Punta Gorda Restaurants & Hotels
My top picks for restaurants and hotels in Punta Gorda (See hotels below) -
My personal pick of the top 5 restaurants in Punta Gorda:
1. The Perfect Caper - Owned by James and Jeanie Roland, this restaurant is one of the finest restaurants you'll find. Eurasian-inspired food at it's best. Chef Jeanie was a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has been a semi-finalist, southern United States, of the James Beard award in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 as well as Florida Trend Magazine's Prestigious Golden Spoon Award in 2010. The Caper is open for dinner Monday - Sunday, lunch served Wednesday - Friday with a special two for one dining experience should you choose - second to none and delicious!
Visit their website at: http://www.theperfectcaper.com/index.asp
2. The River City Grill - A long standing favorite in Punta Gorda. Serving contemporary American cuisine in an eclectic setting, daily happy hour and an early dining discount.
Visit their website at: http://www.menupal.net/usertabpage.asp?RestCodeforWeb=259
3. Santhino's - one of the best kept secrets in Punta Gorda! American cuisine with a touch of Peruvian dishes on the menu - in fact, the best seafood cerviche you'll ever taste. Atmosphere is warm and inviting, quiet and lovely. You can also access www.restaurants.com and get a discounted certificate for this restaurant. They do not have a website, but you can click on this link to see a portion of their menu:
http://www.allmenus.com/fl/punta-gorda/81630-santhinos/menu/dinner/
4. Amimoto Japanese Restaurant - truly authentic Japanese food and sushi. Food is absolutely delicious and very reasonable, particularly for lunch. If you love Japanese food, this is it! They do not have a website, however they are located at 2705 Tamiami Trail, phone number 941-505-1515.
5. Captain's Table - located at the end of Fisherman's Village, top floor above Harpoon Harry's. The food is always good here, American cuisine with lots of seafood and fish options, but without question, the best views of Charlotte Harbor. If it's not too hot, sit outside on their huge outdoor patio and enjoy the beautiful setting. This is my favorite spot when I want to enjoy the beautiful waterfront of Punta Gorda and enjoy a great meal. Try their seafood chowder, served at dinner only - it's unbelievably delicious!
Visit their website at: http://www.thecaptainstable.com/
The Ice House - a hidden jewel that serves hearty English pub food,. Located at E. Virginia and US 41 N, the Ice House is in an old ice house built in the 1890's with lots of atmosphere. The house favorites - fish & chips, chicken tenders tossed in a beer batter (my personal favorite tossed in a honey hot sauce with a side of blue cheese dressing), and huge chefs salad and burgers are superb. If you're a beer drinker, they have a huge selection which you won't find elsewhere. If you're there for lunch, ask for Celeste to be your server, she is fabulous! Effective 2011, the Ice House became part of www.restaurants.com where you can buy discounted dining certificates. Join this site and they send you e-mails every week or so on their current discounts. Wait for the 80% off the already discounted price and you get a great deal.
Visit their website at:
http://www.theicehousepub.com/default.asp?content=about.asp
My personal pick for your hotel stay:
1. The Wyvern Hotel - the Wyvern is a lovely boutique hotel built within the last 2 years. The rooms are absolutely top notch. Try to get the river view and ask for a jetted tub. The bathrooms are massive and luxurious. There is a rooftop pool where you can order tapas and enjoy the lovely view. Lulu's restaurant is a fine dining restaurant located in the hotel. http://www.thewyvernhotel.com/
2. The Four Points Sheraton - is also new to Punta Gorda within the last 2 years. The hotel has a nautical theme and a terrific restaurant. Try to get a river view!
Try booking or comparing hotel rates through Travelocity.com or hotwire.com. You can typically get a rate between $80-$110, depending on season.
