A Delicious Haven on The Big Island
I recently accompanied my husband to The Big Island of Hawaii for a conference he was attending. Anyone who’s been in that position knows that the food offered at those events can sometimes be, well…let’s just say, uninspired. Though hotel food has improved vastly over the last 5 years in particular, it’s nice to go off property and venture out on your own to try the local fare.
So, it was with great anticipation and curiosity that we accompanied some friends to Tommy Bahama’s Café, located in Mauna Lani. It was our first experience at the venue, though I later learned that it was but one of 10 locations – the others being located in California and Florida. It turned out to be one of the most delightful "discoveries" we’ve made. The atmosphere, as you would imagine, is very tropical and Hawaii offers the perfect setting for the Tommy Bahama theme, both in its clothing and food lines.
As we were seated at our table, we noticed the completely open-air style of the restaurant. Due to the island’s year-round balmy temperature, one can enjoy the tropical breezes wafting through the restaurant, with the doors and windows thrown open. The island motif is handsomely displayed in the overall décor as well. All the appointments seem to be perfectly chosen to put you in a comfortable and relaxed frame of mind for your meal. I looked up at the lighting fixture over our table to find them decorated in the most enchanting style - with seashells.
The menu is full of delicious fish offerings, as you might expect, in a locale that specializes in some wonderful Pacific catches. I was particularly fond of their coconut shrimp appetizer. The entrees are wonderfully light and refreshing. I had their seared ahi tuna salad - which consisted of perfectly sliced pieces of lightly-seared rare tuna, placed on top of a bed of fresh spinach leaves in a soy-ginger dressing. This was washed down with one of their expertly mixed Mai Tai cocktails….YUM!
There was no sense of being rushed or hurried. The staff was well-trained, efficient and (most important) friendly. In judging a restaurant, the bottom line assessment is: "would you return?". The answer in our minds was quite clear: "YES". So, we did…the very nice day. If you’re ever in one of their 10 locations, don’t miss out on a unique dining experience. In Hawaii, the café is located directly over their clothing establishment, which made it particularly convenient to do some after-lunch shopping – and who doesn’t love shopping at Tommy Bahama’s?