Gramma Dot’s Restaurant
634 N Yachtsman Dr, Sanibel, FL, 33957
Gramma Dot’s Restaurant Menu
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Address :
634 N Yachtsman Dr
Sanibel, FL, 33957 - Phone (239) 472-8138
- Website https://www.sanibelmarina.com/gramma.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 8:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Frank C.
Pros: Gets 5 stars for being the best seafood on the island, and great staff Cons:None! Overall: Must go.
(5)Christina V.
We loved the ambiance of Gramma Dot's as we walked in. We were greeted in a very friendly manner by the staff and we could be seates straight away. My boyfriend and I started by sharing a tasting platter witth coconut shrimps, crab meatballs and oysters. While we enjoyed this dish, I would have preferred it if not alll items were deepfried (e.g. fresh oysters). As main course I had the Key Lime Tune which was made perfectly. As I was quite full allready from our starter I wasn't able to finish my food, but our waitress was kind enough to ask if I'd like a doggy bag. My boyfriend had the scallops, which were lovely but a touch overcooked. The vegetables that were served with both dishes were perfectly cooked and still nice and crunchy. Overall, we've had a nice first encounter at Gamma Dot's and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a low-key dinner when visiting Sanibel!
(3)Sabrina N.
Beautiful place. Excellent food. Great service. Everything was fresh and fish was grilled to perfection. Never had to ask for anything twice. Enough said!
(4)Aly S.
Gramma Dot's closes at 8pm nightly, but they will happily serve you as long as you are in the door by 8. You can order off the lunch menu even during dinner hours, which I would highly recommend as the only way to go, with the lunch portion you get the same entree but home made saratoga chips instead of the veggie and potato croquette (and the chocolate bowl for your fruit). The chips are great, really crispy. You also pay almost half the price for almost the same amount of food. We loved the grouper sandwich, coconut shrimp and fried shrimp at our table. We also loved the fruit and edible flower that came with the meals! We still racked up a decent bill for such a casual setting, but it could have been double that if we would have ordered off the dinner menu.
(4)Jeanne M.
This was our first trip to the island and we were looking for something different than we usually had at home. We did our due diligence and searched Yelp for someplace that was open, and possibly in our budget. This one had and average of 3.5 stars, so we decided that we'd give it a try. The location was beautiful. It looked like a charming little home set in a marina. There was a dolphin sculpture outside and a little area of outdoor seating. When we checked out the menu, it seemed a little pricey - $16 for a fish sandwich. But, we don't go exploring every day and decided to stay. I ordered the curried lobster salad, as it wasn't something that I'd had before. There was a good size mound of shredded lobster on the plate, surrounded by seemingly ripe fruit. The problem was that the lobster was totally overwhelmed by onion. I could taste the curry, but not really the lobster. For the price of the plate, $16 for a scoop of salad, the lobster should be the star of the dish. The fruit wasn't ripe, so I didn't eat it. I tried my daughter's fish and chips. This is one of my favorite fish dishes, when properly done. What I look for is a tender, non-greasy filet, dipped in a beer batter. These were more like fingers of fish, in a heavy cornmeal coating. They weren't too greasy and nicely cooked, but the coating had an off flavor. We decided to split a piece of key lime pie for dessert. Generally, this is one of my favorite pies. This one was just odd. It had a scorched flavor, but nothing looked scorched. We had the waitress take it back and remove it from the bill. To her credit, she was cheerful and prompt about it, with no argument. Maybe we just hit them on a bad day, but I can't say that for sure. If you're looking for a nice ambiance and friendly service, this is a great place. If you're looking for really good food, you might want to rethink.
(2)Lolita M.
Really nice atmosphere... However food is mediocre...saw sugar ants crawling on inside table which made our party feel itchy! Menu pricey....to be eating out of basket! Will not return.
(1)Janine F.
Small and intimate, for seafood lovers. Nice scenery however food was blah- their famous chips were oil and over made, burgers were burnt outside and raw inside; rolls were stale. Place is small and fills up quickly
(3)Debbi N.
Lunch time and where to go in Sanibel? Plenty of choices but we wanted something with a little island flair and picked this place since its in the marina. Sat outdoors and checked out the boats/yachts for sale. Food is ok. It seemed fresh and the service was nice. I had the spinach salad with scallops. Nothing exciting. It was busy so must be popular.
(4)Chuck S.
Love it here, what a fun place to visit by boat! Good food and friendly service My wife and I both had the romain salad with blackened chicken. It was excellent. Our grandkids had the grouper sandwich which was also very good. This will be a regular stop for us when we take guests boating. Look forward to our return visit.
(4)Michael R.
Came here around lunchtime on a Monday & it was busy. Ordered the appetizer sampler that had these mini deep fried crab cake balls, large coconut shrimp, & fried oysters. Everything was definitely delicious!! Was a great snack for two people to split with a couple drinks. Would come back again for sure. The service was prompt and friendly with a refill on the iced tea. Good scenery there at a yacht club too.
(4)Nicole M.
Gramma Dot's is a staple for Sanibel and I am glad I was able to check it out. Gramma Dot's is located at the Sanibel Marina which is off Periwinkle. There is plenty of parking for the small restaurant. Outdoor and indoor seating is available. It was packed for a Wednesday but the wait was not long. We didn't have to wait very long for our food either! I ordered the coconut curry lobster salad. It was delicious! Big chunks of lobster and just the right amount of curry and coconut to make it a light and refreshing lunch. We also ordered the coconut shrimp for the table. The shrimp was good and we loved the dipping sauce it came with it. The only thing I would say that Gramma Dot's needs to improve to would be to attain a liquor license. It would have been so nice to sip on a pina colada as I watched the boats come into the marina. They have beer and wine but at the time I was just looking for something frozen and tropical.
(5)Chris H.
Stopped in for lunch with my wife. She had the curry coconut lobster salad. It was OK but a little heavy handed on the onion. Her plate was loaded with a lot of fresh fruit that was all tasty. I had the mesquite grilled Grouper over a garden salad. The fish was very good but the salad was not well put together and rather small. Mostly just some lettuce a few large junks of tomato. Both meals came with a Wonder bread type roll that nether of us bothered with. We finished lunch with a piece of the key lime pie. Neither of us are big fans but when in Rome.... It was OK but we wouldn't order it again. Wait staff was prompt and friendly but we felt the place was a little pricey for what we got.
(3)Michael H.
We arrived here at noon on Monday in the height of the tourism season. We put our name in with the hostess, saying we would sit anywhere, and had to wait about 25 minutes to get seated at the counter. The place was jampacked with patrons! My wife got the coconut shrimp and I got the grouper fish and chips. We shared the two. The shrimp were great and we loved the grouper. One complaint is the chips were cut thick and overly cooked so that they were brown. We did share a slice of the Keylime pie, which we both felt was divinely inspired. Lunch came to more than $50 with tip included, so I couldn't say this is a value spot, but we both felt the quality was good. Arrive near the 11:30 AM opening time if you can.
(4)Katie H.
Went because the reviews were good. Food was just ok, and wasn't worth the drive. Our server was rude and short with us, making this the worst dining experience we had on our trip. Menu was small with not much to pick from for lunch. Will not be returning
(1)Marissa M.
My favorite restaurant on Sanibel period! The chicken and tuna salad are amazing. The grouper sandwich is a fave. The chips and dip that comes with are super tasty. The iced tea is so refreshing! The service is great! Love the entire experience my family has always had for years. First stop when we get to the island and last stop on our way out.
(5)Dunya A.
Beuatiful ambiance, good food, excellent service. Coconut shrimp was a great choice. Large portions.
(4)Gary M.
At least they were open on Thanksgiving. We decided to postpone our Thanksgiving and check out Sanibel Island. Loved the weather, the beaches and it is a charming town. However, when it came time to eat the selection of open restaurants was not extensive. Yelp showed Gramma Dot's as 3 1/2 stars... and they were open! So, off we went for dinner. The facilities were open and comfortable. The staff was smiling and quite pleasant. There weren't too many people so the wait for the food was not long. I had the lobster curry salad. It came as a very large orange lump of threads (like a large scoop of cole slaw) on top of a tomato slice with fresh fruit around the rest of the plate, including three of the reddest strawberries I have ever seen. They strawberries were ripe and sweet. Oh yes, there was a fresh, fluffy dinner roll on the plate, as well. It was tender and had the hoped for flavor of a home made roll. Unfortunately, the lobster curry portion did not have much of a lobster flavor... at least to my palate. And I never did taste the curry. There was plenty of lobster. It just wasn't prominent in its taste and that is disappointing (even more so at $16). The honey dew and cantaloupe slices had good color but were too firm and the flavors were mild. The orange slices could have been riper, as well. Then came desert... the much touted key lime pie. We ordered one slice with three forks. We each took one bite and put down our forks. (Not characteristic of us, at all.) There was an "off" taste and we all picked up on it. Maybe we just hadn't encountered the recipe the restaurant served and that it was fine by that standard. But we passed on the rest of the pie slice. Suggestion, if you order the pie, request one piece and sample it before ordering multiple slices. Two stars for the food. Add a star for the amiable staff and for being open on Thanksgiving.
(3)Becky C.
Delicious! But server tried to talk us out of sitting outside because it was "really hot". Well newsflash that's why I'm here and not in Ohio. I like the heat. Other than that we enjoyed the peaceful marina setting for a late lunch. We had grilled grouper and fried shrimp. Will revisit next time we are in the island. It was the most welcoming place and best food on the island.
(5)Scott R.
Great service and fresh local grilled Grouper was fantastic. Other food ordered was soft shell crab, Mahi Mahi and fresh shrimp dinner. All of it was excellent. Great casual atmosphere. Highly recommend coming here after a day on Sanibel Beach.
(5)S. S.
We came to this restaurant based on the recommendation of a friend. We arrived around 2pm and had about a 30 min. wait. Mom and I ordered the fish and chips. It was only o.k. The chips are home made fried potato chips not fries. They seemed over cooked to us but they were better with ketchup. Might have been nice with a little slaw. The atmosphere was fun and relaxed and we loved the gorgeous boats on the water; so we had a nice time but it seemed a bit over priced. I suppose that was to be expected considering the location. My daughter loved her giant hamburger and gobbled it up.
(3)Jennifer R.
I really enjoyed this place! We brought my 1.5 year old daughter and they were so nice and brought her her own little fruit plate right when we sat down. A very nice touch that not many people think of. It kept her busy till our food came and she loved it. We had the bbq bacon wrapped shrimp and it was amazing. My mom and I split it and each got 6 shrimp each! It was huge. The fruit cup was served in a chocolate bowl which was really yummy. The service was excellent and food was amazing. Would love to go back.
(5)Uy U.
Good location Food was not good at all The cocoanut shrimp was sweet and oily The service was slow There is NO refill on soda!!! The grouper sandwich was not good as well but good tomato soup + my check was $50 Never never never never coming back.
(1)James B.
Service was great, very nice ambiance. I had the special- grouper with garlic. Simply good. Little pricy but worth getting away from French fries
(5)Oliver S.
Great selection of fried fish. The restaurant is not very large but the food and service were excellent. Well worth the wait. Put you name on the list, order a drink from the bar and hang out in the marina until your name is called. Great view of the sunset over the water.
(4)Joaquin D.
Very good place. Very relax on the terrace, great view, awesome food. The clam chowder is amazing. Crab sandwich and lobster salad too. Very nice service.
(5)Rod H.
Great spot for a great grouper sandwich and the best key lime pie ever! The service is quick and friendly and the food is fresh.
(4)Danielle Q.
food was great and services was too. definitely will be going back! the home made chips were great! the trays that are food was on were a little dirty but food was awesome!
(5)Darci S.
We really hemmed and hawed about Gramma Dot's based on the spotty reviews, but I'm so glad we took the chance on it! We dined for lunch just after they opened. The inside is a little dingy but the outdoor patio is just lovely. You are inside the marina and can gaze out at the beautiful boats and water while you eat. Lunch fare is mainly sandwiches and we came for grouper sandwiches specifically. The blackened grouper was fantastic as were the homemade chips and their take on tartar sauce. Others really enjoyed the fried grouper and said it was the best they'd had on the island thus far. Kids enjoyed the popcorn shrimp and grilled cheese. Our server was very nice and the service was quick. Overall it was one of our best meals on the island between the great food and lovely atmosphere.
(5)P W.
Always my favorite on Sanibel! Staff is great. Food is fast and yummy! Love the extra attention to detail like chocolate garnish on fruit platter! Wish they did breakfast! Everyone must have lunch here when on Sanibel!
(5)Geri M.
Love this place. Fresh, fresh fish, either fried or broiled. We sat at the counter and had some of the friendliest service ever. Homemade chips were icing on the cake. Sure, this place is busy, for good reason.
(4)J S.
Liked it. Was very busy though. Fried cajun fish and chips and grouper sandwich were tasty. Friendly staff.
(4)El O.
Service was excellent! Tried grouper for the first time, it was soooooo good!!!! I had the Parmesan blackened grouper sandwich, amazing!!! And my husband had the coconut shrimp, they were huge!!! He loved them. We had the crab meatballs for an appetizer, those are a must!!!!!!!
(5)Lauren S.
We dined at Gramma Dot's on our last night in Sanibel and were impressed with the fantastic service, delicious food and charming atmosphere. The scallops were fantastic and many people in our party got and greatly enjoyed the crab stuffed flounder special. Their Key Lime pie is also notably delicious!
(5)Catherine B.
Our favorite lunch place when we travel to this area. Atmosphere great, wait staff great and food is always fresh. I have the chicken salad and fruit. It is wonderful. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Diane S.
I cant think of anything bad to say. Its a tiny on the dock restaurant, quaint and homey. My husband and I split a clam chowder - delicious, creamy and nice & hot. We had the crab meatballs, a bit bready, but crabby enough. and the best thing I ate - the garlic & parmesan crusted tilapia sandwich. So flavorful, I regretted 'splitting' it. The others at our table had grouper, coconut shrimp, salads, etc. Iced tea nice & cold and refills plentiful. The waitress was nice enough, I didn't feel smothered OR neglected. If you're looking for fancy gourmet fare - go somewhere else. If you're looking for a nice casual meal, here it is. And, while your in the marina... get yourself on the Sanibel Thriller for a dolphin accompanied tour of the island - best bang for your buck !
(5)Jim P.
Best meal since I've been on the island. Everything fresh and homemade. Very nice people, great setting. Gumbo is excellent - Florida style
(5)Harold G.
Excellent restaurant friendly staff. waited about 5 minutes got a table wife had the blackened mahi mahi I had the mesquite grilled grouper both were outstanding cooked perfectly vegetables were fresh steamed and still slightly crunchy the potatoes were excellent didn't need dessert the chocolate cup with the fruit in it worked well as a dessert for us highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Christine M.
Curried lobster salad... supposedly one of the best items on the menu... there's lobster in there? I could hardly taste it over all of the other stuff, and it's all shredded up, so it doesn't really look like anything at all. It might as well have been canned, and may actually have been. The fried oysters were good, but it's hard to find bad fried oysters as long as they're served hot and fresh! The inside of the restaurant is crowded and loud, and we had a 25 minute wait even at a non-peak hour (2:00). I was disappointed to see a restaurant that would appear to be of higher caliber based on price and location using styrofoam cups and plates. I mean, they have real silverware, so apparently there is a dishwasher on the premises! On top of environmental issues, it's just tacky.
(1)Megan O.
Perfect meal. The sample platter was delicious and the crab meatballs are amazing! The soft shell crab sandwich wAs perfect and it's clear why they are known for their coconut shrimp, out of this world! Excellent atmosphere and incredibly fast service. 10/10 would recommend.
(5)Bethany M.
Get the coconut shrimp - you will not be disappointed! Best coconut shrimp I've ever had. It tasted so fresh and the shrimp was plump and juicy. We also got the lobster bisque soup which I did not care for - it was too thick (like way too much heavy cream). My husband got the grouper sandwich blackened and he said it was good but he liked my shrimp better. I wasn't crazy about the homemade potato chips. It wasn't cheap, probably would only come here at lunch. Lunch for 2 with two beers, a bowl of soup and two meals came to $60 with tip.
(5)Nathan I.
The restaurant is at the Sanibel Marina with a view of the boat slips on one side and the causeway on the other. I had a cup of the New England Clam Chowder. It was a thick version, and it had a briny clam flavor. I also had Peel-N-Eat Shrimp. The shrimp were medium sized (30-35/lb). They were firm, and they had no off flavors. The cocktail sauce was mild with a classic flavor. My wife had the Lobster Roll. This was an average version. The roll was not toasted. The lobster was claw and feeler meat with very few large lumps. It was dressed with a light, mayonnaise that tasted of dill. The accompaniment was house-made Potato Chips, which were crisp, not greasy, and delicious. These chips are a restaurant specialty.
(3)Alex F.
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach... so I'm often trying to come up with the next great place to keep my man's heart full and content! I think Gramma Dot's did just that! We're both big fans of brunch... and really what's not to love about the meal? And Gramma Dot's does it so right it's almost sinful. Give me a fresh seafood meal anywhere and I'm happy. When it's on top of a key lime pie dessert and a view of an amazing yacht club... I'm ecstatic. When I first heard of the concept of this place, it was all I could do to keep myself from hopping in the car and going there on the spot. Then, I got nervous I was getting my hopes up too much and I'd be disappointed. I wasn't. It's a small place (less than 20 tables) so I'd been expecting we'd wait awhile, but for some reason the odds were in our favor and we got a table for two (along the screened in porch-- so quaint!) the moment we walked in. If we'd had to wait, it would hardly be painful... they've got rocking chairs outside along the piers so you can boat watch and soak up the sun as your appetite grows. I'd been told to get the grouper sandwich and coconut shrimp... but everything looked so good, I had to ask the waitress her opinion, just in case. She reiterated what I'd heard from friends, so that's what we got. Both meals were fantastic and came with a side of homemade potato chips (yum). And then there was the key lime pie. I'd read in a travel book that it was the best on Sanibel Island... and I think that probably says a great deal! (So far, I agree. But watch out Sanibel, there are still many places for me to sample key lime treats!) As for pricing... both meals were $14.95. I expected worse. Both were incredibly filling and relatively large portions. For the view that goes along with the food, they could jack the prices up to $20 and people would still shell out the cash. The ambiance adds to the whole experience. You kind of feel like you're in an old beach bungalow because you feel the breeze blowing through the screens... but then it's decorated as if you're on an old ship. Either is fine with me, I'm into nautical. All in all... a five star establishment.Great food, a great location, great view, great service, and great key lime pie (yes I love it that much, I'll separate it from the rest of food). Make the trip here, it's worth it.
(5)Susan C.
We ate here twice during our recent stay in Sanibel. My husband loves their coconut shrimp basket. First visit I ordered the fried shrimp basket and although plentiful, the shrimp were small and a bit greasy. I still don't like the fact that they have to add $1 if you order the basket at dinner time. And, they don't give soda refills so we each ordered the iced tea...The second time, I ordered the Mahi Mahi fish sandwich which was very small....I like the fact that they give you fresh fruit in your basket and I can do without the dried out chips, but overall, this is a good place for lunch or dinner! Yes, I am a fan!
(4)Cristina C.
We dropped by for a quick lunch during our latest trip to the island. We were seated quickly by our friendly waitress who gave us great recommendations. I had the broiled grouper Caesar salad and my husband had the grouper sandwich. Both were fantastic! The homemade chips were a great addition to the meal. We will definitely return!
(4)Harold W.
Everything was delicious. I had the oyster sandwich and loved it. Wife had blackened grouper sandwich and son had fish & chips. Very good house made chips also. Only down side was prices are pretty high. Average $13-15 for sandwich, chips and some fruit but we enjoyed the setting and food!
(5)Janine N.
We were looking for dinner on the water (not many options on Sanibel) and chose Gramma Dot's in part because we wanted to visit the marina. We had a wonderful evening. The restaurant is in a rustic, comfortable building surrounded by beautiful marina view. Both lunch and dinner menu were available at 6:30pm. The lunch menu is very affordable while the dinner menu was pricey. I had the blackened grouper ceasar salad and the huge grouper fillet was prepared perfectly and fantastic with the creamy cesear salad. Others in our group had the fish and chips (chips are fried potato chips) which they enjoyed, and the steak and lobster meal with perfectly prepared steak. The salads were ok and the drinks were served in plastic cups, but overall a fantastic island dinner.
(4)Rob L.
Great spot on Sannibel. Had the Tuna Melt and it was delisous.
(4)Brandon W.
Great ambience, beautiful marina, mesquite grouper sandwich was the best fish sandwich I've ever had, key lime pie was perhaps the best I've ever had, awesome hinge made chips
(5)Grant C.
I agree with many prior reviews: Broiled grouper sandwich + best key lime pie around! The refills are $1.80 each for soft drinks, but it's a business, and they deserve to make a living! Especially if their living is serving us the best key lime pie ever. The broiled grouper is always well-made, and a healthy size. This is a great location for a nice island lunch. I have been here five or six times over the last 12 years, and the food is always consistently fresh and delicious.
(5)La R.
Fabulous setting, atmosphere and service! I got the seafood salad (spinach salad with scallops) and was not disappointed. The scallops were delicious!
(5)S. P.
Go for lunch and get the fish sandwich. Classic stuff. Everything on the menu was good, you can't miss. The setting is great, have a beer and watch the boats sail by.
(4)Peter M.
Terrific interplay of charming locale, charming wait staff, and perfect menu. Just what you want in marina dining, in fact. A must-stop to fill your Sani-belly.
(4)Alison G.
This is the only place I will go to get a grouper sandwich - fried with homemade chips. Key lime pie is awesome as well. It's also fun to walk around the marina. Great location right on the water. It can get pretty crowded right at lunch time.
(4)Christopher L.
Lunch at Gramma Dot's has its benefits, particularly if you like homemade potato chips. They were, I think, the highlight of the meal, although the New England Clam Chowder was quite good too. I ordered the Coconut Curry Lobster, which was, on its own, very good. The curry flavor was not overpowering and the coconut added a different and welcome flavor to the standard lobster salad. On the down side, however, was the fruit that came with it: the grapes were fine, but the strawberries and blackberries were not fresh and the honeydew was not ripe. My wife had the mesquite grouper, which she liked so much she forgot to offer me a taste. So, I can't speak from experience here, but she clearly thought it was delicious. If you are wondering how to order it (mesquite, grilled or blackened), the locals order it mesquite, according to our friendly waitress). One issue that cannot go without mentioning is that the restaurant uses an enormous amount of styrofoam cups and soup bowls. It is disconcerting to be in the marina, looking over the beautiful water, eating in such an unsustainable and irresponsible way. I hope they reconsider the heavy use of styrofoam in the future.
(3)Jamie R.
Great settng in an intimate, boathouse kind of building that has great views of the marina. The menu has many seafood choices, but they lean toward fried and easy bar prep.
(4)Gillian D.
Nice location on the water at the Marina. Service was quick and efficient with some attempt at friendliness. Had blackened grouper and dining companion had grouper w spinach snc Parmesan. Portions good size but skimpy on vegetables. Clam chowder was good but styrofoam bowls are a turnoff. Dinner for two with one dessert and one beer (draft in plastic cup) was $75 before tip. Pretty pricey for plastic and styrofoam.
(3)John S.
This gem is a favorite stop for us every year when we're driving through Sanibel. A review of less than 5 stars is unacceptable.
(5)Carl N.
We really enjoyed eating at Gramma Dots. My mesquite grilled grouper was done perfectly and came with a very tasty sauce. The wife had the bronzed salmon which was very flavorful and also came with the same sauce. We couldn't have asked for better fish. Being a little too full for dessert, we got the key lime pie to go. The pie lived up to its reviews and we thouroughly enjoyed it. The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere located in the marina. Inside was clean and the A/C worked just fine. They did not have WiFi, to only drawback to this really nice restaurant. Needless to say, we would not hesitate to return.
(5)D V.
We visited Gramma Dot's for lunch based on the yelp reviews that we read. We were looking for a great Grouper Sandwich and the reviews read well. We got the clam chowder and peel n eat shrimp to start...chowder was very good but the shrimp were very fishy. For our main dish, my friend got the Blackened Grouper Sandwich and I got the Fried Grouper Sandwich. The blackened grouper had no flavor of blackening, but a smoky burnt taste. When we flipped it over one side was burnt black. I'm not sure why the kitchen would serve burnt food. The fried grouper was good but not much to it. The server was very pleasant and actually took the shrimp off of our bill. Good service but the food was very disappointing.
(2)Walter K.
This place was pretty good. I had the special sandwich which was grouper with almond and citrus breading with chips. It was very good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here again though but I won't give it a bad rap. Its located in a boatyard and seating is limited. The outdoor seating probably has about 4-5 tables outside and that is it. For two people appetizer, chicken caesar salad, grouper sandwich, key lime pie, and chocolate cake for dessert was $49. The key lime pie was FANTASTIC!
(4)Marne W.
This is one of the only restaurants on Sanibel with a water view, so we ate here on our first full day on the island just to experience that. My husband had the Cajun grouper and I had the coconut shrimp. Both were very good. We each got homemade potato chips in our basket. I don't really like them normally, so I wasn't impressed, but my husband thought they were very good. If we visit Sanibel again, we'll be sure to come back here at least once.
(4)Kevin G.
I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. The location is good. The setting is nice. However, given all the great choices available in Sanibel and Captiva, I can't imagine returning to Dot's again. Maybe they save the better food and service for the locals, but for the prices we paid, I was hoping for good food. Not even great, just good. The clam chowder was watery and lacked seasoning. The chips were stale and tasteless. The fish was okay, but compared to all the other local offerings, disappointing. Don't even think of ordering a refill soft drink. A small plastic cup at $1.80 per refill is outrageous even for the touristy areas. Again, the setting is nice and away from some of the busier spots, but it doesn't justify the negatives.
(2)Bob M.
I wanted to update my review since we went twice the week of Thanksgiving 2012 and I read some of the other reviews that indicated a less then enjoyable experience. First off, this place is not cheap. Lunch for 4 with 4 entrees, iced tea all around and 3 appetizers will cost you $100 including the tip. In all the years we have been going to Gramma Dots we have never been for dinner.....it costs too much. We went twice this week for lunch and had GREAT food. Fried grouper sandwiches, fried shrimp basket, bowls of New England clam chowder and chocolate cake....mmmmmmm....good! If you go to Sanibel you have to eat here.
(4)Scott K.
Right on the Marina Ordered a cup of clam chowder, coconut shrimp appetizer and the burger ($29). Food came out quickly and hot. The clam chowder was full of clams and potato. Just the right amoujnt of saltiness. Coconut shrimp was generous for the app. and sweet, coconutty goodness. Burger was nice sized and came with homemade potato chips and fresh fruit. Grapes and fat orange slice was very fresh. Crispy graapes and sweet orange. Garnish wqs a beautiful purple flower. The best we have had so far.
(5)Aladin G.
Not bad at all. This is a diner after all. Gorgeous setting.
(4)Ron C.
Came here for lunch a week ago with four others. Rather than wait for a table, we decided to sit at the counter. Great decision as we had the very best server. At her recommendation, I started with the gumbo which was OMG great. Was different than typical New Orleans style gumbo, but we were in FL, not New Orleans. Then had the Grouper sandwich which came with homemade potato chips. The Grouper was delicious and could not have been any fresher. Chips were great too. Service was impeccable. Couldn't help but notice how all of the servers helped one another in a teamwork fashion. Will definitely be back here when I return next year with my wife.
(4)G C.
If you don't like this, you have no soul. Come with friends, eat good food and enjoy the atmosphere. All good
(4)Anon M.
Yes, it's expensive. But the setting along the marina and the delectable food make this a winner in Sanibel. While not a true hidden gem, the location is distant enough that many folks don't know about it. Best items to get: lobster salad, crabcakes, grouper (sandwich or otherwise), and you must get the coconut shrimp either as an appetizer or dinner. But you are not going to go wrong to eat here. I've been three times and I don't understand the low reviews. My only complaints about this place are the use of plastic plates (surprising for the cost of the place) and the occasional wait.
(5)Michael K.
Really? What a waste of an amazing location! Shoddy service bordering on being completely impolite. Food that may as well have been thrown at you as your server turned to run. Meals that were at best "average"....at best. Finally when we were leaving we we re asked if we left the money on the table for our meal as if we were contemplating a dine and dash. The craziest thing was that after having gone through a similar experience once before we only felt that in the interest fairness we should give them another chance. Not again.....very dissatisfied. Go look at the boats in a nice marina, then go somewhere else to eat.
(1)Colleen K.
Very disappointing. Overall not a very good food experience for us overall while on sanibel. We had fish the other night that made us ill so I ordered the grilled chicken. Completely over cooked and dry...and flavorless. My husband had surf and turf and the filet had a weird after taste to it. There wasn't anything other than the fruit on either of our plates that tasted right. Son had popcorn shrimp that he liked...Overall, pricey and not worth the money.
(1)Truth Detector D.
Great location. Small and nicely decorated. Menu has the typical Florida fare, grouper sandwiches and coconut shrimp. Prices are steep so I expected commensurate quality. The menu items sound good as described but when they arrive to the table lack taste, quality, texture. The waitress was uninterested and impatient. In a nutshell, "Florida seafood done wrong". Will not repeat.
(2)O D.
If you wish to be barked at right at the entrance that's a place to be! Once, you finally get it, keep your expectations low. The only thing that's worth all the grease you are going to consume is oyster. In general, not worth your money and time.
(1)Michael P.
My entire family went to Gramma Dot's for dinner on a Friday night and had a lousy experience. We arrived around sunset and thought we might be able to see some of the sun setting but the way they have the restaurant configured you mostly look out over the parking lot and the kitchen (no views west). The first real issue was that we had a party of 9. They sat us at 2 different tables on opposite sides of the restaurant. After ordering we saw that some tables were open so we took it upon ourselves to move tables together. For a saloon as they call themselves their main entrees are quite expensive $25+. We wouldn't have minded higher prices if it was merited but they had a very cheap feeling about the place (styrofoam cup for my dad's coffee, plastic bowl for my brothers chowder, instead of plates they mostly had baskets with liners). They seemed to want to throw everything away instead of hiring a dish-washer. The other annoyance was their menu. They had all the dinner stuff as entrees $25+ and all the rest as "lunch". They said you can order the lunch items but you need to add a $1. That felt like a cheap way to get more money out of us. The servers were friendly enough, although my dad never was offered a re-fill on his coffee. The food came out quickly and was decent.(not great). Their claim to fame, their homemade fries were not very good. Just thinly sliced overcooked potatoes. They really need to re-configure the restaurant (move the kitchen to the parking lot side, expand a little west and have some outdoor seating. This could be a nice place if they put the needed work into it.
(2)Sandra D.
Food smells good but it is not healthy at all!. If you are looking for healthy decent tasty lunch this not the place. I Ordered Grilled chicken Cesar salad and to my surprise the chicken was very very oily. They do free refills on their lemonade but not on their fruit punch and it is not made of real fruit. Pricy for chicken salad and Mahi sandwich 40.00 total not including tip. Definitely we would not come back.
(1)Joseph J.
had dinner with one of our families on spring break. fried oyster sandwich was excellent. fish and chips (ordered with NO bread, NO chips and DOUBLE fruit) was tasty and cooked perfectly. Not overdone. Laura is an exceptional server. Most of the servers have been there ten to twenty years. That something very positive about Mike Ireland - the owner.. Get there early to avoid a longish wait. JJ Fort Myers
(5)Mike G.
We asked what were they know for and the longtime waitress said Grouper & Coconut shrimp. We had a basket of each and they are fried served with homemade chips and fruit. The wife's Grouper was very good as was my coconut shrimp. But the pineapple sweet & sour sauce served with the shrimp was to sweet. Should just have tarter & cocktail sauce. Great location and overall pretty cool place, looked like lots of regulars.
(4)John D.
This is a wildly popular little restaurant. Emphasis on little - due to very limited seating most people have to wait to get in. For lunch I had the Curry Lobster Salad and the home made potato chips. The lobster salad was tasty but contained minimal pieces of actual real from-the-ocean LOBSTER. A small claw was placed on top to enhance authenticity, however that was about it. For $15.99 I expected something a little better. The chips were excellent (at an additional price of $2.95). I think you get the idea. This is a nice little overpriced ("island prices") place. The service was excellent - 4 STARS. The ambiance, for an upscale diner was nice - 3 1/2 STARS. The food quality was also nice - 3 1/2 STARS. What dragged the overall rating down to 3 STARS was the pricing scheme. It really is over the top for what the place is. Having said that, it doesn't seem to bother a lot of people. So there you are...
(3)Robert J.
Hidden hide-away in Sanibel Marina is worth the search! NO signs on the main road - take North Yachtsman into the marina from Periwinkle. We go to Sanibel Island twice each year - once for two weeks and once for just a week, and Gramma Dots is always a "must do" for us. Friendly staff, great personal touches. I do NOT like coconut shrimp - but I love it here! We have been here for lunch (good fishing break) as well as dinner, and the service, attitude, and food has always been way above the expected. Great home-made potato chips (somebody did not like them - I guess they are a fan of packaged preservative potato chips! Great seafood simply prepared is their strong suit. Beer and wine. Recently added (last couple of years) is the air conditioning. While not perfect, it really helps in those August days! The fruit in a chocolate cup is a favorite, as well as one of the top Key Lime pies on the island.
(4)Max M.
Simply the best grouper on the island. No one does it like Dot's. I've been coming to Sanibel for almost 30 years now and no one even comes close. The clam chowder is terrific. The mesquite grilled grouper sandwich or plate is the best! Great chips and fries. Wide array of brews to wash it all down. And, amazing Key Lime pie to boot! The servers are very busy, but quite delightful. So be patient you fast pacers...relax, you're on vaca! Every year, about a month before vaca, we start dreaming of a Dot's grouper sammy! We go to Dot's before we even Get settled in our place. The place is welcoming. Like coming home... simply the best!
(5)Mary L.
We went here on the recommendation of someone at the visitors center and we were glad we did. We had 3 different seafood entrees - fried shrimp, fried soft shell blue crabd and parmesan crusted tilapia. All 3 were excellent, but they all came with "chips" , a variation of a potato chip. The meals would have been better without them. And yes, it was expensive for the portion received. We were lucky - we walked right in and could be seated. This place is small and the waiting list started right after us. Considering your food is delivered in a basket and drinks in plastic cups, the prices are high. Having said all this, it was a fun place to try and a nice find for an out of towner.
(3)Jordan M.
My wife and I love coming here for dinner when we are on the island. It's a nice little place off the beaten path that has excellent food. It's a little on the pricey side but nothing too expensive compared to what else is on the island. The food offerings are pretty standard for FL seafood but it's how they prepare them that sets them apart. My wife and I both got grilled grouper last time but my was hickory seasoned which turned out great and my wife's was covered in a spinach artichoke type topping which I was surprised at well I like it also. The mashed potato croquet they have is delicious. It's essentially a fried mash potato ball. We ended the meal with a slice of some of the best key lime pie I've ever had. Afterwards you can walk off some of your meal in the beautiful marina area the restaurant is located in.
(5)Heather F.
The best seafood around! And I don't understand how they make the cocktail sauce so much better than I have ever tasted. Will be back over and over.
(5)Howard L.
Wonderful little place in the Sannibel Marina. Had both the coconut shrimp and the Cajun grouper basket. The food was fresh and the service was quick.
(5)Jocelyn J.
The 2 stars are solely for location. The menu is limited (mostly fried seafood with a few exceptions) and expensive. We started with the clam chowder which was decent. What was a bit of a surprise though, given the location and prices on the menu, is that the chowder came in styrofoam bowls served with plastic spoons! My husband and I decided to share the seafood sampler for our dinner entree, which consisted of grilled grouper, fried jumbo shrimp, fried oysters and a crab cake. The accompanying sides are a potato croquette, fruit salad served in a chocolate shell and some steamed/grilled veggies. The plus: portion sizes are large - but that's about it. Everything on the platter was subpar. I was disappointed, to say the least. I was just glad we split a dish instead of wasting the precious space in our stomachs with additional subpar food. Oh yeah, and we were given styrofoam plates to eat from, but with actual silverware. Again, strange.... Then there was the subpar service. Our server didn't refill our drinks until summoned, never checked on us while we were there, and forgot to give us ketchup when requested. I'm not a difficult customer, nor ask for much, so when simple things are overlooked, I notice. We definitely won't be coming back.
(2)Matthew N.
Great location and atmosphere on Sanibel Island. Food is good, nothing spectacular. Most of the seafood items appear to be frozen. Dinner entrees are overpriced for what you get.
(3)Michael H.
A regular stop for us when we are in the area. We enjoy their mesquite grilled fish. Service is always attentive but there are very few seats and the waiting lines to get in can get long. .
(4)Christine C.
YUM! Sit on the screened in porch with ceiling fans (which is basically the entire restaurant), watch the boats go by with the rest of the world, and enjoy some paradise in your mouth! This place is EVERYTHING a good marina restaurant should be. Seafood is fresh, seasoned well, juicy and tender. Homemade fresh potato chips are crunchy and flavorful. Beer is ice cold. The fried oysters were BETTER THAN PEARLS. Fresh grouper sandwich was really good, too. Full disclosure: This review is way overdue - from August 2009. Forgive my tardiness, and eat at this joint! It will make your vacation better!
(5)Rainer F.
We came here for lunch per recommendation by a friend. Unfortunately we left disappointed. The location is great. Seating is on a screened porches overseeing the yachts in the marina. But somehow they managed to ban all flavor from the food. I had the broiled grouper sandwich. Compared to the grouper sandwich at Traders, this is minor leagues. The fish was fine but the roll it was on was a cheap, soggy roll from the supermarket. The homemade chips looked great but tasted like paper, not potatoes. My wife's comment on her chicken salad on a fruit platter, which was the waiter's recommendation: "this is totally void of any discernible flavors."
(3)Kathleen H.
Good lunch menu. The chips are pretty rockin'. The place is always busy so be prepared for a wait. Swing around the corner to the Sanibel Marina shop for an adult beverage while you wait.
(3)Yeti M.
Best coconut shrimp EVER. Our new gold standard. We haven't had anything else there, as it would mean not ordering the coconut shrimp. We have always gotten there about a half hour before they open and have gotten a table both times, but just barely.
(5)T G.
I'd go back just for the key lime pie. Sanibel surprisingly lacks good restaurants, but we liked this one. Decent food, we had great service and didn't get soaked for tourist trap prices.
(5)Mike M.
Service was great and very friendly. Crab cakes and soft-shelled crab sandwiches were excellent. Great location! Restaurant has a lot of personality.
(4)Trina R.
Since I'm here at sanibel (as I am every summer) I decided to check out what yelp had to say. I haven't been to this restaurant this year but I did however eat here two years ago and I can remember saying "I will never eat here again" sorry but the food I had was not good and a lot of things were fried. I also remember it not being the cleanest place around. Only thing going for this is that it's on the water. I don't think I will give it another shot but if I do I will update my review.
(1)Peter G.
Gramma Dot's describes itself as the only waterfront restaurant on Sanibel Island. This strikes me as bizarre as Sanibel, a small resort Island, has pretty much nothing but lots of waterfront. The restaurant is adorably housed in a reclaimed boat house surrounded by moorings, and like any good boathouse has no heating or insulation. Take note if it's a cold night, we were a bit cold our entire meal despite being weathered New Englanders. We skipped in just before the closing cut-off at 8PM (in case you forgot about the fact that Florida is where people go to die and so dinner starts being served at 4PM). Gramma Dot's specializes in locally sourced seafood specialties. But they also have things like hamburgers and steaks for the land lubbers in your party. They wil of course miss out on one of the best things from Florida: fresh unshelled shrimp and grouper. Which of course brings me to the food. We all shared a stunningly cheap $9 pitcher of local micro-brewed beer. It was a surprisingly clean if not a tad simple Belgian Wheat. We had an appetizer of local un-shelled shrimp and it floored me. Fresh shrimp is a world apart from the frozen or farm grown variety we get up North. I ordered the mesquite grouper as our waitress said it was the freshest catch and the special of the evening. I've never been a fan of grouper and felt it tasted much like it's role as a scavenger and bottom feeder. Here it was a completely different fish - literally. We also ordered blackened scallops (which while tasting fresh had an unappealing mealy texture compared to the ones up North), and lemon and pepper Mahi Mahi which was fabulous but a bit on the fatty side. The dinner meals come with fixed sides which are a bit of good, bad, and gimmicky. Good: a small buttery potato croquette sweetened with diced onions. Bad: over-cooked steamed seasonal vegetables and a small bed of shriveled lettuce. Gimmicky: a molded dark chocolate shell with tasteless fruit salad inside. Really, Gramma Dot's should stick to what they do best: local seafood and dump the mediocre at best sides. Thankfully the portions of the good stuff are quite large so you'll be find if you mostly ignore the disappointing sides. If you're on Sansibel Island (doesn't strike me as worth a significant travel and a $6 toll) and are looking for fresh, local Southern seafood and also for one of the cheaper places to dine on the Island (~$20 entrees) you would do well to try Gramma Dot's. The seafood here impressed a very snobby North Eastern Liberal Elite who has it out for anything living in the ocean. Too bad about the sides, though.
(3)Marsha C.
Can't beat the grouper sandwich or the key lime pie here. Like the other poster - my daughter and I LOVE key lime pie and have tried it everywhere on Sanibel. Hands down this is the best. Nice setting in the boat house with beautiful yachts about. Not cheap - but definitely worth it for a pleasing lunch.
(5)Mike B.
Incredible lunch spot! Amazing curry lobster salad... great service... incredible setting. We love this place!
(5)Karri P.
My friends Carrie & Tom, who live in Cape Coral, first introduced me to Gramma Dot's in -- it must have been 2001. It was THE place on Sanibel for Coconut Shrimp or Grouper Sandwiches then, and whenever I go back to Florida, it never disappoints. I always, always, always go for lunch, since it's really nice to be at the marina in their screened in porch. (The whole place is not big. Just an oversized screened-in porch). And you get the same awesome food for a reduced price. Last time I was in Sanibel, which was December 2007, my husband and I stayed for seven days and ate at Gramma Dot's FOUR times. We just couldn't stay away. Their key lime pie is the best on the island, and I'm a key lime pie fiend. I order it everyplace. One day, I wanted the coconut shrimp again, but I was trying to maybe cut back on calories for one meal and ordered their catch of the day, an only slightly cooked tuna steak sandwich, and I didn't regret it. The texture, color, and flavor were perfect. Just divine. Beautiful! I kept thinking, "Let me eat this forever," which is what I usually think at Gramma Dot's. The tuna was so good that when we went back the next day, my husband tried to order it -- the one bite I had offered him tantalized him so -- but no more. All gone. New catch of the day. So, the service is great, the atmosphere is great, and you'll have a tough time finding better coconut shrimp anywhere!
(5)Bonnie G.
Four of us went here for lunch on a Feb. Friday around 1 PM. We were told it would be a 50 min. wait, but we weren't seated for 1 1/2 hours. After waiting the 50 min., we kept thinking it would be any minute and hated to leave after all that time. I will admit the food was very good. I had the curried lobster salad, another had chicken salad, and I forget what the others ate, but we were all well-pleased. Two had key lime pie which was also fine and light-tasting, which isn't always the case with this pie. I'd go back but only out-of-season. It is a lovely setting too and once we were served, service was quick and efficient.
(3)DM M.
Good Fresh Fish
(3)Alex P.
We came here on a warm rainy July afternoon - definitely not high tourist season, and found the place charming. The service was friendly and the atmosphere, if you like boats, was relaxed and very "marine". The food is wholesome and served in generous portions. If I'm ever on Sanibel Island again, I'd come back.
(4)Mark M.
Loved their mesquite ahi tuna. The fried mashed potatoes were great. I say 4 stars, my wife thinks only 3.
(4)Kate F.
really liked this place ... my favorite for dinner! great coconut shrimp, a really good view of the boats parked outside, and my husband said this place had a top-notch key lime pie.
(4)G Z.
To be fair, I did not eat here, but after reading about *how great* the key lime pie was, we tried to get a pie to go. I was told that they needed a day's notice for a whole pie to go, and it is around $30. For a PIE?? Apparently they aren't aware of this reputation or else they'd have some extra pies to sell for the crowds on short notice.
(2)Teresa E.
Gramma Dot's is one of the very few waterside dining on Sanibel. Located in the Sanibel Marina, it is a small little boat dock looking restaurant. The food is some of the best on the island. The coconut shrimp is some of the best I have ever had, and my mother swears that the key lime pie is the best she has ever had. The service is typical Sanibel, not very good - Slow and understaffed. I would say that is it more of a lunch place. It is pretty small, so I am sure at certain times of the year, there can be quite a wait. We took the boys for dinner this most recent trip and while you would think it was child friendly given the food selection and atmosphere (think Salty Dog Cafeish), the other diners seemed annoyed that we were there, which is somewhat typical Sanibel. Also, given it's location in the marina, it is a little fishy smelling inside.
(3)Erica M.
The food here was pretty good. I just happen to think that this place is a little overrated. The ambiance is really awesome and the staff is really friendly. However, I had really high hopes for this place and the food was good but nothing to rave about. I got a steak sandwich, which was a piece of steak on a bun. Delicious but left a little to be desired. We shared the fried calamari and that was really really good. Overall the fish was fresh but I heard a few people at the table complain about dry fish.
(3)