Rumba Island Bar & Grill, Clearwater, FL

All day long I'd been thinking about "a cold beer by the water". As the day wore on, heading out to the beach seemed like too much effort, so I TM'd "Meet for a beer? At Rumba?" It's close to the house and it's tiki-tropical feel is almost like being at the beach. First let me say that Rumba Island Bar & Grill is a good restaurant and a good bar. Their outdoor tiki hut has comfortable chairs, a nice breeze and awesome barstaff. Our bartender, Sue, was quick with a Blue Moon and Magic Hat #9 to quench our thirst. But Rumba, and it's red-headed steptwin, Marlin Darlin' are the casual, less polished versions of the Baystar Restaurant Group's Island Way Grill and Salt Rock Grill. We believe that Rumba is where they train the staff before they cull out the talent and send them on to Island Way, just a few miles down the road. Now, as to the eats! We started with their Smoked Fish Spread $5.49. It was good, but not much smoky flavor. Sue provided an array of hot sauces which helped it along. For dinner, he ordered The Island Boy Burger with cheese and bacon, $7.99. Cooked perfectly to order, medium, it was still juicy, cheesy and satisfying. Paired with lime, salt and herbed Island Fries, $2.99, it was good food. I picked the Rumba Melt, $8.49, a messy patty melt on grilled marble rye. With grilled purple onions (was this the tropical part?)it was not cooked to perfection, but on the raw side of medium. The bread was toasty and yummy on the outside, but a little soggy and greasy toward the middle. Needless to say at least half was abandonned on the plate. Total for the 3 beers, a soda, appetizer, the burgers and fries: $43.61 before tip. Good, but not great. Stay tuned for Rumba, Part 2 as the panda-child and I meet friends there tomorrow for a pre-movie dinner. We'll try something different and see if they can impress on the second try.