Pier 22 Celebration September 3, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Food & Drink, Music & Dance.trackback
On Thursday, we headed to Pier 22 (formerly Mattison’s Riverside) to celebrate its name change with Executive Chef Greg Campbell.
As we arrived at the Twin Dolphins Marina, we wondered whether we’d be chased inside by the rain as ominous clouds loomed overhead . . .
We lucked out . . . drinks flowed faster than rain drops as servers swirled around the patio greeting guests with: Pomegranate Mojitos, Cactus Juice Margaritas, Huckleberry Lemonade, Wine, Sangria, and Lagers.
To complement the drinks, Pier 22 tantalized our taste buds with delicious offerings: Honey Glazed Shrimp Tempura, Crab Cakes with Creole Remoulade, Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce, Monte Cristos with Strawberry Coulis, Asparagus with Proscuitto, and Lobster Bisque with . . . Lobster!
Kettle of Fish kept patio patrons plied with jazzy standards and sultry sounds until the evening ended on a sweet note . . . carrot cake.
No rules. Just write!
We are in the middle photo . . . if you excel at “Where’s Waldo?” maybe you can find us!
Related Posts: Sidey’s Weekend Theme (The Best Meal I Ever Never Cooked)
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Spirit Lights The Way 
mmmm…I don’t know what I like more, wine or carrot cake! I’ll take both!
Everything was delicious! A FUN night for sure.
Seems a rather prosaic name change 😦
Perhaps . . . but we didn’t let it detract from the evening ~ we love parties on the waterfront. 😉
Wow, Nancy, what a gorgeous top photo!
Thanks, Denise. We stepped out of the car and I stopped dead in my tracks . . . grabbing for my camera. 😀
Love that menu. Great pictures too.
Thanks, Greg. That first shot thrilled me when I pulled it off the camera. So did the food. Really yummy! 😀
BTW: This is the perfect weekend to join Sidey’s challenge, Greg ~ just write about the best meal you ever cooked.
Or cheat (like Kate and I did . . . the best meal we never cooked).
I think changing the name of a pier is as good a reason as any to party down. Sounds like you had a great time. It’s the good life!
Definitely a fun way to spend Happy Hour.
The name change stemmed from the ending of a lease to use the “Mattison” name for promotion. Since Mattison’s has several other restaurants in the area, Pier 22 decided to differentiate itself from the rest.
Looks like a very fun evening!
We have a limited entertainment budget ~ so attending a party on the waterfront with complimentary food and drinks appealed to us immediately. 😀
Sounds like a great evening. Yum! Delicious menu. Love that first photo.
We had fun and the food was superb. We’ve been there for Happy Hour several times and always loved the setting and the specialty martinis (key lime rimmed with graham cracker, apple, mocha, etc.)
That photo thrilled me ~ it captured the calm before the storm.
I see you are learning from Kate *giggle*
It does sound delicious
I cheated by transforming “ever” to “never” before I saw Kate’s post . . . how fun that we did the same thing! 😉
We loved everything ~ the spring rolls, the shrimp tempura, the miniature crab cakes, and the lobster bisque. The carrot cake ended the evening on the perfect note.
The food sounds delicious and I LOVE the first picture.
One of the very fun things we did this week ~ we had a chance to speak to Greg (the executive chef) and wish him well with the new menu and name.
The weather added ambiance to the evening since it seemed a deluge was imminent. As it turned out, the rains came as soon as we got in the car to head home. It poured.
What was wrong with the old name?
Are you the blonde with the sunglasses on the right of the picture?
The name change stemmed from the ending of a lease to use the “Mattison” name for promotion. Since Mattison’s has several other restaurants in the area, Pier 22 decided to differentiate itself from the rest.
I’m not that blonde in sunglasses. If you look to the back of the crowd, there’s a truck going over the bridge. BFF is the tall guy under the truck. I am to the right of him (behind the guy with the green shirt).
What a venue! Your pictures are always wonderful but THIS: amazing. I’m emigrating immediately.
Please come visit, Kate! When the chill of winter demands that you find a dose of warm sunshine . . . head our way. 😎
Wonderful outing… the food sounds delish and the scenery divine… wish I were there! 🙂
This is my favorite place that we have ever lived. We love the weather, the proximity to the beaches, the culture offerings, and the generous sunshine. I feel like I’m “home.” 😎
Ah, what fun! And how delicious! Love the photos, too. 🙂
Thanks, Cecelia. That first photo is one of my favorites. I may print it out as an 8 x 10 to hang on the wall. Something I rarely do these days.
Glad that you are getting settled into your treehouse. The views from your window are so inviting.
This sounds awesome. Forgive my ignorance. Where is Pier 22?
The restaurant sits on the banks of the Manatee River in Bradenton Florida ~ at the Twin Dolphins Marina (south of Tampa/St. Pete and north of Sarasota).
Sounds like a great day to me. I like the rain drops ! 😀
We had FUN. I’d love a free Happy Hour like this every week. 😆