Post #358218 by hodadhank on Wed, Jan 30, 2008 7:33 PM

Just as Periwinkle turns into Sanibel-Captiva Road for it's long hug along Ding Darling Nature Preserve you will see Gasparillas Grill.
The dozen or more tikis here have a familiar Matlacha grin and we stopped for some questions and grouper. Until recently many resturants were offering counterfeit grouper, but no chance of that here with an award winning chef's reputation at stake...

Waterfalls, tikis & nautical relics dominate the exterior

what we've begun calling "Matlacha Tikis" are everywhere and
dozens of coconut pirate heads hang in the trees overhead

yep, more on this side too. at least their heads won't get cold

seafood steaks and spirits

Some aquariums making up the bar

So we meet again Matlacha Mystery Carver. No answers here just dozens of your tikis but I'm so close now I can smell the sawdust

Gasparilla's is pirate themed to be sure, but surrounded by an army of tikis outside and a bar full of fish on the inside I can imagine spending some time here. Ever have a Pu Pu Platter feature Tiki Island Shrimp, Bahama Conch fritters, Coconut shrimp, ponzu and amaretto-rum sauces? Me neither but those and signature cocktails like The Shrimp Wreck, Rum Dummy and The Mad Monkey would have to wait till next visit. We were heading towards Captiva Island to find an A-frame I'd first spotted quite by accident while staring mindlessly at this postcard.

Can you spot the main building of The Castaways in this picture?

look again...