Waterfront Restaurants Sanibel Island, Florida

Dockside Dining in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Area

Jul 17, 2008

Finding waterfront view dining on Sanibel Island can be tough, because most of the island is undeveloped. Two area public restaurants offer meals with a dockside view.

Sanibel Island, just off Florida's southwest coast near Ft. Meyers, is famous for its massive number and variety of sea shells washing onto its beaches all year long and any time of day. However, finding waterfront view restaurants on Sanibel Island can be a challenge. The Sanibel Island community works hard to maintain a balance with the natural environment, so most of the island remains undeveloped.

A few resorts offer dining with a view but only to their guests. There are no waterfront public breakfast restaurants on the Sanibel-Captiva Islands corridor, so a beach breakfast picnic is a most scenic start to the day. Two great public restaurants offer waterfront views and serve delicious lunch and dinner menus.

Grandma Dot’s Seaside Saloon

A favorite lunchtime Sanibel Island waterfront spot is Grandma Dot’s Seaside Saloon. One of the oldest eateries on the island, Grandma Dot’s is an open-air experience not to miss. Located at the Sanibel Marina docks, every table of the screened-in dining room at Grandma Dot’s has a view of the water and everything from little fishing boats to the grand Sanibel yachts. The sharp-eyed diner may spot otter, fish, or even an occasional manatee frolicking in the surrounding marina waters.

The brave foodie dives into Grandma Dot’s occasional summertime lunch special, Soft Shell Crab Sandwich. It’s not for the faint of heart, since some equate it with looking a giant spider. Once tasted however, Grandma Dot’s Soft Shell Crab Sandwich is marvelously addictive at only about $14.95 served with tasty chips, fruit and a fresh orchid garnish.

Other great lunch and dinner menu choices include sandwiches, burgers, salads, seafood, and steak, ranging in price from $7.95 to $25.00. The staff is efficient and friendly. All dishes are served with fresh fruit and flower blossom garnishment.

The Green Flash Restaurant

Cross the bridge joining Sanibel Island with Captiva Island, glide around the big curve on Captiva Drive, and visitors to the Sanibel-Captiva Islands are led straight into the The Green Flash Restaurant. Delicious lunch and dinner choices are offered in both indoor and outdoor dining areas with perfect waterfront views of the Roosevelt Channel and Pine Island Sound.

Ironically the name deceives the place, because the Green Flash does not face the western ocean sunset, normally associated with the term, the green flash. The Green Flash faces east, overlooking the docks of Intracoastal Waterway marker 38 in the Roosevelt Channel. The name is just a hint of the sense of humor in store when visiting The Green Flash. The menu is riddled with tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, and unsuspecting ladies have a hysterical surprise waiting in the powder room.

The Serious Side of the Green Flash Restaurant

Alert dining guests catch flashes of dolphin, otter, fish, and sometimes even manatee playing in the waters easily visible from every table. There’s not a bad seat in the house.

The Green Flash Restaurant chefs are particularly known for their skill and perfection with seafood. Their grouper dishes are wonderful, and prices range from $7.95 to $22.00. The Shrimp & Spinach salad, made with grilled prawns, pine nuts, bacon, fresh spinach, hardboiled eggs and apricot vinaigrette is undoubtedly a five star creation.

Naples, Florida is a gateway to the Everglades National Park, and another great place to explore and stay in southwest Florida. See Waterfront Restaruants Naples, Florida for dockside dining ideas.

The copyright of the article Waterfront Restaurants Sanibel Island, Florida in North American Culinary Travel is owned by Lynn Pritchett. Permission to republish Waterfront Restaurants Sanibel Island, Florida in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.