J T's Island Grill and Gallery

After considering this carefully, I decided to share one of my closest guarded finds that I feel can be let outta the bag as its a remote place in the middle of almost nowhere, but what a find it is!

I've gotta rewind a bit and explain that I owe this find to NBC6's previous, previous weatherman anchor Roland Steadham, at least in-part.  In his nightly weather description he always used to identify the extremes of the area he was forecasting weather for as from Broward-to-The Keys-to-Chokoloskee.  Choko-what-the-who?  Exactly, I used to say until one day while listening to the forecast in the background and sitting at my computer I decided to look up this mystical Choko-late-auskie.  That discovery led me down a whole other road I never knew South Florida was known for.

So after finding out that it was smack-dab in between Naples and the Florida Everglades I grew intrigued.  When the opportunity arose, I planned a romantic weekend getaway (an anniversary really) and thought, why not look this little island paradise up again.  I found an awesome cabana overlooking the water and built on stilts.  I asked the woman at the front desk where the best place to eat was and of course she pointed this place out to me.  I had passed by it earlier in the evening before the sun set and I thought, what a dump!  I'd never eat there!  She said to forget what I saw and what I thought, and just show up.  I thought naaaah, I'll pass.  She insisted again and due to her persistence I reneged and decided to at least swing by the place once more after dark as she insisted, then decide.

WOW!  An actual place with character, charm, honesty and no-frills.  You feel like you've had to fly across the world, go through customs several times, travel by row boat and more to find such a place, and its right here, in South Florida?!!  

The teenie-weenie gallery and shop is everything you should expect from a place that was built from driftwood and never redone according to code.  Local artisans creating local pieces of interesting, creative and sometime bizarre works.

The teenie-weenie dining room probably seats 25 at most.  They allowed me to bring my own bottle of champagne for the occasion which my girl absolutely loved.  Stone crabs are their featured item and they're harvested just offshore as Chokoloskee is a real fishing village.  

A great weekend getaway, or doable on the same day if you plan it right. There is no price tag on charm and this place oozes it.  It almost pains me to share this but I do want to support them and would hate for them to go under especially in the economic climate we're currently in, so call, visit, eat and enjoy!

Remember that the island is famous for this place and is a must do but at night ONLY!