Ok, so I should preface this by saying that we do not get compensated in any way for these posts or opinions and they are just that opinions and we decided early on to be totally honest about our experiences. You may have different experiences than we have depending on the night or your expectations. With that said, we have been to Banana Boat several times and the experiences vary from wonderful to underwhelmed. This visit just happened to be the underwhelmed experience.
The parking is always a bit challenging here unless you choose to valet (which we recommend). The valet service is complimentary and you tip based on your level of comfort. We will typically tip between $10-15 at most places all in (these folks are trying to make a living and provide a service that feels special). There is a parking garage nearby but there is a charge for that also so I would rather support the hard-working valet team for a few extra dollars. Unfortunately, they sometimes struggle with my car (not their fault) because it can be a little complicated to figure out. I always ask if they are familiar with the car and they always respond with a slightly incredulous “yes” but then struggle to figure out how to get it out of park or turn it off. We haven’t shown you the date night car because while it makes our night a little more special it is certainly not necessary for you to have a great time. The car is a Ferrari California convertible (OK, I know what you’re thinking but to be fair my daily driver is a 7 year old Prius so we are not really pretentious but enjoy special moments and items, this is one of those. The car was a gift from my wonderful wife and a dream come true since I was a kid). To be honest the car is not intuitive and the day we bought it the dealership had to teach me how to drive it. We had to look up how to put it in park on Google the first day 😊. So, sometimes we must teach a humbled valet how to take it out of gear, put in park, start, etc. I will include some pictures of it this time.
The Location at Banana boat is spectacular with direct intercoastal views and a beautiful nearby bridge (E Ocean Ave). They have a casual atmosphere, but the wait can be long if you don’t have reservations, so we definitely recommend you use Open Table or call ahead. They have a wonderfully comfortable indoor and outdoor setup with protection from the sun and a nice breeze. It sort of reminds me of an upscale bar type atmosphere (light hearted and fun) with mostly beautiful seating outdoors. On this occasion we sat at possibly the worst seat in the house (up against the wall, next to the bar, on a corner that everybody hangs over your shoulder, and anyone smoking nearby seems to blow it in your direction) but have been fortunate in the past to have some really amazing tables. Now, I realize that these are first world problems and we are super fortunate to even be together sharing a dinner in this wonderful place but the truth is that if this was the experience we had the first time we probably would not have ever come back.
The service is usually rather good, and we have never had a complaint before this visit. Unfortunately, our service was poor this time. The waitress seemed to also be the bartender and not focused on her tables. She struggled with the drinks, no straws (my wife’s pet peeve) and I had to get up several times to get my own straws (that she said she couldn’t find) from the other side of the bar and ask them to change a slightly inappropriate and distracting television station. She got a little better as the night went on but it was too late. We still tip at least 20% no matter what because the staff is working to take care of their families and they cannot always be perfect. We also realize that the service is a big part of the overall experience and can immediately change your perception of a restaurant, so we try to take each part of the experience separately.
The menu is casual and slightly upscale bar food. No matter the other variables the food always seems to be good and put us in a better mood. We ordered the lobster nachos and they are surprisingly generous with the amount of lobster so we would recommend these as a great shareable appetizer. I ordered the seafood crepe which was incredibly unique and a good blend of flavors. My wife ordered the sliders but we filled up on nachos, so we took them to go (they did make a nice lunch for the next day) and they were delicious. Both came with a side and we chose the house salad. We sometimes enjoy a basic side salad that keeps it simple and that is exactly what you get here.
After dinner we try to take a few moments to enjoy the drinks and relax in this fun environment. Sometimes they have live music and we were surprised and a little disappointed that they did not tonight.
We ended our meal at Banana Boat a little less impressed than in the past but we would certainly go back. The valet struggled to start the car and I had to teach him how to put it in park (which was slightly funny and he was appreciative saying “I wont forget that, thank you”). Then we went for a nice cruise down A1A in the beautiful evening, convertible top down, and just appreciated getting to spend this time together.
As a good friend and mentor would say “Uncomfortable and bad situations always give you the best stories so remember that and learn to laugh about it”.
Date Nights Palm Beach 