Good to the Bone

The concept is a "polished casual seafood restaurant," and that it is. Bonefish Grill specializes in market fresh fish grilled over an oak-burning grill which give the fish a tasty, even cook. A tantalizing array of sauces and original toppings, ranging from fresh and light to rich and flavorful, are offered to enhance the flavor of the fish, each in a fun and different way.

Don't let the Broken Arrow address dissuade a trip to Bonefish: south Tulsa's 71st Street restaurant and shopping strip continues to expand into Broken Arrow; just beyond Garnett, Bonefish is only one of a few other restaurants which have claimed 71st Street as their home.

My friend and I dined here and were amazingly pleased with the food, service and atmosphere. The menu itself is worthy of a close read; starters are named in a cute, quippy way: Bang Bang Shrimp, Saucy Shrimp, Crispy Calamari, Coconut Crusted Shrimp Mussels Josephine. Soups & Salads include Corn Chowder with Lump Crab, Bonefish Caesar, Bonefish House Salad and Florida Cobb Salad.

The Grilled Fish entrees are the main attraction, and the simple, proper names speak volumes about this restaurants serious approach to seafood: Atlantic Salmon, Atlantic Swordfish, Rainbow Trout, Longfin Tilapia, Alaskan Halibut, Sea Scallops & Gulf Shrimp, Gulf Grouper, Chilean Sea Bass, Ahi Tuna and Twin Lobster Tail Dinner. A few of the sassy, sauté entrees include Diablo Shrimp Fettuccine and Pistachio Parmesan Crusted Rainbow Trout.

For those more interested in land entrees, Tenderloin Portabella Piccata, Chicken Marsala, Lily's Chicken, Filet Mignon, Fontina Chops and Sirloin Steak are the Grilled Specialties.

With these entrees come a choice of an Awesome Side Item--Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Potatoes Au Gratin, Angel Hair with Marinara, Island Rice or Steamed Vegetable Medley.

My dining companion and I had a feast! We love fresh seafood and were eager to see what the Bonefish Grill kitchen could do to win us over.

We began with a half order of Ahi Tuna Sashimi ($8.80) and a signature item, Bang Bang Shrimp ($7.90). Both were incredibly filled with flavor. The Shrimp was fried crispy in a light batter and tossed in a creamy, spicy sauce. The presentation--stacked tall--was eye catching. The sauce of garlic, cilantro, and Thai peppers had a gentle kick at the end. The Tuna was a recommended favorite, and we definitely agreed. This tuna was sesame seared rare, then sliced thinly and came with the hot and tasty wasabi and the cool, thinly sliced pickled ginger. This was an excellent blend of tastes and textures.

Our entrees were from the Grilled Fish section of the menu--we came for what Bonefish Grill is famous for. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass ($23) while my friend selected Gulf Grouper ($17.20). All fish is seasoned and cooked over a wood burning grill and served with our choice of sauces: Lemon Butter, Lime Tomato Garlic, Warm Mango Salsa or Pan Asian. Our server recommended the Mango for my Sea Bass and Lime Tomato Garlic for the Grouper. My side selection was the Island Rice; my friend chose the Steamed Vegetable Medley.

The Sea Bass was thick--seemed to be at least one inch, maybe more; its color was snow white with thick flakes and melt-in-your mouth tender. The flavor was fresh and rich. While I enjoyed the fresh grilled taste, the sweet and zesty Mango Salsa brought a second dimension to the fish. It was almost like having two entrees. The side of wild rice was a perfect starch to the fish: it was slightly sweet with hints of almonds, raisins and red peppers.

My friend's Grouper was grilled perfectly! This white fish had a clean flavor and light texture. The Lime Sauce was a rich cream made with roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and a hint of lime. It was had a zest and character to bring the Grouper to a rich, satisfying flavor. The Vegetable Medley consisted of steamed, yet slightly crisp, broccoli, peppers, yellow squash, carrots and asparagus.

We did have room for a few bites of dessert--three are on the menu: Chocolate Macadamia Nut Brownie Cake ($5.50), Deep Dish Key Lime Pie ($5.50) and Cr?me Br?lée ($4.90). We sampled the Key Lime Pie--incredibly tall and creamy, sitting on a roasted graham cracker pecan crust and topped with a large dollop of freshly whipped cream. Excellent and a perfect summer dessert.

Bonefish Grill has a nice selection of wines by the glass and bottle, and a Reserve Wine List is available upon request. A full array of fun Martinis are also featured--while the Georgia Peach ($6.70) was refreshing, the Hpnotiq Breeze ($6.90), with a combination of Bacardi Cóco, Hpnotiq liqueur and pineapple, was exciting.

This was an enjoyable evening--with food, service and atmosphere all superb.