MarcoEATS

In the words of the duo Hot Damn (www.hotdamnduo.com), “We Love Stan’s Bar!”  We can’t decide what we love the most – the food or the fun.  You’ll be entertained the moment you arrive with the unique Buzzard Bay ambiance, the festive patron camaraderie, and the overwhelming “party” frame of mind.

Stan is quite the character, and it’s no wonder he’s built such a successful restaurant and contributed so much to the Marco Island community.  He is a patriot, a celebrity, a philanthropist, and a very, very funny man.   No matter what your religion, gender, political affiliation, age, race, or creed – if you can’t laugh at yourself and others you should probably stay away.  He routinely performs a hilarious (adult-oriented) stand up comedy routine that pokes good-natured fun at human beings of every sort.

Don’t think the laid-back attitude carries over to the food – it is consistently tasty and reflects quality ingredients skillfully prepared.   We filled up on the buffalo shrimp and peel-and-eat shrimp a la carte items before we could order the grilled fish and fried oyster baskets that tempted us so.   The buffalo shrimp were very lightly fried and covered with perfectly hot buffalo sauce.  The peel-and-eat shrimp were large and so fresh that they almost snapped when you bit into them.   The food at all the tables around us looked equally delectable.

One of the most unique features of Stan’s Idle Hour Restaurant is that he has been able to bring people from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds together to have great food and fun on a Sunday afternoon.  They arrive by yacht, golf cart, bicycle, motorcycle, and foot.   Whether your priority is the food or the fun – get there!

For more information, check out Stan’s website at www.stansidlehour.net.

You won’t find it easily, but when you do – it’s surely worth the effort.

Tucked away in Angler’s Cove near the intersection of North Barfield Drive and Bald Eagle Drive is the Dolphin Tiki Bar and Cafe.  Once you’ve got the Marco Bay Resort in sight, follow the signs for Dolphin Tiki parking; walk down the dock and look for the dockside tiki bar.  Don’t be fooled by the small size of this place – it’s surely not your average tiki bar!  While it has all the atmosphere and amenities of a casual dockside tiki, the food reflects much more sophisticated preparation.

The lunch menu offers chicken wings, salads, burgers, sandwiches, soups, and a variety of baskets- just about anything you could possibly imagine for a noontime meal.   We’ve always found the specials to be outstanding, but our favorites are the beer battered fish, fried oysters, and soft fish taco baskets.  The little things (like thin slices of jalapeño in the fish tacos) transform average to awesome.  Make sure you choose the onion straws as your side – they’re fantastic! There are a variety of beers on tap, and a great selection of bottled beer also.

The atmosphere is very friendly and festive.  There’s always lots of activity in the bay, with boats and fishermen coming and going.  Despite the intimate tiki size, we’ve never had to wait for a table. 

If you’re looking for the classic Florida waterfront dining experience, don’t miss Pelican Bend, located just off Marco Island on the Isles of Capri.  On this visit to Marco as most others; it was the location of our first lunch. We always opt to sit in the Chickee or outside at the waterfront tables.  The very low-key, casual ambiance is unbeatable!

In addition to the spectacular waterfront setting, the food is incredible.  We have “regulars”, which include the blackened orange roughy sandwich, the fried shrimp basket, and fried oysters to start.   Despite our unwillingness to deviate from those menu items we love the most, the lunch menu is extensive.  There are also lunch specials that always sound delicious, and were we a little less set in our “likes”, we’d opt for them without hesitation.

While we typically frequent Pelican Bend for lunch, they’re probably best known for their dinner entrees of sautéed roughy and sautéed frogs’ legs.  The iceberg lettuce wedge is also a “must”, especially with the creamy garlic dressing.   If you don’t like to wait, make sure you arrive at opening time (5:00pm) or after 8:00 pm during the season, as they don’t take reservations.  If you want to make a night of it, sign in when you arrive and pass the time watching the sunset in the waterside chickee.   Be aware they offer selections of wine and beer only.

Don’t leave Marco without spending some quality time at Pelican Bend – lunch AND/OR dinner!

There’s no better place to get into “island mode” than the Snook Inn, and that’s just where we headed for our first night out on Marco.   The outside, waterside dining in the Chickee combined with the island music is guaranteed to get you focused on the reason you’re here:  fun in the island sun!  Arrive by land or arrive by sea – but make sure you get here!

One of the greatest things about the Snook Inn is that whether you’re looking for an adult night out with someone special, or seeking a place to take the family and kids where they won’t do damage  – the Snook Inn is the perfect choice.   It’s great fun to watch the very little-ist of diners dancing with their parents to the live island music.  The bartenders are incredibly entertaining and never forget to “ring the bell” for a passing boat.   In addition to a steady stream of yachts and sailboats, if you’re lucky you’ll see a great show from the dolphins that play in the Marco River next to the Chickee.   

Check out the Snook Inn website at www.snookinn.com as it gives you tons of great information about both the ambiance and the menu.  They typically have some of the best fish around and you can’t go wrong in opting for the fresh fish special of the day.  We always load up on the app-sized portions of the Smoked Fish Spread, Conch Fritters, and Shrimp Denny.  The Snook Inn is also known for their salad bar;  you won’t want to miss that!  Besides the fresh fish entrees, our favorites are the Grouper Sandwich, Grouper in a Bag, Blackened Tuna Cusabi Salad.

We will definitely be back to the Snook for many more lunches and dinners.