully paid for by one of the participating members of my personal dining party. I do not engage in the gratis blogger freebie dining events I'm constantly invited to attend and never will. If I ooze font-like love for a restaurant in my blog, it's because they totally earned it…not because they gave me free food or knew I was going to share the experience on the internet.

Pelagia Trattoria, Tampa, FL

I don't often get overly excited by hotel restaurant menus, but Pelagia Trattoria's had me at "hello".  The restaurant itself is visually quite attractive.  It was also almost completely empty the night we were there.  When we arrived, we could've fired a scud missile through the place and not hit a soul, which was a little odd considering its International Mall location.

The bread basket was pretty, but cold. No butter or olive oil came with...only a black olive tapenade.

We started with Crunchy Stuffed Olives with Three Meats which were large, savory specimens of the green variety and obviously right out of the fryer.

Manchego with Organic Honeycomb may have been the highlight of the meal (we had to order a second round of it).  Very small dish, but perfect!

Carpaccio is difficult to eff up and this rendition was no exception. Marinated artichoke hearts and shaved parmesan cheese added a nice touch.

I have loved grilled romaine each of the few times I've tried it, and was looking forward to digging into Pelagia's deconstructed grilled Caesar. I found it to be only "okay" (cool concept, though).  The lettuce tasted more wilted than grilled but the homemade croutons and garlicky dressing were nice.

The gurlz both ordered the Seafood Saffron Tagilatelle, described as pasta with sauteed seafood in lobster limoncello broth.  The pasta was insanely creamy-tasting and obviously hand-made, and the seafood was fresh and delicious.  This was a very nice dish (as it should've been for $30ish).  The palm-sized seared scallop topper was a lovely touch.

Underdog (who always finds it difficult to pass up lamb) selected Cinnamon Marinated Rack of Lamb with Butternut Squash Flan, which was delicious and perfectly prepared, but maybe a bit light for $32.  The flan was unique and had a really nice sweet and lightly spicy "gourdy" taste similar to pumpkin. 

Tim ordered the Veal Chop special which came with a Shrimp Skewer and Purple Potato Flan (which had an interesting taste...but while I appreciated the creativity involved, I'm not sure everything needs to be "flanned").

This was a pleasant dining experience overall,  but I wouldn't say I was blown away by it (at least not to the extent that one expects to be blown away by a meal priced at $200 per couple after gratuity). The wine list wasn't as extensive as it could've been, nor was anyone inspired to order dessert (not normally a positive sign).  However, we did get good service, the food was above average and we were all full when it was time to go.  Somehow, though, I still left with a vague sense of unmet expectations. It might have something to do with my ordering a  pasta dish in spite of the fact that I have a weird idiosyncrasy in that I don't usually think of pasta dishes as all that "special"...even if they are.  Did that make sense?  I didn't think so.  ;)  To be fair, I was also feeling rather corpulent and partied-out from the previous month of holiday decadence. Maybe I'll return to Pelagia and try the Lavender Honey Marinated Duck Breast when I'm finished with my post-holiday diet purge and my pants fit again (assuming that ever happens). 

http://www.pelagiatrattoria.com/