cocktails

Joey’s Pizza & Pasta House on Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Joey’s Pizza & Pasta House on Marco Island, Florida! My husband always says, “It’s more fun to eat at a bar than drink in a restaurant.” At Joey’s you can do both… or choose to eat and drink outdoors in their welcoming patio area. No matter where you settle in, the mood is contagious. Everyone seems to be having a good time. The drinks are cold and thirst-quenching, the food is definitely spot on. That’s probably due to the fact that Italian pasta dinners, specialty pizzas, and sweet desserts are made from family recipes. Pace yourself by sharing appetizers. Pizza is the main attraction offered in the New York style of thin-crust, which can be folded in half to eat, or the popular Sicilian thick-crust version covered in olive oil. Either way, go overboard. Leftovers can be taken home and eaten later when the cravings return.

Snook Inn on Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Snook Inn on Marco Island, Florida! Eating at a landmark location adds captivating charm and pleasant nostalgia to waterside dining. Years ago, this place was a secluded island retreat famous for its fresh seafood from the Gulf of Mexico. People flocked here “to get away from it all”. Originally, it was dubbed the “Snook Hole” simply because right off the dock, fisherman caught the common snook fish in abundance. An aggressive fish, the snook, gave quite a fight to the average sportsman. Yet it was the incredible white flesh that won people over. Over time, the Snook Hole evolved into an Old Florida beach bar. Mention the name to anyone around, and their eyes light up with fond memories of a popular gathering spot for cold cocktails, enjoyable food, and live music. Grab a seat at the Chickee Bar or bask in the sunshine from the upper deck as you wile away the day. This is a place for casual outdoor fun coupled with a great menu. The Fish ‘n Chips was a no-brainer, complemented by a trip to the Salad Bar. Is it any wonder it has become the talk-of-the-town for locals as well as tourists?

Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill on Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill on Marco Island, Florida! People are drawn to lobstah like fish to water. That’s a good thing because the word is out that Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill has fresh lobster tails flown in weekly. Perhaps that is why you can get a twin lobster tail dinner, complete with garden potatoes, grilled corn, and drawn butter, while dining outdoors. Go early for Happy Hour to grab a seat at the Tiki Bar, located dockside with a waterfront view. Pelicans paddle by, boats bob atop the Marco River, the drinks quench thirsty patrons, and the conversation remains light. Don’t blink, else you may have to pinch yourself to keep paradise living a reality that everyone seeks.

The Speak Easy of Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: The Speak Easy of Marco Island, Florida! Is it any wonder this Chicago-style gin joint reflecting Prohibition of the 1930’s is located in a corner nook along the waterfront? Pssst. Follow the signs, Dollface, and lower your voice. Seating is available inside along the L-shaped bar, in a shadowy breezeway, or a few steps away on the exterior deck. Crafted cocktails are available by the glass or by the bucket. Make a mental note of the Speakeasy Sunset, Speakeasy Punch, and the Marco Wave. Then whisper into the server’s ear for one of those concoctions. Straight-shooters come pretty easy, too: Jim, Jack, and Johnnie. These guys know their options. In case you get hungry, there are plenty of appetizers for sharing, roaring sandwiches, specialty pizzas, and seafood platters. If you can’t find something to eat, it’s your own fault.

Cocomo’s Grill on Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Cocomo’s Grill on Marco Island, Florida! Laid-Back is their middle name. When you’re on your way to somewhere else, stop by for a little conversation and a familiar face at this island-themed eating house. The mood is always groovy at Cocomo’s, and the positive mind-set is downright contagious. After all, this cozy island oasis is exactly where you want to be right now. Order a platter of Ahi Tuna Nachos. Seared rare is the only way to go, you know. The wonton chips, sprinkled with pickled ginger and snipped scallions, add crispy crunch to that burst of wasabi. Peruse the menu to make a mental note for other favorites later on. Take a break from the sandcastles and beach combing. Did you hear that? Cocomo’s is calling your name.

Sunset Grille on Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Sunset Grille on Marco Island, Florida! Whether you walk across the white sandy beach to the barefoot bar or ramble under the turquoise-blue awning from the parking lot, you can’t ignore the familiar chorus floating across your mind, “…down at the Sunset Grille…”. Prepare yourself for tropical dining. Look around, this is definitely paradise. The view is breathtaking all the way to the aquamarine horizon. Order a crafted cocktail. When you catch your breath… sip, chat, laugh out loud. It’s okay, you’re among friends. These are times you remember. Nibble on the seared ahi appetizer (the seaweed salad is amazing) before moving on to dinner. Perhaps the garden-fresh steak salad, medium rare, will tempt your palate. Order another drink. Stick around for a sunset kaleidoscope of color that will dazzle the senses. And tomorrow you can do it all over again.

Laishley Crab House in Punta Gorda, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Laishley Crab House in Punta Gorda, Florida. For a jaw-dropping view of the waterfront from the open air upper deck, either grab a seat at the wraparound bar or reserve a table instead. Laishley Crab House has a menu that offers everything from incredible seafood and sushi bowls to unique sandwiches, garden salads, roasted chicken, and grilled steak. But way more than that. The freshly baked bread is so warm, butter spreads across it like liquid gold. Try not to gorge yourself because dinner is worth the wait. Sip on a crafted cocktail; notice the way vehicles crisscross on the parallel bridges in the distance as motorboats cut through the flowing waters of the Peace River below. Make dining a total experience worth remembering. Life is good at Laishley Crab House, especially if you save room for dessert.

The Sherman in Batesville, Indiana

Dining Outside the Home: The Sherman in Batesville, Indiana. When a stay-cation makes sense to remain close to home, wander down the road a piece to The Sherman. Nestled in the rolling hills of southern Indiana, step over the threshold of this quaint inn and eatery. You may be taken aback by the lively music and intermittent laughter coming from the Black Forest Bar. Peek around the corner. Rub your eyes and look again. The deep dark interior almost resembles a magical forest where fairy tales come true. Do the walls have eyes? Enter if you dare. Check out that giant pretzel. The couple with their heads huddled together are nibbling on it as though they were Hänsel and Gretel. This is just one of many appetizers for dipping pleasure with gourmet mustards and bier cheese. The crafted cocktails and extensive beer selection complement house-baked specialties with Bavarian leanings. Go early, stay awhile, and above all…share dishes. The German-style food is so spot on, you’ll want to eat your fill…and then some.

The Sherman in Batesville, Indiana

Dining Outside the Home: The Sherman in Batesville, Indiana! Listed as one of the Historic Hotels of America, The Sherman is the “Gathering Place of Generations”, established in 1852. Located among the sleepy hills of southern Indiana, German culture remains the theme within and without. The German Tudor style architecture is easily identified by the half-timbering on the two-story building which houses the enchanting hotel, European corner café, private alcoved restaurant, antique Belgium bar, and popular outdoor biergarten. German cuisine, known for its specialties, speaks volumes of Oktoberfest-style renderings. From flavorful brauts to international beers to scrumptious desserts, the extensive menu pleases the palate of travelers, historians, celebrities, and residents alike. The next time a road trip takes you on a journey of exploration, stop for awhile to bask in the hospitality known throughout the area at The Sherman.