Bahama Breeze

Update: Both Bahama Breeze locations in Phoenix have closed. A recorded phone message indicates that gift cards will be honored at Red Lobster or Olive Garden, which are owned by the same company.

- - - - - - - - - -

A large group of us went to Bahama Breeze to celebrate a special occasion. Dinner entrees are generally less than $15, appetizers between $5 and $8, and desserts in the $4 to $6 range. Tropical style drinks are, logically, popular here.

I'm not certain that Bahama Breeze serves true Caribbean food, put at least the menu offerings are a little different from the typical family restaurant, and the background music suits the environment.

During my first visit to Bahama Breeze, with 8 friends, everyone walked away very full and very happy with their meals. Portions are large (6 of the 8 of us took food home). Highlight meals were the Jerk Chicken Pasta, Portobello Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza, Chicken Santiago, and the Calypso Shrimp Linguine. We sampled four of the appetizers: Spinach Dip and Island Chips, Coconut Shrimp, Habañero Wings, and West Indies Patties. Although others sang it's praises, I thought that the Spinach dip was the least exciting of the group, and "Island Chips" seem incredibly similar to tortilla chips. The other three appetizers were had great flavors (the Habañero Wings weren't really hot). The West Indies Patties are little meat pies, but they came with a creamy mild sauce, and not the mango salsa as advertised.

We tried three desserts, and all were big big hits. The Piña Colada Bread Pudding had a Caribbean style to it, having a coconut flavor. The Key Lime Pie was huge, and the Chocolate Island will soothe any chocoholic's cravings for at least the evening.

_{All prices and offerings are subject to change without notice.}