BBQ Plus Sushi Equals One Delicious Combo

After a long week, I was in the mood for a low-key kind of restaurant where I could relax and enjoy a leisurely meal.

Boy, did I go to the right place! Tommy’s Paradise Grill at 18636 Gunn Hwy has a beach bar kind of atmosphere and the instant I caught sight of the tiki bar, my relaxation commenced.

My dining companion, otherwise known as my mom, and I grabbed a seat at one of the umbrella covered picnic tables and waited for our server. We didn’t have to wait long. Our beverage order was taken in no time flat, after which we were left to pour over the delectable looking menu.

The options ranged from beef brisket, shredded pork, po boys and fish tacos, to the unexpected appearance of sushi rolls. You don’t often find sushi and BBQ on the same menu, but somehow it works at Tommy’s. They employ a sushi chef with over ten years of experience. After our friendly server filled us in on that little tidbit, I figured it was safe to order the delicious sounding Volcano Roll. My mom went the traditional BBQ route and ordered baby back ribs, along with sides of macaroni and cheese and green beans.

After a few minutes, I realized that I was too hungry to wait for our entrees, so I flagged down our server and put in an order of sweet potato fries. I couldn’t have made a better decision. They were fried to just the right amount of crispiness and had the perfect combination of sweet and salty flavors one expects from sweet potato fries. Needless to say, they were gone rather quickly.

When our main courses arrived, we couldn’t believe our eyes. My Mom’s half rack of ribs filled up her entire plate. The macaroni and cheese contained the kind of creamy texture that only comes when it’s made from scratch. The green beans, which are locally sourced, were clearly fresh. My Volcano Roll was arranged so artistically, one would have expected to find it at an upscale sushi joint. Something to note was the fact that our meals were $11.99 and $10.99 respectively.  Clearly, you get a lot of bang for your buck at Tommy’s.

We couldn’t end our evening without enjoying a little dessert, so we shared a slice of key lime pie. It was the perfect ending to an excellent meal.

Tommy's Paradise Grill is located at 18636 Gunn Hwy. in Odessa, Fl. For more information call: 813-475-6973.