Bahama Breeze

Bahama Breeze Island Grille is a Caribbean‑inspired casual dining restaurant concept owned and operated by Darden Restaurants, Inc., the parent company behind Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. The brand centers on island‑style food and cocktails, with full bars, scratch‑prepared dishes, and a relaxed atmosphere that works for everyday dinners, happy hours, and social gatherings.

The concept was created in 1996, when Darden launched a Caribbean grill format to sit alongside its core Italian and steakhouse brands. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bahama Breeze grew as a distinctive full‑service option built around Caribbean flavors and rum‑forward beverages. Over time, the menu shifted toward broadly approachable seafood, chicken, and steak with island influence, while the bar, live music, and outdoor seating became central to the experience.

By the early 2010s, Bahama Breeze had established itself as one of Darden’s smaller but recognizable brands. It continued to open locations selectively in high‑traffic retail corridors, tourist areas, and suburban lifestyle centers. The restaurants leaned into an experiential model, with patios, tropical décor, and entertainment that made them a draw for groups, celebrations, and evening and weekend occasions. Industry rankings of U.S. restaurant chains by sales have consistently listed Bahama Breeze among national full‑service concepts, even at its relatively modest footprint.

As of May 2025, Bahama Breeze operates 28 company‑owned restaurants across the United States, with locations concentrated in Florida and other Sunbelt and destination markets. In May 2025, Darden closed 15 of 43 Bahama Breeze locations after several years of declining traffic, and publicly stated that it was reviewing whether to continue operating the concept or pursue a sale. The chain is not in active expansion mode, and Darden’s development activity today is focused on its larger growth brands rather than Bahama Breeze.

For landlords, brokers, and developers, this shift means Bahama Breeze is more likely to surface as a source of second‑generation full‑service restaurant space than as a new tenant in the near term. The existing units tend to be larger‑format, freestanding or end‑cap restaurants with full liquor licenses and ample parking, often positioned in established suburban and tourist trade areas. These boxes have historically generated destination evening and weekend traffic and can be candidates for conversion to other Darden concepts or to new operators if they are vacated.

Looking ahead, the brand’s footprint will depend on Darden’s strategic decisions: reinvest in the concept, repurpose the real estate within its portfolio, or divest sites to third parties. In the meantime, Bahama Breeze remains an active but contracting brand within an investment‑grade corporate structure, and its locations are important to watch for potential closures, conversions, and disposition opportunities, particularly in Florida and the broader Southeast.