Fantastic. Get the meat stew. Get the Mahi. Get the fresh cut fries. It's the best food I had in my 5 days on vacation here. Fantastic food. Great staff recommendations.
(5)
Kristin Z.
Eh...the apps were good. We got the Bang Bang Shrimp and Chicken Wings. The shrimp were tasty, with a yummy sauce. The chicken wings were also good, with a balanced batter that wasn't too thick but enough to make them crispy. The server at the bar was hard to make eye contact with. It was almost as if she avoided it. The Margaritas were really weak. The draft beer was cold and carbonated. The gross thing was this...we got there around 5pm and around 530 they were swapping out the trash. They left one bag just sitting there open in front of us (about 2 ft from our plates) which was kind of unappetizing. I've heard good things about this place so I'll give it another try sometime and go to the location downtown.
(3)
Vincent U.
We ate at this restaurant twice during our recent vacation in Bonita Springs. Came back the second time because we had enjoyed our meals so much the first time. My wife had a plate of oysters, a cup of New England clam chowder, and some wings that were shared with the kids and me. Our two kids each had chicken fingers and French fries, which they ate but we're not able to finish (big portion of fries). I order a fried grouper sandwich, which tasted fresh although I could only guess as I don't eat fish often, especially grouper. Wish I could give a more favorable review, but our second visit convinced me that we were more hungry than anything during our first visit. The second time around, the food (wings, bowl of clam chowder, fries) tasted more bland. Clam chowder was tepid and had one or two pieces of chowder. Some wings were paltry in size or did not have much meat on the bone.
(3)
Eliizabeth E.
I am visiting the area and went here hopefully some good seafood. I went with my father. He ordered corn and crab soup which was ok. A bit of spice to it. His entree was 1\2 order of fish and chips. It is nice that some orders you can get a 1\2 order. I had the blacken tacos. They were good and I would order them again. The service was good. Waitress Lisa was friendly and efficient. My main complaint was the ice tea and the Arnold Palmer (ice tea and lemonade mixed together) were more like water. The tea was way too weak. The manager told us they "don't make it there so the can't make it stronger". You could use a stronger tea mix or make tea yourself. Making ice tea from tea bags is easy and cheap. Make a batch every morning and you would have it for lunch. Make another batch in the afternoon and have it for dinner. The ice was over $3.00. I would rather have had water.
(2)
Caroline C.
I love Pincher's. I visit my folks here often, I live in Idaho, and I try to O D on seafood when I'm here. The service is awesome, the food is fresh, it's loud and I like it!
Fast services, good food and great view! Free meals for kids with purchase of adult entrees. Fast, friendly service. Comparable to the Riverside Restaurant which is pricier!
(5)
Zachary D.
Service was o.k. First the tea was awful which should be an indication of what was to come but we continued. We ordered the crab dip which was o.k. really cheesy. For our entree my wife ordered crab legs that turned out flimsy to even crack and for the price we should have at least got real butter. But no it was margarine. For my entree I ordered the blackened grouper. First off the smell was strong of ammonia once I opened the fish the smell was stronger. I decided to even give it a small bite. Yep dumb idea because it tasted just like it smelled. Needless to say I was very bummed because this was a trip for our anniversary. Do not go to this place please.
(1)
Dan D.
When we were first seated, our waiter asked if we'd been to Pincher's before (we hadn't) and started to make recommendations. He stopped mid sentence and was immediately replaced by a waiter who indicated he was at the wrong table. Our next waiter was dour and did not appear interested at all in service. He did not smile once. The food was mediocre at best. Do not get the grouper tacos. The grouper sandwich was average. My son, who always loved shrimp, did not finish his and did not want a box. While we were originally put off by the poor presentation and service by the frowning waiter, the food sealed it. We will not be back.
(2)
A S.
Back in town and first stop was dinner at Pinchers...because wife loves the crab cakes. I had them too and they were excellent. Next night she had same and I had fish and chips. .rather have had breadcrumb not flour batter but still ok. Snowbirds gone so service was good. I still think it's overpriced given the overall experience but I have no choice to come back.
(3)
Paul K.
Don't come on a Friday during lent. :) Came here on a Friday during lent and it sure was crowded. I think it would have been crowded anyway as this is a popular place. The had stone crabs, king crab, fresh fish on the menu. After much soul searching well not really I ordered a crab cocktail and a shrimp cocktail. Why not? I do know the shrimp was gulf shrimp and were very good and fresh. What made this less than stellar was when I was seated with my wife I looked at the table and thought man this thing is way to big for two people. Well it was and they seated another couple. Not cool.
(3)
Chris B.
Saw this place coming to Bonita Springs after arriving in the States at Miami Airport and driving to our hotel. Since crab is hard to find and pretty expensive in Europe, we decided to eat here. When we walked in, the place looked like a big barn. I guess that's why it's called the Crab Shack. It being a lovely evening we decided to eat out on the patio. The staff was friendly and helpful enough, with that certain disinterest I've grown accustomed to in the US. After spending some time to look at the menu, we both decided on king crab. Having eaten crab before in San Francisco, I expected a whole king crab. You can imagine my surprise when I only got some huge crab legs. I looked at the menu again, and there was no mention of "legs" or 'only legs". But the legs looked ok so we dug in, and I must say, I was surprised by how much meat was on those legs. all in all it was a great meal to start of our holiday in Florida! As a sidenote, we saw a crab shack when we were on Key West a few weeks later, and the prices are so much higher there! I did not expect a chain restaurant to have different prices based on location.
(3)
Thadd C.
Was told 20 minutes and waited 45... No matter how mediocre your food is, that just sets the tone for the experience. I will not come back...
(2)
Jamie R.
I send out of towners here to score fresh fish. Eat in, take out, or buy fish by the pound out of the glass case. Today's specials included snapper caught about an hour north, off Pine Island. It's cool when a restaurant can offer fresh anything, but when they actually name a place, well, I'm impressed. Pass the tartar sauce.
(5)
Kelli B.
Went with my mom and sis. Happy hour, buy one get one already off to a great start. Rachel our server was amazing. We just went in for a little snack. Highly recommend the hot crab dip, bonus they give you enough chips!
(5)
J P.
Good food! Great staff. Decent beer selection. A great place to stop for a good meal as there really aren't many decent places in the area. Worth a visit. Only thing.... there aren't any platter selections with crab, only grouper, scallops, calamari, etc.
(4)
Olivia R.
We had really liked this chain when we were in Naples over by Tin-City. This Pinchers was ok in service and atmosphere. You can't beat their happy hour special of shrimp, oysters and clams at 70 cents per and 2 for 1 special on beer and wine! They do have the best hot sauce for seafood on this planet! Can't wait to go back to the one in Naples!
(3)
Scott N B.
Everything they have is excellent from the Crab Dip appetizer to the Shrimp scampi, Fish-n-chips oh and don't forget the Blackened Scallops or Fried Clams. Best Seafood in South Florida.
(5)
Scooter B.
I would give zero stars if I could. I've always heard good things about this place and finally we decided to give it a try. When we had a look at the menu we tried to keep ourselves from dropping to the floor from the high prices. Wow! This is not a fancy restaurant, folks, yet the prices for the "fresh seafood" is right up there with any five star restaurant. I put "fresh seafood" in quotation marks because I question its freshness. I ordered the soft-shell crab. I love soft-shell crab and have had it many times so I know how it's supposed to taste. The dish also came with two sides and I ordered the "hand cut made to order ?" french fries and the Texas toast. When my plate arrived, the fries were cold and limp. I don't believe for one second that these fries were hand cut or made to order for my dish. These were fries that had been sitting around for a while. They tasted of old grease. On to the soft-shell crab. I ordered two and started in with the little legs and claws. Again, the food was not hot but seemed OK until I cut into the body of the crab. I found the inside to be filled with a white mush. There was an extreme overpowering smell of fish. I did taste it and the taste was as if the crab had been sitting in the bottom of a fish tank full of dead fish for at least a week. It took hours to get rid of that taste in my mouth. I returned the meal to the kitchen and had it removed from our bill. The manager was very apologetic and said they only had "fresh fish" and he offered to give me anything else I wanted from the menu. By then I suspected their fish was really not so fresh. My husband ordered fried calamari which he said was nothing special but also not offensive. He finished his meal. I noticed Pincher's was quite crowded and there were many people tucked in to plates of seafood, seeming to enjoy what they had. I can only wonder that perhaps these were mostly tourists who aren't really familiar with what fresh fish should taste like, or I was the only unfortunate person to receive a bad meal. Regardless, I won't be back to Pincher's Crab Shack. Ever.
(1)
Andrea S.
I have NO idea what draws folks to this place! Not lively - noisy. Food, where to begin. Shrimp, plenty o'them, but a funky texture. Green beans, WAAAY too overdone. The pre-prepared coleslaw was the best option of a bad meal. Wine, why whine? Awful. Dessert, (key lime pie) - what could go wrong? FROZEN SOLID. However, we boxed it to take home. Interestingly enough, it melted. Didn't defrost - melted. Inside still frozen, melted all over outside! To finish, a person involved in restaurants once told me - "If you want to know about a restaurant's kitchen, just go to their restrooms." Advice - if you go, don't visit the restroom before you order!
(1)
Melanie H.
Usually ambiance or character warms my heart to balance pub food. Who doesn't love fried clams, French fries and burgers right? Late on a Friday night we wound up at Pinchers and gave it a try for open air dining with live music. I think it was the service that started the disappointment.... I was just annoyed, with the waitress now that I think of it. The grouper nuggets were pretty good, Caesar salad wasn't too bad, my burger was undercooked, meh-tasting beef. Just annoyed. Must've been ..... we only paid $26 for splitsy ap, burger and Caesar and it still didn't forgive the service.
(2)
Lisa U.
Overpriced and a disappointment. Happy Hour specials included salad-size shrimp for 70 cents-- spent $50 for a few tiny shrimp and a few drinks. Definitely not returning.
(1)
Richard N.
This is all about seafood. You don't get a giant amount of food but you don't pay a lot either. Besides, how much food do you really need? Everyone at the table next to us was fat so I guess some people feel the need for huge portions. Even if they don't need them. The sides are ok - but you're not going to Pinchers to eat mashed potatoes are you? If you want fresh fish simply cooked this is your sort of place. My snapper was better than my wife's shrimp - but she loved her shrimp. Her french fries were about the same as my mashed potatoes - good but not special. Go to Pinchers for the seafood. That's what it's all about.
(4)
Tim H.
Like they said...you can't fake fresh"! Always good fresh seafood. Happy hour great for 70 cent shrimp, oysters & clams.
(4)
Ken M.
Wen't there with two kids, two adults and I would say this is a great place for seafood. Waterfront dinning available and plenty of room for groups. Fresh fish daily!! Great prices and excellent service
(5)
Devan P.
Great food, and awesome happy hour specials! Must go for 2 for 1 drinks all day every day! Over all great sea food
(4)
Matthew R.
Disappointing. Pretty pricey for the quality. The grouper sandwich was good. Rock crab was overcooked. My buddy had the sampler platter. He said it was good , but, again, pricey for the amount. I wasn't expecting that much for a chain but was unimpressed all the same. Drinks specials were a nice treat though. And I thought the server was good and attentive. Sat outside on the patio. Nice time with my friends. Just had hoped for more
(3)
IM H.
Great good & service. Had king crab legs and loved them, husband had pompano fish locally caught & was melt in your mouth good (lightly blackened). Fried fish was very lightly breaded & great. Will visit again. Server was very friendly.
(5)
Nikole W.
Love the appetizers (especially during happy hour). Hence the 2 stars. Their motto is: "You can't fake fresh" - right on. HOWEVER....... Tell me this Pincher's Crab Shack, if you can't fake fresh, why then do you serve your $15 grouper sandwich on the CRAPPIEST FROZEN buns?! On Saturday afternoon, I mistakenly asked for my bun not to be toasted. Now I know why they toast it in the first place - to mask the disgusting texture of this "bread". This was hands down THE WORST bun I've ever eaten. Who tests the menu at this place? Everybody knows that bread makes (or breaks) the sandwich. Why serve fresh seafood on a frozen, spongy bun? The time before this visit (to the GCTC location), we ate appetizers. Getting hungry for dinner, we left. What does that say?! My motto is "you can't fake a foodie".
(2)
fra w.
tried it again yesterday with a party of 21 at 7 pm...but we were not seated till 8 oclock,,,It almost started off BAD wHen we were told they would not do seperate checks but when manager was asked they agreed on it..What was upsetting they were asked when we booked it and they said YES. Anywhay it is all day HAPPY HOUR... we had 2 for 1 wines,beers and wells...I had grouper sandwich $15.99 and it was great......wife had oyster po boy for $14.99 and it was over the top...gd had chicken sand w swiss and bacon and it was good...all and all ...a much better experience that I had 2 years ago...
(4)
Jak M.
If your taste buds don't work then by all means go here otherwise steer clear. Both me and my wife ordered the rock crab claws and it was horrible! Tasted like it had been sitting in a tub of water for weeks. Very watered down and bland. There were 6 in our party and all agreed on their meal as well. Way OVER RATED!!!!!!
(1)
Janna L.
We saw this place coming into town on our first day of vaca/conference on the main drag and it has been on my radar since as a must-try. Crab is my by far all-time fave protein/food/snack/treat! I guess it is a chain restaurant but I have never seen one before. Being Canadian and only being able to eat outside maybe 3-4 months of the year, we chose to eat on the patio, facing a fumy parking lot even on rickety, uncomfortable wooden stools waiting for the feast to happen - and it did happen! We happened to come down to Florida when stone crab is in season. Score! I was told Pinchers has their own boats on the water every day to fish, the crab is cooked in the AM fresh on site and then brought to the restaurant. 'Fresh' is the key to amazing seafood and I really enjoyed my meal. I had 2 large stone crab claws as an appy (on special seasonal menu) and then the crab fest meal that had 3 more kinds of crab on the plate (Dungeness, snow and the almighty King crab) I could have cared less about the side dishes but they were good too - I chose coleslaw (which normally I would never order but it was mild and not too mayo-ey) and garlic mashed potatoes which come in a little bowl, not taking too much plate space from your crab on the plate! YUMMY! I ate everything and took my sweet time doing so. Hubby had the snapper, blackened and he enjoyed it. He also copied my side dishes but they have many others to choose from including corn on the cob which is not even on the menu. Skipped dessert as it felt like we were there forever already! I loved being able to whack my crab on the hard surface of the picnic style tables with the wooden club thingy. I just would not recommend going to a party, bar or anywhere else afterwards that you want to make an amazing impression. The crab flies everywhere no matter what! 100% worth it. If were to return, we would sit inside and be more comfortable. TIP - everyday is Happy hour. 2 for 1 beer, 2 for 1 margaritas! My kind of place. Service was pretty decent also. I bought a bottle of the hot sauce on the table.. finally a hot sauce that is HOT! A must-try!
(4)
Dianna X.
Very overpriced and unremarkable. Was our first trip here and it will be our last. Drink specials were watered down, payed a ridiculous amount for fried shrimp and fries. Red Lobster has much better seafood and their prices are much more in line with the quality than this place.
(1)
Stephanie S.
Love the atmosphere and the menu! There are many choices! One thing that is frustrating though is that "happy hour" is buy one beer and get one free--kicker here is that one draft beer is $8 or $9...not a deal by any stretch of the imagination. Other than that though, awesome place!
(4)
Marjorie Z.
what can one say about a fish restaurant that has NO BUTTER? instead, they use incredibly cheap imitations to cook and on the table and still call it butter.....not on the menu, of course because that would be false advertising. but if you ask for butter, they will give you some strange stuff which you will need a chemistry degree to read about. if you ask for drawn butter, you will also get some imitation junk. So all you folks who believe that the stuff you are dipping your shrimp or steamed oysters into is butter....forgetaboutit! who the heck wants 'butter' when it isn't really? we were actually told that if we wanted butter, we could bring our own!!!! how about bringing our own of all the other stuff which isn't particularly good? take the fries....please! commendably, they use house cut fries but have NO idea how to cook them. the result is that they are anything but crisp. told that if i wanted my fries crispy i should request it and they would left in the fryer longer. that's what they know about cooking. doing that only results in a darker fry, NOT a crispier one. they don't have a clue that a real french fry is fried twice (not to mention easier to prep in the kitchen). it's not a some French secret....it's all over the internet for any interested restaurant owner or chef to read. when restaurants don't want to do the two part process, they order processed fries coated with sugar so they will be crisp. good that this place prefers to cut their own but when they really don't get the crisp thing. i was actually told that it is a matter of preference....some people like their fries al dente. Puh-lease! being a coleslaw afficionado who never met a really bad coleslaw, i was taken aback by this pretty tasteless version.....hard to ruin coleslaw. even the mustard sauce used for the stone crabs suffers with blandness. still, the raw oysters are good, the raw clams are a delight, the steamed shrimp passable but often dirty. i am sure the fish is equally good but when it comes to sides, these people don't have a clue. they have an attitude problem. the attitude is based on not having pride in making everything that they serve GOOD. their one good claim to fame is the fish which is none of their doing other than to buy fresh and keep it that way. it is fresh. but they actually have little cooking ability; the rest of the dishes are step-children. and what the heck, they've made money for 17 years during a period when the general public didn't know good food so why bother to do it right now? sad...with fresh seafood AND good sides, it could be wonderful. no wonder it gets so few stars.
(2)
R S.
It's been awhile since we visited Pinchers because the place gets too busy in season. Now that the crowds have died down, we headed there for my son's birthday. We had a great meal and great service. Get there before 6pm to take advantage of $0.70 clams, oysters, shrimp and wings. Drinks are 2 for 1 every night all night long. For appetizers, the peel and eat shrimp (hot), raw oysters, and steamed clams are extremely fresh. For dinner, get the crab (snow is my favorite because it's easiest to eat) with butter, garlic and special spices. Best thing on the menu!
(5)
Linda R.
Punchers' has a fun and festive atmosphere -- just what vacationers want -- and the food was good. We had fish tacos (broiled grouper) and stone crabs. The sides were lackluster: French fries were stale and broccoli slaw was bland. Of bigger concern was the outrageously long wait. We were seated at 9:00 in a mostly empty restaurant and waited for more than 30 minutes for our two entrees. We won't be back.
(2)
D N.
Good food and service. Everything was very fresh. Call ahead seating was great.
(4)
Marie E.
The food was good, kids eat free, and bogo drinks all night long! The only downside was the restaurant has trouble accommodating our large party of 11. Otherwise, a great experience!
(4)
Emily H.
Love this place! 2 for 1 happy hour, amazing crab dip, fantastic fish and awesome king crab! All for a great price. Can't be beat!
(5)
Cody C.
Can't beat the .70 oysters for happy hour! Only complaint is the tables for two are right next to other tables way too close.
(5)
Margaret P.
Great Crabs! We had the bucket of Maryland Blue crabs for 5 people and were throughly satisfied. Only reason its not a 5 star was because the drinks were lacking. The Pina Colada was barely alcoholic and the 2 for 1 Margaritas were just plain bad,
(4)
Joan M.
Homemade fries, good food, unique neocortex, local watering hole...always stop in while in Naples. The BEST location to come to!
(4)
Mark N.
There are few things I appreciate more than a well prepared meal, and few things I appreciate less than an overpriced, poorly prepared meal. The later represents my recent Pinchers experience- a poorly prepared, overpriced meal. The fries which the waitress said were their signature were soggy and greasy. The soft shell crab was worse than the Friday Lenten fish sticks they served in elementary school. Stay away.
(1)
Jacob L.
Fun place to be, ordered the King Crab legs and they were great. Also had a dozen raw oysters and they were fresh and tasty. We'll be back!
(4)
B A.
This was a very mediocre meal. I will not be returning. How can you ruin grilled fish? Overcooked and dry. No flavor. No atmosphere.
(2)
Danielle C.
Amazing food.... Enough said.... Looking for great Atmosphere it's not here but the food surely makes up for that..
(5)
Dick M.
Go for the soft shell crab.
(4)
Nick C.
This is one of our seafood staples in the area. I've been to all of the area Pincher's, and this is my favorite. Fish is always fresh, and they usually have the best variety of daily specials. It's a come as you are type of joint, think maryland crabhouse meets Jimmy Buffett. Portions are big, and I've never had a bad meal. You can also pick up fish or shrimp up front to cook at home. What I had: I have been numerous times, but my favorite remains the fried zucchini app, stone crabs (in season) or a fresh catch menu item, and green beans and fries. Best bet: Beers and seafood when you are in a come as you are mood.
(4)
Carrie M.
This place is great! We were on our honeymoon and came here one night and it was so good that we came back twice in the same week. I had the buffalo shrimp both times and it was incredible! The baked beans are delicious. The only improvement the place could make is that it is pretty small. The tables are almost right on top of each other. Plus, the waitress we had the second time was a little too much for us. She was sassy (in a fun way, I suppose) but no one else there acted like that. But overall, the service was fine and it wouldn't stop us from coming back. Wish we lived closer!
(4)
Carrie S.
We love this place! From the all-day 2-for-1 happy hour to the great seafood, you can't go wrong here. What I love most about this place is how very friendly the staff is. Definitely eat outside on a nice night. The new lobster quesadilla is excellent.
(5)
Erin I.
Good food, great service by Tricia! FYI- weekends very busy. I would use call ahead seating next visit!
(4)
Tracey R.
Great happy hour. We got 6 oysters on the half shell, 6 peel and eat shrimp and 6 steamed clams. They were .60 cents a piece. Had rock shrimp for the first time they tasted like mini lobsters. The bar staff was very friendly to.
(4)
Ashley H.
I come down to visit my parents in Naples every winter, and I try to go to Pinchers at least twice each visit (if not more), and this February was no exception... I've never had a bad meal here, but my most recent visit was especially great. Our server, Lisa, was well-versed on the menu, attentive and HILAROUS to boot. Her awesomeness alone prompted this review. When you go to Pinchers there's really only one word you need to know "grouper"- whether fried, grilled, broiled or blackened their grouper is second to none. As far as I know, it's always local, fresh and straight from the gulf. If you are in SWFL and want some amazing fish - that will literally melt in your mouth - be sure to stop here! If you want an exceptionally awesome experience ask for Lisa (she's the one with the awesome mustache tattoo...)
(5)
Wesley C.
Decided to come here kinda last minute for dinner, and we called ahead and got put on the waiting list. Thankfully we did, because by the time we arrived at 7, there was a line out the door, and when we walked in to tell them our names, they said, "your table is right this way." The wait staff were pretty friendly, but it seemed like there were some customers there that maybe were just a little "difficult," so we were not as closely attended to. but that's ok. we just wanted to eat good seafood. my wife ordered the blackened grouper platter, and I got the great grouper sandwich. interestingly, the only difference seemingly between the two was the bun that came with mine. otherwise, we both got their fresh cut french fries and fresh veggies (garlic green beans). I'd say that the fish itself was tasty. definitely fresh and flakey, and the roll that it came on was nice and chewy. MY only complaint was that the french fries didn't seem to be quite as good as i had hoped. maybe i had been fried out from previously eating @ five guys, but man, i don't think i'd ever turn down french fries! anyway, the garlic green beans were very good and overall, my wife and I left very content with the meal that we ate.
(4)
Jessie H.
Order anything but the crab if you are hungry! (it is really small portions) They have great happy hour prices on alcohol. I would skip the food except the .60 specials.
(1)
Virginia B.
I am so disappointed because we have been customers here for many years. the wait staff mustn't have much training in safe food handling/serving procedures because at least four or five servers and the bartender all petted a large dog , one waitress got down on the ground with the dog, and i watched as the animal licked their hands and arms.....and none of them left the restaurant floor to wash their hands after the encounter. they all just returned to their jobs handling the plates of food, glassware, dropping lemon and lime slices into water glasses with their bare unwashed hands. I was lucky because the couple with the dog came in after we had been served our dinner. I told our waitress, one of the guilty ones, and I told the manager that the lack of proper hygiene was distressing to me. the manager said he would address it. But I don't think I will soon forget tonite's events.
(2)
John R.
No reservations -- Boo! However, the food is awesome. Tried both the Buffalo Shrimp and the Boom Boom Shrimp. Both were great, yet the buffalo could have been hotter for our taste even at its hottest setting. New England Style Clam Chowder in Florida? I guess the answer is "heck yes" as this was one of the best I have ever had anywhere -- period. The blackened Grouper Platter was a great main course and overall the service was good to on a busy night where we waiting a hour and a half to be seated. The tip for next time would be to call ahead. You may not get a reservation but at least it will knock 30 minutes off of your wait before you get to the place.
(4)
John B.
Blackened grouper is awesome!!!!!! Best fish I've ever eaten. The place is very casual and the servers are very friendly. Say hello to Liz and Renee at the bar.
(5)
Cathy D.
Pincher's was OK. I had friends in town visiting and wanted to take them to a fun Florida seafood place. I was disappointed I brought them there. First of all, the service was HORRIBLE. Our waitress (can't remember her name) was beyond rude to all four of us. I was actually appalled and embarrassed. For this reason alone I will not be returning to any Pincher's location. They don't take reservations but you can call ahead 30 minutes prior. We still stood around and waited an additional 45 mins after we arrived. I had the crab legs and they weren't the best- I was fairly disappointed since I thought they would at least have good crab. The crab was way too salty for my taste. It was like it was soaked in salt or something. My friend had the coconut shrimp and said it was really good. I probably wouldn't order the crab again- but that doesn't matter because I won't be returning. It wasn't worth the wait.
(2)
Eric V.
This place maps wrong in yelp! It's right off 41, not anywhere near the map spot that shows up from Google maps for yelp! We come here every once in a while for their Baltimore style steamed Blue Crabs. They don't use Old Bay seasoning so beware. Their seasoning is a lot saltier. I bring my own Old Bay and Ask them to use it. They do which is very accommodating and nice. The crabs are expensive but that can be expected in Florida. They probably aren't Chesapeake Blue Crabs, most likely Gulf Blue's but still pretty good. They work when the craving hits. Paper covered tables with buckets for shells. Cold beer. Fun, casual atmosphere. Nice place to come to when you just have to have those yummy Blues!!
(4)
Joe B.
I ordered the Stone Crab Claws and had the salad instead of 2 sides and the green beans... sorry to say, the beans were the best thing I ate... The crab was a little over cooked and didn't have any seasoning what's so ever. There was one sauce provided that I didn't care for. The salad was a complete waste with uninspired dressing.. Top it off, I thought it was all over priced - $30 for just 4 claws and a salad.. Add $2.50 for an Ice Tea just completes this rip off.. Not going back...
(1)
Kim R.
We stopped by Pinchers for lunch after landing at the Fort Meyers airport. I have to say, I've had better crab cakes at other restaurants (especially Timbers on Sanibel Island). We were just about the only customers here when we stopped in around 2:30, and the service was decent. They have a good selection of seafood on the menu. My husband ordered the fish tacos and was able to have his grouper blackened instead of fried, which was nice. This is an OK spot for lunch, but don't expect anything too phenomenal.
(3)
Dee N.
Really enjoyed the bartender - she moved without ending -- fast and smooth. Super fun restaurant and excellent food. Although my camera was stolen off my chair by a thief. Yes with all my vacation photos. Nice huh! Oh well, wouldn't wish the bad luck that camera brought to the thief on anyone. Even with the theft, restaurant was amazing with fresh seafood and the best key lime pie I've ever tasted.
(5)
Rich R.
Went to FL to visit my parents least week. This is one of their favorite spots. Super Friendly Staff. I, am actually allergic to shellfish....ordered a burger expecting it to be "eh"....was really ,really good. There was a wait for over an hour. They try to accomodate the best they can. 2 for 1 drinks outside while we were waiting!
(4)
Johnny L.
Took the family at this location. Make sure you go for happy hour between 3pm and 6pm. Delicious shrimp, oysters and wings!
(3)
Matthew H.
If your the type of person that loves burger king, you will love this place. If your at all a foodie, avoid this place like the plague. Small portions, deep fried items mostly tempura with little else. Mashed potatoes tasted instant and no decent beer on tap. The 2 for one draft drinks however were a good deal - if your a fan of budweiser. Staff and atmosphere substitutes "flair" for knowledge and quality. I was Wholly disappointed in this place since I went on the recommendation of a local. Guess I need to be more selective on who I ask for advice.
(1)
Jorge M.
No wait, good food, relaxed atmosphere. We had the crab cakes, cold peel-n-eat shrimp, medium spicy wings and key lime pie. Crab cakes were great, lots of crab. Everything was fresh and service was quick.
(5)
Jason D.
The waitress was professional and kept checking on us. I wouldn't say that she overly friendly, but I'm still happy with her. When I ordered the Black Grouper and was timid on ordering it blackened due to overcooking, the waitress said that that it would only be slightly blackened. Guess what, it was way overdone. After I told the waitress that it was rubbery, she immediately took it and fired up another order. This time I requested it to be broiled, which came back properly cook but not the best tasting grouper that I have tasted. Wife's shrimp scampi and pasta what really good. Grouper was $$+ and scampi was only $$. Just another example not to order a $$+ entree when there are cooks and not chefs in the kitchen.
(3)
Evgeniya B.
it was disappointing, snow crab & shrimp was left wishing for better .... the flavor was so under season and defrosted.... Red Lobster have it better
(2)
LJ B.
Good seafood for Florida. Huge portions and great prices. Prompt courteous service.
(4)
Geoff m.
Great place for a fresh local seafood meal !!! We called ahead for a 7pm seating but still had to wait 20 min on a tuesday night. It was Mardi gras night so it was probably more crowded than usual. Ordered a Yeungling and a pinot grigio and were surprised that it was two for one night. Yippee ! My wife started with 1/2 dozen fresh Oysters that she said were clean and fresh but not much structure and taste like west coast or new england oysters. My Mom had fried shrimp. My wife had a blackened Black grouper that she said was superb. I had a pound of Rock shrimp that I thought were good, not great, a bit over cooked. We all had fries and coleslaw as sides. The fries were salty hot and tasty. Perhaps not as good as 5 guys but close. I would recommend Pinchers heartily for people who want fresh seafood in a comfortable casual environment. Not expensive and tasty !!!!
(4)
Dean G.
this place reminded me of Joe's Crab Shack. The place was busy on a Saturday night, line wait was about 15 minutes, but well worth the wait, I would try this place again for a second time.
(4)
Jacey C.
Went to this Pinchers for the first time Saturday night. Great grouper bites, crab & mashed potatoes!! The wait wasn't bad and they serve 2 for 1 drinks outside while you are waiting. Yummy.
(4)
BJ B.
Must go early to avoid long wait. Good happy hour prices on drinks. Dined on a buy one get one free coupon. Good value.
(4)
Melissa E.
Went to Pincher's twice while vacationing in SW FL area last week. It was awesome and my dad, after eating at McCormick & Schmidt's in Naples later that week, proclaimed...it's no Pinchers :) Seafood is solid and well prepared and price is right. I enjoyed the Crab and Corn Chowder and the Sampler for 2 with calimari, mahi mahi and clam strips. A few days later we had the same sampler with calimari, scallops (says on the menu no scallops, but they will do it for an upcharge) and clam strips. I have never seen such big, juicy clam strips! And right now or maybe it is all the time, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Bonus!
(4)
Ken H.
Had trouble getting in during the season but finally got in for lunch. Excellent blackened mahi sandwich with 2 sides which for me was fries and cole slaw. Ample quantity. Overall good lunch. Will try dinner but smell of fliers makes me think a lot of the seafood is fried. Good drink special of 2 for 1 beer.
(4)
Amanda B.
Had dinner here on a Saturday night. The place was pretty empty, but that meant that our service was super fast. We were there for happy hour and took advantage of the two-for-one deals. The margaritas were quite good and all of our food arrived looking delicious. The five other people in my party enjoyed their food (outside of the guy who ordered the soft shell crab sandwich that arrived with the crab fully intact!). I had the buffalo chicken salad and it was delicious. All in all, a great dinner.
(3)
Sydney P.
It's really PincherS (with an S) , but this is what was already listed. Shrug, nothing special, though it came to us highly recommended ("best seafood in Naples" .....Jeez I really hope not, plus it's in Bonita Springs) The waitress & staff were really friendly & took good care of us. The interior is cute & colorful, going for the Island / Crab Shanty look. ( I can't wait to see the one in Tin City open, since that one really will be on the water) We were really happy with the blend of Lower Latitude Music, it gave the whole place a great vibe. For our meal : I started with the New England Clam Chowder. Not too shabby, just much more salt that is ever necessary, and lacking in real N.E. herbs & spices. Lots of clams though & still, I ate the whole thing, so it couldn't have been that bad.... Husband had The High Roller Genuine Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. And he who is not really a picky eater was pretty much offended by them. We are from a seaside resort town in MD, and these ain't no Maryland CC. They were big. Yes. LOTS of yucky coating, squashed nice and flat, with two matching big ole burn marks on each side. The actual filling was a yellowy blend of shredded, ( think tuna fish sand style ) crab & other (?) ingredients. Not anywhere near good. . Served with a mustard sauce that made it just edible. The fries were the highlight of our meal. I had the Grilled shrimp basket, which was an excellent price. The shrimp was alright, though plentiful, Kind of blah, but not awful. We also had beer & Margaritas, both enjoyable & well priced. We'll definitely try it again, but mostly for drinks and maybe apps, once the one near us, opens on the water. Avoid Crab cake though, if you've ever enjoyed a Great One.
(2)
Courtney M.
Visited this location with my parents while on vacation. They are regulars there, and have raved about the food for years! The Grouper Reuben is amazing, and i had stone crabs for the first time ever and LOVED them! dad's Boom Boom shrimp was pretty tasty, and mom's clam chowder was very well done -- clams not rubbery, good spices. The key lime pie was so good.............wish they had a location up here! They also have a small seafood market where you can get stuff to take home -- i know my parents say the seafood they have is always very fresh and tasty!
(5)
david g.
Great value and fun atmosphere. Visited during their Shrimpfest and tried about four or five versions - all were quite good. We're addicted to the spicy garlic blue crab claws despite the fact that they are quite messy. Big fan of all the Pinchers stores because we've found them to serve consistently quality seafood at a great value, plus the 2 for 1 drinks all day never hurt.
(5)
Ann T.
Having been here a couple of times 2 years ago, we were anxious to come back during this years visit. Big disappointment! The waitress was in a rush and seemed stressed. My margarita was salty ( and I'm not just referring to the rim). I ordered the Crab & Lobster Roll - it looked like tuna fish salad on a little hotdog bun. And the french fries were overlooked. Two years ago, we watched as they took a whole potato and put it through a special cutter and then immediately fry them to perfection. I'm not sure what happened, but I sure wish someone would take a look at what they did so well 2 years ago and start doing it again!
(2)
Jesse M.
I went to the one in Tin City, but I'm assuming they're all the same. I started my meal of with some very tasty alligator bites. The meat was tender and delicious and the batter superb. My girlfriend and I split a platter of three fishes and three sides that was pretty standard. The best part was the two for one drink specials, and being able to draw on the table.
(3)
Elise K.
Ok food. Nothing special, but handy if you're nearby and need someplace to eat. Portions are ginormous. Blackened grouper sandwich was tasty, but the sides were lackluster.
(3)
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Address :28580 Bonita Crossings Blvd
Bonita Springs, FL, 34135
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Kenneth K.
Fantastic. Get the meat stew. Get the Mahi. Get the fresh cut fries. It's the best food I had in my 5 days on vacation here. Fantastic food. Great staff recommendations.
(5)Kristin Z.
Eh...the apps were good. We got the Bang Bang Shrimp and Chicken Wings. The shrimp were tasty, with a yummy sauce. The chicken wings were also good, with a balanced batter that wasn't too thick but enough to make them crispy. The server at the bar was hard to make eye contact with. It was almost as if she avoided it. The Margaritas were really weak. The draft beer was cold and carbonated. The gross thing was this...we got there around 5pm and around 530 they were swapping out the trash. They left one bag just sitting there open in front of us (about 2 ft from our plates) which was kind of unappetizing. I've heard good things about this place so I'll give it another try sometime and go to the location downtown.
(3)Vincent U.
We ate at this restaurant twice during our recent vacation in Bonita Springs. Came back the second time because we had enjoyed our meals so much the first time. My wife had a plate of oysters, a cup of New England clam chowder, and some wings that were shared with the kids and me. Our two kids each had chicken fingers and French fries, which they ate but we're not able to finish (big portion of fries). I order a fried grouper sandwich, which tasted fresh although I could only guess as I don't eat fish often, especially grouper. Wish I could give a more favorable review, but our second visit convinced me that we were more hungry than anything during our first visit. The second time around, the food (wings, bowl of clam chowder, fries) tasted more bland. Clam chowder was tepid and had one or two pieces of chowder. Some wings were paltry in size or did not have much meat on the bone.
(3)Eliizabeth E.
I am visiting the area and went here hopefully some good seafood. I went with my father. He ordered corn and crab soup which was ok. A bit of spice to it. His entree was 1\2 order of fish and chips. It is nice that some orders you can get a 1\2 order. I had the blacken tacos. They were good and I would order them again. The service was good. Waitress Lisa was friendly and efficient. My main complaint was the ice tea and the Arnold Palmer (ice tea and lemonade mixed together) were more like water. The tea was way too weak. The manager told us they "don't make it there so the can't make it stronger". You could use a stronger tea mix or make tea yourself. Making ice tea from tea bags is easy and cheap. Make a batch every morning and you would have it for lunch. Make another batch in the afternoon and have it for dinner. The ice was over $3.00. I would rather have had water.
(2)Caroline C.
I love Pincher's. I visit my folks here often, I live in Idaho, and I try to O D on seafood when I'm here. The service is awesome, the food is fresh, it's loud and I like it!
(4)Christina D.
My fiancé is from Maryland and was longing for some MD blue crabs. After stopping at Publix for his own Old Bay, we were on our way to Pincher's Crab shack in Bonita. We were greeted warmly by someone who ended up being our server, Amanda. They write their name on the butcher paper at your table, which I find convenient. We chose outdoor seating on their wrap around patio. A thunderstorm threatened in the distance but they have large umbrellas angled so the rain would hit and run down outside the patio. It never rained. We ordered coconut shrimp and hush puppies for apps. The shrimp were delicious. We thought they may fry them in coconut oil, adding a stronger coconut flavor we enjoyed. The hush puppies were decent. Served with a spicy remoulade, we were expecting honey butter for some reason. They have "butter" spread they will bring out for you when asked. I got a root beer for my beverage and he ordered a patron golden margarita on the rocks. Like a lot of places in Florida, my soda had a tinge of chlorine flavor but it's almost unavoidable down here. He loved his margarita, though I would have asked for more ice. We followed up with a dozen Blue crabs ($64) but asked for them to be brought out 6 at a time. They were delicious. Steamed in Old Bay, served with melted butter, you're given a wooden mallet, claw crackers, a cocktail fork, and a roll of paper towels. If you're familiar with blue crab you know it can be a lot of work and if you're not careful you will spend a lot of time spitting out bits of crab shell. So we took our time and paced ourselves. Amanda was awesome, coming over to check up on us and our needs. Her other coworkers also stopped by randomly to make sure we had everything we needed. We had a great experience here and will definitely be back. My fiance said that these crabs are about 90% as good as getting them in Maryland. That's a pretty big compliment coming from him.
(4)Amanda B.
Fast services, good food and great view! Free meals for kids with purchase of adult entrees. Fast, friendly service. Comparable to the Riverside Restaurant which is pricier!
(5)Zachary D.
Service was o.k. First the tea was awful which should be an indication of what was to come but we continued. We ordered the crab dip which was o.k. really cheesy. For our entree my wife ordered crab legs that turned out flimsy to even crack and for the price we should have at least got real butter. But no it was margarine. For my entree I ordered the blackened grouper. First off the smell was strong of ammonia once I opened the fish the smell was stronger. I decided to even give it a small bite. Yep dumb idea because it tasted just like it smelled. Needless to say I was very bummed because this was a trip for our anniversary. Do not go to this place please.
(1)Dan D.
When we were first seated, our waiter asked if we'd been to Pincher's before (we hadn't) and started to make recommendations. He stopped mid sentence and was immediately replaced by a waiter who indicated he was at the wrong table. Our next waiter was dour and did not appear interested at all in service. He did not smile once. The food was mediocre at best. Do not get the grouper tacos. The grouper sandwich was average. My son, who always loved shrimp, did not finish his and did not want a box. While we were originally put off by the poor presentation and service by the frowning waiter, the food sealed it. We will not be back.
(2)A S.
Back in town and first stop was dinner at Pinchers...because wife loves the crab cakes. I had them too and they were excellent. Next night she had same and I had fish and chips. .rather have had breadcrumb not flour batter but still ok. Snowbirds gone so service was good. I still think it's overpriced given the overall experience but I have no choice to come back.
(3)Paul K.
Don't come on a Friday during lent. :) Came here on a Friday during lent and it sure was crowded. I think it would have been crowded anyway as this is a popular place. The had stone crabs, king crab, fresh fish on the menu. After much soul searching well not really I ordered a crab cocktail and a shrimp cocktail. Why not? I do know the shrimp was gulf shrimp and were very good and fresh. What made this less than stellar was when I was seated with my wife I looked at the table and thought man this thing is way to big for two people. Well it was and they seated another couple. Not cool.
(3)Chris B.
Saw this place coming to Bonita Springs after arriving in the States at Miami Airport and driving to our hotel. Since crab is hard to find and pretty expensive in Europe, we decided to eat here. When we walked in, the place looked like a big barn. I guess that's why it's called the Crab Shack. It being a lovely evening we decided to eat out on the patio. The staff was friendly and helpful enough, with that certain disinterest I've grown accustomed to in the US. After spending some time to look at the menu, we both decided on king crab. Having eaten crab before in San Francisco, I expected a whole king crab. You can imagine my surprise when I only got some huge crab legs. I looked at the menu again, and there was no mention of "legs" or 'only legs". But the legs looked ok so we dug in, and I must say, I was surprised by how much meat was on those legs. all in all it was a great meal to start of our holiday in Florida! As a sidenote, we saw a crab shack when we were on Key West a few weeks later, and the prices are so much higher there! I did not expect a chain restaurant to have different prices based on location.
(3)Thadd C.
Was told 20 minutes and waited 45... No matter how mediocre your food is, that just sets the tone for the experience. I will not come back...
(2)Jamie R.
I send out of towners here to score fresh fish. Eat in, take out, or buy fish by the pound out of the glass case. Today's specials included snapper caught about an hour north, off Pine Island. It's cool when a restaurant can offer fresh anything, but when they actually name a place, well, I'm impressed. Pass the tartar sauce.
(5)Kelli B.
Went with my mom and sis. Happy hour, buy one get one already off to a great start. Rachel our server was amazing. We just went in for a little snack. Highly recommend the hot crab dip, bonus they give you enough chips!
(5)J P.
Good food! Great staff. Decent beer selection. A great place to stop for a good meal as there really aren't many decent places in the area. Worth a visit. Only thing.... there aren't any platter selections with crab, only grouper, scallops, calamari, etc.
(4)Olivia R.
We had really liked this chain when we were in Naples over by Tin-City. This Pinchers was ok in service and atmosphere. You can't beat their happy hour special of shrimp, oysters and clams at 70 cents per and 2 for 1 special on beer and wine! They do have the best hot sauce for seafood on this planet! Can't wait to go back to the one in Naples!
(3)Scott N B.
Everything they have is excellent from the Crab Dip appetizer to the Shrimp scampi, Fish-n-chips oh and don't forget the Blackened Scallops or Fried Clams. Best Seafood in South Florida.
(5)Scooter B.
I would give zero stars if I could. I've always heard good things about this place and finally we decided to give it a try. When we had a look at the menu we tried to keep ourselves from dropping to the floor from the high prices. Wow! This is not a fancy restaurant, folks, yet the prices for the "fresh seafood" is right up there with any five star restaurant. I put "fresh seafood" in quotation marks because I question its freshness. I ordered the soft-shell crab. I love soft-shell crab and have had it many times so I know how it's supposed to taste. The dish also came with two sides and I ordered the "hand cut made to order ?" french fries and the Texas toast. When my plate arrived, the fries were cold and limp. I don't believe for one second that these fries were hand cut or made to order for my dish. These were fries that had been sitting around for a while. They tasted of old grease. On to the soft-shell crab. I ordered two and started in with the little legs and claws. Again, the food was not hot but seemed OK until I cut into the body of the crab. I found the inside to be filled with a white mush. There was an extreme overpowering smell of fish. I did taste it and the taste was as if the crab had been sitting in the bottom of a fish tank full of dead fish for at least a week. It took hours to get rid of that taste in my mouth. I returned the meal to the kitchen and had it removed from our bill. The manager was very apologetic and said they only had "fresh fish" and he offered to give me anything else I wanted from the menu. By then I suspected their fish was really not so fresh. My husband ordered fried calamari which he said was nothing special but also not offensive. He finished his meal. I noticed Pincher's was quite crowded and there were many people tucked in to plates of seafood, seeming to enjoy what they had. I can only wonder that perhaps these were mostly tourists who aren't really familiar with what fresh fish should taste like, or I was the only unfortunate person to receive a bad meal. Regardless, I won't be back to Pincher's Crab Shack. Ever.
(1)Andrea S.
I have NO idea what draws folks to this place! Not lively - noisy. Food, where to begin. Shrimp, plenty o'them, but a funky texture. Green beans, WAAAY too overdone. The pre-prepared coleslaw was the best option of a bad meal. Wine, why whine? Awful. Dessert, (key lime pie) - what could go wrong? FROZEN SOLID. However, we boxed it to take home. Interestingly enough, it melted. Didn't defrost - melted. Inside still frozen, melted all over outside! To finish, a person involved in restaurants once told me - "If you want to know about a restaurant's kitchen, just go to their restrooms." Advice - if you go, don't visit the restroom before you order!
(1)Melanie H.
Usually ambiance or character warms my heart to balance pub food. Who doesn't love fried clams, French fries and burgers right? Late on a Friday night we wound up at Pinchers and gave it a try for open air dining with live music. I think it was the service that started the disappointment.... I was just annoyed, with the waitress now that I think of it. The grouper nuggets were pretty good, Caesar salad wasn't too bad, my burger was undercooked, meh-tasting beef. Just annoyed. Must've been ..... we only paid $26 for splitsy ap, burger and Caesar and it still didn't forgive the service.
(2)Lisa U.
Overpriced and a disappointment. Happy Hour specials included salad-size shrimp for 70 cents-- spent $50 for a few tiny shrimp and a few drinks. Definitely not returning.
(1)Richard N.
This is all about seafood. You don't get a giant amount of food but you don't pay a lot either. Besides, how much food do you really need? Everyone at the table next to us was fat so I guess some people feel the need for huge portions. Even if they don't need them. The sides are ok - but you're not going to Pinchers to eat mashed potatoes are you? If you want fresh fish simply cooked this is your sort of place. My snapper was better than my wife's shrimp - but she loved her shrimp. Her french fries were about the same as my mashed potatoes - good but not special. Go to Pinchers for the seafood. That's what it's all about.
(4)Tim H.
Like they said...you can't fake fresh"! Always good fresh seafood. Happy hour great for 70 cent shrimp, oysters & clams.
(4)Ken M.
Wen't there with two kids, two adults and I would say this is a great place for seafood. Waterfront dinning available and plenty of room for groups. Fresh fish daily!! Great prices and excellent service
(5)Devan P.
Great food, and awesome happy hour specials! Must go for 2 for 1 drinks all day every day! Over all great sea food
(4)Matthew R.
Disappointing. Pretty pricey for the quality. The grouper sandwich was good. Rock crab was overcooked. My buddy had the sampler platter. He said it was good , but, again, pricey for the amount. I wasn't expecting that much for a chain but was unimpressed all the same. Drinks specials were a nice treat though. And I thought the server was good and attentive. Sat outside on the patio. Nice time with my friends. Just had hoped for more
(3)IM H.
Great good & service. Had king crab legs and loved them, husband had pompano fish locally caught & was melt in your mouth good (lightly blackened). Fried fish was very lightly breaded & great. Will visit again. Server was very friendly.
(5)Nikole W.
Love the appetizers (especially during happy hour). Hence the 2 stars. Their motto is: "You can't fake fresh" - right on. HOWEVER....... Tell me this Pincher's Crab Shack, if you can't fake fresh, why then do you serve your $15 grouper sandwich on the CRAPPIEST FROZEN buns?! On Saturday afternoon, I mistakenly asked for my bun not to be toasted. Now I know why they toast it in the first place - to mask the disgusting texture of this "bread". This was hands down THE WORST bun I've ever eaten. Who tests the menu at this place? Everybody knows that bread makes (or breaks) the sandwich. Why serve fresh seafood on a frozen, spongy bun? The time before this visit (to the GCTC location), we ate appetizers. Getting hungry for dinner, we left. What does that say?! My motto is "you can't fake a foodie".
(2)fra w.
tried it again yesterday with a party of 21 at 7 pm...but we were not seated till 8 oclock,,,It almost started off BAD wHen we were told they would not do seperate checks but when manager was asked they agreed on it..What was upsetting they were asked when we booked it and they said YES. Anywhay it is all day HAPPY HOUR... we had 2 for 1 wines,beers and wells...I had grouper sandwich $15.99 and it was great......wife had oyster po boy for $14.99 and it was over the top...gd had chicken sand w swiss and bacon and it was good...all and all ...a much better experience that I had 2 years ago...
(4)Jak M.
If your taste buds don't work then by all means go here otherwise steer clear. Both me and my wife ordered the rock crab claws and it was horrible! Tasted like it had been sitting in a tub of water for weeks. Very watered down and bland. There were 6 in our party and all agreed on their meal as well. Way OVER RATED!!!!!!
(1)Janna L.
We saw this place coming into town on our first day of vaca/conference on the main drag and it has been on my radar since as a must-try. Crab is my by far all-time fave protein/food/snack/treat! I guess it is a chain restaurant but I have never seen one before. Being Canadian and only being able to eat outside maybe 3-4 months of the year, we chose to eat on the patio, facing a fumy parking lot even on rickety, uncomfortable wooden stools waiting for the feast to happen - and it did happen! We happened to come down to Florida when stone crab is in season. Score! I was told Pinchers has their own boats on the water every day to fish, the crab is cooked in the AM fresh on site and then brought to the restaurant. 'Fresh' is the key to amazing seafood and I really enjoyed my meal. I had 2 large stone crab claws as an appy (on special seasonal menu) and then the crab fest meal that had 3 more kinds of crab on the plate (Dungeness, snow and the almighty King crab) I could have cared less about the side dishes but they were good too - I chose coleslaw (which normally I would never order but it was mild and not too mayo-ey) and garlic mashed potatoes which come in a little bowl, not taking too much plate space from your crab on the plate! YUMMY! I ate everything and took my sweet time doing so. Hubby had the snapper, blackened and he enjoyed it. He also copied my side dishes but they have many others to choose from including corn on the cob which is not even on the menu. Skipped dessert as it felt like we were there forever already! I loved being able to whack my crab on the hard surface of the picnic style tables with the wooden club thingy. I just would not recommend going to a party, bar or anywhere else afterwards that you want to make an amazing impression. The crab flies everywhere no matter what! 100% worth it. If were to return, we would sit inside and be more comfortable. TIP - everyday is Happy hour. 2 for 1 beer, 2 for 1 margaritas! My kind of place. Service was pretty decent also. I bought a bottle of the hot sauce on the table.. finally a hot sauce that is HOT! A must-try!
(4)Dianna X.
Very overpriced and unremarkable. Was our first trip here and it will be our last. Drink specials were watered down, payed a ridiculous amount for fried shrimp and fries. Red Lobster has much better seafood and their prices are much more in line with the quality than this place.
(1)Stephanie S.
Love the atmosphere and the menu! There are many choices! One thing that is frustrating though is that "happy hour" is buy one beer and get one free--kicker here is that one draft beer is $8 or $9...not a deal by any stretch of the imagination. Other than that though, awesome place!
(4)Marjorie Z.
what can one say about a fish restaurant that has NO BUTTER? instead, they use incredibly cheap imitations to cook and on the table and still call it butter.....not on the menu, of course because that would be false advertising. but if you ask for butter, they will give you some strange stuff which you will need a chemistry degree to read about. if you ask for drawn butter, you will also get some imitation junk. So all you folks who believe that the stuff you are dipping your shrimp or steamed oysters into is butter....forgetaboutit! who the heck wants 'butter' when it isn't really? we were actually told that if we wanted butter, we could bring our own!!!! how about bringing our own of all the other stuff which isn't particularly good? take the fries....please! commendably, they use house cut fries but have NO idea how to cook them. the result is that they are anything but crisp. told that if i wanted my fries crispy i should request it and they would left in the fryer longer. that's what they know about cooking. doing that only results in a darker fry, NOT a crispier one. they don't have a clue that a real french fry is fried twice (not to mention easier to prep in the kitchen). it's not a some French secret....it's all over the internet for any interested restaurant owner or chef to read. when restaurants don't want to do the two part process, they order processed fries coated with sugar so they will be crisp. good that this place prefers to cut their own but when they really don't get the crisp thing. i was actually told that it is a matter of preference....some people like their fries al dente. Puh-lease! being a coleslaw afficionado who never met a really bad coleslaw, i was taken aback by this pretty tasteless version.....hard to ruin coleslaw. even the mustard sauce used for the stone crabs suffers with blandness. still, the raw oysters are good, the raw clams are a delight, the steamed shrimp passable but often dirty. i am sure the fish is equally good but when it comes to sides, these people don't have a clue. they have an attitude problem. the attitude is based on not having pride in making everything that they serve GOOD. their one good claim to fame is the fish which is none of their doing other than to buy fresh and keep it that way. it is fresh. but they actually have little cooking ability; the rest of the dishes are step-children. and what the heck, they've made money for 17 years during a period when the general public didn't know good food so why bother to do it right now? sad...with fresh seafood AND good sides, it could be wonderful. no wonder it gets so few stars.
(2)R S.
It's been awhile since we visited Pinchers because the place gets too busy in season. Now that the crowds have died down, we headed there for my son's birthday. We had a great meal and great service. Get there before 6pm to take advantage of $0.70 clams, oysters, shrimp and wings. Drinks are 2 for 1 every night all night long. For appetizers, the peel and eat shrimp (hot), raw oysters, and steamed clams are extremely fresh. For dinner, get the crab (snow is my favorite because it's easiest to eat) with butter, garlic and special spices. Best thing on the menu!
(5)Linda R.
Punchers' has a fun and festive atmosphere -- just what vacationers want -- and the food was good. We had fish tacos (broiled grouper) and stone crabs. The sides were lackluster: French fries were stale and broccoli slaw was bland. Of bigger concern was the outrageously long wait. We were seated at 9:00 in a mostly empty restaurant and waited for more than 30 minutes for our two entrees. We won't be back.
(2)D N.
Good food and service. Everything was very fresh. Call ahead seating was great.
(4)Marie E.
The food was good, kids eat free, and bogo drinks all night long! The only downside was the restaurant has trouble accommodating our large party of 11. Otherwise, a great experience!
(4)Emily H.
Love this place! 2 for 1 happy hour, amazing crab dip, fantastic fish and awesome king crab! All for a great price. Can't be beat!
(5)Cody C.
Can't beat the .70 oysters for happy hour! Only complaint is the tables for two are right next to other tables way too close.
(5)Margaret P.
Great Crabs! We had the bucket of Maryland Blue crabs for 5 people and were throughly satisfied. Only reason its not a 5 star was because the drinks were lacking. The Pina Colada was barely alcoholic and the 2 for 1 Margaritas were just plain bad,
(4)Joan M.
Homemade fries, good food, unique neocortex, local watering hole...always stop in while in Naples. The BEST location to come to!
(4)Mark N.
There are few things I appreciate more than a well prepared meal, and few things I appreciate less than an overpriced, poorly prepared meal. The later represents my recent Pinchers experience- a poorly prepared, overpriced meal. The fries which the waitress said were their signature were soggy and greasy. The soft shell crab was worse than the Friday Lenten fish sticks they served in elementary school. Stay away.
(1)Jacob L.
Fun place to be, ordered the King Crab legs and they were great. Also had a dozen raw oysters and they were fresh and tasty. We'll be back!
(4)B A.
This was a very mediocre meal. I will not be returning. How can you ruin grilled fish? Overcooked and dry. No flavor. No atmosphere.
(2)Danielle C.
Amazing food.... Enough said.... Looking for great Atmosphere it's not here but the food surely makes up for that..
(5)Dick M.
Go for the soft shell crab.
(4)Nick C.
This is one of our seafood staples in the area. I've been to all of the area Pincher's, and this is my favorite. Fish is always fresh, and they usually have the best variety of daily specials. It's a come as you are type of joint, think maryland crabhouse meets Jimmy Buffett. Portions are big, and I've never had a bad meal. You can also pick up fish or shrimp up front to cook at home. What I had: I have been numerous times, but my favorite remains the fried zucchini app, stone crabs (in season) or a fresh catch menu item, and green beans and fries. Best bet: Beers and seafood when you are in a come as you are mood.
(4)Carrie M.
This place is great! We were on our honeymoon and came here one night and it was so good that we came back twice in the same week. I had the buffalo shrimp both times and it was incredible! The baked beans are delicious. The only improvement the place could make is that it is pretty small. The tables are almost right on top of each other. Plus, the waitress we had the second time was a little too much for us. She was sassy (in a fun way, I suppose) but no one else there acted like that. But overall, the service was fine and it wouldn't stop us from coming back. Wish we lived closer!
(4)Carrie S.
We love this place! From the all-day 2-for-1 happy hour to the great seafood, you can't go wrong here. What I love most about this place is how very friendly the staff is. Definitely eat outside on a nice night. The new lobster quesadilla is excellent.
(5)Erin I.
Good food, great service by Tricia! FYI- weekends very busy. I would use call ahead seating next visit!
(4)Tracey R.
Great happy hour. We got 6 oysters on the half shell, 6 peel and eat shrimp and 6 steamed clams. They were .60 cents a piece. Had rock shrimp for the first time they tasted like mini lobsters. The bar staff was very friendly to.
(4)Ashley H.
I come down to visit my parents in Naples every winter, and I try to go to Pinchers at least twice each visit (if not more), and this February was no exception... I've never had a bad meal here, but my most recent visit was especially great. Our server, Lisa, was well-versed on the menu, attentive and HILAROUS to boot. Her awesomeness alone prompted this review. When you go to Pinchers there's really only one word you need to know "grouper"- whether fried, grilled, broiled or blackened their grouper is second to none. As far as I know, it's always local, fresh and straight from the gulf. If you are in SWFL and want some amazing fish - that will literally melt in your mouth - be sure to stop here! If you want an exceptionally awesome experience ask for Lisa (she's the one with the awesome mustache tattoo...)
(5)Wesley C.
Decided to come here kinda last minute for dinner, and we called ahead and got put on the waiting list. Thankfully we did, because by the time we arrived at 7, there was a line out the door, and when we walked in to tell them our names, they said, "your table is right this way." The wait staff were pretty friendly, but it seemed like there were some customers there that maybe were just a little "difficult," so we were not as closely attended to. but that's ok. we just wanted to eat good seafood. my wife ordered the blackened grouper platter, and I got the great grouper sandwich. interestingly, the only difference seemingly between the two was the bun that came with mine. otherwise, we both got their fresh cut french fries and fresh veggies (garlic green beans). I'd say that the fish itself was tasty. definitely fresh and flakey, and the roll that it came on was nice and chewy. MY only complaint was that the french fries didn't seem to be quite as good as i had hoped. maybe i had been fried out from previously eating @ five guys, but man, i don't think i'd ever turn down french fries! anyway, the garlic green beans were very good and overall, my wife and I left very content with the meal that we ate.
(4)Jessie H.
Order anything but the crab if you are hungry! (it is really small portions) They have great happy hour prices on alcohol. I would skip the food except the .60 specials.
(1)Virginia B.
I am so disappointed because we have been customers here for many years. the wait staff mustn't have much training in safe food handling/serving procedures because at least four or five servers and the bartender all petted a large dog , one waitress got down on the ground with the dog, and i watched as the animal licked their hands and arms.....and none of them left the restaurant floor to wash their hands after the encounter. they all just returned to their jobs handling the plates of food, glassware, dropping lemon and lime slices into water glasses with their bare unwashed hands. I was lucky because the couple with the dog came in after we had been served our dinner. I told our waitress, one of the guilty ones, and I told the manager that the lack of proper hygiene was distressing to me. the manager said he would address it. But I don't think I will soon forget tonite's events.
(2)John R.
No reservations -- Boo! However, the food is awesome. Tried both the Buffalo Shrimp and the Boom Boom Shrimp. Both were great, yet the buffalo could have been hotter for our taste even at its hottest setting. New England Style Clam Chowder in Florida? I guess the answer is "heck yes" as this was one of the best I have ever had anywhere -- period. The blackened Grouper Platter was a great main course and overall the service was good to on a busy night where we waiting a hour and a half to be seated. The tip for next time would be to call ahead. You may not get a reservation but at least it will knock 30 minutes off of your wait before you get to the place.
(4)John B.
Blackened grouper is awesome!!!!!! Best fish I've ever eaten. The place is very casual and the servers are very friendly. Say hello to Liz and Renee at the bar.
(5)Cathy D.
Pincher's was OK. I had friends in town visiting and wanted to take them to a fun Florida seafood place. I was disappointed I brought them there. First of all, the service was HORRIBLE. Our waitress (can't remember her name) was beyond rude to all four of us. I was actually appalled and embarrassed. For this reason alone I will not be returning to any Pincher's location. They don't take reservations but you can call ahead 30 minutes prior. We still stood around and waited an additional 45 mins after we arrived. I had the crab legs and they weren't the best- I was fairly disappointed since I thought they would at least have good crab. The crab was way too salty for my taste. It was like it was soaked in salt or something. My friend had the coconut shrimp and said it was really good. I probably wouldn't order the crab again- but that doesn't matter because I won't be returning. It wasn't worth the wait.
(2)Eric V.
This place maps wrong in yelp! It's right off 41, not anywhere near the map spot that shows up from Google maps for yelp! We come here every once in a while for their Baltimore style steamed Blue Crabs. They don't use Old Bay seasoning so beware. Their seasoning is a lot saltier. I bring my own Old Bay and Ask them to use it. They do which is very accommodating and nice. The crabs are expensive but that can be expected in Florida. They probably aren't Chesapeake Blue Crabs, most likely Gulf Blue's but still pretty good. They work when the craving hits. Paper covered tables with buckets for shells. Cold beer. Fun, casual atmosphere. Nice place to come to when you just have to have those yummy Blues!!
(4)Joe B.
I ordered the Stone Crab Claws and had the salad instead of 2 sides and the green beans... sorry to say, the beans were the best thing I ate... The crab was a little over cooked and didn't have any seasoning what's so ever. There was one sauce provided that I didn't care for. The salad was a complete waste with uninspired dressing.. Top it off, I thought it was all over priced - $30 for just 4 claws and a salad.. Add $2.50 for an Ice Tea just completes this rip off.. Not going back...
(1)Kim R.
We stopped by Pinchers for lunch after landing at the Fort Meyers airport. I have to say, I've had better crab cakes at other restaurants (especially Timbers on Sanibel Island). We were just about the only customers here when we stopped in around 2:30, and the service was decent. They have a good selection of seafood on the menu. My husband ordered the fish tacos and was able to have his grouper blackened instead of fried, which was nice. This is an OK spot for lunch, but don't expect anything too phenomenal.
(3)Dee N.
Really enjoyed the bartender - she moved without ending -- fast and smooth. Super fun restaurant and excellent food. Although my camera was stolen off my chair by a thief. Yes with all my vacation photos. Nice huh! Oh well, wouldn't wish the bad luck that camera brought to the thief on anyone. Even with the theft, restaurant was amazing with fresh seafood and the best key lime pie I've ever tasted.
(5)Rich R.
Went to FL to visit my parents least week. This is one of their favorite spots. Super Friendly Staff. I, am actually allergic to shellfish....ordered a burger expecting it to be "eh"....was really ,really good. There was a wait for over an hour. They try to accomodate the best they can. 2 for 1 drinks outside while we were waiting!
(4)Johnny L.
Took the family at this location. Make sure you go for happy hour between 3pm and 6pm. Delicious shrimp, oysters and wings!
(3)Matthew H.
If your the type of person that loves burger king, you will love this place. If your at all a foodie, avoid this place like the plague. Small portions, deep fried items mostly tempura with little else. Mashed potatoes tasted instant and no decent beer on tap. The 2 for one draft drinks however were a good deal - if your a fan of budweiser. Staff and atmosphere substitutes "flair" for knowledge and quality. I was Wholly disappointed in this place since I went on the recommendation of a local. Guess I need to be more selective on who I ask for advice.
(1)Jorge M.
No wait, good food, relaxed atmosphere. We had the crab cakes, cold peel-n-eat shrimp, medium spicy wings and key lime pie. Crab cakes were great, lots of crab. Everything was fresh and service was quick.
(5)Jason D.
The waitress was professional and kept checking on us. I wouldn't say that she overly friendly, but I'm still happy with her. When I ordered the Black Grouper and was timid on ordering it blackened due to overcooking, the waitress said that that it would only be slightly blackened. Guess what, it was way overdone. After I told the waitress that it was rubbery, she immediately took it and fired up another order. This time I requested it to be broiled, which came back properly cook but not the best tasting grouper that I have tasted. Wife's shrimp scampi and pasta what really good. Grouper was $$+ and scampi was only $$. Just another example not to order a $$+ entree when there are cooks and not chefs in the kitchen.
(3)Evgeniya B.
it was disappointing, snow crab & shrimp was left wishing for better .... the flavor was so under season and defrosted.... Red Lobster have it better
(2)LJ B.
Good seafood for Florida. Huge portions and great prices. Prompt courteous service.
(4)Geoff m.
Great place for a fresh local seafood meal !!! We called ahead for a 7pm seating but still had to wait 20 min on a tuesday night. It was Mardi gras night so it was probably more crowded than usual. Ordered a Yeungling and a pinot grigio and were surprised that it was two for one night. Yippee ! My wife started with 1/2 dozen fresh Oysters that she said were clean and fresh but not much structure and taste like west coast or new england oysters. My Mom had fried shrimp. My wife had a blackened Black grouper that she said was superb. I had a pound of Rock shrimp that I thought were good, not great, a bit over cooked. We all had fries and coleslaw as sides. The fries were salty hot and tasty. Perhaps not as good as 5 guys but close. I would recommend Pinchers heartily for people who want fresh seafood in a comfortable casual environment. Not expensive and tasty !!!!
(4)Dean G.
this place reminded me of Joe's Crab Shack. The place was busy on a Saturday night, line wait was about 15 minutes, but well worth the wait, I would try this place again for a second time.
(4)Jacey C.
Went to this Pinchers for the first time Saturday night. Great grouper bites, crab & mashed potatoes!! The wait wasn't bad and they serve 2 for 1 drinks outside while you are waiting. Yummy.
(4)BJ B.
Must go early to avoid long wait. Good happy hour prices on drinks. Dined on a buy one get one free coupon. Good value.
(4)Melissa E.
Went to Pincher's twice while vacationing in SW FL area last week. It was awesome and my dad, after eating at McCormick & Schmidt's in Naples later that week, proclaimed...it's no Pinchers :) Seafood is solid and well prepared and price is right. I enjoyed the Crab and Corn Chowder and the Sampler for 2 with calimari, mahi mahi and clam strips. A few days later we had the same sampler with calimari, scallops (says on the menu no scallops, but they will do it for an upcharge) and clam strips. I have never seen such big, juicy clam strips! And right now or maybe it is all the time, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Bonus!
(4)Ken H.
Had trouble getting in during the season but finally got in for lunch. Excellent blackened mahi sandwich with 2 sides which for me was fries and cole slaw. Ample quantity. Overall good lunch. Will try dinner but smell of fliers makes me think a lot of the seafood is fried. Good drink special of 2 for 1 beer.
(4)Amanda B.
Had dinner here on a Saturday night. The place was pretty empty, but that meant that our service was super fast. We were there for happy hour and took advantage of the two-for-one deals. The margaritas were quite good and all of our food arrived looking delicious. The five other people in my party enjoyed their food (outside of the guy who ordered the soft shell crab sandwich that arrived with the crab fully intact!). I had the buffalo chicken salad and it was delicious. All in all, a great dinner.
(3)Sydney P.
It's really PincherS (with an S) , but this is what was already listed. Shrug, nothing special, though it came to us highly recommended ("best seafood in Naples" .....Jeez I really hope not, plus it's in Bonita Springs) The waitress & staff were really friendly & took good care of us. The interior is cute & colorful, going for the Island / Crab Shanty look. ( I can't wait to see the one in Tin City open, since that one really will be on the water) We were really happy with the blend of Lower Latitude Music, it gave the whole place a great vibe. For our meal : I started with the New England Clam Chowder. Not too shabby, just much more salt that is ever necessary, and lacking in real N.E. herbs & spices. Lots of clams though & still, I ate the whole thing, so it couldn't have been that bad.... Husband had The High Roller Genuine Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. And he who is not really a picky eater was pretty much offended by them. We are from a seaside resort town in MD, and these ain't no Maryland CC. They were big. Yes. LOTS of yucky coating, squashed nice and flat, with two matching big ole burn marks on each side. The actual filling was a yellowy blend of shredded, ( think tuna fish sand style ) crab & other (?) ingredients. Not anywhere near good. . Served with a mustard sauce that made it just edible. The fries were the highlight of our meal. I had the Grilled shrimp basket, which was an excellent price. The shrimp was alright, though plentiful, Kind of blah, but not awful. We also had beer & Margaritas, both enjoyable & well priced. We'll definitely try it again, but mostly for drinks and maybe apps, once the one near us, opens on the water. Avoid Crab cake though, if you've ever enjoyed a Great One.
(2)Courtney M.
Visited this location with my parents while on vacation. They are regulars there, and have raved about the food for years! The Grouper Reuben is amazing, and i had stone crabs for the first time ever and LOVED them! dad's Boom Boom shrimp was pretty tasty, and mom's clam chowder was very well done -- clams not rubbery, good spices. The key lime pie was so good.............wish they had a location up here! They also have a small seafood market where you can get stuff to take home -- i know my parents say the seafood they have is always very fresh and tasty!
(5)david g.
Great value and fun atmosphere. Visited during their Shrimpfest and tried about four or five versions - all were quite good. We're addicted to the spicy garlic blue crab claws despite the fact that they are quite messy. Big fan of all the Pinchers stores because we've found them to serve consistently quality seafood at a great value, plus the 2 for 1 drinks all day never hurt.
(5)Ann T.
Having been here a couple of times 2 years ago, we were anxious to come back during this years visit. Big disappointment! The waitress was in a rush and seemed stressed. My margarita was salty ( and I'm not just referring to the rim). I ordered the Crab & Lobster Roll - it looked like tuna fish salad on a little hotdog bun. And the french fries were overlooked. Two years ago, we watched as they took a whole potato and put it through a special cutter and then immediately fry them to perfection. I'm not sure what happened, but I sure wish someone would take a look at what they did so well 2 years ago and start doing it again!
(2)Jesse M.
I went to the one in Tin City, but I'm assuming they're all the same. I started my meal of with some very tasty alligator bites. The meat was tender and delicious and the batter superb. My girlfriend and I split a platter of three fishes and three sides that was pretty standard. The best part was the two for one drink specials, and being able to draw on the table.
(3)Elise K.
Ok food. Nothing special, but handy if you're nearby and need someplace to eat. Portions are ginormous. Blackened grouper sandwich was tasty, but the sides were lackluster.
(3)