Brooklyn Teenagers Invade Cortez and Bradenton Restaurants

It was an absolutely amazing 48 hours.

Two of my grandboys, Simon and Jonah, flew down from Brooklyn, New York, to spend a little time with me on Florida’s Suncoast. What followed was a whirlwind of great food, boating, swimming, family, friends and enough ice cream to keep Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream busy for days.

You could call it a family visit, but it quickly turned into a full-scale eating extravaganza through Bradenton and Cortez.

The boys may live in Brooklyn, where there is no shortage of great food, but during their brief visit, they discovered that the Florida Suncoast has plenty of unforgettable restaurants and experiences of its own.

The Eating Extravaganza Begins at Clancy’s

Our adventure started Wednesday at Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub in Bradenton.

The boys enjoyed cheeseburgers and fries, and Simon tried a Po’ Boy sandwich for the first time in his life.

His verdict was immediate.

He said it was awesome.

Clancy’s has always been one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants. The food is consistently good, the atmosphere is comfortable and the staff makes everyone feel welcome.

It was the perfect place to begin the boys’ 48-hour invasion of the local restaurant scene.

Fresh Seafood and Friends at Swordfish Grill

That evening, we headed west to the historic fishing village of Cortez for dinner at Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar.

The boys ordered baked cheese oysters and tuna poke, giving them a delicious introduction to the fresh seafood and waterfront dining that make Cortez such a special place.

They also met many of our friends and spent time talking with the people who make Swordfish feel like a second home to us.

The boys had a fabulous time. They were welcomed with open arms, enjoyed the food and quickly understood why Swordfish is one of our favorite places on the Suncoast.

The First of Three Trips to Tyler’s

After dinner, we headed to Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream.

That was only the beginning.

During the boys’ short visit, we somehow managed to stop at Tyler’s three separate times.

Apparently, Brooklyn teenagers can always find room for homemade ice cream, regardless of how much they have already eaten.

Tyler’s became the unofficial dessert headquarters of the trip.

Chicken and Waffles at Sage Biscuit Café

The next morning, it was time for breakfast at Sage Biscuit Café.

The boys ordered Chicken and Waffles and Huevos Rancheros. The portions were generous, the food was delicious and both meals disappeared quickly.

After breakfast, we headed into downtown Sarasota to run a few errands and show them around before returning to Bradenton for another round of food, family and fun.

A Family Dinner at the Cortez Kitchen

Later that day, we picked up the girls, Charlee and Nova, and headed to the Cortez Kitchen for an early dinner.

The boys ordered a fabulous seafood boil filled with seafood and all the traditional fixings.

I ordered the salmon bowl, and I have to tell you, it was one of the best salmon bowls I have ever eaten.

The salmon was fresh, the ingredients worked perfectly together and the entire meal was outstanding.

Of course the girls had their favorite, “Chicken Nuggets & Fries” with lots of Ketchup.

Having Simon, Jonah, Charlee and Nova all together made the dinner even more special. The kids laughed, ate and enjoyed being together beside the Cortez waterfront.

A Boat Ride With Captain Silas

The food was only part of the adventure.

Captain Silas from Cortez Coastal Cruise’s took us out on his boat, and we had a fabulous time on the water.

There is nothing quite like seeing the Cortez area from a boat. The working waterfront, open water and laid-back surroundings create an experience that is completely different from the busy streets of Brooklyn.

The girls went swimming with my grandboys, and they all had an awesome time.

Watching Simon and Jonah laugh, swim and spend time with Charlee and Nova was one of the highlights of the entire visit.

These are the moments that grandparents treasure—the simple moments when everyone is together, having fun and creating memories without worrying about anything else.

Back to Swordfish and More Ice Cream

After the boat ride, we returned to Swordfish Grill to say hello to everybody.

By this point, the boys were already starting to feel like Cortez regulars.

After visiting with our friends, we headed back to Tyler’s for more ice cream.

Yes, more ice cream.

That visit marked our third trip to Tyler’s during the boys’ 48 hours in Florida.

I am not sure whether that is a family record, but it certainly should be.

A Surprising Final Breakfast at Waffle House

As the trip came to an end, the boys said they wanted to go to Waffle House before flying home.

I have to admit, I was not too keen on the idea.

However, several of my friends told me, “You’ve got to go to Waffle House. It’s the best in town.”

The boys were determined, my friends were convincing and eventually I gave in.

Before Simon and Jonah left for the airport, we went to Waffle House.

I have to tell you, it was one of the best breakfasts I have ever had.

The food was hot, fresh and delicious. The service was friendly, and the entire place had a fun, classic atmosphere.

I thought it was really cool.

Sometimes, the places you are least excited to visit end up becoming one of the biggest surprises.

Waffle House was the perfect unexpected ending to our eating extravaganza.

A Grandfather’s Unforgettable 48 Hours

When I look back at the visit, it was about much more than restaurants.

It was 48 hours of eating, meeting people, boating, swimming, laughing and spending quality time together.

I was so proud to be hanging out with two of my grandboys and with the girls.

I loved introducing Simon and Jonah to our friends, our favorite restaurants and the special community we have built in Cortez and Bradenton.

They experienced Clancy’s, Swordfish Grill, Tyler’s Homemade Ice Cream, Sage Biscuit Café, the Cortez Kitchen and Waffle House.

They went boating with Captain Silas, swam with Charlee and Nova and met many of the wonderful people who are part of our lives.

The visit went by far too quickly, but it was an experience I will never forget.

Spending this kind of time with my grandchildren was another item I can proudly take off my bucket list.

Simon and Jonah may have returned to Brooklyn with full stomachs and plenty of stories, but I was left with something even better—48 hours of priceless memories with people I love.

And based on how much everyone enjoyed the food, the water and the ice cream, I have a feeling the Brooklyn teenagers will be invading Cortez and Bradenton again very soon.

Oh, one more thing…… thank you to all of the staff at the restaurants and my pals around town who made the boys feel so welcome. I love you all! It takes a village.

Related Stories

• Mookie’s Favorite Outdoor Hangouts: Three Suncoast Restaurants Where Everyone Knows His Name
• The Best Restaurants in Cortez, Florida: A Local’s Guide to Fresh Seafood & Hidden Gems
• Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub in Bradenton Launches In-House Catering for Parties and Special Events

Photos from www.sandecaplin.com