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The Green Flash
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- 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:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
35 reviews for The Green Flash
Review Highlights
"The carrot cake was also superb."
(in 3 reviews)
"Lovely setting, delicious food, fabulous views."
(in 4 reviews)
"...of all, the entire Captiva/Sanibel area is wonderful and..."
(in 5 reviews)
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Delectable Duo V.
Hoboken, NJ
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Well we can't say to much about this spot ... we stopped in after coming off the beach for a couple of cocktails ...
Drinks were cold and full of alcohol ... just what we had ordered ... so for that matter, it was a success.
View is quite nice at the bar ... tender was right on.
That's all we have to say about that. -
Review from Rich K.
Miami, FL
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Restaurant wasn't bad, it just wasn't good. The view is fantastic but the service was subpar. We waited almost twenty minutes between courses.
The fish courses lack any substantial flavor or seasoning.
Overall a pretty mediocre experience. -
Review from Susan C.
Tucker, GA
2/6/2012
On a recent visit to Sanibel we ate twice at the Green Flash - I would have given it 5 stars if we had not been so impressed, returned and then were a bit disappointed - evidently we did not make such good choices on our second visit.
The first night we had the shrimp bisque and it was very good - we often order lobster bisque when we find it on a menu - this version with shrimp was as good as our very favorite from a restaurant in Atlanta. We also ordered a mango tango (first night of vacation, you MUST have a fancy drink) it was very tastey (sweet). The ceasar salad was nothing special, should have skipped that. We chose to split an entree since we had a bowl of the soup - we went with the Venetian platter as it had a piece of salmon, a piece of swordfish (both of these had nice sauces) then three scallops and shrimp, grilled. For sides we got the cheesey potatoes and sauteed spinach - this was an excellent entree and I was so impressed that we chose to return here our last night on Sanibel.
For our second visit we decided to split the soup again and each get an entree - neither entree was nearly as good as the Venetian platter so we ended up being disappointd. I esp. did not like my grouper - supposedly the house special. I believe it is named Grouper al cafe Paris (something like that) and it seemed the description had a herb crumb topping on a piece of grouper. Well it was a peice of somewhat mushy fish swimming in butter (maybe - how can you go wrong with lots of butter but it was just tasteless). My husband got the coconut shimp with a medicore sauce - only the sides of cheesey potatoes and the sauteed broccoli made the meal at least filling. The waitress that night was also a bit odd - she seemed to be trying out a saucey attitude of sorts - just came off a bit obnoxious.
Anyways, I'd still say GO! but do not get that grouper. -
Review from Sarah C.
Bellevue, WA
6/5/2011
I was there for my brother's rehearsal dinner. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dinner. My salmon was delicious! The carrot cake was also superb.
Waitstaff was attentive as well. -
Review from Mark M.
Apopka, FL
8/9/2011
The food was awesome. The back of the restaurant is all glass so you can watch the river during sunset. You can see manatees and dolphins sometimes.
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Review from Jamie L.
12/21/2010
I love The Green Flash.
I am from back in the old days, when it was Timmy's Nook, and have been dining at this location for over 25 years.
The Green Flash is a restaurant that personifies that weird tag "Smart Casual." Because, you see, you're still on the islands, so pressed khakis are about as dressy as you'll see 'round these parts. And a nice sundress. But The Green Flash manages to bring a slightly classier feeling than the typical "sand in your flip flops" dining options nearby.
There are huge windows everywhere, great bay views, (we often see porpoises!) and... Get this... Tablecloths! We usually start with a glass or three of white wine and some sot of seafood appetizer to relax after a long, hard day of sunning, parasailing, sea shelling, and all that taxing vacation stuff. Their entrees range from steaks to swordfish steaks and everything between. I love their Cioppino dish, their grilled dolphin, stuffed shrimp... Honestly we've not had a bad meal here.
We make it a point to make The Green Flash our "nice night out" during our weeks on Captiva. Lovely setting, delicious food, fabulous views. -
Review from Steve R.
Deerfield, IL
10/18/2011
We had lunch at the Green Flash on Captiva Island. As usual, the steamed shrimp was great and the Crunchy Grouper sandwich I had was very good too. The Shrimp Bisque soup is awesome! Service was really good too! If you are in Captiva, definitely check it out.
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Review from Steve B.
Cedar Falls, IA
7/5/2011
Happened upon this restaurant while exploring the area. Both my wife and I got the crab cake sandwich and the Shrimp Bisque. The bisque was just OK, the texture of what seemed to be shredded shrimp took away from the soup for sure. The crab cake sandwiches were a real disappointment being very mushy and flavorless. At 12.95 I expected a more. We were also surprised that other than the grouper sandwich all of the seafood options seemed to be fried. Oh well.
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Review from john t.
New York, NY
8/13/2011
Good service and good food with a great Bay view. We ordered triple fin salad with a vinaigrette dressing which we enjoy while watching Manatees swimming off shore. Very good innovative key lime pie almost of a sorbet consistency but lacking in tartness. With a tarter flavor this could be the best key lime pie on the island. Expect amusing surprises in the bathrooms!!!
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Review from Victoria L.
Miami-Dade, FL
8/26/2011
The grouper sandwich had so little fish, that all u could taste is the fried part. The special fish plate was a very small portion. The price was way too high for the quality of the food. The atmosphere is old and stuffy ,smelled funky. The only good part is the view and pier in front of the place. My recommendation, come here, get a drink, not the food, and sit outside. Not sure why this place is rated so high.
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Review from A D.
Boston, MA
12/2/2011
Our family and friends went to dinner at this place and loved it. Excellent food, seafood is very fresh, and large portions. We had the sashimi salad, shrimp and red snapper - all delicious! Very courteous and excellent service! Beautiful views specially at night of the water and open skies!
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Review from Robert S.
Reno, NV
7/31/2011
Awful food! Awful service! There are plenty of good restaurants in Captiva and Sanibel. The Green Flash is not one of them. The food tastes like frozen food that has been reheated. Save your money and go somewhere else.
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Review from Frank S.
Captiva, FL
6/17/2011
Place is hit and miss but never bad food. Prices are fair and drinks are strong. Defiantly Will return
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Review from Missy K.
Fort Myers, FL
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
The shrimp salad for $9.95 is a great dish. Its a huge portion. I am glad that I didn't order any thing else.. The fried shrimp were nice size and I think there were 10 or 11 shrimp for 9.95. Of course we were there for lunch so I cant speak for dinner. The views are great and the wait staff was excellent.
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Review from Rebecca S.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2011
I came here for lunch on my first day on the island. It was great. We sat outside on the deck, which had the best view. The staff was super friendly and the food was good!
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Review from Michelle P.
Buffalo, NY
11/24/2010
Disappointed compared to our visit here last year around the same time :-(
Why? Well, the service was subpar. The waitress was kind of crabby, never asked if I wanted a 2nd glass of wine, never refilled our water and never brought out our coffees with our desserts...and I love to have coffee with my dessert!
The meal itself...well, in a word, overcooked. My sesame encrusted tuna was cooked almost half way through, the coconut shrimp were all dried out and the grouper tasted like it came out of the local grocers boxed frozen section. The oysters and the shrimp bisque soup were delicious and the potato au gratin were pretty good. The creme brulee was a bit on the runny side and described by someone in our party as tasting like 'snot'. I enjoyed my chocolate cake...even without my coffee :-) -
Review from David F.
Anoka, MN
3/11/2011
Went for lunch on a recommendation from a local. Told us we'd be able to watch dolphins from our table. Well, I guess they weren't out today, and since it was one of the FAQs on the menu, I'd say that wasn't unusual. Atmosphere reminded me of one of those tired, old country clubs with mediocre, overpriced food. You are definitely paying for the view here. Food was hit or miss. Calamari appetizer was very good. Grilled chicken sandwich was flattened to about 1/4" thick and had what looked like simulated grill lines. Tender, but dry. Prices were ok, considering the location.
Men's room was poorly lit, had a dining table for two, complete with place settings, and a one way mirror to the bar. Since it smelled and needed servicing, my son wouldn't go to the bathroom there, so I can't imagine anyone using the table! -
Review from Joe R.
Atlanta, GA
7/15/2011
A very good dining experience with a relaxing view of the Gulf. The sea bass was so light I had plenty of room for the chocolate cake ( worth trying ) the conch soup was just spicy enough. There are many good restaurants on the island but this is one if the best.
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Review from Bryan B.
West Chester, PA
4/27/2010
Definitely not as good as the other reviews (in our opinion). I had the recommended Mahi Mahi dish and my wife has the grouper. Both were good but not great and needed a bit more flavor. The scallop potatoes are as good as people say and were the best part of our meal. The apps were good (oysters and shrimp) and the prices were not bad compared to other places on Captiva.
One thing that was nice was the size of the menu. They had a lot of choices, which can be good or bad. Many places here have VERY limited menus. -
Review from Caroline L.
New York, NY
4/24/2008
It's not actually French, it is Swiss, but has a great big selection of very good dishes. The owner is a great guy and really stresses the history of the place (used to be a local bar, before Captiva got ridiculously expensive). It's still a bar (a nice one at that) but serves excellent European cuisine to boot.
My advice? SIT OUTSIDE. This is the best place to grab a long, late lunch after the sun is a little less strong. They have this little patio sitting right above a dock, decorated with lots of plants. It looks like you're in Mykonos and the pleasant weather in Captiva is usually conducive to spending your time outside, even in December.
Weird thing they(still) have is this mannequin by the door in the women's bathroom. Don't freak out, he's not real... -
Review from Georgie B.
Danvers, MA
4/21/2011
Had a very nice meal here in late March.
Though we had to wait about 30 min, we got a very nice outside table. We dined late and were the last to leave, but the food was really good, the setting terrific, and the memory a nice one.
I had the Venetian Platter, assorted grilled seafood, including large prawns with the heads still on. (if you're a foodie like me, you think that's a good thing) Very tasty, not overcooked, and nicely seasoned.
The only disappointment was the carrot cake for dessert. Not very good - like a big wedge of pudding rather than a nice slice of cake. Otherwise, a good choice on Captiva / Sanibel.
PS: We lucked out on parking since a space was just opening up when we arrived. I can see parking being an issue here on weekends in season... -
Review from Clauda B.
Gilford, NH
12/14/2010
Only wish we had tried this restaurant on the first day of our vacation, we would have eaten at the Green Flash more often! Our first visit we decided would be for a drink at the bar to check out the ambience and menu. Luckily we met the very engaging owner and had a great couple of hours in conversation. The following night we returned for the dinner menu and everything was outstanding from the warm bread to the creme brulee. My husband ordered the tuna (perfectly prepared) and I had BBQ shrimp- the best I've ever tasted. Anyone that is a "foodie" will recognize the expertise and elevated cuisine that is a direct result of the owner/chef's direction. This is not pub food and they have a great selection of wines to compliment their menu. Highly recommend this restaurant!
One word to the diners that arrive with small children; please understand that an upscale restaurant usually entertains adults wishing to enjoy a fine meal and conversation. You may think your children are adorable when the screech but not all of us are in favor of this experience. There are many alternate options for children in Captiva or perhaps one could try to instill a sense of manners. -
Review from Justin P.
Parkland, FL
1/26/2009
First of all, the entire Captiva/Sanibel area is wonderful and worth a trip, and this is my favorite restaurant there. With a name like "The Green Flash," I wasn't sure what to expect, but the name is actually a reference to a rare type of sunset. Anyway, you can either sit outside on the first floor next to the water or inside on the second floor next to huge windows. Either way, the views are breathtaking. Also, the host / owner is one of the friendliest, most helpful people you will ever meet.
This brings me to the food. As we were walking in, a gentleman (he may have been intoxicated, or else from the very deep South) who was leaving, went out of his way to tell us that it was the best shrimp bisque he had ever had in his life. Of course, I had to try it, and it was very good, as were the crabcakes and the service. The food is at least four-star level, and when you add in the friendly host and amazing ambience, it gets bumped up to five stars. -
Review from Andrew K.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2009
Great name, great concept. The origin of the name is the fact that under certain rare atmospheric conditions, a "Green Flash" can be seen due to refraction in the air on the horizon just before the sunset.
Place has an expansive view of the western horizon from the northern tip of Captiva Island. If there is any vantage point on the Islands from which to witness the elusive "Green Flash", this would be it.
Menu is not surprisingly oriented towards seafood. Service was good. Ordered 3 different appetizers and disliked all of them, actually left us thinking: "Wow, I really regret paying $7 for something so unappetizing before my meal..."
Both female companions found the manikin in the women's restroom to be disturbing: you walk in there and catch a startling glimpse of a male figure standing there. I'm sure there is some story behind it, but it's kind of creepy.
Has its own parking lot, which is good because area can be crowded during high season. Interior dining room is noisy, sit outside if the weather permits, for refreshing atmosphere and great view of the ocean. -
Review from Suzanne C.
Falls Church, VA
2/25/2011
Do NOT go to this restaurant. The food has gone downhill and the service is horrible. It used to be a good place, I'm very sad.
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Review from Shelby J.
Acworth, GA
7/24/2011
The owner appears to be there pretty frequently and is definitely invested in making sure that his restaurant runs smoothly. They turned tables in impressive times. That said, the menu doesn't really have anything notable on it. I had the BBQ shrimp with bacon and it was tasty - but the side dishes were less than impressive and it took a lot longer for our food to arrive than we expected. We would go back, but this isn't somewhere you will go to for a menu that is a bit creative. It does appear that they were renovating the restaurant when we were there a few days ago, so perhaps the menu will also be updated.
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Review from Amy C.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
7/24/2011
We had a great meal here, with a fantastic view of the water. We started with mussels, which were a solid 9 out of 10. I got stuffed shrimp, which were awesome. My husband got the pasta special with lobster which was also a treat. There is a nice bar crowd here as well, with what seemed like regulars. Definitely a fun spot, though I was really glad I didn't have my kids with me!
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Review from Antony D.
Tampa, FL
9/14/2010
The food is excelent. The ambiance is upscale, but kind of boring compared to other Captiva restaurants.
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Review from R T.
Bloomfield Hills, MI
4/7/2011
The Green Flash is our favorite place to go for an upscale dinner in the entire Sanibel-Captiva area. Every table has a panoramic view of the waterway which is not facing the sunset but is still a wonderful waterfront setting. The menu offers a wide variety of seafood. The swordfish is especially good. The service is prompt and courteous.
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Review from Jamie S.
Vero Beach, FL
9/11/2010
Went for lunch- food was wonderful and the rum drinks were awesome. Highly recommend!
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Review from Rachel P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/5/2010
+ They have excellent seafood, served in gourmet style
shrimp scampi was very tasty
my friend had a seafood platter
+ It is family friend and roomy
+ They have interesting drinks
+ It has a nice water view
- waitress was constantly hovering over, felt rushed -
Review from Val H.
Miami, FL
8/15/2010
This was the perfect place for a romantic dinner overlooking the water. Since we went in august/low season, we were able to get a table right away by the window. It looks like there was outdoor searing but there was nobody out there. We started with the artichoke heart appetizer which was buttery and bubbling with cheese. It was really good, although I think the hearts may have been the canned type. The bread comes to the table hot and tastes homemade. It's great. I ate about four pieces.
We also got the shrimp bisque as a starter. It was great- tasted fresh and had the perfect amount of cream. Not too heavy, and lots of really finely chopped onion inside.
I ordered the Captiva salad,a big bed of mixed greens with a really generous assorrment of seafood- Cajun grilled shrimp, grilled scallops, smoked salmon, plus asparagus, artichoke and other veggies. It was a perfect light dinner.
Husband got the Captiva steam pot. It was a bouillabaisse-type tomato based broth (a bit too salty for my taste, but overall pretty good) with REALLY generous portions of fish, scallops, mussels, prawns, shrimp, and chopped carrots,onion and tomato. It came with a side of spinach and the popular, homemade potato gratin. Gratin was great- with bubbling cheese on top and everything. We were too full for dessert, but I eyed the carrot cake slice the size of my head that the woman at the next table devoured. I can't stop thinking about that carrot cake.
The service was fast on the appetizers but a bit slower on the main courses. But the server was very friendly and constantly refilling drinks. She didn't even rush us out eventhough there was a 15 person wedding party that was about to be seated next to us that probably didn't want us there raining on their parade and blicking their view. Also a huge plus was the prices, which are extremely reasonable for Captiva, particularly considering the portion sizes. I will be back here on my next trip to Captiva. -
Review from Alicia N.
Broward, FL
9/18/2009
My boyfriend and I decided to eat here after we saw that it was on the water. We thought it would be great we would have been much better off going to the restaurants that are further along the island across the street from the island store. The food here was awful and unimaginative. The "catch of the day" had some raspberry sauce on it that was unappetizing and the fish was like rubber. The calamari had no flavor at all. Our waitress had a weird attitude. The food here could have been a lot better. It might be nice to have a couple drinks here and take in the beautiful view but I would definitely not come here for the food.
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Review from barbara s.
Mill Valley, CA
11/18/2009
A woman we met in the pool at Casa Ybel Resort told us about this place. She loves it, goes there a lot, and specifically recommended the cocoanut shrimp, the potatoes au gratin, the grouper and spinach. We loved the food a lot. The shrimp are dipped in whatever is needed to make the cocoanut stick. It is crispy and plentiful and absolutely yummy. However, I preferred the dipping sauce for the stone crab claws to the sauce that came with the shrimp. My husband's grouper was overcooked, but our waitress was very accommodating in taking it back and replacing with it another entree. The overall experience still rated 5 stars. I liked that the bread is served hot. That is a nice throwback touch that is not seen much anymore. The key lime pie is nothing short of sublime. It is the consistency of a sherbet with meringue folded into the key lime, and frozen. It is floating in a bed of creme anglaise. I've had good key lime in a lot of places, and this is the hands down winner. If you're anywhere near Captiva, do not miss this place.
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Review from Glenn S.
Glenside, PA
11/27/2009
Excellent view, view, food and service. Summer 2009 was our first visit to Sanibel/Captiva and we hadn't explored much until we arrived. We were at first a little put off by the name, but once we got there, we were pleasantly surprised by the excellent service, food and view. We had a wonderful dining experience and would go back again.
