Today the Jupiter Sandbar is proud to bring you our Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. review.
The giant chain restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (yes it is themed around the movie Forrest Gump), has finally landed in Jupiter, Florida. Today the JupiterSandbar decided it was time to walk over and review this semi-controversial restaurant. It turns out that locals aren’t too thrilled that a big chain restaurant is invading their space – don’t knock it before you try it. From the minute you walk in the door, you are instantly hit was tons of flare and props from the movie “Forrest Gump.” Perhaps the best part of the new restaurant is the view that the outside eating area has – it’s right on the Jupiter Inlet, directly across from the Jupiter Lighthouse. I have to admit, it is the best view that any restaurant in Jupiter has to offer – sorry Guanabanas, theirs is better.
Being that it is a perfect day in South Florida and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. just opened in Jupiter, Florida, the place was packed at lunch time. That being said, it only took us 32 minutes from the time the nice waitress took our order until we received our food – not bad, not bad at all. The tables were a bit cluttered (read Greg’s review below) but other than that the overall experience was great.
I know you are all wondering how the food at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. stood up to all of the local restaurants and their “fresh” seafood – did it taste like a chain restaurant? The answer is no and it’s a bit ridiculous that people automatically assume chain restaurants use frozen food – they can still use fresh ingredients. Let’s take a look at how our meals tasted and how much they cost below:
Captain’s Fish & Chips – $13.99
Tim’s Meal Review: I tried the Captain’s fish and chips which actually tasted really good. The fish was extremely fresh and didn’t have an excessive amount of batter coating the fish. The dish was served with french fries which were nice and crispy, not too salty either. If you have a knack for seafood, I’d definitely recommend the meal that I ordered – I walked away a satisfied customer.
Shrimp Po’ Boy – $11.99 – Served with French Fries
Devon’s Meal Review: So today I ordered the Shrimp Po’Boy Sandwich. This is a BIG sandwich. It’s served on crusty french bread with lettuce, tomato, pickles and lots of shrimp. Well, it seemed like lots of shrimp, anyway. I was actually kinda disappointed to find that it was the breading on the shrimp that made it seem like you were getting a lot. The shrimp were very small and had enough breading on each one for about a half a dozen pieces. They tasted fine, but when I order a shrimp sandwich, I want to get shrimp. The bread, on the other hand, was very good– slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Overall though, I wasn’t impressed with what I ordered. The next time I go to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Jupiter, Florida, I will definitely try something different.
Shrimp & Veggies Skewers – $17.49 – Served with Jasmine Rice
Dave’s Meal Review: I never liked the crab house, aside from the awesome view there was never anything appealing about eating at what felt like a glorified version of Red Lobster. Bubba Gump’s feels pretty similar to the Crab House but the menu is a little bit better. The food is pretty typical chain restaurant style, but the great view makes this place a must stop for anyone visiting the area or who has friends/family in town.
Forrest’s Seafood Fest – $19.79
Greg’s Meal Review: Forrest’s feast is an amalgamation of fried food ranging from shrimp and fish to hush pups. At first site my critical condition of eyes being larger than stomach came into question as the huge plate made it’s way to the table. The shrimp was fresh and crunchy with the only problem being the fact that they applied lemon juice to the meal before it reached me. Now I am aware many people like lemon on their seafood but I like to be given the option and in this case I wasn’t. Luckily there was a sweet coconut type sauce that helped cover up the lemon flavor. The fried fish also had a fresh tastes that luckily wasn’t as marred by the pre-lemon flavoring. The tartar sauce they provided with the meal was a little runnier than I am used to while I left the cocktail sauce untouched seeing as everyone knows it’s just there to fool you into thinking its ketchup. Rounding out the meal was the hush pups which had an unusual seafood flavoring and bits of corn. It was pretty good considering how different it was than normal hush puppy type edibles that are usually served. It was less fried batter and more seafood fritter medley. Lastly the fries were nice and crunchy tying the massive fried meal together and topping off the carb loading madness. If you have an aversion to vegetables and don’t like seafood unless it’s fried to death like me then this is the meal for you. I suggest you bring some friends to help you eat it or if you do manage to finish the meal to help you out of the restaurant. This is a great way to sample the many different menu items Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. has to offer. (review continued at end of post…Greg likes to write)
In conclusion, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. is a welcomed addition to Jupiter, Florida. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant is fun for all ages and the view of the Jupiter Lighthouse is spectacular. I definitely recommend bringing the whole family out to Bubba Gump’s at least one and stop by after work for happy hour on the back deck – I will definitely be going back again.
Visit www.bubbagump.com for more information regarding this restaurant.
Greg’s Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Review: The food aside my only other complaint is the massive amount of Forest Gump Chachkes that fill your table. We were provided with a bucket and some ping pong paddle on a chain that listed all the drink specials on laminated cards. Besides that there was a license plate that said “Run Forest Run” or “Stop Forest Stop” and this was a way to signal to the waitress and the rest of the staff that you need something urgently. We almost go to use it one time but the server showed up just in time. All these extra frills made it like a Forest Gump Disney ride that you got to sit down and eat at leaving little room for food on the table. Take away all the frills and you have yourself a pretty fresh seafood experience. If you are not one for all the pageantry do yourself a favor and say you have been there before – it will save you a lot of time and you can spend it eating instead of figuring out why all these extra props are on your table.
