We saved Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant for our final dinner of a weeklong trip to Sanibel Island,…read moreand it ended up being one of the highlights of our entire vacation. Every seat in the restaurant was filled, which tells you everything you need to know. Make a reservation because this place is incredibly popular. The service was outstanding from start to finish. Our server was warm, attentive, and somehow managed to provide exceptional service despite the restaurant being completely packed. The entire staff made our last night on the island feel special. We forgot to take photos of the appetizers, but trust me, don't skip them. The fried green tomatoes were the unanimous favorite at our table and an absolute must-order. Crispy, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. We also ordered the conch fritters, which our family always seeks out whenever we're in Florida, and these were honestly some of the best we've ever had. The crab cakes were delicious as well, but the fried green tomatoes and conch fritters definitely stole the show. For my entrée, I ordered the Quinoa Steak Salad, and I was shocked by the size. The portion is enormous and could easily be shared by two people, or even serve as a family-style salad for three or four. The steak was perfectly cooked, and the combination of quinoa, avocado, fresh vegetables, and cheese made it both hearty and refreshing. Several people at our table ordered the evening special, the blackened snapper over mushroom risotto, and it was phenomenal. The snapper was perfectly cooked, flaky, and full of flavor, while the creamy mushroom risotto complemented it beautifully. It was easily one of the standout dishes of the evening. The honey glazed salmon was another favorite at our table. The braised short ribs were rich, tender, and beautifully presented. One person in our group ordered the stuffed lobster and thoroughly enjoyed it, mentioning both the flavor and the generous portion size. The fish tacos were good, but with so many exceptional dishes on the table, they simply weren't the standout. Between the exceptional food, generous portions, outstanding service, and lively atmosphere, this was the perfect way to end our week on Sanibel Island. It's easy to see why every table was full. If you're visiting Sanibel, make reservations in advance. This restaurant is popular for a reason, and after dining here, we completely understand why. Five stars. We can't wait to come back.

Came here for dinner and it was packed! Good thing we had a reservation. Not a very big place more…read moresmall and quiet but they packed lots of tables and booths inside. As well as some tables outside and there is a bar area inside with tvs on. Service was great. All the staff were very friendly and kind. To eat we ordered the strawberry salad with blackened grouper. The salad was fantastic but the grouper was just nothing special. I wouldn't recommend it. My husband got the scallops with the coconut risotto. He said the scallops were amazing but the risotto wasn't great. We also got the tuna tartar which was just ok. The menu isn't large so not many options to pick from. Maybe breakfast or lunch would've been better.

Finally returned after years away (post Ian) as a lifelong Sanibel visitor (2x per year my whole…read morelife and my family has been coming 2+ times per year since the 1960s) so Sanibel is our second home. While I was so sad that they had to move, I think is one of the rare improvements since Ian. There's more space. The feel of the place is the same bit upgrade (but not modern like so many places have chosen to go) Staff were friendly. Service was quick. Food was good as ever. Live that there's outdoor seating now. The rare improvement in a sea of disappointing downgrades post Ian. Thrilled for them and can wait to be back in a few months

If you're looking for breakfast on Sanibel, Lighthouse Cafe absolutely deserves a visit. We love…read morebreakfast, and after trying so many places over the years, it can start to feel like every menu offers the same dishes prepared the same way. Lighthouse Cafe managed to make a classic breakfast memorable. We ordered the French toast, and the portion was huge and easy to split. More importantly, it was absolutely delicious. The eggs we ordered were cooked exactly as needed, the bacon was perfectly crisp, and the cheese grits were rich, creamy, and full of flavor. We literally cleaned our plates and ate every bite despite our intentions to simple stop by for a taste. One of the biggest surprises was adding fish to breakfast. It's not something I would have ever thought to eat for breakfast, but it ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. The fish was incredibly tender and paired surprisingly well with the rest of the meal. It was such a unique addition that it changed the way I think about breakfast. We intentionally ordered some standard breakfast items because we believe that's the best way to judge a breakfast restaurant. If a place can make the classics exceptionally well, that's usually a great sign. Lighthouse Cafe exceeded our expectations across the board with their delicious plates and service. Not to mention it is nice to visit a locally owned restaurant whose owner is present and working alongside their staff. From the quality of the food to the generous portions, everything was excellent. If you're on Sanibel and want a breakfast that goes beyond the ordinary while still nailing all the classics, Lighthouse Cafe is a great place to visit.

We,a party of six stopped by Grandma Dott's for an early dinner tonight. The food alone was 4.9…read morestars, but the star in the show was the service from the time we entered to the time we left the service was exceptional. It's not that hard to be nice and they were amazing. Thank you for the great food and a great dinner.

As good as it gets, & our best meal & drinks on the island!…read more We had expert server Nick & were so happy with him! He was extremely personable, fun, & sooo efficient at his job! He treated us like family, & took such good care of us. We started with cocktails: Miami Vice, Pina Colada, & a Pain Killer at Nicks suggestion. They were all delicious. Next up shared appetizers of smoked fish dip & crab cakes. I usually dislike crab cakes, but I wanted to eat all of them. The smoked fish dip was delicious too & whoever thought of frying the saltines is a genius! For our meals we each got a lunch for dinner platter which was plenty of food with the accompanying house made chips & super ripe fruit. Two of us got the coconut shrimp. They were large, fresh & delicious, very heavy on the batter. The pineapple dipping sauce was perfect with them. Two in our party got salmon & said it was excellent. They ate every bite of it. One of us devoured his lobster roll with great enjoyment. The only non- seafood eater had what he described as a really good burger. He's like Mikey from Life cereal, he hates everything...so that's very high praise for the burger. For dessert we shared both the chocolate cake & key lime pie. I usually don't like Key Lime pie because it's almost always too sweet. But theirs is amazing. Dense, creamy & very tangy, with grated lime zest all throughout the pie. The cake was delicious too. There wasn't a bite of anything left. The ambience is great. Very nautical with lovely views. The exterior is very pretty, & inside it is cozy, casual & approachable. The a/c works really well too. The servers were all cheerful & the other diners seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was such a great overall experience. Highly recommend!

Lazy Flamingo is finally reopened! After the hurricanes a couple of years ago, this location was…read moreclosed as they rebuilt and recovered. I was so happy that it reopened again and we could not wait to get here! We did not have a reservation and did not have to wait for a table. The night we went must have a been a good night since it was not very busy. We do usually go for lunch but decided to do dinner this year. My family is very traditional and know what we like. We started with clam chowder and the garlic bread with marinara. The clam chowder, OMG this is so creamy, delicious, thick and so yummy. It's almost like a sauce it's so good. It is our favorite clam chowder around! The garlic bread is also delicious, it is crunchy, garlicky and delicious. If you want the marinara it does cost extra and honestly it is good but you can live without it. We actually dipped the garlic bread in the conch chowder. I've also tried the conch chowder also very good but very spicy. I ordered my absolute favorite dish, which is the steamer pot. It's 2 dozen steamed clams, in a steamer pot which comes with butter to dip. I think on its own, you might be hungry but adding the soup its a perfect meal. The steamer pot is actually on the appetizer menu. These clams are so delicious, served hot, with old bay. Honestly I could eat double! My mom ordered the fried shrimp and my sister ordered the buffalo shrimp. They both liked it but were not thrilled with the breading. The breading on both was very sweet and very strange for fried shrimp. My husband ordered the mahi tacos and where he loved the flavor and taste, the portion was very small for the price. He only got 2 and served with a small side of rice and beans. He enjoyed it but said he would not get it again. I do feel this is worth going. I think their prices have increased since re opening and portion sizes have decreased. My family strayed from their usual items and did not overly enjoy it. Next time they said they would stick with what the know is good. The vibe here is very chill and laid back, almost like you are in the hull of a ship. Its a very chill spot. Lots of beer selections as well. I definitely think you should add it to your list to check out.

The Lazy Flamingo is a Captiva staple and you'll find it on Periwinkle Way…read more We have been coming for many years. The atmosphere here is low key, which is especially great if you're coming straight from the beach. When you enter the restaurant you definitely get the sense of low key. The staff all wearing Lazy Flamingo t-shirts, that they sell to customers. Once we were seated our server came with waters and menus. We told her all of us were ready to order. For the table we got the Flamingo Garlic Bread with marinara. We always get this and it's delicious. For my entree I ordered the Shrimp Tacos (Lightly fried shrimp on flour tortillas with crisp slaw, topped with house-made mango salsa, & drizzled with a spicy cream sauce. Served w/black beans & rice) The shrimp was hot and well seasoned. It had a little too much breeding though. Loved the spicy cream sauce and mango salsa.The black beans were made perfectly. For drinks got a Land Shark. It paired well with the tacos; My wife ordered the Clam Chowder to start with and she loved it. For her entree she ordered the Pot (2 dozen select oysters or clams or combo, steamed in beer with special spices, celery, onions, all in their own fresh juices) This is here favorite meal here. Tonight it was still delicious. My mother in law ordered the Clam Chowder to start with as well. For her entree she ordered the Shrimp (Plump, pink, breaded (our own) prawns. Served w/cocktail sauce & French fries. She said the breading on the shrimp was a little too much; My sister in law ordered the clam chowder to start with as well. For her entree she got the Buffalo Shrimp (Six of our plump fried shrimps tossed in you of mild or hot buffalo sauce, Served w/celery & bleu cheese. All in all it was a good dinner. Again we come here every year.

Came here while staying in Captiva, it's a 20 min drive and so worth it! The restaurant is located…read morein a cute shopping plaza surrounded with little shops. Extremely clean and the staff is friendly and very attentive. We went for breakfast (didn't take pics lol) and it was so good we went back the next day for lunch! Large menu. Outdoor seating that allows . Breakfast: The special avocado, bacon, tomato Benedict was scrumptious. My boyfriend enjoyed the meat lovers omelette and the biscuits and gravy. Lunch: loved the buffalo chicken wrap. The chicken was very crispy and delicious. The pasta salad was refreshing.

I was excited about everything about over easy café from the location, ambience, dog, friendly…read morenature and overall aesthetics. Unfortunately, that excitement faded as soon as we sat down. I know people love this place. I wanted to love this place. Our waitress was fine, just fine a little lackluster, but she got the job done. Here's what we ordered for three of us: cinnamon roll, the shrimp omelette, something like the veggie omelette, and eggs Benedict. We also had a side of corned beef hash, and one of us had a coffee. The shrimp omelette was flavorless. It came with a side of hollandaise sauce, which unfortunately was so gelatinized that it kind of was like pudding but thicker. The coffee was so weak. My companion didn't even want a refill. The cinnamon roll had no lovely layer of the cinnamon butter sugar mixture that normally is in a cinnamon roll. To boot it felt like it was microwaved because the bread was hard and Chewy. It was difficult for us to even cut through it. My eggs Benedict had that same gelatinized hollandaise sauce on it there was no zing from the lemon that should have been in there. Now this is my favorite breakfast meal, and I generally devour the entire dish: unfortunately in this case, I left the entire other half with the dark, heavy congealed hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise sauce should not be so thick it doesn't move. The corned beef hash was yummy. Thankfully. The other omelette was fine but just fine; rather flavorless and watery due to the vegetables in it. The potatoes were fine just not my preference for potatoes. In my opinion, our waitress should have seen the vast majority of food left over on our table and asked us what was up. I would have loved to tell her, but I didn't want it to seem like it was just a bunch of complaints. It's just amazing how every single item except for the corned beef hash fell short. Hopefully the owners read this. But maybe I am just an anomaly in guests here as people love this place.

We love the Magic Bus! My daughter must have had 30 refreshers over the last 5 days. The iced…read morecoffee is also amazing! As is the key lime pie! The young ladies that work for you are all wonderful.

Loved our visit to the Magic Bus on Sanibel. Super cute VW bug pics here. Lots of fun sweets, ice…read morecream, drinks, coffee, candy. This is newer since we last visited and it's closer to the Lighthouse beach. Super welcoming and friendly here and free easy parking.

The service and ambience were amazing, in spite of the fact that we were basically alone in the…read morerestaurant due to arriving 30 minutes before closing, in particular, I would recommend the margarita pizza

The last time we ate here, the food just didn't wow us. Maybe different management(?). But it's…read morebeen 3 yrs since our last trip to Sanibel and since Dante's is right on the grounds of the Sanibel Inn where we're staying, we figured it deserved another visit. After spending most of the morning and part of the afternoon on the beach, hubs was craving pizza. Me? I had my doubts. Outside of NYC, I wasn't exactly convinced Sanibel was about to serve up a killer pie. I was wrong. Because for these parts, it's tasty alright. Dante's has a unique layout with a winding staircase leading up to a circular dining area. We started with the jumbo shrimp appetizer, doused in this creamy, spicy, garlicky, Parmesany-packed sauce that was totally outstanding. Then we each ordered our own 10" individual pie. Hubs went with the pepperoni, I chose the white pizza with mushrooms, minus the prosciutto. He loved his and I enjoyed mine too- but it needed more mushrooms. As for the pizza, the base is kinda thin but not paper-thin, the crust has a light and airy rise with a crisp feel- but not like a cracker. Shout-out to our server, Julia, who was friendly and attentive. Looks like Dante's has really stepped up for good. Hope it doesn't change.

Such a amazing experience at the blue giraffe restaurant. I ordered the taco salad and it was…read moredelicious. You could tell it was made with care. All of the staff here is always so so so friendly and that is the reason why me and my family keep coming back. Thanks for the amazing time!

What a difference a year makes! Excellent service, great…read moredrinks with quick food delivery. The menu was extensive and all of our meals were delicious Glad they figured it out

While staying in sanibel i was in the mood for something new. We were fairly walking distance from…read moreMudbugs and decided to grab a bite here. We were seated after 5 minutes in the main floor with a great view of the performer who was singing that night. As we were seated we were greeted by the sweetest server ever Amber. Let me tell you i have had a good handful of great servers but she was amazing. Super informative, sweet and with so much happy aura to her. I was very much overwhelmed with the menu and decided on getting boudin balls and conch fritters for appetizers. So flavorful! The sauce on the side was the perfect combination too. i had never had boudin balls before, now i am a fan. The conch fritters were perfection!!!!! So crispy and packed with conch inside. As for entree the Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo was just the amount of spicy i liked. I love making gumbo at home and this has officially beat my own gumbo. My partner ordered the etouffee... man he thought he could handle heat but this was a new level for him. It was nice and thick the etouffee. Even though it was spicy to him....he said the flavor was all there... very good and he wasn't going to quit on it and finished it completely. For desert we OF COURSE got the Beignets! We were so stuffed but would definitely hate ourselves of we didn't order some. We got the caramel on the side and let me tell you im still dreaming of how good they were. Literally melted in my mouth. This spot is a 10/10. Food, service and vibes. If you want a taste of New Orleans but don't want to venture too far out... Mudbugs is definitely the place to go

MudBugs -- 5/5…read more Every year when we come to Sanibel, we HAVE to eat here! It's become one of our favorite places and is always a must-stop for us. Everything is so good, but you absolutely have to try the beignets -- they're SO good! Definitely a Sanibel favorite that we look forward to every year.

We had a fabulous experience at BRGR Kitchen & Bar! I ordered the Mahi Mahi burger with truffle…read morefries, and it was phenomenal! The fish was fresh and didn't have that overly "fishy" taste that can sometimes come with seafood. The portion was large and the price was a pleasant surprise, about half of what many other restaurants charge for Mahi Mahi. Our waitress was friendly and genuinely sweet. The restaurant itself was spotless, vibrant, and had a welcoming atmosphere. It is just a short walk to the beach, making it the perfect spot for lunch or dinner after enjoying the ocean.

The restaurant had a casual laid back inviting vibe. The food was excellent! The flavors were very…read morecreative! I order grilled shrimp tacos which had jalapeños for heat, special jelly for sweetness, and a special sauce. Shrimp was grilled to perfection and the taste of it all was wonderful. Husband ordered a burger over a salad. The salad had so many ingredients I can't even remember but the flavor of everything came together beautifully, culinary magic. I would describe this restaurant as stale casual. Was excellent and we will definitely return again.