Bonefish Grill — Restaurant in Columbia

The Good:

My wife brought us to this very nice seafood place to enjoy a nice meal with the family. The establishment has a very low light ambiance type fee to it. Very classy, if you will. We were also advised that it was Martini Monday upon out seating ( there was no wait to be seated), and the Martinis here definitely did not disappoint! You have my word on that, they were that good! Our kids had the regular kids meals full of fried stuff, they were happy.

We had the Calamari for an appetizer and it sure was awesome, it was cooked perfectly! The sauce that came with the Calamari was so yummy you could almost drink it, not kidding! My wife had the Stuffed Tilapia plats and she loved it, I tried some and it was that good. I had the Orange Roughy plate, and it just wasn't as stellar as everything else we tried, as if someone forgot to add salt and/or spices, I was a little disappointed as it was a very expensive plate.

The Not So Good (Not bad, but not so good):

My plate, the Orange Roughy, was really lacking flavor, and so was the spinach that came on the side of it. Although the sides of fish per plate we plentiful, the side dishes, like the rice, and spinach, were very tiny and inadequate for size of the fillet of fish that was served next to. I had long finished my sides, and still had more than 2/3rds of fish left, with no side to enjoy it with.

The Ambient lighting is nice... To certain point. In the middle of our meal, me, and everyone else in the restaurant, noticed the light suddenly dim to a point where it was hard to see what we were eating. It wasn't a gradual dim either, we're talking like, ALL AT ONCE!

The Verdict:

Our visit here was mostly good. Aside from the two little things that bothered me, it did not detract much from out entire dining experience, which was very enjoyable over all. Please keep in mind that this is a high end place, and you will pay high end prices. The average plate here was between $17-$25. With appetizers being between $8-$11. The quality of the food here definitely fits the price, but you should be aware of the cost.

Overall, we had a lot of fun here, and I can totally recommend the Bonefish Grill! And if you're a Martini lover, now you about Martini Mondays! I can't for the life of me remember the discount on the Martinis on Martini Mondays, but I think it was like 40% or 50% off the regular price, or something like that...?

4 out...

Date nights with my husband are always amazing but last night the only enjoyable thing was his company, the bread and the atmosphere. He paid $99.71 and the food and service were horrible. It took about 15 minutes for the waitress to come to our table and it wasn’t crowded. We ordered 2 ginger ales and 2 waters all with lemon. We didn’t get lemon in the ginger ale. I order the Mahi with lump crap meat special with Brussel sprouts and crispy potatoes. The Mahi was tough and not seasoned AT ALL, the Brussels were descent despite the burnt taste that accompanied it. My husband had linguine with tomato in a creamy sauce (it was more like watery sauce though) and selected shrimp as his topping. He was severed chicken instead. We let the waitress know and she said she would bring it out separately. Of course it was delivered after he was done eating the pasta. He ate my fish because I couldn’t stomach it without seasoning and shared his pasta which wasn’t seasoned either. The grill was definitely not cleaned because everything had a slight scorch taste.

We usually finish dinner with a sweet treat but since we waited so long for refills, we were just over it. I had to take my husband’s water because it took her so long to come back.

I felt bad we didn’t leave a tip because we usually do tip very well but honestly it was so undeserving. We asked for plastic ware since the silverware was spotty when she took our orders. We had to ask again when she delivered the food and we still waited 10 minutes for it. The room was nearly empty so we don’t know what took so long. The server had absolutely no personality and shockingly never asked if everything was ok or if we needed anything. The only time she spoke is to acknowledge that he did order shrimp and not chicken. It saddens me that our food and service were so terrible. On top of all of that, we are both dashing to the bathroom every few minutes since 4am this morning. We didn’t eat anything but breakfast around 8am so clearly it was the food we were served that upset our stomachs. I’d like to give it another try as this is the only time I’ve had a bad experience but Hubby says we will never have another date night on Bower Parkway at...

Bonefish Grill

Upon arriving I could easily smell the beautiful oak wood in the air. The calm aromas of what I would expect of Tuscany or a refreshing winter day. Bonefish has a unique feel and from I would think of a local restaurant. Yet as being part of Blooming Brands the owner of places like Outback Steakhouse & Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish to me is still a local eatery here in Columbia. Located at the Columbiana location and it doesn't have the corporate feel at all. The smooth lighting to a calming atmosphere. It's more than just a place for eating food with family and friends or large crowds like Carrabba's or Outback. This place especially here in Columbia is about a romantic night out or a good time at the bar with close friends in a quiet rich atmosphere. The music is fantastic and makes me feel like I am in the future, it is not from the past of yesterday's Olive Garden. There is no comparison with how this place feels from the bar to the table. A mix between a small town favorite and multi chain restaurant done well.

Drinks:

Charles & Charles, was a unique blend of wine. I am no connoisseur but it's unique and I like it. A little pricey for the cup but overall a 4/5.

I am thankful so much for the bottle of water at the table. Cold and without ice is how I like it. I would of liked it to be at the table when I got there. Because of that 4/5.

Our waiter was trained well and the corporate feel of training came through a bit in their conversation. Overall he was kind and nice. We we're not served for about 2.5 minutes. That is for me a 3/5.

Meal:

The Ciabatta bread brought to the table was fluffy and warm. The olive oil blend of spices and olives was refreshing. The cream butter is fantastic to get on the side. The bread was fresh feel and a great side to the meal. A real taste of Italy. For me a 5/5.

Bang Bang Shrimp, a truly unique dish. Spicy white sauce tossed crunchy shrimp atop a kale, spinach and iceberg mixed salad. It brings memories of being with family at the beach. For me a true 5/5

Overall the experience was rich and fun. Our waiter was encouraging and supportive. He knew what he was talking about. Friendliness and care is something I value and that I...