Enjoy Island Cuisine and Hand-Crafted Cocktails at Palm Springs’ Most Talked About New Restaurant
Written By: Marly Bergerud
Photos Provided By: Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Grill Marlin Bar & Grill
It was an energetic hot spot; a constant flow of people poured into the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Grill for its grand opening. Its premier location, on the corner of Palm Canyon Dr and E Tahquitz Canyon Way, is part of the downtown Palm Springs revitalization project. Tommy Bahama has over 160 retail stores, 18 of which have full-service restaurants, including the highly successful stores in Palm Desert, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, but the Marlin Bar & Grill is the first of its kind for the brand in California.“This is Tommy Bahama’s second Marlin Bar in the US with 10 more planned,” said General Manager, Ron Youngberg.
The ambiance of the large, indoor/outdoor restaurant and bar is extremely inviting, with nearly 200 open-air seats. A one-level, fast, casual restaurant with a full-service bar that wraps around its retail store, the Marlin Bar & Grill allows customers to order at a walk-up counter and have their food delivered by servers to tables on an outdoor patio, kept cool with umbrellas and misters. It’s a fun, casual place you would want to take your friends and out-of-town guests.
Director of Culinary, Don Donley, recommended ordering the Duo of Dips, the steak flatbread with a Cucumber Smash cocktail or Scratch Lemon Drop martini. Try the lump blue crab and avocado salad (my favorite!), the blackened fish tacos, or the steak and noodle salad. Other popular entrees include the Ahi poke bowl, the vegetarian bowl, and the lobster mac and cheese with truffle fries.
Besides the bar’s draft cocktails, wine and beer, try their specialty drinks: the classic mojito rum concoction, the Bahia Sangria, and a variety of martinis such as the Coconut Cloud martini—especially enjoyed on the patio on a warm, Palm Springs day.
During this energetic opening, Store Manager Mark Catarroja and I discussed the retail side of the new Tommy Bahama concept while enjoying our steak frites and Thai shrimp bowl. He was pleased with the combined operational design of retail and eatery, and how all employees work as a team and have exceptional product knowledge. For example, while people watching with your mai tai and enjoying a bite of the famous coconut shrimp with a Baja margarita, you can shop the store and ask a retail employee to show you their new performance super soft clothing line IslandZone or IslandActive—all right at your table.
Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar & Grill
111 N Palm Canyon Drive, Ste 150
Palm Springs CA 92262
760.778.0012
