Its days as a Dodger hangout are over
– no Tommy Lasorda, no Rick Monday,
no Steve Yeager. But Bobby’s restaurant,
the spring training place-of-choice for
food and drink (not necessarily in that
order) for almost three decades, is showing
no signs of a fall-off in business.
The reason: Bobby’s burgers (whether
the All American hamburger, the
cheeseburger, or the Bobby’s burger),
are among the best you will ever taste,
and the beachside restaurant’s more
elaborate entrée’s –steaks, ribs, fish of
the day – are pretty darn good as well.
We frankly rarely get beyond the
burgers on our visits to Bobby’s. They
really are that good. The only caveat
we would note is that burgers ordered
rare sometimes do not come to the
table rare. But the waitresses are more
than accommodating, we ask for a
redo, and on the second time around,
they are always perfection.
On several recent visits, however, we
have made it a point to forego the burgers
in an effort to see how Bobby’s stacks
up on the type of entrees served by some
of Vero’s white-table-cloth restaurants.
The answer is: Pretty darn well.
On our last visit, there were seven or
us – so we sampled a good selection of
Bobby’s entrees. The results were impressive,
to say the least.
This time, I had the prime rib ($23 for
the 12-ounce size; $26 for the 16-ouncer)
which is touted on the menu as
“Vero’s Best.” The prime rib, juicy and
tender, may have been worthy of this accolade; the accompanying baked
potato and vegetables, alas, weren’t.
One of our companions had the entrée
I ordered on my previous visit –
the flatiron steak ($18.95) served with
five shrimp prepared scampi style. He
was as enthused as I had been on my
previous visit, and I sat there wishing
I could pilfer his scampi in all their
wonderful garlic.
Two members of our party tried the
grilled marinated chicken ($18.95),
which they pronounced moist and flavorful.
Another ordered the steak tidbits,
strips of marinated London broil
served open face with gravy on garlic
bread. Bobby’s says this is its number
one seller, and it is easy to see why.
The steak is as tender and tasty as you
could possibly ask, and at $11.95, the
price is more than right.
My husband, who on our last visit
had the New York Strip (16 oz for $28, 12
oz for $26), this time tried the 10 oz filet
($29) with Béarnaise sauce on the side.
While both were good, he preferred the
New York strip, which he had enjoyed Au
Poivre style served with cracked black
pepper and topped with a light brandy
cream sauce (an additional $3.50).
The seventh member of our party,
disregarding my mandate to sample
new entrees, ordered an All-American
Burger – which she said was totally up
to the usual Bobby’s standard.
On this visit, all members of our party
were content with the house salads that
come with entrees – a nice mix of greens,
cucumbers and tomatoes with a variety
of tasty dressings.
But on previous trips,
we have sampled a variety of appetizers,
including the sautéed crab cakes
($11.95), which themselves can make
a delicious light meal, and the fried
calamari ($10.95), lightly battered and
served with a tangy marinara sauce.
I would also be remiss in not noting
another entrée we have tried on previous
occasions – Bobby’s baby backs
($22.95), a rack of seasoned and flavorful
glazed ribs which are better than those
at any of the rib houses in the area.
Dinner for two with a modest bottle
of wine, before tip, runs about $80. If
you stick to burgers, the tab with wine
runs about $60.
When Bobby’s sister restaurant, the
Dockside Grille, opened this past fall on
Royal Palm Pointe, we hoped that getting
a table at Bobby’s – which does not
take reservations – might be easier this
season. But it seems as though most
Bobby’s regulars tried the Dockside and
returned to the mother ship. By 7 pm on
a typical weekday evening, you are looking
at a 60-to-90 minute wait at the bar.
That probably tells you all you need
to know. A restaurant that keeps ‘em
coming back must be doing something
right, and Bobby’s is doing a lot right.
I welcome your comments, and encourage you to send feedback to me at tina@verobeach32963.com .
The reviewer dines anonymously at restaurants at the expense of Vero Beach 32963.
Hours: Daily, 11am to midnight
Bar: Full bar
Address: 3450 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, 32963
Telephone: 772-231-6996
Review first published: March 19, 2009
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