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Sarasota Herald-Tribune
August 27, 1999
Reader's Choice '99
Finalist Awarded to Madfish Grill
Category - Best New Restaurant
Madfish Grill a Finalist for
Best New Restaurant
Congratulations are in order for the Madfish Grill, that fabulous oasis east of town! The restaurant was just voted one of Sarasota's best new restaurants by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Reader's Choice Awards.
It's no wonder. Not only is the food terrific and reasonably priced, but the interior of the restaurant creates a wonderfully inviting atmosphere. It has become Sarasota's newest place to "see" and be "seen".
For those of you who may not know, the Madfish Grill was created by owners of the Hillview Grill and they have achieved miracles with what used to be an ordinary bank building on Cattlemen Road.
The menu has a Caribbean feel with emphasis on fresh fish. Last time in, we arrived early enough to take advantage of the new Sunset Menu served between 3:30-5:30 p.m. Some of the items we would recommend on the early menu include the Andaloo, a shrimp, chicken and Andouille sausage combination in a sauce of Marsala cream, honey, peppers, and onions over rice ($8.95). Or the Seafood Pasta, fresh fish, shrimps, scallops and mussels served with your choice of white garlic cream or marinara over angel hair ($11.95). The Roasted Rosemary Chicken was also quite good on the Sunset Menu, a slow cooked half-chicken, lightly basted with fresh herbs and served with seasoned mashed potatoes and a vegetable ($8.95). Delicious!
On another visit we ordered two house specialties, the Herb Encrusted Snapper and the Sesame Seared Tuna. The Snapper ($16.95) was wrapped in a mint, basil, cashew, garlic crust, dressed in pesto buerre blanc. Very, very nice! The Tuna ($18.50) was sesame encrusted and pan seared, served with wasabi, pickled ginger and soy sauce. We know this was a winner because we had enjoyed this same preparation at the Hillview Grill so many times.
You would think that a restaurant that specialized in fresh fish would not have great steaks—not true at Madfish Grill! We ordered a 12 oz. New York Strip rubbed with ancho chili and served with a savory tamarind Worcestershire sauce that was truly outstanding ($15.50)—especially with a glass of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($5.75). Byt the way, there's a 2 for 1 Happy Hour every day from 11-6.
The Madfish Grill has also become wildly popular for lunch so get there before noon if you don't want to wait. The restaurant is located at 4059 Cattlemen Road. Phone 377-3473 for reservations.
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