For those that are either still staying on Sanibel or Captiva during the COVID-19 restrictions (which do not prevent those already here from stay, nor do they prevent property owners from visiting their condo or home) or if you are simply concerned about your favorite restaurant during this difficult time, you should know that many locations are actually still open. As these are considered "essential businesses," restaurants are allowed to operate, though dining rooms and bars are ordered closed and can only provide take-out and/or delivery (like everywhere else).
While occupancy has dropped dramatically on the islands, only a handful of restaurants have elected to close entirely for the duration. These include:
Lighthouse Cafe (breakfast/lunch)
Sanibel Fresh (breakfast and lunch with fresh ingredients)
Malia Island Fusion Cuisine (at the Sanibel Island Golf Club)
Sanibel Fish House
Sundial Beach Resort (including Shima Japanese Steakhouse, Shima's Grab & Go, Sea Breeze Cafe, Slice of Paradice, and Turtle's Pool Bar)
Cip's Place
The Blue Giraffe (Periwinkle Place)
Traders2 (but the original Traders is still open; see below)
The Clam Shack (WICKED AWESOME New England seafood)
Joey's Custard
Subway
George & Wendy's Sanibel Seafood Grille
Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille (all locations on Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, and Captiva)
Normadie Restaurant and the Upper Deck (at the West Wind Inn)
The Mad Hatter
The Green Flash (Captiva)
The restaurants associated with the Captiva Island Inn (RC Otters, Sunshine Seafood, Latte Da, Cantina Captiva)
The Mucky Duck
The Bubble Room (Captiva)
All restaurants at South Seas Resort (including Starbuck's Coffee)
It should be noted that both of our full-service supermarkets, Jerry's Foods and Bailey's General Store, are open in full (though with slightly shortened hours) and making every effort (extensive cleaning, masks, marking directions and places to push social distancing, plexiglass barriers, etc.) to protect themselves and customers. Other convenience store.
The following restaurants are open for take-out business. Most don't offer delivery unless otherwise noted, but it is possible to arrange assistance
by contacting Sanibel Delivery (239-308-5353 or sanibeldelivery.com), which specializes in shopping FOR you. Not only do they pick up restaurant orders, they will also bring pharmacy items and fill supermarket lists.
Gramma Dot's
Dante's Coal Fired Pizza (Italian)
The Lazy Flamingo (both locations)
Dairy Queen (sitting area closed)
Huxters Market & Deli
Tipsy Turtle (formerly The Jac, formerly The Jacaranda)
Matzaluna (Italian and the island's only wood-fired pizza)
Cielo (Northern Italian cuisine)
Sanddollar (at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort)
Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen
Schnapper's Hots (They have a roadside sign; "The best take-out since 1998")
Trader's (Take-out AND delivery availabile)
Island Pizza (Take-out AND delivery available)
Sweet Melissa's Cafe (high-end American cuisine, take-out AND delivery available)
Jerry's Cafe (inside Jerry's Foods)
Thistle Lodge (at the Casa Ybel Resort) - offering curbside and walk-in pickup
Cheeburger Cheeburger
Sanibel Cafe (breakfast and lunch)
The Paper Fig Kitchen (offering take-out and delivery via Sanibel Delivery "until we kick this figgin' virus")
The Island Cow
The Sanibel Bean
Sanibel Deli and Coffee Factory
Rosie's Cafe and Grill
Bleu Rendez Vouz French Bistro
Spoondrift Island Bowls
The Great White Grill (take-out and limited delivery)
Timbers Restaurant and the Sanibel Grill (their fish market also remains open)
Il Tesoro Ristorante (Italian and pizza, available for take-out AND delivery)
The Pecking Order (take-out AND delivery of cluckin' good chicken)
The Over Easy Cafe
The Sandbar (take-out from 4 - 8 with specials available between 4 -5)
Traditions on the Beach (at the Island Inn)
Key Lime Bistro
Captiva Island Pizza (Take-out and delivery from 4 - 9)
The Old Captiva House / The Crow's Nest (at Tween Waters Resort on Captiva)
That is a long list, but also a wide variety of Islands Cuisine making a tremendous effort for our remaining visitors and residents. When they are restored to full operation (and they will), we hope you will be able to enjoy their hospitality (as well as ours) and show your appreciation.
If you would like to learn how you can help support restaurants and employees affected by COVID-19 (here or in your home town), please go to the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund at www.rerf.us
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Soon...and Book Direct and Save (after you wash your hands).