A bit confusing because they've reopened or rebranded to Mainstay (but some of their signs and all…read moreof their merch still says Barnacles), but we stopped here on a boating day in Fort Myers! SPACE This is a casual spot to boat up to with outdoor covered seating, indoor dollar bar seating, bags/games to play and beachy vibes. SERVICE Service was great! The person taking our order was lovely, as was the team bringing out our food. FOOD Food was great! We loved the bang bang shrimp tacos, the mahi mahi plate, and the buffalo shrimp especially. DRINKS They've got a great cocktail menu with delicious frozen and tropical favorites. PRICE Prices are STEEP - but what else do you expect from a boat-up restaurant on an isolated tiny island? It's all part of the experience. ICE CREAM Most people don't know it, but upstairs is more rooftop seating - go inside up top and they have an ice cream shop with merch for sale too!

This restaurant is actually called Mainstay and Barnacle Bar. Came here with Adventures in…read moreParadise. Got Boom Boom Shrimp Tacos (a play on Bang Bang sauce). Very good--cooked perfectly and the sauce was yummy. Nice outside eating area, inside looked cramped and not overly clean. Server was pretty grumpy when taking our orders but must have stressed down because she seemed friendly when she said goodbye to our group. Do expect to pay a fairly high surcharge to eat here, not sure what that's all about, but expect it. And prices are high, but we're on an island only accessible by boat or plane, so keep expectations in line with that. Restaurant is in front of a gigantic island dump, so that's not wonderful. If you brave the walk by the dump you can see Salty Approach, this notorious air strip that's talked about a lot on boat tours down there. Pretty cool.

Wife ordered fish and chips, it was cold and raw. I ordered a grouper sandwich tasted like catfish…read more Paid $90 for what I consider garbage.

They have very nice lobster tails, fresh fish and crab cakes. They are at the farmers market. It…read moreis a little pricey, but what do you expect on a island

A visit to Cabbage Key Restaurant is truly a step into classic Old Florida charm. Accessible only…read moreby boat, the journey alone sets the tone for something special--and it absolutely delivers. The service staff is so friendly and attentive. Ask to sit in the "Money Room"! The cocktails were stunning, both visually and in flavor, setting the perfect relaxed island mood. The famous "Cheeseburger in Paradise" lived up to every expectation--the patty was incredibly generous and cooked to perfection, making it one of the most satisfying burgers I've had anywhere. And the turtle ice cream? As adorable as it is delicious. Topped with a charming candy turtle, it's the kind of treat that makes you smile before you even take a bite. Be sure to take in the views from the historic water tower--breathtaking scenery that captures the untouched, timeless beauty of the area. Cabbage Key isn't just a meal, it's an experience--peaceful, nostalgic, and unmistakably Old Florida. I can't wait to return.

For my husbands birthday weekend we drove down to Ft Meyers for the weekend. We took a boat over to…read moreCabbage Key Island for lunch. Beautiful, amazing perfect ambiance. Very exclusive since you can only arrive by boat. The food was good and when I told our server it was my husbands birthday the guy single the live music kicked it off an everyone joined in. It was awesome!!!

The service was great. We ordered lunch. It seemed most people order breakfast. It was nice to have…read moreboth menus available to order from. I had the BLT with cucumber salad, which was good. It's a nice option if hungry and the Blue Dog Bar and Grill is closed.

Everything is great but my favorites are the Floridian omelet, shrimp & grits and the breakfast…read morewrap. Yumm. This place is awesome.

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.

The food and service defines the experience. Blue dog never changes. Daily printed menus of fresh…read moreofferings, 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.

Blue Dog Bar & Grill is another local "must do"! Daily specials based on what is fresh, Friday…read morenight Prime Rib, and a fantastic everyday menu. The food is always super fresh, hot and delicious! Any choice from the "Fish of the Moment" is guaranteed to be amazing and I LOVE their Prime Rib! Staff is always friendly and quick but can become overwhelmed at peak hours. We tend to "stagger" our orders to prevent our entrees arriving while we are still eating our appetizers. Matlacha charm and Island Time feel will melt your day away, especially with a frosty Blue Dog lager in hand. Grab a seat at the bar if possible. Parking can be crazy during season. Cheers!

Recently my wife and family when to Doc Ford's Rum Bar and…read moreGrille, on Sanibel Island. This restaurant is simply an institution on the island. It is without question a must do, when you're here. My family and I have been coming here for many years, and it only has gotten better each time. This location has two floors of seating, more importantly two bars you can sit at. After checking in with the hostess, our wait was only about twenty minutes. Once seated at our table all of us were ready to order. For drinks we ordered two rounds I got the Dark and Stormy for both rounds(Gosling's Black Seal Rum mixed with Gosling's Ginger Beer & a squeeze of lime) my ordered a mango and coconut mojito; my sister in law ordered a rum runner. We all loved our drinks. Drinks here are always made perfect. For an appetizer we shared the calamari. The breading was light and the calamari was tender. For entrees my sister in law and I ordered the Deep Water Mahi Mahi(Hand-cut mahi-mahi seared in sweet soy sauce, placed on a jasmine rice stir fry with a tropical vinaigrette) This dish is my favorite meal here. The mahi was tender, the sweet soy sauce and the tropical vinaigrette ties everything together. My wife ordered the Yucatan Shrimp with a side of jalapeño cheese grits. She gave me two thumbs up. My father in law Grouper Sandwich (Fresh grouper grilled, blackened, or fried. Served with Doc's tartar sauce on a freshly baked roll) He ordered his fried. He loves the grouper sandwich here and usually gets it. Again, this is another place we will always comeback to.

Before I get into the entrees that were great, let me first acknowledge MARK our server. The four…read moreof us were here 4/21/26 on Table 105/1 for Lunch. MARK was very professional, personable, brought everything over in a timely manner, helpful with the menu choices and a great sense of humor. He's a great asset to the restaurant. Once again, thanks Mark! Great talking with you as well...... Doc Ford's is always great over the many years and comfortable sitting outside on the patio. We all enjoyed everything we had. Will be more descriptive later but wanted to get this review on time as I promised it to be.

The Island Store is located on Captiva Island and your spot for groceries. They are a small store…read moreand do not have everything but they have enough! If you are unfamiliar with the island, there are very few grocery stores you can shop at, so if you are actually on Captiva, this is your spot. There are more on Sanibel but that is a further drive. They also sell some merchandise, body items such as sunscreen and hats and then beer, wine, and liquor. We always stop here a few times while staying on the island. There are also fruits and vegetables as well as other cold items, pre made salads, dry stock items, such as breads, sauces, chips, etc. Something we always get is one of their sandwiches. They do make sandwiches to order as well using Boar Head items. For a small store, their wine and beer sections are very large. They even have a walk-in cooler so you can grab drinks cold already. We were able to find almost everything we were looking for or missed bringing with us. They welcomed us and said hello. The two guys we encountered were both very friendly and nice. We will continue to come here. It is convenient for where my family stays and we always run out of something such as bread or forget something. It is a perfect place to grab those last-minute items. I have even purchased some items here for gifts. If you are in the area I would definitely stop here for any last-minute items, you need.

Stopped in for some groceries and beverages…read more The people here were super helpful. The store had everything we needed. We were also able to stock up on water, Coke and beers

location....Great...overlooking the pool with the ocean in the background…read more Seevice... not good. Older female bartender acted like you were bothering her to order your drinks. waitstaff are slow. Food ...blackened red fish was great , the fish tacos were outstanding, popcorn shrimp were really good, wedge salad fantastic. Staff needs help but I found d that throughout the resort. nobody really seems friendly aND happy to do for their guests.. what a shame

Called three times to try and clarify a reservation, no answer over two today period. Allow…read morereservations on open table, but fail to notify that you have to be a club Captiva member in order to eat there. Don't find out until show up at the restaurant and they tell you you're not allowed inside

Ambiance was excellent. Service was also excellent. However, the kitchen needs some work. You don't…read morewant to spend $70 on a steak to have it cooked all the way through.

Avoid this place. I…read moreplanned a birthday dinner here for my girlfriend and the experience was a disaster from start to finish. The address listed on Google is wrong. After arriving at the advertised location, we were told the restaurant had moved and had to take a trolley 10 minutes away in the dark just to find it. When we finally arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, but manager Alex refused to seat us because we didn't have wristbands. Nowhere online, on Google, or at the original location was this requirement disclosed. We offered to pay cash or credit card and were still turned away. No apology. No attempt to help. No solution. The most troubling part came afterward. While waiting for the trolley back, I overheard Alex allow another couple without wristbands to dine, despite telling us it was against policy. The only obvious difference was that they were a white couple, while my girlfriend and I are an interracial couple. I don't make accusations lightly, and I rarely leave negative reviews. As a longtime business owner, I understand the impact reviews can have. But this experience was unacceptable. The only bright spot was a waiter named Knox, who showed genuine empathy and tried to help. He was the only person there who seemed to care about customer service. Every other restaurant in the area was packed that night. This one was empty. After our experience, I understand why.