Hemingway's Island Grill
Category: Restaurants Caribbean Caribbean [Edit]
Coconut Point8001 Plz Del Lago
Ste 113
Estero, FL 33928
(239) 495-7240
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
20 reviews for Hemingway's Island Grill
20 reviews in English
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Review from luke h.
Chicago, IL
12/17/2011
So the food alone would not put the experience at 5*, it certainly isn't comparative to the finer dining establishments available on 5th & 3rd in Naples, but the Friday & Saturday outdoor dining (in season) along with the live entertainment, dancing, and 1/2 price drinks until 7pm (we get there at 6:30 for 1/2 price drinks, then entertainment starts at 7).
I highly recommend several items: For an appetizer the onion straws are great to share and plenty for the table. It is far less greasy than the similar menu items at chain restaurants (like blooming' onion). For dinner, my favorite dish is Salmon St Croix, but have also enjoyed sharing the ribs (the rack is too large for one), and the pork tenderloin, the mahi magi. The only dish I have not enjoyed was the pecan crusted tilapia).
For desert, order a baileys on the rocks with a splash of grand mariner. Absolutely delightful way to end the evening! The chocolate cake with rum is also nice, but VERY strong and rich. -
Review from Doyle H.
Lehigh Acres, FL
8/27/2011
Stopped in for lunch. Very quiet - almost a hidden location at the Coconut Point Mall. Large menu concentrating on island food / seafood. Prices from under $10 for lunch to around$15- $30 for dinner entrées.
I had a Junkanoo BBQ sandwich with fries - Jerk BBQ sauce with caramelized onions over thin-sliced pork roast. Very good.
I would probably go back for a sandwich, but the entrées looked VERY expensive for what they were. -
Review from carol p.
Naples, FL
6/23/2011
Ambiance is wonderful, food ok.....I had the salmon salad, there was no dressing (ok don't need the extra calories).....the salmon was a very dark orange color inside, never saw or ate that before but I survived.
Husband had the ropa viejo, it came shredded in a pile, he said he wouldn't order it again.
Out of towners love the place, very island like, food could be better. -
Review from Melissa S.
Venice, FL
6/23/2011
Stopped here for a late lunch after shopping at Coconut Point. The food was good. Nothing exciting, and not a whole lot of variation (everything seemed to come with the "island rice" and beans), but good. My husband had grilled mahi (with the aforementioned rice & beans), I had the "mixed grill," which was grilled tilapia and three grilled shrimp brushed with barbecue sauce... plus rice & beans and bonus! pineapple salsa. My kid had fried tilapia with -- you guessed it! -- rice and beans. The fish was all well prepared, my pineapple salsa was quite tasty & a nice accompaniment to those ubiquitous rice & beans, and my son's fried fish was light & crispy. I also had a mango margarita, which was decent, although the mango chunks were frozen so no fun to eat. And it was VERY strong -- no skimping on the alcohol on that one, I'll tell you.
Seems like a good place for lunch or a casual dinner, reasonably priced, our service was good. Just nothing terribly exciting, you know? -
Review from Rob G.
Winter Springs, FL
11/5/2011
Spent an evening at Hemingway's recently. The name first led me to think that it would be more traditional Cuban fare but the menu is less Hemingway and more island and the pastas seemed completely out of place. Nothing really jumped out at me although there seems to be several tasty options. In the end I opted for the Paella special which was delicious yet a bit skimpy on the portion for $22. I ended up finishing my wife's flat iron steak when I was done with my own meal.
The services was great. The wine by the glass options were out of the norm (which is a good thing). We sat outside which you can only do in November in Florida. There was a crooner with a karaoke machine working the crowd of retirees. I almost lost it when I heard this Tony Bennett wannabe cover Prince's "Kiss". -
Review from Gabrielle S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/16/2011 1 photo
Spent the day shopping in Coconut Point on vacation and came to Hemingway's for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but they were happy to accommodate us at prime dinner time. We chose to sit inside because it was a bit breezy outside.
The Mango Margarita was AWESOME!!! I'm a Rosa Mexicano girl and for a almost unknown Florida restaurant to have a drink this good, I was very impressed, loved it - had two, hehe. Boyfriend had the Hurricane and they did not skimp on the liquor - very tasty.
Hurricane Shrimp appetizer was very good - you are sad when all the yummy sauce is gone and the salsa was great!
I couldn't decide on my meal so the waiter told me to try the Ropa Vieja and it was definitely delicious - the steak was very moist and tender and a huge portion - no room for dessert!! He had the Salmon and being very picky with his fish, well any food really, he said it was great - spicy for his tastes but a very good dish with big portions.
The atmosphere is fun and takes you away to the islands and the outdoor seating area is very nice with a singer and people dancing. Will definitely go back to Hemingway's if I am in the area again :-) -
Review from Praveen V.
Dallas, TX
2/20/2011
This place tries to transport you to back to the time when Hemingway was sipping his Mango Margarita down in the Keys and staring away at the shoreline of Cuba dreaming of some good Cuban food, hahaha.. No, just kidding, or maybe its true, who knows?
My wife and I went here about a year ago for dinner, and we rediscovered it yesterday with our friends for lunch as we decided to go try it again as there is nothing that comes close to Cuban cuisine in Texas.
The food was great. We all tried Pork Tenderloin, grilled chicken, crusted tilapia, and baked salmon. My favorite I would say is the tilapia as it is juicy and thick and crunchy. My second favorite choice is a tie between the pork tenderloin and the salmon which comes topped with mango sauce and rice & beans.
The place has a great atmosphere and is reasonably priced. The service is average as they don't really help much, but the food quality makes up for it. So I would rate this place 3.5-4 stars. -
Review from Hungry G.
Naples, FL
7/14/2011
Ordered Havana Gun Club Steak Salad Medium Rare...it came out Medium Well...Salad Mix was not fresh or crispy...tomatoes were bland and hard....Balsamic Vinaigrette was way too heavy. My girlfriend had the Tri-color tortellini with chicken. It was completely devoid of flavor....Chicken was grilled dry and had no salt, pepper or any seasoning to speak of. Marinara sauce was more like spaghettios sauce....the tortellini was the basic quality of what you might get out of a frozen microwaveable dinner. Don't come here to eat. I would consider coming back to have a drink because of the jazz and Afro-Cuban/Carribean music.
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Review from Sharlyn L.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
7/25/2010
We went here for lunch. I was very surprised at how quiet the restaurant was - maybe only 2-3 tables occupied. Maybe that's because the restaurant is in a mall area...very difficult to see from the road.
The place itself is very charming. Dark woods and island flair.
My husband had the steak salad - said it was terrific. I had the Cuban sandwich. It was tasty but, not the best medianoche I've ever had.
If I'm in the area, I would try it again. Possibly for dinner when it might be a bit livelier. -
Review from Rob F.
Walled Lake, MI
10/19/2009
Frankly, I'm absolutely stunned at the other poor reviews on this place. I'm wondering if they've been here more than once to overcome a bad experience?
We've been here at least 4 different times (for lunch and dinner) and everyone has LOVED it each time. The menu is fantastic (I'm a sucker for island food), the atmosphere is knock-out, and the service has been more than acceptable.
I always wish I could try everything on the menu, but it's brilliant. The fish is awesome, the beans and rice and great, and the soups are delich.
We make a point of driving here everytime we're in the area (and it's about 30 minutes out of our way). I can't imagine a bad experience here, but obviously some have had them. We've never sat outside or gone on a busy night (and maybe that's the difference)...so maybe the lesson is: sit inside, take your time, and suck in the atmosphere. -
Review from James B.
Fairfax, VA
12/30/2008
We stopped in at the Coconut Point mall in search of a place to grab a nice drink before heading home for the night. We stumbled into Hemmingway's Island Grill purely by chance, and after being met with some particularly shrill live music next to the bar, we requested the table outside the restaurant. My wife and mother-in-law both ordered mojitos, my father in law a beer and I sampled their special margarita.
The Mojitos were judged to be a bit on the sweet side and slightly weak in the alcohol department. My margarita was very sour and also was quite weak in alcohol. The review would end there, but we decided to sample a couple of appetizers along with the drink, and that redeemed this place greatly.
The wife ordered their Coco Cayo Calamari and was met with a delicious appetizer of delicately fried calamari drizzled with a honey glaze. My inlaws ordered their "four cheese flatbread" which was essentially a 8" pizza on crisp cracker-crust flatbread, but the star of the night was my Prosciutto, roma and cilantro basil pesto flatbread pizza.
Folks, I'm a pizza fan and this easily ranked up with the best pizza dishes I've ever had in my life. I'm now inspired to start baking flatbreads in an attempt to replicate this fantastic dish at home.
My recommendation would be to go here for lunch or a mid-week dinner. From my limited experience there, I assume weekends get a bit nuts with the out and indoor music at Coconut Point and that can get tiresome. -
Review from Tony M.
2/14/2011
I discovered Hemingway's Island Grill at the recommendation of the concierge from the Hyatt Place. Jason makes the best Mojito in Florida and the calamari is to die for.
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Review from Shoba S.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
5/11/2011
If you visit this restaurant, opt for the outdoor seating. The food was delicious and the two fisted mango margarita was pretty good. They lost one star because our waiter was MIA a lot of the time, for a party of three, we only had one set of silverware and after asking for additional sets we were waiting for what seemed like forever. My daughter enjoyed the lake and the outdoor entertainment. We danced with the crowd, the lake alligator was out and about so it was fun night. Very busy outside, inside was quiet. (Go on a Friday nightj)
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Review from Jamie R.
Naples, FL
3/6/2011 1 photo
Always good. Inside, booths and tables under the watchful pics of PapaH at various ages, mostly in full white beard. Outside, patio dining with a view of swan lake. Yes, there are real swans. I saw two. On several evenings there is very good, live music on this same patio that's shared with the neighboring restaurant, Pagelli's. You pay for prix fixe for the privilege of dining al fresco. Inside, you can order from a full menu. The key lime pie is priced as if for two servings, but is actually a portion adequate for four people.
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Review from Michael S.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1/26/2011 1 photo
I was taken here for my birthday. It seems like a nice quiet restaurant to get some food at. I didn't really know what to expect, it was nice and quiet inside with semi dim lighting. I really liked the decoration and the layout of the restaurant. Our waitress was very mice and attentive, especially considering all of our requests. For out appetizer we had peel-and-eat shrimp. It was very good and cooked just right. I had the Bimini burger, it was very flavorful and juicy. I also tried some of the italian sandwich, which is pressed on Cuban bread. Both sandwiches are highly suggested. While it can get pricey the ambiance mixed with great foods make it totally worth it. I also want to add that they have amazing desserts, if you're looking for food in the area, check this place out!
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Review from Yaman A.
Blacksburg, VA
5/22/2011
the calamari was greasy and the fries were undercooked. Still the shrimp and the salmon were pretty good. Great atmosphere too. I would go again if I'm around the area again but wouldn't go out of my way for it.
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Review from Monika K.
9/29/2010
mahi fish tacos were tasty w nice batter on the fish and good sauce, rice and beans were pathetic with no flavor and lacking on the beans. price was $10 which was fare. my friends ordered the jerk chicken wings which was tasty and saucy, friend got the ropa burrito and did not like it. it's just an A OK place, if that. server would come by few and far between.
don't expect much from the food or the service -
Review from Nick W.
Chicago, IL
1/10/2011
This restaurant deserves more than a 1-3 star rating that some people here have given it. The food is really good, even though the portions are comparably small to other area establishments. My wife had the Mahi Mahi which was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, and I had the Ropa Vieja. Having been to Cuba, I've tasted the best Ropa Vieja the country has to offer, and I have to say Hemmingway's isn't too far off. (Def. not the best I've ever had.) I just wish the portions weren't so small! It needs a side of congri. The drink list was decent, and the waitstaff wasn't too overworked, but granted it was a Monday night. I will definitely come here again, but I'll have to order more next time!
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Review from Wendy B.
Estero, FL
1/9/2011
Yuck! I had three children with me... Apparently because I did we were to be treated like second class citizens. My kids eat off the menu. We had the spare rib app, some scallop special of the day and lobster bisque. The ribs were good. Scallops sandy,cold and gritty, the lobster bisque was HORRIBLE! The rest of the meal was equally bad and overly expensive for bad service and bad food.
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Review from Dee S.
Cape Coral, FL
1/19/2010
I'm shocked by the negative reviews, I was here just once for lunch but it was a great experience. We both ordered the lunch mahi-mahi with rice and beans for about $6 expecting it to be okay. Wow, what a surprise- we both decided it was DELICIOUS. The mahi was blackened and cooked perfectly, and the rice and beans were great. It was a good-sized portion and the price was excellent. Our server recommended a great wine to go with. I recommend you give it a try!
