We spent $145 to eat like finance bros at Tommy Bahama and are shocked to admit we get the appeal — but not the food

The restaurant is in the heart of Midtown

The Tommy Bahama on 45th Street and 5th Avenue bills itself on its website as "an oasis in the big city," a "refuge" that's "ideal for business lunches." Geographically, it makes total sense — on foot, Tommy Bahama is six minutes from JPMorgan's new tower, nine minutes from Bank of America Tower, five minutes from a PWC building, and 12 minutes from the main Morgan Stanley office.

We'll spare you the full list of adjacent corporate headquarters.

The interior had the beach vibes we expected

After ascending a spiral staircase from the quiet bar area, we found the dining area packed with collared shirts, quarter-zip pullovers, and not-so-subtle watches.

The wooden shutters and palm plants evoked a beach house in Naples, Florida, more than cold and windy Midtown Manhattan, but the outerwear adorning most everyone's chairs reminded us that, yes, we were still in New York. Of the 29 Tommy Bahama restaurants and bars nationwide, 11 are in Florida, according to the store's website.

The staff were friendly and laid-back, and quickly offered to switch us from our high-top to a better table as soon as one became available. Some of our fellow diners enjoyed what looked like Aperol or Hugo spritzes — very summer-y. Many of the tables had bottles of blue Saratoga spring water bottles, unlike the basic tap water we ordered.

During our Tuesday visit, we observed more men than women in the crowded restaurant, and our waitress said it used to skew even more male. She also said Mondays and Fridays are typically the slowest lunch times, when some people work remotely.

Orders piled up in the kitchen

We had a 12:30 p.m. reservation, and the restaurant kept filling up throughout our meal. Diners eventually sat at the bar, and when I, Alice, went to the bathroom around 1:20 p.m., a gaggle of waiters was congregating by the kitchen, discussing table numbers over a window crammed with burgers and salads.

Apart from the kitchen, though, the crowded restaurant didn't feel cramped. Tables were far enough apart that we couldn't hear others' conversations, yet the background din of conversation made the room feel lively. The only deal talk we overheard came from a woman on her way out, who mentioned her interest in bringing ESRT, the company that owns the Empire State Building, on as a client.

So when it comes to layout, it's not a bad spot for a semi-private, relatively casual business lunch.

The menu prices weren't surprising for New York City

For a restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, the price point wasn't too surprising, but it seemed more suited to dinner than lunch. The cheapest item in the entrée section was $31.

One table of four almost entirely ordered the macadamia-nut-crusted fresh catch, and our waitress said the ahi tuna poke bowl was also a popular lunch choice. There were also a number of salad orders around the restaurant, which seemed fitting for lunch.

We split the 'world-famous' coconut shrimp

The $23 "world-famous" coconut shrimp appetizer arrived at our table fairly quickly — it was the only item we knew we had to try during our visit.

The shrimp sat atop a papaya and mango chutney, adding another layer of sweetness to the coconut coating. The cabbage salad that sat on top was our favorite part of the plate. The coleslaw was dressed with a light vinaigrette, and the cilantro added a nice freshness.

Ultimately, though, the overall dish was too sweet for our liking, and we left some lonely shrimp on the plate.

The wagyu French dip was a bit too beefy

I, Jordan, admit that I'm a newbie to ordering French dip sandwiches. I was expecting mine to come with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese. For $33, the Tommy Bahama wagyu French dip came with neither, despite the description listing sweet-and-sour onions as an ingredient.

The missing onions aside, I found myself taking some of the sliced beef off to make the sandwich a little easier to bite into. I felt kind of silly picking the valuable wagyu out of my sandwich, but I wanted to be able to close it properly. The broth was good for dipping, but I was left wanting more thinly sliced beef and additional ingredients.

The side salad was the best part of the tuna

I, Alice, had already ordered the $46 seared ahi tuna entrée by the time our waitress told us that most opt for the tuna poke bowl. My favorite part of the dish was the carrot, corn, shishito, and mint side salad — it was a welcome break after my ½ of a coconut shrimp. The tuna itself was OK, if a little bit bland.

Jordan, remembering that I'm allergic to poppy seeds, forced me to inspect the sear on my fish. Public humiliation over investigating the edge of my tuna aside, I felt levels of coworker camaraderie potentially unbeknownst to Midtown.

We were underwhelmed — but we get it

Our waitress surprised us with two free desserts: the piña colada cake and malted chocolate pie.

The cake was incredibly sweet, and we initially didn't realize it had any pineapple, but the whipped cream was, unsurprisingly, fantastic. Jordan said the chocolate pie was the only dish that tasted exactly as it looked. An Oreo crust is rarely a bad thing, but we agreed we wouldn't order it again.

For $145, we were sufficiently underwhelmed by the food. Then again, everyone else around us seemed pretty pleased, and the service is efficient without feeling rushed.

As a Wall Street go-to, Tommy Bahama presents a funny inverse. Many firms are setting up outposts in the south, namely in Texas, but the beachy restaurant is trying to bring southern, Floridian charm to 45th Street. And it is, at times, easy to forget that you're in the middle of Manhattan while sitting in the palm-filled dining room, until you look out the window, or at the guys in Charles Tyrwhitt vests sitting next to you.

The noise level and layout are conducive to a genuinely productive, laid-back business meal, and it's an easy escape from Manhattan's chaos. Provided you like the food, we see how it could become an unlikely power lunch staple.

The price is comparable to that of a steakhouse dinner, but it's nothing the corporate card can't handle, right?