[2] Pork Burger With Pineapple Chutney & Bacon, a double-pork treat. Here’s the recipe.

[3] Seared Scallop Sliders, a nice pairing with white wine. Here’s the recipe.

[4] Surf and turf: Lobster Roll BLT. Here’s the recipe.

[5] Banana Cream Pie, in a mini-pie serving. Here’s the recipe.

When we first asked one of our colleagues to join us for lunch at Tommy Bahama, she responded:

“Isn’t that the preppy clothing store for people heading to the tropics?”

Yes; you can buy casual summer wear year-round at Tommy Bahama.

But you can also dine at 17 Tommy Bahama restaurants in the U.S., each located within a Tommy Bahama clothing store.

(And depending on the location—Laguna Beach, Mauna Lani, Sarasota, Waikiki—you may be close to a tropical feel.)

On a recent day, we stepped indoors from a New York City winter to have lunch. To warm up (as good an excuse as any), we started with the cocktail menu.

The only challenge was where to begin. It was a work day, so we couldn’t have all of them (or even two of them).

While the bar will mix whatever you want, head for the cocktail menu and peruse the 30 house specials, 6 of which are alcohol free.

Each one is beguiling. How to choose among rum-based tiki drinks, the twists on the classics (coconut, key lime or grapefruit-basil Martinis) or the “new classics”: Lavender Mule, Tahitian Limeade, Mango Habanero Margarita?

If you live or work near a Tommy Bahama restaurant, it’s a great place to meet for after-work drinks and snacks, like the World Famous Coconut Shrimp or the Scallop Sliders.

You can also hold events, replete with tropical music and floral arrangements, including flower leis.

The lunch menu and dinner menu consist of universal favorites, including, among other choices:

 
There are also:

 
The desserts are equally beguiling. While we generally find all-chocolate layer cakes too rich, the Chocolate Malt Cake was just perfect.

Everything is made from scratch; not just the foods you’d expect, but also the croutons, sour mixes, taco shells and tortilla chips.

We have named Tommy Bahama our cold, gray day restaurant of choice. You can’t help but leave happy.

And on a splendid balmy day, you’ll be happy, too.

P.S. Before we left the store, we each ended up buying some of that preppy clothing: a signature marlin golf shirt and a spiffy sun dress.
 
 
TOMMY BAHAMA RECIPES

Can’t get to Tommy Bahama? Try these recipes at home. There are more on the website.