Home Hours (239) 463-3838
Menu

Posts Tagged ‘Matanzas on the Bay’

Petey’s Upper Deck reopens at Matanzas on the Bay

Posted by matanzas

Matanzas on the Bay on Fort Myers Beach completed its first phase of recovery after Hurricane Ian with the reopening of its popular upstairs bar, Petey’s Upper Deck.

Petey’s Upper Deck is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a limited menu that includes a range of appetizers, salads and Dave’s Dockside Pizzas. A full bar menu includes popular cocktails as well as beers and wines. Petey’s Upper Deck’s outdoor, open-air setting overlooks the restaurant’s lower level and offers waterfront views along Matanzas Pass. Free car parking and boat dockage is available for guests traveling by land or water.

“Our team has been working hard to reopen our doors, and we’re thrilled to open Petey’s Upper Deck while we continue renovations on our restaurant downstairs,” said Doug Speirn-Smith, owner of Matanzas on the Bay. “We’re incredibly thankful for the continued loyalty of our customers over 38 years in business, especially during these challenging months. Every step of progress continues to lift our spirits and we’re proud to be able to serve the Fort Myers Beach community once again.”

With a limited menu developed by Executive Chef Dave Chetwin, guests at Petey’s Upper Deck can enjoy appetizers like Queso Dip, Shrimp and Scallop Ceviche, Peel-and-Eat Shrimp, Smoked Fish Dip, Cheesy Garlic Planks and Dockside Bread Stix.

Salads include the restaurant’s signature Shrimp Salad, as well as Spinach and Strawberry Salad, House Salad and Tossed Caesar Salad.

A longtime beach favorite, Dave’s Dockside Pizza, headlines the pizza pie menu alongside Margherita, Shrimp Scampi, Meat Lovers, Dockside White, Big Kahuna, Super White, Veggie Delight, BBQ Chicken and Deluxe.

Matanzas on the Bay and Petey’s Upper Deck have been a staple of the Fort Myers Beach community for nearly 40 years and are best known for fresh seafood, waterfront views and live music. Renovations continue for the lower-level dining and outdoor patio at Matanzas on the Bay as well as its adjacent marina, with a reopening date to be announced. The restaurant’s neighboring inn, Matanzas Inn, has also reopened at full capacity.

Read more about the reopening in this story by The News-Press: Popular waterfront Fort Myers Beach bar reopens 7 months after Hurricane Ian

Drink specials, music schedule for Island Hopper Songwriter Fest Sept. 23-25

Posted by [email protected]

Matanzas on the Bay is among eight sites on Fort Myers Beach selected by Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods to host the final weekend of the 2022 Island Hopper Songwriter Fest. The multi-day music festival features more than 80 singer-songwriters from around the country.

Music lovers can enjoy drink specials at Matanzas on the Bay throughout the weekend, with buckets of Corona for $20, buckets of domestic beers for $15 and buckets of NUTRL Vodka Seltzers for $20, as well as Deep Eddy Vodka cocktails for $5.50 including lemon drops, strawberry limeades, grapefruit mules and mango screwdrivers.

The following musicians will be performing at Matanzas on the Bay for Island Hopper:

Friday, Sept. 23

  • 7 p.m.: Hunter Smith, Jerry Lemmon, Shannon McNeal
  • 8:15 p.m.: Joe Denim, Andrew McGinn

 

Saturday, Sept. 24

  • 2:30 p.m.: Rich Lafleur, Robinson Treacher
  • 4 p.m.: The Clouses
  • 6 p.m.: Carter Smith, Andrew McGinn
  • 7:15 p.m.: Troy Cartwright, Eli Mosley

 

Sunday, Sept. 25

  • 1:30 p.m.: Lala Deaton, Kayley Bishop
  • 3 p.m.: Brad Hutsell, Eli Mosley

 

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest runs from Sept. 16-25. It kicks off on Captiva Island, Sept. 16-18, then moves to historic downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 19-22, and wraps up on Fort Myers Beach, Sept. 23-25. The event is the largest songwriter festival in Southwest Florida and offers a unique experience to interact with songwriters at pool parties and beachside venues.

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is produced by Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods, iHeartMedia and BMI, the largest music rights organization in the U.S. For more information, visit IslandHopperFest.com.

Matanzas on the Bay celebrates 35 years

Posted by [email protected]

Matanzas on the Bay, best known for fresh seafood and waterfront views, is celebrating 35 years on Fort Myers Beach.

Established by owners with a passion for beach history, Matanzas on the Bay maintains the essence of Old Florida. The restaurant and our adjacent 28-room inn today feature a contemporary, coastal-casual setting that pays tribute to Fort Myers Beach. You can see countless pictures on display dating back to our location’s earlier days as a seafood processor and marina.

Over the years, the restaurant has undergone several expansions to the kitchen, dining areas and upper deck. We also created a patio for special events and expanded the main dock that provides deep sea access. A recently completed renovation in honor of our 35th anniversary also introduced refreshed décor, new flooring and a revitalized outdoor deck overlooking the waters of Matanzas Pass.

A commitment to quality and community has been our “recipe” for longevity. That’s why our menu features locally sourced products from Blue Star Seafood Company, Pair-A-Dice Produce and Fort Myers Brewing Company. These fresh, local ingredients give guests a true taste of Southwest Florida.

In addition, we give back to our community, advocating for local initiatives supporting the military, children, health and the environment. Matanzas on the Bay has provided many free dinners and hotel rooms to soldiers. We have also hosted fundraisers for Operation Open Arms, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, among others, to help make a difference locally.

What started as a small restaurant operation 35 years ago is now a beach destination with more than 75 staff, and several team members whose time with Matanzas dates back to our early days in the 1980s.

We are honored to celebrate 35 years, and look forward to serving you for many years to come!

Matanzas on the Bay’s Howl-O-Ween Wildlife Fundraiser raises $2,028 for CROW

Posted by [email protected]

Matanzas on the Bay’s family-friendly, Halloween and animal-themed Howl-O-Ween Wildlife Fundraiser has raised $2,028 for the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW).

Held at Matanzas on the Bay’s waterfront setting along the back bay of Fort Myers Beach on Oct. 26, the Howl-O-Ween Wildlife Fundraiser featured an array of children’s activities including face painting, pumpkin painting, fun games and animal-themed arts and crafts. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed food, craft beer and live music by guitarist and singer Scotty Bryan, as well as interactive, educational sessions led by CROW’s wildlife experts with appearances from wildlife ambassadors Lola, the American kestrel, and GiGi, the Virginia opossum.

“CROW has been a longtime partner in caring for the beautiful wildlife that surround and often visit our waterfront restaurant,” said Tony Coppolino, general manager of Matanzas on the Bay. “CROW’s efforts play an important role for residents, visitors and local businesses like ours that enjoy and benefit from healthy native wildlife. We were glad to bring the community together to show our support for their meaningful work.”

Proceeds from the Howl-O-Ween Wildlife Fundraiser will help CROW continue to operate its teaching hospital to save the sick, injured and orphaned native and migratory wildlife of Southwest Florida and beyond. Through veterinary care, public education programs and its visitor center, CROW works to improve the health of the environment, humans and animals through wildlife medicine.

“CROW is very grateful for the support from the community and Matanzas on the Bay,” says CROW’s Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey. “They put on a wonderful event for a great cause, everyone had a fantastic time and we are so thankful for their support for CROW’s mission to keep our beloved wildlife healthy!”

Matanzas Craft Beer Fest on the Bay raises $3,500 for Operation Open Arms

Posted by [email protected]

Event proceeds to benefit military outreach efforts, PTSD mental health care

Matanzas on the Bay’s first-ever craft beer event, “Matanzas Craft Beer Fest on the Bay,” has raised $3,500 for Operation Open Arms, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military personnel.

Held at Matanzas on the Bay’s waterfront setting along the back bay of Fort Myers Beach, Matanzas Craft Beer Fest on the Bay featured a selection of craft beers poured by five local breweries including Bone Hook Brewing Company, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Momentum Brewhouse, Palm City Brewing and Point Ybel Brewing Company. Matanzas on the Bay served up a mouthwatering spread of tasty bites from its menu, and live music was enjoyed throughout the event with performances by Soulixer and Sheena Brook.

“Our first-ever Matanzas Craft Beer Fest on the Bay was a big hit, and we are thankful for all who came out for a great day in support of our local military,” said Tony Coppolino, general manager of Matanzas on the Bay. “Matanzas on the Bay is a longtime supporter of Operation Open Arms, and we’re honored to help this organization’s important efforts to positively impact the lives of the many men and women who have selflessly dedicated their lives to serving our country.”

Operation Open Arms is a 501(c)(3) charity and nationally acclaimed military outreach program that provides active, foreign duty U.S. service personnel every possible act of kindness through unique outreach services and PTSD mental health care within 30 days of returning home from deployment. For the past 13 years, Operation Open Arms has continued to make a difference in the lives of more than 3,900 U.S. troops returning from combat or foreign duty stations, totaling $16.3 million in direct tangible benefits.

For more information about Operation Open Arms and its efforts, visit www.OperationOpenArms.org.