Restaurant Reviews -- This is a collection of local restaurant reviews submitted by residents of Hawthorn Park.  The restaurants are listed in alphabetical order:  If you have a review to share, please e-mail it to: ArtStadlin@consultant.com

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Adrian's
Location: Manatee Ave. at 51st St. W.
Visit: May, 2005
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments:  We noticed that the Bradenton Herald gave this place an outstanding review so we decided to try it.  Until we saw it written up in the paper, we had never noticed this restaurant before, even though we have driven past it hundreds of times.  It is an Italian restaurant.  If you frequent Italian restaurants as we do, you will immediately feel comfortable once you get inside, as it was exactly as we had expected.  It turned out we knew the waitress, who switched from another restaurant we had just been to a couple weeks prior.  Service was good.  More importantly, the food was excellent.  However, good food does not come cheap.  Prices are in the $15 range, and that includes fresh baked bread.  There is a full service bar for beer, wine, and mixed drinks.  Even though the sign calls it a Family Restaurant, there is no children's menu.  We went on a Sunday evening and it was almost empty.  We had a nice time and plan to return. -- Art Stadlin

Banyan Cafe
Location: Ringling Museum at US-41 and University Parkway.
Visit: February, 2004
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Comments:  Located on the grounds of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, next to the Museum of the Circus, and under a large banyan tree, the Banyan Cafe caters to tourists who would like to take lunch during their visit to the Ringling.  Lunch is served between 11:00 and 5:00, either inside or outside on the porch.  The menu is a common selection of inexpensive meals plus sandwiches, soups, salads, and other fare.  Prices are reasonable.  There is no children's menu, so the chicken fingers are popular.  It was not very busy when we went, yet the food seemed to take a long time to arrive at the table.  Admission to the museum is not required in order to eat here, but it is not very convenient to get to unless you are touring the Ringling campus. -- Art Stadlin

Bonefish Grill
Location: Cortez Rd. at 75th St.
Visit: August, 2004
Overall Rating:  3.5 out of 4
Comments:  If you and your family have not had dinner at the local Bonefish Grill, you're missing a fine dining experience.  This restaurant features a very comfortable ambiance, an eclectic menu specializing in fresh sea food, reasonable prices, excellent service and excellent food.  All of the above make this restaurant a special place for us to dine and we definitely recommend it.  An additional plus is that they do take reservations.  When you go in, say hi to Mike Hand, the manager.  Try it; we think you'll like it! -- Len and Kathy Lesjak

China Buffet -- MAY 2005 UPDATE: GONE OUT OF BUSINESS
Location: Manatee Ave. near 67th St.
Visit: February, 2004
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Comments:  This is typical of Chinese-style buffet restaurants, except that this one does it better than most.  The items available on the buffet is extensive and includes "kid-friendly" fare like pizza.  We went with friends on a Saturday night and our party of 6 were seated quickly at a large table.  They are very strict about the rule that customers always use a clean plate when going to the buffet bar for more.  And the wait staff was prompt in removing dirty dishes from the tables.  Prices were reasonable for an all-you-can-eat buffet.  The bill for 4 adults and two children was $45. -- Art Stadlin

Crab & Fin
Location: 420 Saint Armands Circle.
Visit: April, 2004
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  Food and service were excellent.  Our party of six on a Saturday early evening was seated immediately.  We got in just in enough time to order the early bird specials.  Seating for the early birds is upstairs in a large dining room overlooking the streets.  This large restaurant also has dining available on the main level, both indoors and outside on the sidewalk.  There was a piano player upstairs and another outside on the sidewalk.  The food is tasty and presented well.  Table service was attentive and without error.  A children's menu is available, along with crayons.  The wines were expensive, even for house wine served by the glass.  However, bottomless iced tea was reasonable as was the food on the early bird menu. -- Art Stadlin

Cracker Barrel
Location: S.R. 64 at I-75.
Visit: January, 2003
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  Cracker Barrel is a popular national chain of restaurants typically located at busy interstate intersections.  Each location features an upscale country-style gift store, complete with unusual items such as carpet checkers and horseshoe puzzles.  There is a line at busy times, making the gift store an excellent way to pass the time while you wait for a table.  The food is uniformly good and portions are good. Prices are reasonable, but don't come here looking for bargain food and gifts. Service was excellent.  If you are on a trip, be sure to take one of their complimentary national maps showing the location of all Cracker Barrel restaurants. -- Art Stadlin

Cristellie's Italian Restaurant
Location: 5718 Cortez Road West (just east of 59th St.)
Visit: January, 2004
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  This is a small but popular local family-owned restaurant that has been in business twenty years.  The menu ranges from subs to full dinners to pizza to steak and seafood.  A children's menu is also available for kids 12 and under.  Prices for dinners are $9 (for ravioli) to $17 (for shrimp fra diavolo).  Tossed or Caesar salad and fresh baked bread come with the dinners.  Iced tea and soft drinks are refilled promptly.  Wine and beer are available.  There are a mix of tables and booths for seating, and Italian-inspired music plays over the speakers.  Music from The Godfather was playing while we were there.  There are early-bird specials until 6:00pm. -- Art Stadlin

Gio's Italian Restaurant
Location: Cortez Road West
Visit: January, 2005
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  A fantastic restaurant is Gio's - the former Pourtifino's by the Oakmont Theatre.  We really love it!  The very best Italian food in the area.  Everyone loves their pizza's (& you can order them to go);  however, we love the eggplant, all their pasta's & everything on their menu.  Their prices are about the same as Bonefish.  They were in a smaller place, & now they have moved nearer the theatre in a larger place.  A very nice martini bar & wonderful wines.  Enjoy!  -- Sarah Jackson & Dom Petrillo

Hooters
Location: 14th St. W. (U.S. 41 just south of Cortez Rd.)
Visit: March, 2005
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  A voluptuous dining experience to be sure, but the portions were not as well endowed as expected.  The side order of baked beans came in a tiny plastic cup. The burgers were cooked nicely and were tasty on fresh rolls.  Yes, there is a children's menu and crayons and such available.  Hooters isn't universally known as a family restaurant, but there were lots of kids there the day we went for dinner.  The waitresses are friendly and service was attentive and prompt. We had a nice time. -- Art Stadlin

Hops Restaurant
Location: 4502 14th St. W. (U.S. 41 just south of Cortez Rd.)
Visit: June, 2003
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  There are a chain of Hops Restaurants around the country.  This one is very similar to one I experienced in the midwest a few years ago.  We arrived a little after 6:00pm and experienced a 30-minute wait.  However, the bar served drinks at happy hour prices until 7:00pm.  The bartenders and wait staff were very friendly and attentive, but not constantly interrupting.  We had a $17.99 coupon and we noticed lots of other customers also carrying the coupon, which no doubt explained the heavy crowd.  Even though it was very busy, we never felt neglected.  We had the "wood shrimp" and it was delicious.  If you like beer, you might like the sampler set-up where they give you 5 or 6 different beers to taste.  The beer was low priced compared to other restaurants, but the dinner entrees were probably slightly more expensive.  It all evens out.  We had a nice time. -- Art Stadlin

Hungry Howie's
Location: 4211 59th St. W. (near Cortez Rd.)
Visit: September, 2004
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  Hungry Howie's is a chain of pizza buffet restaurants.  You walk in, pay the fee ($5.99 for adults; $3.99 for kids), find a table for your party, and dig in.  They have a wide variety of pizza pies available, and you can even request something special and they probably will make one for you.  Soft drinks are no extra charge and you can refill your mug as often as desired.  Surprisingly, there are several desserts included on the buffet, including chocolate "pizza."  The atmosphere is casual and the table service only consists of bussing the used plates.  A small tip is expected.  We went during the days prior to the predicted direct hit from hurricane Ivan, and the windows were all boarded up.  But they were doing a swift business.  If you need high carbs on a budget, you must give Hungry Howie's a try.. -- Art Stadlin

IHOP
Location: U.S. 41 just south of 53rd Ave. W.
Visit: May, 2003
Overall Rating:  3 out of 5
Comments:  This is a typical International House of Pancakes.  Service was prompt and food was fine.  It's a good place to go if you are in a hurry and want a late breakfast at reasonable prices. -- Art Stadlin

Leverocks -- JANUARY 2005 UPDATE: GONE OUT OF BUSINESS
Location: Manatee Ave. (SR-64) west of 75 Street W.
Visit: February, 2004
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  This is a waterfront seafood restaurant.  There is a chain of Johnny Leverocks restaurants around Florida.  It was not crowded on the Saturday night when we visited.  We had a 5-minute wait while a booth on the window was cleared.  We caught the last of the beautiful sunset over the Palma Sola Bay.  Service was prompt and the food was typical of a seafood restaurant.  We were told the menu was brand new, and included such fare as Coconut Shrimp.  Portions were large, and salads and bread are included in the price of the entrees.  Most dishes where between $10 and $20.  Our iced teas were refilled promptly.  This would be a nice restaurant to celebrate special occasions. -- Art Stadlin

Mel's Diner
Location: U.S. 41 at Cortez Rd.
Visit: July, 2003
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  This is a classic diner style restaurant, which we went to for lunch.  It is obviously patterned after a scene from the 1950's and is reminiscent of the diner in the movie American Grafitti.  Old rock & roll music from the 50's and 60's was playing on the PA system.  I did not see any juke boxes.  Service was diner-quick, and the food was not bad.  Portions were good for the low prices.  This is a good alternative to Wendys and McDonalds when you want to eat fast, but with table service. -- Art Stadlin

Mr. Mei's Asian Bistro
Location: 5105 Manatee Ave. W. (in the back of the shopping center)
Visit: October, 2003
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  This is an eat-in Chinese restaurant with take-out available.  The tables are covered with linens.  Unlike up north, hot tea is not served automatically.  But the remaining service and menu were pretty typical for a mid-range Chinese restaurant.  The night we went there were very few customers, which surprised us.  The portions were large and the food very good.  Most restaurants of this caliber will have better interior decorating.  We need to eat there a few more times to decide if this will become a regular dining experience. -- Art Stadlin

Ocean Star Restaurant
Location: 3608 East Bay Drive, Holmes Beach (corner of Manatee Av.)
Visit: January, 2005
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  I want to recommend Ocean Star Restaurant, a Japanese sushi bar and restaurant located on Anna Maria Island in the small shopping area just beyond the Publix Market on the corner of Manatee Ave., and East Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.  The address is 3608 East Bay Drive, Holmes Beach.  Telephone: 778-1236.  Start with the shrimp tempura. -- George Morse

Olympic Cafe
Location: 6408 Manatee Ave. W.
Visit: August, 2004
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  This is a family-owned family-style restaurant/diner.  We went there for dinner and found the food and service to be excellent and the prices on the low side.  Most dinners were between $9.95 and $11.95, and they included side dishes as well as soup or salad.  The menu is a mix of Greek specialties, seafood, and Italian dishes as well as typical American fare.  There is a children's menu.  For those who wish, there is a large assortment of fresh-made desserts.  Drinks are re-filled for free.  This is the kind of local restaurant that brings regulars back again and again. -- Art Stadlin

Panda Buffet
Location: Manatee Ave. at 39th St. W.
Visit: June, 2005
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  Bring an appetite because it is all you can eat for one price.  A wide range of Chinese dining selections, including shrimp and other fine foods.  The buffet bars were clean.  Service was friendly and attentive.  There is even scoop ice cream included with about ten flavors to select from.  It's in the east end of the Publix shopping center.. -- Art Stadlin

Peaches
Location: U.S. 301 at I-75 in Ellenton
Visit: January, 2003
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  Peaches is a local chain of casual restaurants that are open only for breakfast and lunch.  Prices are low and service is fairly quick.  It is very much diner-style.  This is the place where the local people go.  The food is good. -- Art Stadlin

Roaring 20's
Location:  U.S. 301 about a mile east of I-75 in Ellenton
Visit:  February, 2004
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  If you like organ music then this is heaven.  The Roaring 20's features the largest Wurlitzer pipe organ in the world.  Read the complete history while you eat.  Food is served cafeteria style.  You order your drinks and food at a counter, and pick it up when your number comes up.  Seating consists of several dozen picnic tables in one large hall.  The live organist rises from the floor as the music starts.  He plays for about 20 minutes between 10-minute breaks.  During a typical meal, you will hear two sets.  This place is unique.  People come here for the music.  The food is just the price for admission.  The menu is short and uninspired, so don't come here expecting gourmet cooking.  But if you want a fun time, this may be the best place around. -- Art Stadlin

Seahorse
Location:  Cortez Rd. between 75th St. W. and the causeway bridge
Visit:  March, 2003
Overall Rating:  3 out of 5
Comments:  This is a small place in an older, unappealing building with a dirt parking lot.  What the grounds lack in charm, the food and service made up for it.  The service was very friendly and attentive.  The food was carefully prepared and excellent.  Beer and wine are available.  Dinner entree prices range from about $12 to $19, and salads were extra.  The menu was a mix of standard fare for sea food lovers and landlubbers.  There is no children's menu.  We went on a Saturday night and were seated immediately.  The outside tables were filled but there was always seating available on the inside.  The bar was quite active.  To our surprise, it turned out we had arrived just in time to hear the live entertainment, singing classic rock standards.  It was very nice overall.  But don't take anyone here that you are trying to impress. -- Art Stadlin

Sizzlin' Platter-- JUNE 2005 UPDATE: GONE OUT OF BUSINESS
Location:  Manatee Ave. at 67th St. W.
Visit:  May, 2005
Overall Rating:  4 out of 5
Comments:  When you walk in you are asked to order your main dish and drink at the cash register.  There are about a dozen selections to choose from.  All include unlimited access to the salad, fruit, and desert bar.  The dinner prices are between $8.99 and $13.99.  Steaks are their specialty, and they also have chicken, shrimp, and fish dishes.  Once you've placed your order and paid, you locate the table of your choice and dig into the salad bar.  A server will deliver your drinks and entrees direct to your table.  The service we received was quite attentive and cheerful.  Drinks are refilled promptly.  The food on the salad bar was fresh.  Soft serve ice cream is included on the salad bar.  We arrived at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday night and found a little more than half the tables occupied.  We had low expectations going in, but came out impressed by the experience. -- Art Stadlin

Subs 'n Pasta
Location: 53rd Ave. W. & 34th St. in Winn Dixie shopping center.
Visit: March, 2003
Overall Rating:  1 out of 5
Comments:  I had higher hopes for this eat-in/carry-out restaurant.  Even though I ate in, the food was served in cardboard carry-out containers.  They obviously don't expect anyone to eat here.  Worse, the food was re-heated fare with little flavor.  Don't bother. -- Art Stadlin

Via Italia
Location: 6277 Manatee Ave.
Visit: June, 2005
Overall Rating:  5 out of 5
Comments:  We are fortunate to have a new authentic Italian restaurant near-by in the NorthWest Promenade Plaza.  The Via Italia has recently opened next to the Pet SuperMarket.  It was formerly a Greek/Italian restaurant but it is now owned and operated by Chef Francesco Mucci.  Francesco was trained in Bologna, Italy and worked/operated fine Italian restaurants for 25 years in Italy and America.  The food is authentic Italian fare, delicious and reasonably priced.  The service is First Class all the way.  The Head-waiter, Giacomo is also from Bologna, and very hospitable and accommodating.  The Via Italia is open for Lunch on Tuesdays thru Fridays from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, and open for Dinner Tuesday thru Sunday from 4:30 to 10 PM.  Buono Appetito - Enjoy ! -- Vince Meli

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