Read about Rum Bay online and decided to try it out for lunch. You need to take a water taxi to this location since it's on an island. Water taxi is $6 round trip. You can take a barge with your car but you have to be a resident, so we were told. The water taxi runs about every 30 minutes. The boat is clean, has good seating and Captain Denis is very respectful of the waterways and possible manatees and dolphins in the water. Once we got to the restaurants, we found the establishment clean and comfortable. We ate at the bar. The bartender is friendly and helpful. My husband had a shrimp po'boy and I had a grilled grouper sandwich. They were very nicely prepared and delicious. Don't be put off by the need to take a water taxi. Be adventurous and try different places with patience and kindness. You'll enjoy the experience.

I love Debby she's the best waiter will come back piña colada's are good as crap got one for free actually watch out for pregnant lady's at the bar the will hurt your feelings other than that it's a pretty good place the other lady at the bar she makes a damn good piña colada but warning pregnant lady is a meanie other than that lady service is amazing love it

Ahoy, foodies! This island eatery's a $6 boat ride away, but the chill vibes & AC are worth the fare. Fish & chips? Solid 7/10. Smash burger? 8/10, a beefy beauty. Chicken tenders? Meh, 6/10. Grouper fingers? 5/10, mostly dark meat, not the flaky goodness you crave. Grouper sandwich? Slightly better at 6/10. Portions are HUGE, perfect for sharing (or not). TL;DR: Take the plunge, skip the grouper, devour the burger!

So fun to take the water taxi! Food was perfect! Salad with shrimp was plentiful and delicious. Hubby has grouper basket and said best grouper fingers and again plentiful! Friendly staff all around! Will be back!

I recently dined at Rum Bay Restaurant on Palm Island in SW Florida, drawn to its unique charm accessible only by boat or ferry. The restaurant's elevated setting gives off a treehouse vibe, offering a picturesque view of the Gulf in the distance, making it one of my favorite locations. Despite facing staffing shortages, the staff at Rum Bay remains consistently friendly. Since Hurricane Ian, the restaurant seems to be grappling with a shortage of help, also evident in a limited menu on my recent Sunday visit. Despite this, the menu still offered appealing selections, and the dishes we tried were flavorful. The highlight at Rum Bay has always been the drinks, especially the delightful rum buckets. However, my recent visit showcased a bit of inconsistency. While my boyfriend and I enjoyed our uniquely customized grouper sandwiches - his fried and mine grilled - my bun was hard around the edges, raising questions about its freshness. Regrettably, my son's experience with the kids' cheeseburger was less than satisfactory. The first was burnt, prompting a replacement that also fell short of expectations. This marked the first time I encountered dissatisfaction with the food at Rum Bay. My daughter found her cheeseburger to be acceptable. Despite these issues, Rum Bay Restaurant's ambiance and overall offerings remain appealing, demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges. It's worth a visit, keeping in mind the current constraints the restaurant is still navigating post-Hurricane Ian.

Updating my Yelp review after so many visits here over 7 years. I guess they are like our "Cheers" spot. All of the servers are great. After some struggles they have a new chef and a new menu, and everything has been great. Tried the new smash burger, really good. This is the only restaurant on the Island, accessible by ferry. But you can take the water taxi for a nice trip on the water!

We went for my birthday one afternoon. Had a fantastic time with my wife here. We took the $6/person water taxi over to Rum Bay Restaurant. It's a much more enjoyable experience then just rolling up into the parking lot. We decided to have a drink at the bar before lunch. CJ was the mixologist of the day and made a very refreshing Grey Goose and tonic! We never left the bar that afternoon. We haven't been back since hurricane Ian hit. We will return to have CJ pour us a few more for us....