Bahama Breeze
I end my chain series with Bahama Breeze. I actually went first when it opened years ago and then again a couple of weeks ago but didn’t know how to tie it into my other articles until now. My brother who lives in NY came for a visit and wanted to try (of all places) Bahama Breeze. He said it looked quirky. So off we went.
I’m not going to comment about the decor — all chains are the same. Except with different themes. This one has an island-slash-Caribbean theme complete with wicker chairs. I’ve heard about this place as having great and inexpensive drinks. But I’m not impressed. Although they have an arsenal of cocktails, the alcohol is so weak you can hardly taste it. And that’s coming from a non-drinker like me. (I have a good friend and an eating buddy who got me drunk on 3 sips of Amaretto Sour. But that’s for another story.)
I really liked the Jamaican Grilled Chicken Wings. They’re marinated with spicy jerk seasonings that are very flavorful. The wings are grilled right and are just plain wonderful. These make great appetizers.
We got a few pasta dishes that seemed to all taste the same and three orders of paella. The paella looked really good. But it was salty beyond belief that we had to take them back. We never have anything taken back anywhere unless absolutely necessary. But this one’s uneatable. It tasted like there’s a half a teaspoon of salt for every bite! The server (who gave really great service) told us that the culprit was the sausages and that they’re cooked separately and then incorporated into the paella including the drippings. Makes sense. But still. So we had the sausages completely taken out and, alas, the paella became bearable but tasted like there was something lacking. The yellow rice resembled Uncle Ben’s which was a turn-off. Good paellas use Arborio rice. Long grain Asian rice is the next option but never Uncle Ben’s. The only saving grace were the fresh seafood and chicken.
Like I said, the pasta dishes we ordered all tasted basically the same. But I did like my Lobster and Shrimp Pasta with a creamy sauce, fresh mushrooms, and herbs served over linguine. I must say it was really good. The sauce was buttery and creamy but not cloyingly rich and thick. It had a hint of brandy which added depth to the flavors. There was a surprisingly good amount of lobster and shrimp which was another plus.
Okay, so it’s chain dining. There are some really good chains out there. This one’s just middle of the road.
Insider tip:
The Breezy Sangria, Bahamarita, and Piña Colada are worth a trip.
The scoop:
Bahama Breeze
3590 Breckinridge Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 935-6509
Two other locations:
Alpharetta:
10845 Haynes Bridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Phone: (678) 319-9949
Kennesaw:
755 Ernest W. Barrett Parkway N.W.
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: (678) 354-7777
Technorati Tags: Bahama Breeze, Caribbean cuisine, bar, Duluth, Alpharetta, Kennesaw
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3 responses so far ↓
1 DrinkPlanner // Dec 3, 2008 at 1:12 am
They really do have a bad bar, at every location I’ve been to. And incredibly slow. Like…slowest I’ve ever experienced. Go with a large group or order a round of shots and it’s even worse. Food is ok, but their bar angers me…your blog seemed like a decent place to release that little pinch of fury.
2 food2 // Dec 5, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I went there once; wondered why I bothered.
Awful fish tacos and and bland uninspired food was the rule.
Those Big Box restaurants are never good news. Usually the food is dumbed down and barely passable, if that.
Please patronize local restaurants and support our local business community, you’ll get a better meal.
3 Atlantanomics // Jan 14, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I have been to the Kennesaw location twice. The first time was actually pretty good, fast service, good food and fun atmosphere. The second time also was not bad, but it will be a while until I go again. The restaurant is okay, but it isn’t somewhere I am overly excited to go to.
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