Thistle Lodge - SANIBEL

We didn't have a great experience here. There was a wedding the night we went, as well as a rehearsal dinner in the restaurant, and restaurant service was...

This restaurant was a short walk from where we were staying. I wanted to treat my granddaughter to a birthday dinner. It was her first time to eat in an...

This meal was one of the highlights of my trip! Very elegant place. I got the special which was salmon and shrimp in a soy honey glaze. It was so flavorful!...

What a beautiful elegant dinner we enjoyed in the scenic Thistle Lodge Beachfront Restaurant at Casa Ybel Resort on Sanibel Island! From the reservation by Dessert everything was perfect! We started with cedar grilled octopus served over garlic fingering potatoes with a Blueberry Compot. This dish is delicate and layered with aromas that improve seafood. The Mediterranean Pompano, grilled and served with spinach, olives, cherry tomatoes and with a creamy risotto was shed from this world! The Seafood Provençal was full of fresh shellfish, served in a delicious, light, creamy garlic wine sauce served over angel hair pasta. Oh, the Caprese Salad was so wonderful that I forgot! The sea salt caramel cheesecake was excellent and the birthday brownie, ice cream, strawberries and cream decadent! The online booking process was super helpful as I showed my seat with a view of the water and the desire for a birthday surprise. Everything was perfectly discreetly arranged and ready when we arrived, thanks to the experienced Maitre?d and Tanya our excellent server! If you enjoy a good meal, this is the place for you on the island. Reservations strongly suggested as a restaurant filled fast, despite September ?off season.? Simple and plentiful parking.

Our visit was for brunch and we were a party of 6. We were seated in what was referred to as the gazebo but it wasn?t where our friends thought we would be. The room was really a private party room with no view of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. There were other tables available but our server seemed annoyed because this was the room we requested. Rather than cause a problem we stayed in the non-view room. As we began to order we asked for separate checks but was urged to have one and split it 3 ways because it was easier to divide the check into 3 at the end. Our service was quick and we were not rushed. Water and coffee was refilled frequently. There were gluten-free options and our server was very accommodating to that fact. Our meals were good but the presentation was a bit sloppy as you can see from the photos. The poached eggs were a bit over cooked. Thus the 4 star rating. I would dine at the Thistle Lodge again but would request a Gulf view on our next visit.