Story and photos by Scott Kendall
Tommy Bahama is well known for their fun, casual clothing line and their excellent restaurants and Marlin Bars. The moment we walked into the Tommy Bahama Restaurant in trendy Market Street in The Woodlands, Texas, we were greeted by the friendly hostess and the vibrant music from the bar.
Long Live the Island Life at Tommy Bahama
With over 20 Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Marlin Bar locations throughout the US in places like San Diego, Sarasota, Mauna Lani, and New York City, Tommy Bahama offers wonderful clothing, accessories, décor, food, and drink throughout the year. (There are over 160 retail locations for Tommy Bahama merchandise.) Summers welcome a selection of wonderfully light and refreshing menu items.
Enjoy the casual elegance of indoor seating or outside on the patio amid lush gardens with family and friends. Whether you are sipping a cocktail during happy hour or dining on surf ‘n turf, Tommy Bahama welcomes you.
Long live the island life!
Creative Appetizers and Refreshing Cocktails
We sat in a booth in a cozy corner of the restaurant with a view of the outdoor patio, green vegetation, and the adjoining park. Weather outside was around the 100 degree mark, and we had worked up a thirst walking the short distance from the parking lot. We were welcomed by our wonderful server, Tyler, who gave us a nice description of some of the cold drinks on the menu.
In addition to outstanding island cuisine, Tommy Bahama is well known for their exciting selections of cocktails. My wife decided on the Ambrosia Fizz, a delightful combination of Hendricks Orbium, Simple Syrup, Lemon Juice, St. Germain, Aperol, and Prosseco. I chose the Hendricks Tea, a mixture of Hendricks, Strawberry Puree, Fresh Lime Juice, Black Tea Syrup, and Ginger Beer. I loved the light, refreshing, fruity flavors that were just right for this sweltering summer day.
We also ordered the Tommy Bahama world famous Coconut Shrimp with slaw and papaya-mango chutney along with a tasty Carmelized Cauliflower with Hummus, Cilantro Zhoug, Toasted Coconut, Almonds, Cashews, and Rum-Soaked Raisins. The shrimp and cauliflower were the perfect starters to nibble on as we sipped our cocktails.
I was also tempted to order the Coconut Cloud Martini, which is what I tried last time we dined at Tommy Bahama – but I needed to save room for dinner. If you love the flavors of vanilla and coconut with Don Q Cristal rum, this is the drink for you. Among the other great options were the Pineapple Paradiso, Mojitos, Pina Coladas, and other classic cocktails.
Cold Brews
For those looking for a cold beer, Tommy Bahama offers Maui, a porter from Hawaii, as well as a Lager from Yuengling in Pennsylvania. Citrus lovers will enjoy the Tommy Bahama Hibiscus Lime, a refreshing vodka seltzer. There are also many local selections, like the popular Blonde Ale from Blonde Bombshell Brewery in Conroe. Other local brews include a Pilsner from H Town Pils in Houston and a Yellow Rose IPA from Conroe.
Wines, Champagne, and Sparkling
In addition to Martinis, Cocktails, and Beer, you can also grab a nice red, white, or sparkling wine. We chose a light Italian Vermentino from Tomassi, which paired nicely with our seafood dishes. Other well-known names on the wine list include Amarone, Brunello, Cakebread, Caymus, and Nickel & Nickel.
Delicious Seafood and More
The wide variety of menu items at Tommy Bahama ensures every member of your party will find something they like. With its island paradise theme, as you would expect, the chefs provide a nice selection of seafood options. Those not wanting seafood can choose from great steak, ribs, and chicken options. They also have burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a nice line of appetizers.
Julie chose one of the summer specials, the Lemongrass Encrusted Halibut with Asparagus, Zucchini, Butternut Squash, and Goat Cheese Risotto, all topped with a Strawberry-Mango Relish. She raved about the beautifully contrasting textures and flavors of the tender, flaky fish, the creamy risotto, the crunchy asparagus, and the fruity relish. I savored every bite of my Macadamia Nut Encrusted Flounder, cooked with Hawaiian Red Sea Salt, Almond Rice, Grilled Asparagus, and Wasabi Soy Beurre Blanc.
Dessert Time at Tommy Bahama
After our wonderful meal, Tyler brought out the Tommy Bahama dessert tray. Every selection was tempting. On the platter was a layered Pina Colada Cake as well as a Pineapple Crème Brulee, made inside a pineapple rind. Other choices were the Malted Chocolate Pie and their very popular Key Lime Pie with white chocolate mousse. We felt we couldn’t leave Tommy Bahama without trying the iconic Key Lime Pie. This traditional island dessert was creamy, slightly sweet and slightly tart, with a crisp vanilla wafer crust. The addition of a dollop of white chocolate mousse completed the flavorful ensemble. So good!
Creme Brulee or Key Lime Pie?
Experience the Island Vibe at Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama has built a well-deserved reputation for the high quality of its food, drink, and merchandise. Check out one of the many great Tommy Bahama locations throughout the US. I highly recommend relaxing with a refreshing Hendricks Tea and finish with the Key Lime Pie. And in between, melt away the stress in your life with some of the other scrumptious selections.
Always a great time at Tommy Bahama!
Thanks to Tommy Bahama for graciously hosting us. All opinions are my own.
