The food and service defines the experience. Blue dog never changes. Daily printed menus of fresh offerings, friendly familiar faces of staff and customers every day, the only downside is trying to find parking during peak times. This place thrives on volume and pure mayhem. But quality never suffers. The food is always amazing. I wish they had liquor, be aware all alcoholic drinks are beer based. A minor complaint which doesnt even effect my five star rating. The food speaks for itsself. read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill - Restaurant table - Bars Near Me - Matlacha, Florida

In the ten years I have lived in Florida, my favorite restaurant has not had fried oysters as a special. Well they did and they were outstanding!! I am a fried oyster expert and they were wonderful. Follow them on Facebook so you know when they have them. Then risk a speeding ticket because everyone else wants them as well. Goodbye Blue Dog , I will miss you as I relocate to back to South Carolina. You know I will visit! read more

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Waitress was absolutely delightful, friendly, attentive and informative... she even orchestrated a happy birthday group song for my 93 year old mom. Grouper Reuben was delicious. She crab soup was excellent. Stone crab claws, for appetizer were very tasty and local. Island vibe decor and atmosphere is fun and very appropriate. Smoked mullet is a local delicacy and quite good read more

Blue Dog was recommended by a local. Such a cute place. Definitely impressed with all the food that we ordered. We were there for lunch and it was a full house in there. We got seated quick and out server was very friendly and nice, she even split out checks for us. The pork chop is soft and tender, shrimp and grits were so good , shrimp tacos with mango sauce is out of the world. Definitely the place to go. read more

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Fantastic Service, absolutely had the nicest waitress, but I didn't catch her name. Great little seafood joint completely packed with the line so get there early if you're committed to eat here! Food was phenomenal. So much unique and original artwork here, give me a fishing town, comfortable vibe with everybody smiling and laughing. read more

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Another great experience, the whole team is awesome, made our night - super food, atmosphere, service, all around perfect, thank you so much, we will be back. Totally enjoyed our time. read more

Absolutely THE best Shrimp Tacos I've ever had! Upon the recommendation of our waiterres Nancy, I went with the Shrimp Tacos and Fries and Terri ordered up a favorite of hers, a Patty Melt. I figured I'd just get a little something to tide me over until supper time and these would probably just be the usual small Shrimp Tacos one can get anywhere.... Wow! Was I wrong...this is one of the best meals I've ever had! The shrimps were huge and tasted like no other Shrimp I'd ever had before! And as you can see by the picture, they were huge and the tacos were stuffed full with them. They were so good I tried to get Terri to take a bite of one but she missed out. The mango sauce added to the flavor but these Shrimp could have run solo and they'd have been a homerun on their own. Not to ignore the excellent Patty Melt which was thick and juicy in it's own right Terri rated it in her Top 5. The French Fries were worthy of mentioning also as they have a crispy batter coating that kept you coming back for more even after I'd pushed the plate away...they gotta be Crack Fries or something! Both meals were under 20 bucks too...you can't beat that! Service was excellent, as I said Nancy our server suggested the Shrimp Tacos when I quizzed her whether she thought they were good or not..her eyes lit up and I was sure I'd made a good choice! And ya gotta love the decor of the Blue Dog themed establishment....so much so we bought a couple of t-shirts too! Definitely in my Top Five of places we've been to in Florida over the years. read more

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Just go, one of Matlacha's best hidden gems. The menu is different than most SWFL's menus & the servers are also, that's the Matlache's charm. Everything is locally sourced, the fish, the veggies, have never had anything meh here, it's all good, great beer choice & be prepared to wait during season. read more

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Decided to come by tonight as we needed a break from a nearby place we frequent far too much. We came around 4:30pm so parking wasn't an issue. We were quickly seated. Chay was our waitress and she was lovely and attentive throughout the entire meal. We ordered the large stone crab entry as appetizer, omg it was so fresh and sweet! Crab cake was also very fresh but looks tiny compared to the stone crab. Haha! While we were still enjoying the stone crab, much to our surprised our entree showed up. Wish this was timed a little better because the entree got cooled down while we finished up our appetizer. Other than that, the entrees were amazing and portion was very generous. There was 8 scollop in the pasta, and the Reuben sandwich has big chunk of grouper, very nice grouper sandwich. For dessert we chose the special of the day the burnt sugar cheesecake. Very good also. If you are in the area, this is definitely a restaurant you want to try out. You won't be disappointed! We will most definitely be back! read more

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We were recommended this place and are so confused now by the great reviews. We ended up sitting at the bar since there was a long wait. Service was poor and inattentive. We got all of the highly recommended things: shrimp tacos, cracked conch, crab cakes, and fish dip. All were very disappointing and lacked flavor. Everything took a while to come out and was served room temperature. The crab cakes were shockingly tiny and basic. The cracked conch were greasy and tough. We did like the sauce with it. The fish dip was meh. Needed some seasoning. Even just salt. They actually forgot to bring it out, and we had to remind them whenever we finally got someone's attention. The shrimp in the shrimp tacos were cooked well, but they lacked seasoning, too. The fries that came with it were again...basic. We planned to get key lime pie but decided against it since everything else was so bad. We didn't order any drinks, so can't speak to that. But we did see them make them, and they use all premade syrups. They have a couple of frozen drink options but said they were unable to make a frozen margarita whenever my mom asked. Makes us wonder if their frozen ones are premade. Otherwise, why can't a regular marg just be blended up in a blender? They have different wine, beer, and seltzer options. All around lacking. Unsure why it's popular. read more

A Pine Island Staple they offer the freshest seafood and fish! Even if there is a wait and it can be lengthy during "season" it is worth it. We had wonderful service in a friendly and unique atmosphere. Highly recommend Blue Dog read more

This is definitely the restaurant you want to visit when traveling to or through Matlacha, Florida what a gem. The staff here is so nice and the exceptional customer service started immediately after walking through the door. Fortunately we were able to get seated without a wait and we were immediately greeted by our wonderful server Neci who has been employed here for years and not only has a bubbly personality she is fun and very accommodating. After looking over the menu and discussing the specials with Neci we chose the Triple-Tail Blackened Fish Tacos and the fresh Mahi Fish Sandwich Blackened as well with fries. We also try the ice cold Blue Dog Lager Draft and a Strawberry Daiquiri both were excellent - our food arrived fairly quickly and one look at it we knew we had picked the right place for lunch. Everything was served warm and the portions were unbelievably large, so much food I guess I'll have to pass on that giant fudge brownie that just passed the table. The blackened fish both was amazing so fresh and cooked to perfection and the blackened season was spot on. The mango salsa was the perfect match for the spicy triple-tail tacos although the triple-tail needed nothing I just wanted a plate of the fish along, if you're thinking about this fish you need to order it you won't be disappointed. The mahi also was so fresh and delicious this is definitely a destination restaurant you'll want to come for its fresh fish and seafood and wonderful service. This is a restaurant you'll want to book mark but you'll never need a reminder to visit this place after you're first visit. This is a restaurant you'll find me when I'm looking to grab a drink or a meal going forward when visiting the area... read more

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It was a rainy day and they were very busy, but because there was two of us we got in and was seated immediately. I ordered the triple tail with lemon butter sauce and a side of green beans with andouille sausage, my friend had the coconut shrimp wrap with sweet potato fries. Our server Audrey was excellent & very attentive. From start to finish everything was perfection. I even left the server a note to thank her. We will definitely return. Also the sangria was delicious. read more

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What a cute place. Incredible food! Lots of good gifts to buy too. Our server was very friendly and took our orders promptly. Can't wait to go back and try more delicious seafood! read more

What a fun place this is, and great food too. Had the chicken sandwich, delicious. Lots o'chicken and good fries too. Thank you "Summer Rain" (yeah that was our waitress' name). Will definitely be back! read more

This place attracted us because it serves fresh and supports local! We love places that are unique, not chain restaurants! It's colorful and quaint on the outside, yet the size is deceiving. The restaurant is deep and the canal runs behind the building, should you like to dine outside. Immediately upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly host and sat. Our server didn't waste any time getting over to greet us and take our drink order. He was knowledgeable about the menu. We ordered coconut crusted grouper with rum butter sauce and coconut rice! What a delight! They have beer, wine, sangrias, and some mixed drinks if you're in the mood for a cocktail. Definitely a must stop if your anywhere nearby! read more

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We came to Cape Coral to visit friends who recommended this place for their seafood dishes . Our server Thomas was great the whole meal. We had appetizers, the clam chowder and crab cakes . Both were outstanding. Wife had the scallop pasta dish and I had the stone crab claws . Again both were great, super fresh and nice sized portions. The restaurant is right on the waterway and decorated with cool nautical decor. They have different specials daily and a nice menu selection to choose from. Prices aren't bad! We would definitely come back again. read more

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We enjoyed both a blackened & fried grouper sandwich, along with appetizer of shrimp in their TNC sauce. Had their black bean soup it was ok not the best I've had. Our server Audrey was pleasant & attentive and the restaurant atmosphere was nice good amount of seating including high tops, tables & bar seating. They were busy but everything came in good timing and hot. Did also enjoy beer, matlacha sunset, & Jamaican me happy. Unfortunately did not care for the sangria with mango it tasted as if it was watered down. We'll definitely be back. read more

I love this place! The service and food is always good!!! You can't go wrong here! Great local business read more

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Nice fish selections. Great portions as well. This staff hustles with a smile. Such a nice experience. Dive bar -ish with taste mode. Locals with smiles makes you feel homie. read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill - Bars Near Me - Matlacha, Florida

Our group of 5 went last night. Summer was our waitress. Her food descriptions and recommendations were spot on. What a gem of an employee you have working there. The food was outstanding. From the tilefish Reuben to the shrimp tacos, everything is amazing. In fact we switched up our dinner plans for our last vacation day and are taking another trip to Blue Dog!! read more

Another Key West style restaurant with a small tranquil outside patio with a view of the canal. The interior boasts a large bar and fish decor. Sat on the outside patio overlooking the canal with the boiling fireball sun beaming right on my head so had to play musical chairs to get shade from the cloth bikini roof - then I watched the customers next to me had the same problem and I broke out in a silent laughter. The server Neci quickly greeted us and I requested her name but still no smile. She brought us cold Hi Five Fort Myers beers and after a few sips we ordered the Mahi Mahi sandwich with a side of french fries. The letter B was burnt into the top of the sandwich bun which was a thoughtful touch. Made a very good choice with a well seasoned crust and a flaky white center. Happily dipped the well-done fries into a zesty bbq sauce. The food and tranquil water views were outstanding. The bathroom was clean and had a custom beer keg as the urinal. read more

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This was a winning stop for dinner and drinks with visiting friends in Matlache! Four of us dropped in on a Friday night in January about 5:30. It was very busy, all inside tables were full. We asked if they would turn on the heaters if we sat outside and they said, of course! So outside we went, the heaters came on (it's been unusually chilly here the past few days) and we were readily greeted by our friendly and knowledgeable server. Our drinks and food arrived quite quickly, especially in light of how busy they were. The food was absolutely spot on and delicious! We had the fried shrimp with brussel sprouts, blackened triple tail with brussel sprouts, the blackened grouper with brussel sprouts and another blackened grouper with collard greens (they ran out of brussel sprouts). The topper was that our visiting friends loved the food, the ambiance and the experience. We will most definitely be back! read more

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This is a little spot not too far from our house (lucky for us). It has has traditional fishing village vibes, art from local artists, and a family owned and operated kind of staffing vibe - everyone is friendly and attentive each and every time we go. But most importantly, the food is consistently very good. There are a few staples on the menu in my rotation, and then a specials list that changes with the seasonal availability of local seafood. I think they do a mean patty melt, the TNT shrimp are amazing - but I don't care for them in the taco due to their massive size, opting for the appetizer with a side of fries or something else depending on my mood. They do a great salad, and a super caprese salad. I'd recommend any of their burgers or melts, and literally ANY of the local fish either fried or blackened. Now the favorite in my house - on special only - the coconut encrusted mahi with rum butter sauce, served with rice. We always ask for extra butter, because it's that good. Honestly, I have a hard time thinking of something on the menu that we would not recommend. They post their specials to Facebook on most days so if you're looking for a "special" something, start there. They do not take reservations or call-aheads, so I always expect to show up and wait if we have a larger party. If it's just two of us, we usually get a seat quickly at the bar. read more

Service is always amazing, everyone helping everyone. The food is very tasty, My husband said you have to try the scallops with bacon jam over mashed potatoes. It was fantastic !! read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill - Scallops with bacon jam over potatoes and vegetables. Amazing - Bars Near Me - Matlacha, Florida

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We LOVED this spot!! Excellent seafood and real cold beer. Try their Blue Dog Lager. We loved everything about this place. read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill - Old School Fish Fry Haddock - Bars Near Me - Matlacha, Florida

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Everything here is above average, so they deserve to be as busy as they are. The food is very tasty and the service is prompt.

Food: This food is just out of the BLUE delicious. My chicken dish (of which I forgot the name, but it's the local favorite) was well prepared with a citrus dressing of sorts and goat cheese. Just an over all good combo. Then my side was the mash of the day- garlic roast potatoes. Service: our waitress, Tina, was very patient and hospitable. (My parents are hard of hearing) Ambiance: may a unique description- that of a quaint fisherman's boat house. Cement floors, tin decor..etc The desserts: both the keylime pie and I think Tina said the brownie sundae is made in house. The burnt sugar cheesecake is homemade...literally..but brought into the restaurant to the staff to serve. I would go back again to try something different next time read more

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Delicious stop after a very long drive! Great place for a yummy snack! Great seafood and great service!

Another awesome meal at Blue Dog! Food was exceptional as usual. Very busy on a Friday night, a little wait to be seated, but once our table was available food and service was exceptional. Well done, staff! read more

Had a great time visiting here. Excellent food. Great service. Great ambiance. Definitely a do over.

Never had a bad meal there. Stopped for Lunch today and Tina our "Menu Guide" made excellent recommendation. Service was fantastic and the prices were good. read more

Amazing food and an amazing service. Never had a bad meal at the blue dog.l always sit outside to look at stream

Food is always amazing and the staff is friendly and helpful. They provide gluten free menu with many options. Even if there is a wait time don't leave you will not be disappointed. Ambiance is great. read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill 2-11-24 Arrived on Wednesday at 11:55 am and the place wasn't packed, but it had a bunch of people inside. Once again, the place was clean and neat. This is our 2nd time here and just wanted to try it again since it was so good the last time there. Our waitress Neci came over fast took our drink order and food orders. I ordered the Mahi Mahi Sandwich and fries with Cole Slaw. The wife ordered the Clam Strips which they have on Tuesdays when available. It came with Fries and Cole Slaw. She also ordered a House Salad with Blackened Chicken. Our Friend ordered BBQ Wings. Our food came out fast, it looked amazing. The Salad had plenty of Chicken and filled the entire plate. Everything on the Salad was fresh and the Chicken was perfectly done. All our food was hot and all very good. All the lettuce and tomatoes on my Fish were fresh as was the extra Lemon for the Fish. My wife's Clam strips were fried to perfect and she being from Maine stated they were the best she's had in this area. All the Fries were seasoned Fries and tasted great. Our friend loved his Wings and the BBQ sauce that was all over them. All of us were full and some of us could not eat everything we ordered which a doggy bag was filled when we left. Still one year later this place is one of the better places to grab a bit to eat. Another 5 Star review for the Blue Dog. Follow me for More Reviews. Gulf Coast Terry Blue Dog Bar & Grill 1-16-24 We strolled into this place around 5 pm on a Saturday which was very busy and A small line outside the door. We gave them our name and phone number inside as they will call on your cell when a table is available. We managed to find 4 empty seats at the bar and were handed a drink menu immediately. The bartender was very busy but friendly and helpful with the drink menu as we did ask a couple questions. She served us fast and my beer was very cold which I loved and very seldom get down here. Within 15 minutes they seated us and Phyllis our waitress took our drinks and food items we wanted. I ordered the seafood shepherd's pie, and my wife ordered the Shrimp with a bowl of clam chowder as the appetizer. Our appetizers came out fast for a place that was that busy and boy was I surprised that our clam chowder was that good in fact it was the best clam chowder we had since moving down here. Our main courses came out in reasonable time and once again the seafood shepherd's pie was hot, filled with seafood and very flavorful. To tell you the truth I was shocked at how good everything was. Phyllis brought us the warm brownie with ice cream which we ordered for dessert and let me tell you it was enough for two and very good. I can't tell you the last time we went out to a restaurant, and they hit it out of the ballpark on all courses of the dinner menu, but this place sure did. We will be back and now are telling all our friends about this place. Hats off to our waitress Phyllis and all the questions we had about the menu being it was our first time there she was the best. We can't wait to get back. One thing to remember you can park on the right side of the building or behind the building. I give The Blue Dog a 5 out of 5 stars. Follow Me on FB For More Reviews Gulf Coast Terry read more

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The food was excellent! Ny husband raves about it all the time. We have eaten here several times in our snowbird winters and brought friends to enjoy with us. After Hurricane Ian it was super cool to see the weater line they maintained and prove they did a bang up job of renovating and re-opening. Last night my husband had the TNT shrimp and the fish dip finished with a key lime pie, partly to honor his good friend's proclamation "it is the best Key Lime pie anywhere." I had the black bean soup with the black bean wrap and side salad. Proudly I can say I enjoyed the half wrap I brought home with me for my brunch today. Just as yummy re-heated. I know it is lame to eat veggie in a local seafood restaurant but I went with my intuition of what my body needed. So glad I did! Phylllis was our cracker jack waitress and we thouroughly enjoyed learning about her three teen children. She is a gem and embodies the enthusiasm of The Blue Dog. It is noisy but luckily it is a comfortable happy noise. Positive vibes everywhere. The flow of customers was smooth and no one seemed to have to wait too long. Pricing is excellent, too. My very filling meal was $15! Thank you Blue Dog! read more

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Trying to support the locals after the hurricanes. This place has been flooded twice. Have to support the locals if you haven't been here. This is a great place to get local seafood. The custom pasta choices were alfredo and blackened mullet and is very traditional to the Pine Island area. Don't forget to get your sweet tea. It's pretty sweet so you may want to mix it with a little lemonade and have an Arnold Palmer. Enjoy! read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill - This is the custom pasta dish Aldredo with blackened mullet. - Bars Near Me - Matlacha, Florida

Food was excellent & so was the service- I will definitely eat there again- Old Florida ambiance nothing fancy

Fun hole in the wall restaurant on Pine Island. It took a while to get there because of traffic on the road in but it was worth it. We ate inside but there's a nice patio out back on the creek. They serve beer but no liquor (we were hoping for a Rum Runner). The food was very good and the server was nice. We had cracked conch (deep fried and breaded) as an appetizer. It came with "Pine Island Sauce" which was amazing. We would have bought a bottle if they would have sold them. Reviews were mixed on the conch but I thought they were great. Two people got blackened hog snapper and both of us loved it. It came with a side of fries and mango sauce. Another person got coconut shrimp and that was a big plate and very tasty. Aside from the mixed reviews on the conch, everyone was really happy with the meals. read more

Blue Dog Bar & Grill - Blackened hog snapper - Bars Near Me - Matlacha, Florida

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Excellent fresh coconut shrimp (best in swfl so far)... Excellent grouper sandwich, excellent rum sauce mahi...excellent! Did I mention excellent? What are you waiting for? read more