Palm trees, crab cakes and five dollar mojitos – what more could you want in a summer evening? You’ll find all this and more at Outriggers Tiki Bar and Grille in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. One step inside Outriggers, located in the New Smyrna Marina, and you’ll start to wonder if you are still in NSB. Don’t get me wrong, I love the charm and small town feel of New Smyrna, but I think we can all agree that it’s no Palm Beach or Miami. But, Outriggers is quickly becoming the best kept secret for waterfront dining….without enduring the lines at JB’s Fishcamp.
The crab cakes we ordered first were perfectly crisp and plump all at once. It’s hard to find a good crab cake especially when you have high expectations from a seafood restaurant. So many crab cakes I’ve tasted remind me of cat food, and that’s never a good sensation for you palate. While ordering our starters, we also ordered some fabulous five-dollar mojitos. I’m not a mojitos drinker personally, but there’s noting better than sipping on a good drink, gazing at the water and realizing that you have a whole day ahead of you before heading back to your cubicle. Even if you’re not terribly hungry, the crab cakes are worth trying before your main course.
I was slightly disappointed with my entrée, but I guess that’s what you get for ordering tacos instead of fresh fish caught from the ocean that day. Most of my party ordered the Drunken Mermaid Fish Sandwich with grilled and marinated fish from local waters covered in their signature slaw, remoulade and melted provolone. I know, right? It’s worth a trip back to order that sandwich or the Fish of the Moment, prepared fried or broiled. Ask your server what was just swimming and that’s what will arrive on your plate. You can also bring your own filed fish and the kitchen will cook the piece to your liking. Sounds strange but there’s a fabulous vendor at the NSB farmers’ market every Saturday that sells the world’s best fish caught in local waters.
We finished our meal with some pretty tasty key lime pie, and yes more mojitos. Hey, they were only five dollars and it was a Saturday night. I’d highly recommend Outriggers for anyone looking to dine on the water and avoid the never ending lines at Boston’s and JB’s this weekend. Cheers to fresh seafood and Independence Day!
