A warm ocean breeze, white sand, palm trees waving in the breeze, a parrot calling, a band playing-all describe O'Malleys Ocean Pub who advertise on their t-shirts: "No Shirt, No Shoes, NO PROBLEM!" It was a most wonderfully relaxing dinner.
The pub is actually an open bar (really, no walls) on the beach/boardwalk of Hollywood Beach, with a patio for dining. This establishment is not the usual open bar that has one or two walls open. It is a free-standing bar, right out in the open, the way dining on a beach should be -- no artificial air-conditionng, you get the real thing.
The service was good and the menu was tropical enough to qualify as Caribbean/American. The choices ranged from such selections as portobello burgers to "catch of the day" fish served in exotic style. All entrees were very reasonably priced and in good portions and the drinks were very reasonable, too. There was something for every age group.
The establishment was clean, but unfortunately, the rest rooms showed use. There was nightly live music, up close and personal, and the decor could almost be considered camping-style, with little lanterns strung around the plastic patio chairs, tables and umbrellas.
But, the best part of all was that we could send our teens back to the condo, ahead of us, so we could enjoy another drink on the patio since our condo was right next door. More pointedly, as my 14-year-old said, "If you have another drink, how are you going to drive home . . . oh yeah, we can walk!"