Lavinia at Home

This is a modern seafood chain, great place for fish lovers with multiple locations. We went to Bonefish Grill restaurant in Ashburn, VA, address: 43135 Broadlands Center Plaza, tel.: (703)-723-8246.

I tried for appetizer the Fresh Ceviche and for main course the Ahi Tuna with Warm Mango Salsa sauce and everything was delicious. We were very happy with our 2 year daughter, ussually is very hard to find food for her, but this time she was excited about Mac & Cheese and Broccoli. Plus paper table covers kept her busy for while with drawing on it, so we had time to finish our diner. This is my favorite seafood restaurant for now; prices are comparable to the good restaurants, service is great, fish is fresh grilled and very well prepared with variety of sauces.

We went to Duke Ocean Grill for dinner and were pleasantly surprised by the eclectic cuisine and atmosphere. The place is massive, but well furnished to meet the diverse tastes of its patrons whether they prefer to sit at the sushi bar, in the bar/lounge or at a private dining table. Duke Ocean Grill is the largest restaurant in Rockland County, so the odds of long wait-times seem slight. It seats 400 people and would be a great place for large parties. Located at 37 Route 303 in Tappan, NY (tel. (845) 680-6631), the restaurant is easy to find. The entrance features a welcoming lobby with a cascading waterfall and a fish-filled pond. This turned out to be our 2-year-old daughter’s favorite spot. Guests are warmly greeted by hostesses and taken to the area of your choice—that is, of course, based on availability. Tables were spacious; no need to rub elbows. The main room also boasts a sushi bar with a rotating display of sushi options on a tastefully dressed up conveyer belt.

The true test is always about the food, and we were not disappointed. The homemade bread was delicious, and they were gracious enough to send us home with a care package of additional slices of their delectably spiced bread. Their Vietnamese salad with fresh mint and scallops was extremely refreshing and tasty. We also tried Duke’s Sushi Deluxe, and the portion was so big, it was difficult to finish. The fish was fresh and simply prepared. We also feasted on the seafood platter with whole lobster, mussels and clams and a pasta dish with shrimps in a Pernod cream sauce. Both were delicious. Even the kid’s meals were worth it. We tried both the sushi rolls and quesadillas, and the portions were once again generous. Desserts were also sampled, and they made the grade as well.
We plan to go back again and sample many other menu options such as their aged steaks. Duke Ocean Grill is worth the visit.

We’ve been going to Canaletto for years, and the food and service are great. Moreover, we can honestly say we have never been disappointed. The staff and atmosphere greet you with such warmth, you feel like you’re part of a special family. In fact, the host remembered our first names on the second visit. Located at 208 E 60th Street (between Second Ave & Third Ave) in New York (tel. 212-317-9192), Canaletto offers classic Italian cuisine, with a more intimate local setting. Its larger neighbors such as Patsy’s, 360 and California Pizza Kitchen are good, but more impersonal and commercialized. The dinner crowd is generally older, but that has never bothered us. They welcome both small and large parties.

Canaletto starts you off with a complimentary plate of cheese, salami, homemade bread, breadsticks and a zesty tomato tapenade. Just don’t eat too many bread sticks! Whether you enjoy the daily specials or like to order off of the main menu, the meals are scrumptious. No need to order separate sides dishes like other New York restaurants. Depending on your table’s selections, they generally serve a family-style plate of lightly sautéed vegetables in the center of the table. Our plates are always clean at the end. Desserts are good as well. Whether you decide to give in to one their tempting sweets off of the menu or not, they still finish off your meal with a plate of homemade biscotti and cookies—something that always reminds me of my childhood Italian neighbors. In our opinion, one of the main reasons that this place works so well is their very accommodating and gracious manager. He is a pleasure and the epitome of hospitality. He always ensures that our dining experience is top notch and always finds us a table, even without reservations.

We really enjoy this place. If you are in the mood for real Italian food, we would definitely recommend this restaurant. Buon Appetito!