The moment you step into Bahama Breeze you forget that you were just in a suburban parking lot. With Caribbean-style live music, vibrant colors, and tropical plants, it's almost like you stepped into a commercial for a beach resort. But people don't come to Bahama Breeze for the interior design; they come for the drinks and food, and so did we.
This Caribbean-inspired restaurant started in Orlando in 1996 with the bulk of the franchises in Florida and New Jersey; there are no Bahama Breezes in the Bahamas. Bahama Breeze is owned by Darden Restaurants, the same company that oversees Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Seasons 52, and others.
The restaurant is well known for its happy hours, when beers go for $3 and specialty cocktails are $5. If you find yourself at a Bahama Breeze for happy hour or any time, here are our top suggestions.
Best Appetizer
Whole Jamaican Jerk Wings
Nearly two pounds of chicken wings comes with this app, so it's a good bang for your buck if you're hungry. The skin is crispy, and the meat is juicy and coasted in five-spice seasoning. The jerk BBQ sauce adds a touch of sweetness without it becoming a sugar-laden app. If you're looking for an app that's slightly less messy, try the beef empanadas. They're filled to the brim and come with a pineapple chutney and seasoned sour cream on the side.
Best Entree
Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich
I couldn't put this sandwich down—the chicken is just the right amount of crispy but tender, and the homemade jerk honey butter takes it over the edge. What keeps this sandwich interesting is the citrus mayo and pickles, which give zest and acidity to balance out all the buttery fried goodness.
If you're looking for something even more filling, go for the buttermilk fried chicken. It's like a KFC bowl with its melted cheese layers and mashed potatoes, but has a Caribbean twist with a black bean salsa and lemon butter sauce.
Best Seafood Entree
Jerk Shrimp Pineapple Bowl
A staff favorite, this dish tastes as good as it looks. The jerk pineapple glaze is tangy and sweet and plays perfectly with the sautéed shrimp, rice, and sweet peppers.
Best Cocktails
Ultimate Pineapple
and
With generous pours of both spiced rum dark rum, this cocktail isn't playing any games. I lovingly call this drink a liability in a cup. By the way, this cocktail can also come virgin so no one will miss out on drinking out of a massive pineapple.
Bahamarita
Besides being the prettiest drink on the menu, this frozen margarita tastes like a SweeTART-Starburst hybrid. Each color reflects a different flavor: green for kiwi-melon, red for strawberry, and orange for mango. The spiked cactus-juice shot on the side is best mixed in for extra tartness. P.S. You can also order this one virgin.
Best Dessert
Chocolate Island
Beware, you'll finish this in seconds. Unlike other restaurants that serve a brownie sundae of sorts, Bahama Breeze one-ups the rest with this rich, fluffy chocolate mousse. The chocolate sauce and vanilla bean anglaise adds some intensity to the otherwise light-as-a-cloud dessert.
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Julia is the director of video at Delish. Previously, she worked on Food Network's Snapchat team as their "try" girl: trying new products and bizarre diets on the market. Currently she oversees the video team where content lives on YouTube, TikTok, onsite, Snapchat, and Facebook. She's also previously a host of the hit series "Julia Tries Everything" where she goes to top chain restaurants in America and finds her favorite menu items.
