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Bahama Breeze
Categories: Restaurants Seafood Restaurants Caribbean Seafood, Caribbean [Edit]
3045 N Rocky Point Dr ETampa, FL 33607
(813) 289-7922
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
59 reviews for Bahama Breeze
Review Highlights
"...husband always gets the cuban bread, also delicious and I..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Very casual atmosphere with a tropical flare."
(in 10 reviews)
"...and we got really good seats overlooking the water."
(in 3 reviews)
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59 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica B.
Cleveland, OH
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I live in Cleveland, OH and never knew this was a chain. This was my first time visiting and the food was pretty good, and the bar atmosphere (both inside and out) is pretty electric. You have a great view of the water and there are people everywhere. It'd be pretty difficult to have a bad time at this place.
Our group of six arrived a little early and ordered some drinks outside and tried to catch the last of the sunset (difficult since it was a cloudy night) but we figured wth, it's warm and we have good drinks and good company! I had the salmon (cooked nicely but a little plain) and service was both fast and friendly. If I'm back in Tampa anytime soon, I'd probably hit this place up, at least for the view. -
Review from Michael C.
Tampa, FL
8/29/2011
I live off a canal. My roommate owns a boat. Ergo, we took the boat to Bahama Breeze. That in of itself makes for a unique experience.
The view is spectacular as it sits over the bay, and the ambiance is always great both inside and out. However our server informed us that during season on the weekends the wait can be over 2 hours long, and people will wait. I don't understand why.
Again, you're really going for the ambiance. The menu isn't that huge (for a Caribbean restaurant there are only a handful of seafood dishes) and a lot of it is expensive. Don't get me wrong, the quality is superb and they offer smaller portions for a smaller price, but still you have to wonder if its worth it.
If you like mixed drinks you can't go wrong considering they have 3 bars (2 outside, one inside) and their mixed drink menu is a big as their regular menu. Also their appetizers occupy half the menu, so that might be a better deal than the actual entrees.
Overall great view, great ambiance, great service, decent food, horrible wait, a bit over-priced. Worth it if you want something fun and different and you're willing to spend. -
Review from Angel M.
Atlanta, GA
8/20/2011
In defense of the restaurant, its really not my style.....but I was hungry , it was POURING and this was the closest restaurant. I have a Bahamian heritage and I know its not Bahamian but "island" food.
Bahama Breeze was really nice. I ran in and sat at the bar. The atmosphere was fun a lively and Ruth is a super awesome bartender. As everyone else has said, the restaurant sits over the bay and its packed. Blah, blah, blah...no need to reinvent the wheel here.
I ordered the corn cakes and the Grilled Jerk Wings. Hmmmm. What can I say about the corn cakes. If they are free then taste them, if someone else in your party orders them, taste, them. I don't know who came up with this recipe...which island did the visit??? The dense cornbread pancake isle....imho, you can skip this dish.
On a positive note, the Grilled Jerk wings (Jamaican, not Bahamian) were outstanding. I had a side of the Habenero sauce from the fried wings to slather on top of my jerk wings...to give it a little extra heat. They did not disappointing. Taste and a lite kick to it.
Final Thought: Go, Eat! But for the love of all things good and tasty in this world...Don't get the corn cakes. lol -
Review from Ross M.
St Petersburg, FL
1/21/2012
This place is very good, but often very crowded. My parents regularly go to the Bahama Breeze in Michigan and "stare at the parking lot pretending it's the ocean." Here it is not quite the ocean, but it does overlook Tampa Bay. Side note, we did not have reservations and did not want to wait 70 minutes (on a Saturday evening around 6pm). If you wander over to the patio, you can get drinks and a limited menu. All the tables were full, but we made the rounds and my fiancées mother has an eagle eye, so we scoped out a table soon to be leaving and made our presence known. With that we were seated relatively quickly (maybe 10 minutes max). The limited menu is still very good, and the service was excellent (friendly and efficient); especially considering the crowd and wait. The entire experience surpassed expectations. Sliders were very good, both the hamburger and the chicken sliders. Coconut shrimp is a must.
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Review from Michelle L.
Tampa, FL
7/10/2011
The restaurant sits over the bay with a beautiful view and fresh breeze. Definitely a fun and chillaxing atmosphere but I cannot get over how loud it was! A Jamaican/tropical theme interior with an interesting menu because there aren't much seafood but rather a lot of chicken! The wait was long but nothing bad for a weekend night if you arrive before 6! Service was friendly but not very prompt. I found the tables to be too close to each other and cramped. Not to mention, there were parties of 10+ people who were already drunk (assuming from the outside bar) before their dinner and were extremely obnoxious by disregarding other guests.
Fruit drinks were tasty and refreshing. Jamaican Grilled Chicken Wings were really good; crispy on the outside, warm and flavorful inside with the all Jamaican spices! Seafood Paella was mediocre; a skimpy amount of seafood - shrimps, scallops, mussels were all so puny, plate was bombarded with overcooked yellow rice and frozen-like with peas. Very typical food with a hint tropical flavor.
Bahama Breeze is a nice place to get together to enjoy the bay and live music but don't take the food too serious. -
Review from Erin B.
Minneapolis, MN
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The wings were the best thing we had. Skip the plantains. They are mediocre at best and make you wish they would just serve nachos instead. I got the Cuban and it left something to be desired. It is right on the water and a beautiful inside, but I wouldn't back for the food.
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Review from Rebecca S.
Washington, DC
3/29/2011
When boyfriend's aunt and uncle said they wanted to take me to dinner while I was in Tampa, I said absolutely and crossed my fingers for some good seafood. Bahama Breeze did not disappoint.
Right near the airport, apparently this is their go to place when they have to pick their grandkids up at the airport - food before the hour drive back to the Island, and a diverse enough menu that everyone can find something they like. The first thing I noticed was that it looked CROWDED, and I was hungry, and I was not excited about a long wait for a table. Turns out, the outside was way more crowded than inside, and even though it was busy, we were seated right away.
Our server had a great sense of humor, which is always a plus - aunt and uncle do too, and it made for a fun evening. I wish I could remember her name, but she was fantastic. We started with onion rings, and I could have eaten the whole platter. They put coconut in their batter, and that sweetness on the onions... YUM.
Uncle and I had black grouper, done different ways, and aunt had a salad. All three of us were very happy with our meals. My grouper was "jerk style," which was basically just grilled with a spicy barbecue-ish sauce. The sauce was good, and didn't overpower the fish. It came with sweet potatoes and a sweet jicama and pepper salsa of some sort. It was all really good, but I wish it had come with a vegetable - the green beans uncle got with his looked fresh and perfectly steamed.
Great atmosphere, although a little loud. Prices were reasonable. If I'm back in Tampa for work again, I definitely wouldnt mind going back, and sitting outside if the weather allows for it.Listed in: Oh the Places You'll Go...
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Review from Ariana L.
Tampa, FL
Updated - 5/12/2011
I have ate at this Bahama Breeze multiple times in the past two years. I always bring guests who visit Tampa here and it's always wonderful.
You can't go expecting not to have to wait for a table. It's good to call-ahead, although...I must be quite frank, it doesn't do much.
Last night, my husband and I ate here...expecting it to not be that busy on a Thursday night-but it was PACKED. That's okay though...it's rarely ever NOT packed. We didn't call-ahead because it was a last minute decision to eat there...so, the hostess told us it'd be about a half hour wait and handed us our little vibrator thingy.
We sat and patiently waited for about 50 minutes...FINALLY, our buzzer thing went off and we took it up to the podium where there were at least 5 hosts/hostesses standing there-at this particular time there was also a waiter standing at the podium speaking to one of the hostesses...so, my husband held the blinking buzzer in his hand and was looking at the waiter (because he didn't know who to give it to) and the waiter refused to touch it and just pointed at the hostess, who then gave us a look and finished her conversation then WALKED AWAY. Wow. It was the rudest thing I have ever experienced in a restaurant before. One of the other friendly hostesses came over and apologized for the other hostesses poor attitude and walked us over to our table.
From there on out, the service was as expected. It wasn't top notch, but it was busy so I forgive them for things they can't control. I wound up getting the salmon (first time I've had this) off the catch of the day menu...I got it sauteed with shrimp and butter/lemon sauce with garlic mashed potatoes. It was delicious! My husband got the cuban, like always and it wasn't warm all the way through...so he was somewhat disappointed.
I will always recommend the seafood chowder, this is a must have if you are visiting Bahama Breeze. My husband always gets the cuban bread, also delicious and I always have a piece and dip it in my chowder. YUM!
So, of course I will be returning to Bahama Breeze in the future. It's a great place to bring people from up North because the atmosphere is great and it's on the water, so there's a great view...the service is usually outstanding, as well. But expect a wait...and don't go starving because you will have to wait at least a half hour almost every time if you're going for dinner...but believe me, it's worth it. I was just a little disappointed in the hostess this time. But hey, there's always one rude bitch at ever establishment. I'm sure she won't last long. :-)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/22/2010
This is one of my favorite places to go in Tampa. Everytime I have an out-of-town guest, I bring… Read more »
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Review from Michelle S.
Miami, FL
9/10/2011
Decent bar food and atmosphere, a great place to go if you're staying nearby on business. Waiters are friendly and the spinach dip and sliders were pretty yum!
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Review from Doug D.
Meridian, ID
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I thought this chain was going out of business. It would seem as though they are making a slow growth come back. I had a nice jerk chicken pasta that was very good. Sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly. I would suggest eating here.
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Review from Marcos O.
Tampa, FL
10/15/2011
Sits on the water in rocky point. Great spot. It has really good burgers however it is usually packed!!!! I don't know of any good times to avoid the crowd.
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Review from C F.
Tampa, FL
10/11/2011
I would go here every week if I could! Has a great atmosphere, especially out on the patio by the dock and the water. When I was there, there was live music and a mixed crowd of young and old. I got the jerk chicken pasta which was EXCELLENT. The service was prompt, the waiter was nice, and our glasses never got empty. I'm sure it would be great to eat outside during sunset and I will most certainly take my family to BB when they come into town.
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Review from Nicole S.
Chicago, IL
4/5/2011 9 Check-ins Here
Love Bahama Breeze. I like the variety and it's my island fix while in Tampa. I always eat here because the food is always amazing. I like the staff and am generally given great service and great food.
The pomegranate martini is delish!!! The place gets packed after 6:30pm. So an early arrival is a must or you'll wait for a half an hour or more. -
Review from Rachael F.
Boston, MA
8/24/2010
When my dad said this was where we were going for a family dinner I was worried. From the name to the neon sign you can see from the road to the cookie cutter chain decor, I was pretty certain that this was going to be a meh restaurant chain experience.
However, it turned out to be a pretty fun dining experience! The service was exceptional, our waiter was really personable. The food ended up being delicious! I had pan seared talapia. The fish was perfect and the mango butter was delectable. Side of green beans were perfectly cooked, the rice was okay. My family enjoyed their food and cocktails as well. Key lime pie was great too.
We ate outside, and you can tell just from looking around that it's mostly tourists. There was a sort of a Caribbean style singer performing, which was a little over the top. This restaurant is super fun if you're visiting the area, and pretty decent if you live around here as well. -
Review from Elizabeth D.
Tampa, FL
Whether I'm in Tampa, Orlando, or Ft. Lauderdale, I'm always a fan of Bahama Breeze. One absolute must have is the coconut breaded onion rings- huge, so crunchy, and not sopping with oil. I definitely cannot skip these! They come with two sauces, both of which are delicious. My other favorite is the chicken kabob. I swear the meat is sooooo tender.
Also, they have tons of tropical, oh-so-full-of-calories, drinks. You'll definitely feel guilty when you leave here, but I'm sure you'll be back! -
Review from Caryn C.
Central Manchester, CT
2/1/2011
I loved this place!! Really wish they had them in CT... anyway...
Our food was really good (I had fish tacos, friend had flatbread) and the drinks were delicious (I had a mint iced tea and white sangria). I wish we had ordered more but at least I know I can go back when I am in the area again and try some other items. Pricing was fair.
The day was beautiful and we got really good seats overlooking the water. Our waiter was very nice and efficient and the live music added to the island feel.
This will definitely be on my list when I go back to Tampa. -
Review from Mike Y.
San Diego, CA
2/21/2011
Lived in Tampa Bay for 2 years and still go down there for vacation with my wife and we always make it a point to go to Bahama Breeze on Rocky point. The location here is awesome because it is right on the bay and they have a huge outdoor deck overlooking the water to chill out on.
The food here never disappoints. My personal favorite is the crab and avocado stack with chil sauce. I've also had conch chowder here that was delicious. The fish always tastes super fresh and cooked to perfection. They used to have a pineapple tilapia special with coconut rice that was one of the best dishes I've ever had but the last time we were there, it wasnt on the menu.
One thing is this place can get packed on the weekends - sometimes a 2+ hour wait so either get there early or make a reservation. -
Review from Barney B.
San Diego, CA
8/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
On the 5th day, God created ugly people.
And then he told them to come here -
Review from scott h.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2011
Fantastic service. Absolutely, fantastic.
Pfct place for kids too.
Jerk chicken dinner was outstanding. Food is fresh and prepared to perfection.
Chef was helping servers. Great touch. -
Review from Michael C.
San Francisco, CA
11/16/2010
Super cool place to eat, drink and gather with friends. Outside deck is awesome!
Good overall experience but this would probably be a 3, maybe 3.5 star place without the bay side seating.
Fruity frozen drinks were good, especially for the price. Someone actually complained about the cost here!? Yes I grew up in NYC and live in SF, but $30 for two drinks and two entrees is pretty cost effective.
Food was good. Girlfriend made it a point to go back for the fish tacos. Tortilla soup was tasty and filling. Overheard people raving about the Talapia.
Also thought it was pretty cool you can dock your boat and grab a bite. -
Review from Tiffany B.
Tampa, FL
10/21/2010 8 Check-ins Here
The best thing about Bahama Breeze is the atmosphere- the deck is not to be missed! Their service and drinks are great, too. However, their food is only so-so. Every dish I've gotten seems a little 'off', except the Crab Claws St. Thomas, which they unfortunately discontinued.
UPDATE: Crab Claws St. Thomas are back! This affords them another star in and of itself. They also have a few new dishes, most notably the grilled chicken with cilantro crema. SO. FREAKING. YUM. -
Review from Alan B.
Lacey, WA
5/9/2010
Went there last Sunday for lunch with a half dozen friends while we were all in town for a business conference. We sat outside on the patio overlooking the water, and I felt the overall atmosphere was excellent. Given the size of our party, two of us went to pull a table up next to another one, only to get a good laugh at the fact that the tables are bolted down.
At first we figured there must be a lot of table thefts there, but then I realized - hurricanes!
Our wait-person, Kendra, was quick to serve our tables, and had a great up-beat attitude. Given how crowded it was, that meant a great deal to my ability to enjoy the experience.
I ordered the grilled salmon and it was outstanding. Cooked perfectly... We had a great time there, and though I can't speak to any other meals they serve, it's a place I'd highly recommend to anyone staying anywhere near the area.
Bahama Breeze totally met my idea of a perfect meal experience. -
Review from Beth T.
Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2007
Him: Wanna go get a drink?
Me: Ok, where though, I want somewhere laid back. Let's go to Bahama Breeze.
Him: Excellent.
(Seated immediately around 6:45PM on the outside deck with a gentle breeze blowing overlooking the bay bridges -- our excellent waitress Kelley stops by...)
Me: I will have a Bahama Mama
Him: Corona please
(Two Hours and three drinks each later...)
Me: More?
Him: Sure
Me: Munchies?
Him: Sure - goat cheese with parmesan toast?
Me: Yum, goes perfect with the cocktails....Kelley?
(Two more hours later....still drinking)
Me: We should probably head out
Him: Yes, the damage is done.
Me: Kelley, check please
The girl is on top of it like everything else that night -- total for the app plus goodness knows how many drinks (yeah I lost count)
$62.00
Can't beat it with a sugarcaned breezy stick.Listed in: Hometown Hotties
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Review from Mark A.
Concord, CA
11/26/2007
When I think back on my five or six trips (or more) to F-L-A, Bahama Breeze often comes up.
It's laid back, tropical, fun, and has great views ~ both of the water, and of the clientele. This is not The French Laundry or such - this is a tropical-themed classy-casual restaurant / bar. A friend used it as his Friday after-work, relax and meet the opposite sex... and get ready for his night out on the town. The two times I went, it was just an appetizer and drinks.
The food was good to very good for a chain, and portions were fair. Its got great access, water views, (often live) music, and some nice folks to chat with ... hard to beat. (Food was a 3.5 - 4.) -
Review from Paul J.
Minneapolis, MN
3/12/2010
A local suggested this place to me so I went there for an appetizer and drink. All I know is that the St. Thomas Crab Claws app is the tastiest thing I've had in a long time. Pure crab/butter/garlic goodness. Thanks to Brittany for being a pleasant bartender/server and it seems like a fun night time spot as well.
The one thing I wasn't fond of is the whole staff had matching Hawaiian shirts on. That made it feel a little like a TGIF. -
Review from George O.
St Petersburg, FL
3/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The drinks were great. I had a Margarita on the rocks, Bahama Margarita, & Bahamian Sunset. They were oh so tasty! The lobster & shrimp linguini was very good. The seafood tasted very fresh and was seasoned just right. The only downside for me was the crab claw appetizer. It just had a weird taste, but the waiter was more than happy to take it off of the check.
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Review from Robert S.
Tampa, FL
6/19/2008
Looks like a giant birthday cake. This place gives the ocean a bad name.
F -
Review from Luke H.
1/9/2009
Tourist trap. The view is good, but please eat outside if you must dine here. It is way over priced. WAY OVERPRICED.
The ambiance inside is horrible. It feels like a second rate Disney design. The smells are often clashing...bleach and fried shrimp anyone?
I have been here 4 times in 4 years, and each time because of convenience. It may have one of the better locations in Tampa in the calm waters, but the view can't compete with Clearwater Beach...so if you want to be in awe of the view, then take the 15 minute ride up the road to the beach. -
Review from Tu-van L.
8/29/2006
The tropical vibe of this restaurant is appropriate for its Tampa Bay/Courtney Campbell Causeway beachfront locale. I've only been here once a long time ago but I remember this place having fun drinks (alcoholic and non), entrees in large portions and appetizers in even larger portions. I ordered onion rings here and they give you a PILE of them.
Come for the food and stay for the view. You'll love it. -
Review from Krista C.
Manhattan, NY
6/27/2011
I visit Tampa often and always try to make a trip to Bahama Breeze while I'm there. Their house salad is AMAZING. I'm not a huge salad person, and this one keeps me coming back every time! Plus its a great atmosphere for outside drinks/date night.
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Review from Brittney S.
Tampa, FL
6/16/2011
Love Bahama Breeze. The food is always amazing! The service is ok, ive never personally been WOWed but dont get me wrong, its not bad service.
A few friends and I went sat night for apps and a few drinks. It was nice there was live music and sitting at the outside bar you get a great view of the water. The vibe is great.
This place also make a perfect spot for lunch!
Highly recommended. -
Review from Lisa H.
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
8/9/2010
Very Tommy Bahama feel with good seafood and very close to the airport. I stopped in for my last meal in Tampa before heading to the airport and was pleasently surprised. The decor is charming beachy and the service was above average for the price point. I had the daily fish special "simply grilled" salmon and it was perfectly cooked. My nephew was with us and he loved checking out the fish tanks while we waited for lunch.
I would recommend this spot to anyone in the Tampa area. It is also nice the location is right on a little bay so you can have water views from your table. -
Review from Stephanie N.
Clearwater, FL
11/18/2005 4 photos
Very casual atmosphere with a tropical flare. Wind up feelin more like you're at the islands than in FL. Has a GREAT view of the bay and misting fans keep you from getting too hot.
I must admit - I eat more appetizers there than meals :) You must try the Cuban Bread as it reigns supreme, other favorites include the ceviche, onion rings and habenero wings. Just thinking about it makes my stomach growl!
Tons of drinks to choose from (Blueberry milkshakes being my fav since i'm a non-alchol kinda gal).
I LOVE the Tres Leche and Banana dessert that they have. MmmMmm.. so good -
Review from Shellie H.
Tampa, FL
3/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food and atmosphere. Service is almost always good.
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Review from Rick M.
Long Beach, MS
6/22/2008
My family and I really enjoyed both the atmosphere and the food. The service was excellent as well. I would highly recommend the firecracker shrimp.
The only negative was the amount of space between tables. The servers would bump into the back of our chairs trying to get through. It was as though they were cramming more tables in the dining area. -
Review from NINA V.
San Antonio, TX
2/26/2011
This was the first place we headed to after we got out of the airport. It was close to the Grand Hyatt, where we were staying, and we were famished. I ordered the Salmon pasta with the Bahama sunset. My coworkers ordered the fish tacos with Mojito and stone crab dish with a glass of the local beer. The passion fruit sauce was exquisite. No matter what we ordered, it all seemed to complement each other. Our lunch experience was so amazing we decided to have dinner there the next night. Without disappointment, we had some delectable entrees and perfectly mixed drinks again. For the money, the food, the view, the live entertainment, and the experience......Bahama Breeze was absolutely AWESOME!
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Review from Andrew W.
Queens, NY
1/9/2011
This place feels like just another TGIF or Applebee's. Typical decor for a Caribbean theme. My Jerk Chicken pasta tasted like NOTHING I expected. It was basically bowtie pasta drenched in a watered down alfredo sauce with bits of shredded chicken... and oregano. I think I can find better jerk chicken here in New York (despite being over 3000 miles further from the origin of jerk chicken). The only thing I found satisfying was the service. The staff were relatively friendly despite a bit of an issue with the seating plan in the beginning. This place is completely over rated.
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Review from neal m.
4/15/2010
Wow. I was NOT expecting this good of food here. I came with my family and started with the firecracker shrimp and they didn't disappoint! For my entree I had a bowl of the seafood chowder. Wow. That was all I could say. I can't wait to go back! Service was kind of iffy. They seemed annoyed with having two children in the party. Good enough to go back a second time in just three days though!
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Review from Fei P.
Ann Arbor, MI
12/31/2010
Sun-filled patio, delicious seafood, great ocean view, what else can you expect! When there right after flying into Tampa from Michigan, best place to begin our trip to Florida!
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Review from Beth S.
Burlington, MA
9/4/2009
It is a little touristy and is a chain restaurant, but Bahama Breeze does have a great location, decent food and reasonably priced drinks that makes it a must stop for the tourist set. I like its location- convenient to the hotels and it gives you a "beachy vacation" vibe without having to drive the extra 20+ minutes to Clearwater for the real thing.
Back when I worked in the area, we used to visit BB for happy hour drinks after work. Memories of watching sunsets over the bay while sipping a fruity drink bring me back to this place when I am in town.
I visited on a Friday this month and was surprised by how less busy this place is. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining which was plenty available at 6PM. The restaurant had a live performer playing on his guitar (which made conversation challenging). For this reason, we chose to eat inside. There was no wait for a table and we were promptly seated at a table with open windows/shutters.
We started with drinks from the ample nonalcoholic menus. I had a virgin Bahama Mama and my husband had a delicious chocolate shake. We tried an appetizer (West Indian beef patties) that neither of us cared for (it failed to mention curry as the main ingredient). I ordered the jerk chicken pasta which has long been a favorite of mine. Let's just say that I don't do spicy foods well and had no problem getting this down- thus, it would clearly be bland for someone who likes spicy food. My husband had the Jamaican grilled chicken breast and liked it. Unfortunately our server messed up his side order and delivered green beans that were quickly replaced with the amazing fried yucca.
Overall- I'd give the food a 3.5 stars for a chain restaurant. It is consistently good, portions are very filling and reasonably priced. At times, though, I felt like we were being rushed out of the restaurant to make room for the next party.
