Two Blondes and a Shrimp

One of my favorite places!!! The food is incredible and the atmosphere matches it!

Fish was really good, but no pecans on the mahi per the menu «pecan romesco».
Pasta Étouffée was really marginal. Bad night for the Chef. Andouille sausage had no flavor, and the dish/​sauce taste was not blended. Oddly enough the shrimp was overcooked and tough. Chicken was perfect.
Thought the atmosphere was nice and the band was great. Food was not worth the trip to sanford.
i might try it again, but would suggest trying something else.

This was my first visit (and last) to Two Blondes and a Shrimp. My mistake was that I purchased a $ 50 coupon on Restau​rant​.Com for $ 20 but failed to read the «fine print». It stated I needed to purchase $ 100 of food to use the coupon. When I got to the restaurant, I showed the coupon to the waitress & explained my error (I should have clicked on the coupon for $ 17.50 for $ 35). I asked her if I could use the $ 50 coupon for $ 35 of food. I further explained that Restau​rant​.Com required only $ 17.50 instead of $ 20 for the $ 35 coupon. She asked the Owner/​Manager on duty Sunday, 1÷9÷11 (didn’t get his name) & he refused to honor my coupon. I went to speak with him personnally. He said the website (Restau​rant​.Com) clearly indicated what was offered at their website. He said this to me in front of everyone sitting at the Bar. From his «tone of voice» I felt he was saying to me that I was «stupid» for purchasing the wrong coupon. Without hesitation and very emphatically stated he wasn’t going to honor or compensate me for the coupon I purchased. We walked out dissatisfied & out $ 20. One member of my party had to return to the restaurant to retrive an item left at our table and found the Owner/​Manager explaining to everyone seated at the Bar why we left the restaurant. Professional? No Understanding? No
This is a «new» restaurant in Sanford — how long do you think they will be in business with the attitude that the «customer is ALWAYS wrong»?

I’ve only been once since the new menu. I really liked the bartender from Belfast. He was very helpful and had excellent suggestions including a unique spiced rum. The mahi was delicious. Rooster in courtyard is a fun reason to visit.

Ok, after two years of visits I feel it’s finally time to write a review of this place. Like so many other dining experiences it’s a tale of two restaurants in one. What do I mean? The front of the house and back of the house are nowhere near the same the level of execution.
At no time in my many visits was this more evident than last Saturday. We stopped in for lunch and I knew pretty quick it was going to be an «experience». We waited too long to be greeted and when the owner was walking us to our table she took the time to answer her cell phone. When the owner does that it doesn’t bode well for the rest of the staff. We were sat in the outdoor patio area. It’s a really nice space open on both ends and framed by the brick walls of the 100 year buildings on either side. We then waited, I used my watch at this point, almost 10 minutes to be greeted. The server then had to take another 5 minutes for her to find menus. Almost another 10 to get our drink order. So we’ve invested almost 30 minutes to them at this point but still don’t have anything in front of us. This is not the first time this has happened by the way. We perused the menus and made our selections and wondered how long we would continue to wait. Mind you, the two servers were moving around a great deal but really accomplishing nothing at this point. A for effort in motion… D for results. Oddly our food came out quicker than our first round of drinks. I had the Shrimp Burger. I’ve been looking at for years but finally took the plunge. Not bad at all. Kind of a cross between a hush puppy and a crab cake. They should make it thinner and change the bun. It’s too doughy to chew through at 1.5 inches thick and the bun was fresh but couldn’t hold up to the mass of the burger or the tartar sauce. My better half ordered the BLT Sea… a BLT with mahi mahi. Again it was pretty good but needed more BLT and better bread. Our companions tried the BBQ nachos which were good but had as much pork as chips. Can’t complain about the value but it was out of ration for nachos. I almost forgot the mac n cheese. This side dish is one of central Florida’s best! No one else comes close on the mac n cheese front… they make a simple layered cheese and fresh pasta «lasagna». Almost makes it worth while.
Part two… the front of the house. Service here has always been slow but this was a new record. It took 45 minutes from door to food at 1:30 on a Saturday! There were 8 tables taken and all but one had already eaten. I then proceeded to watch our server argue with a customer not once but TWICE! She actually stopped to argue with her again as she was leaving! I overheard both altercations and the woman wasn’t abusive. Never, never, never argue with a customer in front of others unless they’re hurling expletives at you! And then walk away and let management handle it! Oh wait… never mind. I’ve watched the owner dawdle around since they opened and she has no business managing. She could double her business if she hired a real GM and got the hell out of there. The kitchen does good enough work for people to return knowing the service is usually appalling.
They need Gordan Ramsay to stop by and raise hell with the FOH and leave the chef alone! It really makes you wonder what could be done with this beautiful space if they had a clue.

Note, they have a NEW MENU! The website wasn’t updated as of this posting, FYI. I ordered to go again, ordered shrimp and grits (not the BBQ shrimp and grits) and the she-​crab soup.
Totally impressed with the shrimp and grits, not overcooked and was just yum! The only problem was it was so good, I overate and felt sick afterwards :(The she-​crab soup I was a little disappointed with, it was a little thin and needed salt. Not as crabby as I would’ve liked, but not «bad».
I took a look at the new menu, and it seems like it’s more focused on sandwiches and the entrees side only had about 5 dishes. However, there’s still tomato pie listed… :)

Great food love the fountain outside the service was great and the rooster is nice and friendly you can pet his head and under his neck only but don’t touch his feathers!

I adore the look of the restaurant. The interior is narrow with exposed brick and local art for sale along the walls. The lighting is dim and cozy. The much larger courtyard outside is wide and has a domed arching ceiling. Again, love the bricks and eclectic décor. The very friendly rooster who struts around completely unbothered by the diners is a nice touch.
The night we visited the staff was totally overwhelmed. We waited for several minutes to be seated. When we were seated it was by one of the «blondes» whose hand were full bringing drinks to another table so we carried our own menus. There were plenty of open tables so I’m thinking this must have been a staffing issue. I saw something here I’ve never seen before; the dishwasher cleared our table while we still sat there. He scooped all the leftover food bits onto one plate with his hands. I’m glad we were done eating! (BTW… there were plenty of open tables and no one was waiting) Our server looked frazzled and our drinks and apps took a while arriving. We weren’t in a hurry so it didn’t matter much until we noticed diners seated after us getting their food first. We had the she-​crab soup ($ 7.50) which wasn’t creamy enough for my taste and had too much celery. We really enjoyed the tomato pie ($ 6.50) which warms you to your soul. The best way I can describe it is like a tomato and cheese quiche.
I had the BBQ Chicken Melt ($ 9) which had a nice smoky flavor but the chicken was dry. I sampled the Orange Blossom Special ($ 8) with its turkey, orange marmalade, cream cheese and craisins was the better sandwich. My husband ate the remainder of my son’s catfish fingers and said they were even better than his sandwich! Overall the restaurant has great potential; I’m just going to say they were having an off night. I’d gladly give them another shot before deciding if this place is 5 star worthy.

Hit Two Blondes and a Shrimp today for lunch with my boyfriend and had an amazzzzzing lunch. Here’s the highlights:
1. Key West Beer — They carry it, you should order it.
2. Apple Chicken Salad — took awhile because they were creating the pecan coating for the chicken from scratch, but lawdamercy it was so worth the wait. This salad is not to be missed.
3. The special of the day was a Turkey wrap that was also outstanding, and very affordable at $ 5.99.
4. The She Crab soup is effing absurd, so meaty, so good.
5. Local art is alllll over the walls now. Absolutely fabulous!
6. Sheree (?) went to her car to get me excedrin because of my sudden migraine. Now *that* is going above and beyond.
Take some time and go here — they care, and it shows.

Although there may not be many other choices in the area, almost any one of them would be better. I had heard some good buzz and the reviews here were mostly positive. Maybe they were having a bad day, or maybe not. I know that Willow Tree across the street was slammed, while Two Blondes was empty.

I have frequented this fun and inviting restaurants many times. Each time I am intriged at trying a different menu option. Their food is fresh, seasonal and truely southern. The flavor combinations come together beautifully and they put their own unique spin on recipes that have been around forever. My favorites include the orange/​crannbery turkey sandwich and the mango curry shrimp.
The atmospher is very eclectic with an island feel, yet you’re still in the heart of the south. The outside seating area is very roomy and comes full circle with their own rooster… yes, that’s right, there’s a rooster that lives there and walks around freely. We took our dogs there for lunch and they had their own fun trying to figure out what that crazy looking feathered thing was roaming around.
The wait staff is very friendly and they treat you like they have known you for years. They could also have a seat right at your table while taking your order and getting to know you. It’s that kind of place.
Their desserts are delicous and I would recommend saving room in your tummy for some.

I went to Two Blondes and a Shrimp with my Wife for lunch one Friday afternoon and was thoroughly impressed. It was hot out, but with a nice breeze coming through the shady breezeway, it was great to sit outside. They had Dogfish Head 60min IPA, which is one of my favorites, so I ordered a beer and my wife had a glass of wine to complete the nice and comfortable atmosphere the restaurant provides.
I had the shrimp and grits, which were great. The grits were perfectly cooked, and had some cheese added to them to make them creamy. The shimp was cooked with peppers, onions, and chorizo in a spicy (flavorful, not hot) ‘barbecue’ sauce that was delicious.
My wife had the black bean patties, that were pan-​seared and topped with a red pepper remoulade sauce. They were excellent, as was her macaroni and cheese side, which was basically lasagna sized noodles layered with a nice cheesy bechamel sauce.
We had the from-​scratch key lime pie for dessert, and it was very good. The only complaint I have is that they put the neon-​green lime syrup on the plate. I hate that stuff, and I don’t think it has any place screwing with the already perfect taste of a good key lime pie. Regardless, the pie was tasty.
The prices are very decent, considering the quality and portion of the food, and the great surroundings. It looks like they have live music sometimes, as they have a small stage setup under the breezeway, and I think this would be a great place to relax and catch some good live music.
On a side note, there was a rooster running around the dining area. Not sure if that thing was feral or if it is part of the restaurant, but it was interesting to say the least! Either way, I would recommend anybody to try this restaurant. I was very impressed.

This place has awesome food. I recommend the fried green tomatoes and Carribean meat loaf. Only problem is that you have to go acroos the street to the German place for a before, during, or after dinner shot.

Located in the artsy district of Sanford, Two Blondes and a Shrimp has a menu that comes straight from the Southern Bayou, things like fried catfish, tomato pie, and pimento-​cheese sandwiches.
The narrow inside dining room complete with brick walls and eclectic paintings fits with the artsy experience of Sanford’s first avenue. However the enormous outdoor patio breezeway is the place to be, as large chairs and lounges allow you to spread out with the enormous portions.

Two Blondes and a Shrimp Downtown, Sanford :)
I’ll pause for you to make many jokes with the name of this great restaurant. All right, now get up and go eat here it’s awesome. I love this place! The location has been different dining dumps for years and it seems they finally got it right. Before I go on and on, order the tomato pie while you look over the well-​put-​together wine list. There’s a Riesling on there that’s the best I’ve ever had. Goes fantastic with the tomato pie. The pretty girl with the big tattoo on her chest will tell you which Riesling I’m talking about. The young cute guy waiter is inexperienced but tries very hard and does a hell of a job to make you feel comfortable and welcome. Doesn’t take much to be a good server, just be nice and attentive.
Doesn’t take much to be a good server, just be nice and attentive.
After a few glasses of wine, I remember having soup. It was good but I don’t remember what kind it was. I’d remember if it was bad. The lady that owns the place, one of the blondes, was there she’s gracious and seemed relaxed sets the whole tone of the place. I could have sat there and drank wine all night. I did mention how fabulous the wine list is right?
Now something sweet to finish with, before even considering the menu the young male cutie server mentioned the chocolate dipped strawberries. Sure, how can you go wrong there? They came quickly and were the perfect ending to my date with myself. I treated me and couldn’t have picked a better place to do it. Outdoor dining in their brick courtyard would make a perfect setting for you and a lover. Have fun, have wine and have it here soon you’ll be glad you did.
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