Earlier this week, I took a trip to Greensboro to visit my younger sister. Although this blog is dedicated to reviews of restaurants in Durham and Raleigh, I felt like this restaurant was really worth the review. Besides, it’s only an hour away if you feel encouraged to try it after reading this blog post. Fishbones, the maritime-themed restaurant featured a plethora of fish decorations, including fish skeleton decor on the exterior of the building, boat wallpaper, and a fish tank with a few decorative items on top, including a small ship. I also thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant’s music selection. As we were entering the establishment, “Be Without You” by Mary J. Blige was playing. Throughout the meal, they played an array of other songs I enjoyed, including “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” by Lauryn Hill, and “Love of My Life” by Common ft. Erykah Badu.
For my drink, I ordered the “Smokin’ Sombrero” signature cocktail. The drink was made with “Ilegal” mezcal, jalapeno simple syrup, pineapple juice, lime juice, and sour with salt & tamarin around the rim. I asked the waitress if she had tried any of the drinks, and this was one of the drinks she recommended. I was hesitant because I was unsure about blending jalapeno and alcohol, so I asked for the drink without the jalapeno syrup. The drink was tart and quite spicy, with a little tanginess. The drink did have some sweet flavors due to the pineapple and lime juices, yet the prominent jalapeno flavor remained, despite my request for no jalapeno syrup. I ended up sending the drink back and ordering cranberry juice to go with my meal instead.
As an appetizer, my sister and I ordered spring rolls, which were filled with pork, shrimp, cabbage, and Thai basil, with an accompaniment of peanut dressing and sweet chili soy sauce. The spring rolls were crunchy, with sweet and savory flavors from a mix of pork and shrimp. The cabbage had a strong presence in the food, adding a somewhat bitter taste. However, the chili soy sauce was so sweet that it enhanced the flavors and overrode any bitterness in the cabbage. The silverware that I was served initially was dirty, so I had to send it back. The waitress was very kind about it though and returned to me with clean silverware within a few minutes.
I ordered the wild salmon filet, with garlic ciabatta bread and corn on the cob as side dishes. The cooking options for the salmon were grilled or blackened, and I opted for the latter. I was unsure at first, but the waitress explained the cooking process, and I wanted the blackened salmon so that the spices could be cooked into my filet. The waitress was very informed about the menu and had tried most of the dishes. The salmon was a bit peppery, but it was well-done, yet still soft and chewable. The filet was also a very good size, with a good amount of thickness. The garlic bread was somewhat dry, yet the bread slices were well-portioned with garlic, buttery flavors. The corn on the cob was also very sweet and tasty, cooked with a nice thin char around the edges. I added salt onto the corn for personal preference and enjoyed the meal overall.
My sister ordered the southwest chicken cheese quesadillas, which were served with black beans, salsa, and sour cream. The quesadillas appeared very crunchy, and my sister said that she thoroughly enjoyed the taste. With relaxed, stool-style “seat yourself” seating, a fully-stocked bar, a refreshing music selection, and a variety of modern food options, I would recommend anyone in the Greensboro area to try Fishbones. The food was reasonably priced considering the portions and the friendly, knowledgeable staff made this experience into a positive one.
NCCU Student Blog 