It’s a Celebration
Madfish Grill
Madfish Grill celebrates its Silver Anniversary this year: 25 years of Mangospacho, and House-Brined Reuben, and Jamaican Jerk Wings; 25 years of Happy Hour Cosmos, and boozy brunches on the patio, and a legacy of family traditions.
Ben and Candice Gough officially took the reins of their beloved restaurant in April of 2021. Ben’s journey at Madfish has been one of grit and grind mixed with his own brand of dry wit. He went from part-time chef to manager to now co-owner with his wife, Candice, who brings her own bubbly vibe to the mix, going from behind-the-scenes menu and recipe development to part-time consultant to co-owner. They’re not just business partners; they’re ride-or-die pals, living, working, and adventuring side by side, always with big smiles.
Madfish Grill isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a home away from home where the crew and the regulars are like family, sticking together through thick and thin for over 20 years. This group is so tight knit that they’ve developed their own self-referential nomenclature (they refer to the host crew as “Madfishians”) and it’s not unusual to see generations of family members on the team.
Sarah started as a host and now she’s a bartender. General Manager Alicia’s daughter, Kelsey, started as a host at age 15—sneaking cherries from the bar—and she’s now a manager; odds are likely her new baby, Evelyn, will grow up to be a Madfishian too.
Madfish Grill isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a home away from home where the crew and the regulars are like family, sticking together through thick and thin for over 20 years.
The mural on the outside of the building was painted by Madeline, whose grandfather started bringing her to Madfish when she was a baby. “Chompo” the chef has been there for 22 years—Ben taught him to sauté back when Ben was still only working part-time.
Logan Gough is one of the managers and he also happens to be Candice and Ben’s son. And I used to babysit for Logan and his sister, Sydney, back when I worked for Candice at a restaurant on Hillview Avenue many moons ago. In the grand tradition of Sarasota in general—and Madfish in particular—we’re all connected through the mosaic of local hospitality. As the Goughs put it: “We treat our people well and we care about each other.”
Don’t get it twisted: Madfish Grill is not just a great place to raise your family, it’s also a great place to raise your glass and your fork. Madfish boasts one of the most fiercely loyal happy hour crowds in all of Sarasota (see our article about Eric Piper in our Fall 2022 issue) and one of the most hotly contested menus too. Take the Jamaican Jerk Wings. On the menu the description reads: “jerk glazed… fan fave since 1999” and that’s not hyperbole. “We removed the wings from the menu once,” laughs Candice. “There was a Facebook uprising.”
She says they listen to their guests, look at the data, and go from there. The food at Madfish is fresh and locally sourced, at once inventive and nostalgic, thanks to Candice’s creativity and Ben’s influence.
“We do a lot of R&D when we travel,” she says. “We sometimes eat at five places in one day.” The menu features many homages to Ben’s Boston roots and demonstrates Candice’s flair for the unusual: Where else can you enjoy a Grouper Chimichanga alongside North End Lobstah Pasta?
As Madfish Grill hits this big 25-year milestone, they’re rolling out the welcome mat for both longtime fans and fresh faces to stop by and savor the flavors and reminisce about the journey so far. So gather your family and raise your glass (and your fork) to 25 years of delicious moments, and countless more to come!
Madfish Grill: 4059 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, 941-377-3474; madfishgrill.com
