It is often said that the success of a business comes down to location, location, location. In the case of Breezes Restaurant at Cambridge Beaches... WHAT A LOCATION!!!! If someone were to claim that the old Bermuda classic “Bermuda is Another World” was written while sitting at Breezes (if not for the fact that the song was written a more than half a century ago), it would be totally believable. Picture this: an absolutely perfect, sunny, Sunday afternoon with slight Breezes (see what we did there?) rustling the palm trees and moving through the covered al fresco dining area. In the background, Bermuda’s turquoise-hued waters lapping up on the infamous pink sands. The chilled out sounds of island music emanating from the speakers surrounding us, further accentuating the relaxed vibe of the day. Essentially, the sights and the sounds serving to remind us that Bermuda truly is another world. We were seated at a table for 3…plus 2 places added. Cue puzzled looks all around with the question nervously swirling “who else is joining us?” Our question was answered quickly with the approach and official introductions of Executive Chef Keith DeShields and Cambridge Beaches Events, Catering & Conference Operations Manager, Nadja Talevi, (with that title, it's clear that she’s responsible for a lot of things). Chef DeShields is a bit of a gentle giant…a humble guy with a love for dogs, personal training, sharing a bit of his world via Instagram, and whose passion for food is obvious as his eyes dance and he comes alive when discussing this topic. We talked extensively throughout lunch, learning his history, his experience and his food points of view (stay tuned for the details as we documented our talk with the Chef and will post it later…this post is about our experience at Breezes). The Breezes lunch menu is a mix of Bermuda, Caribbean and cuisine created by inspired by the Chef and his inspired team. It is one of those menus that is difficult to order from because you basically want to sample one of everything on it. Our choices were made from the process of elimination and the Chef's recommendations. So, on the Chef’s call, we started with Quesadillas (one jerk chicken, one jerk fish). Due to the recent Bermuda’s Best Fish Sandwich Competition, the Fish Sandwich was a must try, and two menu favourite salads; the Lobster Cobb Salad and the Breezes Salad. Salads, you ask? Yes. We need to lighten up our meals, because all of these recently-consumed fish sandwiches are taking a toll! Breezes is practically on the sand and some diners opt to eat on the beach (if you’ve seen beach at the resort you’ll totally understand). Quesadillas are perfect hand-held beach food and they make a solid choice as a starter (to share) or a light lunch (for one). Though made with ‘Jerk’ chicken or fish, they are not overrun with spice, so the anti-heat lovers among us are able to enjoy them. They're served with a trio of dips - a creamy guacamole, a tangy sour cream and a mild and tasty salsa (that you can’t get enough of and make you almost want to test the rules of NO double dipping...but we resisted the double-dip as we are a cultured bunch). The Breezes Fish Sandwich – A competitor in the Bermuda’s Best Fish Sandwich Competition, featuring fresh local Amber Jack with a delicious herb batter, topped with red onion, tomato and tartar sauce, served on a homemade raisin bun. The quick version: this is an amazing sandwich that you should try and can easily do so, because it wasn't made especially for the competition but is a part of Breezes' regular lunch menu. Excuse the brief description but the Breezes Fish Sandwich was featured in an earlier Bite of Bermuda post (available here), and had there been a non-traditional Bermuda Fish Sandwich Category, this beauty could have taken the crown. The Lobster Cobb Salad - This beautiful salad features lobster tail with chopped eggs, haricot vert (french green beans), avocado and cheddar on crispy mixed artisan lettuce. This salad is instantly a feast for the eyes and we completely get why it’s a favourite on the Breezes Menu. It’s just so pretty! Glorious chunks of lobster, bright red tomatoes, fresh green beans and multi-colored lettuce in a sweet citrus dressing. As enjoyable as it was to marvel at, consuming it was even better. The creamy textures of the avocado and chopped egg are accented by the perfectly cooked lobster. Personal preferences in play, there may have been a touch too much dressing, however we are also aware of liking less dressing than most. The dressing impeccably rounds out the flavour of the salad, highlighting the freshness of the ingredients right down to the absolute last morsel of this salad, which was eaten with a smile. Breezes Salad - Pepper Crusted Wahoo, served with avocado, mango & pineapple, toasted macadamia nuts & lemon. Actual quote: “Damn, that is a great looking salad”. The medallions of wahoo were cooked flawlessly, just beyond medium. The result was a rarely seen moistness to a fish that can so easily be dried out (note: this was some of the best prepared, fresh wahoo, that we have experienced to date). The salad was served with the same citrus dressing from the Lobster Cobb that is basically EVERYTHING. In summary, a light-yet-fill-you-up, citrus-y, fruity salad offering an occasional crunch from the macadamia nuts. This is a lunch that lets you reassuringly say to yourself "I'm eating so healthy today" and love every minute of it. All in all, if you’re looking for a way to spend a grown up afternoon (Cambridge Beaches has an age 13 and up policy), or a romantic lunch getaway dining literally in the midst of one of the most compelling examples of Bermuda’s beauty, then Breezes is the place. The isolation of the location offers the feeling of a vacation, meanwhile, we all know that beaches like these can only be witnessed in Bermuda. #beachbragging The restaurant serves up a relaxed yet enchanting atmosphere, attentive service and plethora of menu options that based on our experience, require a return visit; maybe next time for dinner. Take note however, due to the demand for witnessing in the unobstructed views of the magical Bermuda sunset from Breezes Restaurant, dinner is not a walk-in affair and reservations are highly recommended. We are truly grateful to our hosts for the invitation to experience Breezes, as they’ve simply set the ball rolling on what will have been the first of many visits. Disclaimer: While we occasionally will be hosted for a meal, this does not automatically guarantee a positive review. We strive to be a reliable resource for diners in Bermuda and reviews will always be honest. If we like it, we will say, and if it was not pleasing we will say that too (and why). Our ultimate goal is to help you, our readers to navigate the Bermuda food scene.
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