Macadamia Mahi Mahi
Last Friday, after quite a hell-ish week, I thought I'd treat myself to some delicious tapas and girl time with one of my best girlfriends, Cassandra. Little did I know our relaxing evening would turn into such an adventure. I had visited O!O Tapas & Tinis once before to interview Chef Dale Bixby for an article I wrote on How to Cook Fish, so I figured finding the place again would be a piece of cake. Wrong.
Apparently, there are two SW 91st Street's in Gainesville, and Cassandra's iPhone likes to send us to the one out in Williston. We're literally driving down this dark, creepy road when we realize we are more likely to be in a horror movie than to find the restaurant. I call the restaurant and the hostess starts giving us landmarks we can't even find. Obviously we are in the wrong place, so we turn around and start heading toward Haile Plantation. Once we get to Haile Plantation, however, the iPhone still wants to send us back to the scary road 22 minutes away. Long story short, we drive around in circles some more and finally find the restaurant. Total travel time: an hour and fifteen minutes.
Once we arrive at the restaurant, the place is so bustling we have to sit at the bar to order our drinks and food. The clientele is a bit older, a bit more sophisticated and there is a live performer belting out "All That Jazz." The lighting is low, the mood is set and we find two seats at the large circle bar that takes up most of the room in the restaurant.
Martinis are $9, but the list is so long you're guaranteed to find something you like. If you're cheap, make sure to go on Tuesdays or Thursdays when the martinis are just $5.
At this point Cassandra and I are starving, so we order tapas, an appetizer and a full meal each. The first thing to arrive is the Bixbys Bread Basket ($5) which comes with select artisan breads, hummus, a cinnamon sugar dip and of course olive oil & aged balsamic. I'm in heaven. Bread fresh out the oven is my absolute favorite, especially if I can dip it in olive oil. They mixed cornbread in with the other artisan breads and I'm not sure I really cared for it.
Next to arrive was our tapas, Shrimp Stuffed Portobello Mushroom ($8). Normally when I think of stuffed mushrooms, I think of the actual mushroom caps stuffed with filling and flavor. This was completely different. Spread out on a bed of fresh greens was a shrimp and mushroom mix topped with melted cheese. The texture of the shrimp and mushroom worked well together, because it was all mixed together no one flavor was overpowering. I could have done without the cheese on top, but it did add a nice richness to the dish.
Finally came the Macademia Mahi Mahi ($16) with spinach risotto, julienne vegetables, and champagne butter sauce infused with pink peppercorns. The fish was coated and pan seared perfectly. It flaked away at the touch of my fork and melted in my mouth the second it touched my tongue. I would have been completely satisfied with just the fish itself. I think the risotto and vegetables actually took away from the dish. I know they are trying to sell an entire meal, but the sides seemed extremely forced.
All in all I would definitely venture to O!O again, but next time I would go on a less busy night of the week. Oh, and I will Mapquest the directions instead.
Apparently, there are two SW 91st Street's in Gainesville, and Cassandra's iPhone likes to send us to the one out in Williston. We're literally driving down this dark, creepy road when we realize we are more likely to be in a horror movie than to find the restaurant. I call the restaurant and the hostess starts giving us landmarks we can't even find. Obviously we are in the wrong place, so we turn around and start heading toward Haile Plantation. Once we get to Haile Plantation, however, the iPhone still wants to send us back to the scary road 22 minutes away. Long story short, we drive around in circles some more and finally find the restaurant. Total travel time: an hour and fifteen minutes.
Once we arrive at the restaurant, the place is so bustling we have to sit at the bar to order our drinks and food. The clientele is a bit older, a bit more sophisticated and there is a live performer belting out "All That Jazz." The lighting is low, the mood is set and we find two seats at the large circle bar that takes up most of the room in the restaurant.
Martinis are $9, but the list is so long you're guaranteed to find something you like. If you're cheap, make sure to go on Tuesdays or Thursdays when the martinis are just $5.
At this point Cassandra and I are starving, so we order tapas, an appetizer and a full meal each. The first thing to arrive is the Bixbys Bread Basket ($5) which comes with select artisan breads, hummus, a cinnamon sugar dip and of course olive oil & aged balsamic. I'm in heaven. Bread fresh out the oven is my absolute favorite, especially if I can dip it in olive oil. They mixed cornbread in with the other artisan breads and I'm not sure I really cared for it.
Next to arrive was our tapas, Shrimp Stuffed Portobello Mushroom ($8). Normally when I think of stuffed mushrooms, I think of the actual mushroom caps stuffed with filling and flavor. This was completely different. Spread out on a bed of fresh greens was a shrimp and mushroom mix topped with melted cheese. The texture of the shrimp and mushroom worked well together, because it was all mixed together no one flavor was overpowering. I could have done without the cheese on top, but it did add a nice richness to the dish.
Finally came the Macademia Mahi Mahi ($16) with spinach risotto, julienne vegetables, and champagne butter sauce infused with pink peppercorns. The fish was coated and pan seared perfectly. It flaked away at the touch of my fork and melted in my mouth the second it touched my tongue. I would have been completely satisfied with just the fish itself. I think the risotto and vegetables actually took away from the dish. I know they are trying to sell an entire meal, but the sides seemed extremely forced.
All in all I would definitely venture to O!O again, but next time I would go on a less busy night of the week. Oh, and I will Mapquest the directions instead.
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