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This restaurant shares the branding of your uncle’s favorite Hawaiian shirt; it’s also a hot spot for some of Midtown’s most infamous lunchers. Stop by after a matinee or before happy hour to watch orders of “World Famous Coconut Shrimp” and frozen mai tais devoured by tourists and transplants alike.
The vibe: In the weird world of Midtown eating, folks in finance are flocking to this worldwide chain. The food comes out fast, the phones stay in hand and the food, while not being beside the point, necessarily, is best paired with a frozen mai tai or two.
The food: Some of us remember the days when theme restaurants ruled Times Square: Mars 2112, Señor Frog's, the flagship Red Lobster…it’s coming back in all its kitschy glory with crab cakes with “island slaw,” seared ahi tuna with sushi rice and fried-to-perfection, coconutty curls of sweet-and-salty shrimp.
The drinks: Is that an island breeze in the air? No, it’s just a Coconut Cloud Martini on an August afternoon in Midtown. Sweet tropical drinks go down easy, as do the appealing chardonnays and sauvignon blancs.
Time Out tip: Happy hour runs from 3–6pm, Monday through Saturday; live music starts at 4:30, giving you an hour and a half to catch the island rhythm. (The island of Manhattan, that is.)