With its gorgeous waterfront locale and extensive array of both fine and casual dining, you’ll find some of the freshest and most delicious seafood on the gulf coast. With so many options it can be hard to choose, so we’ve compiled some of the local favorites.
The Best Fresh Seafood Restaurants Near Fort Myers Beach, Florida
1. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
Come by car or by boat for waterfront dining with incredible views of Estero Bay at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. You'll find fresh seafood with a tropical flair, with tasty starters like Shrimp Ceviche and peel-and-eat Yucatan Shrimp.
Try the Banana Leaf Snapper with masa harina, ancho chile puree and freshly squeezed lime juice. Takeout is also available but you’ll find live music nightly and on Sunday afternoons if you decide to eat in.
2. The ‘Historic’ Dixie Fish Company
The Dixie Fish Company dates back to 1937, when the original fish market bought and sold the days' fresh catch from local fishermen. That early structure, with its tin roof and breezy openness, remains today and retains that historic ambience.
Enjoy live music most evenings while dining on favorites such as the house specialty fish and chips made with fresh grouper and served with housemade chips.
Order the catch of the day just the way you like it, with a choice of garlic butter, blackened, coconut crusted or cornmeal fried.
3. Smokin’ Oyster Brewery
Smokin' Oyster Brewery is a casual eatery offering live music seven days a week on its outdoor porch. Treat yourself to a handcrafted microbrew, or a choice from the fun tropical drink menu.
Fresh seafood is mesquite grilled over a wood burning grill. Choose a crab bucket, Coconut Shrimp, fried oysters or conch chowder, or go all out with the Combo Bucket of oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels, corn and potatoes.
4. Fresh Catch Bistro
The Fresh Catch Bistro is your best choice for that romantic sunset dinner with your special someone. Diners rave about the excellent service and of course, the spectacular views.
Choose from elegant starters including Oysters Rockefeller and Escargot Bourguignonne, and entrees including dayboat scallops with citrus beurre blanc and spiced pecan and cranberry crusted grouper with a side of lobster risotto or truffle fries.
The Fresh Catch Bistro offers daily cocktail and wine specials and its extensive list of signature martinis from Orange Creamsicle to Red Candy Apple.
5. Flippers on the Bay
Watch the dolphins frolic in the bay while enjoying the fresh seafood at Flippers on the Bay. Flippers' executive chef, Juan Cruz, serves up specialties that reflect both his El Salvadoran roots and his years working in some of California's finest restaurants.
Favorites include Shrimp Strozzapreti (Shrimp, chorizo, basil, baby spinach, tomato, garlic, shallots, and goat cheese) and Taste of the Bay (Fettuccine, lobster, shrimp, diver sea scallop, pear tomato, shallot, bacon, in a basil pesto cream sauce).
6. The Salty Crab
What could be more glorious than tasty fresh seafood and an icy cold cocktail served right on the beach? The Salty Crab is your choice destination for some casual seafood, whether dine-in or takeout.
Start with fried calamari or conch fritters, and indulge in steamed bairdi crabs, mahi mahi tacos or garlic mussels. Cool off with a draft beer, house-made sangria or a frosty tropical drink.
These seaside favorites are just one thing that makes Fort Myers Beach a special Florida seaside town. Ready to live the gulf coast lifestyle? Contact us today to learn more about how you can live right on the water in Fort Myers Beach’s luxury condominiums.
