good food, great views on the water, friendly efficient staff difficult to get a seat in season,…read moretiki bar has live music. Wife and I try to go once a week Richard B

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.

My first visit to Tamiami Tavern, but absolutely will not be my last…read more I had read online they served a good beef on weck. Well, that's a local specialty in my home state so I had to find out. The plate was golden, I was very surprised. The beef was very plentiful and top quality (sliced correct thickness and piled HIGH). The kimmelweck roll was hardy enough to hold up, but didn't overpower the beef. It had the perfect ratio of caraway seed and salt. A generous side of au jus, and horseradish, completed the sandwich. I chose coleslaw as the side dish, and it was also very good. The service was tops, the environment was very friendly and inviting. This will be top of my list to visit, and recommend to others when they request a good place to dine out.

My husband and I stopped by Tamiami Tavern for the first time for a quick dinner. The atmosphere…read morehas an Irish pub feel, and the décor is sparse. Both the hostess and our waitress were very friendly and welcoming. Our drinks were brought out quickly after we were seated. The Mountain Dew tasted almost like pure syrup, which made it difficult to enjoy. We ordered the Tavern Steak Hoagie with French fries, and I also had a bowl of lobster bisque. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite meet our expectations. The lobster bisque was extremely salty. The steak hoagie was small and wasn't what we expected for $24. We've enjoyed many steak and cheese hoagies over the years, and this one left us disappointed. Overall, the service and atmosphere were the highlights of our visit. While the food wasn't a hit for us this time, the staff was pleasant and the restaurant itself is clean.

The last couple of times we have been here, once the food was terrific and the last one was…read moremediocre, at best. We'll likely try again but there many terrific places to eat in the area that we will visit first.

Best cocktails in the Punta Gorda area!! The bartenders are extraordinarily knowledgeable about…read moremixology, and they have a great selection of top shelf liquor.

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.

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.

When in Punta Gorda we always come here. I love the chopped salad & add a blackened chicken breast,…read morebest chicken I've ever had, the buttermilk dressing is homemade & the croutons are made from cornbread. We are also trying the pulled pork sandwich which we've never had. Service is always great, they get busy & I believe they take reservations. Very casual place, a Tshirt is ok attire. Big draft beer selection also. The side of cornbread is a must to get. Going to get a banana pudding to go today!

Enjoyed a wonderful meal here while visiting Punta Gorda. The restaurant came highly recommended by…read morethe front desk staff at my hotel. I'm so glad that I took their suggestion. My dinner was excellent. The food was great, the service was wonderful and the atmosphere of the restaurant was lively. I enjoyed a really nice meal without breaking the bank.

Solid 4 stars for food and service in the downtown Punta Gorda. The parking is free street side and…read morea huge free public parking with a short walk. Many restaurants in this area open from 4 PM to 9 PM. F M Don's is one of the exceptions. Four of us stopped by to have lunch. There are many outside surrounding this corner location, but we opted to have the inside tables to avoid the Floridian Sun! This is a weekday and off season; the place is not full! The staff is super friendly, and ambiance is clean and pleasant. There are pictures on wall displaying the old Punta Gorda buildings, and harbor. They have a good selection of wine available. We ordered a Cuban sandwich, Crunchy Cod Po Boy, Roast Beef Hoagie with cheese and a PEI Mussels Provencal. The Cuban sandwich, Cod Po Boy and Roast Beef Hoagie were fine. The side order of potato salad has a little too much vinegar. The star today is the PEI mussels Provencal. The PEI mussels are not huge, but they were well prepared with garlic, capers, herbs and white wine. My other favorite lunch dish is their Fisherman's Chowder. We finished our meal with Peanut Butter cheese cake and a key lime pie. They were delicious! Another fine meal at F M Don's!

Friends rave about this place. I finally had a chance to go. I called because open table has zero…read moreavailability. The hostess answered and she told me I could have a table for one at 7:15! Ok! I got dressed up and walked over there. My table was ready on time; it was in the lounge area of the restaurant. They offered me the table or said I could sit at the bar. I opted to sit at the bar. The bar was almost full but people were leaving. Apparently people eat early there. The bartender was swamped but smiled and got me a glass of water. Soon I had menus. I like that they have a regular menu as well as a specials menu, including the usual cocktails and some special cocktails. I ordered the conquest, which seemed like a twist on an old fashioned. They offered bread or focaccia bread, I declined. And heads up- bread service is not included. It's an up charge. Normally I don't care but I was having dessert, not bread. I had the halibut special. It was phenomenal. One of the guys from the kitchen dropped it off and asked if I needed anything'- I replied salt. I find that I need salt often at restaurants. They brought the salt out real fast! I had a bite and determined it didn't need any more salt- it was perfectly salted! Woohoo! Fantastic. I ate my whole dish and then I savored my cocktail. The bartender wasn't much for conversation , as she was very busy, alone, covering the entire bar and drinks for the whole restaurant. She did invite me to try dessert, and mentioned a coconut cream cake that was not on the menu. I agreed to it and it was heavenly. Seemed like cheesecake icing with fluffy layers of cake and subtle coconut flakes throughout. The chocolate ice cream was weird at first but then I realized it's like almond joy/ mounds - coconut and chocolate are often paired. The espresso crumble gave it a nice crunch and there was caramel all over the plate. Wow! I took the majority of the cake home. It was a large portion and indulgent. I paid my tab and finished my drink. I was not rushed. I would go back again. It's a bit pricey. The fish special was $58. The cocktail was $17 and the dessert was $16. So one person, who did not add on the bread service, was $91. It's expensive. I would emphasize you can probably get a seat at the bar if you can't get a reservation. Also- the entrance is hard to find. It's in the parking lot and not facing the main road. I got a little lost walking there. The signage is poor. I can't imagine going there the first time in the dark. So give yourself a couple extra minutes if it's your first time going there.

Wednesday CCGF LUNCH THE PERFECT CAPER…read more The Perfect Caper was more than perfect! We were over 30 ladies and our servers Zak & Tabby were superb in getting everything our ladies desired for lunch! We celebrated Mel o dy's March birthday ! And we had a few new comers join us. There was 3 booths and two large tables, and everyone was comfortable, and the conversations commenced. It is always a special place for our Charlotte County Girlfriends, Wednesday group. Food, ambiance and atmosphere top notch! We will be back for lunch, again very soon!

One night it can be 4 stars and the very next night it can be a 1 star with dog shit management…read more Stretto sits inside a beautiful hotel and resort called the sun seeker. There are great servers one night, but the next night you can get the likes of Joe and Jose. Jose peeked his head in our room (we had the wine cellar room with 10-14 people 2 nights in a row) First night with Chelsea and April rocked it, food was good too. No manager still ever checked on us. 2nd night after spending $1200 night before and spending $1600 the next night, we got a $200 wagyu steak placed down on top of dirty plates and apps that weren't cleared, table not reset, no steak knives, no side dishes. So i complained to Alexa. She's their GM.... She never came back. She never checked on us, she never said goodnight. They charged us for another steak they never brought. They finally brought everything else out, but the pastas were not nearly As good as night before. Also this guy Casey Smith who is the god and beverage director will not respond to emails. He pawns you off and takes the easy way out. Do yourself a favor and visit the hotel, and pool, and food court, but travel off site for dinner. Don't waste your hard earned money at Stretto where they could give 2 fucks.

Last night at the resort, I kept seeing the on site steakhouse and decided to check it out. At…read morefirst I was a little unsure about my attire, but then I reminded myself, girl you're at the beach, it's cold and raining... go enjoy yourself. Party of one and I was seated right away in the bar area. Charlotte was my server and she was great. I asked for her recommendations, which all sounded amazing, but I went with the grilled prawns, 6 oz filet, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Here's my honest breakdown: Grilled prawns 3/5. The first bite had that perfect charred, grilled flavor... so good. But the second one didn't hit the same. Steak 5/5. Absolutely buttery, tender, and honestly didn't even need a knife. Chef's kiss. Mashed potatoes 4/5. Really good, just a touch too much garlic for my liking. Brussels sprouts 2/5. This one disappointed me. The cheese wasn't melted and the glaze was way too sweet. I only managed a couple bites and left the rest, which says a lot because I love Brussels sprouts. Now let's talk about that bread and butter... chef's kiss all over again. Creamy, whipped, and just downright delicious. I would gladly take that to go. Overall, it's a solid, typical steakhouse experience. Nothing over the top, but definitely some highlights. One suggestion though... please add key lime pie to the menu. That should be a staple at any restaurant in Florida, just saying.

Visiting the area for just a couple of days and came across it while driving back to our hotel,…read moreit's within walking distance so we walked over that night, crossing our fingers for a much better drink than we had at another place earlier. Walking in was a fun surprise, it was the best Irish Pub experience! Lots of wood all around, the tables, the bar, the walls, dim but cozy lighting, tables and chairs everywhere. It was very inviting! You order at the bar, which is think is a traditional Irish Pub way, our bartender was great and made some awesome drinks that absolutely made up for our day! We had two of the featured drinks, one was a watermelon tonic and the other was an old fashioned and they were made perfectly! We didn't get to try the food, we just came for drinks and we were not let down!

No waiters / waitresses. Kinda weird. Order rounds at the…read morebar and take them to the table yourself. Food is also ordered at the bar, but a food runner brings the food. Wife ordered the fish & chips. Just OK. Fries were not crispy, still a little white. Cole slaw was bland. I ordered the Guiness beef stew. Dish was only warm, not hot. Flavor was good, not great. Not enough to complain to anyone working there. But certainly would not recommend the place for the food. Plenty of places to drink and root for your team, has options for inside and out. Found a quiet enough place inside, but no TV around. Probably why it was quiet. Thanks, but we'll be trying something else next time.

Great atmosphere! Payton was awesome, she went the xtra mile to change a food order for me!!read more

Punta Gorda's waterfront dining scene is buzzing with launching of Leroy's Fish Shack, Castaway and…read moreLatitude 26 at the Fishman's Village. Leroy's Fish Shack which occupied the former Village Fish Market, was still under renovation. We stop by next door, to the Village BrewHouse. This is off season and we were able to get an inside table with gulf view without any waiting time for lunch. As soon as we were seated, the place started to fill up. The hostess was friendly and waitress was great. We opted for the inside seating due to Floridian heat. We ordered Blueberry Waffle, Cod Tacos and Fajita wrap with French Fries and fresh fruit. The food was good. The Blueberries were very sweet; the Fajita wrap was tasty. The Cod was Lightly breaded and fried with power slaw, Pico de Gallo, and remoulade. This is a nice place for lunch or dinner with an excellent water view. It was fun sitting by the water and watching the boats! Service during the week dates are fine! We never been here on the weekend!