Ellington

Description

A member of the Outback Steakhouse Co., Bonefish Grill, which recently opened a handsome outlet in Pleasant Ridge Town Center, specializes in seafood, which we're told is flown in two to three times per week. The most popular of Bonefish's entrees are its grilled fish selections - about nine, with some not available year-round and others offered as daily specials. We had no complaints about the several we sampled, including a pleasantly firm Chilean Sea Bass and fat Sea Scallops & Gulf Shrimp. Those who don't like or crave fish might try the Tenderloin Portabella Piccata, two full meals worth of huge juicy pieces of pork that were grilled, cloaked in garlic herb crumbs and topped with a lemon-caper sauce and mushroom morsels. A Filet Mignon was as good as ones we've had in steakhouses.
While the west Little Rock Bonefish Grill does have its chain elements - sometimes lengthy waits for a table (although the eatery accepts a limited number of reservations), pagers offered to those on the waiting list, butcher block paper on the tables for ease of cleanup - the servers do an excellent job of making customers feel like they're dining at an exclusive restaurant. On the other side of the busy bar is Bonefish's sole dining room of booths, tables and half-banquettes with some plants serving as a divider. Tasteful and simply decorated is the dimly lighted space with gold-hue walls, a few art glass light fixtures, a shiny wood floor, some fish paintings on the walls and an artsy lighted metal sculpture of a fishing scene on the back wall. Servers keep a crisp appearance in white logo chef coats with black pants. - Jennifer Christman