After eating recently at the Mad Hatter I'm a little surprised at the somewhat over-the-top negativity from some of the reviews. The restaurant is very good and for someone looking for an enjoyable meal with very attentive, pleasant service, this is the place. I didn't particularly care for the watermelon salad, but that was more because of its design, than its execution (I don't really get feta cheese and watermelon -- my wife talked me into it).

My only real complaint, which has been loudly noted below, is that the price point is a bit high. Being involved in the restaurant business in New York City I'm very familiar with the economics of running a restaurant. I know we could source, prepare and serve the same items at about a 20% lower price and still make money. You do feel slightly gouged, but I don't know the specifics of running a restaurant in this particular market.

But if you can put your money worries away for one night, I think you'll enjoy the meal and be glad you did. I've been visiting the area for almost 35 years and for all that time I've been to many, many mediocre restaurants with careless, inattentive service. Just part of the experience, but always forgiven. The Mad Hatter, though, stood out.

Simply put, the food is wonderful. The chef knows what he is doing and the food shows it.

We ordered the goat cheese philo dough app and it came with two goat cheese pillows. Despite the small portion size you expect to find at a fine eatery, the two pillows were shared with four people because of the wonderfully rich taste from the goat cheese.

The chef shared complimentary mini-crab claws served with roma tomatoes and an incredible tapinade with everyone in the dining room. They were great.

Our party ordered several filets and chilean sea bass (the night's special). The filets were cooked perfectly and its the only steak worth purchasing anywhere on Captiva/Sanibel. The sea bass was referred to as the best prepared fish the eater has ever had. No one was dissappointed, everyone was very happy.

I split the dessert crepe with my wife. It was definately enough to split and it was expertly prepared. Our companions ordered cheesecake (which was extra light) and a chocolate something. Both were devoured and enjoyed in the way desserts are meant to be.

Several people had noted sticker shock at the menu (the nightly 30 oz. lobster special was 100), but the price wasn't that much more than a full meal at Key Lime Bistro or Bubble Room. The taste and quality of food was miles ahead of anything else on the island.

The dining room is quiet and reserved. The wait staff is fantastic and are eager to help out in any way they can. It's not the eatery for the big, raucous party, but it's perfect for just about any other occasion.

Call ahead for reservations, we left a message the day of and someone called us back confirming them at 4:00, which is when the staff arrive.

My husband and I love to travel. One of our favorite things to do while traveling is find unique and wonderful restaurants. The Mad Hatter is the best we've found in a long time. We enjoyed a WONDERFUL meal while watching the sun set. It was beautiful.
The service was excellent - attentive, but not intrusive. This is a very romantic place to have dinner on the island.

A $45 filet mignon smothered in Bearnaise is a crime. When ordering, I was thinking a little sauce, not a yellow lump on the plate. The Yukon potatoes were average at best, but the beets, carrots, asparagus and other vegetables were beautifully cooked and seasoned. My dining partner had better results with the watermelon salad (it was good), and the duck. The duck had a good taste and texture; I would recommend it. Overall, though, the highbrow overtones, entree descriptions, pricing, all the way down to the crumbing of the table were just overdone. Keep the cozy and romantic part, and make the rest just a wee bit simpler.