Bahama Breeze is one of my favorite chain restaurants because it’s so close to where I live, even though I have a checkered past with it. Even though Bahama Breeze might not be considered “authentic” Carribean and Latine food, me and my family love their dishes, especially their empanadas. Recently we went and I decided to indulge myself. For a drink, I ordered a virgin Ultimate Piña Colada, a slushee swirl of piña colada and strawberry daiquiri. It’s ultra sweet, cold, and tart. I’d describe it as a sunburst in your mouth. The flavors are fruity and tropical and are best enjoyed in the heat on the beach.

For my main, I ordered one of my favorite dishes: the Coconut Shrimp dinner. It comes with nine pieces of jumbo fried coconut shrimp and citrus mustard for dipping with sides of yellow rice and broccoli. The portion size is huge and always makes for leftovers big enough for another meal to enjoy the next day. The shrimp is a large size, crispy, and the coconut flakes on top are slightly sweet. The citrus mustard makes it even sweeter and gives it a tangy edge that I absolutely love. The broccoli feels crunchy though warm, and the rice is soft and somewhat savory. Overall, the meal is extremely filling and satisfying.

For dessert, I ordered their absolute best dessert option. You wouldn’t think Bahama Breeze would have such great desserts, but they have one of my favorite chain restaurant desserts of all time: the Chocolate Island. The pictures on their website do not do it justice; it’s actually big enough to be shared between two people. It’s a cold dessert, very similar to ice cream even though it’s mainly mousse. The bottom layer is an inch-thick chunk of chocolate brownie. It’s thick and fudgy. The large main layer is a cold chocolate mousse that’s creamy, rich, silky smooth, and chocolatey. Whipped cream tops the mousse, and sprinkled over that are almonds, adding a tiny crunch. Vanilla anglaise and chocolate syrup are doused all over the mousse and plate. These two are treacly sweet and take this dessert to the next level. A bite with every element together is superbly satisfying a variety of textures and sweet flavors. This is one of the most decadent desserts I’ve had in a restaurant.