Throwback Tavern — Restaurant in Pembroke Pines

My husband and I showed up at 8:00pm on Saturday night. We were quoted 30-40 mins (mind you there were 4 empty tables with zero movement to seat people at them). We finally got sat around 9:00 and they “ran out of menus”, but had a QR code ready. We ordered immediately. Warm canned soda came pretty fast, but it took 20 mins to get our waters and another 40 to get our mozzarella moons. My “Return of the Mac” was decent. It was supposed to come with Mac & Cheese and bacon on it. The bacon was not cooked (but I gave it to my husband who is ok with that) and there were only 10ish noodles from the mac & cheese. The patties themselves and the chipotle sauce was 🔥. Over all the burger was a solid 3.5. My husband got the “Blue Crush” and was impressed, he said 4/5. Now the milkshake was disappointing, it was basically chocolate MILK, not a thick milkshake, but milk with whipped cream and cereal on top.

Now, let’s talk service. The place is clearly ran by what looks to be inexperienced teenagers. The staff was extremely timid and spent an insane amount of time hanging out in the kitchen. The staff seemed nervous about approaching tables. They also had difficulty multi-tasking. It also felt as though there was no manager present whatsoever. For example, the poor hostess was professional under pressure, and was doing her best. But I honestly felt bad for her. At 9pm she began turning people away from being added to a 90+ min wait even though you could clearly see half the tables were open and the place wasn't supposed to close for another 3 hours. And then at one point the host just disappeared and clocked out leaving what looked to be a server and a busser to run the hostess stand which was empty for the majority of the evening. They even told a patron that the kitchen was closing at 10:45 even though the restaurant was open until midnight.

At one point I over heard a staff member apologizing to patrons for the wait saying the restaurant “blew up on social media” and the kitchen was so far behind because of online orders. Honestly I don’t know if I buy that excuse because most of the “to go” or “take out orders” were coming from people who didnt want to wait 90 mins for a table. Now if that was a legit excuse, it’s a simple fix…. stop taking online orders and concentrate on the customers who came to experience your restaurant.

I have a recommendation for the atmosphere. I was expecting the crazy amount of TV’s to have something “throwback” related like maybe movies, cartoons, music videos something besides sports. Also, the music selection was not was I was expecting for 90’s music. No top hits in the 2.5 hours we were there.

Now, my overall review is the food was pretty good and this place has serious potential, but overall the staff and the management need to work on customer prioritization. And based on comments I’ve read (meaning mixed reviews) there needs to be more training on milkshake prep. I think the food was great, but the service...

Throwback Tavern in Pembroke Pines, Florida, wow that’s all I can say I can’t stop raving about this gem! From the moment you step inside, you’re transported straight into a nostalgic wonderland, with a vibrant retro vibe that screams 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. The decor is a love letter to those iconic decades, with classic movie posters like Jurassic Park plastered across the walls, instantly sparking memories of blockbuster nights. The standout, though, is the incredible 80s/90s cartoon mural that wraps around the space—it’s like the walls are alive with the colorful, playful spirit of Saturday morning cartoons. It’s impossible not to feel like a kid again! The arcade is an absolute highlight, a nostalgic playground packed with hits that defined our childhoods. I spent way too much time (and had way too much fun) battling it out on Street Fighter, reliving epic Mortal Kombat finishing moves, dunking on NBA Jam, and taking down enemies in Time Crisis. The machines are in great condition, and the selection is a perfect mix of classics that keep you coming back for “just one more game.” Now, let’s talk about the food—because the Throwback Burger stole the show. This juicy, flavorful smash burger was pure perfection, cooked to a mouthwatering crisp on the edges while staying tender and packed with flavor. Paired with a side of crispy, golden fries, it’s the kind of meal that hits all the right spots.The menu complements the vibe perfectly, delivering comfort food with a nostalgic twist being named after movies and shows from the 80s and 90s. Theming is ON POINT The atmosphere at Throwback Tavern is electric, blending retro charm with a lively, welcoming energy that makes you want to stay all night. Whether you’re there to eat, play, or just soak in the vibes, this place nails it. It’s a must-visit for anyone craving a delicious meal and a trip down memory lane. I’m already counting down the days until I can go back and will more than likely become my local...

I think this place has so much potential and I really wanted to love it.

To start I want to say that the service was great we didn’t have any complaints there. For an appetizer we got the pickle spears which were good, nice and crunchy with a strong pickle taste. For my main I got the return of the Mac burger which was okay. The patties need seasoning for sure, they were dry and pretty tasteless especially considering it was supped to be a smash burger. The bacon was soggy and not fully cooked and the Mac was just okay. My husband got the Pineapple Express hot dog and it was not good. The flavors didn’t go together at all and there was no taste of the garlic aioli they said was in it. Everything just kind of tasted like overpriced arcade food.

The atmosphere was what drove us to come here but it was a let down. They did have some pretty cool props to take some photos with like phone booths and a really well done 90’s cartoon wall. They also had a cool looking boom box above the bar but what really brought down the vibe was all the tvs playing sports. Very weird. I was expecting some cartoons or classic 90 to early 2000s movies/tv shows. I felt like I was in a sports bar or something which definitely wasn’t what I was expecting. The other decor was fine but didn’t scream “throw back”. There definitely could be more done to the space like the bar itself, backsplash, flooring, tables etc.

All in all this place has a really great concept but the execution is severely lacking in both food and vibe. They definitely need to up food quality. With how many amazing restaurants there are in south Florida the food they’re currently serving isn’t up to par with other local restaurants, especially at the price.

I hope to be wrong and the owner reads mine and the other reviews I’ve seen here with the same critiques and really runs with it because I can 100% see a place like this KILLING it....