Miller’s Dockside: Part 4 in the Boat for Food Blog Series- A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island!

We must be in a rut. Here we are again, heading north to Boca Grande for lunch. Plenty of fine places to visit south of here, but there is only so much time for boating and eating. We’ll get to the southern eateries soon enough.

From Useppa, we go north up the ICW, across Charlotte Harbor. The Tarpon fleet is long gone, the fish scattered up into the harbor and the numerous canals in Cape Coral, Englewood, Cape Haze and Punta Gorda.Today we enter the Boca Grande Canal and take a sharp left to the Boca Grande Marina, home to two restaurants: Millers Dockside and the Eagle Grill. You won’t confuse the two. This trip we did the Dockside, the Eagle will come later.

 When boating for food, convenient dockage is important, and the marina provides a complimentary tie- up for lunch patrons. It is just a few steps into the restaurant, as well as the ships store. Dock master and attendants are ready and cheerful.

The Dockside means just that, you are right next to the dock. We watch as fishing guides come in and release their live bait, gas-up or meet fresh customers, all 10-15 feet from our table. Boats come and go, with fisherman shopping in the ships store and waiting for a table. We are seated quickly and our server promptly showed up.

 

The menu is really eclectic for a casual venue, with everything from Boca Dogs and Burgers (think soda fountain fare), quesadillas to shrimp and grits, fresh tuna nachos and Duck Dim Sum. International fare, who would have guessed? As usual, I go for the health food-dogs and fries with a beer. There are salads on the menu, of course, and Mary had one-of course.

Another day boating for food from Useppa Island, what a tough day!

Will Boat for Food Blog Series: The Fishery

The Fishery: Part 3 in the Boat for Food Blog Series- A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island!

We are motoring north again, in search of fresh fish for our get-away lunch. We  cross Boca Grande pass and the fleet of boats working the fish inside of the pass. When you think of eating fish, however, it’s not tarpon but The Fishery that comes to mind.

Located immediately south of the old Boca Grande railroad bridge, this casual family restaurant is located adjacent to a real fish house, the port where Gulf commercial fishing vessels bring their catch into Placida/Cape Haze. It doesn’t get any fresher unless you catch it yourself. Of course, that is not difficult around here.

Slowing for the channel into the Fishery, we parallel the railroad structure which is renowned for holding some beefy Snook. Just last season we were anchored right here with Captain Dave Hoke out of Bokeelia, live baits placed perfectly for the moving tide. Our fishing mates were daughter Shari and hubby Brian Gear from Fort Myers. Our laid back day away from our tropical paradise was rewarded with a fresh and delish dinner.

Back to The Fishery: They have really handy dockage right in front, and can handle a multitude of small boats. Up and in we went, bypassing the outdoor dining patio with not an empty seat, to enter the rustic but air conditioned restaurant. There is something special about an eatery that is smart enough to place the bar between the entrance from the dock, and the restaurant seating.

So we endured warm welcomes, cold brews and rapid seating to sit and study the menu. Grouper must be the all-time most requested fish in Florida. Accordingly, it is priced “at market” which always results in 2 questions: How much? And is it FRESH? You got to love this answer: our server says it is not available now because  they are waiting for a “better supply”. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about The Fishery, nothing does. Ever had a place try to pass of a skinny Tilapia on you when you order Grouper? Yea.

 

 

 

Surprise of all surprises, Mary orders a salad with blackened snapper. It was really good, the greens all fresh and crunchy, the snapper perfectly and lightly blackened. With a background of dining on Baltimore Crab Cakes, I should have heeded the disclaimer on the crab cakes, said to be “Fishery” style. What a dummy, I didn’t even ask. They don’t short you on the crab, no problem there, but you have got to like eating Old Bay seasoning by the spoonful. Too bad, but if you don’t try something new…………The fries were good, but then I rarely meet one I don’t like.

 

This trip got a little out of hand –it was 23 minutes dock to dock.

 

Will Boat for Food Blog Series Part 2: Barnacles Restaurant

A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island  

We turn our sights south for our next gastronomic exploration, to our neighboring island of Upper (or North) Captiva.  Bridgeless like Useppa but having shores along the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound, Upper Captiva is home to 400+- beach houses, ranging from the bohemian to top shelf, all kind of mixed together. We can see this island and Captiva Pass, from the south and west shores of Useppa Island.

Barnacles on Upper Captiva

Today we visited a local icon of truly laid-back island dining, Barnacles Restaurant, but everybody still calls it Barnacle Phil’s. Phil has been gone for years now, but it was his creation. Most visitors dine under the huge palm-thatched tiki hut, seated on wooden picnic benches. From this vantage point one can watch the boats come in to dock, which is frequently excellent entertainment as well as a lesson about marital relations or, how not to have any (never raise your voice to the first mate, even if you crush several pilings).

Outdoor Seating at Barnacles

The restaurant also has inside dining and the demands of modernity have caused it to be air conditioned. We remember when it had no A/C, and it could get so hot in there they had to build a tiki hut where you could cool off. This improved the view, too.

Barnacle’s is known for their black beans, and I have had plenty of them. They are very good. But today seemed more like an All American Day, and usually that means a burger for me. But, being an adventurous diner I decided to go international. They call it the Barnacle Dog, a tasty ¼ pound wiener smothered in internationally famous Black Beans. With chopped onions of course. And French Fries. How international can you get? An American adopted German sausage, Spanish black beans, and potatoes with a French influence. Yes sir, I know how to mix’em up! Like an international gourmet tour in one basket. Yum!

The gotta try Barnacle Dog!

No fruity drink with this lunch-it is totally about the cold beer.

And guess what? Mary had the salad, with grilled shrimp. Said it was really good.

Even the salads at Barnacles are delicious!

Located in Safety Harbor, Barnacles is a 12-minute boat ride, well within our 20 minute goal.

Will Boat for Food Blog Series Part 1: The Pink Elephant

Will Boat for Food Blog Series! A Culinary Adventure around Useppa Island  

PART 1: The PINK ELEPHANT
    
Because Useppa Island is a bridge-less island anchored by the Useppa Island Club, we frequently are asked if there is anywhere to dine besides the (wonderful) Collier Inn, the center of socializing and dining within the Club.  After all, variety is important to all the senses.

Since the island is home to boaters, naturally, we decided to discover just how many restaurants are accessible within a 20 minute boat ride and, to report what we found. Keep in mind that boating out for dining is not like the 20 minute commute to a restaurant at home. There is little or no traffic, no traffic lights or speed police and, best of all: It’s A Boat Ride!  

This is the first in our series of attempting to be food bloggers. We know, they say anyone can blog but we never thought that it could be us! What better way to start then by boating our way to food discoveries. 

First on our list-The Pink Elephant in Boca Grande, Florida. The Pink, as it is known, is part of the terrific Gasparilla Inn complex, anchored by the century-old Inn, a beach club, spa, tennis and golf club. The Pink is the casual side of dining, located just off the Intracoastal Waterway, and convenient to the docks where guides pick up their fares to go tarpon fishing in the Pass. 

Boat it docked, time for a drink! Usually, for me, its liquor on the rocks, or perhaps a beer with lunch. But this day calls for something special. The server recommends the watermelon mojito. I’m afraid my voice might go up an octave or two if I drink one of those but I say “what the Hey!” we are writing a blog-I don’t have to speak. Well, this beauty was extra special, better than any mojito I had in Havana last year. Even better, in about 5 minutes I knew I had consumed an alcoholic beverage.

We are in for lunch, and the place is not too busy. Then, the morning tarpon charters return and it gets half crowded. The bar is full of lawyers, all in fishing regalia. And what are they were worried about? The sharks chasing their catch. What a turn-around for lawyers!

TIME TO EAT

So, I am a burger guy, burgers here, there anywhere, it doesn’t matter. Just GIVE ME A BURGER! But, I have to admit, I have had The Pink Burger before. It is beyond words. So, since I could not write about it (beyond words, right?) I went for the BLT, like one I never had. But how wrong can you go with some crisp Pig? Take a look at this. It was on some kind of health grainy bread, toasted, with avocado and other delights. So I get my grain and veggies for the day too.

Mary, of course, has to have the salad. Here it is, the Caesar with shrimp scampi. None better.

Best of all, the wait staff is polite, cheerful and fun. Along with impeccable service and great food, what more could you ask for?  Oh yea-it was 13 minutes dock to dock, well within our 20 minute goal.

Want to try The Pink for yourself? Here are some helpful links:
Pink Elephant Sample Menu 
Pink Elephant Website 

Tell 'em Mary & Brian from Useppa sent ya!
Stay tuned for next week's spot. It's a tough job boating for food, but we won't complain! :)