Travel the world at Mattison's

 arry-out and curbside pickup available

Paul Mattison has developed quite a dining franchise over the years. His three restaurants offer cuisine that is similar but unique for each location.

Mattison's Forty-One on the South Trail in Sarasota offers lunch and dinner seven days a week, plus brunch on weekends. The restaurant features live entertainment and dancing nightly. Dining highlights are pizza, chicken, steak and pasta.

Mattison's Riverside on the Manatee River in Bradenton is housed at the end of the historic Memorial Pier Downtown. There is dockage for boaters, a sushi bar and a menu accenting fish, shellfish and crabs, as well as pizza, steaks, chicken and pasta.

Mattison's City Grill is in downtown Sarasota. The restaurant is al fresco to the max. "Indoor" dining is open to the sights and sounds of downtown, and outdoor dining under broad thatch umbrellas brings the streetscape up close and personal.

The City Grille had its roots in a businessperson's lunch, and lunch is still a big part of the businesses. Popular luncheon fare includes a Grilled Salmon Salad ($13.99) with greens, cucumber, tomato, peperoncini and cusabi dressing.

Another popular salad is the Grilled Chicken Salad ($14.99) with greens, chicken, strawberries, walnuts, tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese in with white balsamic vinaigrette.

Tapas - light fare - patron-pleaser is Pesto Goat Cheese Bruschetta with basil olive oil and balsamic drizzle with Parmesan cheese for $8.99. It is also available for dinner.

Also available at lunch and dinner is a host of brick-oven pizzas. A popular pie is the Bistro with sliced tenderloin, Gorgonzola, portobello mushrooms, tomato sauce, onions and mozzarella ($16.99 medium, $24.99 large).

Some have said that Mattison's City Grille's Main Street Sterling Burger is one of the best in town. It has eight ounces of ground sirloin with traditional toppings served with crispy french fries or field greens for $9.99.

Dinner entrees provide a trip around the world as far as cuisine is concerned.

Shrimp Rangoon as a tapas ($12.99) is tempura fried shrimp with cream cheese, Thai chili sauce and a sweet soy drizzle.

Sashimi & Sushi is another tapas, this time with seared tuna sashimi, tempura fried crab and vegetable sushi served with pickled ginger and a side of seaweed salad for $13.95.

Visit the deep south through a bowl of Mattison's Louisiana Lobster Chowder at $8.99.

Do the Southwest with Chipotle Steak Salad ($14.99) with grilled skirt steak, onions, Roma tomatoes and green beans tossed in chipotle vinaigrette and topped with avocado.

Go Scandinavian with a Grilled Norwegian Salmon Salad over greens with cucumbers, tomatoes, peperoncini and cusabi dressing for $13.99. Cusabi, by the way, is a creamy cucumber-wasabi sauce.

Or visit the other side of the world with an Australian Full Rack of Lamb ($25.99) with port wine and an English mustard glaze served with mashed potatoes and garlic spinach.

Or just hunker down with some comfort food. The Classic Mealoaf is concocted with black Angus ground beef wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon with mashed potatoes, gravy and crispy onions for $16.99.

Mattison's City Grille also has a Filet Mignon and Bourbon Onions served with mashed potatoes, house veggies and Dijon hollandaise for $28.99. Coming back home is a Florida favorite: Pan Roasted Grouper with Shrimp and Crab. The entrèe is served with potato cakes, veggies and a pepper-lime coulis for $25.99.

Desserts include Crème Brulee, Flourless Chocolate Espresso Torte, Key Lime Pie and Xangos - a banana-caramel cheesecake wrapped in pastry and served warm a la mode - all for $7.99.

Platters are available for groups of eight to 15 people at varying prices and a 24-hour advance notice and include free delivery in the downtown area.

Carry-out for those eating at their desk is available, as is curbside pickup. Mattison's offers large-scale catering for groups large and small.

Mattison's City Grille also has a brunch menu Saturday and Sunday, with everything from a muffin basket ($5.99) to Belgian Waffles ($8.99) to a Char-Grilled Steak and Eggs for $12.99.

As Mattison's City Grille manager Leah Pollard put it, "We have great food and live entertainment every night. It's a fun atmosphere."

WHEN YOU GO

Hours Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Full bar; live entertainment