stellablue

We arrive at RSW in the late morning and we'll need to kill a little time before we can check in to our hotel on Marco Island. Can anyone recommend a place to stop for lunch on the way? Nothing fancy, just someplace to get a good salad or local seafood, that's easy to get to off the highway. Oh, and kid-friendly too.

Patrick

Well, since you're coming down the interstate to the last exit before the toll booth of Alligator Alley, there isn't anything like what you describe. Can you say Cracker Barrel, KFC, and MacDonalds paradise?

I'd suggest you go on down to Marco and eat at the Snook Inn, just like what you suggest. Or almost to Marco, you could turn off to the right at Isles of Capri and there are a couple neat little spots on canals there. But you will have driven just as far as going on to Marco.

You realize the whole trip from RSW to Marco is probably less than an hour?

stellablue

Actually I thought we were looking at 90 minutes+, so it's great to hear it's less than that. I guess we will push on and eat when we get there. Thanks Patrick!

MNLinda

We stayed in Bonita Springs last year and loved this little place - on the ocean. It's laid back and usually pretty busy.

Doc's Beach House ~ 27908 Hickory Blvd.
(239) 992-6444

I'm not certain the crossroad where you get off - but it's Bonita Springs exit. Also, Noodles Italian Grill, which is at Bonita Springs on Route 45, is also a pretty swift place. Good luck and have fun.

mjks

I would love to know of any great places on the water for dining. My sister and I will be heading down to the Hyatt in Bonita Springs, so any info on that too would be appreciated. Merci!

mcmckissic

I second the Snook Inn on Marco for lunch, there are lots of other good restaurants on Marco too if you do a search.

Patrick

This won't help stellablue unless they want to add a couple hours to the trip by getting off the interstate and heading over to the beach at Vanderbilt. But my favorite casual little "hole-in-the-wall" is Buzz's Lighthouse, just a few doors north of the Ritz Carlton at Vanderbilt, but on the bay side. Sit on the smallish deck over the bay and order beer and a grouper rueben. Sounds terrible, but trust me, it's great!

mikesmom

I was in Marco a couple of weeks ago for a wedding. Had lunch at the Snook Inn twice. Great location, excellent food, casual and kid friendly. I can highly recommend.

newt

Patrick's right, the Grouper Rueben at the Lighthouse is outstanding. It's worth the wait for an outside table. You can also dock and dine here.

Tandoori_Girl

Any place that has grouper and Rueben's will make you a grouper Rueben, we've discovered. I prefer mine with the grouper blackened. They make them in Tampa/SP at a couple of spots. Interesting that they're also in Naples.

Patrick

Tandoori Girl, do they use sauerkraut or cole slaw? The very popular Dock restaurant here used to do a Grouper Rueben with sauerkraut -- my mother's favorite, but they had too many people who didn't like the sauerkraut, so they replaced it with cole slaw -- now that's NOT a Rueben!

Tandoori_Girl

You're right, it's slaw. And true, that's not a Rueben. Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa has one that is delish, the musicians from New Orleans said they loved them and wished they could get them in NOLA. We started asking for it in Treasure Island at Caddy's because it beats the usual fried, grilled or blackened, something different. Now I see it on more and more menus.

Patrick

Rule #65 of Florida cuisine:

"Cole Slaw on fish does not a Rueben make."