We'll start with Bonefish:
One of the friends I went with is a huge fan of Bonefish and definitely recommends it. So off we went to the Sandlake & Dr. Phillips location. We made a reservation ahead of time to be sure we got a table and would not have to wait long. We were seated right away by a very friendly hostess and I noticed that the restaurant was not crowded so we probably did not have to make a reservation anyways, but better safe than sorry.
We started off with Mussels Josephine for the 3 of us (it was also one friend's first time trying Mussels and they were a great sport about it). They were absolutely delicious even though a couple Mussels weren't open and my one friend said that those were not good and should not be eaten. In my opinion, I think it is the cook's responsibility to remove these Mussels prior for their customer's safety. But other than that, I would definitely recommend the Mussels and order them again, the portion was also very generous for 3 people.
For my entree I ordered Giant Sea Scallops & Shrimp. You can choose between 4 different sauces to go with your fish & I chose the Chimichurri sauce. It came with mixed vegetables and whipped Garlic Potatoes.
I ate every last bite and the portion was a perfect size for me because I was definitely full at the end of the meal. I would definitely order the entree again but switch to a different sauce. Also, I am not a big lima beans fan but I thought they were very tasty.
Overall, I am very impress with Bonefish. The food was delightful and moderately priced for a seafood restaurant. After splitting the appetizer 3 ways and my meal my bill came out to approximately $20 not including tip & no drink, just water. The best part was definitely the server who was constantly smiling, knowledgeable about the menu, and efficient with refilling our beverages and checking up on us without being overbearing. I would definitely recommend Bonefish and hope you will have a great experience like me for your next visit.
The next restaurant is Cypriana Greek Restaurant located in Casselberry:
I went with 3 friends and we ordered an array of food. We started off with a variety of appetizers including: Fried calamari, Saganaki, & a sample platter that contained: Spanakopita, Skordalia, Olives & Feta, and Fresh Pita. The Saganaki was a little too lemony but it was the servers first time handling it & didn't really know what to do with the flambe, hopefully they will learn and become better with it. Another thing I did not like about the Saganaki was the cheese was a little to thin and crispy. But on the pita and dipped in the olive oil it was still appetizing. The Spanakopita was definitely not cooked properly and had an interesting taste that I couldn't quite put my finger on, I would NOT recommend the Spanakopita or order it again. The Skordalia was very good and even though it is made mainly with potatoes it tasted like hummus and was very delicious. If there wasn't 4 of us I probably could have sat there all night and ate it with the warm pita. Not much to say about the feta & the olives but I definitely wish there was more feta on the plate.
Next, for the entrees:
When I ordered my entree I did not realize how full I would be but still had a few bites of my meal. I ordered a Gyro with French Fries. The Gyro was huge! With lots of Tzatziki sauce, which I loved! The French Fries were very crispy and deliciously seasoned. The food was hot and came out at the perfect time after the starters.
Overall, I don't think I would recommend Cypriana but wouldn't complain or not go if my friends wanted to go back. Service was personal and friendly, which was nice since it was such a small restaurant. The pricing was not bad and you definitely got a good portion size and taste for the price.
If you have the chance check these restaurants out and form your own opinion because every experience will be unique to the customer.
And remember I am not your mom & I am not going to tell you to stop playing with your food, so play away!
