Jarce and I had arrived so early to Tarpon Bend that they were still having some sort of meeting to prepare for opening. While we're looking over the menu we're asked if we've ever been here before. We haven't so our server told us he'd like to let us have a Mexican Shrimp Margarita (chilled gulf shrimp, spicy tomato tequila-chili sauce, black beans & avocado with tortilla chips) starter on the house. I was about to say, "No Thanks" when Jarce beats me to the response and says "Thanks!". I don't eat seafood so I don't really anticipate having more than one taste of this. I do decide to order their Creamy Mushroom Soup. It was a good decision because that soup was great. The Mexican Shrimp Margarita arrives while I'm slurping up my soup. I take a taste and it's good but not my cup of tea. Jarce puts it down though. I order the Blue Smoke Burger (because Mr. Nikon Miami is always raving about it) and Jarce has the Grilled Tuscan Calamari Steak (who does he think he is ordering that for this review?). Jarce loves lemon and it happens to have a lemon-basil butter sauce on it, I thought I was going to have to stop him from drinking the leftovers. The burger tasted good and I loved the melted gorgonzola cheese on it. I was afraid they might go the blue cheese dressing route which would have been horrible. The fresh cut fries were delicious and reminded me of the fries Lila's (now defunct Cuban restaurant chain) used to put on their steaks. It was a great burger and I look forward to trying their Tarpon Burger next time although that Pulled Pork Sandwich also sounds pretty good.


Tarpon Bend Blue Smoke Burger: 3 1/2 out of 5


Tarpon Bend Food & Tackle
65 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL
305-444-3210
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