The Beached Whale - Fort Myers Beach, FL Review

The Beached Whale sits on the edge of Estero Blvd as it traces the beach at Fort Myers Beach. It is more of a road house or sports bar than anything. Wall-to-wall wide screen TVs present every football game and other sporting events, live as they are happening. The dining room is actually a huge bar room, with wooden booths and tables (all with a view of one or more TV screen.

With a colorful history that goes back to 1949, which is narrated on the back of the menu, The Beached Whale can attest to alo tof drinking and a lot of boisterous fun. Now, I am not a fan of sports bars generally speaking. I will eat them in a pinch. But I usually prefer a real "restaurant". That said, I stopped at The Beach Whale with my wife because a friend had touted it for food (yes, I was sceptical; good food at a sports bar?) and we wanted to see Pittsburg play. We were on Fort Myers Beach anyway. So why not.

Here's the surprise. The food was really GOOD. I ordered fish tacos with fresh grilled grouper in flour tortillas, pico de gallo sauce and shredded cabbage. Susanne had the margarita flat bread, with fresh basil, tomato and mozzarella. It was pizza like in presentation. Both selections were very tasty and well-prepared.

Susanne had her traditional pinot grigio. I chose a wheat beer in this sports bar milieu.

There is an upper deck, with tables under umbrellas, that offers nice views of the beach nad the Gulf of Mexico. We didn't eat up there but I climbed the stairs to see the view. Worth the effort next time.

If you are on Fort Myers Beach and looking for a good meal in a casual relaxed environment, don't let the Thursday Night is Ladies Night sign deter you. Try the Beached Whale, especially on a sports day.