Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Guanabanas - fo fanas, fe fi fun tropical dining - Jupiter Florida


Guanabanas Island Restaurant and Bar
960 N. Hwy A1A
Jupiter, Florida 33477
561-747-8878

Breakfast - Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m -3 p.m.
Bar Menu: 3 p.m. to close
Dinner: 5-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.
Open Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.
Happy Hour: 50 percent off well drinks and drafts - Daily 3-6 p.m., Friday, Saturday 11 p.m. to close
www.guanabanas.com

By Jane Feehan

Enter Guanabanas, and you’ll be transported into an outdoor paradise where atmosphere and dining provide the nexus to a complete tropical experience.  I half-expected pirate "captain" Jack Sparrow and his allies to saunter through for a meal and a bottle of rum. That didn’t happen but I wasn’t disappointed.
Most seating lies outdoors under umbrellas or thatched palm roofs in a setting thick with tropical flora, cooled with fans and misters. Torch-style lighting adds to the jungle ambiance at night.  Guanabanas (also the name of a tropical fruit) lies along a finger of the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter and is accessible by boat.  Available dockage is currently being expanded at an adjacent property to accommodate water travelers. There’s even a bar on a permanently docked "jungle" boat.

Live music plays several nights a week on a stage decked out with palm fronds. Two covered bars  provide other seating options for lunch and dinner gatherings. Seafood with a Caribbean touch highlights the menu but there are plenty of choices for those who prefer meat. The food is interestingly good.

Stroll on paths throughout the restaurant; there is something to see at every turn. Guanabanas welcomes all: families, singles, seniors and it’s casual – from shorts and flip flops to Sunday-go-to-meeting attire.  Warning: a very young, noisy crowd gathers for live music later in the evening. An older cocktail crowd gathers late Sunday afternoons. Self-parking is limited; plan to valet (free). Service: fair – slow at busy hours. Expect long waits for a table on weekends. © 2010 Jane Feehan. All rights reserved.  

Tags: Jupiter dining, Best Jupiter restaurants, Guanabanas Restaurant, waterside dining, dockage, Florida, Jupiter happy hours, seafood, South Florida restaurant reviews