It was exactly three years and one day.
That’s how long it took On The Bay (previously Matanzas on the Bay) to reopen after being pummeled by Hurricane Ian.
“It was a long time coming,” Eddie Parisi, general manager for the Matanzas Inn & Resort property on Fort Myers Beach, said. “(The restaurant) has such a great story and history to it. Everyone is so excited we are open again.”
It wasn’t easy, though, to say the least.
The entire property, including the inn and two restaurants, was battered by Ian on Sept. 28, 2022.
Seven months later, about 90 percent of the inn’s rooms reopened, as did Petey’s Upper Deck, the second-level bar.
The first-floor restaurant, which housed Matanzas on the Bay, did not.
“We aren’t close to getting started,” former co-owner Doug Speirn-Smith said of the restaurant — which was built the 1950s — at the time.
In 2023, the property was sold.
First-floor restaurant flooded again by Milton, Helene
That’s when Parisi and the new owners took over. Nothing had been done on the downstairs area, Parisi said.
“A year and a half ago, it was dark and gloomy,” he said. “Windows were boarded up. There were animals in here. It was a mess.”
So, he jumped right in and started to clean it up.
All was progressing nicely with a bar and new windows installed when Hurricanes Milton and Helene washed through.
“We got about four feet of water,” Parisi said. “We started again. Now everything is more water-resistant. The tile is easily cleanable, the walls are mold-resistant, the furniture is light and easy to remove. We’re more prepared.”
A fresh new look and start
The result is a light, bright, inviting space with white tablecloth-covered high- and low-top tables and 80 comfortable wicker-backed chairs floating in a sea of white, tan, blue and gray with gold accents. The first-come, first-served bar is welcoming and, with just seven seats, feels bigger than it is. Decorative surfboards and seashells, plus aged, whitewashed plank flooring, project a relaxed coastal vibe.
“When we did the rebuild, we kept the old Florida charm,” Larry Langley, one of three On The Bay managers, said.
Highlighting it all are the banks of vertical windows that bring gorgeous views of Matanzas Pass to every seat in the main dining room.
For an even closer waterfront look, customers can bypass the indoor seating and opt for one of the 68 umbrella-covered outdoor dockside seats.
“We even added chairs on the dock,” Parisi said. “It’s so beautiful out there.”
“For lunch, customers want to sit outside,” Langley said. “For dinner, they tend to come inside.”
And they’ve been coming since On The Bay held its soft opening on Sept. 29 and grand opening Oct. 13.
Seafood-heavy, upscale menu is in the works
Still in its early stages, the menu is in development.
“It’s similar to the (Matanzas on the Bay) one,” Langley said. “It’s primarily seafood. Chef Jose Rivera is outstanding. We’ve been testing out items and getting responses and requests from guests. They let us know what’s missing.”
One of those items was Matanzas on the Bay’s popular tuna melt.
“Everyone wants to see that come back,” Langley said. “Chef is working on bringing a version back.”
While Petey’s offers casual items upstairs (think pizza, wings, sandwiches), On The Bay is much more upscale.
The lunch menu begins with an array of appetizers, from stuffed mushrooms and steamed mussels to crab cakes, conch fritters and Matanzas Bay bread (a return favorite with artichoke hearts, Spanish olives, garlic butter, onion, tomato and three cheeses).
Rum-dipped and coconut-battered with a red pepper cherry sauce, our coconut shrimp was crunchily flavorful.
Flatbreads, salads (including a fresh sea salt roasted beet one) and soups are also on the menu.
Handhelds range from a hot chicken sandwich and mahi tacos Veracruz to a shaved prime rib hoagie and smoked gouda, one half-pound angus and shrimp burgers.
The crunchy grouper sandwich seasoned in cornflakes and flash-fried was a table favorite.
A few entrees and desserts are also available.
Lunch and dinner with a view of Matanzas Pass
“We’ve been very busy for lunch,” Langley said. “It comes in a rush. Dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been beyond our expectations.”
Unlike lunch, reservations are requested for dinner so “we know what to expect.”
“We want to give guests the best experience,” Langley said. “It helps knowing who’s coming and when.”
The dinner menu is similar to the lunch menu, only with fewer handhelds and way more entrees. There are 16 different seafood (including local Florida lobster tail, Gulf black grouper, pan-seared diver scallops and citrus glazed Scottish salmon), beef (filet mignon and cast-iron ribeye), chicken and pasta dishes.
“We’re going to make some edits,” Parisi said. “I’m making some now for this weekend. In the next month or so it should be set.”
This includes the cocktail, beer and wine lists.
It’s all served by a friendly and knowledgeable staff.
“We have a young staff and some veterans,” Langley said. “They’re all dynamite. They’re all so enthusiastic.”
That enthusiasm extends throughout the restaurant.
“Customers are so happy we are back,” Langley said. “We love Fort Myers Beach. I think our little section of the island is a great location. It’s great to be here.”
We think so too.
On The Bay, 416 Crescent St., Fort Myers Beach; (239) 463-3838; limited free parking on site and there are 18 deep water boat slips; open daily for lunch and dinner; matanzasonthebay.com and on Facebook.
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers Beach waterfront restaurant reopens 3 years after Hurricane Ian
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
