Middle Grounds Grill

I will never I mean NEVER go back to this over priced no chef having line cook food ever again McDonald’s is next door. Dollar for dollar my dog eats Better

Excellent highly recommend! Steaks out of this world. Waiter Shane very good. Will definitely come back when we are in the area!

My poor review for middle grounds is for poorly cooked food, and also for how they handled the issue. I can’t speak for their fish, but 2 of us ordered Fillet Mignon medium rare. Mine was pink, but not juicy at all. My friends was cooked to the point of being dry, but she ate it anyways. When the manager found out about the situation, she apologized, and recooked my meal, but by the time I received another meal, everyone else was ready to leave. I was very surprised that nothing was comped on the bill, plus, I would have thought the manager would at least offer a dessert or something. We’re locals, and we won’t be returning.

I am with a party of 10 and the service was on point. All of our meals came out at the same time and our waiter was very accommodating and friendly. The food was great as well. Highly recommend!

Food is outstanding. I had firecracker shrimp app. Also the Chilean sea bass. They have nice atmosphere and outdoor seating. Service was exceptional.

This is my favorite place to dine during spring break vacation!
We go to the area every year and I could eat here every night!
Great food and very good value!
Half off bottles of wine on Wednesdays!
What more do you want!

This is a great Independent steak and seafood fine dining on Treasure Island. Go! You won’t be disappointed. We both had Filet and lobster tail. Cooked the right way and served up with hospitality from Rocco. Cheers!

Highly recommend the Sea Bass! Excellent service our waiter was very helpful. Went on a Tuesday and there was live music.

Ducked in here to get out of the rain and experienced a pleasant surprise. The name («grounds» makes me think of coffee) and exterior (cheesy color scheme) are a bit misleading. The first clue was the valet-​only parking but that is not uncommon at beach locations. The interior has dark wood, soft lighting with modern décor. This is definitely a fine dining establishment with a casual, beachy feel. Filet mignon, lobster tail, red snapper and cocktails were all delicious. While we are not big alcohol drinkers (one cocktail each) it did not go unnoticed that the wine list is quite extensive. Our bill was $ 105 for two including tip. Highly recommend this as a nice, quiet place for a grown up night out without the kids.

We made reservations several days in advance. When we arrived we were quickly seated in a nice, quiet area. Our waiter was pleasant and informative, and placed our order excited about the meal to come. While we were waiting, the manager came over and rudely told us we needed to move because a large party was coming in and our waiter would not be able to accommodate us.
He didn’t even help us move our items to the new booth he assigned us to, and when I asked him if he was going to ensure our food was delivered to the new table he said he would take care of it, he promised he would. Well, he didn’t and we had to flag down the server as he wandered around looking for us. Then they seated a giant party (25+ people) right next to us that was really loud, and our newly assigned server had to wait on them as well, which was the reason we were moved in the first place!
When I talked to the Manager about the issue he was very rude, spoke down to me, and basically said that the large party took precedence over our comfort and enjoyment of the meal, and refused to move us to another, quieter area. He handled the whole situation very poorly and treated us like our business didn’t matter to him.
We left at that point unable to enjoy our meal. Needless to say, I won’t return.

We had reservations on a Friday night. Best way to go! It gets busy! I visited the restaurant with 4 other friends. We were seated promptly upon arriving. Our server, JENN, was amazing! Extremely knowledgeable and efficient! She was a blast to have serving us! We ordered the Artichoke Smoked Gouda Fondue as an appetizer. Only issue was NOT enough of the grilled flatbread comes with the dish! But they were more than willing to provide more!
For dinner, some ordered the special, Almond Dusted Grouper, which was to die for (their words!). One member of our party ordered the Fried Grouper and loved it! Another member ordered the Pacific Rim Scallops and she really liked the dish! I ordered the Panko Chicken Breast which was very tasty! I had the Mediterranean sauce on the side and the whole table tasted it and loved it!
We ordered drinks from the bar. I had the Mango Mojito. Someone else had the Coconut Mojito and the others had the Huckleberry Lemonade. We would highly recommend ANY of those drinks!
Our overall experience was great. From service to food quality and quantity. If you are in the area, definitely give it a try. The food/​drinks may be pricey to some people but WELL worth the extra for the quality and taste you get!

What a great recommendation by a local friend and an awesome experience!
There were 12 in our party and we call a hour earlier to make the reservation. The menu had many great options and even several not listed but covered by the waiter.
We started with several appetizers and my favorite was a spicy shrimp. For the main course, I selected a waiter recommendation of sea bass. And it was wonderful. Served with asparagus and potatoes.
The folks at the table selected desserts as well, but none for me. They all looked great. Overall the experience was great. Reminds we of a true family run beach restaurant. I would stop by if we’re back in the area.
There is valet parking that was very busy upon our departure. So it took some time to get the car. Might slip out earlier next time to get the car ready for the group.

Our absolute favorite. Wednesday is ½ off wine and WOW what a great selection of Cab. The Mango Crusted Grouper is the best meal I’ve seriously ever had. Seriously. You MUST try it. If they have Lobster Bisque, it’s also good.
Make reservations!

I guess I’m officially ‘old’ now, since we came here at 5:30pm and ordered from the early dinner menu.
This place seems to cater to a more silver-​haired crowd, but the food is legit. Everything we ate was good.
We were able to sample a bunch of stuff thanks to the aforementioned early bird menu, which has some ridiculous deals (4 dollar apps and 12.95 dinners)
The early bird dinners are what I would consider the perfect size for an actual meal that you can finish without having to take half home.
Our waiter was… odd. I guess the best term to describe him would be «pompous».
Not a bad server but just a bit pretentious and it kinda threw the vibe off at the start.
I’d definitely come back! Generous pours on the cocktails as well…

I was here for the 1^st time last Saturday evening. Place was packed, but we had a reservation. Atmosphere is really nice, spacious bar and there is a fire pit outside as well.
Went downhill fast, however. The server, I believe her name is Kirsten, was friendly and very accommodating throughout my stay. Maybe a little too chatty, especially since the place was packed and she had a lot of tables. She took our order, brought out awesome, super hot bread and then came with our dinner salads. We had only ate half our salads when our entrees came out, cold. 2 no-no’s, in my book. Don’t rush me and make sure my food is hot. We had to find someone else to tell them the food was cold as she was at another table.
Food came back out and it was only slightly better. It WAS good though, but it should have been hotter.
The manager offered to compensate us with free dessert but we didn’t want any so we elected for a round of drinks at the bar.
Then, the next day, I noticed there was a 2^nd charge (not the same dollar amount) on my debit card, which, even though it said pending, came out of my account already. I didn’t bother to call them, as I wanted to see if it would «go away» and it did, 4 days later. So I was out that $ 28 until then. Obnoxious.
I was a visitor to the area, and don’t plan to return any time soon but if I was, I probably wouldn’t bother to return here.

Awesome food and a great place to go on a date or just to meet up with friends. The New Zealand lamb shank and escargot is a must try, put me into a food coma and wanting more! The outside patio accommodated my entire group before and after dinner! Great place for cocktails and excellent service. We will return! Yum!

Some good, some bad, some okay…
The Good: the fish dip appetizer was quite tasty especially with the fresh sliced jalapeño. The crackers were good and the plate was a good size. Her crusted grouper was fantastic. We decided it tasted like a cinnamon bun fish. super sweet and nicely crispy. The table bread with dipping oil was also really enjoyable. I wish more restaurants had dipping oil like this. The house salad was pretty solid too. The beers were relatively cheap, that’s always a good thing.
The Bad: The server was bad. He was not particularly friendly and quite short on words. He also just was really slow with certain things, particularly our beers. A couple times we needed something and he was MIA for a while. The calamari was boring, bland, and not really worth ordering.
The Okay: The tuna entrée wasn’t impressive. It was kinda small, and didn’t really have any memorable flavors or anything interesting. I wouldn’t recommend it. The veggies and rice that came with the meal were equally ordinary. Lastly the place was kinda touristy and felt a little dated. The back dinning room where we sat felt like I was in a chain restaurant in 2003.

If you ask someone at a nice, local hotel they’ll tell you Middle Grounds is the best seafood in town — and it is. It’s good, not great. From Madeira Beach to St Pete’s Beach it’s the best and brings one of the better, nice atmospheres in the area. It’s a prime location for middle age and older guests who are in town on vacation, have a vacation home here or are celebrating something. It’s also the kind of place a date would be impressed with.
They have valet service for those who don’t want to walk 25 yards from the parking lot, dim the lights at dinner, employ well dressed staff and often have live music in the bar (which can be heard in the restaurant). In fact, many come specifically for drinks in the bar, because it’s the go-​to place in town to mingle.
Middle Grounds is a tough place to rate simply because it depends on the quality of seafood you’ve eaten previously. For example, if you’re from the Midwest, Great Plains or Mid South, you’ll rave about this place. Meanwhile, if you’ve spend a lot of time along the Florida coast and been to some of the better (not fancier) restaurants (such as The Grand Marlin in Pensacola Beach, Stinky’s Fish Camp in Destin, Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami, Palm Valley Fish Camp in Ponte Vedre Beach, Johnnie’s Hideaway in Orlando and dozens of others) you’ll think Middle Grounds is better than average, but not amazing, which I’d agree with. (Yes, I’m a tough critic, but if you rate everything a 5 your reviews have no value. A 5 is reserved for some of the best food you’ve had, not anything that tastes good.
Meanwhile, the food suits the atmosphere well. I’m a fan of their seafood, but tend to stick with the local stuff. Why order salmon when you’re 2,500 miles away from where salmon is caught? They do a good job at attaining local seafood. Those are the best entrees and items you should order. Unfortunately, we can’t comment on the steaks. We’ve never tried them.
Most of the fish comes in quality portions and for a fair price (if you consider you’re paying for a big portion and good atmosphere). The sides, meanwhile, slump to the average bag. Come here to order seafood and you’ll leave happy and likely return next time you’re in town. You can expect good service, friendly people and the best food — in town.

Das Restaurant macht von außen einen angenehmen Eindruck, der sich auch drinnen fortsetzt. Angenehme Beleuchtung und Gemütliches Mobiliar tragen zum positiven Eindruck bei. Normalerweise sollte man bei der Lage des Lokales direkt am Golf/​Meer ein Fisch Gericht bestellen, aber da ich schon sehr viel über die tollen Steak‘s gelesen habe die hier Serviert werden werden habe ich mich für das 10 OZ. Sirloin Steak entschieden, und diese Wahl habe ich nicht bereut. Das Steak war genau so wie ich es mag, außen groß und innen dunkelrosa (medium rear) auch die Gemüsebeilage und die Garlic Mashed Potatoes waren einwandfrei und Schmackhaft. Auch im bereich Getränke gab es keine Probleme, das Refill klappte ohne Probleme. Das Service Personal war sehr freundlich und schnell, auch die beratung während der Bestellung war sehr kompetent. Dieses Restaurant kann ich nur Empfehlen.

My boyfriend LOVES this place. He claims he has never had a bad meal here, and I tend to believe him (tho he is much easier to please than I am). We usually sit at the bar but the bar was packed, like it usually is when we got there so we opted for a table near the fish tank. You have to at least walk by it, Its worth it.
My espresso martini was great, I really enjoyed the strong vanilla flavor and the fact it wasn’t creamy or foamy on top. It was so great I didn’t switch it the ultimate mojito like I originally planned. Thankfully the boyfriend ordered that so I was still able to sneak a sip or two (the mojitos are awesome in case you can’t tell).
We ordered off the specialty menu for the appetizers, and I would say that’s the best way to go. We had a tuna app on sesame chips that they usually have some variation of. It’s always fresh and tasty.
He ordered a steak that was cooked perfectly, as it always is here. And the mashed potatoes I stole from him were pretty good. I ordered a bacon wrapped shrimp and grouper app as my entrée. It was described to have goat cheese and bacon wrapped shrimp, I only had one bite where I could taste the goat cheese and one bacon wrapped shrimp. I thought it was a little weird but it tasted really good.
We moved on to crème brûlée, my weakness. It had possibly the most perfectly ripe raspberry on top, and was amazing.
Our waiter Kevin was great, attentive and funny.
Tip: valet your car. This place gets pretty busy and the parking sucks so it’s a lot easier to just valet it. The guys are quick and friendly.

«Sysco food at best!» Nothing bad and nothing good with acceptable quality.“
Wet, dark and cold space with busy bar with a good size dark dining area weren’t for me. I also think dark room in Summer resort town is not attractive and an old school to me and it reflected to their food, at least from what we had. With this beautiful weather, we got a takeout.
Wasabi crusted tuna ($ 26)
The menu says tuna with Wasabi over house cucumber kimchi and a ginger Ponzu dipping sauce. That all sounded really delish but it came with no cucumber kimchi. This kimchi was replaced by another (but sweet) salad. The salad was replaced by relish like salad that usually over Thai fried fish, but without mango and with that sweetness.
The dipping sauce for the tuna tasted store-​bought Chinese thick and sweet dark soy sauce, instead of the yummy sounding ginger-​Ponzu sauce. That (very) sweet soy sauce had unpleasant chemical after taste (MSG?). That dark soy sauce is excellent when it cooks in with something, especially pan fried or in a wok.
The Indian favorite, Basamati rice, that came was cooked with coconut milk, like one of the Thai desserts, Khao Neow Ma Muang (mango & sticky rice). It was a nice thought but it didn’t translate well with that flaky Basamati rice. This sweet rice with the sweet dipping sauce and with sweet salad in this dish became an overly sweet meal.
Breast of Duck ($ 26)
Duck was fine but the cherry sauce that was replaced by sweet and thick sauce, that tasted like a store-​bought sauce that was also very sweet. Finally, the mashed potato was the savior, not too creamy nor chunky. I like the potato skin mixing in. It gave a nice texture, and we enjoyed it as the grilled asparagus in the tuna fish.

Wir waren im Middle Grounds Grill, weil das Restaurant so bequem von unserem Hotel aus zu Fuß zu erreichen war. Der Laden war voll, wir müssten ein paar Minuten auf einen Tisch warten — alles okay. Der Service war schnell, aufmerksam und nett. Die Preise sind gehoben, aber nicht abgehoben und das Gebotene seinen Preis wert. Eine Flasche Prosecco für $ 12,50 ist sogar absolut preiswert.
Die Vorspeise, ein gebackener Brie mit Erdbeeren (!), war sehr gut. Als Hauptgang hatten wir ein Steak und Fisch (Grouper) geordert. Das Steak war hervorragend und auf den Punkt gebraten. Die Beilagen waren schmackhaft und das Gemüse noch mit leichtem Biss — sehr gut. Das Grouper-​Filet war leider auf einer Seite verbrannt. Der beliebte Küchentrick, die verbrannte Seite nach unten zu legen, macht den Fehler nicht wett. Schade. Der dazu gereichte Reis mit Cocosnuss war ein Gedicht.
Als «Dessert» bekamen wir einen ausgezeichneten Grappa serviert. Eine Seltenheit in einem amerikanischen Restaurant. Wir waren beeindruckt.
Insgesamt ist das Restaurant sehr zu empfehlen. Die Sache mit dem verbrannten Fisch hoffentlich nur ein Ausrutscher. Leider hat man uns dafür keine Kompensation angeboten…