DOC FORD’S RUM BAR & GRILLE
Southwest Florida’s most talked about rum bar and restaurant
There aren’t many places where you can step between the pages of a book and experience the excitement of a globe-trotting crime fighter the likes of “Doc Ford.” However, that’s exactly what you’ll experience at the fictional character’s namesake restaurants on Sanibel and Captiva islands, Fort Myers Beach and a new location along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is named after the main character in a series of crime fighting books by Southwest Florida novelist Randy Wayne White. When restaurateurs Marty Harrity and Mark Marinello met White in 2003, they were all looking for new ventures and their collective creative spirits gave birth to the first Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel.
The original restaurant is now housed in a spacious, two-story environmentally friendly structure on Island Inn Road, near the intersection of Periwinkle Way. Harrity calls the restaurant with its lush landscape “magnificent.”
Serving Caribbean-inspired cuisine, the vibe is that of an upscale sports bar with a spotlight on the sport of fishing. The other highlight is rum. The bar carries some 50 different kinds of rum from all over the world, including rum produced by the local distiller Wicked Dolphin. Order a tasting flight or one of the expertly crafted rum cocktails at the spacious bar.
Doc Ford’s also occupies a large waterfront space on Fort Myers Beach where live music draws crowds, but the location at the entrance to South Seas Island Resort in Chadwick Square on Captiva can accommodate the biggest number of diners, approximately 300, both indoors and outdoors with private spaces for special events.
No matter where you dine, a warm welcome is consistent, along with generous portions of both food and fun, especially when White is in town. Fans of the writer come from all over the country, to dine, buy memorabilia, and meet White during his scheduled (and unscheduled) appearances and book signings.
Everything on the menu is made in-house; the sauces from scratch. Dine on local fish and raw oysters, flatbreads, and a plethora of flavorful dishes that often feature tropical fruits and exotic spices that embrace the tastes of the islands. A must-have is the award-winning Yucatan Shrimp in a savory sauce of butter, garlic, lime juice, and Indonesian sambal for a kick.
Some of the biggest news for the popular restaurant is the expansion outside of Southwest Florida to a spectacular location at the newly renovated St. Pete Pier in downtown St. Petersburg.
“We wouldn’t be able to do it without those who we have working for us,” says Marinello. “We have such a great staff.” Harrity agrees saying, “I don’t know how we got blessed with the ability to get such good people. Success is a combination of a lot of good things that have to come together, but it starts with the people.” And those people pass on the good vibes to all who walk through the doors.
Hospitality is the foundation of Doc Ford’s; the food and drink are the pillars. The atmosphere and the experience found here is what keeps guests coming back.
Visit Doc Ford’s at Chadwick Circle near the entrance to South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island. Hours are Monday-sunday, 11 a.m.-close (varies according to day and season). 239-312-4275, docfordscaptivaisland.com
Gina Birch is a Southwest Florida media personality and a lover of food and wine, who contributes regularly to TOTI Media.
The bar carries some 50 different kinds of rum from all over the world, including rum produced by the local distiller Wicked Dolphin.