Lunch on the Water at Bert’s Bar & Grill Matlacha, FL

Melanie Wright called on Thursday and suggested that we go on an adventure to Pine Island. We made the Pine Island trip right after Hurricane Charley and both of us wanted to see the progress the island has made since that devastating hit. Approaching the island on Pine Island Road from I-75, we couldn’t believe all the new strip malls, fitness facilities, professional buildings and new restaurants like Carrabba’s, Outback and Bob Evans.

New is definitely not Pine Island! We stopped at Bert’s Bar & Grill, as we did in 2004 and were taken back in time. Matlacha is one of Florida’s old fishing towns that hasn’t disappeared. You’ll see “cozy cottages, bed & breakfasts, fishermen tending to their nets, bait shops, shrimp boats.” My camera was busy recording the sights and scenes of this coastal wonder.


Two buildings house Bert’s Bar. In the 1930s, the original building was a “sweet shoppe.” This building sits very near the main road. Arrive early to maneuver your car into a spot at this popular restaurant. In 1941, the “hotel” building was built at Bert’s. World War II soldiers used to be the main customers of Bert’s in the war years.

After the war, the bar was known as “Mother’s” and later became “Harry’s Barge Inn. In the 1970s, another name took over: Tri Dill Inn.

Bert Clubb purchased the bar later and as a famous Lee County bar operator, Bert’s became the “bar of choice” for locals. A long-time employee purchased the bar from Bert many years later and sold the bar again in 2000.

Melanie and I feasted on poppers, a shrimp basket with homemade fries and grouper basket while sipping some suds. Oh and we had some fabulous “wings” too. We listened to locals chatting who knew each other, a fisherman describing his morning catch and a couple came by boat planning their 4th of July celebration. Quite a cast of characters: all charming!


In 2006 & 2007 the Pine Island Eagle voted Bert’s Best Bar & Best Burger. Bert’s is approximately 2 hours from Sarasota. You can arrive by car or by boat!

After lunch, we continued our Pine Island adventure.

Contact Annette Smith for Sarasota Florida area information or if you are planning on purchasing property in Sarasota.