CJ's on the Bay — Restaurant in Marco Island

We decided on CJ's after looking at restaurants online and taking the advice of a good friend that lives in Naples and has been there. We had fried scallops for an appetizer, they were fried perfectly and came with a tasty dipping sauce. We ordered the Miami Vice combo Pina colada/strawberry daiquiri, they were running a 2 for $18 special. We expected it to be overly sweet but pleasantly surprised it wasn't, it was tasty & refreshing. For dinner I ordered the CJ's Crab Cakes, choice of soup or salad, I got salad and also had steamed broccoli with my meal. Salad was fantastic, my crab cakes were amazing and came with a stone ground mustard sauce, these cakes were packed with crab meat!!! Broccoli was also cooked and seasoned perfectly!! My friend ordered the fried Snapper, another friend ordered a hamburger. None of us had one complaint about the food, we all walked away full & happy!! The only bad mark this place got was our server took quite awhile getting back with our drinks and she said they were having a staff meeting and she apologized. Didn't blame her at all. Management..you might want to schedule those prior to shift so it doesn't affect customer service. Beautiful place to sit by the water and enjoy a good meal!! We would...

If you’re on Marco Island and looking for a good spot to grab a bite with a view, CJ’s on the Bay is a solid choice. The vibe is laid-back, with plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the marina — perfect for a breezy lunch or a relaxed dinner.

The food definitely hits the spot, especially if you’re into seafood. Their grouper sandwich is a must-try — super fresh, lightly seasoned, and cooked just right. The peel-and-eat shrimp are another winner, especially if you want something easy and sharable with a cold drink in hand. Speaking of drinks, their cocktails are strong and tropical — pretty much exactly what you want on an island afternoon.

If you’re not in the mood for seafood, their burgers and flatbreads hold their own too. Portions are generous without being over the top, and everything comes out fresh. It’s not trying to be a fancy fine-dining spot — just good, reliable coastal food in a beautiful setting.

Service can get a little slow when it’s busy, but honestly, when you’re sitting by the water with a drink in your hand, it’s hard to be mad about it.

Overall, CJ’s is a go-to for casual eats with a view. Great spot to relax, eat well, and feel like you’re on vacation (even if...

I am on vacation and trying different seafood restaurants. It was a stretch to come to Marco Island from Fort Myers Beach, plus I needed to get the air conditioning fixed in the morning, so I wasn’t feeling the vacation vibe by the time I arrived at CJ’s. I quickly asked for some unsweetened iced tea and a cup of Manhattan clam chowder, which was savoury and just the right amount of spice. It got my pallet warmed up for what followed, but the vacation vibe was keeping its distance. After looking at one of those menus you want to order one of everything from, I decided on the mahi-mahi with rum butter sauce and topped with roasted plantain. The first bite sucked the vacation vibe right back into my entire being. I slowed down, savoured the flavour as long as possible, and wished I wasn’t eating alone so I could use conversation as an excuse to keep the combined flavours in my mouth as long as possible. The vegetables and key lime pie were also good, but the only complaint I have is the fish itself was a little dry and not as flaky as it should have been. Overall a recommended restaurant for all I’ve said and for the nice atmosphere beside a few...