Maybe we are just surrounded by air separated by water... Or we could have been there on an off day-- who does seafood on Mondays?? We found street parking nearby and as the day had a distinct chill, we decided we would sit inside and it was nearly 1:30. Not to be, our hostess HAS to save the table for a larger group ...in the booth but had a table unbussed near door. We were seated outside. BTW the table didn't get sold that we couldn't have, but that is always a tough decision. Be gracious to a customer in front of you.... Or hold out for the larger check that might walk in... Oh wait, the lunch hour was over... The food: mike ordered the impressive seafood tower --lobster, shrimp, oysters, clams w sauces and butter. Very well prepared in every way. Only could be improved by a cracker or two or a crust of bread. I had the appetizer called lobster roll served with wakame and a soba noodle addition which complemented the plate. It was not particularly a dish that I cared for and would not like to have it again. The one roll was deep fried and filled w a heavy gummy filling and drenched with the ubiquitous "bang bang" sauce. Ewwie. My date enjoyed it though! Service was inoffensive and impersonal. Small place but the street seating offers lots of room to watch the mall parking lot. We live on Pine Island and probably won't be back- our fish places are competitive and closer. Nothing special here.
(3)
Rick F.
We had a great dinner! Casual atmosphere with great outdoor seating. The lobster bisque soup is amazing. We started with the duo of tatar... also an excellent choice. All the meals were great. Deserts made in house. Don't miss the key lime pie. Beer and wine only, no bar. This is a don't miss place to dine. Service was great! Thanks Gil and Tina.
(5)
Mike H.
My wife and I had dinner here with friends. Our friends love seafood and seemed to enjoy their meals very much. My wife and I are vegans so eating anywhere is a challenge, especially at a fish market. Our waitress was helpful and the Fish Tale Grill accommodated our way of eating very well. We had the chopped salad without the mozzarella, baked potato, and steamed asparagus which were all very good. So you can eat vegan at a fish market. We'll be back. BTW, this is a popular restaurant. Be prepared for a wait list.
(4)
Paul V.
Had a great experience at Fish Tales Seafood Grill by Merrick Foods in the SE Cape. We were pleasingly surprised to be waited on by Cora, who previously worked at Paesano's Restaurant. Not only is the food excellent and reasonably priced but Cora made our dining experience delightful. Make sure you ask for Cora, whether you sit in or outside. She's the best. Paul V.
(5)
Julie G.
delicious FRESH fish cooked properly!!
(5)
Laurie Wise W.
Great fresh seafood! My husband says the best grouper sandwich he's had, other than his own! Coral our waitress was attentive and knew the menu well! Sumptuous lobster roll and rich, decadent lobster bisque! Fabulous!
(5)
Vic O.
Service was excellent. My 2 companions enjoyed their steak sandwich and crab cake sandwich, although the crab cake was deemed 'soggy', but tasted good. Onion rings were factory-made and bland, more batter than onion. I had the seafood Cobb salad and it was not good. Way too much dry greenery, not enough salad dressing. Not that you want that dressing, it was awful-tasting nasty bottled stuff, a chemical mix that didn't have any actual cheese. I don't believe anyone on staff has tried to eat this dish. It was physically impossible given the size of the plate compared to the dense amount of greens. While the seafood was fresh and delicious, there was little of it on the salad for the price. The person who designed this salad needs to go back to school if they ever went to school. If I made this salad, I would cut the greens amount in half, and toss all vegetable ingredients in a small amount of extra virgin olive oil just prior to serving. I'd make a REAL blue cheese dressing, it's not difficult. Stop using crappy bottled dressing on a salad that could otherwise be a wonderful creation. Also add some sauce for the shrimp. Shrimp, scallops and blue cheese dressing don't go together. This is what you get in a small town where chefs have training and pretensions, but have never eaten in a good restaurant. Food is rendered 'academically', but not with the comprehension that comes with experience and cultivated taste.
(2)
Matthew E.
The staff was quick to greet us and seat us. The environment is warm and enjoyable. The food was fresh and the presentation was surprisingly upscale for the price. An unexpectedly delightful find in Cape Coral.
(5)
Jason F.
An amazing find in Cape Coral. Upon arrival we were greeted by the friendly staff and promptly seated. Our waitress, Coral, was fantastic. From quickly taking our drink orders to fantastic food recommendations she was exceptional. The food was fresh and delicious. Would definitely recommend for fresh seafood.
(5)
Suzanne P.
I went to Fish Tale after 8, so we were seated promptly outdoors. The patio is cozy, especially next to the heaters. We were given a light that clipped onto the umbrella post, which was a nice touch. Our servers were knowledgable and attentive the entire evening. My parents were curious about the butter fish and asked the server. She went to find out more and sent our another person who told us about the preparation of the fish. Good personal attention! Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented. I has the Ginger teriyaki Tuna for my main course and it was plenty. The highlights were the Butter Fish and the Sea Bass. Coconut shrimp for appetizer was also wonderful. The prices were reasonable. I would definitely return. The dinner was a highlight of our trip!
(5)
Marti S.
Twin lobster tails were very good as well as ambiance and wine! Pricing in line with food quality and service was excellent! I will definitely come back next time I am in town!
(5)
D M.
Love this place for lunch!! Love the lobster spring roll! Seriously one of the best spring rolls I've had...loaded with lobster! It comes with noodles and fresh seaweed salad with sesame seeds...Yum! Then a hot lobster roll with the butter on the side instead of drowning the roll. Pretty dang good sweet potato french fries! Crispy, crunchy and tender! No room for dessert, but been plenty of times to know they are awesome! Coral is always friendly and attentive! Drinks are good, but a happy hour would be good too...seafood market next door has some good deals on Tuesday. two for $$.
(5)
Judy M.
Dinner last night was awesome. Seafood fettuccine and shrimp scampi were huge portions. Our party enjoyed coconut shrimp, crab/lobster dip as well as their seafood stew. We go to their seafood market often which always has the best selection and price on seafood but had never eaten at the restaurant. Will definitely dine there again.
(5)
Mike P.
We have eaten here several times and would recommend it to any one who likes fresh seafood. The tuna and salmon tartare duo is fantastic, especially if you ask for some boom boom sauce on the side. My wife and I split the lobster spring roll appetizer. It was beautifully plated with seaweed salad and a large roll cut into 4 pieces...art on a plate and delicious too. Unfortunately this trip we selected a dish which was very bad and so out of character with everything else in the place as to be almost shocking. This dish definitely to be avoided was a fried soft shell crab sandwich. The crab itself was obviously a high end ingredient absolutely ruined by the mass of pasty grey gelatinous breading. I called it to the attention to the manager who thanked us for the feed back, but didn't offer to fix the problem. The service was friendly and the staff are very attentive and nice, however the waitress did not know the food or drink menu and we had to ask other staff for explanations of menu items. Even though we ordered the soft shell crab, the first trip to the table was a crab cake....when we pointed this out to the waitress she argued that it was a soft shell crab....maybe she knew that the worst was yet to come. Another server stopped by and agreed with us that it was not a soft shell crab. We still think this place is fantastic and plan on going often, we will just be a bit more careful on selections we haven't tried already.
(4)
Jann W.
We've been buying fresh seafood at Merricks for 15 years, so when they decided to open a seafood restaurant, we knew the fish would be fresh. In addition to fresh fish, the dining atmosphere is wonderful (plenty of shaded outdoor tables and a chic small interior space), the service is attentive (thank you John), and the presentation is top notch (thanks to the wife-owner who has a special touch). We enjoyed manhattan clam chowder, black cod, steamed baby clams and sea bass. The owner makes his way around and talks with you - nice. An absolutely delightful dining experience.
(5)
Joe M.
The food, service, & atmosphere are all terrific. Try their red Tail amber beer which is smooth and good tasting. Sadly, this beer is not available anywhere other than here. The grouper was fresh and seasoned to perfection. The lobster bisque is another winner. The retail fish market looks professional and includes a recipe print off. We'll be back again and again
(5)
Kelly J.
We just had a great evening at the Fish Tale Grill! Awesome service, wonderful outdoor dining, and delicious fresh seafood. Two ordered from the menu. And, five of us tried the special, which was an excellent trio. There was tile fish that was perfectly cooked and garnished with a yummy mango salsa and crab stuffed shrimp that were rich and delicious. The trio was completed by lightly breaded scallops. The lobster bisque was a great way to start off the meal as it was a bit cool this evening. We finished with 3 delicious desserts. Everything we ordered was excellent and we will definitely return.
(5)
Barbara H.
Very nice service and excellent seafood. We dined on a Monday night in the summer when the city streets were empty, but the small restaurant was full. Everything was very fresh. Highly recommend the calamari as appetizer and lobster bisque as a side.
(5)
Peter K.
we called to make reservation but they never returned call telling us we called the fish market? We were 10minutes late for the special and I asked manager to check messages but he was adament that we would not get special. We were going to stay but two couples who had just finished told us the shimp tasted like amonia and the fish was overcooked. We left and have since talked to our neighbor who said stay away!
(1)
Shelly S.
Very delicious food the sea bass was awesome hubby had lobster bisque and said it was awesome ! Also he had the ahi tuna that was delicious excellent servers will defiantly go back .
(5)
A C.
Excellent lobster bisque, & Honey's seafood chowder was, too. Lobster roll, the hot choice, for lunch was terrific, with sweet potato fries on the sidelines. Coral, our server from Massachusetts, very knowledgeable about seafood & the sources for the restaurant, is the go to server for questions! We'll be back.
(5)
Aleksandra W.
the best seafood I have ever had!!! lobster soup is delicious! fresh baked bread is so yummy!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)
Jack Y.
I went there during my winter break! But the food and the service was so disappointed! The waitress suggested us to order around $120 lobster! However, the taste was not what we expected, and we even waited there for more than two and half hours for the food to come!
(1)
Doris R.
Yummy. The freshest seafood in the Cape. Most of the restaurants in the Cape get their seafood from them. The prices are good service is good and food is great what more can I say
(4)
Erica E.
Absolutely amazing Cobb salad- best I've had in Cape Coral! $12.99 buys you 2 large shrimp, 3 sea scallops, a lump of crab meat and avocado slices. Delicious dressing, too! Can't wait to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)
Vicky N.
I like this place, service is friendly and helpful and food is excellent but removing a star for 2 pet peeves. Bottle of wine scallops and caviar, all excellent by the way, but paper napkins, yuk, really? Also tails on shrimp that is in sauce just lazy! If I wanted to touch my food with my fingers I would have gone for ribs. This place needs to decide on caliber and be cautious not to slide into the realm of average that with few exceptions consumes the Cape.
(4)
Clint T.
I had the lobster and shrimp Mac n cheese and a Caesar salad. My wife got the mixed grill.
(5)
Christina R.
My husband and I went to try the two entrees and bottle of wine special for $38.00 on Monday night. We are both foodies from Columbus, Ohio. Since eating out is the major past time of people from Columbus, we know our food. Fish Tails is a hidden gem in Cape Coral. The atmosphere is trendy and chic. The service is on par with any upscale restaurant and the food is delightful and presented perfectly. We were really impressed by the culinary skills of their chef. If you want to have a perfect experience, go to Fish Tail. It rivals the best restaurants in Columbus
(5)
Nick W.
Had a great time here and the atmosphere was great and the Food was amazing!!! Our waitress Tina was very Polite and helpful... I recommend trying the Salmon with Burbon Sauce with Asparagus over Orzo Pasta.... It feels a little cramped inside the Restaurant but there is outdoor seating with heaters. The food and drink prices are reasonable.
(4)
Lunie L.
The food is really good! I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was yummy. I even had left overs for lunch the next day. We went at night and we sat outside. My daughter loved the patio area with the changing lights.
(5)
Gretchen W.
Best seafood dinner we have had in Cape Coral. Could have made a meal on the fresh bread and seafood chowder but the entrees didn't disappoint. Lightly battered fried seafood and the seared Sea Bass was perfection. Loved the decor.
(5)
Beth G.
We had an excellent meal here. Extremely fresh fish. The tartare appetizer was excellent. Highly recommend it!! Fish chowder was wonderful. We will be back here for sure.
(4)
Lynnie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch here yesterday. Service was above standard and the Tuna Wrap was yummy. I was quite impressed with the chunks of lobster in the lobster bisque. Great Job!
(5)
Michelle A.
The food was amazing! My husband and I ordered the twin lobster tails and snow crab legs and both were excellent!
(4)
Terra A.
this review is for the fresh seafood store, Merrick Seafood, the other half to the fish tale grill. i purchased a lobster tail and two small servings of grouper for far far far less than i would pay to have prepared in a restaurant. i had great service and the fish was so good!
(5)
BobAndElayne L.
My wife and I were in Cape Coral on business and several people mentioned Fish Tale Grill so we gave it a try. The people were very friendly and attentive, the plate presentation was beautiful, and the food was very good. The atmosphere is very cool and trendy. I felt like I was in a boutique hotel restaurant. We had Caesar salad and the dressing was homemade. For dinner we had the seafood platter and it was very good and plentiful. I would go back here again. Outside is an outside patio where you can eat outside but it was too hot the night we were there. Next door is a fish market where you can buy your fish and take it home to try your own hand at cooking. The outside patio would be fine for kids and families. Inside is a great date night spot.
(4)
Sandy C.
I have eaten at Fish Tales several times, and I love it. There Tuna wrap is awesome. I have had there salmon and salads also and it was delicious food. Took my son and his girlfriend there and they also liked it and can't wait to come visit again so they can go back and eat there. You can also buy fresh seafood and they have prepared foods ready for the oven or grill.
(5)
Kevin J.
My family and I frequent Fish Tale Grill. We all agree that the food is ALWAYS delicious and presented beautifully. They are hands down the BEST for fresh and affordable seafood. Their outside dining area is great on a weather permitting day and the inside area while small is extremely clean and attractive. The service we have is always very pleasant and our food and drinks are delivered quickly. We reside in Naples and the 1 hour drive to eat at Fish Tale Grill is well worth it. Definitely at the top of my list with USS Nemo's in Naples coming in second. This is a must try! Don't forget the market before you leave, many items from Merrick Seafood have made dinner time simple and delicious for my family at home.
(5)
adam a.
Went there for dinner based on the relatively positive Yelp reviews. The service was a little rushed (the brought the entrees while we were still working on our lobster bisque) and a little on the coldside. The food was about par for the course, some dishes were better than others (the lobster bisque was great, most of the rest was average). They forgot one of the orders and apologized but it really put a kink in the dinner since one person was left waiting and the rest of us were mostly done by the time that person was served. Price was about right though there are certainly better deals out there. The waitress was friendly and chatty. Parking is a hassle as there is no parking on site but there are spots available on the road or down the street. Not a bad place, but certainly not great either.
(3)
beverly f.
We went for lunch and everything was great including the service. Amazing value, too.
(5)
Lee S.
This is the absolute best seafood in the area. Merrick Seafood is the wholesale fishmonger to well over 200 area restaurants... so when the owners decided to open a small restaurant in the space next door, I took notice. You should too. And yes, Fort Myers denizens, it's even worth crossing the bridge to get to it. NOTE: currently only open 11-4 for lunch!
(5)
K K.
Fantastic! Definitely recommend. Lobster Bisque was awesome. Tile fish was great too. Best seafood we had our entire trip!
(5)
TJ S.
Would definitely go back! Complimentary bread, seafood chowder with the coconut shrimp appetizer is what I'll be ordering. Skip the entrees! Sit outside and enjoy the good service. We did not care for the escargot, dry... not enough butter or garlic. The bourbon salmon sauce is very sweet - should be added to the description on the menu. Thus the four stars. Price is reasonable, casual dress.
(4)
Dolly H.
Great fresh seafood grill and market. Limited seating but not for long, they are expanding into the space next door. The blackened grouper sandwich was excellent. The fish looked so fresh we bought halibut and swordfish to take home. The staff are wonderful, extremely pleasant and knowledgeable.
(5)
Sarah P.
Very good food, the outside seating is very nice with ample shade. The inside is decorated very nicely however, the inside tables are plastic! Plastic outside is fine but inside brings down the entire atmosphere.
(4)
Lori B.
Went to Fish Tale Grill based on Yelp reviews. We had a great experience with both the food and the service. My husband ordered the scallop caviar entre and I had the grouper. Excellent. The vegetables were tender but not mushy or dipped in that terrible butter sauce some restaurants use. House salad was good especially with the sesame ginger dressing. The clam chowder was the best we have eaten outside Cape Cod. Our waiter, Michael was outstanding. He made great recommendations, checked to make sure we were happy with his suggestions (we were) and had a great sense of humor. The hostess was enthusiastic and well organized as there were a lot of patrons arriving and leaving every minute we were there. Service was timely without being rushed.
(4)
Sarah H.
The food delicious the service could be improved. The market appeared high quality but we did not buy anything there.
(4)
Michael S B.
Wonderful dinner with excellent service and suggestions by Michael. A highlight of our vacation - going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)
Robert K.
For the first time in 16 years, since moving to Florida, I finally found a restaurant down here that serves real fried clams, Ipswich clams, big bellies and cooked in a perfect batter. We've been three times during our first 30 days in Cape Coral and look forward to going again -- and again, and again. Everything was good, the food, the service, the ambiance and the prices. Ask for Coral if she's working, real friendly and a New Englander herself, but down here for most of her adult life. Highly recommended. The number 1 rating is deserved.
(5)
Sharon S.
We enjoyed an impromptu dinner there this week. We went to Nevermind and found it very depressing and quite dirty feeling with a one dimensional menu (meat with more meat). Slate's was closed on Monday so we decided to try Fish Tale which was quite busy, especially for a Monday Night in off season. They had a bargain special at $32 per couple which included a bottle of decent chilean sauvignon blanc. I had Mussels and my DH had a seafood melange. Both were quite good as was the warm bread with sundried tomato composed butter. We will definitely be back. Service was right on as well.
(4)
Karen F.
Driving south on 75 around lunch time, we decided to hit this highly rated joint, even though we could tell that it was not very close to the highway. Excellent decision on our part, because the food was definitely worth the detour. Located in the town of Cape Coral, the patio table we sat at just overlooked the nearby street and street parking. Fortunately they had fans blowing, and it was very comfortable sitting outside. I don't think you go for the ambiance of this place, you just go for the food. Our 42-year veteran server named Coral was outstanding, and gave excellent suggestions, in addition to bringing us samples of both the lobster bisque and the clam chowder. Since bisque is so rich, I can only ever eat a couple of spoonful, but I can honestly say this was some of the best lobster bisque I have had in my life - creamy, buttery, with lobster chunks - it was eyes-roll-back-in-the-head good. For my meal I had the lobster roll - comes as your choice of cold, in a lobster salad, or warm, with melted butter. Coral said 'warm', so warm it was. Outstanding. The lobster tasted incredibly fresh, and the toasted buttered roll it was on was perfect. Sandwich came with choice of side item - again I went with Coral's recommendation and tried the sweet potato fries, and these too were some of the best I have ever had. They actually still tasted like sweet potatoes! Served nice and hot, they had a dipping sauce on the side, which I thought was a nice touch. After you eat, make sure you go check out their fish market. If you're smart, you'll bring a cooler, so you can take some goodness home with you. I've already sent friends here, who called me to tell me how much they, too, loved it. Go!
(5)
Loran V.
We found this place by accident and it was awesome. I tried the teriyaki ginger tuna and the lobster bisque. The soup was ok, but the tuna was amazing. My boyfriend had the shrimp po'boy. Huge portion and so fresh! He was stuffed which is hard to do. Coral the waitress was just as amazing as the food. Oh, the sweet potato fries are out of this world!! Would def recommend this place!
(4)
Glenn C.
Excellent fresh seafood. The restaurant is attached to the market. They created a shrimp cocktail for me since it was not on the menu. The seafood chowder was full of fish and was very good. No complaints on the macadamian and cranberry sea bass. My only complaint was the water tasted horrible after it was refilled. Service was pretty good. You can eat inside or on deck. Prices reasonable. See pictures.
(5)
Alec D.
Came here with my beautiful girlfriend, there were other couples and families, we started with Oysters Rockefeller and Coconut Shrimp, large portions and very tasty. My girlfriend had the Seafood Alfredo which had loads of lobster, shrimp and scallops in a creamy sauce over fettuccine really good took half home, oops she had the lobster bisque not the best we have had it lacked lobster chunks but made it up in flavor. I had a small salad and the fried seafood platter loads of large shrimp, large Scallops 4 of them and a large piece of grouper, just fantastic. We had a bottle of wine our bill was $122 with tax. We will return here, enjoy.
Had a great late lunch here on 8/28/15 Fried clams were my choice thanks to Yelp reviews and I was not disappointed! The portions were huge and take home made a whole meal for the next day. We were so full that we forgot to check the seafood for sale in the shop next door I recommend this restaurant. Very good, friendly service!
I had the Filet Oscar. For a seafood restaurant the steak was Amazing! The staff is very friendly and a good atmosphere. Note that this is a small restaurant next to the market so if you have a group more than 4 I would call ahead of time. We'll be back.
(5)
Richard H.
Here is my 2 cents on the food. Fabulous and delectable for the palette. The first entree, crab cakes with rice. OMG it was bursting with crab meat and flavor. Fried to perfection. The rice was oh so good. 2nd entree fried grouper with a Thai chili sauce. The grouper was fried just right. Meat was moist, soft and tender. A drizzle of thai chili sauce coating. For those with barbarians pallette. Thai chili sauce is a slightly hot sauce, with ginger and a touch of sweetness. If you never have had it, I feel sorry for your tongue Orzo salad as my side dish was cool and so good for my tummy.... And now dessert. Vanilla creme brulee . It is hard to describe. But I will try. The top is a melted sugar which has been glazed over via a hand torch or a hot broiler. Under neath is a smooth and creamy (vanilla in this case) concoction similar to a pudding. BUT oh so much more in depth. This has to be one of the better meals, I have had..... At 8.99 per entree ,for lunch such a bargain. Beside the restaurant you have a seafood store. Crab legs, lobster, grouper and of course escargot etc. Escargot are a buck each...(snails for less sophicates). The have special every day of the week. Plus items prepared so you may finish it at home. It is located in the downtown area of Cape Coral. All the staff were wonderful and helpful. This is a must try eatery...
(5)
Drew R.
This was a pretty disappointing meal for us. The house salad and seafood chowder were just ok. I had a sea bass dish that was good not great. My wife tried a hogfish special that was not good and then tried a grouper sandwich that wasn't good either. The service was ok but our waitress got really frustrated and it showed.
(2)
Cameron C.
Nice place. Coral the waitress is great. I got the fried Ipswich clams. They were okay, but if you are looking for REAL New England fried clams and scallops, go to The Clambake in south fort Myers. Everything about that place is New England. They even have haddock. Bon appetit.
(4)
Peter S.
What a great find! Not that I found it, but rather my Yelp friends found it, and I'm glad they did. The place has a modern seafood shanty look to it with cool music playing in the background. The Blue Point Oysters were great as was the Lobster Bisque. We had the Tuna Wrap and Crab Cake sandwich, both of which were very good, especially the Tuna wrap. The fries and onion rings were very good too. There was plenty of friendly wait staff on hand who were very attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. It was very clean there as well. I can't wait to come back for dinner. I highly recommend going here for good quality fresh seafood and a fun place to hang out. Oh....there's a small bar on the inside with colored lights in the bar that change colors which adds to the modern flair.
(5)
Tara A.
Seafood Alfredo was Delicious! Beautiful Decor inside! pleasant staff! Definitely Delicious!!
(5)
Elsa R.
Great restaurant, food was delicious. Servings were generous and presentation was beautiful. Service was excellent too.
(5)
Ashley H.
Best lobster bisque ever!!! Sea bass was amazing. Staff was friendly and helpful with finding attractions around the area. Family friendly but very nice environment, high end casual.
(5)
Barrett A.
Nice place. The fresh baked bread and its tomato/butter spread was soo good! A must try are the lobster spring rolls!!! Crunchy and creamy, just perfect. The service was Great. They were very polite even though we were the last ones there. Overall, very nice experience, and the food was very good.
(4)
Cynthia E.
Came in on a Tuesday on a business call and was pleasantly greeted by Coral, she asked me if I was having lunch, and although my initial thought was not that .. I'm so glad she was warm and friendly and made me change my mind. Wow this place is amazing ! I had the trio salad for lunch and everything was decadent.. Let's not even talk about the presentation. Coral also brought me a small sample of their fresh homemade soups and let's just say the lobster bisque is to die for. Definitely will be back not only to eat but to take some fresh fish home from their amazing fresh fish showcase!
(5)
Emirew P.
Coming from Arizona, we couldn't wait to eat seafood and we wanted only the best. Our grandparents referred us to Fish Tale, and it was the BEST!! We were so happy we could finally drink Yuengling Beer (they do not distribute in AZ). We made several trips to the restroom as we enjoyed the sea salt scrub. The atmosphere is pleasant, staff is friendly and knowledgable. Best Oysters we have ever eaten! The Gulf Coast and Blue Point Oysters were fresh and delicious. You have to try the Seafood Chowder, full of delicious seafood and vegetables. Wonderful flavor. The Heirloom was amazing, nice texture and presentation. Fresh tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil. We are going to miss Fish Tale! We now have a wonderful tale to tell in AZ ;)
(5)
Jeanette H.
When we go on vacation, we have a rule that we never visit the same restaurant twice. Even at home, we tend to always want to try something new and different. It speaks volumes that in a two week visit to Cape Coral, we had dinner at Fish Tale Grill twice. The twilight dinner (Mon-Thurs 4-6pm) is a great bargain. Small number of choices on the special menu, but for $42 you get two entrees and a bottle of surprisingly good wine. Killer deal that is only available in the summer. Fish tacos were delicious and HUGE. Beautiful on the plate, with a very spicy slaw on the side. These are not typical baja style fish tacos - no onion or cilantro. The chef did the right thing by not adding too much seasoning and stuff to the tacos, allowing the amazingly fresh fried group and shrimp to shine. My only suggestion would be to use Mexican creama instead of sour cream so it can be poured onto the tacos, instead of the blobs of sour cream that plop off the knife, or trying to spread the sour cream on the taco. (twilight menu item) DH has a salmon dish one night from the regular menu. He's a huge fan of salmon and thought this one was excellent. Large portion. On the regular menu, I had the shrimp scampi over linguini. More huge, perfectly cooked shrimp than I could imagine at this price. The very garlicky sauce was unusual for a scampi in that it included tomatoes, but was delicious and not at all greasy (more of a broth). Made great leftovers the next day. DH had the petite filet and grilled shrimp with balsamic glaze (twilight menu). Beef was perfectly prepared to order and good quality. Again, those huge, perfect shrimp returned. He even enjoyed the side dishes. As amazing as the food it, the service is even better. Our server Tina actually remembered us on our second visit. These people care that you're enjoying their restaurant - from the guy who cleans up the dishes, to the servers, to the chef and manager - just a great crew. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Laurie D.
Mixed reviews for this place. The pictures online made this place look like an upscale restaurant...but when you are there it feels like a cheap diner....from the paper napkins to the counter with the chrome to the inexperienced servers. My SO was disappointed that they do not serve liquor, only wine and beer. We ordered the lobster bisque based on reviews and it was horrible...we took one bite and sent it back. I ordered the sea bass and it was melt-in-your-mouth incredible. My SO ordered the coconut shrimp and it looked and tasted like it came out of a Gordman's box. Too expensive for the food and experience. If it wasn't for the awesome sea bass this would have been a one star rating. If you want a great dining experience for the same money check out Brew Babies.
(2)
Chelsea W.
We are in the area for vacation, and we decided to give this place a try. The inside seating area has a cool ambience. There's some neat lighting and cool things on the wall to look at. Our server was very sweet and did a great job serving us despite having a lot of other tables. My parents got the Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer and said that they'd give them a 4 out of 5. My mom had lobster bisque and let me try it. It was good! I ordered the Bourbon Salmon. It was absolutely delicious! I would come back here if I lived in the area.
(4)
Shaun V.
What an outstanding treasure in Cape Coral. Yelp nailed this restaurant, and I must agree. We selected a table out on the patio to enjoy the cool evening and smoke cigars. This is normally a recipe for disaster style service. Not here! Bang, someone took our drink menu. Bang, our server came up and greeted us. Bang, another person brought us out water. WOW, our server was even fluent with Gluten free menu options. The Food: WOW! Exceptional presentation, and unique flavor combinations. It was hard choosing what to order, everything looked so amazing! Lastly, we closed the place down but the staff was polite and still attentive even after the check was dropped. BRAVO!
(5)
Laura B.
Amazing service from the bartender Rachel and even better food. Great atmosphere and everything is fresh!
(5)
John D.
This was an absolutey wonderful dining experience. I got there about 7:30 on a Thursday and the place was packed. It took about 20 minutes to get a table. While I was waiting I wondered into the fish market and that really got me excited for dinner. I wondered over to the bar and asked about a few wines. The bartender poured me a few samples. Once I got my wine I meandered back to the host stand. The hostest was very nice and extremely entertaining. She was in a very upbeat mood in spite of being called into work on her 18th birthday. As wonderful as the wait was, when I got my table, I was ready to order. Tbe server was excellent. I placed my order: Seafood Chowder, Mussels, and the Grouper Picata. The timing was perfect on the meal. I would finish a course and a minute or two later they would bus the table and deliver my next course at the perfect temperature. The chowder was thick, creamy, and full of fish and shellfish. The mussels were served in a butter sauce with herbs and tomatoes. The mussels also came with fresh baked bread that was great. The Grouper was the best I have had in years. Light, flaky and moist. The sauce was a pleasant accent and not overbearing. The veggies were crisp and fresh. It was a great way to end a weeklong business trip.
(5)
Angie K.
I love this place!! It's clean and nice inside and the food is simple and good. No frills, all about the seafood. I started with the lobster bisque and it was deliciously rich and creamy with large chunks of lobster. Good thing they served it in a mug, because I drank that lobster goodness allllll up. :9 The calamari was pretty good- it was nicely seasoned, a little more on the peppery side. The fried breading wasn't staying on very well and was falling off of a handful of pieces. Also I might've just been spoiled with nice seafood but I thought the size of the calamari pieces was smaller than I'm used to. Although they did give two large full-body squid pieces that I happily put in mah belly. Next were the Blue Pointe oysters that I found to be very fresh. I got one extra oyster- not sure if it was a special favor or a failure at math- but I'll take it! We also ordered the tuna wrap with onion rings. (This tuna did not have a good ending to his fish tale) The chunks of tuna in this wrap are fairly large- I was pleasantly surprised- so this is definitely worth the money. The wasabi sauce was a great addition as well (but I'm totally biased) and I appreciate that they give the lemon on the side- so it doesn't sit on and cook the tuna. The onion rings were crispy with a light batter.. and oh, they were HUGE!! Fish Tale is a great spot for a fresh and easy lunch. I thought the dishes and restaurant were clean and simple- really highlighting the freshness of the seafood. I will def have to come back for the LOBSTA ROLL next time!!! Stay tuned for the next chapter of this Fish Tale!
(5)
Freida D.
We are senior citizens and took our 2 adult children there for lunch today as we heard it was good. I am gluten sensitive and wanted the scallop platter that came with 2 sides (french fries,sweet potato fries, onion rings, orzo salad or slaw) I asked the waitress if I could get just 1 small toss salad instead of 2 sides as I could only eat the slaw and she said no. She could only give me 2 slaws for sides. So I ordered a grouper sandwich that was to come on a roll with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I requested no roll. Well, I didn't get the roll and I didn't get the lettuce, tomato, or onion ! But I did get charged the full price. The music was loud and not something for the "over 30" crowd. Would not rush back.
(3)
Carly M.
Great seafood - great service - nice ambiance, can't complain. A little pricy but for good reasons.
(4)
Gerald E.
Stopped in on Friday night and was pleasantly suprised at how nice the place is. The entire place is spotless and staff very friendly. We had the Butterfish and the Scallops dinner and both were amazing. Definitely going back soon.
(4)
Tim L.
All the food was delicious. Service was good my inlaws actually came a few times here before and didn't even realize they had the indoor restaurant. We were full by our soup/salad course and had to take majority of the entrees home. The tartare duo was my favorite.
(4)
Jenna A.
For my 100th review, I decided I would choose one of my favorite restaurants in the Cape/Ft. Myers area. It used to just be Merrick's fish store where you could buy local fresh fish, but they expanded and now have a lovely restaurant area as well. I like to sit outside, if weather permits. As far as appetizers go, you can't go wrong with the tartar duo of ahi tuna and salmon. My other favorite was when they had stone crab legs on special. Yum! For lunch I like the seafood Cobb, which may sound odd (scallops and bleu cheese dressing?) but it is delish and nice for something lighter. The only entree I haven't been too fond of was when I tried the bourbon salmon. It was a little dry when I ordered it but I will try it again. My go-to's are the butter fish and the Chilean sea bass. Fish Tale offers great service, great food and great wine. They have a house blend (I think? It's called Fish Tale...) of Sauvignon Blanc that pairs great with fish. Prices are on the higher side, but you get what you pay for and to me it's worth it!
(5)
Connie P.
Great service!! The food was amazing. From the steamers to the seafood chowder to the twin lobster tail you will not be disappointed. The staff are friendly and attentive. I never had to ask for a refill. It nice and cozy!! I will definitely return again
(5)
Jon P.
Three of my friends and I came to Cape Coral from Peoria for the weekend. When we asked locals where to get good seafood each and every single one mentioned FishTale Grill. As such, we went for dinner. Despite being one of the last customers of the night, our service was top notch. Moreover, the food was amazing. Myself, I had the grouper picatta, with my friends opting for various other dishes. For appetizers we had the clams, oysters, and another dish. Everyone raved about their dishes. I cannot recommend this place enough.
(5)
Karen D.
Ordered the fried seafood platter and that was a mistake. It was very greasy and the fish bordered on being over fried. Nothing to recommend about the sweet potato fries or the coleslaw either. I will say the seafood chowder was good. Too expensive for the quality of this meal. Won't be back.
(2)
Jason L.
I ordered the seafood Trio and 2 Sangria's. The side I ordered was sweet potato fries. Best Sweet potato fried ever!!! Grill grouper was good. Scallops and scampi were about average. Would recommend a visit.
(4)
Antonio R.
Second time coming and I loved the lobster roll! Great atmosphere and our waitress Coral was very friendly. Pretty much everything on the menu and what I saw from other people's plates looked great! Will definitely be coming back in the future.
(5)
Nicole B.
We hosted a retirement lunch at Fish Tale Grill on Tuesday for 11 people. The impeccable service and comfortable surroundings were only eclipsed by the outstanding fresh fish dishes. Every dish was fabulous - oysters, clams, lobster roll, fish and chips, tuna and mango wrap. My standard for fish quality is typically measured by the freshness of calamari, and you would need to be standing on a dock to find fresher squid. We also had amazing house-made chocolate cake that was patisserie-worthy. Seriously, you must eat here if you are within 100 miles. I will drive 2+ hours from St Pete until I can implore the owner to open up a restaurant and fish market here (seriously, please come to St Pete)! Don't let strip mall(ish) impression throw you off. The space is upmarket, and there is a cheery deck if you want to sit outside.
(5)
Mark M.
Great service and great food. Our server Coral did a great job. Not on the menu but the key lime frozen drink was a perfect desert drink
(5)
Casi V.
Everything I've had here has been delicious. We also had a cookout with a bunch of seafood we purchased. It was all very tasty and decently priced. Service is great and attentive.
(5)
Meghan R.
Fantastic service! Broiled shrimp, cordon bleu sandwich were outstanding! lobster bisque was okay personally ... very strong sherry flavor. Loved the trio tray great variety to taste things. Would definitely recommend for families.
(5)
Jeff H.
Everything was perfect! Ingredients and seasoning was spot on. The wife and I will be back.
(5)
Dennis E.
I had dinner there with my wife last night for the first time. It was excellent! The Lobster Bisque was amazing. My wife had a salad with homemade herb ranch dressing. I assume it was good. She cleaned the plate, while I was busy licking the bottom of my bowl of bisque. She had the Butterfish as an entree, It was spectacular from the small nibble that she allowed me to try. I had the dueling seafood special which consisted of Cobia on one side of the plate and TripleTail on the other. It's was served with some vegetables in the middle. I'm not sure creative genius thought up this dish, but they surely deserve a medal or at least a raise. It was fantastic. The food was extremely well plated, it almost looked too pretty to eat. The service was exceptional too. Kudos!
(5)
Craig D.
Okay, I've found another reason to cross the river. And why wouldn't the best seafood market in Lee county not have an excellent seafood restaurant? The restaurant is clean, modern and best of all doesn't smell like fish. And the outdoor deck is large and comfortable with several tables with umbrellas to keep you in the shade. We were waited on right away by a very competent waitress named, Coral. She performed all her functions effortlessly and expediently. We ordered unsweetened teas, blacked grouper tacos, a crab cake sandwich and the Asian salmon salad. The two overstuffed tacos came on a rack with a creamy slaw, pico de gallo, limes and sour cream. I would have preferred a cilantro cream sauce instead. We devoured them. They were quite good. The Asian salmon salad had a wonderful ginger, citrus dressing. Mixed greens, purple onion, mandarin oranges, won tons which were served chilled. The salmon was cooked to perfection and served warm. I was surprised at how large the fillet was. The crab cake sandwich was served warm on a soft bakery bun, lettuce, tomato and onion. It came with sweet potato fries and a garlic, lemon aoili dip that tasted incredible. So our lunch was over $40 with tip. Not an amount I would normally spend for lunch. But when you feel like treating yourself to very good seafood with pleasant surroundings come here by all means. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Don A.
I'm an armature chef and the folks here are not! My wife had the Blackened Mahi which was crafted well. A tad overly spicy but butter smooth and moist inside. I think a hint less spice or a finish with some butter to tone it down would of made it perfection! Our great server Coral brought me a soft shelled crab sandwich. I'm not sorry to say I could not improve on it in any way possible - moist, fresh, smacks of the sea yet still delicately sweetness of the crab shines through down to the last bite! We have had surf n turf a 10. Rockefeller oysters although not traditional are great with the addition of sweet lump crab meat! The local raw clams are always amazing too. This is by FAR the best seafood in a 35 mile radius of Cape Coral! By DHA
(5)
Lim K.
We were looking for patio dining and decided to try Fish Tale. Unfortunately the rain came and the patio was not available but we went ahead and took a table inside. We started off with six oysters on the half shell and a dozen fresh clams. The oysters were very good but the clams were a little fishy and sandy. My husband ordered a wedge salad and I had scallops with caviar which came with green salad, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. My husband liked his salad. My scallops were excellent; it was cooked perfectly and the saltiness of caviar added the great flavor to scallops. The red skin mashed potatoes were very good, just like the way I make it at home. Excellent service.
(4)
Lisa S.
I have had my fair share of shrimp scampi. I would definitely order this dish again and recommend it. Beware, it does have a lot of oil and butter. A tad bit more garlic would be nice but the shrimp were cooked perfectly. Another plus, the dish had a ton of large shrimp compared to most so the $20 price point makes sense. By a ton, there were probably 8-12 if I had to guess. The Caesar salad with anchovies was creamy and tasty; I would order and recommend. The seafood chowder was good, but I have had better at many places on Sanibel. I would recommend this over the bisque. The lobster bisque was alright; a little watery with a strong sherry flavor. In the reviews I read it had big chunks of fish but there were barely any in the two cups the table ordered. I would not order the bisque again, although for $6, perhaps everyone should try it. A little thicker and it would be spot on. Four beers, one entree, an entree Caesar salad ($10) and three cups of soup was about $70. Their appetizers looked innovative, so I am excited to go back and try more. There doesn't seem to be a bar to sit at, so plan on getting a table, inside or out. At 4:50pm there was only one table seated, by 5:40, all of the inside tables were full (It was too cold for outdoor seating).
This place was Awesome!!! The ambiance was great, the noise level was perfect and service was perfect. Our server Greg was great and took excellent care of us. We had the Snapper and snow Crab Leg. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kristi B.
Just finished dinner and it was ok. The tuna did not taste fresh. My husband had tuna too and said it was ok. We ordered a bottle of wine which took 10 minutes to arrive. Our server told us she was handing is over to another server because she wasn't feeling good and was going home. Well she was still working other tables an hour after we left. We will not be back.
(2)
Debbie W.
Absolutely love this establishment. GREAT food and service. I can't believe that we have lived here 9 months and we haven't eaten here before now. This will be our new favorite place to eat.
(5)
Mary G.
Excellent meal excellent service can't say enough good stuff ...I highly recommend for great food
(5)
Susy M.
The grouper tacos were wonderful. Served with a spicy coleslaw (too spicey for me but perfect for my husband) so ask for regular if you're not heat inclined. The Tuscan chicken sandwich was also terrific. We sat outside on the deck.
(5)
Steve J.
Everything on here is accurate. Prompt and friendly service. The Blue Points were exceptional, as was the calamarie. The Butterfish with scallops and caviar was one of the best meals I have ever had. My wife raved about the grouper in picatta sauce. This place is a winner.
(5)
Seth F.
First time in Cape Coral. Loved that you could purchase fresh fish or stay for dinner. Since we rented a house, no point and eating there, although we saw it had good reviews. Got grouper and shrimp. Nice find for dinner:)
(5)
Greg M.
This place is awesome. Considering the food, service, and ambiance they all deserve a 5 star rating. We were there with a group of 4 with 3 ordering seafood and the 4th ordering a steak. I will just say every meal was perfect and this will be the best steak you can find in Cape Coral. The price was in line for what you would expect to pay for a good quality meal.
(5)
Andrea C.
We started with the tuna and salmon tartar...the tuna part of it was good, the salmon was kind of fishy. I then had the seafood chowder and bourbon salmon which was excellent! The only down side is that they don't serve liquor, which is pretty common in Cape Coral.
(4)
Stephen D.
It's as good as everyone says! Really enjoyed my lunch there, everything was well prepared. I just wish they had a side salad at lunch. I was surprised that I never heard they have full belly ipswitch clams on the menu- my favorite!
(5)
Margie S.
The food is awesome, fresh, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful and tasteful. I love the outdoor patio with the fire heaters too.
(5)
Dan d.
We went on a Thursday night, and were able to get a table right away at 6:30. The service was excellent from beginning to end. We started out with the social seafood platter and a sampler of oysters in the raw. We followed that up with a good old-fashioned fish and chips, probably one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. We split a bottle of Santa Margarita, a bargain at $36 a bottle ($20 retail). Overall, an excellent experience. Great food, decent price, and fairly nice setting, with prompt and friendly service. Highly recommended.
(4)
Lawrence S.
I have to say I was skeptical with there 4.5 star review. It a 5 all the way. Service was excellent. Our server Francine was outstanding and very sweet. The clams on the half were some of the best I've ever had. I took my parents here and they loved what they hade as well. I would like to give them 6 stars!
(5)
Josh Y.
Wow... what a great place to eat. Went out to eat on a friday night with family while we were in the area for vacation. Stopped at another local establishment first, but found an hour and a half wait time. Looked on yelp for another restaurant close by and found this place. Walked up expecting a lengthy wait considering the prior attempt, but we were seated at an outside table fairly soon after. We had enough time to take a look at the seafood market inside though. The seared tuna special was one of the best I have had. Everyone's meal was very good. No complaints at all. A+ for service, presentation, and taste.
(5)
Dominick W.
Amazing food, location, and staff! The fish tacos were amazing! Best ones I've ever had! Definitely would recommend.
(5)
Linda P.
Lobster bisque excellent! All dishes here are good! Great service, knowledgeable and friendly staff. I highly recommend to friends!
(5)
CJ G.
We were pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. Nice large deck for outdoor eating and a nicely decorated indoor dining. There is a bar with many seats. Next to the restaurant is their fish market with beautiful fresh fish and frozen selections too! The menu is very extensive. I had the Cranberry Macadamia Sea Bass and the dish was beautifully presented and so delicious. I cannot say enough about how great this dining experience was. They do not take reservation.
(4)
John S.
After reading about the Fish Tale Grill on Yelp my wife and decided to try it for dinner and we were not disappointed. The staff were very friendly and attentive. My wife had the Grouper Piccata and I had the fried seafood platter with grouper, shrimp & oyster. Both meals were very good and plentiful. The Seafood Chowder was creamy and loaded with shrimp grouper and other seafood. Our waiter made very good recommendations and the service was excellent. I had the Coconut Bread Pudding which was yummy. We will make this restaurant one to visit over and over as well as bring our friends. Very clean and well appointed.
(5)
Gretchen W.
Best seafood dinner we have had in Cape Coral. Could have made a meal on the fresh bread and seafood chowder but the entrees didn't disappoint. Lightly battered fried seafood and the seared Sea Bass was perfection. Loved the decor.
(5)
Beth G.
We had an excellent meal here. Extremely fresh fish. The tartare appetizer was excellent. Highly recommend it!! Fish chowder was wonderful. We will be back here for sure.
(4)
Lynnie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch here yesterday. Service was above standard and the Tuna Wrap was yummy. I was quite impressed with the chunks of lobster in the lobster bisque. Great Job!
(5)
Michelle A.
The food was amazing! My husband and I ordered the twin lobster tails and snow crab legs and both were excellent!
(4)
Terra A.
this review is for the fresh seafood store, Merrick Seafood, the other half to the fish tale grill. i purchased a lobster tail and two small servings of grouper for far far far less than i would pay to have prepared in a restaurant. i had great service and the fish was so good!
(5)
BobAndElayne L.
My wife and I were in Cape Coral on business and several people mentioned Fish Tale Grill so we gave it a try. The people were very friendly and attentive, the plate presentation was beautiful, and the food was very good. The atmosphere is very cool and trendy. I felt like I was in a boutique hotel restaurant. We had Caesar salad and the dressing was homemade. For dinner we had the seafood platter and it was very good and plentiful. I would go back here again. Outside is an outside patio where you can eat outside but it was too hot the night we were there. Next door is a fish market where you can buy your fish and take it home to try your own hand at cooking. The outside patio would be fine for kids and families. Inside is a great date night spot.
(4)
Sandy C.
I have eaten at Fish Tales several times, and I love it. There Tuna wrap is awesome. I have had there salmon and salads also and it was delicious food. Took my son and his girlfriend there and they also liked it and can't wait to come visit again so they can go back and eat there. You can also buy fresh seafood and they have prepared foods ready for the oven or grill.
(5)
Kevin J.
My family and I frequent Fish Tale Grill. We all agree that the food is ALWAYS delicious and presented beautifully. They are hands down the BEST for fresh and affordable seafood. Their outside dining area is great on a weather permitting day and the inside area while small is extremely clean and attractive. The service we have is always very pleasant and our food and drinks are delivered quickly. We reside in Naples and the 1 hour drive to eat at Fish Tale Grill is well worth it. Definitely at the top of my list with USS Nemo's in Naples coming in second. This is a must try! Don't forget the market before you leave, many items from Merrick Seafood have made dinner time simple and delicious for my family at home.
(5)
adam a.
Went there for dinner based on the relatively positive Yelp reviews. The service was a little rushed (the brought the entrees while we were still working on our lobster bisque) and a little on the coldside. The food was about par for the course, some dishes were better than others (the lobster bisque was great, most of the rest was average). They forgot one of the orders and apologized but it really put a kink in the dinner since one person was left waiting and the rest of us were mostly done by the time that person was served. Price was about right though there are certainly better deals out there. The waitress was friendly and chatty. Parking is a hassle as there is no parking on site but there are spots available on the road or down the street. Not a bad place, but certainly not great either.
(3)
beverly f.
We went for lunch and everything was great including the service. Amazing value, too.
(5)
Lee S.
This is the absolute best seafood in the area. Merrick Seafood is the wholesale fishmonger to well over 200 area restaurants... so when the owners decided to open a small restaurant in the space next door, I took notice. You should too. And yes, Fort Myers denizens, it's even worth crossing the bridge to get to it. NOTE: currently only open 11-4 for lunch!
(5)
K K.
Fantastic! Definitely recommend. Lobster Bisque was awesome. Tile fish was great too. Best seafood we had our entire trip!
(5)
TJ S.
Would definitely go back! Complimentary bread, seafood chowder with the coconut shrimp appetizer is what I'll be ordering. Skip the entrees! Sit outside and enjoy the good service. We did not care for the escargot, dry... not enough butter or garlic. The bourbon salmon sauce is very sweet - should be added to the description on the menu. Thus the four stars. Price is reasonable, casual dress.
(4)
Sarah P.
Very good food, the outside seating is very nice with ample shade. The inside is decorated very nicely however, the inside tables are plastic! Plastic outside is fine but inside brings down the entire atmosphere.
(4)
Dolly H.
Great fresh seafood grill and market. Limited seating but not for long, they are expanding into the space next door. The blackened grouper sandwich was excellent. The fish looked so fresh we bought halibut and swordfish to take home. The staff are wonderful, extremely pleasant and knowledgeable.
(5)
Lori B.
Went to Fish Tale Grill based on Yelp reviews. We had a great experience with both the food and the service. My husband ordered the scallop caviar entre and I had the grouper. Excellent. The vegetables were tender but not mushy or dipped in that terrible butter sauce some restaurants use. House salad was good especially with the sesame ginger dressing. The clam chowder was the best we have eaten outside Cape Cod. Our waiter, Michael was outstanding. He made great recommendations, checked to make sure we were happy with his suggestions (we were) and had a great sense of humor. The hostess was enthusiastic and well organized as there were a lot of patrons arriving and leaving every minute we were there. Service was timely without being rushed.
(4)
Michael S B.
Wonderful dinner with excellent service and suggestions by Michael. A highlight of our vacation - going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)
Sarah H.
The food delicious the service could be improved. The market appeared high quality but we did not buy anything there.
(4)
Loran V.
We found this place by accident and it was awesome. I tried the teriyaki ginger tuna and the lobster bisque. The soup was ok, but the tuna was amazing. My boyfriend had the shrimp po'boy. Huge portion and so fresh! He was stuffed which is hard to do. Coral the waitress was just as amazing as the food. Oh, the sweet potato fries are out of this world!! Would def recommend this place!
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this place is. The food is incredible the staffing is wonderful, and our waitress was Rachael who is Fantabulous... And the pricing is very very reasonable for the quality of the food . definitely very high-quality food and they have an awesome chef.one of the best meals we've had in Fort Myers, thanks again Rachael you were awesome
(5)
Sheryl B.
Had a great late lunch here on 8/28/15 Fried clams were my choice thanks to Yelp reviews and I was not disappointed! The portions were huge and take home made a whole meal for the next day. We were so full that we forgot to check the seafood for sale in the shop next door I recommend this restaurant. Very good, friendly service!
Best lobster bisque ever!!! Sea bass was amazing. Staff was friendly and helpful with finding attractions around the area. Family friendly but very nice environment, high end casual.
(5)
Elsa R.
Great restaurant, food was delicious. Servings were generous and presentation was beautiful. Service was excellent too.
(5)
Barrett A.
Nice place. The fresh baked bread and its tomato/butter spread was soo good! A must try are the lobster spring rolls!!! Crunchy and creamy, just perfect. The service was Great. They were very polite even though we were the last ones there. Overall, very nice experience, and the food was very good.
(4)
Richard H.
Here is my 2 cents on the food. Fabulous and delectable for the palette. The first entree, crab cakes with rice. OMG it was bursting with crab meat and flavor. Fried to perfection. The rice was oh so good. 2nd entree fried grouper with a Thai chili sauce. The grouper was fried just right. Meat was moist, soft and tender. A drizzle of thai chili sauce coating. For those with barbarians pallette. Thai chili sauce is a slightly hot sauce, with ginger and a touch of sweetness. If you never have had it, I feel sorry for your tongue Orzo salad as my side dish was cool and so good for my tummy.... And now dessert. Vanilla creme brulee . It is hard to describe. But I will try. The top is a melted sugar which has been glazed over via a hand torch or a hot broiler. Under neath is a smooth and creamy (vanilla in this case) concoction similar to a pudding. BUT oh so much more in depth. This has to be one of the better meals, I have had..... At 8.99 per entree ,for lunch such a bargain. Beside the restaurant you have a seafood store. Crab legs, lobster, grouper and of course escargot etc. Escargot are a buck each...(snails for less sophicates). The have special every day of the week. Plus items prepared so you may finish it at home. It is located in the downtown area of Cape Coral. All the staff were wonderful and helpful. This is a must try eatery...
(5)
Nikki C.
I had the Filet Oscar. For a seafood restaurant the steak was Amazing! The staff is very friendly and a good atmosphere. Note that this is a small restaurant next to the market so if you have a group more than 4 I would call ahead of time. We'll be back.
(5)
Cameron C.
Nice place. Coral the waitress is great. I got the fried Ipswich clams. They were okay, but if you are looking for REAL New England fried clams and scallops, go to The Clambake in south fort Myers. Everything about that place is New England. They even have haddock. Bon appetit.
(4)
Drew R.
This was a pretty disappointing meal for us. The house salad and seafood chowder were just ok. I had a sea bass dish that was good not great. My wife tried a hogfish special that was not good and then tried a grouper sandwich that wasn't good either. The service was ok but our waitress got really frustrated and it showed.
(2)
Peter S.
What a great find! Not that I found it, but rather my Yelp friends found it, and I'm glad they did. The place has a modern seafood shanty look to it with cool music playing in the background. The Blue Point Oysters were great as was the Lobster Bisque. We had the Tuna Wrap and Crab Cake sandwich, both of which were very good, especially the Tuna wrap. The fries and onion rings were very good too. There was plenty of friendly wait staff on hand who were very attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. It was very clean there as well. I can't wait to come back for dinner. I highly recommend going here for good quality fresh seafood and a fun place to hang out. Oh....there's a small bar on the inside with colored lights in the bar that change colors which adds to the modern flair.
(5)
Tara A.
Seafood Alfredo was Delicious! Beautiful Decor inside! pleasant staff! Definitely Delicious!!
(5)
Cynthia E.
Came in on a Tuesday on a business call and was pleasantly greeted by Coral, she asked me if I was having lunch, and although my initial thought was not that .. I'm so glad she was warm and friendly and made me change my mind. Wow this place is amazing ! I had the trio salad for lunch and everything was decadent.. Let's not even talk about the presentation. Coral also brought me a small sample of their fresh homemade soups and let's just say the lobster bisque is to die for. Definitely will be back not only to eat but to take some fresh fish home from their amazing fresh fish showcase!
(5)
Emirew P.
Coming from Arizona, we couldn't wait to eat seafood and we wanted only the best. Our grandparents referred us to Fish Tale, and it was the BEST!! We were so happy we could finally drink Yuengling Beer (they do not distribute in AZ). We made several trips to the restroom as we enjoyed the sea salt scrub. The atmosphere is pleasant, staff is friendly and knowledgable. Best Oysters we have ever eaten! The Gulf Coast and Blue Point Oysters were fresh and delicious. You have to try the Seafood Chowder, full of delicious seafood and vegetables. Wonderful flavor. The Heirloom was amazing, nice texture and presentation. Fresh tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil. We are going to miss Fish Tale! We now have a wonderful tale to tell in AZ ;)
(5)
Jeanette H.
When we go on vacation, we have a rule that we never visit the same restaurant twice. Even at home, we tend to always want to try something new and different. It speaks volumes that in a two week visit to Cape Coral, we had dinner at Fish Tale Grill twice. The twilight dinner (Mon-Thurs 4-6pm) is a great bargain. Small number of choices on the special menu, but for $42 you get two entrees and a bottle of surprisingly good wine. Killer deal that is only available in the summer. Fish tacos were delicious and HUGE. Beautiful on the plate, with a very spicy slaw on the side. These are not typical baja style fish tacos - no onion or cilantro. The chef did the right thing by not adding too much seasoning and stuff to the tacos, allowing the amazingly fresh fried group and shrimp to shine. My only suggestion would be to use Mexican creama instead of sour cream so it can be poured onto the tacos, instead of the blobs of sour cream that plop off the knife, or trying to spread the sour cream on the taco. (twilight menu item) DH has a salmon dish one night from the regular menu. He's a huge fan of salmon and thought this one was excellent. Large portion. On the regular menu, I had the shrimp scampi over linguini. More huge, perfectly cooked shrimp than I could imagine at this price. The very garlicky sauce was unusual for a scampi in that it included tomatoes, but was delicious and not at all greasy (more of a broth). Made great leftovers the next day. DH had the petite filet and grilled shrimp with balsamic glaze (twilight menu). Beef was perfectly prepared to order and good quality. Again, those huge, perfect shrimp returned. He even enjoyed the side dishes. As amazing as the food it, the service is even better. Our server Tina actually remembered us on our second visit. These people care that you're enjoying their restaurant - from the guy who cleans up the dishes, to the servers, to the chef and manager - just a great crew. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Chelsea W.
We are in the area for vacation, and we decided to give this place a try. The inside seating area has a cool ambience. There's some neat lighting and cool things on the wall to look at. Our server was very sweet and did a great job serving us despite having a lot of other tables. My parents got the Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer and said that they'd give them a 4 out of 5. My mom had lobster bisque and let me try it. It was good! I ordered the Bourbon Salmon. It was absolutely delicious! I would come back here if I lived in the area.
(4)
Laurie D.
Mixed reviews for this place. The pictures online made this place look like an upscale restaurant...but when you are there it feels like a cheap diner....from the paper napkins to the counter with the chrome to the inexperienced servers. My SO was disappointed that they do not serve liquor, only wine and beer. We ordered the lobster bisque based on reviews and it was horrible...we took one bite and sent it back. I ordered the sea bass and it was melt-in-your-mouth incredible. My SO ordered the coconut shrimp and it looked and tasted like it came out of a Gordman's box. Too expensive for the food and experience. If it wasn't for the awesome sea bass this would have been a one star rating. If you want a great dining experience for the same money check out Brew Babies.
(2)
Shaun V.
What an outstanding treasure in Cape Coral. Yelp nailed this restaurant, and I must agree. We selected a table out on the patio to enjoy the cool evening and smoke cigars. This is normally a recipe for disaster style service. Not here! Bang, someone took our drink menu. Bang, our server came up and greeted us. Bang, another person brought us out water. WOW, our server was even fluent with Gluten free menu options. The Food: WOW! Exceptional presentation, and unique flavor combinations. It was hard choosing what to order, everything looked so amazing! Lastly, we closed the place down but the staff was polite and still attentive even after the check was dropped. BRAVO!
(5)
Laura B.
Amazing service from the bartender Rachel and even better food. Great atmosphere and everything is fresh!
(5)
Karen D.
Ordered the fried seafood platter and that was a mistake. It was very greasy and the fish bordered on being over fried. Nothing to recommend about the sweet potato fries or the coleslaw either. I will say the seafood chowder was good. Too expensive for the quality of this meal. Won't be back.
(2)
Jason L.
I ordered the seafood Trio and 2 Sangria's. The side I ordered was sweet potato fries. Best Sweet potato fried ever!!! Grill grouper was good. Scallops and scampi were about average. Would recommend a visit.
(4)
Antonio R.
Second time coming and I loved the lobster roll! Great atmosphere and our waitress Coral was very friendly. Pretty much everything on the menu and what I saw from other people's plates looked great! Will definitely be coming back in the future.
(5)
John D.
This was an absolutey wonderful dining experience. I got there about 7:30 on a Thursday and the place was packed. It took about 20 minutes to get a table. While I was waiting I wondered into the fish market and that really got me excited for dinner. I wondered over to the bar and asked about a few wines. The bartender poured me a few samples. Once I got my wine I meandered back to the host stand. The hostest was very nice and extremely entertaining. She was in a very upbeat mood in spite of being called into work on her 18th birthday. As wonderful as the wait was, when I got my table, I was ready to order. Tbe server was excellent. I placed my order: Seafood Chowder, Mussels, and the Grouper Picata. The timing was perfect on the meal. I would finish a course and a minute or two later they would bus the table and deliver my next course at the perfect temperature. The chowder was thick, creamy, and full of fish and shellfish. The mussels were served in a butter sauce with herbs and tomatoes. The mussels also came with fresh baked bread that was great. The Grouper was the best I have had in years. Light, flaky and moist. The sauce was a pleasant accent and not overbearing. The veggies were crisp and fresh. It was a great way to end a weeklong business trip.
(5)
Angie K.
I love this place!! It's clean and nice inside and the food is simple and good. No frills, all about the seafood. I started with the lobster bisque and it was deliciously rich and creamy with large chunks of lobster. Good thing they served it in a mug, because I drank that lobster goodness allllll up. :9 The calamari was pretty good- it was nicely seasoned, a little more on the peppery side. The fried breading wasn't staying on very well and was falling off of a handful of pieces. Also I might've just been spoiled with nice seafood but I thought the size of the calamari pieces was smaller than I'm used to. Although they did give two large full-body squid pieces that I happily put in mah belly. Next were the Blue Pointe oysters that I found to be very fresh. I got one extra oyster- not sure if it was a special favor or a failure at math- but I'll take it! We also ordered the tuna wrap with onion rings. (This tuna did not have a good ending to his fish tale) The chunks of tuna in this wrap are fairly large- I was pleasantly surprised- so this is definitely worth the money. The wasabi sauce was a great addition as well (but I'm totally biased) and I appreciate that they give the lemon on the side- so it doesn't sit on and cook the tuna. The onion rings were crispy with a light batter.. and oh, they were HUGE!! Fish Tale is a great spot for a fresh and easy lunch. I thought the dishes and restaurant were clean and simple- really highlighting the freshness of the seafood. I will def have to come back for the LOBSTA ROLL next time!!! Stay tuned for the next chapter of this Fish Tale!
(5)
Carly M.
Great seafood - great service - nice ambiance, can't complain. A little pricy but for good reasons.
(4)
Freida D.
We are senior citizens and took our 2 adult children there for lunch today as we heard it was good. I am gluten sensitive and wanted the scallop platter that came with 2 sides (french fries,sweet potato fries, onion rings, orzo salad or slaw) I asked the waitress if I could get just 1 small toss salad instead of 2 sides as I could only eat the slaw and she said no. She could only give me 2 slaws for sides. So I ordered a grouper sandwich that was to come on a roll with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I requested no roll. Well, I didn't get the roll and I didn't get the lettuce, tomato, or onion ! But I did get charged the full price. The music was loud and not something for the "over 30" crowd. Would not rush back.
(3)
Gerald E.
Stopped in on Friday night and was pleasantly suprised at how nice the place is. The entire place is spotless and staff very friendly. We had the Butterfish and the Scallops dinner and both were amazing. Definitely going back soon.
(4)
Tim L.
All the food was delicious. Service was good my inlaws actually came a few times here before and didn't even realize they had the indoor restaurant. We were full by our soup/salad course and had to take majority of the entrees home. The tartare duo was my favorite.
(4)
Jenna A.
For my 100th review, I decided I would choose one of my favorite restaurants in the Cape/Ft. Myers area. It used to just be Merrick's fish store where you could buy local fresh fish, but they expanded and now have a lovely restaurant area as well. I like to sit outside, if weather permits. As far as appetizers go, you can't go wrong with the tartar duo of ahi tuna and salmon. My other favorite was when they had stone crab legs on special. Yum! For lunch I like the seafood Cobb, which may sound odd (scallops and bleu cheese dressing?) but it is delish and nice for something lighter. The only entree I haven't been too fond of was when I tried the bourbon salmon. It was a little dry when I ordered it but I will try it again. My go-to's are the butter fish and the Chilean sea bass. Fish Tale offers great service, great food and great wine. They have a house blend (I think? It's called Fish Tale...) of Sauvignon Blanc that pairs great with fish. Prices are on the higher side, but you get what you pay for and to me it's worth it!
(5)
Connie P.
Great service!! The food was amazing. From the steamers to the seafood chowder to the twin lobster tail you will not be disappointed. The staff are friendly and attentive. I never had to ask for a refill. It nice and cozy!! I will definitely return again
(5)
Jon P.
Three of my friends and I came to Cape Coral from Peoria for the weekend. When we asked locals where to get good seafood each and every single one mentioned FishTale Grill. As such, we went for dinner. Despite being one of the last customers of the night, our service was top notch. Moreover, the food was amazing. Myself, I had the grouper picatta, with my friends opting for various other dishes. For appetizers we had the clams, oysters, and another dish. Everyone raved about their dishes. I cannot recommend this place enough.
(5)
Nicole B.
We hosted a retirement lunch at Fish Tale Grill on Tuesday for 11 people. The impeccable service and comfortable surroundings were only eclipsed by the outstanding fresh fish dishes. Every dish was fabulous - oysters, clams, lobster roll, fish and chips, tuna and mango wrap. My standard for fish quality is typically measured by the freshness of calamari, and you would need to be standing on a dock to find fresher squid. We also had amazing house-made chocolate cake that was patisserie-worthy. Seriously, you must eat here if you are within 100 miles. I will drive 2+ hours from St Pete until I can implore the owner to open up a restaurant and fish market here (seriously, please come to St Pete)! Don't let strip mall(ish) impression throw you off. The space is upmarket, and there is a cheery deck if you want to sit outside.
(5)
Mark M.
Great service and great food. Our server Coral did a great job. Not on the menu but the key lime frozen drink was a perfect desert drink
(5)
Casi V.
Everything I've had here has been delicious. We also had a cookout with a bunch of seafood we purchased. It was all very tasty and decently priced. Service is great and attentive.
(5)
Jeff H.
Everything was perfect! Ingredients and seasoning was spot on. The wife and I will be back.
(5)
Dennis E.
I had dinner there with my wife last night for the first time. It was excellent! The Lobster Bisque was amazing. My wife had a salad with homemade herb ranch dressing. I assume it was good. She cleaned the plate, while I was busy licking the bottom of my bowl of bisque. She had the Butterfish as an entree, It was spectacular from the small nibble that she allowed me to try. I had the dueling seafood special which consisted of Cobia on one side of the plate and TripleTail on the other. It's was served with some vegetables in the middle. I'm not sure creative genius thought up this dish, but they surely deserve a medal or at least a raise. It was fantastic. The food was extremely well plated, it almost looked too pretty to eat. The service was exceptional too. Kudos!
(5)
Meghan R.
Fantastic service! Broiled shrimp, cordon bleu sandwich were outstanding! lobster bisque was okay personally ... very strong sherry flavor. Loved the trio tray great variety to taste things. Would definitely recommend for families.
(5)
Steve J.
Everything on here is accurate. Prompt and friendly service. The Blue Points were exceptional, as was the calamarie. The Butterfish with scallops and caviar was one of the best meals I have ever had. My wife raved about the grouper in picatta sauce. This place is a winner.
(5)
Seth F.
First time in Cape Coral. Loved that you could purchase fresh fish or stay for dinner. Since we rented a house, no point and eating there, although we saw it had good reviews. Got grouper and shrimp. Nice find for dinner:)
(5)
Craig D.
Okay, I've found another reason to cross the river. And why wouldn't the best seafood market in Lee county not have an excellent seafood restaurant? The restaurant is clean, modern and best of all doesn't smell like fish. And the outdoor deck is large and comfortable with several tables with umbrellas to keep you in the shade. We were waited on right away by a very competent waitress named, Coral. She performed all her functions effortlessly and expediently. We ordered unsweetened teas, blacked grouper tacos, a crab cake sandwich and the Asian salmon salad. The two overstuffed tacos came on a rack with a creamy slaw, pico de gallo, limes and sour cream. I would have preferred a cilantro cream sauce instead. We devoured them. They were quite good. The Asian salmon salad had a wonderful ginger, citrus dressing. Mixed greens, purple onion, mandarin oranges, won tons which were served chilled. The salmon was cooked to perfection and served warm. I was surprised at how large the fillet was. The crab cake sandwich was served warm on a soft bakery bun, lettuce, tomato and onion. It came with sweet potato fries and a garlic, lemon aoili dip that tasted incredible. So our lunch was over $40 with tip. Not an amount I would normally spend for lunch. But when you feel like treating yourself to very good seafood with pleasant surroundings come here by all means. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Don A.
I'm an armature chef and the folks here are not! My wife had the Blackened Mahi which was crafted well. A tad overly spicy but butter smooth and moist inside. I think a hint less spice or a finish with some butter to tone it down would of made it perfection! Our great server Coral brought me a soft shelled crab sandwich. I'm not sorry to say I could not improve on it in any way possible - moist, fresh, smacks of the sea yet still delicately sweetness of the crab shines through down to the last bite! We have had surf n turf a 10. Rockefeller oysters although not traditional are great with the addition of sweet lump crab meat! The local raw clams are always amazing too. This is by FAR the best seafood in a 35 mile radius of Cape Coral! By DHA
(5)
Lim K.
We were looking for patio dining and decided to try Fish Tale. Unfortunately the rain came and the patio was not available but we went ahead and took a table inside. We started off with six oysters on the half shell and a dozen fresh clams. The oysters were very good but the clams were a little fishy and sandy. My husband ordered a wedge salad and I had scallops with caviar which came with green salad, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. My husband liked his salad. My scallops were excellent; it was cooked perfectly and the saltiness of caviar added the great flavor to scallops. The red skin mashed potatoes were very good, just like the way I make it at home. Excellent service.
(4)
Lisa S.
I have had my fair share of shrimp scampi. I would definitely order this dish again and recommend it. Beware, it does have a lot of oil and butter. A tad bit more garlic would be nice but the shrimp were cooked perfectly. Another plus, the dish had a ton of large shrimp compared to most so the $20 price point makes sense. By a ton, there were probably 8-12 if I had to guess. The Caesar salad with anchovies was creamy and tasty; I would order and recommend. The seafood chowder was good, but I have had better at many places on Sanibel. I would recommend this over the bisque. The lobster bisque was alright; a little watery with a strong sherry flavor. In the reviews I read it had big chunks of fish but there were barely any in the two cups the table ordered. I would not order the bisque again, although for $6, perhaps everyone should try it. A little thicker and it would be spot on. Four beers, one entree, an entree Caesar salad ($10) and three cups of soup was about $70. Their appetizers looked innovative, so I am excited to go back and try more. There doesn't seem to be a bar to sit at, so plan on getting a table, inside or out. At 4:50pm there was only one table seated, by 5:40, all of the inside tables were full (It was too cold for outdoor seating).
(4)
Virginie L.
This place was Awesome!!! The ambiance was great, the noise level was perfect and service was perfect. Our server Greg was great and took excellent care of us. We had the Snapper and snow Crab Leg. Highly recommended.
Just finished dinner and it was ok. The tuna did not taste fresh. My husband had tuna too and said it was ok. We ordered a bottle of wine which took 10 minutes to arrive. Our server told us she was handing is over to another server because she wasn't feeling good and was going home. Well she was still working other tables an hour after we left. We will not be back.
(2)
Debbie W.
Absolutely love this establishment. GREAT food and service. I can't believe that we have lived here 9 months and we haven't eaten here before now. This will be our new favorite place to eat.
(5)
Mary G.
Excellent meal excellent service can't say enough good stuff ...I highly recommend for great food
(5)
Susy M.
The grouper tacos were wonderful. Served with a spicy coleslaw (too spicey for me but perfect for my husband) so ask for regular if you're not heat inclined. The Tuscan chicken sandwich was also terrific. We sat outside on the deck.
(5)
Greg M.
This place is awesome. Considering the food, service, and ambiance they all deserve a 5 star rating. We were there with a group of 4 with 3 ordering seafood and the 4th ordering a steak. I will just say every meal was perfect and this will be the best steak you can find in Cape Coral. The price was in line for what you would expect to pay for a good quality meal.
(5)
Andrea C.
We started with the tuna and salmon tartar...the tuna part of it was good, the salmon was kind of fishy. I then had the seafood chowder and bourbon salmon which was excellent! The only down side is that they don't serve liquor, which is pretty common in Cape Coral.
(4)
Stephen D.
It's as good as everyone says! Really enjoyed my lunch there, everything was well prepared. I just wish they had a side salad at lunch. I was surprised that I never heard they have full belly ipswitch clams on the menu- my favorite!
(5)
Margie S.
The food is awesome, fresh, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful and tasteful. I love the outdoor patio with the fire heaters too.
(5)
Dan d.
We went on a Thursday night, and were able to get a table right away at 6:30. The service was excellent from beginning to end. We started out with the social seafood platter and a sampler of oysters in the raw. We followed that up with a good old-fashioned fish and chips, probably one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. We split a bottle of Santa Margarita, a bargain at $36 a bottle ($20 retail). Overall, an excellent experience. Great food, decent price, and fairly nice setting, with prompt and friendly service. Highly recommended.
(4)
Lawrence S.
I have to say I was skeptical with there 4.5 star review. It a 5 all the way. Service was excellent. Our server Francine was outstanding and very sweet. The clams on the half were some of the best I've ever had. I took my parents here and they loved what they hade as well. I would like to give them 6 stars!
(5)
Josh Y.
Wow... what a great place to eat. Went out to eat on a friday night with family while we were in the area for vacation. Stopped at another local establishment first, but found an hour and a half wait time. Looked on yelp for another restaurant close by and found this place. Walked up expecting a lengthy wait considering the prior attempt, but we were seated at an outside table fairly soon after. We had enough time to take a look at the seafood market inside though. The seared tuna special was one of the best I have had. Everyone's meal was very good. No complaints at all. A+ for service, presentation, and taste.
(5)
Dominick W.
Amazing food, location, and staff! The fish tacos were amazing! Best ones I've ever had! Definitely would recommend.
(5)
CJ G.
We were pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. Nice large deck for outdoor eating and a nicely decorated indoor dining. There is a bar with many seats. Next to the restaurant is their fish market with beautiful fresh fish and frozen selections too! The menu is very extensive. I had the Cranberry Macadamia Sea Bass and the dish was beautifully presented and so delicious. I cannot say enough about how great this dining experience was. They do not take reservation.
(4)
Linda P.
Lobster bisque excellent! All dishes here are good! Great service, knowledgeable and friendly staff. I highly recommend to friends!
(5)
John S.
After reading about the Fish Tale Grill on Yelp my wife and decided to try it for dinner and we were not disappointed. The staff were very friendly and attentive. My wife had the Grouper Piccata and I had the fried seafood platter with grouper, shrimp & oyster. Both meals were very good and plentiful. The Seafood Chowder was creamy and loaded with shrimp grouper and other seafood. Our waiter made very good recommendations and the service was excellent. I had the Coconut Bread Pudding which was yummy. We will make this restaurant one to visit over and over as well as bring our friends. Very clean and well appointed.
(5)
E. M.
Maybe we are just surrounded by air separated by water... Or we could have been there on an off day-- who does seafood on Mondays?? We found street parking nearby and as the day had a distinct chill, we decided we would sit inside and it was nearly 1:30. Not to be, our hostess HAS to save the table for a larger group ...in the booth but had a table unbussed near door. We were seated outside. BTW the table didn't get sold that we couldn't have, but that is always a tough decision. Be gracious to a customer in front of you.... Or hold out for the larger check that might walk in... Oh wait, the lunch hour was over... The food: mike ordered the impressive seafood tower --lobster, shrimp, oysters, clams w sauces and butter. Very well prepared in every way. Only could be improved by a cracker or two or a crust of bread. I had the appetizer called lobster roll served with wakame and a soba noodle addition which complemented the plate. It was not particularly a dish that I cared for and would not like to have it again. The one roll was deep fried and filled w a heavy gummy filling and drenched with the ubiquitous "bang bang" sauce. Ewwie. My date enjoyed it though! Service was inoffensive and impersonal. Small place but the street seating offers lots of room to watch the mall parking lot. We live on Pine Island and probably won't be back- our fish places are competitive and closer. Nothing special here.
(3)
Rick F.
We had a great dinner! Casual atmosphere with great outdoor seating. The lobster bisque soup is amazing. We started with the duo of tatar... also an excellent choice. All the meals were great. Deserts made in house. Don't miss the key lime pie. Beer and wine only, no bar. This is a don't miss place to dine. Service was great! Thanks Gil and Tina.
(5)
Mike H.
My wife and I had dinner here with friends. Our friends love seafood and seemed to enjoy their meals very much. My wife and I are vegans so eating anywhere is a challenge, especially at a fish market. Our waitress was helpful and the Fish Tale Grill accommodated our way of eating very well. We had the chopped salad without the mozzarella, baked potato, and steamed asparagus which were all very good. So you can eat vegan at a fish market. We'll be back. BTW, this is a popular restaurant. Be prepared for a wait list.
(4)
Paul V.
Had a great experience at Fish Tales Seafood Grill by Merrick Foods in the SE Cape. We were pleasingly surprised to be waited on by Cora, who previously worked at Paesano's Restaurant. Not only is the food excellent and reasonably priced but Cora made our dining experience delightful. Make sure you ask for Cora, whether you sit in or outside. She's the best. Paul V.
(5)
Julie G.
delicious FRESH fish cooked properly!!
(5)
Laurie Wise W.
Great fresh seafood! My husband says the best grouper sandwich he's had, other than his own! Coral our waitress was attentive and knew the menu well! Sumptuous lobster roll and rich, decadent lobster bisque! Fabulous!
(5)
Vic O.
Service was excellent. My 2 companions enjoyed their steak sandwich and crab cake sandwich, although the crab cake was deemed 'soggy', but tasted good. Onion rings were factory-made and bland, more batter than onion. I had the seafood Cobb salad and it was not good. Way too much dry greenery, not enough salad dressing. Not that you want that dressing, it was awful-tasting nasty bottled stuff, a chemical mix that didn't have any actual cheese. I don't believe anyone on staff has tried to eat this dish. It was physically impossible given the size of the plate compared to the dense amount of greens. While the seafood was fresh and delicious, there was little of it on the salad for the price. The person who designed this salad needs to go back to school if they ever went to school. If I made this salad, I would cut the greens amount in half, and toss all vegetable ingredients in a small amount of extra virgin olive oil just prior to serving. I'd make a REAL blue cheese dressing, it's not difficult. Stop using crappy bottled dressing on a salad that could otherwise be a wonderful creation. Also add some sauce for the shrimp. Shrimp, scallops and blue cheese dressing don't go together. This is what you get in a small town where chefs have training and pretensions, but have never eaten in a good restaurant. Food is rendered 'academically', but not with the comprehension that comes with experience and cultivated taste.
(2)
Matthew E.
The staff was quick to greet us and seat us. The environment is warm and enjoyable. The food was fresh and the presentation was surprisingly upscale for the price. An unexpectedly delightful find in Cape Coral.
(5)
Jason F.
An amazing find in Cape Coral. Upon arrival we were greeted by the friendly staff and promptly seated. Our waitress, Coral, was fantastic. From quickly taking our drink orders to fantastic food recommendations she was exceptional. The food was fresh and delicious. Would definitely recommend for fresh seafood.
(5)
Suzanne P.
I went to Fish Tale after 8, so we were seated promptly outdoors. The patio is cozy, especially next to the heaters. We were given a light that clipped onto the umbrella post, which was a nice touch. Our servers were knowledgable and attentive the entire evening. My parents were curious about the butter fish and asked the server. She went to find out more and sent our another person who told us about the preparation of the fish. Good personal attention! Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented. I has the Ginger teriyaki Tuna for my main course and it was plenty. The highlights were the Butter Fish and the Sea Bass. Coconut shrimp for appetizer was also wonderful. The prices were reasonable. I would definitely return. The dinner was a highlight of our trip!
(5)
Marti S.
Twin lobster tails were very good as well as ambiance and wine! Pricing in line with food quality and service was excellent! I will definitely come back next time I am in town!
(5)
Judy M.
Dinner last night was awesome. Seafood fettuccine and shrimp scampi were huge portions. Our party enjoyed coconut shrimp, crab/lobster dip as well as their seafood stew. We go to their seafood market often which always has the best selection and price on seafood but had never eaten at the restaurant. Will definitely dine there again.
(5)
D M.
Love this place for lunch!! Love the lobster spring roll! Seriously one of the best spring rolls I've had...loaded with lobster! It comes with noodles and fresh seaweed salad with sesame seeds...Yum! Then a hot lobster roll with the butter on the side instead of drowning the roll. Pretty dang good sweet potato french fries! Crispy, crunchy and tender! No room for dessert, but been plenty of times to know they are awesome! Coral is always friendly and attentive! Drinks are good, but a happy hour would be good too...seafood market next door has some good deals on Tuesday. two for $$.
(5)
Peter K.
we called to make reservation but they never returned call telling us we called the fish market? We were 10minutes late for the special and I asked manager to check messages but he was adament that we would not get special. We were going to stay but two couples who had just finished told us the shimp tasted like amonia and the fish was overcooked. We left and have since talked to our neighbor who said stay away!
(1)
Shelly S.
Very delicious food the sea bass was awesome hubby had lobster bisque and said it was awesome ! Also he had the ahi tuna that was delicious excellent servers will defiantly go back .
(5)
Mike P.
We have eaten here several times and would recommend it to any one who likes fresh seafood. The tuna and salmon tartare duo is fantastic, especially if you ask for some boom boom sauce on the side. My wife and I split the lobster spring roll appetizer. It was beautifully plated with seaweed salad and a large roll cut into 4 pieces...art on a plate and delicious too. Unfortunately this trip we selected a dish which was very bad and so out of character with everything else in the place as to be almost shocking. This dish definitely to be avoided was a fried soft shell crab sandwich. The crab itself was obviously a high end ingredient absolutely ruined by the mass of pasty grey gelatinous breading. I called it to the attention to the manager who thanked us for the feed back, but didn't offer to fix the problem. The service was friendly and the staff are very attentive and nice, however the waitress did not know the food or drink menu and we had to ask other staff for explanations of menu items. Even though we ordered the soft shell crab, the first trip to the table was a crab cake....when we pointed this out to the waitress she argued that it was a soft shell crab....maybe she knew that the worst was yet to come. Another server stopped by and agreed with us that it was not a soft shell crab. We still think this place is fantastic and plan on going often, we will just be a bit more careful on selections we haven't tried already.
(4)
Jann W.
We've been buying fresh seafood at Merricks for 15 years, so when they decided to open a seafood restaurant, we knew the fish would be fresh. In addition to fresh fish, the dining atmosphere is wonderful (plenty of shaded outdoor tables and a chic small interior space), the service is attentive (thank you John), and the presentation is top notch (thanks to the wife-owner who has a special touch). We enjoyed manhattan clam chowder, black cod, steamed baby clams and sea bass. The owner makes his way around and talks with you - nice. An absolutely delightful dining experience.
(5)
Joe M.
The food, service, & atmosphere are all terrific. Try their red Tail amber beer which is smooth and good tasting. Sadly, this beer is not available anywhere other than here. The grouper was fresh and seasoned to perfection. The lobster bisque is another winner. The retail fish market looks professional and includes a recipe print off. We'll be back again and again
(5)
Kelly J.
We just had a great evening at the Fish Tale Grill! Awesome service, wonderful outdoor dining, and delicious fresh seafood. Two ordered from the menu. And, five of us tried the special, which was an excellent trio. There was tile fish that was perfectly cooked and garnished with a yummy mango salsa and crab stuffed shrimp that were rich and delicious. The trio was completed by lightly breaded scallops. The lobster bisque was a great way to start off the meal as it was a bit cool this evening. We finished with 3 delicious desserts. Everything we ordered was excellent and we will definitely return.
(5)
Barbara H.
Very nice service and excellent seafood. We dined on a Monday night in the summer when the city streets were empty, but the small restaurant was full. Everything was very fresh. Highly recommend the calamari as appetizer and lobster bisque as a side.
(5)
A C.
Excellent lobster bisque, & Honey's seafood chowder was, too. Lobster roll, the hot choice, for lunch was terrific, with sweet potato fries on the sidelines. Coral, our server from Massachusetts, very knowledgeable about seafood & the sources for the restaurant, is the go to server for questions! We'll be back.
(5)
Aleksandra W.
the best seafood I have ever had!!! lobster soup is delicious! fresh baked bread is so yummy!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)
Jack Y.
I went there during my winter break! But the food and the service was so disappointed! The waitress suggested us to order around $120 lobster! However, the taste was not what we expected, and we even waited there for more than two and half hours for the food to come!
(1)
Doris R.
Yummy. The freshest seafood in the Cape. Most of the restaurants in the Cape get their seafood from them. The prices are good service is good and food is great what more can I say
(4)
Erica E.
Absolutely amazing Cobb salad- best I've had in Cape Coral! $12.99 buys you 2 large shrimp, 3 sea scallops, a lump of crab meat and avocado slices. Delicious dressing, too! Can't wait to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)
Vicky N.
I like this place, service is friendly and helpful and food is excellent but removing a star for 2 pet peeves. Bottle of wine scallops and caviar, all excellent by the way, but paper napkins, yuk, really? Also tails on shrimp that is in sauce just lazy! If I wanted to touch my food with my fingers I would have gone for ribs. This place needs to decide on caliber and be cautious not to slide into the realm of average that with few exceptions consumes the Cape.
(4)
Clint T.
I had the lobster and shrimp Mac n cheese and a Caesar salad. My wife got the mixed grill.
(5)
Christina R.
My husband and I went to try the two entrees and bottle of wine special for $38.00 on Monday night. We are both foodies from Columbus, Ohio. Since eating out is the major past time of people from Columbus, we know our food. Fish Tails is a hidden gem in Cape Coral. The atmosphere is trendy and chic. The service is on par with any upscale restaurant and the food is delightful and presented perfectly. We were really impressed by the culinary skills of their chef. If you want to have a perfect experience, go to Fish Tail. It rivals the best restaurants in Columbus
(5)
Nick W.
Had a great time here and the atmosphere was great and the Food was amazing!!! Our waitress Tina was very Polite and helpful... I recommend trying the Salmon with Burbon Sauce with Asparagus over Orzo Pasta.... It feels a little cramped inside the Restaurant but there is outdoor seating with heaters. The food and drink prices are reasonable.
(4)
Lunie L.
The food is really good! I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was yummy. I even had left overs for lunch the next day. We went at night and we sat outside. My daughter loved the patio area with the changing lights.
(5)
Robert K.
For the first time in 16 years, since moving to Florida, I finally found a restaurant down here that serves real fried clams, Ipswich clams, big bellies and cooked in a perfect batter. We've been three times during our first 30 days in Cape Coral and look forward to going again -- and again, and again. Everything was good, the food, the service, the ambiance and the prices. Ask for Coral if she's working, real friendly and a New Englander herself, but down here for most of her adult life. Highly recommended. The number 1 rating is deserved.
(5)
Sharon S.
We enjoyed an impromptu dinner there this week. We went to Nevermind and found it very depressing and quite dirty feeling with a one dimensional menu (meat with more meat). Slate's was closed on Monday so we decided to try Fish Tale which was quite busy, especially for a Monday Night in off season. They had a bargain special at $32 per couple which included a bottle of decent chilean sauvignon blanc. I had Mussels and my DH had a seafood melange. Both were quite good as was the warm bread with sundried tomato composed butter. We will definitely be back. Service was right on as well.
(4)
Karen F.
Driving south on 75 around lunch time, we decided to hit this highly rated joint, even though we could tell that it was not very close to the highway. Excellent decision on our part, because the food was definitely worth the detour. Located in the town of Cape Coral, the patio table we sat at just overlooked the nearby street and street parking. Fortunately they had fans blowing, and it was very comfortable sitting outside. I don't think you go for the ambiance of this place, you just go for the food. Our 42-year veteran server named Coral was outstanding, and gave excellent suggestions, in addition to bringing us samples of both the lobster bisque and the clam chowder. Since bisque is so rich, I can only ever eat a couple of spoonful, but I can honestly say this was some of the best lobster bisque I have had in my life - creamy, buttery, with lobster chunks - it was eyes-roll-back-in-the-head good. For my meal I had the lobster roll - comes as your choice of cold, in a lobster salad, or warm, with melted butter. Coral said 'warm', so warm it was. Outstanding. The lobster tasted incredibly fresh, and the toasted buttered roll it was on was perfect. Sandwich came with choice of side item - again I went with Coral's recommendation and tried the sweet potato fries, and these too were some of the best I have ever had. They actually still tasted like sweet potatoes! Served nice and hot, they had a dipping sauce on the side, which I thought was a nice touch. After you eat, make sure you go check out their fish market. If you're smart, you'll bring a cooler, so you can take some goodness home with you. I've already sent friends here, who called me to tell me how much they, too, loved it. Go!
(5)
Glenn C.
Excellent fresh seafood. The restaurant is attached to the market. They created a shrimp cocktail for me since it was not on the menu. The seafood chowder was full of fish and was very good. No complaints on the macadamian and cranberry sea bass. My only complaint was the water tasted horrible after it was refilled. Service was pretty good. You can eat inside or on deck. Prices reasonable. See pictures.
(5)
Alec D.
Came here with my beautiful girlfriend, there were other couples and families, we started with Oysters Rockefeller and Coconut Shrimp, large portions and very tasty. My girlfriend had the Seafood Alfredo which had loads of lobster, shrimp and scallops in a creamy sauce over fettuccine really good took half home, oops she had the lobster bisque not the best we have had it lacked lobster chunks but made it up in flavor. I had a small salad and the fried seafood platter loads of large shrimp, large Scallops 4 of them and a large piece of grouper, just fantastic. We had a bottle of wine our bill was $122 with tax. We will return here, enjoy.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
E. M.
Maybe we are just surrounded by air separated by water... Or we could have been there on an off day-- who does seafood on Mondays?? We found street parking nearby and as the day had a distinct chill, we decided we would sit inside and it was nearly 1:30. Not to be, our hostess HAS to save the table for a larger group ...in the booth but had a table unbussed near door. We were seated outside. BTW the table didn't get sold that we couldn't have, but that is always a tough decision. Be gracious to a customer in front of you.... Or hold out for the larger check that might walk in... Oh wait, the lunch hour was over... The food: mike ordered the impressive seafood tower --lobster, shrimp, oysters, clams w sauces and butter. Very well prepared in every way. Only could be improved by a cracker or two or a crust of bread. I had the appetizer called lobster roll served with wakame and a soba noodle addition which complemented the plate. It was not particularly a dish that I cared for and would not like to have it again. The one roll was deep fried and filled w a heavy gummy filling and drenched with the ubiquitous "bang bang" sauce. Ewwie. My date enjoyed it though! Service was inoffensive and impersonal. Small place but the street seating offers lots of room to watch the mall parking lot. We live on Pine Island and probably won't be back- our fish places are competitive and closer. Nothing special here.
(3)Rick F.
We had a great dinner! Casual atmosphere with great outdoor seating. The lobster bisque soup is amazing. We started with the duo of tatar... also an excellent choice. All the meals were great. Deserts made in house. Don't miss the key lime pie. Beer and wine only, no bar. This is a don't miss place to dine. Service was great! Thanks Gil and Tina.
(5)Mike H.
My wife and I had dinner here with friends. Our friends love seafood and seemed to enjoy their meals very much. My wife and I are vegans so eating anywhere is a challenge, especially at a fish market. Our waitress was helpful and the Fish Tale Grill accommodated our way of eating very well. We had the chopped salad without the mozzarella, baked potato, and steamed asparagus which were all very good. So you can eat vegan at a fish market. We'll be back. BTW, this is a popular restaurant. Be prepared for a wait list.
(4)Paul V.
Had a great experience at Fish Tales Seafood Grill by Merrick Foods in the SE Cape. We were pleasingly surprised to be waited on by Cora, who previously worked at Paesano's Restaurant. Not only is the food excellent and reasonably priced but Cora made our dining experience delightful. Make sure you ask for Cora, whether you sit in or outside. She's the best. Paul V.
(5)Julie G.
delicious FRESH fish cooked properly!!
(5)Laurie Wise W.
Great fresh seafood! My husband says the best grouper sandwich he's had, other than his own! Coral our waitress was attentive and knew the menu well! Sumptuous lobster roll and rich, decadent lobster bisque! Fabulous!
(5)Vic O.
Service was excellent. My 2 companions enjoyed their steak sandwich and crab cake sandwich, although the crab cake was deemed 'soggy', but tasted good. Onion rings were factory-made and bland, more batter than onion. I had the seafood Cobb salad and it was not good. Way too much dry greenery, not enough salad dressing. Not that you want that dressing, it was awful-tasting nasty bottled stuff, a chemical mix that didn't have any actual cheese. I don't believe anyone on staff has tried to eat this dish. It was physically impossible given the size of the plate compared to the dense amount of greens. While the seafood was fresh and delicious, there was little of it on the salad for the price. The person who designed this salad needs to go back to school if they ever went to school. If I made this salad, I would cut the greens amount in half, and toss all vegetable ingredients in a small amount of extra virgin olive oil just prior to serving. I'd make a REAL blue cheese dressing, it's not difficult. Stop using crappy bottled dressing on a salad that could otherwise be a wonderful creation. Also add some sauce for the shrimp. Shrimp, scallops and blue cheese dressing don't go together. This is what you get in a small town where chefs have training and pretensions, but have never eaten in a good restaurant. Food is rendered 'academically', but not with the comprehension that comes with experience and cultivated taste.
(2)Matthew E.
The staff was quick to greet us and seat us. The environment is warm and enjoyable. The food was fresh and the presentation was surprisingly upscale for the price. An unexpectedly delightful find in Cape Coral.
(5)Jason F.
An amazing find in Cape Coral. Upon arrival we were greeted by the friendly staff and promptly seated. Our waitress, Coral, was fantastic. From quickly taking our drink orders to fantastic food recommendations she was exceptional. The food was fresh and delicious. Would definitely recommend for fresh seafood.
(5)Suzanne P.
I went to Fish Tale after 8, so we were seated promptly outdoors. The patio is cozy, especially next to the heaters. We were given a light that clipped onto the umbrella post, which was a nice touch. Our servers were knowledgable and attentive the entire evening. My parents were curious about the butter fish and asked the server. She went to find out more and sent our another person who told us about the preparation of the fish. Good personal attention! Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented. I has the Ginger teriyaki Tuna for my main course and it was plenty. The highlights were the Butter Fish and the Sea Bass. Coconut shrimp for appetizer was also wonderful. The prices were reasonable. I would definitely return. The dinner was a highlight of our trip!
(5)Marti S.
Twin lobster tails were very good as well as ambiance and wine! Pricing in line with food quality and service was excellent! I will definitely come back next time I am in town!
(5)D M.
Love this place for lunch!! Love the lobster spring roll! Seriously one of the best spring rolls I've had...loaded with lobster! It comes with noodles and fresh seaweed salad with sesame seeds...Yum! Then a hot lobster roll with the butter on the side instead of drowning the roll. Pretty dang good sweet potato french fries! Crispy, crunchy and tender! No room for dessert, but been plenty of times to know they are awesome! Coral is always friendly and attentive! Drinks are good, but a happy hour would be good too...seafood market next door has some good deals on Tuesday. two for $$.
(5)Judy M.
Dinner last night was awesome. Seafood fettuccine and shrimp scampi were huge portions. Our party enjoyed coconut shrimp, crab/lobster dip as well as their seafood stew. We go to their seafood market often which always has the best selection and price on seafood but had never eaten at the restaurant. Will definitely dine there again.
(5)Mike P.
We have eaten here several times and would recommend it to any one who likes fresh seafood. The tuna and salmon tartare duo is fantastic, especially if you ask for some boom boom sauce on the side. My wife and I split the lobster spring roll appetizer. It was beautifully plated with seaweed salad and a large roll cut into 4 pieces...art on a plate and delicious too. Unfortunately this trip we selected a dish which was very bad and so out of character with everything else in the place as to be almost shocking. This dish definitely to be avoided was a fried soft shell crab sandwich. The crab itself was obviously a high end ingredient absolutely ruined by the mass of pasty grey gelatinous breading. I called it to the attention to the manager who thanked us for the feed back, but didn't offer to fix the problem. The service was friendly and the staff are very attentive and nice, however the waitress did not know the food or drink menu and we had to ask other staff for explanations of menu items. Even though we ordered the soft shell crab, the first trip to the table was a crab cake....when we pointed this out to the waitress she argued that it was a soft shell crab....maybe she knew that the worst was yet to come. Another server stopped by and agreed with us that it was not a soft shell crab. We still think this place is fantastic and plan on going often, we will just be a bit more careful on selections we haven't tried already.
(4)Jann W.
We've been buying fresh seafood at Merricks for 15 years, so when they decided to open a seafood restaurant, we knew the fish would be fresh. In addition to fresh fish, the dining atmosphere is wonderful (plenty of shaded outdoor tables and a chic small interior space), the service is attentive (thank you John), and the presentation is top notch (thanks to the wife-owner who has a special touch). We enjoyed manhattan clam chowder, black cod, steamed baby clams and sea bass. The owner makes his way around and talks with you - nice. An absolutely delightful dining experience.
(5)Joe M.
The food, service, & atmosphere are all terrific. Try their red Tail amber beer which is smooth and good tasting. Sadly, this beer is not available anywhere other than here. The grouper was fresh and seasoned to perfection. The lobster bisque is another winner. The retail fish market looks professional and includes a recipe print off. We'll be back again and again
(5)Kelly J.
We just had a great evening at the Fish Tale Grill! Awesome service, wonderful outdoor dining, and delicious fresh seafood. Two ordered from the menu. And, five of us tried the special, which was an excellent trio. There was tile fish that was perfectly cooked and garnished with a yummy mango salsa and crab stuffed shrimp that were rich and delicious. The trio was completed by lightly breaded scallops. The lobster bisque was a great way to start off the meal as it was a bit cool this evening. We finished with 3 delicious desserts. Everything we ordered was excellent and we will definitely return.
(5)Barbara H.
Very nice service and excellent seafood. We dined on a Monday night in the summer when the city streets were empty, but the small restaurant was full. Everything was very fresh. Highly recommend the calamari as appetizer and lobster bisque as a side.
(5)Peter K.
we called to make reservation but they never returned call telling us we called the fish market? We were 10minutes late for the special and I asked manager to check messages but he was adament that we would not get special. We were going to stay but two couples who had just finished told us the shimp tasted like amonia and the fish was overcooked. We left and have since talked to our neighbor who said stay away!
(1)Shelly S.
Very delicious food the sea bass was awesome hubby had lobster bisque and said it was awesome ! Also he had the ahi tuna that was delicious excellent servers will defiantly go back .
(5)A C.
Excellent lobster bisque, & Honey's seafood chowder was, too. Lobster roll, the hot choice, for lunch was terrific, with sweet potato fries on the sidelines. Coral, our server from Massachusetts, very knowledgeable about seafood & the sources for the restaurant, is the go to server for questions! We'll be back.
(5)Aleksandra W.
the best seafood I have ever had!!! lobster soup is delicious! fresh baked bread is so yummy!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)Jack Y.
I went there during my winter break! But the food and the service was so disappointed! The waitress suggested us to order around $120 lobster! However, the taste was not what we expected, and we even waited there for more than two and half hours for the food to come!
(1)Doris R.
Yummy. The freshest seafood in the Cape. Most of the restaurants in the Cape get their seafood from them. The prices are good service is good and food is great what more can I say
(4)Erica E.
Absolutely amazing Cobb salad- best I've had in Cape Coral! $12.99 buys you 2 large shrimp, 3 sea scallops, a lump of crab meat and avocado slices. Delicious dressing, too! Can't wait to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)Vicky N.
I like this place, service is friendly and helpful and food is excellent but removing a star for 2 pet peeves. Bottle of wine scallops and caviar, all excellent by the way, but paper napkins, yuk, really? Also tails on shrimp that is in sauce just lazy! If I wanted to touch my food with my fingers I would have gone for ribs. This place needs to decide on caliber and be cautious not to slide into the realm of average that with few exceptions consumes the Cape.
(4)Clint T.
I had the lobster and shrimp Mac n cheese and a Caesar salad. My wife got the mixed grill.
(5)Christina R.
My husband and I went to try the two entrees and bottle of wine special for $38.00 on Monday night. We are both foodies from Columbus, Ohio. Since eating out is the major past time of people from Columbus, we know our food. Fish Tails is a hidden gem in Cape Coral. The atmosphere is trendy and chic. The service is on par with any upscale restaurant and the food is delightful and presented perfectly. We were really impressed by the culinary skills of their chef. If you want to have a perfect experience, go to Fish Tail. It rivals the best restaurants in Columbus
(5)Nick W.
Had a great time here and the atmosphere was great and the Food was amazing!!! Our waitress Tina was very Polite and helpful... I recommend trying the Salmon with Burbon Sauce with Asparagus over Orzo Pasta.... It feels a little cramped inside the Restaurant but there is outdoor seating with heaters. The food and drink prices are reasonable.
(4)Lunie L.
The food is really good! I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was yummy. I even had left overs for lunch the next day. We went at night and we sat outside. My daughter loved the patio area with the changing lights.
(5)Gretchen W.
Best seafood dinner we have had in Cape Coral. Could have made a meal on the fresh bread and seafood chowder but the entrees didn't disappoint. Lightly battered fried seafood and the seared Sea Bass was perfection. Loved the decor.
(5)Beth G.
We had an excellent meal here. Extremely fresh fish. The tartare appetizer was excellent. Highly recommend it!! Fish chowder was wonderful. We will be back here for sure.
(4)Lynnie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch here yesterday. Service was above standard and the Tuna Wrap was yummy. I was quite impressed with the chunks of lobster in the lobster bisque. Great Job!
(5)Michelle A.
The food was amazing! My husband and I ordered the twin lobster tails and snow crab legs and both were excellent!
(4)Terra A.
this review is for the fresh seafood store, Merrick Seafood, the other half to the fish tale grill. i purchased a lobster tail and two small servings of grouper for far far far less than i would pay to have prepared in a restaurant. i had great service and the fish was so good!
(5)BobAndElayne L.
My wife and I were in Cape Coral on business and several people mentioned Fish Tale Grill so we gave it a try. The people were very friendly and attentive, the plate presentation was beautiful, and the food was very good. The atmosphere is very cool and trendy. I felt like I was in a boutique hotel restaurant. We had Caesar salad and the dressing was homemade. For dinner we had the seafood platter and it was very good and plentiful. I would go back here again. Outside is an outside patio where you can eat outside but it was too hot the night we were there. Next door is a fish market where you can buy your fish and take it home to try your own hand at cooking. The outside patio would be fine for kids and families. Inside is a great date night spot.
(4)Sandy C.
I have eaten at Fish Tales several times, and I love it. There Tuna wrap is awesome. I have had there salmon and salads also and it was delicious food. Took my son and his girlfriend there and they also liked it and can't wait to come visit again so they can go back and eat there. You can also buy fresh seafood and they have prepared foods ready for the oven or grill.
(5)Kevin J.
My family and I frequent Fish Tale Grill. We all agree that the food is ALWAYS delicious and presented beautifully. They are hands down the BEST for fresh and affordable seafood. Their outside dining area is great on a weather permitting day and the inside area while small is extremely clean and attractive. The service we have is always very pleasant and our food and drinks are delivered quickly. We reside in Naples and the 1 hour drive to eat at Fish Tale Grill is well worth it. Definitely at the top of my list with USS Nemo's in Naples coming in second. This is a must try! Don't forget the market before you leave, many items from Merrick Seafood have made dinner time simple and delicious for my family at home.
(5)adam a.
Went there for dinner based on the relatively positive Yelp reviews. The service was a little rushed (the brought the entrees while we were still working on our lobster bisque) and a little on the coldside. The food was about par for the course, some dishes were better than others (the lobster bisque was great, most of the rest was average). They forgot one of the orders and apologized but it really put a kink in the dinner since one person was left waiting and the rest of us were mostly done by the time that person was served. Price was about right though there are certainly better deals out there. The waitress was friendly and chatty. Parking is a hassle as there is no parking on site but there are spots available on the road or down the street. Not a bad place, but certainly not great either.
(3)beverly f.
We went for lunch and everything was great including the service. Amazing value, too.
(5)Lee S.
This is the absolute best seafood in the area. Merrick Seafood is the wholesale fishmonger to well over 200 area restaurants... so when the owners decided to open a small restaurant in the space next door, I took notice. You should too. And yes, Fort Myers denizens, it's even worth crossing the bridge to get to it. NOTE: currently only open 11-4 for lunch!
(5)K K.
Fantastic! Definitely recommend. Lobster Bisque was awesome. Tile fish was great too. Best seafood we had our entire trip!
(5)TJ S.
Would definitely go back! Complimentary bread, seafood chowder with the coconut shrimp appetizer is what I'll be ordering. Skip the entrees! Sit outside and enjoy the good service. We did not care for the escargot, dry... not enough butter or garlic. The bourbon salmon sauce is very sweet - should be added to the description on the menu. Thus the four stars. Price is reasonable, casual dress.
(4)Dolly H.
Great fresh seafood grill and market. Limited seating but not for long, they are expanding into the space next door. The blackened grouper sandwich was excellent. The fish looked so fresh we bought halibut and swordfish to take home. The staff are wonderful, extremely pleasant and knowledgeable.
(5)Sarah P.
Very good food, the outside seating is very nice with ample shade. The inside is decorated very nicely however, the inside tables are plastic! Plastic outside is fine but inside brings down the entire atmosphere.
(4)Lori B.
Went to Fish Tale Grill based on Yelp reviews. We had a great experience with both the food and the service. My husband ordered the scallop caviar entre and I had the grouper. Excellent. The vegetables were tender but not mushy or dipped in that terrible butter sauce some restaurants use. House salad was good especially with the sesame ginger dressing. The clam chowder was the best we have eaten outside Cape Cod. Our waiter, Michael was outstanding. He made great recommendations, checked to make sure we were happy with his suggestions (we were) and had a great sense of humor. The hostess was enthusiastic and well organized as there were a lot of patrons arriving and leaving every minute we were there. Service was timely without being rushed.
(4)Sarah H.
The food delicious the service could be improved. The market appeared high quality but we did not buy anything there.
(4)Michael S B.
Wonderful dinner with excellent service and suggestions by Michael. A highlight of our vacation - going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Robert K.
For the first time in 16 years, since moving to Florida, I finally found a restaurant down here that serves real fried clams, Ipswich clams, big bellies and cooked in a perfect batter. We've been three times during our first 30 days in Cape Coral and look forward to going again -- and again, and again. Everything was good, the food, the service, the ambiance and the prices. Ask for Coral if she's working, real friendly and a New Englander herself, but down here for most of her adult life. Highly recommended. The number 1 rating is deserved.
(5)Sharon S.
We enjoyed an impromptu dinner there this week. We went to Nevermind and found it very depressing and quite dirty feeling with a one dimensional menu (meat with more meat). Slate's was closed on Monday so we decided to try Fish Tale which was quite busy, especially for a Monday Night in off season. They had a bargain special at $32 per couple which included a bottle of decent chilean sauvignon blanc. I had Mussels and my DH had a seafood melange. Both were quite good as was the warm bread with sundried tomato composed butter. We will definitely be back. Service was right on as well.
(4)Karen F.
Driving south on 75 around lunch time, we decided to hit this highly rated joint, even though we could tell that it was not very close to the highway. Excellent decision on our part, because the food was definitely worth the detour. Located in the town of Cape Coral, the patio table we sat at just overlooked the nearby street and street parking. Fortunately they had fans blowing, and it was very comfortable sitting outside. I don't think you go for the ambiance of this place, you just go for the food. Our 42-year veteran server named Coral was outstanding, and gave excellent suggestions, in addition to bringing us samples of both the lobster bisque and the clam chowder. Since bisque is so rich, I can only ever eat a couple of spoonful, but I can honestly say this was some of the best lobster bisque I have had in my life - creamy, buttery, with lobster chunks - it was eyes-roll-back-in-the-head good. For my meal I had the lobster roll - comes as your choice of cold, in a lobster salad, or warm, with melted butter. Coral said 'warm', so warm it was. Outstanding. The lobster tasted incredibly fresh, and the toasted buttered roll it was on was perfect. Sandwich came with choice of side item - again I went with Coral's recommendation and tried the sweet potato fries, and these too were some of the best I have ever had. They actually still tasted like sweet potatoes! Served nice and hot, they had a dipping sauce on the side, which I thought was a nice touch. After you eat, make sure you go check out their fish market. If you're smart, you'll bring a cooler, so you can take some goodness home with you. I've already sent friends here, who called me to tell me how much they, too, loved it. Go!
(5)Loran V.
We found this place by accident and it was awesome. I tried the teriyaki ginger tuna and the lobster bisque. The soup was ok, but the tuna was amazing. My boyfriend had the shrimp po'boy. Huge portion and so fresh! He was stuffed which is hard to do. Coral the waitress was just as amazing as the food. Oh, the sweet potato fries are out of this world!! Would def recommend this place!
(4)Glenn C.
Excellent fresh seafood. The restaurant is attached to the market. They created a shrimp cocktail for me since it was not on the menu. The seafood chowder was full of fish and was very good. No complaints on the macadamian and cranberry sea bass. My only complaint was the water tasted horrible after it was refilled. Service was pretty good. You can eat inside or on deck. Prices reasonable. See pictures.
(5)Alec D.
Came here with my beautiful girlfriend, there were other couples and families, we started with Oysters Rockefeller and Coconut Shrimp, large portions and very tasty. My girlfriend had the Seafood Alfredo which had loads of lobster, shrimp and scallops in a creamy sauce over fettuccine really good took half home, oops she had the lobster bisque not the best we have had it lacked lobster chunks but made it up in flavor. I had a small salad and the fried seafood platter loads of large shrimp, large Scallops 4 of them and a large piece of grouper, just fantastic. We had a bottle of wine our bill was $122 with tax. We will return here, enjoy.
(5)Jenni L.
Great experience thanks to yelp! Our service and food was excellent! The outdoor patio is great! We enjoyed some filet mignon Oscar and Grouper Picatta. Both outstanding! The presentation of food did not disappoint. For dessert we indulged in the vanilla bean creme brûlée and Tirimisu,another delicious treat! I would definitely recommend it for a nice relaxing date night for more of a fine dining experience at a very good price.
(1)Sheryl B.
Had a great late lunch here on 8/28/15 Fried clams were my choice thanks to Yelp reviews and I was not disappointed! The portions were huge and take home made a whole meal for the next day. We were so full that we forgot to check the seafood for sale in the shop next door I recommend this restaurant. Very good, friendly service!
(4)D P.
While vacationing, my husband and I discovered Fish Tale by searching online for seafood. From beginning to end, our experience was fantastic. The decor is beautiful. Our waiter was great. I had lobster bisque which was filled with lobster and the best I've ever had. My entrée was the seafood salad filled with scallops, crab, shrimp. My husband had the seafood chowder and shrimp scampi pasta. Warm crusty bread with sun-dried tomato butter was included with our meal. Everything was delicious! Large portions left no room for dessert. When you see the outside it doesn't do the place justice. It's a beautiful place for a wonderful meal.
(5)Nikki C.
I had the Filet Oscar. For a seafood restaurant the steak was Amazing! The staff is very friendly and a good atmosphere. Note that this is a small restaurant next to the market so if you have a group more than 4 I would call ahead of time. We'll be back.
(5)Richard H.
Here is my 2 cents on the food. Fabulous and delectable for the palette. The first entree, crab cakes with rice. OMG it was bursting with crab meat and flavor. Fried to perfection. The rice was oh so good. 2nd entree fried grouper with a Thai chili sauce. The grouper was fried just right. Meat was moist, soft and tender. A drizzle of thai chili sauce coating. For those with barbarians pallette. Thai chili sauce is a slightly hot sauce, with ginger and a touch of sweetness. If you never have had it, I feel sorry for your tongue Orzo salad as my side dish was cool and so good for my tummy.... And now dessert. Vanilla creme brulee . It is hard to describe. But I will try. The top is a melted sugar which has been glazed over via a hand torch or a hot broiler. Under neath is a smooth and creamy (vanilla in this case) concoction similar to a pudding. BUT oh so much more in depth. This has to be one of the better meals, I have had..... At 8.99 per entree ,for lunch such a bargain. Beside the restaurant you have a seafood store. Crab legs, lobster, grouper and of course escargot etc. Escargot are a buck each...(snails for less sophicates). The have special every day of the week. Plus items prepared so you may finish it at home. It is located in the downtown area of Cape Coral. All the staff were wonderful and helpful. This is a must try eatery...
(5)Drew R.
This was a pretty disappointing meal for us. The house salad and seafood chowder were just ok. I had a sea bass dish that was good not great. My wife tried a hogfish special that was not good and then tried a grouper sandwich that wasn't good either. The service was ok but our waitress got really frustrated and it showed.
(2)Cameron C.
Nice place. Coral the waitress is great. I got the fried Ipswich clams. They were okay, but if you are looking for REAL New England fried clams and scallops, go to The Clambake in south fort Myers. Everything about that place is New England. They even have haddock. Bon appetit.
(4)Peter S.
What a great find! Not that I found it, but rather my Yelp friends found it, and I'm glad they did. The place has a modern seafood shanty look to it with cool music playing in the background. The Blue Point Oysters were great as was the Lobster Bisque. We had the Tuna Wrap and Crab Cake sandwich, both of which were very good, especially the Tuna wrap. The fries and onion rings were very good too. There was plenty of friendly wait staff on hand who were very attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. It was very clean there as well. I can't wait to come back for dinner. I highly recommend going here for good quality fresh seafood and a fun place to hang out. Oh....there's a small bar on the inside with colored lights in the bar that change colors which adds to the modern flair.
(5)Tara A.
Seafood Alfredo was Delicious! Beautiful Decor inside! pleasant staff! Definitely Delicious!!
(5)Elsa R.
Great restaurant, food was delicious. Servings were generous and presentation was beautiful. Service was excellent too.
(5)Ashley H.
Best lobster bisque ever!!! Sea bass was amazing. Staff was friendly and helpful with finding attractions around the area. Family friendly but very nice environment, high end casual.
(5)Barrett A.
Nice place. The fresh baked bread and its tomato/butter spread was soo good! A must try are the lobster spring rolls!!! Crunchy and creamy, just perfect. The service was Great. They were very polite even though we were the last ones there. Overall, very nice experience, and the food was very good.
(4)Cynthia E.
Came in on a Tuesday on a business call and was pleasantly greeted by Coral, she asked me if I was having lunch, and although my initial thought was not that .. I'm so glad she was warm and friendly and made me change my mind. Wow this place is amazing ! I had the trio salad for lunch and everything was decadent.. Let's not even talk about the presentation. Coral also brought me a small sample of their fresh homemade soups and let's just say the lobster bisque is to die for. Definitely will be back not only to eat but to take some fresh fish home from their amazing fresh fish showcase!
(5)Emirew P.
Coming from Arizona, we couldn't wait to eat seafood and we wanted only the best. Our grandparents referred us to Fish Tale, and it was the BEST!! We were so happy we could finally drink Yuengling Beer (they do not distribute in AZ). We made several trips to the restroom as we enjoyed the sea salt scrub. The atmosphere is pleasant, staff is friendly and knowledgable. Best Oysters we have ever eaten! The Gulf Coast and Blue Point Oysters were fresh and delicious. You have to try the Seafood Chowder, full of delicious seafood and vegetables. Wonderful flavor. The Heirloom was amazing, nice texture and presentation. Fresh tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil. We are going to miss Fish Tale! We now have a wonderful tale to tell in AZ ;)
(5)Jeanette H.
When we go on vacation, we have a rule that we never visit the same restaurant twice. Even at home, we tend to always want to try something new and different. It speaks volumes that in a two week visit to Cape Coral, we had dinner at Fish Tale Grill twice. The twilight dinner (Mon-Thurs 4-6pm) is a great bargain. Small number of choices on the special menu, but for $42 you get two entrees and a bottle of surprisingly good wine. Killer deal that is only available in the summer. Fish tacos were delicious and HUGE. Beautiful on the plate, with a very spicy slaw on the side. These are not typical baja style fish tacos - no onion or cilantro. The chef did the right thing by not adding too much seasoning and stuff to the tacos, allowing the amazingly fresh fried group and shrimp to shine. My only suggestion would be to use Mexican creama instead of sour cream so it can be poured onto the tacos, instead of the blobs of sour cream that plop off the knife, or trying to spread the sour cream on the taco. (twilight menu item) DH has a salmon dish one night from the regular menu. He's a huge fan of salmon and thought this one was excellent. Large portion. On the regular menu, I had the shrimp scampi over linguini. More huge, perfectly cooked shrimp than I could imagine at this price. The very garlicky sauce was unusual for a scampi in that it included tomatoes, but was delicious and not at all greasy (more of a broth). Made great leftovers the next day. DH had the petite filet and grilled shrimp with balsamic glaze (twilight menu). Beef was perfectly prepared to order and good quality. Again, those huge, perfect shrimp returned. He even enjoyed the side dishes. As amazing as the food it, the service is even better. Our server Tina actually remembered us on our second visit. These people care that you're enjoying their restaurant - from the guy who cleans up the dishes, to the servers, to the chef and manager - just a great crew. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Laurie D.
Mixed reviews for this place. The pictures online made this place look like an upscale restaurant...but when you are there it feels like a cheap diner....from the paper napkins to the counter with the chrome to the inexperienced servers. My SO was disappointed that they do not serve liquor, only wine and beer. We ordered the lobster bisque based on reviews and it was horrible...we took one bite and sent it back. I ordered the sea bass and it was melt-in-your-mouth incredible. My SO ordered the coconut shrimp and it looked and tasted like it came out of a Gordman's box. Too expensive for the food and experience. If it wasn't for the awesome sea bass this would have been a one star rating. If you want a great dining experience for the same money check out Brew Babies.
(2)Chelsea W.
We are in the area for vacation, and we decided to give this place a try. The inside seating area has a cool ambience. There's some neat lighting and cool things on the wall to look at. Our server was very sweet and did a great job serving us despite having a lot of other tables. My parents got the Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer and said that they'd give them a 4 out of 5. My mom had lobster bisque and let me try it. It was good! I ordered the Bourbon Salmon. It was absolutely delicious! I would come back here if I lived in the area.
(4)Shaun V.
What an outstanding treasure in Cape Coral. Yelp nailed this restaurant, and I must agree. We selected a table out on the patio to enjoy the cool evening and smoke cigars. This is normally a recipe for disaster style service. Not here! Bang, someone took our drink menu. Bang, our server came up and greeted us. Bang, another person brought us out water. WOW, our server was even fluent with Gluten free menu options. The Food: WOW! Exceptional presentation, and unique flavor combinations. It was hard choosing what to order, everything looked so amazing! Lastly, we closed the place down but the staff was polite and still attentive even after the check was dropped. BRAVO!
(5)Laura B.
Amazing service from the bartender Rachel and even better food. Great atmosphere and everything is fresh!
(5)John D.
This was an absolutey wonderful dining experience. I got there about 7:30 on a Thursday and the place was packed. It took about 20 minutes to get a table. While I was waiting I wondered into the fish market and that really got me excited for dinner. I wondered over to the bar and asked about a few wines. The bartender poured me a few samples. Once I got my wine I meandered back to the host stand. The hostest was very nice and extremely entertaining. She was in a very upbeat mood in spite of being called into work on her 18th birthday. As wonderful as the wait was, when I got my table, I was ready to order. Tbe server was excellent. I placed my order: Seafood Chowder, Mussels, and the Grouper Picata. The timing was perfect on the meal. I would finish a course and a minute or two later they would bus the table and deliver my next course at the perfect temperature. The chowder was thick, creamy, and full of fish and shellfish. The mussels were served in a butter sauce with herbs and tomatoes. The mussels also came with fresh baked bread that was great. The Grouper was the best I have had in years. Light, flaky and moist. The sauce was a pleasant accent and not overbearing. The veggies were crisp and fresh. It was a great way to end a weeklong business trip.
(5)Angie K.
I love this place!! It's clean and nice inside and the food is simple and good. No frills, all about the seafood. I started with the lobster bisque and it was deliciously rich and creamy with large chunks of lobster. Good thing they served it in a mug, because I drank that lobster goodness allllll up. :9 The calamari was pretty good- it was nicely seasoned, a little more on the peppery side. The fried breading wasn't staying on very well and was falling off of a handful of pieces. Also I might've just been spoiled with nice seafood but I thought the size of the calamari pieces was smaller than I'm used to. Although they did give two large full-body squid pieces that I happily put in mah belly. Next were the Blue Pointe oysters that I found to be very fresh. I got one extra oyster- not sure if it was a special favor or a failure at math- but I'll take it! We also ordered the tuna wrap with onion rings. (This tuna did not have a good ending to his fish tale) The chunks of tuna in this wrap are fairly large- I was pleasantly surprised- so this is definitely worth the money. The wasabi sauce was a great addition as well (but I'm totally biased) and I appreciate that they give the lemon on the side- so it doesn't sit on and cook the tuna. The onion rings were crispy with a light batter.. and oh, they were HUGE!! Fish Tale is a great spot for a fresh and easy lunch. I thought the dishes and restaurant were clean and simple- really highlighting the freshness of the seafood. I will def have to come back for the LOBSTA ROLL next time!!! Stay tuned for the next chapter of this Fish Tale!
(5)Freida D.
We are senior citizens and took our 2 adult children there for lunch today as we heard it was good. I am gluten sensitive and wanted the scallop platter that came with 2 sides (french fries,sweet potato fries, onion rings, orzo salad or slaw) I asked the waitress if I could get just 1 small toss salad instead of 2 sides as I could only eat the slaw and she said no. She could only give me 2 slaws for sides. So I ordered a grouper sandwich that was to come on a roll with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I requested no roll. Well, I didn't get the roll and I didn't get the lettuce, tomato, or onion ! But I did get charged the full price. The music was loud and not something for the "over 30" crowd. Would not rush back.
(3)Carly M.
Great seafood - great service - nice ambiance, can't complain. A little pricy but for good reasons.
(4)Gerald E.
Stopped in on Friday night and was pleasantly suprised at how nice the place is. The entire place is spotless and staff very friendly. We had the Butterfish and the Scallops dinner and both were amazing. Definitely going back soon.
(4)Tim L.
All the food was delicious. Service was good my inlaws actually came a few times here before and didn't even realize they had the indoor restaurant. We were full by our soup/salad course and had to take majority of the entrees home. The tartare duo was my favorite.
(4)Jenna A.
For my 100th review, I decided I would choose one of my favorite restaurants in the Cape/Ft. Myers area. It used to just be Merrick's fish store where you could buy local fresh fish, but they expanded and now have a lovely restaurant area as well. I like to sit outside, if weather permits. As far as appetizers go, you can't go wrong with the tartar duo of ahi tuna and salmon. My other favorite was when they had stone crab legs on special. Yum! For lunch I like the seafood Cobb, which may sound odd (scallops and bleu cheese dressing?) but it is delish and nice for something lighter. The only entree I haven't been too fond of was when I tried the bourbon salmon. It was a little dry when I ordered it but I will try it again. My go-to's are the butter fish and the Chilean sea bass. Fish Tale offers great service, great food and great wine. They have a house blend (I think? It's called Fish Tale...) of Sauvignon Blanc that pairs great with fish. Prices are on the higher side, but you get what you pay for and to me it's worth it!
(5)Connie P.
Great service!! The food was amazing. From the steamers to the seafood chowder to the twin lobster tail you will not be disappointed. The staff are friendly and attentive. I never had to ask for a refill. It nice and cozy!! I will definitely return again
(5)Jon P.
Three of my friends and I came to Cape Coral from Peoria for the weekend. When we asked locals where to get good seafood each and every single one mentioned FishTale Grill. As such, we went for dinner. Despite being one of the last customers of the night, our service was top notch. Moreover, the food was amazing. Myself, I had the grouper picatta, with my friends opting for various other dishes. For appetizers we had the clams, oysters, and another dish. Everyone raved about their dishes. I cannot recommend this place enough.
(5)Karen D.
Ordered the fried seafood platter and that was a mistake. It was very greasy and the fish bordered on being over fried. Nothing to recommend about the sweet potato fries or the coleslaw either. I will say the seafood chowder was good. Too expensive for the quality of this meal. Won't be back.
(2)Jason L.
I ordered the seafood Trio and 2 Sangria's. The side I ordered was sweet potato fries. Best Sweet potato fried ever!!! Grill grouper was good. Scallops and scampi were about average. Would recommend a visit.
(4)Antonio R.
Second time coming and I loved the lobster roll! Great atmosphere and our waitress Coral was very friendly. Pretty much everything on the menu and what I saw from other people's plates looked great! Will definitely be coming back in the future.
(5)Nicole B.
We hosted a retirement lunch at Fish Tale Grill on Tuesday for 11 people. The impeccable service and comfortable surroundings were only eclipsed by the outstanding fresh fish dishes. Every dish was fabulous - oysters, clams, lobster roll, fish and chips, tuna and mango wrap. My standard for fish quality is typically measured by the freshness of calamari, and you would need to be standing on a dock to find fresher squid. We also had amazing house-made chocolate cake that was patisserie-worthy. Seriously, you must eat here if you are within 100 miles. I will drive 2+ hours from St Pete until I can implore the owner to open up a restaurant and fish market here (seriously, please come to St Pete)! Don't let strip mall(ish) impression throw you off. The space is upmarket, and there is a cheery deck if you want to sit outside.
(5)Mark M.
Great service and great food. Our server Coral did a great job. Not on the menu but the key lime frozen drink was a perfect desert drink
(5)Casi V.
Everything I've had here has been delicious. We also had a cookout with a bunch of seafood we purchased. It was all very tasty and decently priced. Service is great and attentive.
(5)Meghan R.
Fantastic service! Broiled shrimp, cordon bleu sandwich were outstanding! lobster bisque was okay personally ... very strong sherry flavor. Loved the trio tray great variety to taste things. Would definitely recommend for families.
(5)Jeff H.
Everything was perfect! Ingredients and seasoning was spot on. The wife and I will be back.
(5)Dennis E.
I had dinner there with my wife last night for the first time. It was excellent! The Lobster Bisque was amazing. My wife had a salad with homemade herb ranch dressing. I assume it was good. She cleaned the plate, while I was busy licking the bottom of my bowl of bisque. She had the Butterfish as an entree, It was spectacular from the small nibble that she allowed me to try. I had the dueling seafood special which consisted of Cobia on one side of the plate and TripleTail on the other. It's was served with some vegetables in the middle. I'm not sure creative genius thought up this dish, but they surely deserve a medal or at least a raise. It was fantastic. The food was extremely well plated, it almost looked too pretty to eat. The service was exceptional too. Kudos!
(5)Craig D.
Okay, I've found another reason to cross the river. And why wouldn't the best seafood market in Lee county not have an excellent seafood restaurant? The restaurant is clean, modern and best of all doesn't smell like fish. And the outdoor deck is large and comfortable with several tables with umbrellas to keep you in the shade. We were waited on right away by a very competent waitress named, Coral. She performed all her functions effortlessly and expediently. We ordered unsweetened teas, blacked grouper tacos, a crab cake sandwich and the Asian salmon salad. The two overstuffed tacos came on a rack with a creamy slaw, pico de gallo, limes and sour cream. I would have preferred a cilantro cream sauce instead. We devoured them. They were quite good. The Asian salmon salad had a wonderful ginger, citrus dressing. Mixed greens, purple onion, mandarin oranges, won tons which were served chilled. The salmon was cooked to perfection and served warm. I was surprised at how large the fillet was. The crab cake sandwich was served warm on a soft bakery bun, lettuce, tomato and onion. It came with sweet potato fries and a garlic, lemon aoili dip that tasted incredible. So our lunch was over $40 with tip. Not an amount I would normally spend for lunch. But when you feel like treating yourself to very good seafood with pleasant surroundings come here by all means. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Don A.
I'm an armature chef and the folks here are not! My wife had the Blackened Mahi which was crafted well. A tad overly spicy but butter smooth and moist inside. I think a hint less spice or a finish with some butter to tone it down would of made it perfection! Our great server Coral brought me a soft shelled crab sandwich. I'm not sorry to say I could not improve on it in any way possible - moist, fresh, smacks of the sea yet still delicately sweetness of the crab shines through down to the last bite! We have had surf n turf a 10. Rockefeller oysters although not traditional are great with the addition of sweet lump crab meat! The local raw clams are always amazing too. This is by FAR the best seafood in a 35 mile radius of Cape Coral! By DHA
(5)Lim K.
We were looking for patio dining and decided to try Fish Tale. Unfortunately the rain came and the patio was not available but we went ahead and took a table inside. We started off with six oysters on the half shell and a dozen fresh clams. The oysters were very good but the clams were a little fishy and sandy. My husband ordered a wedge salad and I had scallops with caviar which came with green salad, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. My husband liked his salad. My scallops were excellent; it was cooked perfectly and the saltiness of caviar added the great flavor to scallops. The red skin mashed potatoes were very good, just like the way I make it at home. Excellent service.
(4)Lisa S.
I have had my fair share of shrimp scampi. I would definitely order this dish again and recommend it. Beware, it does have a lot of oil and butter. A tad bit more garlic would be nice but the shrimp were cooked perfectly. Another plus, the dish had a ton of large shrimp compared to most so the $20 price point makes sense. By a ton, there were probably 8-12 if I had to guess. The Caesar salad with anchovies was creamy and tasty; I would order and recommend. The seafood chowder was good, but I have had better at many places on Sanibel. I would recommend this over the bisque. The lobster bisque was alright; a little watery with a strong sherry flavor. In the reviews I read it had big chunks of fish but there were barely any in the two cups the table ordered. I would not order the bisque again, although for $6, perhaps everyone should try it. A little thicker and it would be spot on. Four beers, one entree, an entree Caesar salad ($10) and three cups of soup was about $70. Their appetizers looked innovative, so I am excited to go back and try more. There doesn't seem to be a bar to sit at, so plan on getting a table, inside or out. At 4:50pm there was only one table seated, by 5:40, all of the inside tables were full (It was too cold for outdoor seating).
(4)Ron K.
Nice location, excellent food and perfect service. We had an appertizer platter with awesome octopus and lobster wraps and OK shrimps. The entré with different pasta dishes and fish&ships was great. We were sitting outside and before it started to rain the staff had a table for us waiting inside. Perfect!
(5)Virginie L.
This place was Awesome!!! The ambiance was great, the noise level was perfect and service was perfect. Our server Greg was great and took excellent care of us. We had the Snapper and snow Crab Leg. Highly recommended.
(5)Kristi B.
Just finished dinner and it was ok. The tuna did not taste fresh. My husband had tuna too and said it was ok. We ordered a bottle of wine which took 10 minutes to arrive. Our server told us she was handing is over to another server because she wasn't feeling good and was going home. Well she was still working other tables an hour after we left. We will not be back.
(2)Debbie W.
Absolutely love this establishment. GREAT food and service. I can't believe that we have lived here 9 months and we haven't eaten here before now. This will be our new favorite place to eat.
(5)Mary G.
Excellent meal excellent service can't say enough good stuff ...I highly recommend for great food
(5)Susy M.
The grouper tacos were wonderful. Served with a spicy coleslaw (too spicey for me but perfect for my husband) so ask for regular if you're not heat inclined. The Tuscan chicken sandwich was also terrific. We sat outside on the deck.
(5)Steve J.
Everything on here is accurate. Prompt and friendly service. The Blue Points were exceptional, as was the calamarie. The Butterfish with scallops and caviar was one of the best meals I have ever had. My wife raved about the grouper in picatta sauce. This place is a winner.
(5)Seth F.
First time in Cape Coral. Loved that you could purchase fresh fish or stay for dinner. Since we rented a house, no point and eating there, although we saw it had good reviews. Got grouper and shrimp. Nice find for dinner:)
(5)Greg M.
This place is awesome. Considering the food, service, and ambiance they all deserve a 5 star rating. We were there with a group of 4 with 3 ordering seafood and the 4th ordering a steak. I will just say every meal was perfect and this will be the best steak you can find in Cape Coral. The price was in line for what you would expect to pay for a good quality meal.
(5)Andrea C.
We started with the tuna and salmon tartar...the tuna part of it was good, the salmon was kind of fishy. I then had the seafood chowder and bourbon salmon which was excellent! The only down side is that they don't serve liquor, which is pretty common in Cape Coral.
(4)Stephen D.
It's as good as everyone says! Really enjoyed my lunch there, everything was well prepared. I just wish they had a side salad at lunch. I was surprised that I never heard they have full belly ipswitch clams on the menu- my favorite!
(5)Margie S.
The food is awesome, fresh, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful and tasteful. I love the outdoor patio with the fire heaters too.
(5)Dan d.
We went on a Thursday night, and were able to get a table right away at 6:30. The service was excellent from beginning to end. We started out with the social seafood platter and a sampler of oysters in the raw. We followed that up with a good old-fashioned fish and chips, probably one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. We split a bottle of Santa Margarita, a bargain at $36 a bottle ($20 retail). Overall, an excellent experience. Great food, decent price, and fairly nice setting, with prompt and friendly service. Highly recommended.
(4)Lawrence S.
I have to say I was skeptical with there 4.5 star review. It a 5 all the way. Service was excellent. Our server Francine was outstanding and very sweet. The clams on the half were some of the best I've ever had. I took my parents here and they loved what they hade as well. I would like to give them 6 stars!
(5)Josh Y.
Wow... what a great place to eat. Went out to eat on a friday night with family while we were in the area for vacation. Stopped at another local establishment first, but found an hour and a half wait time. Looked on yelp for another restaurant close by and found this place. Walked up expecting a lengthy wait considering the prior attempt, but we were seated at an outside table fairly soon after. We had enough time to take a look at the seafood market inside though. The seared tuna special was one of the best I have had. Everyone's meal was very good. No complaints at all. A+ for service, presentation, and taste.
(5)Dominick W.
Amazing food, location, and staff! The fish tacos were amazing! Best ones I've ever had! Definitely would recommend.
(5)Linda P.
Lobster bisque excellent! All dishes here are good! Great service, knowledgeable and friendly staff. I highly recommend to friends!
(5)CJ G.
We were pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. Nice large deck for outdoor eating and a nicely decorated indoor dining. There is a bar with many seats. Next to the restaurant is their fish market with beautiful fresh fish and frozen selections too! The menu is very extensive. I had the Cranberry Macadamia Sea Bass and the dish was beautifully presented and so delicious. I cannot say enough about how great this dining experience was. They do not take reservation.
(4)John S.
After reading about the Fish Tale Grill on Yelp my wife and decided to try it for dinner and we were not disappointed. The staff were very friendly and attentive. My wife had the Grouper Piccata and I had the fried seafood platter with grouper, shrimp & oyster. Both meals were very good and plentiful. The Seafood Chowder was creamy and loaded with shrimp grouper and other seafood. Our waiter made very good recommendations and the service was excellent. I had the Coconut Bread Pudding which was yummy. We will make this restaurant one to visit over and over as well as bring our friends. Very clean and well appointed.
(5)Gretchen W.
Best seafood dinner we have had in Cape Coral. Could have made a meal on the fresh bread and seafood chowder but the entrees didn't disappoint. Lightly battered fried seafood and the seared Sea Bass was perfection. Loved the decor.
(5)Beth G.
We had an excellent meal here. Extremely fresh fish. The tartare appetizer was excellent. Highly recommend it!! Fish chowder was wonderful. We will be back here for sure.
(4)Lynnie G.
I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch here yesterday. Service was above standard and the Tuna Wrap was yummy. I was quite impressed with the chunks of lobster in the lobster bisque. Great Job!
(5)Michelle A.
The food was amazing! My husband and I ordered the twin lobster tails and snow crab legs and both were excellent!
(4)Terra A.
this review is for the fresh seafood store, Merrick Seafood, the other half to the fish tale grill. i purchased a lobster tail and two small servings of grouper for far far far less than i would pay to have prepared in a restaurant. i had great service and the fish was so good!
(5)BobAndElayne L.
My wife and I were in Cape Coral on business and several people mentioned Fish Tale Grill so we gave it a try. The people were very friendly and attentive, the plate presentation was beautiful, and the food was very good. The atmosphere is very cool and trendy. I felt like I was in a boutique hotel restaurant. We had Caesar salad and the dressing was homemade. For dinner we had the seafood platter and it was very good and plentiful. I would go back here again. Outside is an outside patio where you can eat outside but it was too hot the night we were there. Next door is a fish market where you can buy your fish and take it home to try your own hand at cooking. The outside patio would be fine for kids and families. Inside is a great date night spot.
(4)Sandy C.
I have eaten at Fish Tales several times, and I love it. There Tuna wrap is awesome. I have had there salmon and salads also and it was delicious food. Took my son and his girlfriend there and they also liked it and can't wait to come visit again so they can go back and eat there. You can also buy fresh seafood and they have prepared foods ready for the oven or grill.
(5)Kevin J.
My family and I frequent Fish Tale Grill. We all agree that the food is ALWAYS delicious and presented beautifully. They are hands down the BEST for fresh and affordable seafood. Their outside dining area is great on a weather permitting day and the inside area while small is extremely clean and attractive. The service we have is always very pleasant and our food and drinks are delivered quickly. We reside in Naples and the 1 hour drive to eat at Fish Tale Grill is well worth it. Definitely at the top of my list with USS Nemo's in Naples coming in second. This is a must try! Don't forget the market before you leave, many items from Merrick Seafood have made dinner time simple and delicious for my family at home.
(5)adam a.
Went there for dinner based on the relatively positive Yelp reviews. The service was a little rushed (the brought the entrees while we were still working on our lobster bisque) and a little on the coldside. The food was about par for the course, some dishes were better than others (the lobster bisque was great, most of the rest was average). They forgot one of the orders and apologized but it really put a kink in the dinner since one person was left waiting and the rest of us were mostly done by the time that person was served. Price was about right though there are certainly better deals out there. The waitress was friendly and chatty. Parking is a hassle as there is no parking on site but there are spots available on the road or down the street. Not a bad place, but certainly not great either.
(3)beverly f.
We went for lunch and everything was great including the service. Amazing value, too.
(5)Lee S.
This is the absolute best seafood in the area. Merrick Seafood is the wholesale fishmonger to well over 200 area restaurants... so when the owners decided to open a small restaurant in the space next door, I took notice. You should too. And yes, Fort Myers denizens, it's even worth crossing the bridge to get to it. NOTE: currently only open 11-4 for lunch!
(5)K K.
Fantastic! Definitely recommend. Lobster Bisque was awesome. Tile fish was great too. Best seafood we had our entire trip!
(5)TJ S.
Would definitely go back! Complimentary bread, seafood chowder with the coconut shrimp appetizer is what I'll be ordering. Skip the entrees! Sit outside and enjoy the good service. We did not care for the escargot, dry... not enough butter or garlic. The bourbon salmon sauce is very sweet - should be added to the description on the menu. Thus the four stars. Price is reasonable, casual dress.
(4)Sarah P.
Very good food, the outside seating is very nice with ample shade. The inside is decorated very nicely however, the inside tables are plastic! Plastic outside is fine but inside brings down the entire atmosphere.
(4)Dolly H.
Great fresh seafood grill and market. Limited seating but not for long, they are expanding into the space next door. The blackened grouper sandwich was excellent. The fish looked so fresh we bought halibut and swordfish to take home. The staff are wonderful, extremely pleasant and knowledgeable.
(5)Lori B.
Went to Fish Tale Grill based on Yelp reviews. We had a great experience with both the food and the service. My husband ordered the scallop caviar entre and I had the grouper. Excellent. The vegetables were tender but not mushy or dipped in that terrible butter sauce some restaurants use. House salad was good especially with the sesame ginger dressing. The clam chowder was the best we have eaten outside Cape Cod. Our waiter, Michael was outstanding. He made great recommendations, checked to make sure we were happy with his suggestions (we were) and had a great sense of humor. The hostess was enthusiastic and well organized as there were a lot of patrons arriving and leaving every minute we were there. Service was timely without being rushed.
(4)Michael S B.
Wonderful dinner with excellent service and suggestions by Michael. A highlight of our vacation - going back for lunch tomorrow!
(5)Sarah H.
The food delicious the service could be improved. The market appeared high quality but we did not buy anything there.
(4)Loran V.
We found this place by accident and it was awesome. I tried the teriyaki ginger tuna and the lobster bisque. The soup was ok, but the tuna was amazing. My boyfriend had the shrimp po'boy. Huge portion and so fresh! He was stuffed which is hard to do. Coral the waitress was just as amazing as the food. Oh, the sweet potato fries are out of this world!! Would def recommend this place!
(4)Jenni L.
Great experience thanks to yelp! Our service and food was excellent! The outdoor patio is great! We enjoyed some filet mignon Oscar and Grouper Picatta. Both outstanding! The presentation of food did not disappoint. For dessert we indulged in the vanilla bean creme brûlée and Tirimisu,another delicious treat! I would definitely recommend it for a nice relaxing date night for more of a fine dining experience at a very good price.
(1)Terry R.
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this place is. The food is incredible the staffing is wonderful, and our waitress was Rachael who is Fantabulous... And the pricing is very very reasonable for the quality of the food . definitely very high-quality food and they have an awesome chef.one of the best meals we've had in Fort Myers, thanks again Rachael you were awesome
(5)Sheryl B.
Had a great late lunch here on 8/28/15 Fried clams were my choice thanks to Yelp reviews and I was not disappointed! The portions were huge and take home made a whole meal for the next day. We were so full that we forgot to check the seafood for sale in the shop next door I recommend this restaurant. Very good, friendly service!
(4)D P.
While vacationing, my husband and I discovered Fish Tale by searching online for seafood. From beginning to end, our experience was fantastic. The decor is beautiful. Our waiter was great. I had lobster bisque which was filled with lobster and the best I've ever had. My entrée was the seafood salad filled with scallops, crab, shrimp. My husband had the seafood chowder and shrimp scampi pasta. Warm crusty bread with sun-dried tomato butter was included with our meal. Everything was delicious! Large portions left no room for dessert. When you see the outside it doesn't do the place justice. It's a beautiful place for a wonderful meal.
(5)Ashley H.
Best lobster bisque ever!!! Sea bass was amazing. Staff was friendly and helpful with finding attractions around the area. Family friendly but very nice environment, high end casual.
(5)Elsa R.
Great restaurant, food was delicious. Servings were generous and presentation was beautiful. Service was excellent too.
(5)Barrett A.
Nice place. The fresh baked bread and its tomato/butter spread was soo good! A must try are the lobster spring rolls!!! Crunchy and creamy, just perfect. The service was Great. They were very polite even though we were the last ones there. Overall, very nice experience, and the food was very good.
(4)Richard H.
Here is my 2 cents on the food. Fabulous and delectable for the palette. The first entree, crab cakes with rice. OMG it was bursting with crab meat and flavor. Fried to perfection. The rice was oh so good. 2nd entree fried grouper with a Thai chili sauce. The grouper was fried just right. Meat was moist, soft and tender. A drizzle of thai chili sauce coating. For those with barbarians pallette. Thai chili sauce is a slightly hot sauce, with ginger and a touch of sweetness. If you never have had it, I feel sorry for your tongue Orzo salad as my side dish was cool and so good for my tummy.... And now dessert. Vanilla creme brulee . It is hard to describe. But I will try. The top is a melted sugar which has been glazed over via a hand torch or a hot broiler. Under neath is a smooth and creamy (vanilla in this case) concoction similar to a pudding. BUT oh so much more in depth. This has to be one of the better meals, I have had..... At 8.99 per entree ,for lunch such a bargain. Beside the restaurant you have a seafood store. Crab legs, lobster, grouper and of course escargot etc. Escargot are a buck each...(snails for less sophicates). The have special every day of the week. Plus items prepared so you may finish it at home. It is located in the downtown area of Cape Coral. All the staff were wonderful and helpful. This is a must try eatery...
(5)Nikki C.
I had the Filet Oscar. For a seafood restaurant the steak was Amazing! The staff is very friendly and a good atmosphere. Note that this is a small restaurant next to the market so if you have a group more than 4 I would call ahead of time. We'll be back.
(5)Cameron C.
Nice place. Coral the waitress is great. I got the fried Ipswich clams. They were okay, but if you are looking for REAL New England fried clams and scallops, go to The Clambake in south fort Myers. Everything about that place is New England. They even have haddock. Bon appetit.
(4)Drew R.
This was a pretty disappointing meal for us. The house salad and seafood chowder were just ok. I had a sea bass dish that was good not great. My wife tried a hogfish special that was not good and then tried a grouper sandwich that wasn't good either. The service was ok but our waitress got really frustrated and it showed.
(2)Peter S.
What a great find! Not that I found it, but rather my Yelp friends found it, and I'm glad they did. The place has a modern seafood shanty look to it with cool music playing in the background. The Blue Point Oysters were great as was the Lobster Bisque. We had the Tuna Wrap and Crab Cake sandwich, both of which were very good, especially the Tuna wrap. The fries and onion rings were very good too. There was plenty of friendly wait staff on hand who were very attentive, knowledgeable, and helpful. It was very clean there as well. I can't wait to come back for dinner. I highly recommend going here for good quality fresh seafood and a fun place to hang out. Oh....there's a small bar on the inside with colored lights in the bar that change colors which adds to the modern flair.
(5)Tara A.
Seafood Alfredo was Delicious! Beautiful Decor inside! pleasant staff! Definitely Delicious!!
(5)Cynthia E.
Came in on a Tuesday on a business call and was pleasantly greeted by Coral, she asked me if I was having lunch, and although my initial thought was not that .. I'm so glad she was warm and friendly and made me change my mind. Wow this place is amazing ! I had the trio salad for lunch and everything was decadent.. Let's not even talk about the presentation. Coral also brought me a small sample of their fresh homemade soups and let's just say the lobster bisque is to die for. Definitely will be back not only to eat but to take some fresh fish home from their amazing fresh fish showcase!
(5)Emirew P.
Coming from Arizona, we couldn't wait to eat seafood and we wanted only the best. Our grandparents referred us to Fish Tale, and it was the BEST!! We were so happy we could finally drink Yuengling Beer (they do not distribute in AZ). We made several trips to the restroom as we enjoyed the sea salt scrub. The atmosphere is pleasant, staff is friendly and knowledgable. Best Oysters we have ever eaten! The Gulf Coast and Blue Point Oysters were fresh and delicious. You have to try the Seafood Chowder, full of delicious seafood and vegetables. Wonderful flavor. The Heirloom was amazing, nice texture and presentation. Fresh tomatoes, Mozzarella and Basil. We are going to miss Fish Tale! We now have a wonderful tale to tell in AZ ;)
(5)Jeanette H.
When we go on vacation, we have a rule that we never visit the same restaurant twice. Even at home, we tend to always want to try something new and different. It speaks volumes that in a two week visit to Cape Coral, we had dinner at Fish Tale Grill twice. The twilight dinner (Mon-Thurs 4-6pm) is a great bargain. Small number of choices on the special menu, but for $42 you get two entrees and a bottle of surprisingly good wine. Killer deal that is only available in the summer. Fish tacos were delicious and HUGE. Beautiful on the plate, with a very spicy slaw on the side. These are not typical baja style fish tacos - no onion or cilantro. The chef did the right thing by not adding too much seasoning and stuff to the tacos, allowing the amazingly fresh fried group and shrimp to shine. My only suggestion would be to use Mexican creama instead of sour cream so it can be poured onto the tacos, instead of the blobs of sour cream that plop off the knife, or trying to spread the sour cream on the taco. (twilight menu item) DH has a salmon dish one night from the regular menu. He's a huge fan of salmon and thought this one was excellent. Large portion. On the regular menu, I had the shrimp scampi over linguini. More huge, perfectly cooked shrimp than I could imagine at this price. The very garlicky sauce was unusual for a scampi in that it included tomatoes, but was delicious and not at all greasy (more of a broth). Made great leftovers the next day. DH had the petite filet and grilled shrimp with balsamic glaze (twilight menu). Beef was perfectly prepared to order and good quality. Again, those huge, perfect shrimp returned. He even enjoyed the side dishes. As amazing as the food it, the service is even better. Our server Tina actually remembered us on our second visit. These people care that you're enjoying their restaurant - from the guy who cleans up the dishes, to the servers, to the chef and manager - just a great crew. I can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Chelsea W.
We are in the area for vacation, and we decided to give this place a try. The inside seating area has a cool ambience. There's some neat lighting and cool things on the wall to look at. Our server was very sweet and did a great job serving us despite having a lot of other tables. My parents got the Oysters Rockefeller for an appetizer and said that they'd give them a 4 out of 5. My mom had lobster bisque and let me try it. It was good! I ordered the Bourbon Salmon. It was absolutely delicious! I would come back here if I lived in the area.
(4)Laurie D.
Mixed reviews for this place. The pictures online made this place look like an upscale restaurant...but when you are there it feels like a cheap diner....from the paper napkins to the counter with the chrome to the inexperienced servers. My SO was disappointed that they do not serve liquor, only wine and beer. We ordered the lobster bisque based on reviews and it was horrible...we took one bite and sent it back. I ordered the sea bass and it was melt-in-your-mouth incredible. My SO ordered the coconut shrimp and it looked and tasted like it came out of a Gordman's box. Too expensive for the food and experience. If it wasn't for the awesome sea bass this would have been a one star rating. If you want a great dining experience for the same money check out Brew Babies.
(2)Shaun V.
What an outstanding treasure in Cape Coral. Yelp nailed this restaurant, and I must agree. We selected a table out on the patio to enjoy the cool evening and smoke cigars. This is normally a recipe for disaster style service. Not here! Bang, someone took our drink menu. Bang, our server came up and greeted us. Bang, another person brought us out water. WOW, our server was even fluent with Gluten free menu options. The Food: WOW! Exceptional presentation, and unique flavor combinations. It was hard choosing what to order, everything looked so amazing! Lastly, we closed the place down but the staff was polite and still attentive even after the check was dropped. BRAVO!
(5)Laura B.
Amazing service from the bartender Rachel and even better food. Great atmosphere and everything is fresh!
(5)Karen D.
Ordered the fried seafood platter and that was a mistake. It was very greasy and the fish bordered on being over fried. Nothing to recommend about the sweet potato fries or the coleslaw either. I will say the seafood chowder was good. Too expensive for the quality of this meal. Won't be back.
(2)Jason L.
I ordered the seafood Trio and 2 Sangria's. The side I ordered was sweet potato fries. Best Sweet potato fried ever!!! Grill grouper was good. Scallops and scampi were about average. Would recommend a visit.
(4)Antonio R.
Second time coming and I loved the lobster roll! Great atmosphere and our waitress Coral was very friendly. Pretty much everything on the menu and what I saw from other people's plates looked great! Will definitely be coming back in the future.
(5)John D.
This was an absolutey wonderful dining experience. I got there about 7:30 on a Thursday and the place was packed. It took about 20 minutes to get a table. While I was waiting I wondered into the fish market and that really got me excited for dinner. I wondered over to the bar and asked about a few wines. The bartender poured me a few samples. Once I got my wine I meandered back to the host stand. The hostest was very nice and extremely entertaining. She was in a very upbeat mood in spite of being called into work on her 18th birthday. As wonderful as the wait was, when I got my table, I was ready to order. Tbe server was excellent. I placed my order: Seafood Chowder, Mussels, and the Grouper Picata. The timing was perfect on the meal. I would finish a course and a minute or two later they would bus the table and deliver my next course at the perfect temperature. The chowder was thick, creamy, and full of fish and shellfish. The mussels were served in a butter sauce with herbs and tomatoes. The mussels also came with fresh baked bread that was great. The Grouper was the best I have had in years. Light, flaky and moist. The sauce was a pleasant accent and not overbearing. The veggies were crisp and fresh. It was a great way to end a weeklong business trip.
(5)Angie K.
I love this place!! It's clean and nice inside and the food is simple and good. No frills, all about the seafood. I started with the lobster bisque and it was deliciously rich and creamy with large chunks of lobster. Good thing they served it in a mug, because I drank that lobster goodness allllll up. :9 The calamari was pretty good- it was nicely seasoned, a little more on the peppery side. The fried breading wasn't staying on very well and was falling off of a handful of pieces. Also I might've just been spoiled with nice seafood but I thought the size of the calamari pieces was smaller than I'm used to. Although they did give two large full-body squid pieces that I happily put in mah belly. Next were the Blue Pointe oysters that I found to be very fresh. I got one extra oyster- not sure if it was a special favor or a failure at math- but I'll take it! We also ordered the tuna wrap with onion rings. (This tuna did not have a good ending to his fish tale) The chunks of tuna in this wrap are fairly large- I was pleasantly surprised- so this is definitely worth the money. The wasabi sauce was a great addition as well (but I'm totally biased) and I appreciate that they give the lemon on the side- so it doesn't sit on and cook the tuna. The onion rings were crispy with a light batter.. and oh, they were HUGE!! Fish Tale is a great spot for a fresh and easy lunch. I thought the dishes and restaurant were clean and simple- really highlighting the freshness of the seafood. I will def have to come back for the LOBSTA ROLL next time!!! Stay tuned for the next chapter of this Fish Tale!
(5)Carly M.
Great seafood - great service - nice ambiance, can't complain. A little pricy but for good reasons.
(4)Freida D.
We are senior citizens and took our 2 adult children there for lunch today as we heard it was good. I am gluten sensitive and wanted the scallop platter that came with 2 sides (french fries,sweet potato fries, onion rings, orzo salad or slaw) I asked the waitress if I could get just 1 small toss salad instead of 2 sides as I could only eat the slaw and she said no. She could only give me 2 slaws for sides. So I ordered a grouper sandwich that was to come on a roll with lettuce, tomato, and onion. I requested no roll. Well, I didn't get the roll and I didn't get the lettuce, tomato, or onion ! But I did get charged the full price. The music was loud and not something for the "over 30" crowd. Would not rush back.
(3)Gerald E.
Stopped in on Friday night and was pleasantly suprised at how nice the place is. The entire place is spotless and staff very friendly. We had the Butterfish and the Scallops dinner and both were amazing. Definitely going back soon.
(4)Tim L.
All the food was delicious. Service was good my inlaws actually came a few times here before and didn't even realize they had the indoor restaurant. We were full by our soup/salad course and had to take majority of the entrees home. The tartare duo was my favorite.
(4)Jenna A.
For my 100th review, I decided I would choose one of my favorite restaurants in the Cape/Ft. Myers area. It used to just be Merrick's fish store where you could buy local fresh fish, but they expanded and now have a lovely restaurant area as well. I like to sit outside, if weather permits. As far as appetizers go, you can't go wrong with the tartar duo of ahi tuna and salmon. My other favorite was when they had stone crab legs on special. Yum! For lunch I like the seafood Cobb, which may sound odd (scallops and bleu cheese dressing?) but it is delish and nice for something lighter. The only entree I haven't been too fond of was when I tried the bourbon salmon. It was a little dry when I ordered it but I will try it again. My go-to's are the butter fish and the Chilean sea bass. Fish Tale offers great service, great food and great wine. They have a house blend (I think? It's called Fish Tale...) of Sauvignon Blanc that pairs great with fish. Prices are on the higher side, but you get what you pay for and to me it's worth it!
(5)Connie P.
Great service!! The food was amazing. From the steamers to the seafood chowder to the twin lobster tail you will not be disappointed. The staff are friendly and attentive. I never had to ask for a refill. It nice and cozy!! I will definitely return again
(5)Jon P.
Three of my friends and I came to Cape Coral from Peoria for the weekend. When we asked locals where to get good seafood each and every single one mentioned FishTale Grill. As such, we went for dinner. Despite being one of the last customers of the night, our service was top notch. Moreover, the food was amazing. Myself, I had the grouper picatta, with my friends opting for various other dishes. For appetizers we had the clams, oysters, and another dish. Everyone raved about their dishes. I cannot recommend this place enough.
(5)Nicole B.
We hosted a retirement lunch at Fish Tale Grill on Tuesday for 11 people. The impeccable service and comfortable surroundings were only eclipsed by the outstanding fresh fish dishes. Every dish was fabulous - oysters, clams, lobster roll, fish and chips, tuna and mango wrap. My standard for fish quality is typically measured by the freshness of calamari, and you would need to be standing on a dock to find fresher squid. We also had amazing house-made chocolate cake that was patisserie-worthy. Seriously, you must eat here if you are within 100 miles. I will drive 2+ hours from St Pete until I can implore the owner to open up a restaurant and fish market here (seriously, please come to St Pete)! Don't let strip mall(ish) impression throw you off. The space is upmarket, and there is a cheery deck if you want to sit outside.
(5)Mark M.
Great service and great food. Our server Coral did a great job. Not on the menu but the key lime frozen drink was a perfect desert drink
(5)Casi V.
Everything I've had here has been delicious. We also had a cookout with a bunch of seafood we purchased. It was all very tasty and decently priced. Service is great and attentive.
(5)Jeff H.
Everything was perfect! Ingredients and seasoning was spot on. The wife and I will be back.
(5)Dennis E.
I had dinner there with my wife last night for the first time. It was excellent! The Lobster Bisque was amazing. My wife had a salad with homemade herb ranch dressing. I assume it was good. She cleaned the plate, while I was busy licking the bottom of my bowl of bisque. She had the Butterfish as an entree, It was spectacular from the small nibble that she allowed me to try. I had the dueling seafood special which consisted of Cobia on one side of the plate and TripleTail on the other. It's was served with some vegetables in the middle. I'm not sure creative genius thought up this dish, but they surely deserve a medal or at least a raise. It was fantastic. The food was extremely well plated, it almost looked too pretty to eat. The service was exceptional too. Kudos!
(5)Meghan R.
Fantastic service! Broiled shrimp, cordon bleu sandwich were outstanding! lobster bisque was okay personally ... very strong sherry flavor. Loved the trio tray great variety to taste things. Would definitely recommend for families.
(5)Steve J.
Everything on here is accurate. Prompt and friendly service. The Blue Points were exceptional, as was the calamarie. The Butterfish with scallops and caviar was one of the best meals I have ever had. My wife raved about the grouper in picatta sauce. This place is a winner.
(5)Seth F.
First time in Cape Coral. Loved that you could purchase fresh fish or stay for dinner. Since we rented a house, no point and eating there, although we saw it had good reviews. Got grouper and shrimp. Nice find for dinner:)
(5)Craig D.
Okay, I've found another reason to cross the river. And why wouldn't the best seafood market in Lee county not have an excellent seafood restaurant? The restaurant is clean, modern and best of all doesn't smell like fish. And the outdoor deck is large and comfortable with several tables with umbrellas to keep you in the shade. We were waited on right away by a very competent waitress named, Coral. She performed all her functions effortlessly and expediently. We ordered unsweetened teas, blacked grouper tacos, a crab cake sandwich and the Asian salmon salad. The two overstuffed tacos came on a rack with a creamy slaw, pico de gallo, limes and sour cream. I would have preferred a cilantro cream sauce instead. We devoured them. They were quite good. The Asian salmon salad had a wonderful ginger, citrus dressing. Mixed greens, purple onion, mandarin oranges, won tons which were served chilled. The salmon was cooked to perfection and served warm. I was surprised at how large the fillet was. The crab cake sandwich was served warm on a soft bakery bun, lettuce, tomato and onion. It came with sweet potato fries and a garlic, lemon aoili dip that tasted incredible. So our lunch was over $40 with tip. Not an amount I would normally spend for lunch. But when you feel like treating yourself to very good seafood with pleasant surroundings come here by all means. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Don A.
I'm an armature chef and the folks here are not! My wife had the Blackened Mahi which was crafted well. A tad overly spicy but butter smooth and moist inside. I think a hint less spice or a finish with some butter to tone it down would of made it perfection! Our great server Coral brought me a soft shelled crab sandwich. I'm not sorry to say I could not improve on it in any way possible - moist, fresh, smacks of the sea yet still delicately sweetness of the crab shines through down to the last bite! We have had surf n turf a 10. Rockefeller oysters although not traditional are great with the addition of sweet lump crab meat! The local raw clams are always amazing too. This is by FAR the best seafood in a 35 mile radius of Cape Coral! By DHA
(5)Lim K.
We were looking for patio dining and decided to try Fish Tale. Unfortunately the rain came and the patio was not available but we went ahead and took a table inside. We started off with six oysters on the half shell and a dozen fresh clams. The oysters were very good but the clams were a little fishy and sandy. My husband ordered a wedge salad and I had scallops with caviar which came with green salad, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. My husband liked his salad. My scallops were excellent; it was cooked perfectly and the saltiness of caviar added the great flavor to scallops. The red skin mashed potatoes were very good, just like the way I make it at home. Excellent service.
(4)Lisa S.
I have had my fair share of shrimp scampi. I would definitely order this dish again and recommend it. Beware, it does have a lot of oil and butter. A tad bit more garlic would be nice but the shrimp were cooked perfectly. Another plus, the dish had a ton of large shrimp compared to most so the $20 price point makes sense. By a ton, there were probably 8-12 if I had to guess. The Caesar salad with anchovies was creamy and tasty; I would order and recommend. The seafood chowder was good, but I have had better at many places on Sanibel. I would recommend this over the bisque. The lobster bisque was alright; a little watery with a strong sherry flavor. In the reviews I read it had big chunks of fish but there were barely any in the two cups the table ordered. I would not order the bisque again, although for $6, perhaps everyone should try it. A little thicker and it would be spot on. Four beers, one entree, an entree Caesar salad ($10) and three cups of soup was about $70. Their appetizers looked innovative, so I am excited to go back and try more. There doesn't seem to be a bar to sit at, so plan on getting a table, inside or out. At 4:50pm there was only one table seated, by 5:40, all of the inside tables were full (It was too cold for outdoor seating).
(4)Virginie L.
This place was Awesome!!! The ambiance was great, the noise level was perfect and service was perfect. Our server Greg was great and took excellent care of us. We had the Snapper and snow Crab Leg. Highly recommended.
(5)Ron K.
Nice location, excellent food and perfect service. We had an appertizer platter with awesome octopus and lobster wraps and OK shrimps. The entré with different pasta dishes and fish&ships was great. We were sitting outside and before it started to rain the staff had a table for us waiting inside. Perfect!
(5)Kristi B.
Just finished dinner and it was ok. The tuna did not taste fresh. My husband had tuna too and said it was ok. We ordered a bottle of wine which took 10 minutes to arrive. Our server told us she was handing is over to another server because she wasn't feeling good and was going home. Well she was still working other tables an hour after we left. We will not be back.
(2)Debbie W.
Absolutely love this establishment. GREAT food and service. I can't believe that we have lived here 9 months and we haven't eaten here before now. This will be our new favorite place to eat.
(5)Mary G.
Excellent meal excellent service can't say enough good stuff ...I highly recommend for great food
(5)Susy M.
The grouper tacos were wonderful. Served with a spicy coleslaw (too spicey for me but perfect for my husband) so ask for regular if you're not heat inclined. The Tuscan chicken sandwich was also terrific. We sat outside on the deck.
(5)Greg M.
This place is awesome. Considering the food, service, and ambiance they all deserve a 5 star rating. We were there with a group of 4 with 3 ordering seafood and the 4th ordering a steak. I will just say every meal was perfect and this will be the best steak you can find in Cape Coral. The price was in line for what you would expect to pay for a good quality meal.
(5)Andrea C.
We started with the tuna and salmon tartar...the tuna part of it was good, the salmon was kind of fishy. I then had the seafood chowder and bourbon salmon which was excellent! The only down side is that they don't serve liquor, which is pretty common in Cape Coral.
(4)Stephen D.
It's as good as everyone says! Really enjoyed my lunch there, everything was well prepared. I just wish they had a side salad at lunch. I was surprised that I never heard they have full belly ipswitch clams on the menu- my favorite!
(5)Margie S.
The food is awesome, fresh, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful and tasteful. I love the outdoor patio with the fire heaters too.
(5)Dan d.
We went on a Thursday night, and were able to get a table right away at 6:30. The service was excellent from beginning to end. We started out with the social seafood platter and a sampler of oysters in the raw. We followed that up with a good old-fashioned fish and chips, probably one of the best fish and chips I've ever had. We split a bottle of Santa Margarita, a bargain at $36 a bottle ($20 retail). Overall, an excellent experience. Great food, decent price, and fairly nice setting, with prompt and friendly service. Highly recommended.
(4)Lawrence S.
I have to say I was skeptical with there 4.5 star review. It a 5 all the way. Service was excellent. Our server Francine was outstanding and very sweet. The clams on the half were some of the best I've ever had. I took my parents here and they loved what they hade as well. I would like to give them 6 stars!
(5)Josh Y.
Wow... what a great place to eat. Went out to eat on a friday night with family while we were in the area for vacation. Stopped at another local establishment first, but found an hour and a half wait time. Looked on yelp for another restaurant close by and found this place. Walked up expecting a lengthy wait considering the prior attempt, but we were seated at an outside table fairly soon after. We had enough time to take a look at the seafood market inside though. The seared tuna special was one of the best I have had. Everyone's meal was very good. No complaints at all. A+ for service, presentation, and taste.
(5)Dominick W.
Amazing food, location, and staff! The fish tacos were amazing! Best ones I've ever had! Definitely would recommend.
(5)CJ G.
We were pleasantly surprised with this restaurant. Nice large deck for outdoor eating and a nicely decorated indoor dining. There is a bar with many seats. Next to the restaurant is their fish market with beautiful fresh fish and frozen selections too! The menu is very extensive. I had the Cranberry Macadamia Sea Bass and the dish was beautifully presented and so delicious. I cannot say enough about how great this dining experience was. They do not take reservation.
(4)Linda P.
Lobster bisque excellent! All dishes here are good! Great service, knowledgeable and friendly staff. I highly recommend to friends!
(5)John S.
After reading about the Fish Tale Grill on Yelp my wife and decided to try it for dinner and we were not disappointed. The staff were very friendly and attentive. My wife had the Grouper Piccata and I had the fried seafood platter with grouper, shrimp & oyster. Both meals were very good and plentiful. The Seafood Chowder was creamy and loaded with shrimp grouper and other seafood. Our waiter made very good recommendations and the service was excellent. I had the Coconut Bread Pudding which was yummy. We will make this restaurant one to visit over and over as well as bring our friends. Very clean and well appointed.
(5)E. M.
Maybe we are just surrounded by air separated by water... Or we could have been there on an off day-- who does seafood on Mondays?? We found street parking nearby and as the day had a distinct chill, we decided we would sit inside and it was nearly 1:30. Not to be, our hostess HAS to save the table for a larger group ...in the booth but had a table unbussed near door. We were seated outside. BTW the table didn't get sold that we couldn't have, but that is always a tough decision. Be gracious to a customer in front of you.... Or hold out for the larger check that might walk in... Oh wait, the lunch hour was over... The food: mike ordered the impressive seafood tower --lobster, shrimp, oysters, clams w sauces and butter. Very well prepared in every way. Only could be improved by a cracker or two or a crust of bread. I had the appetizer called lobster roll served with wakame and a soba noodle addition which complemented the plate. It was not particularly a dish that I cared for and would not like to have it again. The one roll was deep fried and filled w a heavy gummy filling and drenched with the ubiquitous "bang bang" sauce. Ewwie. My date enjoyed it though! Service was inoffensive and impersonal. Small place but the street seating offers lots of room to watch the mall parking lot. We live on Pine Island and probably won't be back- our fish places are competitive and closer. Nothing special here.
(3)Rick F.
We had a great dinner! Casual atmosphere with great outdoor seating. The lobster bisque soup is amazing. We started with the duo of tatar... also an excellent choice. All the meals were great. Deserts made in house. Don't miss the key lime pie. Beer and wine only, no bar. This is a don't miss place to dine. Service was great! Thanks Gil and Tina.
(5)Mike H.
My wife and I had dinner here with friends. Our friends love seafood and seemed to enjoy their meals very much. My wife and I are vegans so eating anywhere is a challenge, especially at a fish market. Our waitress was helpful and the Fish Tale Grill accommodated our way of eating very well. We had the chopped salad without the mozzarella, baked potato, and steamed asparagus which were all very good. So you can eat vegan at a fish market. We'll be back. BTW, this is a popular restaurant. Be prepared for a wait list.
(4)Paul V.
Had a great experience at Fish Tales Seafood Grill by Merrick Foods in the SE Cape. We were pleasingly surprised to be waited on by Cora, who previously worked at Paesano's Restaurant. Not only is the food excellent and reasonably priced but Cora made our dining experience delightful. Make sure you ask for Cora, whether you sit in or outside. She's the best. Paul V.
(5)Julie G.
delicious FRESH fish cooked properly!!
(5)Laurie Wise W.
Great fresh seafood! My husband says the best grouper sandwich he's had, other than his own! Coral our waitress was attentive and knew the menu well! Sumptuous lobster roll and rich, decadent lobster bisque! Fabulous!
(5)Vic O.
Service was excellent. My 2 companions enjoyed their steak sandwich and crab cake sandwich, although the crab cake was deemed 'soggy', but tasted good. Onion rings were factory-made and bland, more batter than onion. I had the seafood Cobb salad and it was not good. Way too much dry greenery, not enough salad dressing. Not that you want that dressing, it was awful-tasting nasty bottled stuff, a chemical mix that didn't have any actual cheese. I don't believe anyone on staff has tried to eat this dish. It was physically impossible given the size of the plate compared to the dense amount of greens. While the seafood was fresh and delicious, there was little of it on the salad for the price. The person who designed this salad needs to go back to school if they ever went to school. If I made this salad, I would cut the greens amount in half, and toss all vegetable ingredients in a small amount of extra virgin olive oil just prior to serving. I'd make a REAL blue cheese dressing, it's not difficult. Stop using crappy bottled dressing on a salad that could otherwise be a wonderful creation. Also add some sauce for the shrimp. Shrimp, scallops and blue cheese dressing don't go together. This is what you get in a small town where chefs have training and pretensions, but have never eaten in a good restaurant. Food is rendered 'academically', but not with the comprehension that comes with experience and cultivated taste.
(2)Matthew E.
The staff was quick to greet us and seat us. The environment is warm and enjoyable. The food was fresh and the presentation was surprisingly upscale for the price. An unexpectedly delightful find in Cape Coral.
(5)Jason F.
An amazing find in Cape Coral. Upon arrival we were greeted by the friendly staff and promptly seated. Our waitress, Coral, was fantastic. From quickly taking our drink orders to fantastic food recommendations she was exceptional. The food was fresh and delicious. Would definitely recommend for fresh seafood.
(5)Suzanne P.
I went to Fish Tale after 8, so we were seated promptly outdoors. The patio is cozy, especially next to the heaters. We were given a light that clipped onto the umbrella post, which was a nice touch. Our servers were knowledgable and attentive the entire evening. My parents were curious about the butter fish and asked the server. She went to find out more and sent our another person who told us about the preparation of the fish. Good personal attention! Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented. I has the Ginger teriyaki Tuna for my main course and it was plenty. The highlights were the Butter Fish and the Sea Bass. Coconut shrimp for appetizer was also wonderful. The prices were reasonable. I would definitely return. The dinner was a highlight of our trip!
(5)Marti S.
Twin lobster tails were very good as well as ambiance and wine! Pricing in line with food quality and service was excellent! I will definitely come back next time I am in town!
(5)Judy M.
Dinner last night was awesome. Seafood fettuccine and shrimp scampi were huge portions. Our party enjoyed coconut shrimp, crab/lobster dip as well as their seafood stew. We go to their seafood market often which always has the best selection and price on seafood but had never eaten at the restaurant. Will definitely dine there again.
(5)D M.
Love this place for lunch!! Love the lobster spring roll! Seriously one of the best spring rolls I've had...loaded with lobster! It comes with noodles and fresh seaweed salad with sesame seeds...Yum! Then a hot lobster roll with the butter on the side instead of drowning the roll. Pretty dang good sweet potato french fries! Crispy, crunchy and tender! No room for dessert, but been plenty of times to know they are awesome! Coral is always friendly and attentive! Drinks are good, but a happy hour would be good too...seafood market next door has some good deals on Tuesday. two for $$.
(5)Peter K.
we called to make reservation but they never returned call telling us we called the fish market? We were 10minutes late for the special and I asked manager to check messages but he was adament that we would not get special. We were going to stay but two couples who had just finished told us the shimp tasted like amonia and the fish was overcooked. We left and have since talked to our neighbor who said stay away!
(1)Shelly S.
Very delicious food the sea bass was awesome hubby had lobster bisque and said it was awesome ! Also he had the ahi tuna that was delicious excellent servers will defiantly go back .
(5)Mike P.
We have eaten here several times and would recommend it to any one who likes fresh seafood. The tuna and salmon tartare duo is fantastic, especially if you ask for some boom boom sauce on the side. My wife and I split the lobster spring roll appetizer. It was beautifully plated with seaweed salad and a large roll cut into 4 pieces...art on a plate and delicious too. Unfortunately this trip we selected a dish which was very bad and so out of character with everything else in the place as to be almost shocking. This dish definitely to be avoided was a fried soft shell crab sandwich. The crab itself was obviously a high end ingredient absolutely ruined by the mass of pasty grey gelatinous breading. I called it to the attention to the manager who thanked us for the feed back, but didn't offer to fix the problem. The service was friendly and the staff are very attentive and nice, however the waitress did not know the food or drink menu and we had to ask other staff for explanations of menu items. Even though we ordered the soft shell crab, the first trip to the table was a crab cake....when we pointed this out to the waitress she argued that it was a soft shell crab....maybe she knew that the worst was yet to come. Another server stopped by and agreed with us that it was not a soft shell crab. We still think this place is fantastic and plan on going often, we will just be a bit more careful on selections we haven't tried already.
(4)Jann W.
We've been buying fresh seafood at Merricks for 15 years, so when they decided to open a seafood restaurant, we knew the fish would be fresh. In addition to fresh fish, the dining atmosphere is wonderful (plenty of shaded outdoor tables and a chic small interior space), the service is attentive (thank you John), and the presentation is top notch (thanks to the wife-owner who has a special touch). We enjoyed manhattan clam chowder, black cod, steamed baby clams and sea bass. The owner makes his way around and talks with you - nice. An absolutely delightful dining experience.
(5)Joe M.
The food, service, & atmosphere are all terrific. Try their red Tail amber beer which is smooth and good tasting. Sadly, this beer is not available anywhere other than here. The grouper was fresh and seasoned to perfection. The lobster bisque is another winner. The retail fish market looks professional and includes a recipe print off. We'll be back again and again
(5)Kelly J.
We just had a great evening at the Fish Tale Grill! Awesome service, wonderful outdoor dining, and delicious fresh seafood. Two ordered from the menu. And, five of us tried the special, which was an excellent trio. There was tile fish that was perfectly cooked and garnished with a yummy mango salsa and crab stuffed shrimp that were rich and delicious. The trio was completed by lightly breaded scallops. The lobster bisque was a great way to start off the meal as it was a bit cool this evening. We finished with 3 delicious desserts. Everything we ordered was excellent and we will definitely return.
(5)Barbara H.
Very nice service and excellent seafood. We dined on a Monday night in the summer when the city streets were empty, but the small restaurant was full. Everything was very fresh. Highly recommend the calamari as appetizer and lobster bisque as a side.
(5)A C.
Excellent lobster bisque, & Honey's seafood chowder was, too. Lobster roll, the hot choice, for lunch was terrific, with sweet potato fries on the sidelines. Coral, our server from Massachusetts, very knowledgeable about seafood & the sources for the restaurant, is the go to server for questions! We'll be back.
(5)Aleksandra W.
the best seafood I have ever had!!! lobster soup is delicious! fresh baked bread is so yummy!!! I would definitely recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)Jack Y.
I went there during my winter break! But the food and the service was so disappointed! The waitress suggested us to order around $120 lobster! However, the taste was not what we expected, and we even waited there for more than two and half hours for the food to come!
(1)Doris R.
Yummy. The freshest seafood in the Cape. Most of the restaurants in the Cape get their seafood from them. The prices are good service is good and food is great what more can I say
(4)Erica E.
Absolutely amazing Cobb salad- best I've had in Cape Coral! $12.99 buys you 2 large shrimp, 3 sea scallops, a lump of crab meat and avocado slices. Delicious dressing, too! Can't wait to explore the rest of the menu.
(5)Vicky N.
I like this place, service is friendly and helpful and food is excellent but removing a star for 2 pet peeves. Bottle of wine scallops and caviar, all excellent by the way, but paper napkins, yuk, really? Also tails on shrimp that is in sauce just lazy! If I wanted to touch my food with my fingers I would have gone for ribs. This place needs to decide on caliber and be cautious not to slide into the realm of average that with few exceptions consumes the Cape.
(4)Clint T.
I had the lobster and shrimp Mac n cheese and a Caesar salad. My wife got the mixed grill.
(5)Christina R.
My husband and I went to try the two entrees and bottle of wine special for $38.00 on Monday night. We are both foodies from Columbus, Ohio. Since eating out is the major past time of people from Columbus, we know our food. Fish Tails is a hidden gem in Cape Coral. The atmosphere is trendy and chic. The service is on par with any upscale restaurant and the food is delightful and presented perfectly. We were really impressed by the culinary skills of their chef. If you want to have a perfect experience, go to Fish Tail. It rivals the best restaurants in Columbus
(5)Nick W.
Had a great time here and the atmosphere was great and the Food was amazing!!! Our waitress Tina was very Polite and helpful... I recommend trying the Salmon with Burbon Sauce with Asparagus over Orzo Pasta.... It feels a little cramped inside the Restaurant but there is outdoor seating with heaters. The food and drink prices are reasonable.
(4)Lunie L.
The food is really good! I had the lobster mac and cheese and it was yummy. I even had left overs for lunch the next day. We went at night and we sat outside. My daughter loved the patio area with the changing lights.
(5)Robert K.
For the first time in 16 years, since moving to Florida, I finally found a restaurant down here that serves real fried clams, Ipswich clams, big bellies and cooked in a perfect batter. We've been three times during our first 30 days in Cape Coral and look forward to going again -- and again, and again. Everything was good, the food, the service, the ambiance and the prices. Ask for Coral if she's working, real friendly and a New Englander herself, but down here for most of her adult life. Highly recommended. The number 1 rating is deserved.
(5)Sharon S.
We enjoyed an impromptu dinner there this week. We went to Nevermind and found it very depressing and quite dirty feeling with a one dimensional menu (meat with more meat). Slate's was closed on Monday so we decided to try Fish Tale which was quite busy, especially for a Monday Night in off season. They had a bargain special at $32 per couple which included a bottle of decent chilean sauvignon blanc. I had Mussels and my DH had a seafood melange. Both were quite good as was the warm bread with sundried tomato composed butter. We will definitely be back. Service was right on as well.
(4)Karen F.
Driving south on 75 around lunch time, we decided to hit this highly rated joint, even though we could tell that it was not very close to the highway. Excellent decision on our part, because the food was definitely worth the detour. Located in the town of Cape Coral, the patio table we sat at just overlooked the nearby street and street parking. Fortunately they had fans blowing, and it was very comfortable sitting outside. I don't think you go for the ambiance of this place, you just go for the food. Our 42-year veteran server named Coral was outstanding, and gave excellent suggestions, in addition to bringing us samples of both the lobster bisque and the clam chowder. Since bisque is so rich, I can only ever eat a couple of spoonful, but I can honestly say this was some of the best lobster bisque I have had in my life - creamy, buttery, with lobster chunks - it was eyes-roll-back-in-the-head good. For my meal I had the lobster roll - comes as your choice of cold, in a lobster salad, or warm, with melted butter. Coral said 'warm', so warm it was. Outstanding. The lobster tasted incredibly fresh, and the toasted buttered roll it was on was perfect. Sandwich came with choice of side item - again I went with Coral's recommendation and tried the sweet potato fries, and these too were some of the best I have ever had. They actually still tasted like sweet potatoes! Served nice and hot, they had a dipping sauce on the side, which I thought was a nice touch. After you eat, make sure you go check out their fish market. If you're smart, you'll bring a cooler, so you can take some goodness home with you. I've already sent friends here, who called me to tell me how much they, too, loved it. Go!
(5)Glenn C.
Excellent fresh seafood. The restaurant is attached to the market. They created a shrimp cocktail for me since it was not on the menu. The seafood chowder was full of fish and was very good. No complaints on the macadamian and cranberry sea bass. My only complaint was the water tasted horrible after it was refilled. Service was pretty good. You can eat inside or on deck. Prices reasonable. See pictures.
(5)Alec D.
Came here with my beautiful girlfriend, there were other couples and families, we started with Oysters Rockefeller and Coconut Shrimp, large portions and very tasty. My girlfriend had the Seafood Alfredo which had loads of lobster, shrimp and scallops in a creamy sauce over fettuccine really good took half home, oops she had the lobster bisque not the best we have had it lacked lobster chunks but made it up in flavor. I had a small salad and the fried seafood platter loads of large shrimp, large Scallops 4 of them and a large piece of grouper, just fantastic. We had a bottle of wine our bill was $122 with tax. We will return here, enjoy.
(5)