Captain’s Table Launches New Bar Menu & Updates Lunch and Dinner Items

August 12, 2015

news

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – An iconic waterfront restaurant is rolling out an updated menu this summer that includes bison burgers, Asian nachos, Bahamian chicken—and more—making good on a pledge to embrace the “dynamic and bold,” company officials announced this week.

3

The Captain’s Table, long considered the premier place for fine dining around Charlotte Harbor, is unveiling its first-ever bar menu and updated lunch and dinner menus throughout the summer, said General Manager Nate McKelvy. Located in the top tier of Fishermen’s Village, the Captain’s Table is the flagship of Smuggler’s Enterprises, the local, family-owned restaurant network known throughout Southwest Florida for excellent food and service in a variety of settings.

“We are striving for a dynamic menu, one that’s bold and authentic. The new items are a testament to our patrons’ interest in having exciting selections to choose from. The appetizers, main courses, and side items showcase Caribbean, Asian, and Old World Spanish influences on South Florida’s fresh seafood and locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables.” Other innovations include a “Wild Game and Whiskey” dinner that marries full-course, table d’hôte specials—such as bison, boar, or rabbit—with specialty bourbons, whiskeys, and brandies, topped with a hand-rolled cigar on the sunset deck. Upcoming events include the “Hemingway Old Caribbean” dinner which will explore Caribbean food and old, aged Rum.

2

The new Captain’s Table menu has been a team effort that began with water driven inspiration. That progressed to exploratory, kitchen-tasting sessions among the staff and then to the final recipe and presentation. “Sous Chef Dustin Ferguson has been an amazing force in the kitchen. Dustin is an excellent chef with a great palate. He can take an idea and turn it into an exciting dish where the flavors have depth and balance.”

General Manager Nate McKelvy said the updated menu at the Captain’s Table simplifies and streamlines the a la carte in order to focus on what diners tell him they are looking for: “Locals and visitors alike say they want the freshest local products possible,” he said. “And everyone is keen on seasonal selections. Our new menu has the flexibility to showcase local products and incorporate preparations suited to each season,” he said.

1

Diners can expect to see more salad selections on the menu and fewer “basket with fries” fare at lunch. In addition, McKelvy said, “We are expanding the chef’s dinner specials with a rotation of new dishes that, if the demand is there, will be promoted to the main menu.”

The first weeks of the new bar menu has been an especially big hit, McKelvy said, partly due to timing. The bar menu now offers selections throughout the entire day, and most importantly, bridging the two hours in the afternoon between lunch and dinner. “We had not offered specialty sandwiches, wraps, and appetizers at the bar before, but the demand is clearly there. We are delighted to be able to respond to that demand with both new items and old favorites,” McKelvy said. Complementing this new menu is a selection of craft cocktails and a list of over 30 single barrel bourbons and small batch whiskeys that McKelvy has carefully constructed.

The new menu at the Captain’s Table includes long-standing specialties of the house, such as the chef’s signature Chilean sea bass marinated in coconut—now kicked up a notch with a marinade of Thai sriracha. “Another emerging favorite is the lobster grilled-cheese sandwich,” McKelvy said. All in all, the new menu is fresher and brighter than ever before, he promised.

###

The Captain’s Table is a 275-seat restaurant with magnificent views of Charlotte Harbor. It is open seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner on weekdays, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Find the Captain’s Table on the upper deck of Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, Fla. 33950.
Telephone (941) 637-1177. Visit the website for news, menus, and on-line reservations at www.thecaptainstable.com

About the Team

General Manager Nate McKelvy joined Smuggler’s Enterprises in the fall of 2014 after seven years at the historic Gasparilla Inn on Boca Grande. Nate has assisted in planning & coordinating dining, private events and weddings for many celebrities and politicians, including the Bush family. He also holds a Level 1 in the Court of Master Sommeliers and has taken courses under Master Sommeliers in Colorado and Florida. Nate began working at a golf club dining room at age 15 and has spent the past ten years holding positions at fine dining restaurants and private country clubs in Orlando, FL, as well as, the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs, CO. He graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2007. He lives with his wife and family in Punta Gorda.

For More Information:

General Manager Nate McKelvy (941) 637-1177 ext. 113