by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Sometimes I’ve just got a craving for straightforward yet classy American-style cuisine, or maybe I’ve got visitor who enjoys quality dining, but isn’t into exotically experimental dishes. For such a case I’ve found the perfect place: Mackenzie’s Steakhouse and Piano Bar. What makes it a great eatery is that they execute tried-and-true dishes well in an upscale atmosphere.
Different types of people tend to sit in different areas. The crowd on the deck tends towards younger folks in their late twenties to early thirties. Take a seat on their deck and you can overlook a manmade pond with a fountain and gazebo. At night, they light up the deck porch torches, making for pretty reflections on the water. The dining area is a mix of families out for a special meal and older folks. Golfers in Ponte Vedra often stop at the bar after a day of golf. If you’re looking for romance, ask to be seated in the secluded wine room.
In the restaurant section of Mackenzie’s, you might hear the piano man’s voice and instrument wafting through as you dine on fine food, but it might not prepare you for the sense of fun present in the bar room. It’s apparent from the banter and ease of the crowd that many of the bar’s patron’s are regulars. Have a glass of fine wine or maybe a Scotch on the rocks as you pretend to be one of them. When I was there, as an engagement party wound down on the patio, the bride-to-be and her cadre of soon-to-be bridesmaids descended upon the welcoming piano man. They became part of the entertainment as they joined him behind his piano, singing along and making requests. Guests can sit at a bar surrounding the piano’s platform to be in on the action, or they can take in the whole room from the regular bar or one of the small tables. The delicious food is served in the piano bar area as well, so you won’t miss out on that.
With a more-than-decent, extensive wine menu, a good selection of beers and a full bar, you’re sure to satisfy even the pickiest of booze imbibers. Drink specials tend to change but from 4 pm- 7 pm every night there are reduced prices on select drinks. Just ask your bartender or waiter during Happy Hour.
The appetizers are sure to please everyone, with a great range in selections. Seafood lovers can dine on the escargot en croûte, served in a golden-baked puff pastry with a lemon-garlic beurre blanc sauce and boursin cheese fondue. They can also dine on their shrimp martini or lump crab cake or even classic calamari served up with fra diavolo and citrus aioli sauces for dipping. I loved their lollipop lamb chops; their savory grilled flavor was offset by whipped potatoes and herbed goat cheese.
Steak is part of their name, and they definitively deliver on that count. They serve the best filet mignon I have had in the area. Lobster lovers should order their Australian Lobster tail. It’s a simple preparation, cooked exactly the right amount of time. A good lobster really needs very little, except a chef that knows exactly when to stop cooking it. The tender Aussie lobster hits some lovely notes of sweetness. It’s got the light quality of a Maine Lobster and it’s just as large, but it contains a more assertive, sweet flavor, like our Florida Lobsters.
Under desserts, for something just a little bit different than the standard crème brûlée (though they have that too!) try the bananas foster cheesecake, made all the more splendid by a Myers’ rum sauce.
With a full menu of surf and turf, plenty of adjacent upscale shopping and a pond-side view, Mackenzie’s is a lovely place to dine.
Info: 100 Sawgrass Village Drive
Phone: (904) 568-6349
Website: mackenziessteakhouse.com
Cost: $$$$ (thirty-five and up for a single person)
|
EU Critic’s Choice Awards
