Dining options about to grow

Twin Dolphin takes Mattison's name; Roy's opens as well
November 11, 2006
BRIAN NEILL
Herald Staff Writer

Grill tops will light up next week at two new upscale dining venues in Bradenton and Sarasota. The Twin Dolphin Marina Grill on First Avenue West in Bradenton will be reborn Monday as Mattison's Riverside, a moniker denoting local culinary master Chef Paul Mattison.

Mattison, chef-owner of a chain of upscale restaurants in Sarasota County who is taking over operation of the Twin Dolphin, will bring a Mediterranean and Asian flair to the restaurant, which recently underwent more than $200,000 in renovations to the decor. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

"If you liked us before, you'll love us now," said Twin Dolphin owner Hugh Miller, who will retain ownership of Mattison's Riverside. "We're not deviating from our positioning in the marketplace, we're just making improvements and making it newer and fresher and better. Paul Mattison's extremely creative. He's got a tremendous amount of talent on the food and service side and does a great job with people and staff."

Roy's, a Hawaiian fusion restaurant founded in Honolulu by Roy Yamaguchi, will open its doors Wednesday at 2001 Siesta Drive in Sarasota. It is open for dinner only.

The restaurant specializes in fresh seafood as well as a variety of beef dishes like Kona Coffee Braised Kobe Beef Short Ribs.

"We always have four or five different fish flown in from Hawaii daily," said Aaron Radman, Sarasota managing partner of Roy's.

 Roy's will also offer a variety of meat and chicken dishes, as well as local seafood, Radman said. Roy's most popular dish is a macadamia nut-crusted mahi-mahi with lobster cognac sauce, he said. Also popular are Roy's sushi offerings, like the Auntie Lei Roll, a salmon and avocado inside-out roll, Radman said.

Entrees on the Roy's menu range from $21 to $38. Appetizers like Crunchy Golden Lobster Potstickers and Roy's Original Hawaiian Blackened Ahi arepriced from $7 to $14.

Roy's, with 33 locations worldwide, is a partnership between OSI Restaurant Partners, Yamaguchi and local managing partners in communities where the restaurants are located.

The unique community partnering aspect of the chain ensures quality control and commitment to success through local oversight, Radman said.

"In addition to that you've got your local people that live and breathe in the community, that do have a vested interest in the community," Radman said.

Diners at Mattison's Riverside can partake of Beef Lollipops, beef tenderloin tips marinated in Chinese five-spice powder, grilled, and served with a wasabi dipping sauce.

There is also a pesto-crusted salmon finished with a spicy roasted tomato and white wine butter sauce.

Fresh seafood will be abundant, Mattison said.

"Every Mattison's a little different," he said. "So when I walked in and saw the Twin Dolphin property right on the river, I thought it's got to be a seafood place. But it's a large place, so it's got to be a varied menu as well."

The restaurant will also feature a sushi bar.

In keeping with a philosophy of providing quality and value, Mattison said dinner entrees will range from $16 to $24.

"I think more and more people are dining out more often and they're looking for value and quality and consistency," Mattison said. "You can be creative and off the wall, but if it's not consistent, people aren't going to come back. And if it's not a good value people aren't going to come back."

For reservations or more information on Mattison's Riverside, call (941) 748-8087. To make reservations or get more information about Roy's, call (941) 952-0109.