Dinner Out

The coupon came in the mail. Dinner for two. Meal, beverages and desert, no tax, no tips, $45.00.


"Should we go?"

"I don't know. Do you want to?"

"OK, lets do it."

"I don't know. No"

"What's included? Where is it located? What times?"

"Lets not. I put it in the recycle bin"

"Lets do it. I pulled out of the recycle bin. You make the reservation"

The coupon for the Bonefish Grill arrived in the mail and we had a conversation similar to the one above. A quick internet search to get directions that were somewhat confusing. The address is so new that google maps did not have the street yet.

I called to make the reservation and they wanted us to come that very evening. I wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not. However, since the place is new, perhaps not enough folks knew about it yet. I did make a reservation for a week from that day. The day was th 23rd, yesterday.

The few notes I had made on the letter accompanying the reservation were somewhat cryptiic in that I have forgotten all the good penmanship rules. I did remember that it was the restaurant/establishment on the western end of a newly constructed shopping mall and only a half a mile west of the interstate. (That was helpful, except we were coming from the west, so how would we know we were a half mile away?)

We did fiind it. It stuck out like a sore thumb because the area was in the midst of construction. There were mounds of huge stones bulldozed out of the area to make way for the shopping center. They were on the south side of the area and we entered from the street on the north side.

We were greeted courteously and seated immediately. There were quite a number of patrons there already and yet there were a few tables and booths available. We were seated at a corner booth were Maryann could watch all of the other patrons. The ambience was very pleasant. Warm tans and browns. Marine-life art on the walls. The wait staff wearing white chef's smocks. Our person was Gus, short for Gustavo. He had a slight accent of some sort, which only added to the enjoyment. He seemed to be thoroughly knowledgeable of the menu, the wine list and the bar offerings. He patiently explained a few things for us and then gave us plenty of time to discuss our choices.

Now for the good part. And I mean really good part. Maryann had the grilled Chesapeake Bay Rockfish with a lime & tomato sauce, a dinner salad (which we shared), and the steamed vegetable medley consisting of brocolli florets, asaparagus, red peppers, slices of yellow squash, and carrots. My entree was the scallops and shrimp with a lemon butter sauce, and the steamed vegetable medley. We each had a glass of Rosemount Chardonnay and it was superb. We had just finished a couple of bottles of the same wine at home during the last week.

Then came the bill, complete with a $10.00 tip, we spent the whopping amount of $13.00 for a marvelous dinner. There at least three other couples we will take back there. If there is one in your area, you must try it out. For my friends in other lands, I am sure you will have something similar to this in your neighbourhood.

Bon apetit!