By Heather Turk
Those seeking delicacies from the sea will enjoy the savory seafood when visiting Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. The area’s location along Florida’s southwest Gulf Coast makes it a prime dining destination for fresh-from-the-sea fare, particularly grouper, which can be found at several nearby restaurants. The grouper sandwiches at these four eateries are true local favorites!
FARLOW’S ON THE WATER
This waterfront Caribbean restaurant in Englewood serves one of Florida’s finest grouper sandwiches for lunch for only $15. Available grilled, blackened or hand battered and fried, the black grouper comes on a corn-dusted Kaiser bun with lettuce, tomato and red onion, and is served with a side of pineapple coleslaw. Guests also get an additional side of their choosing, with the sweet potato fries complementing the mild heat and slightly salty taste of the blackened grouper perfectly. farlowsonthewater.com
The Grouper Rocket at Lock ‘N Key
LOCK ‘N KEY
One of the area’s most popular places to enjoy a grouper sandwich, this restaurant and pub in Englewood Beach goes through approximately 500 pounds of grouper each week! Guests can choose from either a traditional grouper sandwich, available fried, chargrilled, blackened or Cajun style and served on a hoagie roll, or the restaurant’s famous Grouper Rocket: a grouper filet deep fried in the restaurant’s secret batter, then topped with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing and served on grilled rye bread. Priced at $15 for lunch and $17 for dinner, both come with your choice of side—try the orzo salad! lockandkeyrestaurant.com
Village Fish Market & Restaurant’s bronzed Fresh Red Grouper Sandwich on a Kaiser roll with pub fries
PEACE RIVER SEAFOOD
Offering a true boat-to-plate dining experience, the grouper served at this Punta Gorda restaurant is caught fresh from the Gulf and then fileted on property. Guests can enjoy the fish blackened, fried or grilled in The Real Deal Grouper Sandwich. Available for lunch and dinner for $19.95, this sandwich comes on a fresh-baked Kaiser bun with lettuce and tomato and is served with half an ear of corn and a potato or French fries. peaceriverseafood.com
VILLAGE FISH MARKET & RESTAURANT
Known for its New England-style seafood, this Punta Gorda restaurant in Fishermen’s Village serves a Fresh Red Grouper Sandwich for lunch and dinner for $15.75 ($16.50 with cheese). Guests can enjoy the hand-cut filet blackened, broiled, bronzed or fried on their choice of roll: Kaiser, multigrain ciabatta, croissant or gluten-free. The sandwich also comes with your choice of side, like the restaurant’s popular pub fries. village-fish-market.com
Start planning your dining adventures in Punta Gorda here.
