Sanibel Island May 31, 2006
My Wife and I asked a local merchant where we could find a good meal on the island.
She recommended a couple of places and then said we should try Grandma Dot's Seaside Saloon. The name sounded intriguing, so we asked her where we could find it. The search was worth the effort. We both had “Fish and Chips” (Fried Grouper Fingers). They were not the greasy fish we have been served at some of the other places near Tampa. They were sweet and the homemade dill mayonnaise sauce was wonderful. Our server was very attentative and the entire meal was great. We finished the meal with piece of Key Lime Pie. It was great too.
The Category-4 Hurricane Charley came ashore as a direct hit on Captiva Island Florida on Friday, August 13, 2004. The storm damage is still apparent as you drive around the island. It looks like life is returning to normal minus some trees and such. The Marina area where Grandma Dot’s Seaside Saloon is located looks like they have everything running smoothly. According to our server, the north end of Sanibel and Captiva Island took the worst of the storm. We would certainly recommend Grandma Dot’s to anyone who would like some great food and service with a super view.

Because of all the glowing reviews, this restaurant was on our list of places to eat during our vacation in Sanibel in April. Although there were a couple of reviews that were not very good, I tend to take those with a grain of salt, considering all the wonderful reports on this site. We were so optimistic when entering, we did not even mind our table that overlooked the parking lot. The only time we saw water was on our way in and our way out. That being said, we were there for the food and looking forward to a delicious lunch. My first indication of trouble was when we received the seafood sampler appetizer, containing crab balls that were fried so dark brown that they looked like beef meatballs. The coconut shrimp in this dish was very good, the crab balls were very bad, and the other fish (obviously) were not memorable because I can't remember what they were. Unfortunately, I had ordered the crabcake sandwich for my lunch since crabcakes are one of my favorites and I have sampled them everywhere in my travels. I have to say that Gramma Dot's were about the worst I have ever eaten. They contained mostly filler, and were fried so well done that there was no crab taste left. You could purchase better crab cakes in your supermarket's frozen food department. My husband had the grouper sandwich. He usually has grouper when I have crabcakes in our travels. Although it was not bad, he did not enjoy it, as it was very bland. Needless to say, we did not return to try any other menu selections. We found a much better lunch place - Doc Ford's.

We spent a week in Sanibel at then end of January, and Gramma Dot's was suggested by our host as a place we'd enjoy. We ate there five days of the seven and loved everything about the restaurant. Even in January we had to arrive early to get a table.We look forward to returning for more seafood at Gramma Dot's!

My wife and I have visited Gramma Dots on several occasions over the past three years. Although there is generally a 30 to 45 minute wait for lack of reservations, we have always found this worthwhile. As noted by other reviewers, this is not fine dining, but rather a casual restaurant with a pleasing view of the harbor. The grouper is excellent, as has been the key lime pie for desert. Wait staff is always friendly with good service. Given the limited seating and popularity of this restaurant, don't expect to sit long once you've finished your meal. Turnover is relatively fast. Recommended for good food and a fun atmosphere.