Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Marco Island

First off, we arrived at this place really on accident. We launched our JetSki's in Naples and headed in and around Marco Island and the various inlets. We were so hungry and we couldn't find anything along the water because of the low tide that would facilitate docking the Jetski's.

We pulled in to a marina and asked if there's any place to eat where we can dock JetSki's and they gave us basic directions (Couple lefts, couple rights and you'll see it).

Well let me tell ya, we found it! And thank God because this place was off the hook delicious!!!

Taylor was our server and she could not have been more fun, accommodating, helpful, nice and just a genuine good person to be around. Sometimes we can be a handful when we're out and about with our sarcasm and boisterous ways but Taylor was with us every step of the way. She didn't miss a beat 😂. Super witty and fun and although the food was Spectacular, I wanted to throw some love her way because she made the experience even better.

We had the Ahi tuna with two types of dipping sauces served over seaweed salad, Jumbo lump crab tower which included mangoes and avocado, steak bites which had mushrooms in them and this ridiculous amazing dipping sauce, grouper bites which were more like an enormous serving of 'fish and chips' and they were off the chain. Even the fries were good. For dessert we had fried brie cheese with a raspberry drizzle (I am a cheese fanatic and never knew something like this existed !!! ),  And lastly the pineapple upside down cake. ( Even the bread that came with the steak bites was some of the best bread I have ever had a restaurant).

The pictures look gorgeous but truthfully in person the food was honestly just as gorgeous and as delicious as it looks in the photos.

We will definitely be back and even though we live in Fort Myers, we are 1000% going to make the drive and continue going to this awesome...

What has happened at this restaurant? Once a favorite of ours through 25 years of owning and then coming to Marco, now clearly and sadly, it's food has gone downhill severely! I personally am attributing it to the extreme mass of crowds they had been "trying" to accommodate since the closing of the Snook due to hurricane Ian damage. Extra long waits of 45 minutes to an hour with lines wrapping around the tiki and then, once seated and the food was ordered, it arrived to our chagrin, unacceptable to one's expectations and was less than palatable! So very disappointing! I believe the kitchen staff was pushing out food as fast as they could, was so overworked and obviously had disregarded quality or presentation. Most probably kitchen cooks and prep staff may have quit being overwhelmed. (A definite "possibility") It's a problem hiring skilled cooks and line people to replace them in a timely manner and on an island. My post reflects the many years spent in the food/restaurant industry, and what I've observed here at Anglers in May and now October 2023. What was once an icon on Marco with some of the best casual food has sadly slipped Into an abysmal place to dine. I can no longer bring guests or recommended the Dolphin! I'd implore the owners and its VERY capable management, to sit down, rewrite the menus, bring them up to date and hire accomplished kitchen crews. TEACH THEM! Please make your comeback soon. We'll be waiting, watching and dropping in, to hopefully experience a drastic change! We wish the Dolphin all the very, very best. We know you can excel once...

Horrible experience! Up side…Food was delicious. We ordered a blackened scallop, sushi and grouper tacos to share. The server accidentally ran up two scallops rather than sushi. We were splitting a meal so when two scallop appetizer dishes came out we thought they spilt it for us. We started eating off both plates. Severs comes by and said I’m sorry I accidentally ran in 2 scallops. Do you still want sushi. We said yes please. The Bill comes and we are charged for two scallops. We asked for it to be removed off the bill. After all, it wasn’t our mistake and she didn’t take it away from us. Her response was, you ate them so you have to pay for it. Long story short… asked for a manager. He says I will charge you 50% for scallops. Shocked…we said how are we paying anything for a mistake? He said “you can’t eat here for free”. He was rude. Obnoxious. And down right horrible to us. Recap… they brought something we didn’t order two of yet we have to pay for it. What on earth?!?! I own two businesses. He would have been fired on the spot had it been my company. What a shame. Great place with great food. Employer ( both server and manager) is oblivious to something so simple and got mad at us as if we were trouble makers. Such a bummer. Can’t remember being so mad leaving a restaurant in my life. Came here with friends to have a...