Chow Down Atlanta

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

Trinidadian family owned and operated, this island fare restaurant opened late 2004 and has created a permanent imprint in the Atlanta dining scene. Borne out of frustration for lack of (decent) Caribbean restaurants in Atlanta, the Lawrence family decided to take matters into their own hands and opened a charming restaurant on Medlock Bridge Rd inside the Regal Cinema plaza. The result is a labor of love. Mom (as I have fondly called her) prepares authentic homemade dishes from scratch using fresh ingredients both found locally and from Trinidad and beyond; while son Dale (with brother Deion whom I’ve both known forever being a few years ahead of me at GSU) manages the operations.

While every single item on the menu is absolutely delicious, the most popular ones tend to be the pelau and roti. Pelau is probably the one dish that epitomizes Trinidadian cuisine and described as flavorful rice blended with meats and vegetables. Soca’s pelau is just that — fork-lickin’ good, hearty, and full of flavor. The rice is cooked perfectly, moist and savory; while the accompanying caramel chicken was, oh so fork tender, with the most amazing blend of spices. Mom told me to get the plantains for my side as she knows exactly what goes well with any dish. The sweet plantains had just the right amount of bite, not mush and soggy, though ripe enough.

The Caribbean roti (pronounced row-tea) which resembles a burrito is a huge flour pancake enveloping different fillings such as curry chicken with potatoes. The curry chicken is the best curry you’ll ever taste — melt-in-your-mouth chunks of chicken simmered for hours in perfectly-seasoned curry sauce — a real comfort food. Teamed with the not-your-usual baked mac ‘n cheese, it makes for a filling lunch.

A perfect period to any meal, the homemade (by a close friend) mango pie is to die for. In fact, I’m no longer allowed to attend any parties without bringing a whole pie (or two). It is not overly sweet, with the right amount of tartness and a consistency between cheesecake and mousse. Add to that the special crust and you have the most delectable dessert.

For the more authentic tastes, I highly recommend the ox tail stew available on Fridays only (they ran out within a few hours of opening), the Callalloo soup (spinach-okra puree), and the curried goat.

Insider tip:
Kids menu available. Menu items include dishes for the hard-core and for the less adventurous as well. Whole Mango pies available for purchase.

The scoop:
Soca Caribbean Cafe
website: http://www.socacafe.com/index.html
9700 Medlock Bridge Road
Duluth GA 30097
Telephone: 770.476.0042

Technorati Tags: Soca Caribbean Cafe, Caribbean cuisine, pelau, roti, mango pie, oxtail stew, goat curry, callalloo, Medlock Bridge Rd., Regal Cinema plaza, chicken curry, Duluth