LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Eating Out: Hidden Treasures, Great Food & Fun Times at the Purple Parrot |
by Barry Becker |
The Purple Parrot (247 Rehoboth Avenue) opened with great fanfare last year, with what is surely the most outrageously painted and decorated interior in town. The use of color throughout the restaurant is mesmerizing, and all the hidden painted treasures and design elements could keep you occupied all night. But remember, you've also come here for the great food! I always find it so hard to choose what to eat from this extensive menu. On this night (with a special guest cameo appearance by Lori, of Oy Vey Caf, herself) we decided to begin with a few appetizers. We tried the Fried Crab Balls, as I had heard great things about them, and they were outrageous and certainly deserving of their reputation. These were big, solid pieces of juicy, tasty crab, fried and served with cocktail sauce. We also had the Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers, breaded and deep fried with melted cream cheese oozing out of them, spicy and hot and made even better with the pepper jelly served alongside. What a great way to start a meal! For dinner we went over the menu very carefully, and took a long time to make a decision. There is a little of everything here, from salads and soups to sandwiches and wraps. There is prime rib (in three sizes, all huge and wonderful and perfect), seafood (mahi mahi, crab imperial, coconut fried shrimp, jumbo crab cakes, and more), poultry (herb roasted chicken, grilled jerk chicken) pasta (lobster parmesan, stuffed tortellini, little neck clams in garlic and white wine sauce), and red meat (filet mignon, New York Strip steak, porterhouse and more). We opted for the full rack of BBQ Baby Back Pork Ribs, served with luscious garlic mashed potatoes and a medley of vegetables that included carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, and broccoli. The ribs were a huge portion of the most tender and amazingly delicious meat that really did fall right off the bones, smothered with a great tangy BBQ sauce. I could eat these every night I think. I opted for the Grilled Half Duck, served with the same tasty vegetable medley, a baked potato with sour cream, and a side of fresh fruit sauce that was a great complement to the meat. The duck was tender and juicy and absolutely succulent. It is certainly something I would order again and again. Now Lori and I were coming up on the part of the meal where I normally say I can't possibly eat any more but I always end up ordering two desserts and somehow squeezing them in. But not tonight. After all those ribs, we split a piece of pie, turning down at least 3 decadent sounding chocolate desserts that I would normally kill for. There was also a key lime cheesecake and banana cream pie, but the coconut cream pie sounded like it would hit the mark and we ordered a piece of it. I was thinking of my grandmother's dense but delicious version of this, so was wonderfully surprised to find the lightest, fluffiest piece of pie I have ever had, with a graham cracker crust and tons of coconut and whipped cream. It was the perfect end of a wonderful meal. After a great meal, the fun continues upstairs in the Bird Cage. The Purple Parrot's popular tropical bar features Karaoke on Wednesday and Friday nights, and Steve Cohen at the piano Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during dinner, then later Saturday night a DJ and dancing. Plus, there's Sunday Brunch, Key West Night every Tuesday, and Wednesday at the Parrot is Lobster Night. And in between all the specials, sit back and enjoy one of the Parrot's famous frozen drinks. You may never leave. The Purple Parrot is open for dinner seven days a week, and lunch Friday, Saturday and Sunday. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 11, Aug. 11, 2000. |