 Thistle
Lodge at Casa Ybel Resort
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There's nothing quite like spending a day out on the water, or lounging
on the beach with the sound of the waves lapping at the shore, to
inspire desire for a meal next to that life-giving force we call H 20.
With 590 miles of coastline, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel offers
up a number of restaurants where dining in sight of blue-green waters –
be it salt, fresh or a combination of the two – pleasantly punctuates a
day spent out of doors.
Check out this list of the tried-and-true.
Sanibel
Thistle Lodge at Casa Ybel Resort has got to be one of the
most romantic spots on the planet. Well-known for spectacular sunsets,
this restaurant features small dining rooms on various levels connected
by intricate woodwork, and an aesthetic inspired by the tropics and
Victorian architecture. For the best view, request a table in the
conservatory area, or in the elegant turreted room. Dishes of note
include the Crab Cake Martini and Seared Snapper (my delightfully
delicate version was served on a leek-blue crab ragout with a cilantro
reduction). Asian and Floridian items meld with classic French cuisine
on the adventurous menu, which includes daily sushi selections. The
restaurant is also known for its prime, aged beef. Service is welcoming
and professional.
Gramma Dot's offers up an altogether different experience.
This restaurant is on the grounds of Sanibel Marina, and its wooden
frame holds only screening as a buffer from the elements – there are no
plate-glass windows here. A white-painted interior sets the stage for a
seaworthy theme – ship's wheels and brass nauticalia. There
really was a Gramma Dot (born at the turn of the last century), whose
family continues her legacy of love for Sanibel Island. From the
award-winning menu, expect beautifully presented seafood (try a
mesquite-grilled grouper sandwich and their homemade potato chips) and
casual fare served in elegant baskets. (A nearby table was enjoying
juicy burgers.) The knowledgeable staff is friendly, and not a little
tongue in cheek with their observations on life, the universe and
everything...
Fort Myers Beach
Snug Harbour certainly lives up to its name in its recently
revamped multi-story space on the Intracoastal Waterway in the shadow of
the San Carlos Bridge. On a recent evening, a family fished from the
pier and the Key West Express catamaran cruised by as we dined
waterside, ensconced on the wide porch under the stars. The vast menu
captures all that is good of the fruits of the sea, including fantastic
ahi tuna (served as an appetizer or full meal with a delicious ponzu
sauce) and locally caught snapper, seasoned with the house blend – yum.
If you go with kids, be sure to let them take a gander (with 3-D glasses
on!) at the impressive diorama that wraps around walls inside.
Cabbage
Key Inn, Cabbage Key
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Matlacha/Pine Island
What can you say about
Bert's Bar and Grill in Matlacha, except to note it's one
of the last vestiges of that dying breed of canteen – the Florida
seafood joint on the water. Oh, it's a bar alright, the kind that finds
salty dogs belly up to it at 11 a.m. But go for the food and the view
(and go by boat – the restaurant has its very own (small) dock). And the
friendly faces. All sorts of folk stop in for the excellent grouper
sandwich and other delectable seafood delights, served down-home style
in paper-lined baskets. You'll appreciate the freshness of the fish as
much as the proprietors do, who get their catch down the road, across
the bridge – my point is – from local fisherman just in at the docks.
At the southern tip of Pine Island in St. James City (that city part is
a bit of a stretch...) sits another venerable salty dog in the form of
The Waterfront Restaurant, a century-old former schoolhouse
complete with its own canal-side marina. The appeal here is the rustic,
wooden interior plastered with customers' drawings (some of them are
quite artistic) and the fresh-from-the-gulf fare, including local
grouper and fresh Florida mahi-mahi. The menu is extensive, so you might
have to come back more than once.
Boca Grande & Outer Islands
Much has been written about the charms of Cabbage Key, an island
comprised of equal parts Calusa Indian shell mounds, mangrove forest and
literary inspiration. Its Inn is a must-stop-over for the
fishing-and-cruising set, and the Inn's most famous culinary
interpretation is none other than the Cheeseburger in Paradise, named
for the Jimmy Buffett tune said to have been penned on site. The peel 'n
eat shrimp give the ample burger a run for its money, and the grouper
sandwich lives up to area standards. A star sweet attraction is the
frozen key lime pie. I know it sounds weird, but try it – it tastes like
a frozen limeade, and refreshing doesn't even come close.
If you go…
Bert's Bar and Grill, 239-282-3232,
www.bertsbar.us
Cabbage Key Inn, 239-283-2278,
www.cabbagekey.com
Gramma Dot’s, 239-472-8138
Sanibel Princess, 239-466-4000,
www.sanibel-resort.com/shprincess.html
Snug Harbour, 239-463-4343,
www.snugharborrestaurant.com
Thistle Lodge at Casa Ybel Resort, 239-472-9200,
www.casaybelresort.com
The Waterfront Restaurant & Marina, 239-283-0592,
www.waterfrontrestaurant.com
