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Blue Water Bistro
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
23151 Village Shops WaySuite 109
Estero, FL 33928
(239) 949-2583
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Blue Water Bistro
17 reviews in English
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Review from Tyler R.
I've never been to a place where the bar menu is a carbon copy, word for word clone of the dinner menu. On top of that, the prices are more or less 25% cheaper than in the dining room. And I reiterate: same food, less money.
Its like getting a giant coupon for sitting at the bar - A bar that is fancy enough to have two sides, one inside, and three separate ections outside (facing in) that can seat up to three people each. So if you are lucky enough to score an outside bar seat (which we were) - then you can eat outside AND at the bar AND get the food for a little bit less.
We got there just before 6, well before the end of happy hour, so half price drinks were in order. This applied to most wines and some beers - I got a beer not included in the half-off happy hour. Sad? Nope. Once you get past the oddness of the name, TommyKnocker Jack Whacker Ale (Craftily brewed in Colorado) is a super amazing taste bud explosion. Consume this. If not - the drink menu is at least five or six pages (more or less, I did not count) containing an abundant selection of wines, beers, and specialty mixed drinks.
Apps:
Salmon Firecracker Roll - Salmon, cream cheese, cucumber, something spicy. Overall good roll, the sushi rice was a little hard, but nothing a little soy sauce couldn't fix.
Chicken Caesar Spring Roll - I don't normally deep-fry my salad, and we ordered this out of pure curiosity. It was actually...pretty good. The dipping sauce was some variation on Caesar dressing and we killed it, so it wasn't bad, just a little hard to describe. If you like Caesar salad and spring rolls and would like to see what it would be like if they got together and had a baby, eat this.
Food:
Blackened Salmon - I was jealous I didn't order this. I think the picture I posted pretty much speaks for itself on this one. The bartender said this is their #1 seller, and for good reason.
Bistro Salad w/Ahi - Holy mother chunk of tuna. Big. Rare. Awesome. Perfect complement to my salad, which was over the top delicious thanks to the watermelon and chevre cheese.
Great atmosphere, great location, great food - no reason not to go here.Listed in: SW Florida
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Review from Mazel T.
West Palm Beach, FL
10/2/2011
I went with my mom and fiance for my mom's birthday. We started at the bar and had great custom cocktails made by a very friendly and knowledgeable bar tender. He was so kind as to point out a strange practice at Blue Water Bistro: offering the same dinner menu at the bar but for a third cheaper than in the dining room. We elected for the dining room anyway because it was a special occasion.
Unfortunately for our wallets, the food was less than stellar. The coconut shrimp appetizer was good but greasy, I had to blot quite a but with my napkin first. The shrimp and scallops entree tasted frozen as did my fiance's swordfish. My mom had the lobster, shrimp and crab leg combo. The lobster was OK, the crab legs were lacking in meat and the breading on the shrimp was stale and inedible.
Ironically, the baked sweet potato sides were great. Our server was attentive but a little nonchalant. Overall, I would come back but only for drinks and maybe an appetizer at the bar. It's not worth the price for the quality of food and the service and ambiance don't add anything to the experience. -
Review from Stephen L.
Redmond, WA
11/29/2010
Food was good...fish tasted great. I had the ahi tuna and my wife had the black grouper...good sized portions and it was very good seafood.
The side sauces were so-so and the side dishes and appetizers were OK but probably not as good as the price would indicate.
I was a bit disappointed about the drink special. We were told it was 2 for 1 regular drinks so we both ordered a drink ($10.50 each!) but when the bill came, both were charged and we were told that the drinks had to be the same drink (or maybe it was 2 per person). Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things but the special seems misleading.
I would go again but probably would try a lot of other restaurants first. Good dinner...but probably not a super memorable one. -
Review from Jim R.
Geneva, IL
1/5/2011
This place misses the mark on so many little things that it just left me cold. Huge bucket of bread for the four of us...basically one pat of butter. The "Big Ugly" salad must have referred to the 8.90 dollar price tag, not the salad itself. It was a decent salad but way overpriced. My fish was quite expensive, barely edible and was obviously getting close to the end. A little attention to detail and this place could be good. I would say there have to be better choices given the mediocre service, mediocre food and relatively high prices. Tried this place 8 or 10 times and that's quite enough to know management doesn't get it.
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Review from Marc C.
Seattle, WA
11/25/2009
So we sat at the bar for what sounded like a good deal - 50% off most dinner entrees. The food was decent at about $14 (after discount) for the entree we ordered.
But we were absolutely SHOCKED when the bill arrived and my two "classic martinis" were more than $16/ea. My wife's gin & tonic was $11 for Tanqueray gin. What a rip-off! I've paid less for mixed drinks in London hotel lobbies, and Naples isn't London by a long shot.
Even more annoying is that the drinks menu shows martinis at $10.50, with a special note that blue cheese olives are an extra $1.70. What the menu conveniently omits is that the list of vodkas they put next to the martini list all carry a $5 up-charge.
The whole thing felt cheap, right down to the bartender saying, "We don't set the prices...The owner does. We have a conscience." I guess when your service and restaurant are average at best, you have to squeeze some profit from somewhere even if it means that savvy guests won't come back.
The bottom line is that you'll do a lot better for food, service and price elsewhere in Naples. Not recommended. -
Review from Paul C.
Trumbull, CT
1/7/2011
Awful experience at this place....
They served spoiled stone crab claws ( disgusting) and replaced them with fresh after we complained, and then tried to charge us for both orders.
The wine order was also incorrect, with no explanation.
And the entrees were just so-so.
When we brought all of this to the attention of the
server and manager, all we told is that they were having a bad night.
All of this with very high prices.
There are many better restaurant choices in the area, both food and service. -
Review from Lauren C.
New York, NY
4/7/2009
My boyfriend chose Blue Water Bistro as the site of my intimate birthday gathering this year, and as the four stars might hint at - I was delighted with his choice.
The restaurant was packed, which was surprising given that it is HUGE. Tables available indoors and out, with varying sized tables and booths lining the perimeter of the large main room. The room is grand in scale - large fixtures with mostly blue and white lighting. Surprisingly chic feel for the 'hood...
Stellar cocktail menu with so many tempting choices. Food menu was similarly grand and more fairly priced. I loved the bacon wrapped scallops and the basa I ordered as my main course. Some of my friends weren't as thrilled with their meals, but everyone enjoyed at least one of their courses and left pretty satisfied.
The wait staff left a bit to be desired, which is why I docked a star. Spilling drinks. Touching bread and place settings wayyy too much. Taking forever to bring everyone's meals, refill drinks etc. Ridiculous delay in taking our order initially.
All in all, I was satisfied and would definitely recommend for a variety of occasions. -
Review from Fred Z.
Boca Raton, FL
2/21/2011
Dined Sunday of President's Day weekend. Height of season. Out of Burgers? No Clam Bake! No Grey Goose or Skyy!.Service was fine under circumstances, but Chef and back of restaurant should be hung for putting front of house in negative position. Bistro 41 much better choice on all fronts.....
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Review from Sarah W.
Knoxville, TN
7/1/2011
Do not recommend this place! My husband and I like trying new places and decided to give this place a try while on a trip to Florida. The drinks are overpriced (as mentioned by other reviewers), but they're fairly large and taste good. I ordered the grouper scampi, which was really good. My husband ordered the crab legs which were cooked ok- the kicker was, the crab legs came out with a completely ROTTEN POTATO (that was served split, so you'd think someone would have noticed)! I'm not exaggerating- there was a slimy large black growth taking up 1/3 of the potato! My husband took a bite before he noticed and his appetite was ruined! The waitress apologized, took the potato, and brought another one. Try eating anything, let alone another potato after eating a rotten one. The manager casually offered a free cocktail or dessert, but my husband was too grossed out to enjoy anything at that point...they didn't even take anything off the bill! Very disappointed!
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Review from Nicole E.
3/11/2010
If I have any complaints it's that I'm only in the area for one night!! The menu here was amazing - I wanted so very many things listed, but like I said, I only had one night and one meal to choose. I decided to go for the Mahi Mac which is a Mahi Mahi over noodles with a pineapple type of sauce and cleared my plate. The fish was fresh and cooked just right, the noodles and sauce were just enough to compliment the fish. I love the atmosphere of eating outdoors and the servers were very friendly and prompt. This restaurant is well worth a stop when you're in town - I know I'll be going back!!
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Review from David S.
Bellevue, WA
5/14/2009
Just ate dinner here after spending the afternoon at Coconut Point.
Overall, we were very satisfied though somewhat pricey: 3 adults, 2 kids (one of whom only had a cup of soup), water and soft drinks came to $91.
Service was good and the restaurant was not at all crowded most likely because we ate soon after 5pm.
The warm sourdough is very nice and easy to fill yourself up on.
My wife had the Mahi Mac, which the menu describes as "sauteed macadamian nut and panko encrusted mahi mahi with a grilled pineapple-togarashi sauce and a stir fry of Chinese lo mein noodles, shiitake mushrooms, green onion and ginger." She thought this was excellent and approached some of the meals we enjoyed when we lived in San Francisco (which is high praise indeed). My mother had the grilled Mahi Mahi with a mango sweet and sour sauce, which she also described as excellent. My 2-1/2 year old (aka "The Soup Monster") seemed to enjoy her cup of seafood chowder which include clams. My 4 year old had grilled tilapia which she enjoyed about as much as any 4 year old enjoys healthy food, favouring the fries, tortilla chips that came with my burger and croutons that came with my salad... The lone non-seafood eater (me) had a burger topped with jack cheese, jalapenos, salsa, guacamole, onion and cilantro. It was very tasty and was prepared as requested.
Clearly, this is a seafood-centric establishment, and they appear to know what they're doing with it.
Since we came off-season, it should be noted that this a different menu to high-season when sushi is also on offer. -
Review from Auntie Vee B.
Estero, FL
3/28/2010
I've tried this bistro twice now and won't try a third. Having been to many wonderful seafood restaurants I think this is below par, unless I was unlucky both times? Tonight I started with the 'ultimate' ($29) which had clams that were non existant in their shells and crab legs so dry they were sawdust when cracked. I next had the Mon Chong which was $28, dry dry dry and then overcooked until tough. Shame. I had hoped the first time I went was just a bad night, surely I didn't just have two bad nights? Like I mentioned I won't bd back for a third.
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Review from Lu D.
Naples, FL
1/20/2010
Blue Water Bistro overall is a good seafood restaurant. The interior design is excellent. I liked the way that they have the menu setup so that you can have your fish your way. You get to select the fish, how it's prepared and which sauce you would like it pared with. It gives you a lot more options without sounding like a high maintenance eater.
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Review from Barbara N.
Bonita Springs, FL
3/24/2010
We had a lovely meal here with attentive service and very fresh fish. They even called the next day to thank us for our business. This is how a restaurant should be run.
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Review from Nick W.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2011
Food was good but a tad overpriced. We've been here a few times and it seems like the menu has gotten smaller. (Probably a good thing.) Don't bother with the shrimp vodka penne, it's one of the more expensive items on the basic menu for no good reason. It was watered down and tasteless. Everything else was good though. Waitstaff could use a little bit more training before they're released on their own. Our waiter was lost, and by no apparent fault of his own. He just seemed new to the restaurant biz.
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Review from lisa w.
Fort Myers, FL
3/1/2008
The best seafood restaurant in the fort myers area. It is the sister restaurant to Chops City grill, and is at the new Coconut Point Mall. You can sit outside. I recommend sitting at the bar since the bartenders and wondeful and much more consistent than the servers. The mahi mac is possibly the best piece of fish in florida.
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Review from Jared B.
Fort Myers, FL
10/11/2008
Amazing food and great staff. The waiters will be straight up honest with you about the best choices on the menu along with what their recommendations are based on your preferences. They will tell you which fish is fresh and which is frozen. We had a party of 7 and the food and appetizers were just amazing Then they brought us an amazing version of their key-lime pie for our dessert as we were having a birthday celebration for one of our guests. The price is right for the quality of food and service as it is without a doubt a step above. The location is nice, the outdoor seating looks appealing and there is valet service right near the entrance. The bar was along the wall so it serves the interior as well as exterior dining areas.
