A bit confusing because they've reopened or rebranded to Mainstay (but some of their signs and all of 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! read more

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This restaurant is actually called Mainstay and Barnacle Bar. Came here with Adventures in Paradise. 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. read more

Barnacle's - Mainstay and Barnacle Bar - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

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Food was so-so. I had the blackened mahi tacos but they were ok, not great. Black beans and rice side was very good. Service was good. Ambience reminded me of a low end mainland catfish place. read more

Great location, food, drinks, and service. Ate here a couple times while on the island and each time everything was just great. read more

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$17 for a tiny, flat, over-cooked burger stuck to wax paper in a basket. $2 more for cheese. Horrible.

over priced seafood!...no real value here .......id say very 1990....how does this place still exist?

Cool spot on North Captiva Island. Food and beer at the bar outside, plenty of games like oversized Connect Four and other yard games to play, and ice cream to top it all off if you go upstairs! Overall, a super awesome spot to watch some sports, hang out, have some drinks, and most importantly -- be outside! read more

This is a great place for a quick bite to eat and a good drink. Fun spot for the family as they have games and space to move around. Very dog friendly as well. Food was on point and service was very attentive. Atmosphere was very laid back. Which is exactly how we like it. Island Time is definitely a real thing. read more

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Great, fresh seafood and nice atmosphere! Can only access by boat, so stopped by for lunch on a boat day. I had the fish tacos with grouper, my boyfriend had the fish sandwich. They just redid the outdoor area and it super nice, tons of shade on a hot day. Feels very tropical, very fun. Would highly recommend. read more

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Great spot, food was fresh and quick. U can see manatees in the water. This bar had the best crab cakes and conch fritters. Yummy fruity drinks! read more

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Great food and service. Can get really busy so don't be in a hurry! Great island jam.

Buffalo shrimp and conch fritters were solid. Even better is the rustic, authentic island atmosphere. Worth checking out once you e had your fill of Cabbage Key! read more

Barnacle's - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

We had a little bit of a hard time finding this place and when we finally did, we thought we had come to the wrong place. It's now called Mainstay (though the bar has a small sign that says Barnacles over it). Definitely looks like a dive inside. Not very clean. We got the Mainstay fries as an appetizer and they were good. I got a side salad which looked straight out of a bag, but it was ok. I didn't notice till after I ate that the best by date for the dressing (they give you the packet) was a couple days beforehand. Kids got quesadillas and peel & eat shrimp that they enjoyed. My husband got the Steinbeck chicken sandwich which was one of the best sandwiches I've ever taated. I got a grilled mahi mahi sandwich that was really dry. That was a big disappointment. My family was happy here, but I wouldn't come back. read more

Ducked in via boat and it was a fine time, here's why: * We boated there * No cars on Captiva * Cold drinks * Cool property * Excellent Chicken Wings * Excellent and festive company Good stuff, Cabeza OUT! read more

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I love my blue Long Island ice Tea, Buffalo chicken quesadilla or the Buffalo wings!!! read more

Barnacle's - a cup of green liquid on a wooden table - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

Love this place! Sure, we don't go here primarily for the food but reather the experience. You can only get to this place by boat, unless you live on the island - I think that's pretty cool! When we vacation in Cape Coral we ususally make it a point to come here at least once. Actually, if there is one thing I remember or think about when I think vacation in Florida it's coming to Barnacle Phil's. The minute you take that turn with your boat around that ole stilt house and see the little harbor you know you have arrived. Docking is a breeze (except if you go at 1pm at high season) and most times there are helpful hands to help you dock. Once you walk away from the dock you find yourself immediately in their outside dining area. First thing we like to order after a long day on the water is a bucket of ice cold Corona. Just the thought of the beach, sand, sun and Corona at Barnacle Phil's makes me think of the commercials... The food is OK. Come on - what do you expect in a place that would be perfect for Jimmy Buffett to retire at? We will we back as long as this place is open! read more

Barnacle's - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

GETTING HERE IS HALF THE FUN! Located on the north end of North Captiva Island, getting here by boat is the only option, so we were very happy to join some good friends and give this place a try. As a casual, on the water restaurant and bar, I thought it was certainly above average. We had a beans & rice soup (okay), a hearts of palm salad (good) and crab cakes (also good). All in all, this place contributes to a fun outing, and, as above, getting there was definitely half, or perhaps 3/4, the fun! read more

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Great island bar and restaurant with tropical outdoor atmosphere with tiki huts overlooking the water. Super laid back vibe with room for kids to roam around and play. Dog friendly too. Friendly service, good food. Had shrimp tacos, kids had smash burgers. Came back twice ! Solid choice. read more

Love this place. We've been going here for years and have never had a bad experience. They have wonderful black beans and rice that you have to get if you come here. They have great fish, shrimp, and burgers. They also have some fun activities outside such as cornhole and hoola-hoops. I would recommend it to someone who's on the island and wants some great seafood. read more

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Bailey and Sarah were great as we were looking for a spot to watch football. Good drinks, good food and playful interaction with the staff. Made for a great day and new members of the shark bait family read more

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It's the only place to eat on the island, but it was still superb. I got the Mahi Mahi with Chipotle Sauce and Pico de Gallo and loved every bite. I also ended up finishing other people's Barnacle Burgers and I really liked those too. It kind of sucks that they don't have their soda on tap, but they always have tons of cold cans and bottles, so it's not an issue. The food "allegedly" takes a while normally, but I got my food in 15 minutes. It was reeeeally pricy ($25 for my meal alone), but on a private island, that literally comes with the territory. read more

Barnacle's - The Mahi Mahi: Fresh, delicious fish blackened to perfection and topped with Chipotle sauce and Pico de Gallo. - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

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Amazing location...only accessible by boat!!! Loved my shrimp tacos...and I'm a taco snob. Prices were a bit high, but worth every penny. We sat outside, service was great, and the view amazing. My friend had the blackened fish sandwich, very fresh, and the beer was ice cold. read more

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BEWARE OF 20%GRATUITY AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED SCAM The food and drinks were ok. No drink prices on menu. When the bill came I discovered they automatically include 20% GRATUITY. I asked server to remove it and my friend paid the tip in cash. I later discovered the bill plus automatic tip was deducted from my card. I have called 4 times to get this overcharge corrected, with no return call. This clip joint takes full advantage that they are the only option on this island. read more

Party of 9 and we all agreed this is the worst place we have eaten at. Chicken sandwich is a dried up once frozen tough patty. Chicken wings are tiny. Fries are hard. Kid had a hot dog he didn't like that either. Best thing is the guacamole and chili Thai sauce that was on the wings. Better just to avoid the place if you can. Some of our group had been before and said it was just as bad then and figured it couldn't be so bad still. read more

Food was good, nothing to complain about but our waiter was not wearing a mask. We should have walked out or complained. Saw the same waiter the next day at lunchtime when we were in the area to catch a ferry and he still wasn't wearing a mask. read more

My only regret is that we waited until the last night of our vacation to try this place out. The food was excellent -- real Florida seafood with a Caribbean twist. The best peel and eat shrimp I've had in a decade. read more

Barnacle's - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

There are a few other eateries on N. Captiva, but Barnacle Phil's is the one of the few that doesn't require reservations. It has a great, fun, laid back atmosphere and a good view of the water. It's hard not to find something for every palate on the menu. Definitely try the pineapple coleslaw and red beans and rice. Everything I had (app: coconut shrimp, jerk shrimp; dinner: crab cakes) was divine, but I was so full from the appetizers and my cup of red beans, that I hardly made a dent in dinner. Tragic. I liked that they offered mix and match buckets of beer. YUM! Our server, Amber (I think that was her name), was AWESOME! Granted, it's off season, so BB's wasn't busy, but she knew the menu like the back of her hand, made great suggestions and even sprinkled in some folklore about the island and pirates who used to pass through. Upstairs, there's a little gift shop with the best freakin' ice cream around! My friends and I must have devoured at least 12 cups of the key lime goodness!! If you're at N. Captiva, go to Barnacle Phil's and have a fun dining experience!! read more

Good place to stop off, but be prepared to wait for service because it's a small kitchen on island time (not necessarily a bad thing). Bar food menu, beer & wine (no hard stuff), icecream shop upstairs is always a hit with the kids, island prices. Dogs are allowed, usually live music on weekends. read more

Barnacle's - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

I wish we could review the food but we've been waiting for our order for over 2 hours and still no lunch....

Headed to North Captiva for shelling and stopped here for lunch. Staff was great! Shout out to Amber our waitress who was helpful with menu options and Dan who served our bucket of beers and homemade Peach Sangria food was awesome, grandma's crab cakes were the best ever and the ice cream upstairs was delicious enjoyed shopping in the gift shop and playing all the games. Had a great time here and will definitely go back! read more

Barnacle's - Great day at Barbacle's! - Seafood Near Me - Captiva, Florida

We arrived with 46 others during a boating tour. There is not enough seating for 46. We learned where we could not be served: the 2 upper decks or the Adirondack chairs. With no table, we ordered food to go. Took 45 minutes. We were warned not to sit at the now emptying picnic tables because our order was "to go". The $15 veggie burger was just average. Fries hard and cold. Chicken sandwich hard skinny breast. Would not return. Realtor showing the property while we were there. Perhaps owner has had enough of the business. read more

$6.25 for a Miller Lite? With no glass....add a lousy Bloody in and I'm at $17.30, and then they add 20% gratuity? For drinks?! Here for two weeks and I won't be back again. read more

I guess if you are worried about your health and wear a mask, then you get a really bad service and even a more terrible expensive drink. Not worth a visit. read more

I ended up at Barnacle Phil's from a "Shelling and Lunch" cruise out of Ft. Myers. I'm not sure if the cruise operators informed the restaurant of the arrival of our boat (45 or so people); in any rate, Barnacle Phil's only had 3-4 waitstaff to cover our cruise party AND other patrons. Needless to say I felt extremely bad for the waitstaff, who were literally running around getting orders, retrieving drinks and food, and serving patrons. Our "cruise" operators allotted 90 minutes for lunch and asked us to be patient with the waitstaff. I was a "single" in the group, but was seated at a picnic bench like all the others. Still, I was patient...however, I guess that translates to being overlooked, as no server approached UNTIL 4 others joined me at the picnic bench about 45-50 minutes in. Someone in the Party-of-4 told the server that I was there first, and he immediately took my order and was apologetic. He put my order in (the $10 Paradise Burger), and about 20 minutes later it still hadn't arrived. He noticed and said he "went to check on it" and offered another Coke on the house for my wait; it was nice of him to offer. My order arrived shortly thereafter, but not how I had ordered it. (I'm thinking it was never put in at all or was also overlooked.) The food? My burger was dry. Though the patty was thick, it was small in circumference and fell at least an inch short around of the bun. The bun was soft and doughy, and better than store-bought. The cheese I ordered on it was missing, though I wasn't charged for it. The fries were alright, and the "fruit" was 2 small orange slices. Oh, a can of pop will run you $2.50...I guess the cost of getting it to the island is included in there. :) I regret to say that, in all, it was an overpriced and mediocre lunch. Maybe it would have been better if the kitchen and waitstaff hadn't been so bogged down by our cruise group. read more

This place has gone downhill, fast. The 'caesar' salad came with cheddar cheese on it, "we are out of parmesan". The Cobb salad was missing bacon and avocado. When this was pointed out they offered to bring a side of (packaged) guacamole... Used to be a fun place to eat at, now its just a rip-off joint with a lazy cook or food manager. Dont put things on a menu if you cant actually produce them. What a shame. read more

Tried contacting the restaurant / both via the old email and new email associated with Mainstays. No response. Went for lunch and every table outside was covered in trash read more

If you're looking for a great restaurant on the water in North Captiva, then try Barnacle Phil's! We boated up and chose one of the many outdoor picnic tables though there is indoor seating. We started with conch fritters that were perfectly prepared. The grouper tacos were yummy ($18!) and came with fries, fruit and sauces. My husband ordered the hot dog with chili and loved it. The waitresses were really competent. A few beers, Bob Marley on the sound system, a sunny day and good food. Well worth the money!! read more

A little pricey but what isn't on a remote island? The food was a little above average for a burger/fish sandwich/beer joint. The cole slaw was very good as was the peel & eat shrimp. The staff was great though and had a great sense of humor. I really wanted a blackened grouper sandwich, but couldn't shell out $18 for it. read more

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I don't get this place. I do get that it's on N Captiva Island, so it's remote. BUT it's filthy, the staff (one waiter) is slowww and rather unfriendly, it did take a very long time to be acknowledged and then to be served. It was ok. Just ok. This place should be a destination, a FUN place for the vacationers - something to make them want to come out of the house ... There is nothing to spend your money on while on the island -- food and drink should be a priority. FYI. Beer and Wine only. read more

Barnacle Phil's is a seafood shack on a remote portion of North Captiva island. This place is only accessible by boat giving it a really neat and isolated feel. The menu at Barnacle Phil's consists of typical seafood fare and some interesting specials. Additionally, Barnacle Phil's attempts to source their products locally in an effort to help the local purveyors. During our visit the service was good. The waiter was on top of our drinks, we were able to quickly order, and the food came out correct in a timely manner. We both enjoyed the sweet tea, homemade chip/salsa, tomato and mozzarella salad, and conch fritters. We started with the chips and salsa. The chips were homemade and still hot. The salsa was tasty, fresh, and better than most authentic Mexican places I have been. The tomato/mozzarella was alright. The cheese was good but the tomatoes were not fantastic. The conch fritters came with a flavorful aioli that really made the dish. Overall, considering you are at an island only assessable by boat this was a great lunch. Due to the remoteness and the sustainability some of the prices are higher than you would typically expect at a place like it but lets be honest, think where you are. read more