Lazy Flamingo: Part 5 in the Boat for Food Blog Series - A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island!

Once again we set out in search of some good food for lunch. We don’t go north or south this time, but turn east to Bokeelia and Pine Island. Lazy Flamingo is located within the Four Winds Marina complex, at the head of Jug Creek, home port for most Useppans. Leaving our dock we head south then do a hairpin turn around the south end of Useppa and head north into the center of Pine Island Sound.

Small fishing boats dot the landscape, casting for sea trout and redfish in the grass flats. Views north open up to Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor, while Captiva Pass is visible just 3 miles to the south.  We pass the outer buoy of the Pineland Channel then veer to the northeast and head directly for Little Bokeelia Bay. This is the short cut that merges into the center of Jug Creek, and saves a mile of travel. Although impassable at extreme low tides there is plenty of water in a channel marked by private aids, but it is still a local knowledge route. 

We pass Little Bokeelia Island, with its gorgeous Spanish home, and high ground overlooking Boca Grande Pass. You can buy this paradise for just $24.5 million, and have 29 lots to sell to your best friends. The remnants of a Calusa temple mound appear on the left as you make the final turn into Jug Creek. In a couple more minutes you are docked in front of the Lazy Flamingo, 13 minutes from our dock.

A casual place for lunch or dinner, the Lazy is a local chain known for its fresh fish offerings, usually Mahi but frequently Grouper and sometimes a surprising and yummy Triple Tail. You can get it grilled, blackened or fried. Fresh oysters and scallops are usually available also. Naturally there are burgers and fries, steak sandwiches and always fresh salads-nice and crispy.

Mary departs from her usual lunch salad and goes for the grilled Mahi sandwich basket-but avoids devouring the fries. I had a giant, perfectly done blue cheeseburger basket with all the toppings-lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles-and ate every damn fry in the basket. This lunch just demanded an ice cold beer, so I gave in to the temptation and had two-they are small.

This experience was typical. Friendly and attentive wait staff, good but not fancy food, hot from the kitchen, and ice cold beer. It is hard to walk past the Lazy and not feel some hunger pangs-so go in and fix them!