Bonefish Grill - My New Favorite Restaurant

I was invited to Bonefish Grill in Northridge, California to sample their menu during training week. I wasn’t compensated in any other way and all photos and opinions are my own.

You would think that living in Los Angeles means there is an over-abundance of good restaurants. There might be, but in the area I live, it’s actually quite limited. If you factor in prices you can afford, and food that is actually more interesting than a gourmet burger, the selection is dim. When I heard that Bonefish Grill was opening up in Northridge (in the San Fernando Valley) I was excited because a) I love seafood, and b) I love new restaurants that I haven’t heard of a million times before.

Bonefish Grill is having their grand opening on January 20, but this past Thursday was one of their training days. A restaurant training day is when they invite patrons to come and sample the menu, while giving the staff a chance to “train”. The run-through helps everyone get a feel for a restaurant full of customers and gives the wait staff and kitchen staff an opportunity to figure out what works, what doesn’t work, and what still needs to be tweaked.

The restaurant itself is beautiful. Really. When you walk through the revolving door, it struck me how elegant the place felt. I think I was expecting more of a family restaurant atmosphere, but the decor was upscale and the staff in formal uniforms. 

The bar is great and there is an extensive wine list. They also have some amazing cocktails and you can get most of them for only $5 when you are served in the bar area.  This is a great place for an after work drink or to meet a friend for lunch.

What was fascinating to me about all the Bonefish Grill restaurants is that they are actually part-owned by the General Managers. They aren’t franchised in the traditional sense. Owning a piece of the restaurant is a brilliant idea since the Manager has a stake in how the business performs. We got to spend a little time talking with Greg, the Owner/Manager, who filled us in about the restaurants. Currently there are only two in California (Tustin and Northridge), but 40 more are expected to open in the near future. It looks like Santa Clarita might even be one of those locations.

 

But the real important question is… HOW IS THE FOOD?

Well, let me tell you…

It’s beyond amazing. Now, I’m kind of a food snob. When I open a menu at a new restaurant, I don’t want to see the same types of meals that I can get anywhere else. I like variety and I like to see my favorites. On the Bonefish menu… WOW, I saw a LOT of my favorites.

I started out with one of their signature cocktails, the Blood Orange Paloma. This is not for the faint at heart… you could actually taste the Sauza Hornitos tequila in this beauty. Add some Solerno blood orange liqueur, fresh grapefruit juice and a hint of lime, you only need one of these to get you feeling nice and happy.

Some of the other specialty drinks include the Classic Sidecar & Mango Twist, Spiked Blackberry Elixir and a Raspberry Vodka Collins. They also have a selection of non-alchoholic drinks.

The menu is just as interesting. Primarily a seafood restaurant, there is something on the menu for every taste. There are steak and chicken choices, and even burgers and pasta. Plenty of salads and dessert, of course. And yes… they DO have a children’s menu. They also do a mean Sunday brunch (also with a children’s menu) and have a brunch special of $19.99 which gets you an entree PLUS all you can drink mimosas, bellinis, or champagne. Did you catch that? ALL-YOU-CAN-DRINK!

As soon as I took a look at the lunch menu, there really wasn’t a choice for me… I had to have the Lily’s Salmon. 

Imagine a meal that had all my favorite foods in it - salmon, goat cheese, spinach, artichoke hearts, lemon basil sauce - and that would be the Lily’s Salmon. It was incredible. And you know it’s good when days later, it’s all you want to eat. The entrees are service with a side of your choice of house-made Parmesan fries, pesto couscous salad or Asian slaw. I went with the couscous and it didn’t disappoint.

I’m already scheduling a time to go back with David for a special dinner, and Temera has already warned me she wants me to take her as well. Maybe I’ll call up Greg and get her a special tour. You know, since she wants to be a chef and own a restaurant.

Bonefill Grill is located at 9301 North Tampa Avenue, right at the Northridge Mall next to the Yardhouse Restaurant.