Bubba Gump's Knows Everything There Is To Know About the Shrimpin' Business...
Written: Jun 30 '04 (Updated Jul 01 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Food and Presentation: |
 |
|
| Ambiance and Decor: |
|
|
| Quality of Service: |
|
|
|
Pros: unique, great atmosphere, delicious food
Cons: not more locations
The Bottom Line: Seafood lovers and Forrest Gump fans will find a lot to love about Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant and Market. If only it were in more locations...
|
|
|
| bilbopooh's Full Review: Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant and Market |
When I went to Chicago for a visit with two friends of mine, one of the stops we intended to make was to Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant and Market. Though we passed the restaurant the day before when we spent the afternoon at Navy Pier, we saved this unique dining experience for our last excursion on the trip. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get a picture of the exterior; I intended to, but it was too crowded at the time for me to get a good shot of anything. While there is a large dining area inside, the tables out on the pier are ideally located for a nice summer day. Benches adorned with Forrest’s sayings create a nice effect. On the inside, the restaurant is filled with memorabilia and has Forrest Gump playing constantly.
The menus feature photos and quotes from the film and food related to the characters. I got the Bucket of Boat Trash, a combination of shrimp, lobster and fish alluding to a scene at the beginning of Forrest’s shrimping career, and a Run Forrest Run, a smoothie consisting of oranges, strawberries, bananas and raspberry frozen yogurt. Other themed menu items included Mama Gump's Garlic Bread Basket; the Run Across America platter featuring Bubba's Far Out Dip (with spinach, roasted red pepper, artichokes, shrimp and Monterey Jack cheese) and Chips, Chilly Shrimp (peel and eat southern-style shrimp), Greenbow Tenders (Cajun chicken strips with blue cheese sauce) and Mama Blue's Fried shrimp; Jenny's Favorite, a smoothie with cranberry juice, strawberries and raspberry frozen yogurt; the Alabama Sweet Smoothie, made of peanut butter, chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt; a variety of shrimp options from Shrimp Shack Pasta to Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp; Gumpberry Cobbler, consisting of seasonal berries and apples with ice cream, drizzled with raspberry sauce and walnut cookie crumbs; and Forrest's Dr. Pepper Float, in deference to Forrest's favorite beverage.
The food was delicious, and as we ate we looked around at the décor and were entertained by our waiter, a very affable fellow who quizzed us on Forrest trivia whenever he stopped at our table. How frequently he stopped was up to us. We were provided with two license plates; most of the time we kept the “Run Forrest Run” plate in view, but if we needed anything we switched to “Stop Forrest Stop.” It was a simple touch but added to the fun of the meal.
It’s a shame Bubba Gump doesn’t have more locations. I would love to go there with my family sometime. The high-quality fare makes it worthwhile for any seafood lover, while the restaurant’s theme is a special treat for fans of the film. Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies, so I found it doubly enjoyable. This isn’t a place where you would dine frequently, but it’s a fun novelty restaurant along the lines of Hard Rock Café or Planet Hollywood, just with a narrower focus. Prices, while not unreasonable, are a bit hefty, and if you do go you’ll probably want to take home a reminder of your trip. I purchased a t-shirt featuring cartoonish renditions of moments from the movie. A variety of “Gump gear” is available, from t-shirts and glasses to playing cards and stationery.
Bubba Gump’s is now in nearly 20 locations – none of which, oddly enough, are in Alabama. If you happen to be in the vicinity of a Bubba Gump’s, I would certainly recommend stopping there for a leisurely lunch or dinner, particularly if you are a Forrest Gump enthusiast. The Chicago branch is open from 11 am to 11 pm Sunday through Thursday and an hour longer Friday and Saturday, though hours vary. The restaurant offers an opportunity to bring a piece of cinema to life in a most delicious manner.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
bilbopooh
|
 in Movies, Books |
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Erin McCarty
Location: Erie, PA
Reviews written: 2524
Trusted by: 197 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.