Yummy dining ideas in Punta Gorda/NFM area? | FerrariChat
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Yummy dining ideas in Punta Gorda/NFM area?

Discussion in 'Florida' started by David_S, Mar 15, 2017.

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  1. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    #1 David_S, Mar 15, 2017
    Will be down visiting my in-laws for a couple weeks & would love to find someplace nice, but not terribly expensive to take them to eat. Her parents are approaching 90, and I hate when they look at the menu & FREAK if the cheapest dish is $15... :(

    We've been to Bianca's in North Ft Myers, and that is pretty darn good eats.

    Would LOVE to take them to a seafood buffet/all you can eat crab legs kind of place, but such a thing doesn't appear to exist anywhere near the area. Yeah, this particular idea isn't "classy," but something my wife & her parents enjoy - something like this place in Myrtle Beach: Bennetts Calabash |BEST Seafood Buffet Restaurant, Myrtle Beach, SC Basically, go there for no reason other than downing crab legs until you explode.

    Any other ideas? They aren't big on Mexican, as they don't do spicy at ALL. Some Chinese has been a hit. Steaks, chops, or Brazilian steakhouse ala Fogo de Chao would be an idea.
     
  2. Goopie

    Goopie Rookie

    Jun 10, 2013
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    #2 Goopie, Mar 15, 2017
    Peace River Seafood and Crab Shack. Low brow, inexpensive, great seafood.
     
  3. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 dm_n_stuff, Mar 15, 2017
    Turtle Club on Marion in Downtown PG is also nice and has a back patio for outdoor dining.

    If you want to go more midwest, there's a new Scotty's Pub on Fisherman's Wharf. Can eat indoors, or drink and snack outdoors.

    It's in season, nothing is going to be really cheap.

    If you want to wander over the bridge into Port Charlotte, there are a couple nice neighborhood Italian Places that are inexpensive. Bella Napoli on Kings Highway (next to the Winn Dixie. Cheap, good, busy in season but still nice. No ambiance, but good food. Go Monday or Tuesday only Wed-Sun they have a very annoying singing server.

    Donato's on Tamiami Trail is a little more upscale, but still inexpensive. Foods is good, pasta is home made. Have the rice balls. :D

    Want steak? Prime Steakhouse on Peachland in Port Charlotte is nice and they have a second location in North Port if that's more convenient.

    Want ribs? Wally's on Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte, SMALL, but damn, you'll be full when you're finished. Also a couple other good rib jionts, but names are escaping me.

    Japanese? - a little outside of town, but a small place that's excellent is Animoto. 2705 Tamiami Trail # 115, Punta Gorda, FL 33950

    There's a joe's Crab Shack in Fort Myers that isn't bad for seafood and good sized portions.

    Hurricane Charley's in PG has a buffet a couple nights a week, call them for details. They're on 41 just over the bridge in PG. Seafood buffet, maybe $25.00 each?

    Jack's on Marion isn't bad, and if you hit the early bird special 4-6 PM, you'll get pricing that will make your in-laws happy.

    and if smoking annoys you, don't eat outside at ANY of these places. FL is still stuck in the 80's, so smoking outdoors is OK, which sucks, but that's the deal.

    Enjoy!!

    D
     
  4. A320

    A320 Karting

    Oct 8, 2012
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    PGI, FL
    #4 A320, Mar 15, 2017
    +1
     
  5. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    #5 David_S, Mar 16, 2017
    Gents! Thank you all for your great suggestions. Gonna say, Peace River sounds right up my alley, so it will be my most heavy suggestion.

    In return, for those who haven't tried Bianca's? I'd say it is worth a stop, though they did NOT have braciola on the menu last time I visited, and that's my favorite when dining OUT for Italian, as it is a real bugger to make properly from scratch. And I NEVER see anybody feature agnolotti genoa style...

    Will try & report back in a couple weeks when I return! :)
     
  6. tonyswfla

    tonyswfla Formula Junior
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    #6 tonyswfla, Mar 17, 2017
    Carmelos in downtown PG , great Italian
     
  7. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 dm_n_stuff, Mar 17, 2017
    yup.

    i'm starting to wonder if we have enough FC guys here to have an FC cars and coffee somewhere on a Saturday morning in PG. Even if it's only 3 or 4 of us, still be fun.

    Maybe Abbey's donuts or local coffee shop?

    D
     
  8. Goopie

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    Jun 10, 2013
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    #8 Goopie, Mar 18, 2017
    We have a PG group that meets for lunch/drives. Five Ferraris, one Porsche, occasional Aston Martin, Corvette, Viper. At least two Ferraris (mine and a friend's) are attending Festival of Speed in St. Pete on April 2. You're welcome to join us any time.

    Ken
     
  9. tonyswfla

    tonyswfla Formula Junior
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    #9 tonyswfla, Mar 18, 2017
    Saw a nice Maserati Bora at the auction in pg


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. A320

    A320 Karting

    Oct 8, 2012
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    #10 A320, Mar 18, 2017
    Out of town on the 2nd but let me know where/ when the next time you all get together.
     
  11. tonyswfla

    tonyswfla Formula Junior
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    #11 tonyswfla, Mar 18, 2017
    Agree
     
  12. David_S

    David_S F1 World Champ
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    #12 David_S, Apr 3, 2017
    Well, had a good couple weeks in FL.

    Unfortunately, inlaws & wife didn't much like the looks of the menu at Peace River Seafood, and Italian would have been too heavy for them on the day I made reservations at Bianca's.

    Only place we really ended up going to eat out was 3 Fishermen. At least I had some yummy haddock & clam strips.

    Automotive wise? Didn't see a single Ferrari. Saw quite a few Maseratis. Also noted very few Porsches, and a cubic crapload of Corvettes.
     
  13. Cigarzman

    Cigarzman F1 Veteran
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    #13 Cigarzman, Apr 3, 2017

    Dave , if you do please let me know because I would love to make it down. I will bring our Sarasota Fchat contingency too. Best ,Kirk.
     
  14. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #14 dm_n_stuff, Apr 3, 2017
    I'll put it to you guys.

    Meet on the PG side of town, somewhere in or near what passes for downtown Punta Gorda. Saturday or Sunday, which day of the week is better for you guys, then we can wiggle into a date and see if we can make it a semi-regular thing.

    I scouted Abby's Donuts, nice big parking lot, but no place to hang out.

    Is there a starbucks anywhere nearby? I have one if Port Charlotte, but it's VERY SMALL.

    D
     
  15. Moopz

    Moopz F1 Veteran
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    #15 Moopz, Apr 5, 2017
    Wow, I never thought there would be a thread on Fchat about dining and cars and coffee in my hometown. Growing up in the 80s, we would only see exciting cars when the Texas Rangers came for spring training. I still remember seeing Ruben Sierra driving his Diablo down 41 in Murdock.

    Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk
     
  16. Beemer

    Beemer Karting

    Apr 5, 2016
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    Punta Gorda, Florida
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    #16 Beemer, Apr 13, 2017
    The donut shop is in Port Charlotte, not Punta Gorda. I'm assuming the Maseratis you saw were mainly four doors. The rest of us are here in Punta Gorda Isles hiding from the typical Charlotte County driver. The tip of the day is always look both ways when turning or crossing a one way street.
     
  17. A320

    A320 Karting

    Oct 8, 2012
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    PGI, FL
    #17 A320, Apr 15, 2017
    Looks left, right, front, rear & up. I've seen just about everything on the roads here in town recently.
     

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