Restaurants

No restaurant can survive on these affluent islands without serving good food, so you're assured of getting a fine meal wherever you go. Oddly, only a handful of establishments offer dining with water views.

Sanibel Island

Much of the "help" on this affluent island dines at Jerry's Family Restaurant, 1700 Periwinkle Way, at Casa Ybel Road (tel. 239/472-9300), which serves wholesome and inexpensive diner fare (ingredients come fresh from the adjacent Jerry's Supermarket). Both the restaurant and supermarket are open daily from 6am to 11pm. Breakfast is served from 6am to 4pm, and you can usually get a table quickly here (which can't be said of Sanibel's other popular breakfast spots).

You'll find very reasonably priced pub fare at Sanibel's sports bars, such as the Lazy Flamingo II and Sanibel Grill, 703 Tarpon Bay Rd., near Palm Ridge Road (tel. 239/472-3128), which actually serves as the bar for Timbers, the fine seafood restaurant next door.

For picnics at Sanibel's beaches or on a canoe, the deli and bakery in Bailey's General Store, at Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road (tel. 239/472-1516), carries a gourmet selection of breads, cheeses, and meats. Huxter's Deli and Market, 1203 Periwinkle Way, east of Donax Street (tel. 239/472-6988), has sandwich fixings and "beach box" lunches to go.

Captiva Island

Big deli sandwiches and picnic fare are available at the Captiva Island Store, Captiva Road at Andy Rosse Lane (tel. 239/472-2374); and at gourmet-oriented C. W.'s Market and Deli, at the entrance to the South Seas Resort (tel. 239/472-5111). The beach is a block from these stores.

See the review for the Captiva Island Inn Bed & Breakfast for information on the Keylime Bistro.

Deals on Meals

Local restaurants often run advertisements containing discount coupons in the Sanibel-Captiva Shopper's Guide, a free publication available at the chamber of commerce's visitor center.