Pelican Alley Restaurant

"Mr. Bob Arbuckle was seen standing near the kitchen of the restaurant." This is just one of the claims that the Pelican Alley restaurant claims about a "ghost" they say inhabits the restaurant. When we arrived at the Pelican Alley it seemed very quaint and comfy intimate. Set right on the water with boat access. The restaurant has two seating areas. The inside seating has full big window views of the water. Outdoor seating is a small deck with only about six tables. We chose to sit outside at an intimate table for two. The waitress was friendly and quick to get our drink order. Looking over the menu we saw many yummy choices which can be viewed here. After bringing our drinks our waitress went over the dinner specials for the evening. We then decided on Seafood Nachos for appetizer and we did two specials. The first one being Baked Grouper with a Piri Shrimp Cream sauce and Grilled Salmon with a Teriyaki and Wasabi Aoli. These each came with a side and a salad. Our seafood nachos came they were incredibly decadent and delicious. The heat from the jalapeno along with the creaminess of the lobster bisque like cheese sauce blended so well with the chips and chunks of sweet lobster,scallops and shrimp meat on top. Our salads then came and we were eating our salads when the real fun began. The deck we were sitting on tilted and gave way a little bit. It felt like the leg of my chair dropped down into a hole. I thought it was just me but when the other couple and my husband sitting on the same deck as us felt it too, that was when I was done sitting outside. We asked to be moved inside and they were very accommodating and had us set up at another table inside. Now this was when our waitress mentioned the ghost that she claims is at Pelican Alley. I have a hard time believing in a ghost that causes decks to move, after all this restaurant does sit on the water. Water movement can very easily move decks and the stilts that hold that deck over the years. Our dinner arrived and was absolutely delicious. My hubby and I joked that they have to pay so much for the great chef they have that is preparing such great food in lieu of fixing this restaurant up that is in such need of basic repairs and upkeep. While sitting there another couple asked to be moved because of a dripping vent over their heads. A ghost story can make for some customers but a ghost story cannot make up for basic repairs that are needed that might bring you more business. My final review of the Pelican Alley is as follows.
Parking: 1Button (Their sign even says after the lot is full parking is wherever you can find it)
Atmosphere: 3Buttons (It is definitely an old Florida fish and tackle style place made into a restaurant)
Service: 3 Buttons (They were very accomodating when our "incident" arose and the waitress was timely in our food and drinks)
Food: 5 Buttons (The food is delicious and cooked to perfection. Especially the Seafood Nachos, I could make a meal out of those)

"You'll never guess what I just did in the bathroom?" These are not always the words you want to hear when you are out on a date night with your hubby and friends.
   It was a rainy evening, we literally felt like it was raining cats and dogs. Canceling our evening out with friends even crossed my mind and later I find out it crossed their minds too. But we decided to brave the weather and head out on our date night adventure. We get to the restaurant and because of the weather decided to park in a parking garage behind the restaurant. Thankfully the restaurant had a rear entrance. The rear entrance was a disappointment to our friend D who really wanted the experience of entering through the ornate doors of the Mexican restaurant we were eating at. After entering in the back of the restaurant we walked to the front and walked outside in the rain and back in the front door so D could have the "experience". He is all about the atmosphere.
  After being seated and ordering our food and drinks we were entertained by the appetizer we ordered. Tableside Guacamole. They make it and mix it fresh right at your table (yum)!!! D & T are not big fans of guacamole but tried it and were pleasantly surprised.We were all commenting about the atmosphere of this restaurant, Two Senoritas. Even though not all of the staff is hispanic it still lends to the feeling that you could be in a nice mexican restaurant in mexico. The food is good and depending on what you order it could lend itself to thinkng that they might take some shortcuts from a can. But all in all it was good.
 Luckily the rain had stopped and we ventured out the back door to get to the parking garage. I guess we forgot how far up in the garage we parked because 10 flights later we finally reached the top. Out of breath, laughing and figuring we burned all the calories we just ate, we headed to do what we do everytime we get together with D & T. We went to Starbucks. Now going to Starbucks can sometimes be an adventure in itself, but this night D added a whole new twist to it. What is the first thing you do after you enter Starbucks? (well not maybe everybody, I must have just had too much tea to drink), go to the bathroom. I head off to the bathroom while my hubby ordered my favorite, a venti calm tea with three honeys and ten ice cubes. After I came out of the bathroom D was missing and T was waiting to use the ladies room too. T came out and we are waiting for D when he emerges buttoning his shirt. We are thinking "what are you doing?" when those words came out " You'll never guess what I just did in the bathroom?" His story continues. "I was in the bathroom and I started unbuttoning my shirt like I was getting ready for bed like I do every evening, and then I realized what I was doing and  where I was." You just gotta love D!!! If I would have done something like that I don't think I would have told anybody because I would have been too embarassed. D was willing to bare his bathroom hijinks and be transparent and give us a great laugh for the evening.
 We figured why not let others in on the fun and do a date night blog and a date night idea facebook page. Along with that we would rate restaurants (Thanks to D) by buttons. 1 being bad and 5 being great. We will fill you in on the fun places to go and do for a date night a date afternoon or a date morning. Right here in our beautiful town of Sarasota. we might also include places that are within an hour of here too.
   So now for our rating of Two Senoritas.
        Parking: 4 buttons (the parking garage in the back makes it much easier than the front)
        Atmosphere: 5 Buttons (great mexican feel)
         Food: 3 1/2 Buttons
         Service: 5 Buttons (The waitress did not miss a beat)
The next time you go to Two Senoritas. Let us know what you think.