When I went to Chicago for a visit with two friends of mine, one of the
stops we intended to make was to Bubba Gump Shrimp Restaurant and
Market. Though we passed the restaurant the day before when we spent the
afternoon at Navy Pier, we saved this unique dining experience for our
last excursion on the trip. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get a
picture of the exterior; I intended to, but it was too crowded at the
time for me to get a good shot of anything. While there is a large
dining area inside, the tables out on the pier are ideally located for a
nice summer day. Benches adorned with Forrest’s sayings create a nice
effect. On the inside, the restaurant is filled with memorabilia and has
Forrest Gump playing constantly.
The menus feature
photos and quotes from the film and food related to the characters. I
got the Bucket of Boat Trash, a combination of shrimp, lobster and fish
alluding to a scene at the beginning of Forrest’s shrimping career, and a
Run Forrest Run, a smoothie consisting of oranges, strawberries,
bananas and raspberry frozen yogurt. Other themed menu items included
Mama Gump's Garlic Bread Basket; the Run Across America platter
featuring Bubba's Far Out Dip (with spinach, roasted red pepper,
artichokes, shrimp and Monterey Jack cheese) and Chips, Chilly Shrimp
(peel and eat southern-style shrimp), Greenbow Tenders (Cajun chicken
strips with blue cheese sauce) and Mama Blue's Fried shrimp; Jenny's
Favorite, a smoothie with cranberry juice, strawberries and raspberry
frozen yogurt; the Alabama Sweet Smoothie, made of peanut butter,
chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt; a variety of shrimp options from
Shrimp Shack Pasta to Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp; Gumpberry Cobbler,
consisting of seasonal berries and apples with ice cream, drizzled with
raspberry sauce and walnut cookie crumbs; and Forrest's Dr. Pepper
Float, in deference to Forrest's favorite beverage.
The food
was delicious, and as we ate we looked around at the decor and were
entertained by our waiter, a very affable fellow who quizzed us on
Forrest trivia whenever he stopped at our table. How frequently he
stopped was up to us. We were provided with two license plates; most of
the time we kept the “Run Forrest Run” plate in view, but if we needed
anything we switched to “Stop Forrest Stop.” It was a simple touch but
added to the fun of the meal.
It’s a shame Bubba Gump doesn’t
have more locations. I would love to go there with my family sometime.
The high-quality fare makes it worthwhile for any seafood lover, while
the restaurant’s theme is a special treat for fans of the film. Forrest Gump
is one of my favorite movies, so I found it doubly enjoyable. This
isn’t a place where you would dine frequently, but it’s a fun novelty
restaurant along the lines of Hard Rock Cafe or Planet Hollywood, just
with a narrower focus. Prices, while not unreasonable, are a bit hefty,
and if you do go you’ll probably want to take home a reminder of your
trip. I purchased a t-shirt featuring cartoonish renditions of moments
from the movie. A variety of “Gump gear” is available, from t-shirts and
glasses to playing cards and stationery.
Bubba Gump’s is now
in nearly 20 locations – none of which, oddly enough, are in Alabama. If
you happen to be in the vicinity of a Bubba Gump’s, I would certainly
recommend stopping there for a leisurely lunch or dinner, particularly
if you are a Forrest Gump enthusiast. The Chicago branch is open
from 11 am to 11 pm Sunday through Thursday and an hour longer Friday
and Saturday, though hours vary. The restaurant offers an opportunity to
bring a piece of cinema to life in a most delicious manner.
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