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    Gator Shack

    4.7 (41 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    Don R.

    This place is great. A real hidden gem deep in Babcock ranches back country. I've visited this location twice for lunch with coworker and have had pleasant experiences on both occasions. When you arrive seating is on a open table basis seat your self style. Gives you a real southern vibe. Service is prompted. Menu has plenty of different choices to enjoy. So far i've ordered the Gator bites and most recently the fried seafood platter that came with Flounder, shrimp and gator. Food was delicious fresh and hot. Their onion rings are also a nice add on to your order.

    Restaurant Building
    Brandy D.

    What a rare find out in the middle of nowhere! Old Florida country vibe. The food was absolutely delicious! The Philly was so good! Staff was friendly. Opened daily 11-2

    Barbecued ribs homemade cornbread macaroni and cheese and french fries was an excellent meal......
    Roger K.

    stopped in for lunch today after taking the eco-tour which was really cool everybody should take that very informative. We had a party of six sat down order was taken almost immediately had a mixture of burgers salads and barbecued ribs everything was amazing and on point. The fried alligator appetizer was very good with the I believe it was orange marmalade dipping sauce everybody enjoyed it the ribs were very good the sides were excellent will definitely be back again first time eating here but won't be the Last !!! The server was very good also he took care of all of our needs sufficiently and fast .......

    Don I.

    The gator shack is the on-site restaurant at Babcock Ranch It features a grill as well as some premade salads and sandwiches that look like they had made earlier about morning Our group enjoyed several salads as well as the barbecue ribs that were large portions and we could not finish The style ribs are not the baby back fall off the bone easy kind of ribs these are the clinch with two hands and tear into them kind of ribs Very good. Very messy.

    Mom having her first bite of gator.
    Karen T.

    This little shack is found in the cluster of buildings serving Babcock Ranch Eco Tours. Having read any number of glowing reviews, I'm not happy to write mine. I want some of the food you all experienced. Instead of having BBQ, our party of three ordered grilled chicken sandwiches, fried fish and an appetizer portion of gator bites. The gator bites were ordered for the novelty and we all shared a few bites. They were executed just fine and we had no complaints. The grilled chicken sandwiches were good and the fries and Cole slaw was A-Okay. However, the big disappointment was the fish. It was soggy and limp, like someone hadn't gotten the oil hot enough before putting the filets in to fry. Big disappointment.

    Mama gator
    Doctor L.

    Tour was great. We saw far more wildlife than we expected and never knew that a swamp could be so brimming with history. We even learned the difference between a swamp and a marsh.

    Outdoor dining and BBQ pit. (Although I'm not sure it gets used too often).
    Chassey W.

    Off the beaten path and tucked away in Babcock Ranch. Not gourmet by any means but a good lunch. The portions were large and the gator was yummy.

    Surf and turf. Fish, shrimp, gator bites and pulled pork with "not your mamas banana pudding" for dessert. Delicious!
    Linda M.

    Had the surf and turf. Delicious and perfectly cooked. She makes her own sauces. She uses chessmen cookies her very creamy banana pudding! Yum!

    Burger onion rings mac and cheese

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    23 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Best damn shrimp poboy anywhere, so much food it overflowed the plate yummy going back again very soon

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    2 years ago

    Always a fun time. Food is good. Service is great. Lots of TVs if you're watching a game and some nights live entertainment.

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    8 years ago

    There is no real air conditioning. They have one window unit and a few fans. Too hot to eat there in the summer.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Some of the most legit BBQ I have ever had the pleasure of eating! This place is the real deal. Competition level BBQ for sure.

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    Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar - Chartrutrrie board Meat Cheese Board

    Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar

    4.2(585 reviews)
    21.1 mi
    $$

    Not our favorite PG restaurant. Will give it another try…read morethough. Average food experience compared to other restaurants.

    To wrap up our Father's Day getaway, the wife once again reminded me why she's the CEO of vacation…read moreplanning. She found Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar in Punta Gorda, and let me tell you this place isn't a restaurant it's a whole Saturday night experience! I walked in thinking there had to be a festival, birthday party, or somebody famous in town. Nope! That's just how they roll every Saturday. Live music, people dancing, everyone smiling I started wondering if they slipped happiness into the sweet tea. Now the wife ordered the Nevermind Pressed Burger with extra cheese and black coffee steak sauce. NEVERMIND?? More like Never mind my diet! One bite then another then another and suddenly her plate looked like the dishwasher had already been there. The burger was cooked perfectly, juicy, cheesy, and that steak sauce should be illegal in at least 12 states. Meanwhile, I ordered the 10 oz. Skirt Steak with jasmine rice, carrots, green onions, and their house made Asian marinade. Listen whoever made that sauce I need the recipe, your autograph, and your retirement plan. I was this close to asking for a to go cup so I could pour it on my cereal tomorrow morning. Mama mia that steak disappeared faster than my paycheck after my wife says, Let's just stop at one more store. Then dessert happened. We saw our neighbors order the homemade Banana Nilla Pudding special. My wife looked at me with that look that says, We're getting one. Fellas you already know that's not a suggestion. Well she got one. I got exactly three bites. THREE! ‍ By the time I looked back, the jar was cleaner than the windows at a car wash. Dear Lord now I understand why my doctor keeps telling me to watch my sugar. That pudding almost had me scheduling my next A1C appointment from the table. The live band had me singing songs from back in the day don't ask which ones. Some of y'all are detectives and I'm not giving away my age! And a huge shout-out to Athena! She knew that menu like she wrote it herself. Friendly, funny, attentive she made us feel like regulars even though it was our first visit. So thank you, Uncle Leroy! Between the food, the music, the atmosphere, and my wife stealing 97% of the dessert, this was the perfect way to end an unforgettable Father's Day getaway. Five stars. Come hungry leave happy and if you order the Banana Nilla Pudding, order TWO. One for your wife and one that you hide under the table. Trust me.

    Photos
    Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar - Fish decor on a wall

    Fish decor on a wall

    Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar - Jalapeño burger!

    Jalapeño burger!

    Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar - Merch available - shirts

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    Merch available - shirts

    River City Grill - Boom boom shrimp and chicken tenders with fries.

    River City Grill

    4.0(274 reviews)
    21.0 mi
    $$

    Everything!! Food Service Ambiance A++ Wonderful brunch and…read moredinner every time. Servers are excellent. Food delicious and restaurant creates a tranquil atmosphere.

    Was so hungry. Stopped in just after 4:30pm, when they open. This place is huge. There are several…read moreseating areas. I was seated at a two top near the kitchen. My server was Amanda and she was prompt. I started with a cocktail - the mango tango- and asked some questions about the menu. I had never heard of this Quahog, which apparently is a noreasterner kinda thing. Ok. Chopped clams, bread crumbs, bell peppers etc. why not. I'll try it. Bad choice. It had a good flavor but I kept crunching on shells!!! It seemed like eggshells were in it, everywhere. It was horrible. I kept thinking the next bite won't be like that- but it was. So many bites were bad. I asked the server what was up- she figured it out. It's not shells it's SAND!!!!! They're not cleaning the clams well. Bro. Rookie mistake. This is why I never order scallops. I hate when they're sandy. And now clams?!? I have to stay away from clams?!? Sheesh. She asked if I wanted bread- I said yes. I wasn't sure if the bread was included? It is not included and is an up charge at other restaurants (The Perfect Caper is an example of that, as well as Ortigia). She gave me one piece. It was delicious, served warm and crispy, and the whipped butter was fantastic. I asked what the butter was a Wisconsin country cream. Clean ingredients. Lots of salt. Yum. I also got a small cup of their soup. Amanda said their soups are always good. The soup of the day was braised beef noodle. It was really good. I could see having a bowl of that and a piece of bread and being totally happy. I was torn between the meatloaf and the Portuguese stuffed shrimp. She recommended the meatloaf. Oh boy. That was a great choice; it was huge. Smothered in bruleed cheese and sauteed onions. Lots of gravy. Lots of skinny green beans and a big scoop of mashed potatoes. Wow! What a meal. So good. I got my leftovers wrapped up. I took a piece of the birthday cheesecake home. It was listed on the specials menu. It looked really nice. However, it was not my favorite and actually, I would not recommend it. It's not cake, it's cheesecake, but the sprinkles just ruin the texture and flavor of the cheesecake, which wasn't a great cheesecake to begin with. Skip it. When the bill came, I was surprised the Quahog was on there. Especially because it was so ill prepared and I complained about it. But whatever. I thanked Amanda, paid, finished my cocktail and left. Parking is on the street or in the parking garage structure on the road behind them. Bathrooms are in the back along the long hallway, I didn't check them out. They have a large bar up front and what looks like a room they could do private events / meetings in. They have a new summer menu where all items are $20. I think that's a good deal. They have a lot of great sounding items on their menu and I heard the shrimp Mozambique is amazing. Maybe I'll get that next time.

    Photos
    River City Grill - Dining room in the back. Private room area too

    Dining room in the back. Private room area too

    River City Grill - Shrimp

    Shrimp

    River City Grill - Hours, menu, summer specials

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    Hours, menu, summer specials

    Winesett House - Seared scallops over grits

    Winesett House

    4.2(752 reviews)
    21.0 mi
    $$

    On Saturday, June 20, 2026, CHARLOTTE COUNTY GIRLFRIENDS' had a FATHER's celebration brunch at…read moreWinesett House in Punta Gorda on Marion Street. The Winesett House is decorum and ambiance above all. Once you enter you are immediately taken to an English Fine Dining Establishment. We started with refreshments at the bar, with delicious Bloody Mary's, fine Wines of all sorts, Martinis, etc Then we went into the private dining room off the front of the entrance. Comfortable, well place tables, with enough room for our guest to mingle between tables. The staff is superb, the starters, appetizers are enticing, and the entrees are a wide range of variety from salmon to chicken with waffles, glorious fresh salads, breakfast sandwiches, burgers, steaks. All very well prepared to your desire. This event was our second celebration at Winesett House, always we are extremely pleased. We will return definitely for another future occasion.

    We went here on Easter with 4:15 reservations. ( note to self they don't seat you until your set…read moretime). Kendall was our server and she was awesome, very friendly and attentive. I asked if I could order the short ribs without the shrimp and was told that they would and they double up on the other protein all the time. So I got the short ribs and a standard salad, the wife got the crostini's with goat cheese and scallops. All of the food was excellent, we had enough to take home for another meal. Ambiance was down home worm feeling and I will definitely go back for those special days. Our bill was $109.00 plus tax and tip for two people with one alcoholic beverage.

    Photos
    Winesett House - Dining room

    Dining room

    Winesett House - Rock Shrimp & Fennel Sausage Rigatoni

    Rock Shrimp & Fennel Sausage Rigatoni

    Winesett House

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    Riviera Bar and Grill - Crab cakes

    Riviera Bar and Grill

    4.4(398 reviews)
    20.6 mi
    $$

    Ok this place is a total dive. It was recommended to me by a local bartender who seems to know her…read morestuff. I came here after a round of golf. Everyone loved my golf hat- "play bad fast". I looked at the outdoor bar but every single seat was taken. All the outdoor tables were booked. So I went inside and saw the inside bar was also full. A table for ten and a table for 6 had departed and needed to be bussed, but both were too much for just one person. So I checked in w the hostess and she asked - booth or table. I wanted table. I got a nice table by the river! Lovely views. Exactly what I wanted. Menus were dropped and soon, Sam was checking in on me. I was so hungry, I had looked at the menu and pics on my way there. I went for the crab cake appetizer and the Gold Wave cocktail. For my entree, I was torn between the Grouper Reuben and the Sea Dog (fried grouper on a long roll, topped with all sorts of goodness). Sam said grouper Reuben was his choice. He asked if I wanted grilled, blackened or fried. I told him to surprise me. For my side, I had the choice of (more) coleslaw (it has coleslaw instead of sauerkraut), fries, sweet potato fries, or a side house or Cesar salad for $4 more. I went w the house salad and their standard citrus vinaigrette. Salad and crab cake came out first. Salad was a huge portion- romaine (some pieces needed better washing), red onion galore, halved cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices. It was great, but needed croutons. The crab cake was the perfect size for one person. It had a whole grain mustard remoulade sauce. Yum! It had some filler but also had a lot of crab. I enjoyed it. The grouper Rueben came out hot!!!! Served with a side of coleslaw and a pickle. I added some needed salt. Boy that fish filet was huge. Sam had put it in grilled for me. Healthy. Nice. I ate half and then I was stuffed. I filled up on the salad and crabcake apparently. I enjoyed the views of boaters going by. It started to rain hard and the folks outside just stayed there. The overhang must've been protecting them well. My server, Sam, was around often to answer my questions. Apparently the grouper Reuben market price is only $21. And if you want redfish or mahi, the price is the same- $21! That's crazy. What a deal. The gold wave is made with Elijah Craig; Good ol Kentucky bourbon. And for dessert, they have cheesecake, peanut butter pie, mud pie, key lime pie, coconut sorbet and orange cake (which he says is a local favorite). I was too stuffed to buy but happy to hear the list. Overall I had a wonderful meal and service was really good. I would recommend adding croutons to the salad, and cleaning up the bathrooms regularly. This place ain't fancy. It's a dirt parking lot. The tables are naked. Folks come casual. However, the prices are great and the food does the talking. Come check them out.

    This is a popular local spot, and it was definitely busy when we visited. Our table was clean, but…read morethe floors were noticeably dirty. Every time our kids dropped their crayons, we jokingly told them, "You snooze, you lose," because we didn't want them picking anything up off the floor. Our waitress was very kind and patient, but we barely saw her throughout the meal. The service could definitely be more attentive. We also waited quite a while for our check, and by then our kids were getting pretty impatient. The kids' mac and cheese looked just like Kraft mac and cheese. The kids enjoyed it, but it's probably not something we'd order again since it's easy to make at home. The oysters were delicious, and I also really enjoyed the fried shrimp basket. I wasn't a fan of the radish sauce, but the coleslaw was excellent. My husband ordered the whole fried fish basket. Unfortunately, it was served without any utensils, so we had to wait until we could flag down another waitress to ask for some because we couldn't find our server. The fish also would have been easier to eat if it had been cut or partially filleted, as the crispy coating fell off the fish when trying to eat it, making it less appetizing. Overall, the food had some highlights, especially the oysters and fried shrimp, but cleaner floors and more attentive service would have made the experience much better.

    Photos
    Riviera Bar and Grill - Eating by the Mangroves.

    Eating by the Mangroves.

    Riviera Bar and Grill - Delicious fried chicken sandwich!

    Delicious fried chicken sandwich!

    Riviera Bar and Grill - Inside

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    Inside

    Gator Shack - bbq - Updated August 2026

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