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Mad Hatter Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
5 reviews for Mad Hatter Restaurant
I'll start with why it's 4 and not 5 stars: my wife and kiddies are all GFers. Something (maybe the sauce in the risotto?) had wheat and has wiped out my dear über frau (still - even a feww days later).
Having said that, we loved the place. Everything mentioned below PLUS! We went with 4 out of the 5 kiddies (caution: they are well behaved - this place probably wouldn't be good for most people's kids unless you have trained them to behave like humans) and all really were left really favorably impressed.
We started with a bottle of Albariño (or, I guess, Albarinho since it was Portuguese) that went perfectly with everything we had - just awesome. I ordered the foie gras and MADE my kids try it. They were blown away (as was I). Truly amazing.
I had the filet and lobster tail - it was great. The family had an assortment of their other items and they were all uniformly great. Really, if the gluten thing hadn't raised it's ugly head, it would have been great.
The location right on the beach was beautiful and we walked there after supper - what a great memory!
They really do try at the Mad Hatter, but I reluctantly opine that the food is high-end hotel steakhouse cuisine. There was a finesse to the amuse-bouche at the beginning of the meal, and the bread was addictive, but the main dishes were... how to say? I guess the style up north (DC, NY, SF) is to let a few tastes shine through, highlighting the flavor of the main ingredient. Mad Hatter cuisine seemed maybe based in French sauce cookery, which almost covered the flavor of the main ingredient rather than boosting it. We had a minor service snafu when our server poured the wrong wine, which we liked anyway, and he apologized and brought out the bottle so we could look at the label... it would have been an extra gracious thing to either comp the glass or give us a taste of the wine we actually ordered, but overall, service was professional and friendly.
If I could rate my top five restaurants this would be up there in the number two or three spot somewhere after the Alice Waters restaurant I've eaten at. It's a wonderful restaurant. One of the best ever in the history of restaurants.
The first time I went I had black ink pasta with shrimp and scallops. For dessert a heath toffee mousse. Which was the butteriest, crunchiest, chocolatiest best combo ever. The second time I had the goat cheese pillows with port wine strawberry sauce which sort of melt on your tongue then erupt goat cheesy goodness, then the Jumbo Sea Scallops, followed up with the molten chocolate cake. The best I've ever eaten and I've had a few molten chocolate cakes.
This third and last time I had the foie gras which was possibly the most well cooked foie gras I've ever had outside of France. Then the Gulf Shrimp which were tangy and sweet and complemented well by stir fried veggies. I was sadly too full for dessert but did manage a dessert wine that sort of dissolved on my tongue.
Sadly the owner is moving his family back to Europe and is looking to sell the restaurant. My only hope is that whoever buys it keeps it going and to the same quality.
Thank you Mad Hatter, we are sorry to see the end of an Era!
I agree with everything Laura B said. This place is 5 star quality on all levels. I am sad it is gone:(
This place is extremely consistent. Its probably the most elegant dining spot on captiva (incl N Sanibel). Being my first night back on the island, I had to go for grouper - it was fantastic. We had a great table by the window, which overlooked the Gulf - visible through the few remaining Australian Pine trees on the island (post-Charlie). They do take reservations as well, which is a rarity on Captiva.
