Feature Search Results

A lazy Sunday morning stroll through colourful Port Lucaya Marketplace leads you to the waterfront. Suddenly you are drawn in by the enticing sounds of jazz. Intrigued, you follow the sounds of the saxophone to The Harbour Room. 
I admit it sounds very poetic, but in truth it is what I experienced. Joined by my husband, we embarked on a delicious adventure for the senses……… Jazz Brunch at The Harbour Room. We were greeted warmly and as we entered the outdoor dining patio, guests seemed entranced; we wondered whether it was the magnificent cuisine, exotic drinks or the music. 
Upon entering the main room, our eyes were drawn to the elaborate spread set out for our dining pleasure. We were led to a cozy spot and the candle was lit at our table, it was only 11:30am, but the mood was decidedly romantic, I was awestruck. 
On stage was The Apple Elliott Trio, a talented group with extensive and impressive musical backgrounds between them. Members of the trio are, Edwin “Apple” Elliott on the keyboard, Ralph “Ossie” Hall on the saxophone and Patrick Russell on the drums. The trio filled the room with songs like “Crazy & Stand by Me” with rich, smooth vocals by Russell, and then “Mack the Knife, Georgia and New York, New York” with vocals by Hall. With a gravelly voice reminiscent of the great Louie Armstrong and Ray Charles, what a treat to hear “Ossie” slide into a velvety version of Sinatra’s “New York”. 
The Harbour Room exudes a comfortable aura, and has a casual feel, which makes the fine cuisine served in this establishment a most pleasurable surprise. The menu is an international tribute to food, with selections from Oriental fried rice, to Indian lamb curry and Duck breast a l’orange. New York, Paris, Los Angeles, New Orleans, the selections at The Harbour Room are second to none of the selections served in any of the world’s famous ‘cuisine’ cities. 
With a sparkling glass of champagne set before me and a luscious fruit punch set before my companion, we began our gastronomic journey. The first stop was the White Bahamian conch chowder which was exceptional. Prepared with a unique blend of spices, in the creamy white sauce, the tender morsels of conch and potatoes were a delight to the palate. Next, we checked out the variety of salad and fruit offerings. Mmmmm…..who could say no to the rich flavour of pate‘? Diners can choose between the Pate‘ de Foie and the Duck Pistachio Pate‘, both are equally delicious, teamed with a selection of crackers or toast. Sliced Irish Smoked Salmon was irresistible and satisfying, and the Lobster & Crab Salad is a must! There was mescaline mix and Cole slaw, the West End Potato Salad was scrumptious. Artichoke hearts, asparagus, sweet pineapple, juicy strawberries, plump olives, and an assortment of cheeses kept me revisiting the cold buffet. 
More guests file in swaying to the beat of the jazz filling the room, but the quest is not over yet. It’s time to scan the hot buffet. What a quandary…..where do we begin? With a weakness for escargot, I help myself to the Escargot Bourguignon; it melts in my mouth and has just enough garlic. Next is the oven roasted Duck Breast a L’Orange, to call it tender is an understatement, and the flavour is out of this world…..am I really in Freeport, enjoying such fine cuisine? My husband, being the ‘meat & potatoes’ type, opted for the Bahamian Macaroni and Cheese, which he thoroughly enjoyed, the BBQ Spare Ribs were “really really good”, and he pronounced the Australian Frenched Rack of Lamb “moist, tender and flavourful.” The culinary tour continued as we sampled the Oriental Shrimp Fried Rice, the generously proportioned shrimp were abundant, and the Pepper Steak was an appetizing compliment. Indian “Rogan Josh” Lamb Curry with Fettuccini was next on our plates, and what an exotic delight! The subtle flavours in the curry mingled with the bold flavour of the lamb to make it a very memorable dish. 
You can’t end an epic adventure with out an outstanding dessert, and even here, the attention to detail is obvious. Warm Guava Duff with Rum Sauce, is a classic Bahamian dessert taken to another level. Chocolate lovers would find their Utopia in the Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake. And never let it be said that you have to choose just one….at The Harbour Room, you are free to sample them all! Black Forest Cake, Jeff’s choice of Dessert Cheese, and a large assortment of Homemade Cheese Cakes. 
Jeff Butler, proprietor of The Harbour Room has a long history in fine cuisine, and a passion for great food. Jeff has made it his life’s work to provide an international flavour in Grand Bahama Island. He has successfully accomplished this through Butler’s Specialty Foods, Shenanigan’s Irish Pub, and now, The Harbour Room. When asked about the quality of food served at The Harbour Room, Jeff states simply, “The standard is top cuisine, prepared with only the best ingredients. You have to start with the best ingredients to get the best results. You can’t have second quality ingredients and hope to make up for it with seasonings and sauces. The Harbour Room is world class, fine dining.” 
Chef Stephan Kramer is no stranger to fine dining. Having worked at the Atlantis Hotel in New Providence, this talented chef brings sheer joy to the kitchen and dining room at the Harbour Room, his love of preparing exquisite dishes is obvious as he speaks about the daily menu. “All items are cooked to order. There is lots of seafood, Surf & Turf, fresh fish, ‘catch of the day’ whenever possible from the marina. Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin and Red Snapper are all available. These are prepared as you like it, grilled, steamed, blackened, pan-fried or seared. Fish is definitely the most popular dish.” When asked how he achieves the unique flavours in his dishes, Chef Stephan replied that he makes his own seasonings and “adds a personal touch to everything, not just salt and pepper on everything. I vary the seasoning. You have to put love in your cooking, if not, people will taste it. I just tell Jeff what I want and Jeff sees to it that I have it. I can experiment with different foods and seasonings.” Chef Stephan says that his favourite meal is the Sunday Brunch “All of the preparation is done in the morning, and once that is finished, I can mingle with the guests. I even play the drums sometimes after dinner, this is a fun place to work. The food here is excellent; we have good steaks, the Delmonico and Filet Mignon. This is international cuisine. Every week, we change two of the items on the Brunch menu, so we have a variety for our regular customers.” 
As we sit, thoroughly sated, guests call out requests to the Apple Elliott Trio. They too are enjoying the journey that Jeff and the entire staff at The Harbour Room so thoughtfully orchestrated. A gentle touch in the middle of the day, romance, great music, fantastic food, and an overall sensational experience, is all we can say about the Sunday Brunch at The Harbour Room. For more, we suggest you visit for yourself. The Harbour Room, Sunday Brunch every Sunday 11:30am till 4:30pm - only $26.95 plus gratuity

Reservations: (242) 374-4466 • www.harbourroom.com. Located on the Marina in Port Lucaya near UNEXSO.