Reel in Creative Seafood, Craft Cocktails at Hooked Island Grill

By Cheryl Mandell

Hooked Island Grill Fort Myers

A large, tattered, metal American flag leans on the back wall of the small stage at Hooked Island Grill in Gulf Coast Town Center, serving as a symbol of fortitude to staff and patrons. This flag, made by a Vietnam War veteran, once hung in the small, popular island seafood spot’s original location in Matlacha, but in September 2022, Hooked Island Grill suffered the destructive wrath of Hurricane Ian, like so many local businesses and residents.

While assessing the damage to his beachfront business, owner Kyle Sherman tripped over the corner of something big, buried under the sand. It was that metal American flag, battered but not broken.

Less than a week after the devastation of Ian, Sherman was scoping out new locations and landed on a much larger space in Fort Myers.

“I walked this building on October 2nd, Gulf Coast Town Center still didn’t have power, and we opened up about 90 days later with most of the same crew – same chef, same everything – but we had to hire a bunch more people,” Sherman said.

Despite the tremendous amount of renovations needed, Sherman and his business partner, longtime local restaurateur Erik Lebsack, were up to the task. The pair met years ago when Sherman was a bartender at Lebsack’s former Cadillac Jack’s in south Fort Myers, and they have been growing their list of local hotspots.

Earlier this year, Sherman and Lebsack opened a new, even larger Hooked location in a coveted spot in South Cape near Club Square, with the same crowd-pleasing, sea-faring menu.

The atmosphere in the original Matlacha location had a roll-off-the-beach vibe, where the newer, larger space in Gulf Coast Town Center is elevated to a beachy chic. Cool blue tones and a giant fish mural complement the island feel with ivy dangling from the ceiling and walls of grass behind the bar. Wear flip flops or heels, as long as you come ready for an abundance of seafood and craft cocktails.

Hooked Island Grill features classics such as lobster tails, snow crab legs and a shrimp boil, along with unique menu items like the Sushi Dog (see “Our Favorites”), the Grueben – grouper on marbled rye with swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing – and Mahi Oscar, unicorn fish coated in coconut and almond. A new menu will be rolling out around October.

When pressed for a menu favorite, Sherman was quick to answer: “Our gumbo is unbelievable. I had a guy from New Orleans here, right after we opened, who told me he thought it was the best gumbo he’s had.”

There are more creative cocktails than you can shake a swizzle stick at. The Man Eating Mermaid features Aviation gin, fresh citrus and blueberries topped with a Prosecco float, or try Don’t Feed the Locals – Four Roses bourbon and Naranja liqueur with chocolate and grapefruit bitters. If wine or bubbles is more your speed, there are plenty of options, as well as craft and draft beers from the beautiful, blue-swirled bar.

Hooked Island Grill is open everyday, Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. There are countless food and drink specials, including chef’s weekend specials, Saturday and Sunday brunch, summer “ex-crab-aganza” all-you-can-eat snow crab for $40, a burger of the week, live music and much more.

Summer isn’t over! Snowbirds are still safely nestled in their northern roosts, so now is the time to step out and enjoy the extensive food and drink menu at Hooked Island Grill. Flip flops or dress shoes – it’s your choice.