You can’t go to a tropical island and not try the local seafood. Well, I did on our first trip to Captiva Island but I’ll never make that mistake again. The best seafood on Captiva – and Sanibel – Islands is Molly Malone Seafood.
For us, no trip to the area is complete without picking up several orders from Molly Malone Seafood.
Molly Malone Seafood
Insiders know about this local seafood business, Molly Malone Seafood (website). They prepare and sell amazing, local seafood; as fresh as it gets. Molly Malone has an incredible variety of seafood, some of the freshest I’ve ever tasted. It’s a luxurious treat for your taste buds. Just thinking about their seafood makes me want to book another trip.
Molly Malone’s is located at the Santiva General Store at the very end of Sanibel, about a stone’s throw from Captiva, across the street from the Mad Hatter restaurant. If you’re used to getting their seafood from The Island Store on Captiva, heads up, Molly Malone has found a new home on Sanibel Island.
The best seafood on Captiva Island
When you go to Molly Malone Seafood, rest assured that you are getting fresh and local seafood caught by local crabbers and fishermen.
The menu at Molly’s has something for every time of day. If your vacation rental has a full kitchen, you can take full advantage of Molly’s menu. If you don’t feel like cooking during your next vacation, or you don’t have a full kitchen, don’t worry. Molly Malone’s menu includes both ready-to-eat items in addition to the raw seafood.
Insider Tip: Place your order ahead of time to ensure your favorite fresh seafood is waiting for you. Then, be sure to stop in on your way to Captiva Island.
Coconut Shrimp
They have, hands down, the best coconut shrimp I’ve ever tasted. It’s simple, yet flavorful. The texture is amazing. It’ll basically ruin any other coconut shrimp for you. Consider yourself warned. Once prepared, it has a golden, crunchy outside with big, flavorful shrimp on the inside.
Crab Cakes
People go wild for Molly Malone’s lump crab cakes and I’m one of those people! They boast large chunks of fresh crab. If you like your crab cakes without a lot of filler, Molly’s your girl. If you like a little filler, you can grab a bottle of remoulade sauce at the counter. On top of tasting fabulous, you can eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I personally love them with eggs (and a little salsa) in the morning.
Lobster Salad
Another one of my favorites is the lobster salad. How do I describe such a delicious explosion of flavor? It’s a light, chilled seafood salad made up entirely of fresh, lump lobster with delicious seasonings to enhance the flavor. You can eat it as a true salad on top of lettuce, spread it on crackers, or if you’re like me, eat the entire salad straight out of the container! The flavor and texture are almost too good to combine with other food.
Fresh Seafood
If you’re a seafood purist, you can get fresh crab, fish and lobster too. If you don’t see the seafood you want, they can get you almost anything. Just ask and they can likely get it for you the next day.
Shrimp Ceviche
Molly’s recently started selling shrimp ceviche. Unlike a traditional ceviche, they pre-cook the shrimp and pair it with a wonderful salsa. By cooking the shrimp, it lasts longer in the fridge and doesn’t have a soggy consistency that you might normally find in this dish. It makes for a perfect appetizer. Eat it on its own or scoop it up with your favorite tortilla chips.
A Sanibel-Captiva Must-Do
Words can’t describe how truly amazing Molly Malone Seafood is. It’s a royal treat for the taste buds. Pair it with the priceless view of the island beaches and that’s about as good as life gets.
Not sure how to prepare it? Have no fear; Molly’s owners are well versed in the best way to make each dish. You can find instructions on the containers as well. If you arrive a bit before check-in at your vacation rental, be sure to ask for some ice to keep your purchase cool until check-in.
We can’t recommend Molly Malone Seafood enough. We guarantee it’ll reel you in from the first bite. Bon Appetit!
What: Molly Malone Seafood
Where: Santiva General Store, 406 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957
Website: http://mmseafood.com/about/
