He’s a mythical character who wears very cool clothes, lives a great life, and travels to the tropics. But there’s nothing fictional about the food at Tommy’s restaurant! Located at the dazzling Gardens on El Paseo, upstairs from Tommy Bahama’s Retail Emporium, this colonial plantation-style tropical café is strictly the real deal. Fruity drinks come complete with umbrellas and go perfectly with appetizers like Big Island Goat Cheese, Crab Calloway, Loki-Loki Tuna Poke, and Tommy’s world-famous Coconut Shrimp. Tommy Bahama’s own Bungalow Brew is the perfect accompaniment for sandwiches and burgers. And don’t miss Tommy’s own Barbados distilled rums, Golden Sun, and White Sands. The Cooper Island Crab and Onion Bisque should not be missed nor should the South Seas Scallop Sliders, sautéed jumbo sea scallops served between mini buns with Asian slaw, Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, and chipolte aioli all topped with crispy “Tobacco” onions. But don’t fill up before the entrées arrive. Tommy does things right. Ocho Rios Roasted Chicken, Tommy’s Rib Rack, Port-Au-Prince Pork Chop, Little Palm Island Pasta, and Trinidad Tuna take diners on a tasty tour of some of their host’s favorite haunts. Created by apparel executives Tony Margolis, Lucio Dalla Gasperina, and Bob Emfield, Tommy Bahama apparel and accessories can be found in upscale specialty and department stores as well as resorts, spas, and pro shops. Restaurant/ retail compounds are also located in Sarasota, Naples, Pointe Orlando, and Sandestin, Florida; Newport Beach, California; Maui, and the big Island Hawaii; Scottsdale, Arizona; Houston, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada. Designed to appeal to those who believe that life should be an “island state of mind,” the relaxed attitude is catching. Maybe it’s the live island music. Or the swaying palms along El Paseo. Maybe it’s the T.B. shirts all the wait staff wear. Whatever it is, it works. Open for lunch and dinner daily, Tommy Bahama’s is a tropical breeze. Relax. Life couldn’t be better. Reservations are suggested. |
SHOWN ABOVE: Loki-Loki Tuna Poke, Fresh Ahi tuna Napoleon layered with freshly made guacamole, soy, and sesame oil. Served with Tommy’s flatbread and tortilla strips. “Designed to appeal to those who believe that life should be an ‘island state of mind,’ the relaxed attitude is catching.” |
MENU HIGHLIGHTS APPETIZERS
Big Island Goat Cheese
Tommy’s world-famous Coconut Shrimp
Loki-Loki Tuna Poke
Crab Calloway
South Seas Scallop Sliders
Antigua Quesadilla LUNCH ENTRÉES
Chicken Salad Junkanoo
St. Croix Chopped Salad
Aruba Arugula Salad
Saba Steak Salad
The Habana Cabana Pork Sandwich
St. Bart’s Shrimp BLT
Tahitian Tuna Salad
Martinique Mahi Sandwich DINNER ENTRÉES
Shoal Bay Snapper
Santiago Sea Bass
Little Palm Island Pasta
Long Island New York Strip
Trinidad Tuna
Sanibel Stuffed Chicken
Port-Au-Prince Pork Chop DESSERTS
Blackbeard’s Butterscotch
Wha’Jamaican Chocolate Cake
Pineapple Upside Down
Vanilla Cheesecake BEST OF THE CELLAR MARTINIS
Tommy Tini
Isle Take Manhattan
Flip Flop Orange Drop SPECIALTY DRINKS
Crazy Cuban
Pear Blossom
Tommy’s Twisted Mojito WINE
An excellent selection of reds, whites, and sparkling wines by the glass or bottle BEER
Bungalow Brew
Bungalow BlondeRombauer
TOMMY BAHAMA'S TROPICAL CAFÉ & EMPORIUM
THE GARDENS ON EL PASEO (AT LARKSPUR)
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA 92260
(760) 836-0188 More Information - Websites, Maps and Directions
BY CATHERINE RIPS
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY: DAN LANGLEY
ROOM PHOTOGRAPHY: ETHAN KAMINSKY |
