From Sanibel Flats to Captiva
Captiva Island, Florida
Cuisine Style: Floribbean, Seafood
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 4/5
Dined: October 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille Zomato rating:
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille is inspired by a fictional character in a series of books written by the best selling author and owner of Doc Ford’s restaurant chain Randy Wayne Wright. There are four Doc Ford’s locations with this on Captiva Island being the most recent (2019), with a fifth opening in March 2020 on the new St. Petersburg, Florida Pier. The first Doc Ford’s location just south of Captiva is on Sanibel Island where the author and restaurant owner bases his Doc Ford character out of starting with the 1990 published book Sanibel Flats.
Though Sanibel and Captiva Island are only separated by a small bridge, Sanibel is much bigger in size with more resorts and people. Captiva is quiet and more laid back. Teddy Roosevelt lived on a houseboat here, Thomas Edison fished, and Charles Lindbergh landed his first seaplane. Doc Ford offers Floribbean style cuisine is a melting pot of native Indian, Caribbean, and Greek influence which has an emphasis on fresh ingredients, complex medleys of spices, especially strong flavors offset by milder ones and fresh seafood or poultry and dishes that are prepared in house. There is also generous use of fresh fruit and juices, especially citrus and sweet tropical fruits. Doc Ford’s Original Lime Panko Crusted Fish Sandwich, Yucatan Shrimp tacos, or a traditional Cuban sandwich is an example of Floribbean cuisine staples.
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille Menu:
- Appetizers
- Dinkin’s Bay Raw Bar
- Salads
- Soups
- Sandwiches
- Entrees
- Desserts
Doc Ford’s Captiva is attached to the South Seas Island Resort at the north tip of the island next to Chadwicks Square South shopping center across the street with a high-end art gallery, provisions store and more. My wife and I stopped for some shopping there before eating at Doc Ford’s. We sat at the bar, on a slow lunch start to the mid-week by being the first customers of the day. The restaurant size itself could seat over 200 people, and according to the staff it fills up often especially on weekends. We began with a tasting of the Hammerhead Wit beer brewed by the Big Top Brewing Company based out of Sarasota Florida, and in cooperation with Doc Ford’s had the restaurant logo on the cans.
My wife and I shared the Captiva crab cakes appetizer which came with two pan-fried “beach-style,” cakes served with jicama coleslaw and finished with a Key lime butter sauce. The presentation was simple and neat, the plate was not overcrowded and the rule of odds was observed to highlight the dish. The cake itself had light breading, filled with jumbo lump crab, some corn, well-portioned seasonings and a hint of mayonnaise as a binder. The citrus flavor from the sauce was not overpowering, tamed possibly by the butter, and the flavors of the crabmeat were fresh with no hints of older stock like some restaurants will serve. Each bite of the lightly crisped breading blending with the flavors of the patty, the citrus hints in the sauce and the nice kick to jicama made with a pleasant crab cake. I would say that the chef’s recipe is close to that of the wonderful crab cake enjoyed several years ago while in Charleston, South Carolina at Hank’s Seafood Restaurant.
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| Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille / Captiva Crab Cakes |
We were bar and restaurant hopping along Captiva so keeping that in mind, the crab cakes and drinks were the only items we had while at Doc Ford’s, but we will return to either this or the Sanibel location again in the future, or since the new location at the St. Petersburg Pier will be opening soon, that will be a closer drive so we can enjoy more of the menu selections and do a follow-up review as well.
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit.
But check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other noteworthy Floribbean cuisine articles and restaurants similar to Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille:
Floribbean cuisine is found in varying forms in Florida restaurants The essence of what makes a particular dish "Floribbean" is similar to that of certain other aspects of variable Floridian culture: it is influenced by the American Indian tribes native to the area, along with immigrants from all over the world, but especially from Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Greece. A strong emphasis is put on fresh ingredients, complex medleys of spices, especially strong flavors offset by milder ones and fresh seafood or poultry dishes as well as the generous use of fresh fruit and juices, especially citrus and sweet tropical fruits. Highlighted recipes include key lime pie, barbecue, tropical barbacoa, and smoked fish spreads.
Crabby Bill’s Home to an eclectic menu of seafood offerings on St. Pete Beach, Florida
Miller’s Ale House Casual Floribbean and American pub chain; reviewed in Brandon, Florida
Sloppy Joe’s Bar A landmark bar/pub serving Floribbean and American classics since 1933 Key West, Florida
The Floridian Restaurant Modern and locally sourced café for southern grub in St. Augustine, Florida
The Getaway A local chain serving Floribbean foods in an outdoor beach atmosphere, in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ulele Rustic chic for native American and Floridian fare in Tampa, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Sanibel and Captiva restaurants, and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Waterfront upscale new American cuisine
Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
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Contemporary dining for all meals featuring both land and sea
Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
|
New American Cuisine in a casual but elegant setting
Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
|
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Rated the best Seafood and waterfront restaurant on the island
Captiva Island, Florida, USA
|
Cocktails with tropical tunes and bar + grill eats at the pool
Captiva Island, Florida, USA
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A few Florida restaurant favorites:
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Casual gourmet in 50s style diner
St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA
|
American Grill with an Asian twist
Palm Harbor, Florida, USA
|
Southern-Style Seafood at the Waterline Resort
Holmes Beach, Florida, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambience, food quality, and wow factor.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille a 4 out of 5 stars, meaning that they not only exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants, but they were outstanding.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille
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Max Points Possible:
|
Total Points Awarded:
|
Total Points deducted:
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Ambience
|
11
|
11
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0
|
Food quality
|
10
|
9
|
1
|
Plate presentation
|
10
|
8
|
2
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Customer service
|
11
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10
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1
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Alcohol and other beverages
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7
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6
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1
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Total regular points awarded
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49
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44
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5
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.897959183673469
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
|
0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.897959183673469
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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- 0 - 5
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4
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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4 of 5 Stars:
90% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
An Outstanding Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille:
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American, Floribbean
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free choices, Local, Low Carb Choices, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Modern, Hotspot, Great bar, Good for special occasions, Classy, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille has a private lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Low
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Smoking:
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Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille is a non-smoking restaurant with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
|
Price
|
United States Dollar (USD)
|
$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
|
$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
|
¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
|
€
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Alcohol prices:
$10.00 USD
Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille:
5400 South Seas Plantation Road
Captiva, Florida 33924
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 (239) 312-4275
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Online reservations
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Mon - Sun
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille:
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****
The world’s best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
|
Farm-to-fork new American fare
Sonoma, California, USA
|
Country style market & café w/craft beer
Dundee, Oregon, USA
|
Refined eatery with Lowcountry fare and Southern Brunch
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
|
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
