Description

The restaurant review titled “A Seasoned Visitor’s Experience at Bonefish Grill” was written for

my portfolio course in my master’s program. The review was written for a digital audience. To

keep online readers engaged, I included hyperlinks (both within the review and in a brief list

following the review), short paragraphs, subheadings in a different color than the main text, and

visuals. Since my experience at the restaurant has always been positive, I wrote the review

hoping that readers would be persuaded to dine at this restaurant. Furthermore, my goal was to

make readers feel as though they are sitting right in Bonefish Grill and to provide them with a

good understanding of both the food and atmosphere.

Restaurant Review

A Seasoned Visitor’s Experience at Bonefish Grill

Bonefish is a restaurant that offers something for everyone!

By Samantha Gussow

Despite its name, Bonefish Grill offers many tasty selections aside from fish. This restaurant has a casual, welcoming atmosphere that suits a variety of occasions. In addition to the delicious food, the restaurant offers reasonable prices and friendly service.

Go Fish! (Or Not)

Don’t let Bonefish Grill’s name mislead you; contrary to what its name implies, it does not exclusively serve seafood. Bonefish Grill, a chain restaurant found all over the U.S., has a large menu that offers several other entrées aside from fish. These entrées include burgers, chicken, sandwiches, and tacos. However, be forewarned that the restaurant’s seafood selections—which include Chilean sea bass, shrimp, tilapia, and trout—present the most variety. Get Your Senses Ready Immediately upon stepping into Bonefish Grill, it is nearly impossible to miss all the amazing, mouth-watering aromas in the air. This will surely whet your appetite and make you eager to order. The restaurant’s casual atmosphere, filled with chatter and laughter, makes you feel instantly relaxed. Fish-themed metal artwork is hung on the restaurant’s tan walls, and wooden tables and booths covered in simple vinyl tablecloths look inviting and comfortable. Plenty of windows allow for natural light to filter into the restaurant—perfect for dining during any season. Bring an Appetite and Patience

My parents and I went to Bonefish Grill in Owings Mills, Maryland to celebrate my mother’s birthday since this is one of her favorite restaurants. Bonefish never

disappoints and consistently offers a top-notch dining experience. Every time we visit, we always marvel at how packed the restaurant is—especially notable because the Owings Mills Bonefish is located in a restaurant park. Despite all these choices, Bonefish Grill always seems to be the busiest. A tip to Bonefish first-timers is to make a reservation because of the restaurant’s popularity. Without a reservation, there could be a lengthy wait. The benches in the waiting area fill up quickly, so patrons may end up standing as they wait for a table to become available. The good news is that the staff sometimes passes around free appetizers, which makes up for the wait! We had a reservation, so luckily we were seated almost immediately. Our affable waitress for the night warmly greeted and welcomed us. Use Your Decision-Making Skills

Although my parents and I had an idea of what we wanted to order, hearing the daily specials is always helpful before officially deciding. Though the day’s specials sounded appealing, as creatures of habit we decided to stick with the tried and true.

My parents both ordered their favorite Atlantic salmon ($18) in a pan Asian sauce. They selected broccoli and jasmine rice as their two side dishes. Lily’s chicken (yes, that’s the name of the dish!) sounded appealing but had a few too many seasonings for my liking. Therefore, I substituted grilled chicken ($15) in its place. I also selected the broccoli and jasmine rice for my sides. Most fish and chicken entrées are

served with two sides, and choosing two is no easy feat. Sides include potatoes and ravioli and healthy options such as asparagus and green beans. Prepare to Be Impressed

Despite the tables quickly filling up with diners, our salads arrived in record-breaking time—before our waitress even brought us our drinks! The plates were cold, so the salads were clearly very fresh. My Caesar salad ($5) was excellent and had the perfect balance of lettuce, croutons, cheese, and dressing. The lettuce was a beautiful shade of green, not to mention extremely crisp. The salad was not drenched in dressing but covered just enough to give the lettuce some zest.

The Bonefish house salads ($5) that my parents ordered also offered a good balance of lettuce, olives, and juicy tomatoes. In addition to the scrumptious salads, our waitress brought a loaf of bread that came with a pesto dipping sauce. The bread was moist and warm, and the sauce enhanced what was already quite tasty. Our entrées were superb and kept the winning streak going. My chicken was juicy, succulent, tender, and truly grilled to perfection. The rice was cooked well, and the herbs provided a flavorful twist on what may have otherwise been bland. My parents and I found it hard to describe the rice’s taste, but we agreed that it was almost sweet—and definitely delectable. The broccoli was so green that it almost did not look real, and it tasted even better than it looked. My parents said that their salmon was delicious as usual and according to my dad, “not too fishy tasting.” Our waitress was very attentive and stopped by twice to make sure the meal was to our satisfaction, which it most certainly was.

Seek and You Shall Find

Perhaps what makes Bonefish Grill so unique is the diverse clientele it draws. There were lots of families with young children at Bonefish, older couples, and large groups of coworkers enjoying an after-work meal. For those looking to unwind with a beer and a football game, there is a bar (separated from the main section of the restaurant), where sports are projected onto big-screen TVs. Bonefish Grill offers something for everyone, whether you are seeking some family quality time or drinks with friends. The drinks menu offers an extensive selection of martinis and wines (starting at about $8).

Enjoy Bonefish’s Sweet Offerings

My parents and I did not get dessert at the restaurant since we had a birthday cake waiting at home. However, the desserts we saw on passing trays looked extremely tempting. The dessert menu is small but offers decadent selections such as key lime pie and ultra-chocolaty brownies topped with a mountain of whipped cream (both $7).

Pack a Flashlight Bonefish Grill definitely has plenty going for itself, but the lighting situation could be improved. My parents and I had an early dinner, so we were surprised that the lights were turned down so low at 6 p.m. This was likely for the purpose of creating a more intimate, romantic atmosphere. However, doing so early on a Wednesday evening seemed premature and made us want to get out a flashlight so we could better see our food. Moreover, with the large number of families dining out the dim lighting seemed unnecessary. Plan to Return Despite the lighting issue, Bonefish Grill is a restaurant that offers delicious food, friendly service, reasonable prices, and a great atmosphere. What could be better? All images courtesy of bonefishgrill.com.

Related Links http://www.bonefishgrill.com/ https://www.facebook.com/bonefishgrill Links to Related Stories http://www.yelp.com/biz/bonefish-grill-owings-mills http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/31/350314/restaurant/Baltimore/Owings-Mills-Reistertown/Bonefish-Grill-Owings-Mills