4. Restaurants

Mad Hatter Restaurant

6460 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL, 33957
  • (239) 472-0033
  • Store is closed

Mad Hatter Restaurant Menu

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  • Clem C.

    Grilled black grouper served with ginger glaze and pineapple relish over coconut risotto. One of my all time top 20 meals. Service was 5 star all the way. After the check, they gave us a dab of wine to take on the beach while watching an incredible sunset - class still exists. p.s. Don't leave as soon as the sun disappears. The show is just beginning.

    (5)

  • Phyllis B.

    First, on arrival I thought they were very busy, went inside, only two tables seated. Parking lot full of cars that had already eaten and left their cars there to go to the beach. I don't feel that this is fair for the people who have reservations after them. I ordered the "fresh grouper" I don't think it was fresh, I think it was frozen. It was also very over cooked. My husband ordered Filet Mignon, he only ate half, brought the other half home for the dogs. What a waste. The server could not remember the specials for the evening. My feeling is tourist trap. They got me once, only because I had friends staying on the island. They will not get me again.

    (3)

  • Christina V.

    We LOVED the Mad Hatter! It's a nice and cosy restaurant, right at the end of Sanibel and boasts a lovely view of the sunset. We were fortunate enough to be seated right next to the window. The food served was nothing less than amazing. It all tasted super fresh and the portions were normal-sized, which allowed us to have a two-course dinner without rolling home afterwards. For starters we had the goat cheese pillows and the blue crabcake. As entree we had the black grouper and scallops. Everything was super delicious! The staff members were very accommodating and kept close eye on us to ensure we had everything we needed. Our waiter also made excellent suggestions as to what he could recommend of the menu. In all, a super great restaurant for anyone who is looking for a little fancier dining experience on Sanibel!

    (5)

  • Fidel C.

    This place is amazing! I came for a nice dinner on our trip to Sanibel and we had been highly recommended to visit Mad Hatter. On a Saturday night, the place was booked, which was an indication of how popular they are. You will definitely need to have a reservation! The Alice in Wonderland themed stained glass all around was a good indication of how majestic the restaurant was. We grabbed a glass of prosecco because we were early and were encouraged to take a stroll along the beach. The restaurant is almost directly on the water so its nice. When we returned, our table was available and we were able to look over the menu. The waiter was a bit odd looking, but it was okay because the theme of the restaurant is bizarre in itself and expected! I enjoyed the caramelized scallops with yukon mashed potatoes as an entree, goat cheese pillows and the surf and turf as appetizers, and the menage e trois as dessert. If you have a chance, I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who finds themselves in the surrounding area. The view of sunset is perfect because you can see it set onto the ocean from the windows that are opened a few minutes before it takes place. A sign out front even shows exactly what time the sun is estimated to set. Beautiful! Perfect date night location.

    (5)

  • Kait W.

    Excellent food, great service, and an ocean view! A must-do for a nice meal on Sanibel Island

    (5)

  • Sarah P.

    Mad Hatter falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. The dining room is pretty basic, but the sunset view is spectacular. The service is efficient, if not particularly warm or welcoming. The menu may not be innovative, but the food is very well-prepared. Our party of 8 happily scarfed down our meals, ranging from a giant piece of perfectly seared grouper served atop a coconut risotto that hits the spot if you enjoy savory-sweet dishes to crab cakes that were flavorful and thankfully more shellfish than filler. They get bonus points for being one of the few restaurants in town that feels fancy enough for a special occasion, takes reservations, has a kids' menu, and is mostly accessible to people who use walkers/wheelchairs.

    (3)

  • Gary E.

    My wife and I had just arrived on Sanibel island for our Anniversary weekend get-away. On our car ride over to Sanibel we had reviewed many restaurants through Yelp. The Mad Hatter had received so many glowing reviews that we felt this would be a great start to our weekend. We arrived at the restaurant at just after 9:00 pm thinking it was open until 10:00. The hostess politely informed us that they close at 9:00 tonight but she would check with the chef if we could still dine there tonight. She came back and welcomed us to join them for dinner. Great start! The waiter came to our table and was extremely pleasant. My wife had questions about the menu and he was very helpful. My wife ordered the Black Grouper entree and I ordered the Scallops. We both started with the Mad Salad. Prior to the salads coming out the waiter brought us bread with a delicious tapenade. Also the waiter came back with a couple of blue crab claw appetizers compliments of the chef. The salads came next and were outstanding. Both of our entrees were excellent! We were completely thrilled with our entire dining experience. Although the check was quite expensive, we were expecting it and had a wonderful evening. Our highest compliments to all!

    (5)

  • Nate B.

    To me, the Mad Hatter tries to hard. Alice in Wonderland decor paired with white table cloths in a cramped dining room. This would work if the food was outstanding, but I found it good but not great. Perhaps my palate is not as refined as some, but I found the goat cheese pillows bland and too gooey, the strawberry blue salad was good but the blue cheese crumbles overpowered the lighter flavors in the dish. Perhaps that is the intent, but I would've liked to see what substituting Feta would've done. The Filet was very good, and the black grouper was good as well. But the coconut risotto was too bland for my taste. Overall, a decent 3.5 star meal, rounded down because the bill was $105 and I expected better.

    (3)

  • Brian R.

    Foodie opinion here, best food I could find in Sanibel - Captiva. Small yet charming place, white table cloth fine dining. Good mildly eclectic menu, good presentation, great service. Make reservation. Great view of gulf.

    (4)

  • Sandy M.

    The goat cheese pillow appetizer is amazing but be forewarned, there are only two per order. We ordered the grilled filet and crab cakes. The filet was cooked exactly as ordered. The fingerling potatoes and green beans were lightly seasoned; delicious. The crab cakes were great. We finished with creme brûlée for dessert, it was excellent. The service was outstanding, this was easily the best restaurant we found on Sanibel/Captiva.

    (5)

  • Joe G.

    Excellent food. We had the tempora salmon roll and goat cheese pastry apps, and rack of lamb, scallops, crab cakes, and the grouper, which were all AMAZEBALLS. The best scallops I've ever had. Views at sunset were great. Only 4* because we didn't care for the attitude of our French waitress.

    (4)

  • Michael H.

    We had a 5 PM reservation. It was a 30 minute drive from our hotel. We arrived and were seated promptly. Our waiter was very attentive. The location was charming and close to the ocean with a nice view of the sunset. We shared a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon blanc. The phyllo shrimp appetizer was terrific. A beet salad with frisée lettuce and feta cheese was also delicious. Each of us had grouper. My wife loved hers. I thought the preparation with the pineapple salsa and coconut risotto was overly sweet. A vanilla ice cream dessert was mutually enjoyed. After dinner, we went outside and caught the sunset with seagulls on the shore. It was a very enjoyable evening.

    (5)

  • Raquel S.

    This place was not what I expected! They combined an artsy feel focused on Alice and wonderland with fine dining and a beautiful sunset! The food was exquisite. The waiters perfectly friendly and helpful, while being professional. I ordered the lamb chop.. Amazing! The goat cheese pillows were great, if u love goat cheese haha it was very.. Uhh goat cheesy. I was a fan! Dress a little fancy, be prepared to pay about $60 per person.. N make a reservation if possible!

    (5)

  • Bryony B.

    They almost got four stars from me, but I decided there was just better for the price. The scallops and mashed potatoes were great, and we did go on a Friday night. However, when we arrived, we were the first to arrive, were fast in ordering, yet left two hours later. They had a mango beer and mango cocktail I thought sounded interesting - but really, weren't great. The menage a trois dessert, with death by chocolate, espresso creme brulee, and ice cream with fruit sauce was all decent, but nothing amazing. It was all just a bit too expensive foodwise and service wise. I did love the alice in wonderland theme of the restaurant and the view of the sunset - but I think they could try a little bit, instead of counting on being better than the rest.

    (3)

  • Damien S.

    Stark interior, save the Alice Through The Looking Glass mural along the back wall, evoked by the name of the eatery. Otherwise, it's just a ploy to get you in, as the menu, wine list and beer menu will read similar to the other dozen restaurants in the vicinity. Hey, hey to the bouillabaisse! A full tail of spiny lobster meat, black grouper and other shellfish that disappeared too quickly - partially because the portion was fairly small in comparison to, say, Harbourside at South Seas, and partially because everything was seared, poached and grilled where it should have been. Properly seasoned, as well. Serving staff was vacant, a bit abrasive in personality but ultimately performed their requisite duties, so with a face full of seafood that followed a decent duck salad, the Hatter walks with 3.5 stars. Round up because I'm tan, betches.

    (4)

  • Paul J.

    4 stars for the sunset and hostess. Lost me with a tasteless lamb dinner and was hit for $40. All apps were great, will give it one more try.

    (3)

  • Roger T.

    First time experience at the Mad Hatter with a party of 7 total. It was absolutely amazing. We were seated out front on the patio under the blue lights and were quickly greeted by our multiple waiters. Wine selection was great and we picked out 2 moderately priced wines (65 a piece) as well as beers. We ordered appetizers including soup, scallops, mini truer crab legs and shrimp and the normal bread with olives were also brought out. Entrees were amazing. All in all we ordered, short ribs, steak, lobster tall, big salads, and one other dish, that I can't remember. Desserts were awesome! Everything from sorbet to ice cream to cheese cake (my favorite) and an assortment of dessert wines and coffee. Total bill came out very reasonably for 7 people. I would absolutely recommend this fabulous restaurant to anyone visiting Sanibel and will absolutely make a point of coming here again. 5+ stars! Bravo Mad Hatter.

    (5)

  • Daniel C.

    Visited Sanibel over the summer and had a sunset dinner at the Mad Hatter. Very nice and clean inside and the westward view of the ocean was amazing. the Food was delicious as expected but we thought the portions were too small for the price. I actually left hungry and went somewhere else for a snack. Our two children were welcome and was not a problem but my wife and i both were hoping they would be on their best behavior, they did their best. Would not want them to act up too much at this restaurant but the staff was very understanding and the kids did well. the art on the wall actually kept them a bit entertained. if your looking for gourmet food and atmosphere with a view of the beach this place will do you well. Giving it 3 stars for the portions of food for the price... after $170.00 including tip i wanna be full, call me picky... service , ocean view and food quality alone would be 5 star.

    (3)

  • Francesco C.

    I attended a beautiful beach wedding at the rear of the restaurant followed by reception in The Mad Hatter. When we sat and ordered, I could not help the wonderful presentation of all the dishes! Incredible Bouillabaisse, a seafood stew of lobster, shrimp, scallop, little neck clams, grouper in saffron, tomato and a herb broth, garlic aioli and crostini.! Or - the Black Grouper, Rack of Lamb and the Gulf Snapper! Salads where from Asparagus to Strawberry Blue Cheese! Appetizers awesome Blue Crab Cake! A great and romantic place for dinning! Service was impeccable!

    (5)

  • Eric G.

    The best restaurant on Sanibel! Go at sunset for the view. Reservations are a must and for sunset you will need to book a few days out. I loved the duck salad for my appetizer...really good! Blackened Grouper is great which the wife had and I had the evening special which was Barramundi Fish....very good! Death by Chocolate for dessert was amazing and get the coffee which is served in a french press. The service was excellent! Great for a romantic dinner for two or fun with friends. Expensive but worth every penny! I'll be back!!

    (5)

  • Tina R.

    Four of us had dinner last night at The Mad Hatter. The meal was bad ... Over cooked fish - we all ordered the special Wahoo from Hawaii. So disappointing & expensive! Always have had great meals there in the past...not last night!

    (1)

  • Tracey G.

    By far the best restaurant on the island! My husband and I stop here every time we visit Sanibel and it never disappoints! Lobster, crab cakes, short ribs, filet mignon, salads - all delicious!

    (5)

  • Kelly H.

    What a wonderful find! Our last night on Captiva and on a whim, went to Mad Hatter. Everything was fabulous Very fine dining. Attentive waitstaff. We had the salmon special and shrimp appetizer. My husband had scallops and I the black grouper. perfect If you are looking for a great restaurant, this is it.

    (5)

  • Ed M.

    Fantastic, great atmosphere, quality service, upscale. Had coconut shrimp & goat cheese pillows appetizers-both wonderful. Watermelon salad was also very fresh, delightfully light. Grouper main entree: superb. Not cheap, gourmet portions. Excellent wine selection. Leave babies at home.

    (5)

  • Lisa G.

    superb fine dining. the waitress, (was she french?) was snooty and not very friendly. the ambiance is "cool" and the place was packed. Food was out of this world and nicely portioned.

    (5)

  • Dennis D.

    The BEST restaurant in The Fort Myers / Naples area. We watched the sunset, on the beach after getting glasses of wine from the hostess ... prefect setting for a glass of wine! After the sun set, we enjoyed a world class dining experience. We started with a 3-part appetizer of crab meat, shrimp and fresh water lobster ... all with a very tasty mango salsa. Our entrees, grouper and snapper, were perfectly prepared. Occasionally in fine dining, white table cloth restaurants, one may feel short changed with small portions. The portions at the Mad Hatter were plentiful ... especially that 3 -part seafood appetizer. The service was impeccable; one could see that the hostess and wait staff were trained, professional and customer focused. We will definitely make it a point of returning to the Mad Hatter whenever we are vacationing in the area. We have dined at restaurants around the world and the experience at the Mad Hatter was in the top 5%. Terrific, highly recommended dining experience!

    (5)

  • Port M.

    It was a nice surprise to see such a high caliber restaurant on this ultra seasonal island. The servers were veterans, not some sort of moonlighter who is experiencing a persistent low grade anxiety attack during service. The depth of the menu, the complex nature of the sauces and garnishes in addition to the thoughtful presentation make this a contender for the best of sanibel/captiva.

    (5)

  • Laura S.

    Went here for my birthday. It was our first time there and we will definitely be going back! The food was phenomenal. I had the short ribs with truffle yucca fries - WOW!!! My boyfriend had the pan seared grouper with coconut risotto.. That was crazy good too. We also had the crab cake appetizer which was delicious. And for dessert we got the cheesecake (yum!) and the ménage a trois (chocolate mousse, espresso creme brûlée and drunken ice cream). All were amazing! Definitely worth it for a special occasion.

    (5)

  • T G.

    The Mad Hatter is a small structure that looks more like a small house than a restaurant. It is right at the end of Sanibel-before entering Captiva. The theme is Alice in Wonderland inspired as you can tell from the name. Every table in the place has a view of the water and sunsets. Now the food...My husband and I started with the Seafood Martini appetizer, which was served in a rectangular dish. One side had huge pieces of crabmeat w/a truffle vinaigrette served in a martini glass, in the center it had 2 jumbo bbq shrimps, and at the other end, it had a 3 oz broiled lobster; all this with a papaya and mango chutney. Out of this world! For the entrée, my husband had the black grouper done in a ginger sauce with coconut risotto and I had the rack of lamb. The fish was flaky and unbelievably tasty and the risotto with coconut was like nothing we had ever had before. The rack of lamb was so tender, with an incredible walnut-cherry crust. The dessert was icing on the cake. The Ménage et Trios; three different dessert...coffee crème brulee, drunken ice cream and death by chocolate. What a wonderful experience. I would definitely recommend the Mad Hatter to anyone visiting the area. It will be an experience you won't forget. The service was impeccable and the food was magnificent. Thank you Craig (our server) for all his suggestions and flawless service.

    (5)

  • Jeremy V.

    Great little spot on Sanibel Island right on the beach. We were early, so enjoyed a few glasses of champagne as the sun went down and were impressed the service, presentation and food quality. truffle scallops. boom.

    (5)

  • Michael M.

    As mentioned in an earlier post, service was efficient but definitely not welcoming at all as my initial request for a cocktail was dismissed abruptly and i was informed that this establishment only serves wine and beer...um....ok. On a positive note, servers were everywhere. If you needed anything you would be attended to immediately which was nice. As an appetizer I ordered the tomato avocado salad with their homemade cheese. It was very plentiful and I thought tasted refreshing. Great flavors and very clean. As an entree I ordered the $45+ Bouillabaisse and asked if there was any way not to have scallops included. This request was met with significant confusion and the server asked my wife if she wanted them. Huh? Ok so thinking they would just replace the scallops with extra shrimp or grouper right? wrong. 2 small shrimp (no flavor btw and tasted defrosted) and a piece of lobster. Don't get me wrong, the sauce was great and the food overall was pretty good but a bit disappointing for the priciest thing on the menu. Lastly, I had the medley of deserts, creme brulee, death by chocolate, vanilla bean ice cream. No complaints here other than price ($15). The mousse was exceptional. This dinner was expensive which is fine. What isn't is when your server drops the bill on your table before desert has been eaten. "No, I don't want more coffee...it's ok."

    (3)

  • Bridget S.

    This was our third dining experience at the Mad Hatter Restaurant. It is one of our favorite restaurants in the world. We enjoyed the salmon roll, which is perfect and the hog fish special. We have never had a dish we didn't love. Service is impeccable, presentation lovely, the food scrumptious! Don't miss this gem!

    (5)

  • Brett F.

    Amazing food, amazing wine, amazing sunset views. Definitely worth the money. Great meal.

    (5)

  • CJ R.

    Truly outstanding. One my favorite meals during the last few months. We had the shrimp appetizer that was fantastic, the shrimp were huge. As an entree we had the short rib and the grouper. The short rib was outstanding, but the grouper even better. I loved the different flavors the sauce provided. Very nice restaurant with great service and an intimate feeling.

    (5)

  • Gabriela O.

    Went with a party of fifteen people including children. I can't complain about the food. It's as good as it looks and deserts are all amazing. The children's menu was good for finicky kids and for kids who like adult meals with smaller portions. I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars because of the waiter. He had a bad attitude and didn't seem like he was happy to be there. Be prepared to bring a sweater it was freezing!!!! The average price is $35 but well worth it.

    (4)

  • Cole C.

    Have been here 4 times in the last 3 years and have NEVER been disappointed. I consider myself rather snobbish regarding food being a New Orleans native, but the dinner was second to none. I tasted the Grouper, Short Rib, and Boubillase (sp?). All were exceptional in every way.

    (5)

  • Marc Z.

    This was by far the best meal we had on Captiva Island. Although it is price even by captiva standards, it's definitely worth it. The restaurant started us with bread and olive tampenade as well as an amouse bouche of crab claws with truffle oil. Yum! We started with the salmon tempura roll and Lobster tempura app - both were great. The lobster was incredibly tender. Our 14 year old had the filet which was cooked to perfection. Our 12 yr old had the short rib. He was disappointed. It had a slightly stewed texture and the wine reduction didn't appeal to his younger palette. It was nice in my opinion, but our least favorite entree. The sea bass special and the grouper entree were fabulous. The best cooked fish we had during our stay. Dessert - the house made cheese cake was some of the best we've had. Flourless death by chocolate - delicious. Both were substantial in size. The ambiance is charming, off beat, though a bit tight for space.

    (5)

  • Jeanne C.

    Our meal was simply delicious and wonderful! I had the beet salad and my husband got the warm sushi as an appetizer. Then we moved on to delicious scallops (mine!) and lamb chops. The servers were attentive, but not evasive, the decor was quirky but wonderful. The wine wasn't that over priced for a restaurant like some of the other reviews say. We will definitely be back on our next trip! Super delicious!

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    Our first trip to Captiva to celebrate our anniversary. We have eaten at some wonderful restaurants during the week, but our dinner at Mad Hatter was truly exceptional. Started with the very interesting marinated feta cheese, caper berries, olives, app. Next, a phenomenal curried she-crab soup (one of the best soups I have ever had), and finishing with the black grouper entree served on a coconut risotto with a pineapple relish. The fantastic food was matched with outstanding service from start to finish. If you are in the area, do not miss this gem of a restaurant!

    (5)

  • Morgan M.

    A truly delicious meal, not only only one of the best i've had on Sanibel, but definitely on my top ten dining experiences. Impeccable service comparable to some of the finest NYC restaurants I've eaten at including Le Bernardin & Bouley. The servers were perfectly attentive and plates were both served and cleared with the utmost skill. The food was incredible - All three at the table started with the seared Hudson Valley Fois Gras (it's that good). It was served seared, with a balsamic reduction and poached pears - a perfect balance of tangy & sweet to offset the flavor of the fois. For our next course I had the day boat scallops with a truffle beurre blanc & mashed Yukon gold potatoes - The truffle wasn't overpowering and the flavor of the scallops still came through beautifully. Others at the table had the Lamb ribeye over vegetable couscous with a fig and port wine reduction (a daily special). The lamb was ordered rare with a seared crust and was served exactly as such!. The flavors meshed perfectly and the lamb was both tender & lean - a beautiful moment of melt in your mouth decadence! For dessert we split the menage a trois sampler - a perfect tasting of all of their desserts (with the exception of the cheesecake). All three were spectacular - again shocking us with the absolute consistency throughout the meal from start to finish. Their vanilla bean ice cream- (Drunken Ice Cream) is drenched in a delicately sweet Tempranillo reduction with just a hint of black pepper - The espresso creme brulee was served crisp on top with just the right amount of espresso mixed in to balance the sweetness. The death by chocolate mousse was also delicious and of course, very chocolate-y! The wine selection was also quite diverse though we were disappointed not to see any New York wines represented. For dessert we had a tasting of two of their Sauternes which were both delicious. Though the dinner is not cheap here - it is worth every penny. We left the restaurant ecstatic at the quality and perfectly filled with the portion sizes. Reservations are a must here. - the small dining space fills quickly and the ambiance is perfect with lovely views of sunset over the gulf from every table.

    (5)

  • Cristina C.

    We always stop here when we're in town. The service is great and the food is even better! If you're able to get a reservation, make sure it's around sunset. The restaurant faces the ocean and has the most beautiful views of Sanibel sunsets. Make sure to order the following: spiced watermelon salad, filet mignon, grouper, death by chocolate, and the espresso creme brûlée.

    (5)

  • Carlos I.

    There was 1:30 hours left until closing and they refused to help us , people where finishing and we would have waited 1hr if we had to but that was not an option the only option was to wait until tomorrow if we wanted to make a reservation

    (1)

  • Andy E.

    This place is fantastic! The food deserves 5 stars! Amazing menu with local fresh seafood options, I could imagine a better place to eat while on vacation. What a treat! The view is beautiful with the right able on the sunset. Absolutely delicious, fun, and fantastic.

    (5)

  • Kelly L.

    A great restaurant as evidence by how hard it can be to get a reservation at times. Not much parking, but it is situated on the beach. We tried a lovely smoked salmon roll for an appetizer that I still crave now that I am back home. Also notable is the Death by Chocolate dessert-yum!!!

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    My family and I have been coming here for years and it has been delightful. Last evening we were treated so poorly, that I will never return and will let everyone I know hear the story. I made a reservation yesterday morning for 5 people at 5:15 PM and was told I needed to give Kelly my American Express Card to ensure the reservation which I did. We arrive, all 5 of us, at 5:15 and were told we did not have a reservation. I was stunned. I had a lovely conversation early in the day with Kelly and she said everything was all set. The young woman at the front entrance, and the silent man next to her, said, "no reservation, sorry." I asked her to look for my AMEX card and what do you know, they had my card, and Kelly "forgot" to make the reservation. They made no accommodations and suggested we take a table on their "patio" which is the area in the parking lot where people congregate to complain about how badly they are being treated. Long story short, we were so disappointed, so angry and mostly just so appalled at the arrogance of these two young idiots who had nothing to say to help this situation, except the young woman said "we are in a bit of a pickle, what would YOU like to do?" I did not dare answer her or her silent partner. We went down the street about a quarter mile to the Sunset Grille and had a wonderful dinner and a wonderful sunset. Stay away from the Mad Hatter. They all act like exiled Russian aristocracy and they treat their clientele like crap. Zero stars for this joint. They really could have saved it, and royally screwed it up. Jeff

    (1)

  • Gabe M.

    Such a sick place. Started off with a nice glass of wine and salad. Follow that with a filet and lobster tail,epic!!!!!!! End it with a moca creme berle (spell check was not getting this one right) and coffee. Everything was over and above what you could expect. Possibly one of the best dinners I've ever had. If u are ever in area u have to check this place out! :)

    (5)

  • Bill S.

    This is the best restaurant I visited in Captiva. The parking is limited in front, so try the back. This place is pretty small and you will need reservations during the season or weekends. I had the shrimp appetizer, steak main course, and desert trio. Everything was outstanding. Great service, great ambiance, great food. My only complaint is that the tables are pretty tight and you are close to your neighbors. Also, there were two crying babies at two different tables that honestly disturbed the entire restaurant because the place is small. *** ATTENTION PARENTS *** - this place is expensive and romantic - please leave your crying babies or rambunctious little kids home or at the hotel and if you can't find a baby sitter, then go to the Bubble Room or Mucky Duck instead.

    (5)

  • Adriana L.

    I was on the island for a business meeting and dining alone. Maybe they felt sorry for me or maybe they are just that nice and awesome all the time! From the hostess to the server I had a great time socially, even forgetting that I was alone and not with friends. The food was wonderful - I had a filet that was so big and delicious I took the lefties home and had them for lunch the next day (just as delicious as when served). It got a little chilly at one point and the server offered me a shawl to keep warm - I laughed hysterically when I realized it was a tablecloth! But it worked and I went on to enjoy another glass of wine. Thank you Mad Hatter!

    (5)

  • Pamela W.

    Decided to try this restaurant as it was just a few doors down from our rental cottage. I imagined it would be a little more eclectic with the Alice in Wonderland theme. It was pretty bland after the front entry. The main dining area was very stuffy and cramped, it was a little hard to breathe in the overly warm room. The service was very stuffy also, and not in the warm way, but the uptight snotty way. My husband and I ordered the crab cake as an appetizer. It was just eh - it was more filler than crab. However, my entree was okay and the presentation was nice. I ordered the day boat scallops with Yukon gold mashed potatoes. The scallops were a little underdone, but still good. My husband ordered a grouper dish that he says was also good. Not the best food at the price point, but not the worst that we have had either. I would imagine that the dining atmosphere would be nice at sunset. We will probably give it another chance on our next visit to Sanibel.

    (3)

  • Amanda B.

    There aren't enough adjectives to describe how incredible this small restaurant is. I can only tell you that I will continue to frequent it anytime I am staying in or near Sanibel. The grouper was cooked to perfection and the lush bed of toasted coconut risotto was so good I couldn't speak after each bite. My breath was simply taken away. Bravo.

    (5)

  • Bob H.

    This is a great find. We took our two children ages 10 and 11 to The Mad Hatter. Craig, our server, did a great job. We had the filet, tuna and lamb. Everything came out perfect. We enjoyed the restaurant so much that when I asked the kids where they want to eat our last night here they choose this restaurant. I recommend reservations.

    (5)

  • Robert L.

    We have been coming to this restaurant for 25 years on our anniversary since our wedding on Captiva 25 years ago. This was our place. We have been through three owners. We made reservations for our 25 anniversary and received a confirmation call about 3:30 for our 5:15 reservation. We arrived no more than 10 minutes late. My wife came out while i was parking the car and said our reservation was given to someone else because we were a no show. Really. After some very uncomfortable moments she was able to "fit" us in. From a special day to a incredibly unenjoyable experience. I was told the owner would contact us. Never did. "You used to be much more..."muchier." You've lost your muchness." ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

    (1)

  • Diane W.

    food was so so...certainly did not live up to the prices. Abysmal service made the food seem even worse. Our server had a real attitude...did not bring my cocktail, then failed to bring the salad I had ordered. Although he acknowledged my order at the time, he said he did not hear me order either of the items. At the end of the meal we were comped two dessert wines without asking; I do not drink dessert wines. Don't know where the good ratings come from, but were extremely disappointed in food and service. A waste of time and money, plus a very unpleasant evening due to the sullen service.

    (1)

  • Juan G.

    This place was amazing, great seafood and very romantic. Server are very funny and nice! for sure a great place to take your significant other after a long beach day and have an awesome seafood!

    (5)

  • Ruth M.

    Food was exceptional! The staff was very friendly and helpful. The sunset was magnificent! Expensive but worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Carlos V.

    If we could give these folks more stars we would. We were here last night, the food, the service and the view were truly first rate.I had the fresh tomato fresh cheese salad and my wife had the spicy watermelon salad, both very good. My wife had the crab cake entree and I chose one of the specials of the evening, the Lamb Ribeye, done rare, it was a great entree. We split the Trio desert, a great choice if you can't decide on which dessert to choose. They brew each cup of coffee fresh in a french press. We also splurged and got a bottle Tempernillo ($45). Oh did I mention that this restaurant has a KILLER sunset view, get here before sunset and you will see an amazing sunset. Here is the only rub that I have about not just this restaurant, but all of the ones's that we've gone to, the wine by the glass and by the bottle is outrageous. I have seen some average red wines that you would pay maybe $18 to $20 at a wine shop, on some of the menu's of some of the restaurants on Sanibel with a price higher then $100, really? I love wine, but will not spend that kind of money for a bottle of average wine. In all the times that we have been out to dinner here, we've only seen two tables with wine on them. The restaurants in Sanibel get it all wrong by charging outrageous prices for average wines, wine enhances the whole going out to dinner experience, charge a decent price for a decent bottle and you would see your wine sales skyrocket.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    Decent, not great food. I had the boullibase and it was just ok. My wife had the crab cakes and they were good, but not worth what they charge. At the end of the day, we dropped over $150 for me, my wife, our 9 yr old daughter and our 4 yr old son. Daughter got the kids meal (chicken fingers) and our son just nibbled on bits from the rest of our meals. I had two beers and wife had glass of wine. Atmosphere was nice, not great. Had a view of the beach, but the A/C wasn't able to keep up. Overall, I would expect more from a place that got 4 stars on Yelp. Just sayin...

    (2)

  • Scott H.

    It is rare to find a place with great food, great service, and a great view, but this place has all three. The best meal I had on our trip. Would highly recommend eating here,

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    Outstanding food in a lovely setting; of *course* you want to be dining during sunset -- ask when you make your reservation, the host will know when sunset is. Don't let it's unassuming exterior fool you; this is probably the best fine-dining experience on the island.

    (5)

  • John K.

    Nice location and interesting decor but not a five star experience. We had a vegan with us and they made no effort to accommodate. The food overall was just ok. My other son had lamb chops and loved the,. My wife had crab cakes which she didn't like. I had shrimp which were good not great. The desserts were good though and decadent. The best part of the meal. To me it was overpriced for the quality of the food.

    (3)

  • Katie G.

    I came here for dinner a few weeks ago during a week long vacation to Sanibel Island. I have been coming to Sanibel for a long time, and this was my first time eating at the Mad Hatter. It has been various restaurants over the years, but I think the Mad Hatter has been in this famous location for some time. The view is spectacular! It is a small converted beach house right on the beach - close to where Sanibel ends and Captiva Island begins (Blind Pass). I think the spectacular sunsets here must pepper folk's memories of how good the food is. I was sadly not impressed with the food, but the service was the best we had while on Sanibel. Very attentive and fast! We really enjoyed our experience here - just wish the taste of the food matched the real estate and quality of service. I got the rack of lamb - and it was just ok. My sister got the blackened grouper and liked it just ok. We got the goat cheese pillows appetizer which was essentially mediocre goat cheese stuffed in frozen phyllo dough and covered in strawberry sundae topping. I love goat cheese - so I ate every bite - but the presentation was very 80's and it was too sweet. My husband got the Filet Mignon with Yucca Fries (wish they had Yams or some other starch offering - not a fan of Yucca). He commented that it tasted like it had been defrosted. Ugh! Overall - overpriced and mediocre food Service Excellent! Will likely not be back.

    (3)

  • Roy G.

    Way overpriced. Seating packed in. Quality of food at best mediocre. Did not like server much. Had better meals for a quarter of the price.

    (1)

  • Brett S.

    If the parking lot is looking packed, go somewhere else. We showed up with a reservation for 8:15, and were finally seated 45 minutes later. My wife and I couldn't stand listening to the drunken family from NY (accent detected) bitching about having to wait for their table, so we gave our cell number to the hostess and went out to our car where we may or may not have drank some wine... The MH appears to be an old vacation home converted into a restaurant, so the layout when walking in is a bit odd, but the Alice in Wonderland themed items strewn about were tacky. There's a poster of Johnny Depp in the dining room. Teenage girl's bedroom or restaurant: you decide. The food was delicious, and the service excellent, just as everyone has said. If you can focus your gaze past the parking lot, the sunset is lovely too.

    (4)

  • SB S.

    Cute spot. Food was good. We liked the food and scenery although they didn't honor our reservation and made us wait an hour. That wasn't cool, but hey.

    (3)

  • Victor S.

    Great meal at the Mad Hatter. I had the bouliabase, and my wife had the tuna with pepper sauce. Both were excellent, and worth the high prices paid.

    (5)

  • Christopher L.

    The Mad Hatter comes highly recommended and it lived largely up to its reputation on the occasion of our 15th anniversary. We arrived at 7pm for our reservation but had to wait about 15 minutes for our table to open up, which was a bit disappointing. They made up for it in the end with a small glass of desert wine, but they might have offered to pay for the glasses of wine we had while waiting instead. Still the gesture was appreciated. The restaurant is small, but decorated in a whimsical way with all sorts of Alice in Wonderland art. The meal began with an amuse bouche of blue crab claws and watercress which was a nice way to start. I had the tuna tartar special, which was fresh and came with a few pieces of fried wanton chips that added a nice texture to the dish. For my main dish, I had the shrimp and crab special, which came with two very large shrimp over rice and crabmeat in a light curry sauce. Both of my dishes where specials, and quite good, if a little salty, as I discovered overnight when I became very thirsty. For dessert we had the menage-a-trios, which includes espresso creme brûlée, death by chocolate, and vanilla ice cream with raspberry sauce. In all, a very nice way to end a very nice meal.

    (4)

  • Kelly Y.

    Was on vacation with my husband and another couple and we heard rave reviews about this place. We definitely weren't disappointed. Our reservation was made on a Tuesday evening around 7:00 and it was nice to sit next to the large wall of windows and see the sunset over the water. At our table, we had the shrimp appetizer, Caesar salad and Mad Hatter salad which were all beyond delicious. Between us, we tried the cherry duck, lamb, seafood risotto and crab cake dinner. Not much conversation was occurring since we couldn't stop eating. The food was the best we had on the island and was one of the highlights of our trip. Don't go expecting an inexpensive dinner. Our bill was over $200, which was worth every penny, but also included a bottle of wine, two other cocktails and complementary dessert wine for the other couples anniversary. I would recommend this for a nice evening out!

    (5)

  • Chris R.

    Best birthday dinner ever!!! Food was amazing, staff was friendly and professional! Location was perfect and truly a hidden treasure. Sunsets from the gulf are amazing at this beachside location.

    (5)

  • Dan B.

    this was excellent - crab cake appetizer, snapper and black grouper entrees, "menage a trois"" dessert, very good service, place is small and not an upscale view from the road, but the kitchen rocks!! it's tight, and lovely , but not elegant decor, right on the beach and great views not cheap - but good food never is, unless it's joe's conch shack on elbow cay

    (5)

  • Dan C.

    My wife and I are vacationing in captiva this week and this is by far the best restaurant on Sanibel and Captiva. It's possibly the best restaurant my wife and I have ever eaten. I chose the scallops which were the best scallops I have ever had melted in my mouth. My wife chose the crab crakes were were also delicious and moist. Then we had the creme brûlée which is made in house and was very good. If you are going to sanibel or captiva you must eat here as long as you are ok with spending over $100. It is by far the best restaurant on the island!

    (5)

  • Ryan P.

    4 Stars.... I am a fan! We have been coming to Mad Hatter for as long as I can remember and enjoyed our visit this year the week they reopened from vacation. It is probably my #1 or #2 Restaurant on the island. ....Always plan on being there for Sunsets. We had a wonderful server who was very attentive ....We ordered Rack of Lamb with a cherry pesto crust....and Sea Scallops from the main menu. Caesar salad with white anchovies....and the Surf and Turf appetizer.... OMG! (That gets 5 Stars) Some things we finally realized.... - They like several restaurants on Sanibel they do wine/beer no liquor. I will say that if that ever gets added, I will add a star! - I hadn't been to Sanibel in 5 years and sister in 1 Year.... similar menu (if not the same)

    (4)

  • Frank P.

    The price guide says 3 dollar signs. I would say 4. I sat down and they offered me soup for only $18! Didn't stay.

    (3)

  • Rj B.

    Not sure how anyone could give this place anything but a 5!!! We had a problem with an overdone steak and still gave them our highest mark. Dawn our server was so great, food was soooo tasty and the view of the sunset was super. Thanks to all, we'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Tom H.

    Nicest meal in Sanibel-Captiva and flip flops are welcome. I had an excellent beet salad with goat cheese and my wife had oysters with truffles. For entree we has crab cakes and local grouper. What a nice evening and we walked in without reservations at 530-ish. We didn't bring our kids but there were others there.

    (5)

  • Leslie T.

    Had a very romantic dinner here last night for my husband's b'day. Excellent food and excellent service from all members of the staff. Our waitress, Heather, was down-to-earth, naturally friendly, yet professional. We started off with salads: I had the watermelon/arugula salad and my husband had the duck salad and both were truly incredible! For an entrée, I had the black grouper over risotto - so yummy! My husband had the red snapper over clams and veggies in a delicious broth. And the sun setting over the ocean with beautiful colors was the icing on the cake! The decoration/art around the inside of this tiny old house-turned-restaurant is really nice, too, even the HUGE mural on the back wall. Lots of "Alice in Wonderland" themed art and lots of mirrors to make the place look bigger, but we liked the ambience. The only negative comment I would make (and I believe others on yelp have stated this) is that for a fine dining restaurant, the noise level was too loud! I work at a small luxury boutique hotel in Truckee (in the Lake Tahoe area of northern California) that has an upscale restaurant attached to it (STELLA - #1 on yelp in that area - check it out!) whose chef was nominated in Food & Wine as one of the 10 best chefs in the west, and I have eaten there a few times, and it.is .not.loud. I have eaten at other upscale restaurants around the world that are.not.loud. I don't know how they can address the acoustic problem, but address it they should.

    (4)

  • Julie F.

    Me and my lovebird went on vacation to Sanibel for the 4th of July weekend and I wanted to reserve just one of those few nights to have a romantic dinner. The Mad Hatter was my choice, of all the other reviews and types of restaurants on the island. And I must say, it was to die for!I ordered the lamb, he ordered the steak. So flavorful, gorgeous, and one of a kind. It really was one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. The couple to the right of us left. I think they thought it was too long of a wait for food for them. I'm sorry, but I'm willing to wait 45 minutes for a lamb and steak dinner- this is not McDonalds! The wait is a little bit, but you have the ocean view and wine to distract you. If your date is lame, it will be an excruciating wait time (i.e.- the couple twiddling their thumbs in silence next to us). To give you more of a description, it's lovely, quiet, peaceful, and intimate. And don't come expecting a $10 entree. No matter what you spend, I promise its worth it.

    (5)

  • Victoria A.

    Wow. Absolutely divine. The restaurant was adorable with a huge hat outside and stained glass windows with the Alice and Wonderland tea party scene. Inside there are teapots and hats everywhere with island themed paintings from local artists. Interesting combination but it actually works. The menu had a plethora of choices that we decided to splurge and try everything we wanted! They served us homemade, warm bread with a ying yang plate of butter and olive tapenade. Yum! The appetizer was out of this world. We ordered the surf and turf which turned out to be an artistic plate with small beef cut and king crab meat crab cake. The sauce accompanied with the meat was fabulous and the cheese on top was a perfect touch. Two blue crab claws were offered to us as well...compliments of the chef. :) The salad my boyfriend ordered was the simple mixed green salad but with a delicious dressing. Mine? I'll drive the three hour trip to have it again and again!!! I ordered the Watermelon and Feta salad. It had all of my favorite things: watermelon, pine nuts, very few greens, cayenne pepper, balsamic vinegarette and lots and lots of feta! I would have been happy with the salad alone! The entrees were just as amazing with artistically designed plates and perfect portions. Jacob O. ordered the filet mignon with béarnaise and I had the duck with cherry and red wine reduction. The duck was fabulous but in the end I am a beef girl and will get that next time. Definitely 5 stars on the food and 5 stars on the attentive service.

    (5)

  • Mary S.

    Nice restaurant. Outstanding service. Our party had grouper, scallops, shrimp and grits, all good although shrimp a bit under done which is understandable given they are 5 oz. each. Creme brûlée was very good....death by chocolate also. I was a bit surprised given the ratings and prices that the food was not top cuisine. Being from Chicago, I love high end restaurants, but don't feel that this would be memorable. Although if you like a menu that is more focused on cuisine and technique, and can afford, it is worth trying. If I return, I will give it another try. That being said I felt 3 stars was definitely too low as this is food that you won't find anywhere else on the islands.

    (4)

  • Leigh Anne B.

    Could have earned many, many accolades and praises but it was much too loud for a nice, romantic dinner. They should consider the ages of those they place together in large parties because teenagers can be extremely loud. I had to practically scream at my new husband for him to participate in our dinner conversation. :/

    (3)

  • Penelopy T.

    "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' 'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat. 'I don't much care where --' said Alice. 'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat. '--so long as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation. ~ Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland The Mad Hatter was a total surprise. We didn't expect fine dining at its best. So enjoyed the food and our wonderful server, Catherine. The Amuse Bouche was disappointing. If chef is going to serve one, it should do justice to the house. Otherwise don't serve it. Everything was great, with the exception of the hostess... when asked, if there was a smoking section. She gave my mate a smarmy response..."you can smoke outside."... but my dear little one. That isn't what you were asked, and you know it. Everything else was fine! Grace their tables with relish and delight!

    (4)

  • Carrie C.

    Best restaurant on Sanibel or Captiva! Watched the sunset while dining on the most tender filet made even more delicious by the black truffle compound butter. Dessert was The drunkin ice cream; vanilla ice cream with a red wine black pepper reduction! Out of this world! Will definitely be back next time I'm on the island.

    (5)

  • Tony M.

    Went there this evening and was very disappointed I had the black grouper it was just ok my wife had the bouillabaisse which is a $45 dish and it was over seasoned with five spice to the point where it was awful I won't ever go back.

    (1)

  • Sally R.

    I have been to the Mad Hatter about three times so far. It appears to be "fine dining" at its best on the island of Sanibel, near Captiva. Many older guests there - attesting to the fact that it is expensive! Meal per person with a glass of wine ranges from an easy $50-$100+ without dessert. Plates perfectly presented - topped with an (edible) orchid. Works of art, really. Significant world standard foie gras and escargot. Food is good but doesn't summon me back, somehow. Wine list is one of most thoughtful on the beach. Service is good and pleasant. Remains expensive in my mind.

    (3)

  • lysa p.

    Excellent fresh breakfast and lunch. Super cute location in town.

    (5)

  • Ronald A.

    Very good food. Expensive yes but worth it on a special day. My waiter was attentive and professional. Portions were not too small not too big. Just right size Nothing negative to say

    (4)

  • Kyle H.

    We had a 7:00 pm reservation with a scheduled sunset at 7:58 pm. It was gorgeous, but I would suggest a 7:30 reservation to be able to take it all in. On to the food, which was fabulous. I started with the soup de jour, a garlic and asparagus cream based soup topped with truffle oil. I love my soups and this one did not disappoint. I think it might be in my top 5 of all time. My wife began with the goat cheese pillows, which were delish. Complete opposite spectrum from my savory soup, but almost as good (I'm partial to savory soups). My wife had the sea scallops and I went with another special, the hangar steak. Both were really good, but my mind was still on that amazing soup. At this point, my day of feasting caught to with me prohibiting me from a dessert. My wife called on her baby dessert stomach and thoroughly enjoyed the cheesecake paired with the French press coffee. I finished up with an espresso, which was lukewarm (my only minute complaint). This is, by far, THE BEST FOOD on the island!!! Can't wait to come back, fingers crossed my soup is on special again.

    (5)

  • Aaron D.

    Walking into the mad hatter is strange. It's decorated with Alice in wonderland paraphernalia especially with movie posters. There are empty tables lining the hallway, and a steep ramp leading up to the seating area. On a Saturday night, it was packed (luckily we had a reservation). Nothing about the menu matched the theme, which was probably for the best. Seafood was unsurprisingly the theme, this being a Florida island. For apps we had the house and tomato salads, both being flavorful and the second having well spiced red onions which was a surprise. For entrees we had the local black grouper and the bouillabaisse. The former was simple and well prepared, with not too buttery asparagus on the side. The bouillabaisse was also excellent, with a thin and flavorful broth. The butter sauce was a strange thick consistency so I didn't use that. For desert we had the drunken ice cream, which was a hood mix of vanilla and a red wine sauce, the perfect way to end a beach day. Overall, while the decor didn't match the menu, the food and the view was great and reasonably priced for the quality, so we'd definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Marcel S.

    just phenomenal the best dinner we had on our 3 weeks trip in Florida! wonderful fresh sea food, excellent prepared and cooked. nice combination of side dishes. and, finally also for the kids a good choice (not the normal fried stuff); our son had an awesome filet of beef. he really liked it!

    (5)

  • Sarah L.

    My husband and I went to the Mad Hatter a few weeks ago while I vacation, the food was amazing! When you first walk in you can definitley tell that they have used the "Alice and Wonderland Theme" but oddly enough, it wasn't too kitschy. The actual seating area of the restaurant is pretty small and you might be smooshed into your seats so try not to back up into anyone. Make sure you make a reservation otherwise you will be waiting a long time, but that isn't so bad considering the amazing view. We had the grouper chower, watermellon salad, and scallops, all were AMAZING. I wish we had room to have tried their desserts. Expect to pay around $30 for an entree, but the food is worth the prices and is a good place for a romantic dinner.

    (5)

  • Kara G.

    Definitely the best restaurant on the island. We went here on our last night in town, and having been out every night prior, the Mad Hatter supersedes all other restaurants I found on yelp in both service and quality. Food was delish. I had the Mad Hatter Salad and branzini special, paired with a Sancerre and couldn't have enjoyed it more. Everyone else I was out with enjoyed their meal which included a strawberry/blue cheese salad, watermelon salad, crab cakes, grouper, and salmon rolls. Comp champagne while waiting to be seated. Best wine list of the week. A little difficult to get reservations, but was able to get an 830 res 2 days in advance, in season, which gave us the opportunity to watch the sunset and then head over. Worth the price/wait!

    (5)

  • Jeff S.

    I've eaten attest all the restaurants on Sanibel and Captiva;for fine dining and a celebratory occasion - this is the top. The menu is relatively narrow but everything is great. Our table of six covered four different apps and five entrees. All tremendous. Particular favorites were the Bouilllabaise and the Day Biat Scallops with black truffle. Service is "white linen" without being irritating or overbearing. This wine list is also extensive, for the islands, and fairly priced. This is an expensive meal, but worth it for that special evening. I've eaten attest all the restaurants on Sanibel and Captiva;for fine dining and a celebratory occasion - this is the top. The menu is relatively narrow but everything is great. Our table of six covered four different apps and five entrees. All tremendous. Particular favorites were the Bouilllabaise and the Day Biat Scallops with black truffle. Service is "white linen" without being irritating or overbearing. This wine list is also extensive, for the islands, and fairly priced. This is an expensive meal, but worth it for that special evening.

    (5)

  • David P.

    Very simple. This is the finest eatery on Sanibel/Captiva. The atmosphere is delightful with the sun setting right before your eyes. The service was incredible. The food was delectable. Excellent wine choices. If you are on Sanibel, this is a must!

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    Delicious, with a wonderful view of the sunset over the gulf and a excellent service. We enjoyed olive tampende, blue crab claw appetizers, French and Spanish cheeses, and excellent wines. My wife ordered the scallops and asparagus, which were delicious. I had line-caught fresh red snapper served over rice and topped with coconut curry. It was done just right - one of the best snappers I've had in a long time. We finished off with the cheesecake, which was light and easy - very good. I have only two tips, and they are not criticisms: 1. Have your martini ahead of time, they serve only beer and wine (albeit very good wine). 2. Make your reservations in advance, especially if you want to be there for sunset. I booked a week ahead and was still too late. We ate here for my wife's birthday. Mad Hatter met our expectations and more.

    (5)

  • B R.

    Well done! Best meal on the island, hands down! the black grouper had a very nice citrus glaze. Fantastic service. Nice view but not good for pictures as glass will reflect too much light. Better to step outside after a great dinner to enjoy the sunset. $100 for 2 people with no alcohol. Dessert of creme bruele and french press coffee. Excellent

    (5)

  • Soly C.

    Wonderful service and the food was amazing! We celebrated our anniversary and could not have picked a better place. Curtis our waiter was exceptional. We started with the strawberry blue cheese salad (delicious). I had the filet mignon (excellent) and my husband had the blacken grouper. I don't eat fish but his meal was amazing. For dessert we had the cheese cake and it was also wonderful. The meal was a bit pricey but so worth it.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    Celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, what a perfect spot, view was great, wait staff was friendly and knowledgeable and best of all, the appetizer, salad,entrees and dessert were excellent. try the surf and turf appetizer, may want to do another entree and have this as the other entree I did and it was great Must do while at Captiva or Sanibel

    (5)

  • Pity D.

    Kitschy, unassuming restaurant with interior and decor that is nothing to write home about. Their food, service and view of the gulf, on the other hand, are everything to write home about. Every single aspect of the meal--bread, salad, entree and dessert--was literally perfect. Service was pretty close to perfect as well. If you get the chance, you must try the homemade vanilla ice cream with red wine sauce. On paper it may sound unappetizing. In reality, it is one of the best desserts I've ever had. You also can't pass up the duck breast with berry sauce. Mad Hatter served one of the best meals I've ever had and, despite the kitschy, unimpressive theme, is now one of my favorite restaurants. Worth every penny.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Excellent food and superb service. Probably the best fine dining on the island. Small place, be sure to make reservations. Totally worth the price tag.

    (5)

  • Jen B.

    This place has a really great view of the sunset. One of the few places on the island with an ocean view. The food was really great, especially the dessert. We had the dessert sampler which was the creme brule, drunken ice cream and flowerless chocolate cake. SO GOOD! Totally over priced though. One star taken away for that.

    (4)

  • Ann S.

    Best food I've ever had on Sanibel or Captiva, and, in 40 years, I've eaten it all. Menu isn't huge, but the items are prepared with great care and presented with style. First-class ingredients. Wine list has some really good bottles. This is the place we go when we don't want to be part of the herd.

    (5)

  • Chelsee M.

    The Mad Hatter is a rare little gem of a restaurant. It is French cuisine in American style. The bread was amazing, the salads were wonderful, and the atmosphere was beautiful. I had the rack of lamb and it was cooked perfectly, I also splurged for dessert and had the cheesecake was the best I have ever tried. It is rather pricey, as is everything on the island, but well worth it. Make sure to make a reservation well before sunset, so you can take a basket of wine out to the beach. Cozy little spot, and I will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    I'm being generous here with three stars... it is a nice restaurant (i.e., intimate setting with attentive service), but I thought the food fell kind of flat and the prices are eye watering. For two people, with two apps, two entrees, a bottle of one of the cheaper reds on the menu, a shared dessert, a shared coffee, and tap water... we spent $200 with tax and tip. And honestly, it wasn't that great a meal. My crab cake appetizer was delicious. My $40 rack of lamb was pretty meh (definitely one of the worst I've had... maybe was just an off-night?). My wife loved her tuna steak (done rare)... I don't really care for that sort of thing. The beet and goat cheese salad was good, but not amazing. The bottle of wine ($45) was good... but I was disappointed that they didn't have any more modestly priced bottles on the menu. Our dessert (crème brûlée, maybe?) was ok, but pretty forgettable. All-in-all... not really worth me returning for; certainly not at that price. The sunset on the beach is lovely... and for my wife, who has been coming here for years, it has a certain sentimental value to it... but just not worth it. Oh, and it's a half-hour drive from where we stay at the other end of the island. But alas, it is one of the few 'nice' restaurants on the island; I would be eager for the Mad Hatter to have some more competition in the 'high-end' field... Also, I still find it odd that one of the only "upscale" restaurants on Sanibel is, essentially, housed in (what looks/feels like) a double-wide.

    (3)

  • Lauren D.

    Wonderful experience! They provide you with a blanket and bucket of drinks to go watch the sunset on the beach while you wait for your table...just perfect. Romantic setting, superb service, and yummy food. One if the best date nights we have had ever!

    (5)

  • George M.

    Some of the best food on the islands, but you will pay a premium for it. Being a Southern Californian, I felt that this place was a little too prim and proper for my taste, the atmosphere here was reminiscent of an upscale Manhattan eatery (with a much better view obviously) and similar pricing. My main course was Big Eye Tuna, which was cooked perfectly and delicious. Others in my party had fish courses and they were each outstanding. We ordered several bottles of wine and found that the waiter did not leave the bottle on the table, but rather kept it behind the passage to the kitchen. I can't say exactly why this bothers me, but I would rather the bottle stay at my table... regardless of who is filling the glasses. The dessert we chose was an espresso creme-brulee which was more runny than creamy and I would not recommend it. I would visit the Mad Hatter again, so long as I was not paying, and I'd skip dessert.

    (3)

  • Alan F.

    There are many choices for dining on Sanibel / Captiva. This is one of the best! The menu is not large but it offers enough different choices that everyone should be pleased. And what they offer is very well done. It's a bit expensive for the island but the value is good given the great quality. The other star is the view. Strangely this is one of the view places overlooking the ocean where you can watch the sun set. Mad Hatter has been a top choice for years and based on our recent experience it appears it will remain so for years to come.

    (4)

  • Kyrie G.

    Fantastic food, unobtrusive, friendly and professional service and a charming facility make this five stars. The restaurant is small and a bit cramped, but still runs efficiently. We had reservations (party of 5) and waited only briefly. We shared a foie gras pate special and the Portuguese oyster appetizer & both were very good. I had the black grouper, which was wonderful and tasted the lamb-also excellent. The fish was perfectly cooked and luscious. I am not a huge risotto fan, but the cocoanut risotto was delicious and the papaya slaw was bright and set the fish and risotto off perfectly. Everyone else was also quite pleased with their meals (crab cakes, snapper & another taker on the grouper). For desert, we sampled the mango sorbet and the ménage a trois, which consisted of espresso creme brûlée, death by chocolate and vanilla ice cream with a wine reduction. All were good, but the ice cream was a standout. Coffee was nothing special, but did not detract from a lovely meal. The Mad Hatter is an expensive evening out, but definitely worth doing as a special occasion!

    (5)

  • P. S.

    Lovely setting with rather few seats, all with a wide Gulf view. The dishes were uniformly delicious: appetizer of creamy goat cheese in phyllo with strawberry port reduction, grouper over caper-and-asparagus risotto, and salmon au poivre. Dessert was tastes of chocolate torte, homemade mango sorbet and espresso creme brûlée, all delicious. The service was attentive if somewhat solicitous, and the waitress lost big points for not addressing both of us equally, overtly favoring the man over the woman.

    (5)

  • Kevin S.

    I have been traveling to Sanibel & Captiva for over 20 years now and have sampled most of the restaurants multiple times. I have tried the Mad Hatter two times now and will never return. My most recent visit was an unmitigated disaster. The two of us were crammed into a corner too small for one. The people behind us who were seated prior to us had expanded themselves into our seating area making it almost impossible to move. No help from the restaurant or the folks using our space. The next problem was the service. For the cost of the food and the supposed "fine dining" reputation, I expected attentive service. That was not what happened and the long waits in between occasional table visits for our order and food service simply added fuel to the fire. The final insult came in the form of very mediocre food. I had the twin lobster tails and my wife ordered scallops. The scallops were average but the lobster was dry and flavorless. In the end, we cut our losses and got out as quickly as possible. I was frustrated enough by the experience that I attempted to reach someone at the restaurant the next day to at least discuss my disappointment but could only leave a message asking someone to call me back. You have probably surmised that my call was not returned. My advice to anyone considering this establishment is avoid the disappointment and steer clear as there are many other better choices in both Sanibel and Captiva.

    (1)

  • J C.

    Amazing experience! Well worth the price. Unfortunately we missed the sunset, but have decided we must come back for sunset. Food was wonderful. We had the cheese plate for an appetizer, I enjoyed the scallop dish with truffle oil which was to die for and my boyfriend enjoyed the rack of lamb which he also raved about. Great spot, love the cozy atmosphere, and enjoyed the food! Will be back.

    (4)

  • Ty B.

    Amazing food, great service from all the staff, especially Kelly, and spectacular sunset views. Our table had the grouper, surf and turf, and lamb chops - all received rave reviews. Extensive wine list and tasty desserts. Romantic atmosphere in a cozy space. We will return.

    (5)

  • Mandy H.

    This was our best meal of the week and definitely worth the money. The atmosphere is lovely with a nice view of the water. We walked in without reservations at 5:30 and were seated right away, but I have the feeling any later we would have been out of luck. I wouldn't bring my kids here because after a week of "family friendly" eating, it was nice to have something a little more upscale. But, there were people there with kids and we were casually dressed which was fine. The food was wonderful. I went with oysters as an app. and crab cakes as an entree. My husband had a goat cheese/beet salad, with the grouper as an entree. Everything was delicious and the wait staff were all very attentive, friendly and helpful. We will for sure go back again next year.

    (5)

  • Rhonda H.

    What can I say! The best restaurant on sanibel by a mile! Professional staff, gourmet food, trulyt. I havent had bouillabaisse like that ever and the oysters, I could have eaten 100!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    The food here is better than most in the Sanibel/Captiva region. However, this isn't saying much as overall the food in the islands is mediocre and overpriced. The service here is awful. We have 2 children and have dined with them in many fine dining establishments throughout the country without issue. We were told on the phone that children were welcome. That is not the case. I tried to make a reservation for 8 (to include another family). They would not allow it without my credit card number, accompanied by a threat to charge $40pp if we didn't show and did not give 24hr cancellation (especially ironic as they are not open the day before our reservation.) I was a little apprehensive about having my credit card number scrawled on a piece of paper, and was forced to make 2 separate reservations, requesting to be with the other party. They were rude (borderline hostile) on the phone making the reservation. When we arrived, They gave us two adjacent tables. They refused to put two tables together, then were completely hacked off when we put the children at one table and adults at the other. And then they proceeded to treat us like dirt. The restaurant is very small, making it more obvious when your wait staff is MIA. Not once were we asked if our entree was acceptable. No one checked on us except to clear and ask if we wanted dessert. Waters/sodas were not refilled. We were not asked if we wanted more drinks (wine, etc). And here's the kicker. Although they refused to seat us together, they treated us as a party of 8 for the bill. They told us the "computer would not allow" separate checks and they added on a mandatory tip (above 20% at that). We typically tip 20% although not only did they not earn it, they certainly did not deserve more. As for the food, Husbands Grouper was bland, risotto flavorful but undercooked, asparagus tough and basically inedible. My scallops were cooked perfectly but drowned in a buerre blanc sauce that was just ok. The specialty salads were very good. They serve beer and wine only, as an FYI, no other alcohol.

    (3)

  • Juan M.

    I'll start with why it's 4 and not 5 stars: my wife and kiddies are all GFers. Something (maybe the sauce in the risotto?) had wheat and has wiped out my dear über frau (still - even a feww days later). Having said that, we loved the place. Everything mentioned below PLUS! We went with 4 out of the 5 kiddies (caution: they are well behaved - this place probably wouldn't be good for most people's kids unless you have trained them to behave like humans) and all really were left really favorably impressed. We started with a bottle of Albariño (or, I guess, Albarinho since it was Portuguese) that went perfectly with everything we had - just awesome. I ordered the foie gras and MADE my kids try it. They were blown away (as was I). Truly amazing. I had the filet and lobster tail - it was great. The family had an assortment of their other items and they were all uniformly great. Really, if the gluten thing hadn't raised it's ugly head, it would have been great. The location right on the beach was beautiful and we walked there after supper - what a great memory!

    (4)

  • John R.

    Just had to write a quick note - m'lady and I dropped by at dinner hour during high season: obviously a very busy place, booked all night. But, the hostess went out of her way to let us sit and get drinks and an app while there was a free half hour at a table before the reserving party showed. Great food along with the great, friendly, accommodating service. Can't wait to get back for a full meal - during sunset would be killer!

    (4)

  • Sueellen T.

    This little gem was a wonderful find. We were surprised to find such incredibly good food and service on a small island. Every course was superb. The lovely view is a delightful plus. The only minus was the noise but, in all fairness, we were there during Thanksgiving weekend and there were many small children dining that night. We highly recommend The Mad Hatter and will definitely go back the next time we are in the area.

    (5)

  • Rebecca N.

    I enjoyed our dinner very much. Cute, unique, service was quite attentive. I cannot drink beer nor wine so I was a bit bummed to not enjoy a cocktail with dinner as they do not have a bar, however, i would return. You need a reservation and don't expect to enjoy the view if you are there after dark, however a nice place for a special meal.

    (4)

  • Victoria T.

    Our best meal during our vacation. Nothing special as far as decor... but beautiful views from all tables. The food was wonderful... we had a party of 11 and we all ordered different entrees. Everyone loved it. The server was very knowlegable about the food and wine... and we asked quite a lot of him! We had a great experience here and wished we had made reservations to go back. Seafood was exceptional!

    (5)

  • Kristin D.

    I have only been here once, while on vacation. - on the recommendation of our foodie friends that have been here as well. We had an excellent meal and excellent service. I am surprised by the average reviews, but maybe we just got lucky the time we were here. This review is from Summer 2010 - it sometimes takes me awhile to get my reviews in. We had the Goat Cheese Pillows with the port wine reduction - They were very good. I can't remember exactly which entrees we had, but I do remember that they were good, coffee was great and dessert good too. You can tell it is a Mom and Pop place, it is in a great location - Book your reservation so you can catch the sunset - the view is awesome.

    (4)

  • Kris h.

    Beware the Watermelon Salad.

    (3)

  • Dan K.

    If you want to try a sophisticated restaurant on Sanibel Island in Florida, I would recommend the Mad Hatter Restaurant. It is a small building with limited seating (reservations are recommended) and overlooks the water. As with the name, it has an Alice in Wonderland theme when you get in, but it is nothing special. But what is special is that it overlooks the water and one side is all windows so everyone has a good view of the sun setting. Now that's a sight to see. There is a limited menu but very exquisite. As an appetizer I had the spiced watermelon salad (it had a kick). I had the veal chop special which was big and juicy. My wife tried the grilled filet mignon (also very good). Although a little pricey, the meals are certainly worth it. Desserts were scrumptious. The drinks are limited to wine and beer and they had a large wine list (but I wondered where they hid their wine cellar). Whether a romantic dinner for two and or a night out with good friends, I highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Chris And Martha G.

    There's nothing on Sanibel that comes remotely close to this. Service is superb - truly a team effort. Wine list excellent. And seafood as fresh as it gets. I had a shrimp special on cheese grits. Hard to describe how well prepared it was. My wife had the seafood martini appetizer as a main dish: lobster, shrimp and crab. Only complaint is that some other tables are very close - and we were next to a large group that chose not to find babysitters for three little ones - but the wait staff handled it well.

    (5)

  • Andrea P.

    They really do try at the Mad Hatter, but I reluctantly opine that the food is high-end hotel steakhouse cuisine. There was a finesse to the amuse-bouche at the beginning of the meal, and the bread was addictive, but the main dishes were... how to say? I guess the style up north (DC, NY, SF) is to let a few tastes shine through, highlighting the flavor of the main ingredient. Mad Hatter cuisine seemed maybe based in French sauce cookery, which almost covered the flavor of the main ingredient rather than boosting it. We had a minor service snafu when our server poured the wrong wine, which we liked anyway, and he apologized and brought out the bottle so we could look at the label... it would have been an extra gracious thing to either comp the glass or give us a taste of the wine we actually ordered, but overall, service was professional and friendly.

    (2)

  • Vinny The Vacuum S.

    I agree with everything Laura B said. This place is 5 star quality on all levels. I am sad it is gone:(

    (5)

  • Shelby J.

    Had we known that this restaurant was a bit more classy and less casual, we would have dressed up a bit, but they didn't treat us any differently for coming in jeans and t-shirts...so we will know different next time! The food and service (as well as view of the sunset) are amazing, but to warn you, this is not cheap dining and first class all the way. We had dinner here on our last night and it was the perfect ending to a wonderful trip. We loved the crab claw appetizer, and chef's gift of more of them, and frankly the only thing that was a bit too much was the chocolate cake...very rich and only for those that are chocolate addicts!! We spend over $200 for four adults so just be prepared for that and an excellent tip to add on. They did not miss a beat and were quite professional. As a foodie, I appreciated that and the overall environment of the restaurant. If there is one restaurant you should go to when visiting, make sure it is this one!!

    (5)

  • Jim Y.

    This place is extremely consistent. Its probably the most elegant dining spot on captiva (incl N Sanibel). Being my first night back on the island, I had to go for grouper - it was fantastic. We had a great table by the window, which overlooked the Gulf - visible through the few remaining Australian Pine trees on the island (post-Charlie). They do take reservations as well, which is a rarity on Captiva.

    (4)

  • Stephanie R.

    While shell seeking, came upon this little gem accidentally in April of 1993.Peeking through the back I saw the adorable Alice In Wonderland motif, and I knew I must try to have a meal here. My husband and I; and now my 2 daughters haven't made a trip to Sanibel/Captiva or Fort Meyers without having dinner at our favorite restaurant. Foie Gras is superb, with a lovely sauternes, Watermelon salad with feta and pine nuts(my favorite), Boulliabaise is exceptional in a saffron broth(waiter brought extra bread when he saw me spooning out every last drop! Trio of desserts and great coffee! There is nothing on the menu that I don't love. Even the filet mignon;being that I dislike beef tempted me. Also a wonderful and thoughtful wine list. Service is impeccable and ambiance, charming. The best dining experience on the entire island!

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    I am not sure what's happened to this place. We have frequented the Mad Hatter many times in the past, but the food on our most recent outing was thoroughly disappointing. The salads and bread were still good and the views are still the same but the food itself has really deteriorated. Our group had the scallops, red snapper and the grouper. The scallops and snapper were fair but the grouper was some of the worst fresh fish I've had on the island. It was overcooked, dry and tasteless. For being one of the most expensive restaurants on the island (entree's in the $30-50 range) we were all very disappointed. I'm not sure if a recent change in the head chef has been made but the quality of the food is not the same as it once was. We will not be making the Mad Hatter a return destination.

    (2)

  • Samuel G.

    The food was decent, but we were slightly dissapointed given how hyped this restaurant is and how high the prices are. 2 glasses of wine, an appetizer and 2 entrees came out to a bill of over $100. For appetizer we had the phylo shrimp which initially we noticed was not fully cooked so we had to send it back. When this was corrected it was pretty tasty but I was dissapointed they did not cook it fully the first time. For entrees, I had the duck and my girlfriend had the scallops which were both good but we were not blown away. Would probably not return.

    (3)

  • ronald c.

    We went to the Mad Hatter on our last day of our first visit to Sanibel. The food was good Appetizers, Salad and Entrees were promptly and efficiently served. The problem came after we were done with our Entrees. We were ready to share a desert and coffees, but our waitress never came back to our table. Mind you this is a small restaurant with really only two waitresses taking orders and you can see every table from everywhere in the room. After waiting 35 minutes for our waitress to even come anywhere near the table we decided to leave, it took another 10 minutes to get someone to give us the check and then after another 10 minutes of waiting for someone to pick up the check with the card we decided to take matters in our own hands and bring the check to the front of the house. The waitress was summoned, since we complained, and explained that they were having computer issues and that is why she never came back. Really, computer issues? This was a $120 check (without coffee and deserts) you would think they would not use such a lame excuse. We were not offered any restitution for having to wait and really not even a sincere apology. A class restaurant would have cared more about their customers and offered us something for us having to put up with their "computer problems".

    (1)

  • T. T.

    Excellent food on our recent visit. I had the foie gras, the beet salad, the grouper, and the ice cream with red wine sauce. Every dish was spot on. My wife had the foie gras, ceasar salad, scallops and the bete noir. Her dishes were all very good, if not quite to the level of mine (except for the foie gras). I can't say that every meal will be perfect, but mine was as close to perfect as I've had in a long time. I have only two mild complaints. First, they use truffle oil in a lot of dishes. Normally that would put me off, but with the dishes I had it worked well. Second, they did not have anyone who truly knew their wine list. The guy who pretended to know the wine was simply reading shelf talker notes, and had no clue about the wine. Overall though, a truly first class dinner that would hold up against some much bigger names. Cheers.

    (5)

  • John C.

    A wonderful place for a dinner with somone special. Excellent food and a fun upscale (for relaxed Captiva / Sanibel) atmosphere

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Classy
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Mad Hatter Restaurant

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