Brian's Place - Spring Hill, FL

Brian's place is really neat little place we visit when we're visiting family in Florida.  Located by Hernando Beach, it offers locals a unique blend of latin and Italian cuisine.  This unique blend of tastes interestingly carries over to their bloody Mary.

Looking at the picture above it is easy to mistake this Bloody Mary for many others that I've had, but it is not the presentation that makes this one different, it's the taste.  Combining fruit flavors or Orange, Mango, and Raspberry with some of the more traditional ingredients and of course Bacon, give this drink a wonderfully refreshing quality and move it further towards becoming a breakfast drink than your standard fare.

I marked this higher on presentation only because it is hiding, behind the traditional look and feel, something totally different.  This bloody mary has a taste that you won't find anywhere else.  I highly suggest that you try one!


Presentation:7
Taste:         9
Garnish:     6
Ambiance:  8 

Total Bloody Mary Score:30

Benson City Grill - Benson, AZ

Our tradition of having brunch, and of course a Bloody Mary, carried us to Benson City Grill soon after we arrived to stay for a few months over the winter.  The location was nearby and is located in the club house for the local municipal golf course.

One wall of this establishment is windows, looking out to outside seating, the golf course, and beautiful views of the Dragoon mountains to the East.  It made for a satisfying place to have a bite and a drink.

The food options are limited, but very tasty, however to our dismay there weren't many breakfast options that we were looking for.  We knew this going in, so it's not their fault, but ours for not having yet explored the local options.  I do recommend a visit if you are in the area, but plan for more lunch than brunch.

Now to the drink.  It was very satisfying, however there was nothing of note to set it apart.  It was surprisingly "run of the mill" in contrast to some of their more bold food menu options.

Presentation:5
Taste:         6
Garnish:     6
Ambiance:  8 

Total Bloody Mary Score:25

T-Bone Tom's - Kemah, TX

 

I know what you're thinking, "Is that a cheap plastic cup?", and you are right.  Despite the unsophisticated glassware, this Bloody Mary was excellent.  It had just the right amount of spice, the cucumber works better for me than the usual stalk of celery, and it had enough alcohol that you could just taste it without it dominating the other flavors.

T-Bone Tom's, which has been featured on Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dives, has established themselves as one of "THE" restaurants you have to visit if you are in the area.  I had  "Tom's Choice", a 14 oz marinated rib-eye and it was the perfect meal with my Bloody Mary.

The restaurant featured a live band the night we went and combined with the food and sitting outside near the water it was a memorable time.  I highly suggest you try it if you can. 

Presentation:6
Taste:          8
Garnish:      7
Ambiance:  8 

Total Bloody Mary Score:29

Jimm's Steakhouse and Pub - Springfield MO

We made a few stops on our way from Ohio to Arizona last fall and one of those was in Springfield Missouri where we parked our camper for a few days while we saw the sights (Yes, there are sights to see in Springfield).  The camp hosts recommended a few places we might like to visit for a bite and one of those was Jimm's Steakhouse and Pub.

The food at Jimms was very good and my wife and I enjoyed our visit there, but we aren't here to talk about the food.  Jimm's take on the Bloody Mary is very much your standard.  I didn't notice anything to set it apart from numerous other Bloody's that I've had at many restaurants.  It had the standard garnish, could possibly have been made with a pre-mix, and it did the trick.

That is not to diminish Jimm's at all in any way, and you SHOULD visit Jimm's if you are looking for a good meal in Springfield for sure.

Presentation:6
Taste:           7
Garnish:      7
Ambiance:  8 

Total Bloody Mary Score:28