Can you dine at a relatively expensive chain for under $20.00 per person that includes an alcoholic drink? Yes, you can! As I've stated before, it is a matter of what you choose on the menu. At Bonefish Grill with 2 locations in Mandarin and Jacksonville Beach, appetizer portions are quite big with price ranges from $3.90 - $14.90 and with a range of side items and extras, I am still eating well on a budget.
It is Saturday date night with Eric in Mandarin, and we consider this restaurant one of our guaranteed-to-have-a-good meal place. I normally order the bang bang shrimp appetizer ($7.90) or Singapore calamari ($6.90) and a side caesar salad for only $4.90 ($2.80 with an entree). This place knows seafood, whether it's fried crispy and light, sauteed, grilled, or blackened. Bang bang shrimp is one of their most popular items, and I understand why: it's light, crispy, yet tender inside with a lovely creamy flavorful sauce drizzled on it. Calamari is a treat as well - many restaurants overcook squid (either oil is not hot enough or too hot or it's left too long frying). Not here - calamari is always perfectly fried.
Celebrating our rare date night, I order the house white wine sangria for $5.00, sweet but not overly sweet with just the right amount of fresh fruit. My total is $16.80 plus tax and tip; Eric orders the bang bang shrimp tacos for $8.90 and adds a cup of their lovely creamy corn chowder with lump crab for only $2.80 (his tacos count as an entree). His total is $11.70; with tax and tip, we are right under $40.00 total!
Money saving tip: Ever actually read your receipt? Oftentimes, restaurants and even retail stores provide an online survey and offers freebies if you complete it. We did that and got a code to use on our next visit for a free bang bang shrimp appetizer. Seafood anyone?
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