summer eating at Tommy Bahama's

Tommy Bahama's Island Grille, one of my favorite restaurants here in Newport Beach, invited my husband and me to try a few new menu items recently, and boy, were we in for a treat!

Their menu features amazing seafood and yummy island-inspired cuisine, and it’s always a pleasure dining there. We’ve often dined at the TB Island Grille over the years since they opened about 20 years ago, so we were really excited to try some of their new menu items.

World Famous Coconut Shrimp

We were really impressed by several of their new menu items like the Miso Glazed Ōra King Salmon, Togarashi Crusted Ahi Tuna and Halibut Ceviche, along with Tommy Bahama longtime favorites such as Braised Pork Shank, the vegetarian Harvest Burger, and their World Famous Coconut Shrimp.

In fact, here’s the recipe for this crispy and delicious shrimp appetizer, if you’d like to make this at home.

TOMMY BAHAMA'S WORLD-FAMOUS COCONUT SHRIMP

Ingredients:

1⅔ cups all-purpose flour

2 egg yolks

2 cups Kona Brewing Co. Island Lager or similar

¼ cup sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

¼ tsp black pepper

1 lb shrimp, 16/20 size, peeled, deveined and butterflied

2 cups coconut, shredded

Instructions:

·         Mix 1 cup flour, egg yolks, beer, sugar, salt and pepper with a wire whisk to form batter.

·         Dredge shrimp in remaining flour, then dip into batter.

·         Prop shrimp by their tails from the bowl’s rim after dipping in batter. After you work your way around, they’ll be ready to coat with coconut.

·         Coat shrimp with coconut, pressing gently to make coconut adhere.

Fry in stockpot or deep fryer with peanut oil at 335°F for 3 minutes.

Yeild: 16-20 shrimp

Ahi Poke with Avocado and Siracha Aioli  

Seafood is definitely at the forefront of the menu at Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille, but there are a lot of other delicious options like burgers, ribs, chicken, salads and my favorite the Prime Rib French Dip! My hubby and I happen to LOVE fresh seafood, so we were loving every single bite of the dishes we ordered.  

Halibut Ceviche with Coconut Mango Broth 

Ahi Tuna Bowl with Baby Lettuce, Roasted Corn Salsa and Avocado

Adobo Braised Pork Shank with Kale and Cauliflower-Potato Mash

Here are a few more new menu items that sound amazing:

• Shrimp & Grits – Stone Ground White Grits, Aged White Cheddar, Andouille Sausage, Jalapeños, Roasted Corn Salsa, Green & Red Bell Peppers, Cajun Brown Butter

• Oven Roasted Mojo Chicken – Charred Sour Oranges, Andouille Sausage, Saffron Plantain Peas & Rice, Tangerine Achiote Vinaigrette

• Cilantro & Ginger Crusted Mahi Mahi – Crispy Furikake Rice Cake, Shrimp Broth, Sautéed Squash & Carrots, Chile Oil

Piña Colada Cake with White Chocolate Mousse

And we haven’t even talked dessert yet… I actually twisted my hubby's arm a teeny bit to have him order the Piña Colada Cake while I had the Malted Chocolate Pie. 

What can I say? I wanted to taste both!

A round-up of all their famous desserts

Next time you’re in Corona del Mar,

stop by the Tommy Bahama Island Grille for a real taste of the islands!

 ciao! fabiana

Tommy Bahama Island Grille is

 located in the Corona del Mar Plaza,

right near Fashion Island.

854 Avocado Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92660

(949) 760-8686

Disclaimer:  I was invited by Tommy Bahama’s Newport Beach Restaurant to try menu items free of charge and am reviewing them at no cost and must disclose that fact. All opinions are truly my own.