Sanibel's Gramma Dot's: The Closest You Can Get to Eating On Board

One of many attractive points about Sanibel Island is that there are numerous restaurants on Sanibel and Captiva.



Another is that the restaurants are quite different from one another.



There is the outrageously different Bubble Room.



The elegantly distinctive Thistle Lodge.



The family fun of the Hungry Heron.



And many lovely spots from Matzaluna to Traders, all quite distinguishable in decor and menu from one another. There is something special about all of them.



But Gramma Dot's stands out from the rest as dining there feels more like being on a ship than eating on dry land.



It's proximity to the water, the near by boats docked just outside the large windows, the sparkling clean ambiance and the white and blue decor create a ship like experience from the moment you walk into the place.



Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week, Gramma Dot's prides itself on offering the freshest sea food on the Island.



But it also offers, if one takes a moment to explore the history, a very interesting background on its namesake.



Born at the turn of the century, Gramma Dot (Dorothy Stearns) was a women ahead of her time. Dot loved an adventure. As a teenager, she traveled the world by ship with her family.



She rode camels in Egypt, rode horses and played billiards in the Wild West. She was an avid sailor who loved the sea and logged many hours exploring Long Island’s Great South Bay.



In the late 50’s, her sea explorations brought her to Sanibel. In 1963, by then a widow, she moved alone to Sanibel --a sleepy little island where most people didn’t wear shoes; and when people passed in cars, they always waved.



Gramma Dot was a woman of many talents with a zest for life. She was a ballroom dancer, published author, painter and an amazingly creative maker of “shell-things”. She was loved dearly by all her friends and family for her energy, creativity, and positive attitude.



Gramma Dot, an inspiration to generations of heirs, was a gentle, gracious lady, a giant of a lady within the family of Irelands. The restaurant was named after Gramma Dot by her son Myton Ireland.



And ok, I've got to admit it. The history of Gramma is as endearing and as intriguing as the restaurant and food it serves. Don't you agree?