Tommy Bahama

This plantation style restaurant is one of our favorites. It never
fails to take us a away for a while. It's bright and airy indoors with
butter walls trimmed a healthy green. Hanging lights are cleverly
covered with wicker boxes while ceiling fans busily swirl up a
breeze. The pervading island atmosphere is aquired with ample
use of bamboo, tropical foliage and a giant marlin which hangs
alongside the bar.

The restaurant sits on a second story giving the outdoor patio a
boastful view of the desert valley. Wicker furniture is softened by
fabric covered seat cushions and tables shaded by white canvas
umbrellas. It's the best place to sit on the weekends when Jazz or
Reggae bands play outdoors during comfortable weather. A
favorite Jimmy Buffet tune or "Classical Gas" guitar instrumental is
the perfect setting to enjoy their unusual menu and theres no
better way to kick off this bit of vacation than with a tasty Pina
Colada or Sangria. If you're in a rush to get to "Margaritaville" than
the Vinnie Barbarini vodka martini made with Kettle one and
garnished with Gorgonzola stuffed olives is the perfect escort! Hey
don't knock it 'til you try it!

Occasionally the menu changes and many memorable dishes are
no longer, but a mainstay that we hate to pass up is a bowl of their
Cooper Island Bisque ($6/$9) perfectly creamy with sweet crab
ever so conspicuous. They top it with a large homemade seasoned
crouton and finely chopped chives. I usually opt for variety,
ordering appetizers. The Above The Border Quesadilla with
smokey chicken, mushrooms, jack and cheddar was good with a
hint of chili, as was the Crab Calloway with lump crab the sole
ingredient in these two cakes, served over sweet chili mustard
sauce and garnished with Asian slaw and cilantro oil, mmm! My
heart lies, though, with the Big Island Goat Cheese ($10) rolled in
toasted crushed macadamia nuts and served warm on fresh
mango salsa and sweet soy glaze. The Laura Chanel goat cheese
is the mildest and creamiest I've ever tasted.

The Fandango Mango Chicken Salad was delicious with char-grilled
chicken, mango, hearts of palm and toasted pecans served on a
bed of mixed baby greens tossed, tossed in a tangy citrus
vinaigrette, finished with a fresh made curry dressing. The Aruba
Arugula ($16) topped with seared scallops and shrimp on bed of
sweet tamarind vinaigrette tossed arugula which is finally topped
with mango slices and chopped peanuts. All of the salads sound
tempting and have been amazing.

Both the Habana Cabana Pork Sandwich with tender pulled pork,
Tabasco onions and a Blackberry Brandy BBQ Sauce, and the
Paradise Nation Cheeseburger with honey roasted onions, smoked
bacon and melted cheese will more than please those with simple
tastes, but my favorite sandwich is the Tommy's Great Grouper
Sandwich ($13). The mild grouper is lightly battered, deep fried
and placed upon a snowflake bun, topped with honey roasted
onions and served with their Island Tartar Sauce and yummy skin-
on fries. If your not a seafood lover than the Mama Bahama
Chicken Sandwich is a good substitute with sweet honey roasted
onions on a snowflake bun, but with the addition of their Caribbean
Jerk Sauce and jack cheese.

The menu offers several salads, sandwiches, pastas, fish, chicken
and steak entrees, making it hard to even begin to make a dent in
it. To make matters worse, or better depending on how you look at
it, is their addicting basket of rich brioche with honey butter which
is nearly impossible to enjoy in moderation. When all is said and
done and it's time to go, be sure and stop into their attached gift
emporium. Here they carry their own line of vacation style
clothing and island treasures.

This place succeeds in satisfying the appetite as well as soothing
the soul.

There are three other Tommy Bahama Restaurant location, in
Newport Beach, California and in Naples and Sarasota, Florida.

We frequent their Palm Desert location at El Paseo and Larkspur.

Telephone (760) 836-0188

Website: www.tommybahama.com