no reservations? dine at the bar!
July 12th, 2007
Sometimes a meal at a nice restaurant is planned. You may make reservations a week ahead of time, think about the dinner for a few days and even peruse the menu a bit before leaving the house for the big event. Then there are some weekend evenings where dining out is a spur of the moment idea and the thought of going out without reservations is out of the question. However, if you are flexible, I’d bet that you and a companion can dine at almost any Tampa Bay establishment on a weekend evening with no more than a ten minute wait. How? By dining at the bar.
As a single guy, I spent quite a bit of time dining at the bar in restaurants. It never bothered me, since I probably knew the bartender and I sure didn’t enjoy sitting by myself at a table made for four. But now, I find my experience as a bar diner comes in handy when ducking into a nice restaurant without any prior planning. If you are willing to forgo a table, you’ll get quicker seating and nearly instant service, since the bartender is only steps away. Plus, you may even get that complimentary glass of wine you always hoped for. While far from a complete list, some places where dining at the bar is acceptable, even ”cool,” include, Sidebern’s, Courtside Grill, Fly Bar and Restaurant, The Lime, Ceviche in St. Petersburg and Bonefish Grill. What are your favorite spots to dine at the bar?
A couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening, my fiancee and I were craving some Italian food from Benedetto’s. Since we didn’t have a reservation and it was a last minute decision, we figured having a bottle of wine and some appetizers at the bar was the way to go. When we arrived, the wait for a table was about 40 minutes and their small bar was crowded. But after only a few minutes and a half of a cocktail, we were seated in the corner of the cozy bar.
We began with the Benedetto’s Dip (or Ben Dip, for short, $14.95), a thick dip packed with shrimp, crabmeat, artichokes and plenty of white cheese, served with crostini. Decadent, rich and simply delicious, it’s one of our favorite appetizers. We also tried one of their specials, the stuffed mushrooms ($12.95), filled with lump crabmeat and covered with cheese. Although I am not normally a fan of mushrooms, the flavor and texture blended right in with the crabmeat and cheese. Based on the filling qualities of the previous two apps, we were only able to squeeze in one more: fried calamari ($10.95), tender and fried golden brown. It was served with a side of marinara for dipping, but calamari cooked that well only required a quick squeeze of lemon. To top it off, we paired everything with a bottle of Santa Cristina Sangiovese, affordable at only $28. There was no room for dessert during that trip.
While Benedetto’s may be one of our favorite restaurants in “the North,” we don’t always plan ahead and sometimes it is good to be spontaneous. Dining at the bar might not be for everyone, but I find it an attractive alternative for those who decide at the last minute that they want good food but don’t want the hassle of a 45 minute wait for a regular table. Next time you are faced with a long wait at your favorite restaurant, give the bar a chance.
Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano
21529 Village Lakes Shopping Center
Land O’ Lakes, Fl. 34639
813-909-9694
www.benedettoitaliano.com
One morning earlier this week I sat down for a breakfast interview with Mario Diaz of Channel 10 news. We talked about my thoughts on evacuating New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, my food writing and my newfound love for Tampa Bay. He also asked me about the best meal I had eaten in Tampa and without hesitation, I responded “Ceviche.” During that interview I told the complete truth, but if was asked the same question today, the answer would be different. Last night I dined at Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano and it was by far the best meal I’ve had at a restaurant in the Tampa Bay area.
True to my upbringing, we arrived at the restaurant early to catch a drink at the bar. Cozy and cluttered with Rat Pack memorabilia, the small bar was inviting. Segregated from the restaurant, it gave me the feel of a real bar where I could get a real cocktail, so I had a martini. I didn’t ask for a “martini” menu, I wanted a REAL martini, gin with a touch of vermouth, shaken and served in an ice-cold cocktail glass with olives. The art of bartending seems to be dying, but even in Land O’ Lakes, I found a martini that was made right. I also watched closely as the bartender made my girlfriend’s cosmopolitan, as well as several other drinks that were sent to the dining room; they were all done well. After chatting with the bartender and waitstaff about the food at Benedetto’s and recommendations on our evening, we were ready for the main event.
We were seated in the first dining room at a nice table out of the way of foot traffic, but in full view of the piano playing lounge singer. It reminded me of the New York Lounge singer of the 70’s only now found in cheesy movies, but I couldn’t help but to like it. Perhaps it is a throwback to old-school times when the music WAS cool. I believe it still is. The wine list is adequate and loaded with a blend of old world and new world selections; we chose a reasonably priced Chianti to pair with the Italian style food. The complementary basket of bread began the makings of a great meal, soft, warm bread topped with garlic butter and cheese; absolutely delicious. We also began with an appetizer of the Benedetto Dip, a shallow bowl of cream and cheese filled with crab, scallops and shrimp served with toasted crustini’s. Though outstanding, it was very rich, and in anticipation of our meal, we purposely left part of it for later. The salads that preceded the entrees were also good, dressed with the house dressing, a home-made vinaigrette.
When the entrees arrived, I knew I had discovered a new favorite. I wish I could have seen the look on my face during my first bite of the Grouper Bianco; I couldn’t help but to exclaim, “this is how food is supposed to taste!” The pan fried grouper was cooked perfect on the inside and was protected by a crispy, light breading, then topped with a creamy sauce with crabmeat, sea scallops and jumbo shrimp that tasted as though they were caught that morning. It was absolutely exquisite and equally as decadent. For a side dish, we chose the penne pasta with a pink sauce that ended up fairly pedestrian, especially sitting next to the grouper. The best bet would have been to have it served over the angel hair pasta. We also tried one of the specials, a crabmeat stuffed Florida halibut topped with a champagne cream sauce. The fish was cooked until tender and flaky, and the light flavor of the fish allowed for the taste of crabmeat to shine. The cream sauce was perfect, just the right consistency to blend well with my side dish of angel hair pasta. Neither one of these selections were on the menu, but were both suggested by the staff.
For those less adventurous souls seeking good but simple Italian favorites, you are also in luck. There is an extensive selection of entrees including an excellent baked ziti and tasty lasagna. The prices for the basics are very reasonable, in the range of $12 to $15 per entree. However, the specialty seafood dishes and evening specials can find you in the neighborhood of $30, well worth every penny. If you are unsure what to order from the vast menu, your best bet is to ask your waiter. If you listen to your server at Johnny Carino’s, he or she is likely pushing the daily specials suggested by management. At Benedetto’s, the staff actually eats the food, and they love it. While at the bar before dinner, we were actually able to get some great suggestions from the bartender as well as some waiters passing by. They all seem happy to be there, and that’s a sign of a good restaurant.
We finished up our evening with an order of the homemade tiramisu. From the dessert tray, about half of the selections were made in house, and we definitely went the right way with our choice. Rich, creamy and sweet, it was the perfect end to a perfect meal. Fortunately we packaged up a decent portion of our meal (half the appetizer and most of the side pasta) in anticipation of dessert. Make sure not to fill up during the meal, you won’t want to miss the ending. To some people in South Tampa, Land O’ Lakes seems like the other side of the world, but the food there is worth the drive. If I could only have one last meal in Tampa Bay, it would be the Grouper Bianco from Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano.
Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano
21529 Village Lakes Shopping Center
Land O’ Lakes, Fl. 34639
813-909-9694
www.benedettoitaliano.com
