Michael John's (mj's) - Bradenton

Just a wonderful dinner. I ordered oinion rings, they were perfect, I never had escargot before, super delicious. Blackened shrimp was OK. Brea with honey was extremely excellent. I had filet mignon it was perfectly done medium rare, and gorgeous cut of meat. Wasn't as fond of spinach as Ruth's Chris, but overall the meal was really excellent.

However, there were a couple of issues that stood out to me. When we were seated, we requested a booth but were told it was reserved for a later party, even though there were other available tables. Additionally, I asked to change a sauce on one of our appetizers and was charged a $2 fee for it, which seemed unnecessary. Despite these minor setbacks, the overall experience was good and my date made the night even better. I would give her a 5-star rating, just like a McDonald's happy meal.

Fine dining? No! The ambiance was nice, the service was excellent and the food was tasty but not well presented. The mixed vegetables served with the entrees appeared like a pile of mush, which they were. While the vegetables themselves do not offset the positives mentioned above, all of the food is overpriced. That, coupled with men seated with baseball caps (when will they learn and/or ?fine dining? restaurants require them to be removed? , means that I won?t return and cannot recommend this establishment.

BEAUTUFUL place. Love the cherry wood furniture and color scheme. Very Italian decor with blues Brothers and gangstas. Would be nice with soft Italian or classic music in background. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Had a drink at bar after they suggested as we were early for our reservation. The place was half filled and we noticed only one server for the room so maybe that's why we couldn't be seated early. The bar area wasn't busy so it was very nice.. The drinks delicious! The mojito was crisp with such nice flavors. My husband ordered the French Connection which contained Grey goose, lemonade and elderflower liquor. It was also prepared well. I had the French onion soup and my husband the pot stickers for apps. Both were tasty. They also serve a bean sauce with bread that was different but flavorsome. I ordered the chicken Cordon Bleu dinner and subbed the mashed potatoes for sweet potato fries. There was a $4 substitution. My husband ordered the filet and subbed his mash potatoes with risotto... that was a $12 substitution. The steamed broccoli and carrot were eh..... it was probably the only thing I didn't eat. The dinners were really good otherwise. We ordered a chocolate mouse type dessert with caramel that was average. This was one of the more expensive restaraunts we've been to. Two drinks each, two apps, 2 dinners and a dessert over $200. The food was good and the place was really nice. Our server Jennifer was attentive and you could tell very experienced..... We may go back for a special occasion in the future but not just for a date night ....

The restaurant has a peaceful atmosphere with very friendly and attentive service. The blackened jumbo shrimp appetizer was excellent, and I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious Brussel sprouts I subbed for with my marsala dish. It was an overall excellent experience, and I will definitely have to return to try their desserts as we were too full this time. Keep in mind that this is a fine dining establishment, so expect higher prices.