Madison got its first Bonefish Grill in November, opening near Shopko by West Towne Mall. I accepted my invitation to sample some dishes and drinks, and I returned later to check out more of the menu. I’m usually weary of seafood restaurants in non-coastal states, but Bonefish pleasantly surprised me with its dishes.
Overall I enjoyed most of the menu items, but the service needs improvement. Take for example what happened during dinner. From the time we sat down, the waiter didn’t take our order until 17 minutes later, he didn’t serve our bread for another 17 minutes and the food arrived 37 minutes after we ordered it. That is slooooooow. Other friends I’ve talked to have had similar experiences during lunch and dinner.
Since I ate so many different things, let me just blurt them all out:
- The Bang Bang shrimp ($10.40) is a must-order appetizer. Great crunch to the battered shrimp, which is tossed in a semi-spicy Asian sauce.
- The roasted mushroom flatbread ($9.40) is complemented by a pleasing truffle aioli.
- The cilantro shrimp salad ($13.30) is brightly flavored and colored with the vinaigrette, feta, tortilla strips and other toppings.
- The thick cut of ahi tuna steak ($17.30) goes very well with the pan Asian sauce, one of five signature sauces.
- The Chilean sea bass ($25.40) was flaky and tender on the inside with a delightful grilled texture on the outside. Try it with the mango salsa.
- While the lobster-stuffed shrimp ($10.90) is tasty, it’s not very filling, as you just get four pieces of shrimp.
- Kate’s Wild North Atlantic Haddock ($20.90) is mild as expected but enhanced with the butter sauce and garlic crumb crust.
- The filet mignon ($19.90) was my only disappointment. Parts of the meat were overcooked, and overall the filet lacked flavor and tenderness. Even the white truffle butter didn’t help.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my favorite dish at Bonefish was the creme brulee ($6.90). I have no sweet tooth and would pick something salty over sweet 99 times out of 100, but this was decadent, creamy and perfectly rich. I cannot believe this is a seasonal item–it should be on the menu year-round!
Last but not least team are the excellent cocktails (I look forward to sitting at the outdoor bar next summer). Of note are the Winter White Cosmopolitan ($7.90), which includes St. Germain Elderflower liqueur and is not overly sweet, and the Cold Snap Cocktail – Blackberry Frost ($8.50), made with Reyka vodka, Solerno blood orange liqueur, muddled blackberries and fresh lemon juice and served in a glass made of ice. An accompanying sleeve holds the ice glass together–just make sure to drink it quickly!
Bonefish Grill is open every day for lunch and dinner, with brunch on the weekends.
***
See more photos in our Bonefish Grill Flickr album.
I have many fond memories of eating at the Admiralty Room to celebrate one occasion or another. It was always an elegant evening topped with a stunning view of Lake Mendota.
Entrees include seafood, steaks and chops. The striped bass was one evening’s catch of the day ($32). I thought it was a perfect contrast of tender, flaky fish complementing a crisp skin. It came with roasted tomatoes, green beans and a subtle basil emulsion.
Lots of great apps at lunch, too. I settled on the duck confit poutine ($10). The duck was immensely succulent, and there was a generous portion of cheese so that you weren’t stuck with plain fries at the end. You have to try this!
At least the Applewood bacon and smoked cheddar burger was done right. Big pieces of bacon and a wish-I-had-more smoked paprika aioli topped a fresh-off-the grill patty. I just wished the accompanying fries weren’t so blah.
Doolittles has a huge, four-sided bar in the center of the restaurant that indicates it could be a good place for happy hour. TVs are placed in the upper corners of the ceiling to steer away from being a sports bar. Just beware of the high drink prices. A screwdriver, for example, was $7, and that’s after the $2 discount.
