We were looking around for a dining spot 'on the water' in Sanibel for lunch and found Gramma Dots. While it's not on the ocean, it was in a marina. It's really hard to find any restaurants that are located on the water in Sanbel, so we took what we could find. I'm really glad we did!


(Gramma Dots - Sanibel Island)

Grandma Dots is a self-contained building inside of a marina and is actually quite small. There are a few tables to eat outside, but most of the space is found in the building. There was a sign that read "Gramma Dots now has Air Conditioning"… I'm guessing that meant they relied on the breeze to keep you cool (with misters and fans).

The restaurant inside is a cute diner-type place with a small bar. The windows are screened and almost every table is 'near' the window. Most of the tables don't really give you a view of the marina…rather the parking lot…but that really didn't bother us. You could see the kitchen pickup window and the soup station from our seat.


(Gramma Dots inside dining room)

Our server came over right away to take our drink order. Iced tea and a soda. She politely said that they have "free refills on iced tea and lemonade", but I stuck to my diet soda. It was nice they let us know as many places don't tell you…just charge you when you ask for another. I also ordered a water (free). The cups are plastic cups with the logo and name of the restaurant and quite small. I'd probably stick to the free refill items or get beer and free water.


(Gramma Dots beverage cup with their logo)

I ordered the New England Clam Chowder to start. I'm so glad I did! While served in a styrofoam 'cup/bowl', this was probably the best chowder I've had. It was full of rich flavor and I swear I tasted some butter. The chowder was thick and smooth and I would bet this was homemade. Many places offer chowder, but buy the soup pre-made and just thaw it and call it a day. You can almost tell as many places tend to taste the same. The clam pieces were kind of small and not a lot of potato, but the overall taste was great. I wish I could get this chowder in Ft. Lauderdale, it was so unique and different than most places.  I was sad when I got to the end of the serving.


(Best clam chowder I've had - Gramma Dots)

Jeff went for the Fish & Chips which is made with real Grouper. Many places now say 'real' Grouper to ensure you are eating the real thing. Some restaurants go for a cheap knock-off and try to pass it off as Grouper. The basket was served with homemade chips (thin chips). The fish was fresh and tasted great. The breading was light and crisp. One thing to note is that Grouper is an expensive fish and from what I've seen…doesn't yield a large fillet. They chopped the fillet into a few pieces which made it look like a larger portion. I think it was a smart move…it probably helped in the cooking as well. Jeff was happy with his choice.


(Grouper Fish and Chips - Gramma Dots)

I chose the Hickory Grilled Grouper Sandwich. It's served with homemade chips as well. This Grouper was EXCELLENT. The spice and method of grilling lead to a moist fillet with tons of flavor. The hickory flavor didn't taste 'fake' and it was soooo good. The roll was just your run of the mill kaiser roll, but the fish was worth it. The chips were crisp and tasted good…although they looked well-done, they didn't taste it.


(Hickory Grilled Grouper Sandwich - Gramma Dots)


(Gramma Dots bill - $35 not including tip...Well worth it)

Overall, we really liked Gramma Dots. It's a great place to grab lunch and get a great fresh meal. While not 'on the water' really…it's a neat location with an opportunity to see some nice boats. There are a lot of 'light' meal options too.



Grandma Dots location:
634 N Yachtsman Dr
Sanibel, FL 33957

FTLToday Score: B