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Restaurant: Pelican Larry's Raw Bar & Grill
Address: 1046 Pine Ridge Road, Naples
Phone: 239-597-5013
Website: www.pelicanlarrys.com
Recommended by: Phil Josberger, Cameron Real Estate Services
Reservations: None needed.
Parking: Parking is tight in front of the restaurant, but there's more in the rear behind the shopping plaza.
Location: Pelican Larry's is tucked away in a shopping center on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 and Pine Ridge Road in Naples. It's hard to see because it's set back from Pine Ridge Road, and you might miss it as you drive by. But it's an excellent central location, close enough to Old Naples to the south but also accessible from growing business areas to the north.
One-hour lunch test: Order drinks and food at the bar and they come out fast, delivered to your table by one of the bartenders.
Privacy: Josberger says he likes to bring commercial real estate clients here to discuss financial matters because he knows no one's going to snoop on the conversation. The tables are spaced far enough apart that you don't have to worry when speaking loudly. For one thing the blaring rock music drowns out conversation, so if that bothers you consider sitting away from the speakers. “This is a good place to talk numbers,” Josberger says.
Ambiance: Pelican Larry's is a Florida-themed seafood restaurant, the kind you'd find near the beach. The uniform is flip-flops and shorts, but you won't feel out of place in a suit if you leave your jacket and tie in the car. It's a local crowd that camps out at the bar, and bartenders pull out longnecks from a big cooler filled with ice. There's outside seating on a patio that overlooks busy Pine Ridge Road, but the chairs are comfortable. It's an alternative to the high-priced and upscale restaurants that populate Naples. At night the restaurant turns into a party destination.
Food: The rule of thumb for Florida restaurants is the worse the view, the better the food. “I pick a place for food,” says Josberger. The menu is typically Florida fare and the grilled grouper sandwich was fresh, the fries crispy and the slaw had a little spicy bite. The ketchup bottle on our table was nearly empty, but we just reached over and grabbed the one from the next table. Protect your suit from sandwich drippings with paper towels on the roll at your table. Be aware: This isn't a place to impress a client who is new to Florida or doesn't appreciate seafood.
Ownership: Naples restaurateur Randy Seyler has owned and operated Pelican Larry's for more than a decade and he has three other locations in the Southwest Florida area.
Cost: Lunch for two, including tip, cost $40.
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