It’s almost as if an old friend is back in town.
And its name is Bonita Fish Company.
The new waterfront restaurant made its highly anticipated debut in Bonita Bill’s old spot on Fort Myers Beach on Monday, Nov. 3.
“We’re really excited,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, which purchased the Bonita Bill’s property on San Carlos Island at the beginning of the year. “It’s been a long time coming.”
And if you’re wondering if the old Florida charm and history of the original restaurant have been washed away, Harrity says not to worry.
“I think people will be surprised that not a whole lot has changed,” he said. “I think a lot were concerned it would be changed for the worse. They’ll be pleasantly surprised with what we have here. This spot has deep roots, and we wanted to honor that history.”
The same floor and ceiling are still in place, walls have been painted (“you’d be surprised what a fresh coat of paint can do”), and those highly coveted rail seats along the water (first-come, first-served with full table/rail service!!!) are ready and waiting. It’s still all open air, and those spectacular views of Matanzas Pass can be seen from just about everywhere.
“It’ll be fun to see what spots become the preferred seats,” said Harrity, whose restaurant group also owns Dixie Fish Co. and all the Doc Ford’s locations.
And from what we saw, you can’t go wrong sitting at any of the brand new tables, rails or bar seats.
What’s new at Bonita Fish Company?
Speaking of the latter, that’s one of the biggest changes returning Bonita Bill’s customers will notice. The original bar, which ran around the corner to the left of the dining room, has been closed in.
A lovely new central bar — with a new/old mix of rich polished wood and weathered corrugated metal — greets customers upon entering.
A matching piece of history from one of HM Restaurant Group’s other properties is suspended above it.
“The canoe was at Doc Ford’s on Captiva,” Harrity said. “It survived (Hurricane Ian while the restaurant didn’t), and we put it in storage. I looked up at the ceiling one day and thought that it would be a great spot for it.”
Rods and reels from the Sanibel Doc Ford’s and historic photos of the building hang on the walls.
“We got the photos through the historical society,” Harrity said. “It’s so cool.”
The history of the building
Originally a fish house in 1926, the Bonita Fish Company and Fish House was bought by Bill Semmer in 1991 and rebranded as Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Cafe and Tiki Bar. It quickly became a beloved community gathering spot known for cold beer, good food, live music, a laid-back vibe, and oh, those waterfront views.
After Bill’s death on Jan. 20, 2023, the restaurant and property went to his children, who, after the loss of Bill, a pummeling from Hurricane Ian four months prior and other issues, put the restaurant and property up for sale.
That’s where Harrity and HM Restaurant Group come in, purchasing Bonita Bill’s and its properties at 700, 702, 716 and 718 Fishermans Wharf in January 2025.
They reimagined it (including removing the Ian-disposed Bertram yacht on the dock) and paid homage to the original Bonita Fish Company name.
“I really think customers are going to enjoy it here again,” Harrity said.
And this is just the first phase.
The next one includes a new floating dock with 30 to 35 slips and a tiki hut over tables on the new back deck, which connects to Dixie.
“We will have all sorts of seating out here,” Harrity said. “It’ll be a really great outdoor space. We want to get our feet underneath us with what we have now. Then we will figure out the rest of the space.”
What they have now is plenty of seating in the main dining room, at the bar, along the wall where the old bar was and on the deck around the new event space they created. That indoor-outdoor waterfront venue, Bayside Private Events, can accommodate up to 150 and is one of the only standalone waterfront event spaces in this area.
“We can also use it as overflow for the restaurant,” Harrity said. “But it will all evolve as we grow.”
Speaking of the restaurant …
Not only is Bonita Fish Company’s seafood and coastal favorites menu unlike Bonita Bill’s, but it’s also different than the ones at Dixie and Doc Ford’s.
“It’s all made and presented differently here,” Harrity said. “We wanted this to have its own flavor. Not a single thing is the same.”
In addition to Gulf shrimp, oysters and clams, you’ll also find fritters packed with shrimp, corn and rice as appetizers. Then come soups, salads and handhelds (with more seafood, plus a smash burger and hot chicken options). Plates feature grouper, low country shrimp & grits, a shrimp basket and catch of the day.
“We have a commercial smoker in the kitchen,” Harrity said. “It’s pretty much going all day and night.”
That produced house-smoked brisket and mullet, among other things.
“We really wanted to make this unique,” Harrity said. “This is the first time we’ve purchased a smoker for the kitchen. It brings that old Florida atmosphere.”
Once Bonita Fish Company officially opened at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3, its hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
It also features brunch from Friday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with items like brisket egg sandwiches, house-baked cinnamon rolls and pancakes and more.
“Everything is house-made,” General Manager Krystian Martinez said. “We can’t wait to see what people think.”
Signature brunch drinks include the Bonita Mary, a mimosa of the day and a salted caramel espresso martini.
“The customer will let us know what they think of the menu,” Harrity said. “We’ll most likely pivot based on the feedback. It’s going to be so much fun. We’re so happy to have this here.”
Bonita Fish Company, 702 Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Myers Beach; (239) 314-5132; bonitafishco.com or 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: New Fort Myers Beach restaurant opens in iconic waterfront spot
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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