Lunch With a View At Harpoon Harry’s
The other day I was reminded that a meal with a view is a bonus situation. It is akin to getting dessert for free or being upgraded at a hotel. The restaurant I’m speaking of comes with gentle sounds of waves lapping against the dock, which you overlook. Double American flags flank the posts in the water so that when the wind catches the stars and stripes, they appear to magically stretch over the span of the waterway. Happy people with a pep in their step hop off their boats, hoping to score a table just like the one you are currently perched upon. The smells from the kitchen remind you of cocoanut shrimp which would absolutely match the ambiance of your waterfront lunch stop for the day. What is this magical place? Harpoon Harry’s Restaurant and Sports Bar and it makes a Tuesday (or any day) feel like a mini-vacation.
The Place
With a destination like Fishermen’s Village, lunch at Harpoon Harry’s is more than simply great dining. The drive there through quaint Punta Gorda, passing historical homes and waterside beauty makes reaching the destination all the sweeter. Once you arrive and walk up those steps and into the open-air shopping and dining mecca situated right on the water, you realize you are on to something special. Passing quaint boutiques and specialty shops along the way, as well as several other eateries allows you to window shop and peruse at your leisure. But when you get to the end of the boardwalk, the smells of mouth-watering seafood and other waterside delicacies and the sound of live music in the air lets you know you have arrived at Harpoon Harry’s.
The Menu
With a plethora of tasty options, there is something for everyone. Grab anything from gator bites to spicy crab queso dip on their starters menu, it’s all tasty. Their grouper or Mahi sandwich is always a crowd-pleaser, prepared just the way you like it. The oyster or shrimp boat just screams fun on the water and leaves you with lots of mmm-mmm comments afterward. Salads, including the Hawaiian salad covered in pineapple and toasted coconut with a sweet coconut cream dressing, offer refreshing options on a cool day. Add the seafood tacos or fresh grouper to your order and you will leave not only full but exceedingly satisfied. Their baskets, steam pots, and raw bar round out the menu to make this the perfect destination for every palate.
The Scoop
Turn a normal weekday into a mini staycation by putting Harpoon Harry’s on your to-do list. Live music on the weekends and accessibility by car or boat makes it the perfect location for get-togethers. For more information on Harpoon Harry’s, including information on their annual 4th of July celebration, please visit Harpoon Harry’s Restaurant & Bar, Punta Gorda, Florida – Restaurant & Sports Bar in Punta Gorda, FL.
1200 W Retta Esplanade
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
941.637.1177
Photos courtesy of Harpoon Harry’s Restaurant & Sports Bar Facebook page.