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4271 Pine Island Road
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Florida
Travel & Life |
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| A
pipsqueak of a fishing village, Matlacha is home to bait shops, quirky
cottages, art galleries — and Bert's Bar & Grill. Nothin'
fancy about this watertront dive where a mellow Old Florida mood prevails, and the best seat in the house includes a show ofospreys, pelicans, dolphins and a fisherman or two. Boaters anchor in the Matlacha Sound off the Gulf of Mexico |
and
arrive by dinghy; bikers park out front; and locals come on foot for
juicy bargain burgers ($5.50) and piles of crisp, curly homemade potato
chips, Pine Island clams, grouper fingers, fried oysters and peel-and-eat shrimp all pair well with Shock Top, a Belgian-style wheat ale — and a delicious summer breeze. Average entree: $13. 239.282.3232, hcrtshar.us - PATRICIA LTTAKIS |
The News-Press Food & Dining |
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| Bert’s brags about its “million-dollar view” and its acclaimed casual menu. Diners sit outside under a shading canopy, alongside docks in a bay that spills into Matlacha Pass. It’s not unusual to see an osprey | soar overhead, porpoise cruising through the waters and the occasional manatee might rear its head. Inside dining offers surprisingly sizable tables, good food and a priceless view. |
Diner Rating 4 out of 5
| Looking
to hang out with the locals on Pine Island? You get that, cheap
eats, live entertainment, and a water view to boot at Bert's.
Speaking of boots, you're likely to see much of the clientele
wearing white |
rubber
fishing boots, known here as Pine Island Reeboks. Order pizza, a
burger, fried oysters, or crab cakes from the no-nonsense menu. -Fodor's Online Travel Guide- |
| From the Miami Herald Travel section Sunday Aug. 24, 2003 BY CHELLE KOSTER WALTON |
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| ---
High fives for funk, seafood and friendly spirits Enough with the
''best beaches in Florida'' rankings? Who hasn't rated them? Top
restaurants? Finest hotels? --- Anyone with an opinion and an audience has made a list. Florida has a lot of fine qualities that go beyond the obvious. So we're giving a ''high five'' today to some of the state's less touted attractions -- from dive bars to yummy spa treatments. DIVE BARS --- And we mean that in the most flattering way. For those who like nothing better than hoisting a |
cold
one
in the company of locals who don't equate bars with high heels or
chinos, pull up a stool at any of these:Bert's Bar, Matlacha, Pine
Island: Fishermen make some of the liveliest drinking companions
and here the only dress code seems to be those white rubber boots
endearingly dubbed Pine Island Reeboks. Great wings and water views
add to the attraction. 239-282-3232. --- Other Florida mentions were Flora-Bama Bar, Pensacola, Woody's, St. Petersburg Beach, Stan's Idle Hour, Goodland, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa |
10Best Restaurant's • 10Best Nightlife • 10Best Seafood
"Best Value"
| Overlooking
Matlacha Pass, Bert's enjoys a view that makes folks visiting
Pine Island for the first time green with envy. Of course, the
so-called "million dollar" waterside setting is only
part of this shack's appeal – after all, the kitchen does
serve up tasty eats like peel-n-eat |
shrimp,
farm-raised clams and even fried chicken. What's more, the place
also features terrific live music, including everything from blues
to good, old fashioned rock-n-roll. -PriceLine's Travel Guide- |
The
Boston Globe Fishing, farming, and making art on a Florida isle By Ellen Albanese, Globe Staff | April 15, 2007 |
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| Accessible by causeway from Cape Coral, Pine Island is a place where people earn their livings fishing and farming. At 17 miles long and averaging 2 miles wide, it is the largest island on Florida's southwest coast and among the least developed, in large part because it has no swimming beaches. Stringfellow Road runs the length of the island from Bokeelia in the north | to
Saint James City at the southern tip. The road is dotted with painted
telephone poles, decorated with nature scenes, flowers, and pirates,
courtesy of Pine Island artists. Writers and musicians also contribute to the "creative coast" vibe. You can find live music most any night of the week at Bert's Bar & Grill in Matlacha ... |
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