Favorite Dining Spots on Captiva & Sanibel
When visiting the islands during spring high season, we had to decide whether a meal was really worth getting in the car to sit in logjams on Sanibel. Here are a few restaurants I'd trudge through traffic for anytime.

Traders: 1551 Periwinkle Way; (239) 472-7242 (reservations a must). Friendly, fresh, and local describe lunches and dinners at this perennial favorite. Fabulous macadamia-crusted grouper and lamb shank.

Dolce Vita: 1244 Periwinkle Way; www.dolcevitaofsanibel.com or (239) 472-5555. Upscale Italian, ideal for families looking for a dressy dinner. Excellent pastas, seafood, steaks, and wines accompanied by live music nightly.

Keylime Bistro: 11509 Andy Rosse Lane; www.captivaislandinn.com or (239) 395-4000. Sit outside and enjoy casual Floribbean cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Save room for the eponymous pie.

The Mucky Duck: 11546 Andy Rosse Lane; www.muckyduck.com or (239) 472-3434. The number one sunset pilgrimage restaurant on both islands features live music on the patio this time of year. Once inside, order crab cakes, lobster tail, or steak from this odd-duck English pub on the beach.

The Bubble Room: 15001 Captiva Drive; www.bubbleroomrestaurant.com or (239) 472-5558. Yes, this weird 1970s favorite is getting tired, but it’s still the quirkiest meal. Where else can you eat red velvet cake slices the size of bread loaves served by Bubble Scouts? Makes no sense? Then you’ll have to go to see for yourself.

Lighthouse Cafe: 362 Periwinkle Way; www.lighthousecafe.com or (239) 472-0303. Wander to the east end of Sanibel for the best breakfast omelets on the islands.

Doc Ford’s Sanibel Rum Bar & Grille: 975 Rabbit Road; www.docfordssanibel.com or (239) 472-8311. Some come to eat, some come to people-watch, we go to drink and do both. Order the fish tacos or the prosciutto-wrapped barbecue shrimp, and settle into a cold drink. Yum.

Sunshine Seafood Café & Wine Bar: 14900 Captiva Drive; (239) 472-6200. Sit outside and watch Captiva go by as you enjoy a lovely snapper picatta, paella, or tuna au poivre. The food is upscale, yet the ambience is decidedly friendly.

RC Otter’s Island Eats: 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, www.captivaislandinn.com or (239) 395-1142. Families looking for super-cool, casual environs will love the deck here with its song-filled keyboard player. Fried shrimp, quesadillas, burgers, and barbecue make it a favorite with the still-in-swimsuit crowd.