Category: Featured Articles

Are you looking for a special way to send off the summer? If so, hosting a family reunion might be the best way to do it—and we’re here to help make it happen! In today’s blog, we’re looking at five easy ideas for throwing your perfect family reunion here at Stonewood Grill & Tavern.

Reach out to your family for help with the planning process

Don’t feel the need to handle your family reunion planning all on your own—planning with family members, both near and far, is easier (and a lot more fun!). Reach out to relatives to settle on a date that works for everyone and to find activities you all enjoy. By doing this, your family reunion will be a collaborative effort everyone can enjoy taking part in.

Pick a fun—and accessible—location

When it comes to scouting out your perfect reunion location, the sky’s the limit—especially with so many amazing destinations across the state of Florida! Of course, you do have to pick just one, so try to consider a place that’s accessible for all. (For example, families from the north and south sides of the state might choose to convene somewhere in Central Florida, such as Orlando or Tampa.)

Reserve your dining spot

Feeding your large family can be done with ease when you dine with us at Stonewood! We’ll take care of the details so that you can focus on having a great time with your loved ones—just be sure to book with us in advance so that your group dining arrangements are ready to go when you are.

Take advantage of local attractions

Wherever you plan to host your family reunion, be sure to take advantage of the local culture and attractions—because it’s all part of the experience! With so many one-of-a-kind destinations at your disposal, it won’t be hard to find an activity that fits the tastes of everyone in your group. Stonewood Grill & Tavern is located in such spots as…

• Wellington, a luxurious South Florida destination famous for its multitude of shopping opportunities, equestrian events, family-friendly parks and proximity to picturesque Atlantic beaches
• Jacksonville, Florida’s metropolitan hub and a popular spot for everything from beach days to shopping trips to performing arts events
• Sarasota, a Southwest Florida spot that’s home to beautiful white-sand beaches and plenty of opportunities for family fun
• Orlando, the “Theme Park Capital of the World” and a spot renowned across the world for its wealth of themed fun for the family as well as a thriving downtown perfect for shopping and dining opportunities

These are just a few of the great cities Stonewood calls “home”—find one that works for you and your family’s interests and enjoy!

Take lots of pictures

The best part of any family reunion is the wealth of memories you come home with—so be sure to take lots of photos (everything from silly to serious) of your time together.

We hope that today’s ideas help you achieve a fun, memorable family reunion. Be sure to let us know how we can make your event even better!

Make tonight extraordinary! Each of our 12 Stonewood locations has its own unique community flair—but they all commit to the same excellence in fine ingredients and kitchen expertise.  Find a Location and be sure to Sign Up for our E-Club for news and special offers!

Summertime is all about kicking back and making memories with the people you love most—and here at Stonewood, we want to help you do just that! In today’s blog, we will be looking at five fun and easy ways to enjoy time with family this summer.

Try something new

There’s a reason we all have fond memories of long days spent by the beach, at the pool or taking exciting adventures with friends—this time of year is all about unwinding and trying something new! With that in mind, why not try something you’ve never had before on our menu? It may seem small, but getting out of your comfort zone and indulging in something new can create big, meaningful memories you’ll cherish in the months and years to come.

Switch up the everyday

Looking for simple ways to make summer even more fun for the kids? Switch up your everyday routine and dine out for dinner. You’ll get a chance to laugh, learn about each other’s days, and do it all against the backdrop of our warm, welcoming Stonewood atmosphere.

Turn your next meal into an outing of its own

Don’t just go out for dinner this weekend—make it an occasion! Pair your meal with us with an excursion to local attractions, like the beautiful beaches near our Sarasota location or the plethora of parks and museums for the kids in Orlando.

Host a family reunion

Summer is one of those unique periods of time when all the kids in your family are home from school and always available—so why not take advantage of this and host a family reunion? Call in the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents for a delicious get-together hosted at one of our many Stonewood locations. You may even find one that’s centrally located and will make for easy travel for all of your relatives. We can provide the perfect backdrop for your reunion—and plenty of tasty dishes to match!

Give the gift of fun

Finally, for an extra-special way to spice up your summer, why not treat an old friend to dinner? Send them the gift of fun, laughs and plenty more memories to come with a Stonewood gift card.

We hope that today’s blog helps you find something new to do with friends and family as you wrap up summer—and of course, if your plans include dinner, don’t forget to cap off your day with a family outing to Stonewood Grill & Tavern.

Make tonight extraordinary! Each of our 12 Stonewood locations has its own unique community flair—but they all commit to the same excellence in fine ingredients and kitchen expertise. Find a Location and be sure to Sign Up for our E-Club for news and special offers!

Many kids are picky eaters—so many, in fact, that it’s often taken for granted that kids will shy away from vegetables or especially “sophisticated” dishes. While picky eating may be common, however, we here at Stonewood know it’s not the ideal way to be—especially with so many deliciously diverse food options out there!

In today’s blog, we will be taking a look at six ways to help your picky eater expand their palate and develop a taste for foods of all kinds.

Enjoy regular mealtimes

When kids’ mealtimes change every day (eating earlier some days and much later other days), it can often disrupt their routine and lead to picky habits. Help create a sense of normalcy when it comes to mealtimes so that, even when the food changes, your child is used to eating something at specific times of the day.

Start out small

Don’t expect your child to graduate from PB&J’s to seafood sandwiches right away—give them room to grow by starting out small and easing them into a new palate. For example, you can start at home by adding new items to your child’s plate one by one—so they can try new foods alongside ones they already know and love.

You can also do this by letting your child enjoy child-sized versions of sophisticated dishes. For example, our Stonewood Kids Menu includes classics like grilled chicken or steak, served with a side your child will love and their favorite drink—so they can try out new foods without necessarily having to face a large plate or especially complex ingredients all at once.

Make food fun

We’re told from a young age to not play with food, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make food fun for the family! Serving rainbow-colored dishes, letting your child use fruits and nuts to create funny faces in their yogurt, or framing family meal time with table quizzes and games are all simple ways to do this.

Integrate healthy choices into everyday staples

You can always add healthy options without necessarily changing your child’s entire dish—for example, by packing more veggies into sauces or your child’s morning plate of eggs.

Try restaurant favorites at home

If your child finds a favorite meal while dining out—and it’s nutritious—look for ways to replicate it or find something similar at home! It will make mealtime seem like more of an event, and they’ll likely be eating a more mature dish in the process.

Lead by example

Although you probably don’t need to be told—especially if you already love enjoying fruits, veggies and deliciously complex dishes—leading by example can help your child see good eating habits in play. They’ll see you truly enjoying a dish (whether it be seafood, a yummy salad, or something else), and perhaps realize in the process that food can be different and delicious!

We hope that today’s blog helps you assist your child in learning to love food in all its forms! We’d be happy to help make the process a better one by serving up Stonewood dishes that are sure to please.

Make tonight extraordinary! Each of our 12 Stonewood locations has its own unique community flair—but they all commit to the same excellence in fine ingredients and kitchen expertise.  Find a Location and be sure to Sign Up for our E-Club for news and special offers!

Fall is just around the corner—and we know that family football games, cozy afternoons and other seasonal traditions are not far behind! In honor of this upcoming change in season, we’re looking at ten fun ways to enjoy the fall with family by your side.

Spend more time outdoors

In many other spots across the country, the fall season is a precursor to very cold months spent indoors—but not in Florida! While our temperatures start to go down, a wealth of outdoor activities—from neighborhood jogs to enjoying meals outdoors—are made more enjoyable. So embrace the slight change in weather and enjoy it with family by your side!

Enjoy a family staycation

The kids are back to school, so it may not be possible to take a full-length vacation—but you can still enjoy one-of-a-kind trips much closer to home! Take a staycation for one day or over the weekend to a new Florida destination. Whether you keep it coastal or head inland for family fun at the theme parks of Orlando, your trip will be a special one.

Spice up your weekly routine

Fall means getting back into the school season swing of things, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to have fun during the week! Once everyone is situated into their new schedules, try establishing a designated family dine-out night, move night or other fun tradition.

Go camping right at home

To enjoy the cooler (and dryer) weather when it comes, enjoy a camping trip in your own backyard! This is an easy option to try on your next free night, and all you’ll is a tent, sleeping gear, and plenty of fun campfire snacks to go around.

Enjoy fall sports

Find ways to get involved with the sports the fall season is known for, whether that means encouraging your child to enjoy a local city league or enjoying fun family nights at local school sports games.

Deck out your space for fall

One of the most enjoyable aspects of fall—especially if you have an eye for design—is the chance to switch up your home’s look and décor style. You can add touches or orange or purple for an exciting fall-time look and, as we get closer to Halloween, lots of pumpkins, too!

Learn locally

This season is all about the academics, but your child can learn outside of school, too, by spending time at a local children’s museum. Cities big and small across the state have their own unique museums, from children’s learning centers to art museums or ones that focus on local culture. No matter what kind of museum you visit, it’s sure to be an enriching experience for both you and your family.

Enjoy fresh produce

Fall is known as the harvest season, and so many delicious fruits and vegetables are at their peak! So take advantage of this fact and head to your local farmer’s market to pick out deliciously fresh produce you can snack on or cook with in the months ahead.

Try out new family recipes…

This season is the perfect chance for you to whip up favorite family recipes, spend relaxing afternoons baking, or try new dishes altogether. Comfort food classics are king during the fall, so pick dishes that are especially warm, rich and satisfying.

…or come in for a fuss-free meal

Want to enjoy a meal out of the house? That works, too! Come into Stonewood for a wide selection of your favorite, carefully-crafted fall classics.

Which of these fall-centric ideas do you plan to try this season? Let us know! We here at Stonewood are happy to be a part of your autumn adventure.

Make tonight extraordinary! Each of our 12 Stonewood locations has its own unique community flair—but they all commit to the same excellence in fine ingredients and kitchen expertise.  Find a Location and be sure to Sign Up for our E-Club for news and special offers!

Are you looking for ways to spice up your family dinner routine? Why not enjoy a weekday dinner out! There are so many reasons why we love to dine out with family during the week (and it’s about more than just the delicious food!). 

In today’s blog, we will be looking at a few key reasons for switching up the routine and dining out.

Ease and convenience

One of the biggest benefits of dining out on a weeknight is, of course, the ease and convenience of doing so. Many of us love to cook homemade meals—but when work pressures and time crunches prevent you from doing so, there’s nothing better than kicking back and letting us do the cooking. Even if your family has many different schedules, it’s not hard to find the time for a delicious dinner out.

A break from the everyday

If you seem to be stuck in a rut, dining out on an otherwise typical weeknight will give you a chance to break away from the everyday. You might find yourself at your best and most inspired after a dinner out, simply because you’re not doing the same thing you do all of the time. There’s a lot to be said about getting out of the house and trying something new, so enjoy this opportunity to the fullest!

A chance to connect with family

Of course, our very favorite part of dining out with family is the unique chance to connect with one another. Work, school and other activities often keep families from enjoying quality time together—and even when it comes to dinnertime, distractions at home might keep you from maximizing your time together. When you head out and make an event of your family dinner, you’re allowing yourself and your family uninterrupted time to talk, reflect on each other’s days, and, of course, laugh! It’s not just coincidence that many of our favorite family memories are formed around the dinner table, after all. 

Are you interested in bringing the family out for a special, one-of-a-kind dining experience? Come in tonight, or make reservations online—we’re happy to make your meal as memorable as possible.

Every once in a while, it’s nice to get out of the office and enjoy the comforts of a new environment—that’s why hosting your next corporate function with us can be so rewarding! We offer group dining options for events like company parties, banquets, team building and more.

Below, we’re looking at a few of the biggest benefits of hosting your next corporate function at Stonewood Grill & Tavern.

An effortlessly simple setup

If you’ve ever planned any sort of office function, you know that organizing it isn’t always easy. Fortunately, we can take some of the pressure off your plate by giving you the food, the venue and the great atmosphere needed to put on a meaningful corporate event—you just need to focus on picking a time and a day!

Better team building opportunities

The power of a strong, cohesive team—no matter what industry you’re in—cannot be overstated. When a team works well together and feels comfortable with one another, you see great things happen. If you feel like your employees have not had the chance to “click” the way you want them to, consider giving them a chance to connect outside of the office. The new, more relaxed atmosphere might be just what was needed to foster better communication amongst your team members, which is truly something to appreciate.

A chance to think outside the box

Just as bringing your team to a new space can foster better teamwork, it can also provide the spark for creative ideas to form. If you and your team have been struggling to brainstorm and come up with creative ideas, this might be the perfect way to get out of your comfort zone and take advantage of a new environment. You might be surprised at just how many novel ideas and solutions are suggested during or following a corporate dinner out! Are you ready to book your next corporate event with us? Contact us today, or visit our Group Dining page to make an online request. We look forward to seeing you and your team here very soon! 

Whether you plan to fire up delicious steaks for your family this summer, or you hope to enjoy one on your next dinner out, you may be wondering—what makes a great steak? In today’s blog, we will be taking a look at the four key factors that make a steak juicy, delicious and allaround unforgettable.

The quality of steak

While seasoning and finesse in the kitchen can go a long way in making a steak extra delicious, nothing can top the inherent quality of well-raised meat, what happens to steak before it ever makes its way into the kitchen. At Stonewood, we pride ourselves in exactly this: the highquality, dependable places our steak comes from. We use corn-fed Midwestern beef that has earned our seal of approval due to its taste, tenderness and overall quality. It’s always good to know where your food comes from, and we strive to make that as clear and simple as possible.

Age

Why do we age beef? In short, it gives the meat the tenderness and rich flavor you’ve come to know and love, intensifying the quality of an already superb steak in the process.

Special seasoning

An experienced chef knows that simplicity in seasoning is key—after all, not much is needed to bring out the flavors of a top-quality steak! Our chefs use a signature seasoning blend that accentuates the steak instead of overpowering it and masking those unparalleled natural flavors.

How it’s cooked

The way your steak is cooked has, of course, a huge impact on how it tastes and feels. That is why we take special care in the preparation and grilling of our steaks, so that they taste even better once they get to your table. You can enjoy our popular oak-grilled method today with a delicious Sirloin or New York Strip Steak.

We hope that today’s blog gives you a better appreciation for the steak you already love, whether you prepare it at home or enjoy it with us here at Stonewood Grill & Tavern. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Here at Stonewood Grill & Tavern, there’s something delicious cooking—a special menu of summertime favorites!

Our Flavors of the Season menu is chock-full of sizzling seafood, tropical chicken and—yes—even a dessert option that will satisfy your sweet tooth this summer.

Read on to learn more about the new menu offerings, and about the inspiration that went into crafting such unique flavors.

Travel-fueled inspiration

We have Stonewood’s very own Executive Chef Mike Drury to thank for this summer’s amazing seasonal menu. His recent trips throughout the Southeast inspired the tastes and flavors he brought to the menu—from fresh tropical sauces to Southern influences that can’t be beat. Drury tasted the very best that the Southeast region has to offer, and found a way to consolidate those tastes into one especially flavor-packed menu.

Five delicious picks

What kinds of foods did Michael pick for his menu? Only the best! It features…

• Louisiana BBQ Shrimp Appetizer: If you’re looking for a flavorful, Southern-inspired appetizer to share with a friend, the Louisiana BBQ Shrimp Appetizer is a pick you can’t miss. Drury prepares the shrimp with tails intact to preserve flavor, and used peeled shrimp so that you can enjoy the dish with ease. The shrimp is served in a savory mix of herbs and the Cajun seasoning that Louisiana cuisine is known for.
• B. L. T. & E. Crab Stack Salad: For a dish that’s as colorful and visually pleasing as it is delicious, be sure to try this one-of-a-kind Drury creation. The dish includes fresh greens, vine-ripe tomatoes, sliced hard-boiled eggs, hardwood smoked bacon and, of course, perfectly tender lump crab meat. He tops it all off with a homemade Remoulade sauce, basil pesto and balsamic reduction that will balance out the plate and make it one you truly remember.
• Chicken Magnolia: Drury’s Chicken Magnolia is a dish that showcases the best—and freshest—produce the South is known for. The dish features two chicken breasts that have been marinated in herbs and oak grilled to perfection, which are then topped off with a flavorful cantaloupe, honeydew and cucumber salad (featuring mint, jalapeno and craisins). These sweet flavors combine with the spices in the dish’s accompanying rice, beans and grains medley to produce an innovative taste, one that Drury purposefully created using complementary flavors.
• Oak Grilled Citrus Salmon: Drury didn’t have to look far for this light, refreshing Southern dish—in fact, it’s a time-tested Stonewood favorite! He decided to bring back his Oak Grilled Citrus Salmon to this summer’s menu because of how popular it’s been with past guests. It features fresh Atlantic salmon served with a caper citrus vinaigrette, paired with a flavorful (and colorful) medley of sautéed potatoes, Kalamata olives, French green beans, mushrooms and grape tomatoes.
• Limoncello Cake: Finally, for dessert, Drury added a light Limoncello Cake to the mix. It’s a lemon layer cake combined with a smooth Limoncello mousse and lemon glaze you’ll want to try again and again!

An extra-special perk

As a token of appreciation for his loyal guests, Drury included one more extra-special perk on his seasonal menu: a lower price point! Now, enjoying these summertime dishes (both old and new) will be easier than ever.

Whether you love a touch of tropical with your dinner, or simply can’t get enough of hearty Southern dining, we’ve got something for the whole family on our Flavors of the Season menu. Come in and experience it all soon, since our artfully crafted unique seasonal offerings are here for a limited time. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Make tonight extraordinary! Each of our 12 Stonewood locations has its own unique community flair—but they all commit to the same excellence in fine ingredients and kitchen expertise. Find a Location and be sure to Sign Up for our E-Club for news and special offers!