This was the best dining experience we had on island. We'd made reservations (highly recommended)…read moreand we were welcomed and seated right away. We had very good service throughout even though they were busy. We weren't rushed. We dined leisurely but without gaps between courses. We shared a Caesar salad to start. It was a good appetizer. For my main entree, I had the lamb chops. There were two double chops perfectly cooked to my request -- crisped on the outside. They were delicious. And served over mashed potatoes with asparagus and carrots. The portion was large. My husband had the burgundy braised short ribs. The meat was tender and flavorful. He said the sauce they were in was just rich and wonderful. We were too full to try any of their desserts. As we were leaving, we both said that this restaurant is a "keeper". We wished we'd been here sooner.

Our last night on Sanibel Captiva and my wife had made reservations for the end of my Birthday…read moreVacay. So glad she did! After a friendly welcome, we were seated and our server Eric took our drink orders. After looking over the menu and hearing the tempting Specials for the night, we chose our meals. We shared a Caesar salad and I had the Short ribs over red bliss mashed potatoes. YUM! My wife had the Lamb chops, charred and cooked to her desired temperature. She loved them! We looked at the desert menu but were pleasantly full and gave dessert a pass. Great ambiance, great service, Great food and a wonderful evening!

What a great time at The Crow's nest! Brian was fantastic…read moreserver, he welcomed us with a positive attitude and a great smile, check on us frequently and suggested amazing drinks. Brian let us try few different wine and then we bought a bottle that he recommended, it was delicious. Food was great and the view was fantastic.

My family and I were celebrating the in-laws 55th wedding anniversary, at the Crows Nest…read moreSteakhouse. This is located at the Tween Waters Inn & Marina, on the second floor, above the Shipyard. As soon as you enter the restaurant you have an incredible view of the Gulf. There's not a bad seat in the entire restaurant. If you couldn't already tell this restaurant is a nautical theme, hence the name Crows Nest. With already mentioned view of the Gulf, it's truly a great place to dine. We checked in with the host for our 6 pm reservation. All of us were lead to our table and given menus and waters were poured. Our server Carlos came and greeted us. He also wished the in-laws a happy anniversary. Carlos went on and gave us a rundown of the restaurant and what was offered. This was our first time dining here, so we appreciated his detailed presentation. Top marks for Carlos for sure. He let us look over the menu for a little bit. He came back about 5 to 10 minutes later and we were ready to go. For drinks I ordered the Rum Old Fashioned (Brugal 1888, Honey Syrup, & Bohemian Bitters) a phenomenal cocktail that was excellently executed. My wife and sister in law ordered the Hemingway Daiquiri ( Bacardi, Maraschino Liqueur, Grapefruit Soda, Fresh Lime Juice, & Citrus Syrup) they said the drink taste delicious To start with my wife and sister in law decided to share the Lobster Bisque (Puréed cold-water lobster meat, celery, carrot and onion in a creamy lobster stock with saffron)Both didn't have words to articulate how great it was. They signaled to me 10 out of 10z For entrees my wife, father in law, and I ordered the 10 oz Prime NY Strip. My mother in law ordered a 6 oz Filet of beef. All of our steaks were order with a temp of medium. All of our steaks were served with (served with roasted garlic and parmesan smashed potatoes, onion rings, sautéed wild mushrooms, baby carrots, and asparagus) All of our steaks were a perfect medium temperature. The roasted garlic/parmesan smashed potatoes were other worldly delicious. The mushrooms, asparagus and carrots were perfectly cooked and didn't loose their bite. The onion rings had a wonderful crunch and were nice and hot. Honestly this was a flawless dish for me. My sister in law ordered the Lamb Chops at a medium temperature (Brushed with dijon and Herbes de Provence, oven-roasted and served with garlic parmesan smashed potatoes, baby carrots and asparagus with peach ginger demi) She gave this dish a five star rating. She NEVER liked Lamb Chops now this meal will serve as the measuring stick, if she ever orders Lamb Chops elsewhere. For dessert we shared a Crème brûlée. I was too full to have any of it but the family love the Crème brûlée . Carlos came back flutes of champagne for the in-laws to celebrate there an anniversary. The Crème brûlée had happy anniversary written on the plate. Awesome touch. All in all this was an outstanding experience. Carlos was absolutely fantastic. He made the experience a 10 start dinner. We cannot wait to comeback Aces!

We discovered the Shipyard last year and has become one we look forward to each year now! We…read morerecently visited again and it was just as good as we remembered! Shipyard is located at Tween Waters resort. There are actually a couple of restaurants at this resort, but they are open to everyone, you do not need to be staying here. We did make a reservation but it is not needed. Inside is on the smaller side, not a lot of tables. It can get really busy during peak seasons. They do have a bar with seats and this time we went early and had some cocktails and apps before sitting down. My only issue this time, was we did make a reservation. They sat our party of 5 at a table for 4 with a chair on the end. We were very cramped. We did ask for a bigger table towards the back but were told it was for a group of 14. I get that HOWEVER, we were finished eating, paid and left before that group of 14 even showed up. We could have gotten a better seating arrangement. My sister sat on the end and we were extremely tight at the table. The chairs are also not hip friendly so I was extremely uncomfortable the entire time. This restaurant does offer great sunset views with all their open windows. Captiva is known for their beautiful sunsets. At the bar, we ordered cocktails and 2 apps. For appetizers we got the Drunken Shrimp which are large peeled Gulf Shrimp, cooked in a zesty sauce of beer, chili sauce and butter with bread for dipping, as well as friend Calamari. I did not love these shrimp to be honest. They had a weird sweet flavor to them. They were gigantic shrimp though, but I would not get these again. For drinks my husband ordered a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned, which he enjoyed. I ordered the Key Lime Pie Martini which had Vanilla Vodka, Coco Lopez, Key Lime Juice, Graham Cracker Rim and I loved this! I got it last year as well and just as good as I remembered. My sister ordered a Rum Runner which she loved and my mom, ordered a Cosmopolitan. She enjoyed this too even saying it was the perfect color! IYKYK at the table I also ordered an espresso martini and my husband ordered one as well but with Casamigos Reposado tequila. Both very good! For food myself and my mom ordered our favorite item on the menu, I think about this dish and will probably get it each and every visit. It is the Sesame Blackened Salmon which is pan-seared sesame blackened Scottish Salmon with coconut rice, crisp stir-fry veggies, "Red Pepper Jam," and sweet soy. 100 out of 10!! My husband ordered the Salmon Club which was Grilled Scottish Salmon on sourdough toast with pineapple tartar sauce, sugar-cured bacon, lettuce and tomato. It was very tasty and really good. He enjoyed it. In the future though he would ask for the tarter on the side, it was pretty heavy and hes not a huge fan of tarter. My dad ordered the Grouper Sandwich which he got friend. It had lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion and pineapple tartar sauce served on a brioche bun, he did ask for the tarter on the side. It was very tasty. My sister was the only one who did not enjoy her meal and actually sent it back. She ordered the Grilled Grouper which was Served on coconut rice with Piña Colada butter, pineapple salsa and vegetable medley. It was also one of the most expensive items on the menu. It was a really sad serving of grouper, and it was ice cold, as though it had been sitting for a really long time. Overall, I would highly recommend this location. This has become our first night tradition and we will visit each and every year. Add this to your list for sure!

The Shipyard is located at Tween Waters resort. You do not need to be staying here, in order to…read moredine here. The restaurant has a nautical theme throughout with buoys, boat ropes, lanterns and more. We did make a reservation but it is not needed. We arrived early so we decided to go sit at the bar and have some drinks and appetizers. Once seated at the bar we were greeted quickly by the bartender. We put in our order asap. For appetizers we got the Drunken Shrimp (Large peeled Gulf Shrimp, cooked in a zesty sauce of beer, chili sauce and butter with bread for dipping) and Calamari For drinks I ordered a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned, my wife got a Key Lime Pie Martini ( Vanilla Vodka, Coco Lopez, Key Lime Juice, Graham Cracker Rim), my sister in law ordered a Rum Runner, my mother in law ordered a Cosmopolitan. The calamari was hot, crispy and light. The Drunken Shrimp has a nice mild spice and the shrimp large a succulent. The drinks were delicious and potent. We finish our appetizers before our table was ready in the main dining area. Once the buzzer went off we headed to our seats. Our server greeted us warmly and we knew exactly what we wanted so we put the orders in. We got second round of drinks. I got a Casamigos Reposado Espresso Martini, my wife got a regular Espresso Martini, mother in law ordered another Cosmopolitan. I ordered the Salmon Club (Grilled Scottish Salmon on sourdough toast with pineapple tartar sauce, sugar-cured bacon, lettuce and tomato) This was delicious. The sourdough toasted, salmon was well seasoned and hot, the only thing I should have asked was to put the sauce on the side; My wife and mother in law ordered the Sesame Blackened Salmon (Pan-seared sesame blackened Scottish Salmon with coconut rice, crisp stir-fry veggies, "Red Pepper Jam," and sweet soy) they said they enjoyed the meal. Quote the salmon is perfect; my father in law ordered the Grouper Sandwich (Your choice of grilled, blackened or fried fresh Gulf grouper with lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion and pineapple tartar sauce served on a brioche bun) he have it a 10 out of 10; my sister in law ordered the Grilled Grouper (Served on coconut rice with Piña Colada butter, pineapple salsa and vegetable medley) she unfortunately didn't like her meal. The grouper was cold a tough to chew. That was a bummer but staff was apologetic. All in all we will return to the Shipyard for sure.

This is by far my favorite place to have dinner on Captiva Island. The food is excellent and the…read moreService is wonderful. We went twice in one week.!

My wife and I were tired of the same 7 restaurants that we seem to visit every time we come to…read moreCaptiva. The fact that 3 of those 7 have been permanently (or semi-permanently) shut down notwithstanding- we finally decided to explore a few new places. Sunshine popped up in Yelp! and it sounded interesting and looked like a cute little place (according to the wife) If you're not specifically LOOKING for it- you'll easily miss it, if that makes sense. It's located right next to RC Otters (their outside seating seamlessly segues into Otters' outdoor tables) and there's very limited parking. They do, in fact, have their own parking lot but, due to hurricane rebuilding construction, it's quite difficult to figure out the maze-like separation of fencing and one-way arrows, ha ha! Once we found a spot and wandered over to the restaurant, the hostess/waitress (and, I suspect? part owner?) came out to greet us. We were seated -outside at our request -at a nice table underneath an outdoor pavilion-style area. Ceiling fans were abundant and the air was redolent with the aromas of cooking from more than just one or two kitchens! My wife and I ordered the Focaccia bread with roasted garlic and a balsamic reduction, and the Lobster Bisque. The bread was-- JJ Walker style-- DY-NO-MITE! And the two condiments really worked well with amazing bread. My wife's soup was fabulous- it came in a crock baked with a puff-pastry shell over the top. Each bite composed of savory pastry, large chunks of lobster meat, and a sherry-sweetened seafood cream broth. We cleaned our respective plates with much sharing and crumb-making! My dinner was the Chef's take on Paella. It was very interesting- adding capers, Kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts to the standard shrimp, clams, chicken, and Chorizo, served over tender rice. My wife's dish was the star of the show- she had the fish special: Chilean Sea Bass with a Sweet Thai chili sauce served over blah blah blah with a side of whazzawhoozit. I'm sorry- the fish was SOOOO good that I've forgotten what else was on her plate! Either way- the piece of fish was absolutely enormous and the sauce was just fabulous. I'm fairly certain there were a few shrimp gracing the plate as well, but again- THAT FISH! We were both so insanely full that we didn't even think about perusing the desert menu. I'm sure that whatever they may have had on offer was fabulous but we just couldn't eat another bite. The service was impeccable. The food was to die for (That FISH!!! That SOUP!) and even the ambiance was totally "island time!" Sunshine Cafe is now on our rotation for next year! I highly recommend stopping in for a bite if you have the opportunity! EDIT: as noted in another review- my wife ordered the Sea Bass "special." While we never saw the special on the menu (it was read off to us as we sat at the table) we were also NOT informed about the "Special surcharge." It was $22.00. Look- I'm not a cheapskate. I don't usually look too closely at the prices while we're out dining on vacation. I'm a ridiculous tipper. If the service was decent- I'll always give 20, 25, even 30%. NOT all that long ago, I gave a $100 tip on a $200 bill. BUT- backdoor and hidden charges make me wildly upset. The Sea Bass was amazingly good. But it was $70.00 instead of $48.00 thanks to the "special surcharge". I took 2 stars off for deceptive pricing. I WILL examine the next check very carefully. I do NOT include tax and surcharges on the amount that I tip on. This will be reflected in my next tip, as well. Grrrrr!

Harbourside Bar and Grill is located at the marina of the South Seas resort. We went here on 4th of…read moreJuly. We were seated promptly - the hostess and waitress Yany were very nice. Service was quick and that was appreciated as we wanted to see the fireworks right after. My son had the cheese pizza which was goods I had the piccata - it was ok, could have been more flavorful and lemony. They serve garlic knots up front. We had a coffee with chocolate and whipped cream for dessert which was yummy. Note for future: you can probably see the fireworks from the outside tables.

Super friendly staff. Well mannered, enthusiastic bartender who paid much attention to the details…read moreof his concoctions. The bar area was our favorite spot. A mature clientele filled the restaurant. A few grand babies scattered throughout. Wasn't our first choice, but perfect for seniors , and those who enjoy historical venues. We appreciated its charm and history. The menu was impressive and the desserts we observed at a few tables looked delightful. 3.5 stars

We came to the Keylime Bistro to get one thing- Key Lime Pie, of course!!…read more Honestly, it was quite expensive. $10 per pierce- buttt when we saw the size of the slices, you at least get a bang for your buck. We also just walked in after dinner one evening and one of the servers got us rang up and got our dessert pretty quickly which was nice. The key lime was lovely. It was the right amount of tart, along with the whipped cream and some tart raspberry /lime syrup and it was a splendid combination. It was the perfect dessert to enjoy after a nice beach day and staying in paradise on Captiva. Can't speak for the actual food but the restaurant is super adorable and has half indoor and half outdoor seating and it's really nice. Plus, great key lime pie!

Every year since 2004, with the exception of 2020 and after Ian, we have visited Captiva and always…read morehad lunch at the Keylime Bistro! We absolutely loved that place!! We were so happy to see that they rebuilt and the outside, in particular, looks almost the same! We have always ordered the crab cakes, spinach salad, and Keylime pie. My friend, who lives here, also ordered a Keylime martini. First of all, our waiter, Sal, gave her an outdated menu, so when she ordered the martini for $10, she was charged $15. Then the crab cakes came and they now look like they came from Costco. We asked Sal if they were made in house, and he said they were. Really? Today we ate at the Fresh Catch on Ft Myers Beach. I am posting pictures of the 2 crabcakes from Keylime. which cost me $18.00 and the 3 crabcakes I bought today for dinner at the Fresh Catch Bistro on Ft Myers beach for $15.00. If you're reading this, you decide which ones you wanna buy.

Recently my wife and family when to the Green Flash Waterfront Restaurant, located on Captiva…read moreIsland. This is one of the more unique restaurants. Situated on the waters of Roosevelt Channel, the Green Flash overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway, the waters of Pine Island Sound, and Buck Key. The Green Flash can be navigated by boat and is located southwest of Marker 38 on the Intracoastal Waterway. Once we checked in with the hostess, we were taken to our seats immediately. The entire dining room overlooks the Intracoastal waterway. It's such a beautiful sight while dining. When our server came and greeted us, we were ready to order. My sister in law and I ordered the Pan Seared Diver Scallops- with a saffron lemon cream sauce. For sides I got polenta and she got spaetzle. I thought the scallops had a nice sear. The saffron lemon cream sauce was delicious. My wife ordered the Seafood Sampler(Oyster Rockefeller, Fried Scallops, BBQ Shrimp wrapped in bacon, Steamed Shrimp, and Fresh Fish Filet) my said she enjoyed her meal. I asked her what the fish filet was, she didn't know but it tasted good. My mother in law ordered the Captiva Salad(Mix baby greens, mandarin oranges, asparagus, artichoke hearts, smoked salmon, pan seared scallops, seared shrimp, and blue cheese) She always gets this dish every year. Tonight she said it's still her favorite. My father in law ordered the peel and eat shrimp. He gave me thumbs up needless to say the dish was good. Green Flash is always a stop for us while in Captiva. We shall return for sure.

The Green Flash is located on Captiva Island and has been a great lunch spot for our family for…read moremany years. In recent years we have been going for dinner and where my whole family enjoys it, I just do not love it. I cannot seem to find the item I really love. However, the views alone are fantastic, especially on a sunny beautiful day! The entire back wall is all windows so everyone is looking out on the water and boats pulling up and docking to eat. They have a private parking lot which is small and can get really crowded. They also are located on the second floor so you can use the stairs and ramp or head to the back and take the elevator. There is a bar right inside when you first go in and can just visit to sit at the bar. We made a reservation and it was challenging to get one. We had to adjust days and they were very busy. I would recommend a reservation unless you want to wait or have a small party. Our server was very nice and polite. She seemed a little overwhelmed and did not refill waters or anything. However she was so sweet when my mom did not like her cocktail and wanted a different one. My husband and I ordered espresso martini's which were delicious, my mom tried a cosmo and did not like it, so she also switched to an espresso martini. They start by bringing you warm sourdough bread and butter. I love any meal that starts with bread! My husband and sister ended up ordering the same, they ordered the Pan Seared Diver Scallops- with a saffron lemon cream sauce. My husband chose polenta for his side and my sister got spaetzle. The scallops had a nice sear and the saffron lemon cream sauce was delicious, however, it was small and one of the most expensive items on the menu. My husband was still slightly hungry. I chose something new and got the Seafood Sampler which had a Oyster Rockefeller, Fried Scallops, BBQ Shrimp wrapped in bacon, Steamed Shrimp, and Fresh Fish Filet. I was looking at the BBQ Shrimp on its own but after speaking to the server, that only came with 5 shrimp and for a couple of dollars more, I got the sampler. It just seemed like a better deal. It was good to be honest. I did actually enjoy my meal. The fish was a little cold and I did ask for butter to dip the shrimp, that took awhile so most of my food was on the cooler side. Nothing came out piping hot which was a disappointment for me. I gave my oyster to my mom. I also chose the scalloped potatoes as my side. I think I just want a baked potato and they don't have that! My mom ordered the Captiva Salad which is Mix baby greens, mandarin oranges, asparagus, artichoke hearts, smoked salmon, pan seared scallops, seared shrimp, and blue cheese. She loves this dish and has gotten it a few times. My dad ordered the peel and eat shrimp, which he loves. Its simple and plain for his stomach. I will say that all the food was coming out fast but nothing was extremely hot which was weird. Their prices can be very high, it was well over $250 for our family of 5. I know its fish and seafood, but to me, to have luke warm food and pay over $250 is just not worth it. My sister did have to send hers back for being cold cold and the owner did come over which was nice. I kind of thought he would give us a free meal or take some money off, but he did not. It took a bit for her to get her meal too so we all ate slower which again didn't help with the temp. I just felt for ice cold scallops the recovery could have been better. MY favorite part of this restaurant is the bathrooms. They are weird and unique. The men's bathroom (I sent my husband in to check it out) has a one-way mirror. As they are using the bathroom, they can look out onto the bar! WHAT! It's so funny to me. The bar only sees a mirror and have no idea that the bathroom is staring at them! The women's bathroom has a mannequin when you walk in. It literally startles me every single time. I have no idea the story behind this, but it makes our family smile and laugh every single time! All in all, this is a great place. Its unfortunately not my absolute favorite on the island but it is for sure in the top. I know this is a spot we will visit each year. The views and the food are really what makes this a fantastic restaurant.

Stopped in for some food. The vibes were beach and beer…read more Bbq shrimp for the win. Service was good.

Service was good, food mediocre. Atmosphere blaaa…read moreI would not recommend the Mucky Duck on Captiva.

I am giving RC Otters five starts because it has been a solid place to visit in Captiva for…read moredecades, and it also served me the most amazing end of vacation Bloody Mary ever just two weeks ago. Island eats are meant to be enjoyed on island time - without a rush, in good company, and in the sun. I've been coming to RC Otters since I was a little kid and rented the house down Andy Rosse lane by Mucky Duck. It used to be one of our treats to eat there for breakfast instead of at our house during our summer vacations. This past visit - we missed the breakfast cut off and had lunch there. I opted for the grouper sandwich. Something about a fish sandwich on an island is just luxury to me. They offer it grilled, blackened, bronzed, or fried. Bronzed sounded intriguing to me which is a mix of savory with a hint of sweet. Wow. It was awesome. I also ordered a bloody mary which was delicious. My sister in law got the ribs and loved them. Everyone else got the fish sandwich. Service is so friendly, and they usually have live music going on. A great, affordable place to enjoy a meal. They also have a lot in front for parking, but it's very walkable if you're staying in a house nearby or even the south seas resort.

RC Otters fits right in with the adorable and small central road of Captiva where all the eats &…read morebusinesses are. With its multi-colorful exterior it makes you feel in vacation mode just looking at it. They have an equal amount of indoor an outdoor seating, and we opted for outdoor when we came for breakfast. RC Otters is open the earliest of the few restaurants on Captiva, aside from Starbucks if you count that. All of the standard breakfast offerings were on the menu, plus a special of theirs is a breakfast sandwich that's an omelette wedged between two pieces of french toast. Kind of fun. The food was good, nothing stellar but it was decent. It was altogether an enjoyable morning with the colorful setting. They are open all day for other meals so can't speak to how the lunch or dinner food is, but we enjoyed the breakfast.

Excellent food with a nice range of different entrees to choose from. The employees are all…read morefriendly, welcoming, and give it their all to make your visit a satisfying and enjoyable experience. My Barbacoa Beef Burrito was delicious and my Mango Margarita was very refreshing and enjoyable after a 12 mile bicycle ride on a sunny March day. It's located past the main hub of Sanible along the road to Captiva and only a "stone's throw" from J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, (which should definitely be on your list to visit, btw). It's an open air room concept with a small bar area, and plenty of booths and tables to accommodate small or large parties. However even so, the noise level is not bad. It's quite enjoyable and I recommend you check them out.

For an Island Tex-Mex restaurant this place was a surprise. Beautiful interior and good Latin…read morevibes. Food was better than you would expect just off the beaches of Sanibel Island Florida. If you ever go to Bowman's Beach give this place a visit.