Caiman Cantina/Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails

Two new restaurant concepts have opened in Southwest Florida in less than six months, and if they aren’t on your radar yet, they will be now.

Caiman Cantina in Naples and Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails in Cape Coral are the latest additions to the diverse restaurant portfolio of Phelan Family Brands. The Southwest Florida-based company has more than two dozen restaurants under its umbrella. Familiar names include Pinchers, Texas Tony’s Rib & Brewhouse, Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House and Chops City Grill, to name a few.

CAIMAN CANTINA

Until recently, Caiman Cantina was the newest concept. The restaurant opened in Naples Park last November serving authentic Tex-Mex cuisine. Think enchiladas, fajitas, tamales, chili rellenos, tacos and more.

“Dad (Tony Phelan) and I always wanted a Tex-Mex restaurant in Southwest Florida,” says Grant Phelan, CEO of Phelan Family Brands. Phelan grew up in Texas where his father was an entrepreneur and restaurateur before relocating the family to Florida.

A meal at Caiman Cantina begins with a large serving of tortilla chips, cooked to order with a bowl of warm salsa for dipping. It’s a welcome gift of sorts before your meal. The queso is traditional, but the recipe is a secret. It has been in the Phelan family for more than 40 years.

Seaside Shrimp Ceviche is one of the more healthful starts to a meal. The base is shrimp. The sauce is zesty and has lime, mango and cucumber.

When it comes to main courses, the flavorful menu has several seafood options along with specialties such as chicken in Oaxacan mole sauce and slow cooked Michoacan-style pork.

Enchiladas are a popular Tex-Mex menu item. There are five different kinds, and each comes with beans and rice. On Wednesdays, enchiladas are only $3. In fact, every day of the week, Caiman Cantina has some wildly affordable special.

Margarita Monday offers $5 Margaritas. Taco Tuesday means BOGO, you buy one taco and get the second one free. The cantina has Al Pastor to Barbacoa and everything in between. On Thursdays Grandma’s Tamales, both green chicken and red pork, are $3 each.

For Cerveza Saturday, patrons get 2-for-1 draft beers. Finally, Sizzlin’ Sunday is buy-one-get-one for fajitas. Fajitas are a house specialty. “They’re the best in Southwest Florida” says Phelan with confidence.

They come out sizzling and fill the table with savory scents. What makes the fajitas stand out here is the quality of meat sourced, and the special seasonings used. The meat is cut in-house. The spices are a proprietary blend that give the beef, chicken and shrimp a distinct flavor.

Phelan says if you love a good food-and-drink combo, order a Mr. Tony’s Fajitas with a Spicy Jalapeño Margarita. It is made with Tanteo Jalapeño Tequila, triple sec, agave and fresh lime. The cocktail has a little kick, but is still balanced.

The margarita list is long and contains a traditional version as well as lots of spins on the classics. Try the Smokey Pineapple with a Tajin rim or the refreshing Watermelon Mint Margarita for something different.

The bar at Caiman Cantina is separate from the main dining room and it stocks an impressive number of tequilas.

Caiman Cantina is bright and colorful, featuring fish tanks and neon signs. In fact, it almost feels as if you’ve wandered into a spot in Central Mexico, not North Naples.

The portions are so large that you’ll likely have enough left over for another meal. The food is so good, you’ll be glad you do.

BIMINI BASIN SEAFOOD & COCKTAILS

Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails is the newest restaurant. It recently opened in the trendy Bimini Square along the Cape Coral waterfront. This is not just another restaurant; it’s a destination. Phelan called it the “crown jewel” of the family’s restaurant group.

The new space is a sizeable 9,000sf. It’s an “infinity edge” restaurant, according to Phelan. Almost every seat in the house has a view of the water. The space is open and airy, mostly alfresco, with clean, nautical décor.

The picturesque views and the atmosphere alone are a big draw. However, the menu seals the deal. The Phelans mined some of the most popular dishes from Pinchers, Keywaydin’s, Hogfish Harry’s and Deep Lagoon. Now you can find them all in one place instead of driving all over Southwest Florida.

Hogfish Bimini Style is one of them. A favorite at Hogfish Harry’s, this meaty fish fillet is coconut crusted and fried. It’s served over mango almond rice, green beans and coconut red pepper sauce.

Black Grouper Oscar is a signature dish at Keywaydin’s on Fifth Avenue South in Naples. The grouper is pan-seared and served over a bed of cilantro lime rice, and sauteed spinach. For that extra touch, the fish is topped with a crab cake and drizzled in hollandaise.

Then there is the Rum Glazed Salmon. The salmon is from the Faroe Islands. It’s pan-seared, then glazed in a sweet rum sauce. Next, the fish is placed on top of creamy corn couscous with a side of sauteed green beans.

“When I think of Bimini, I think of the Bahamas,” says Phelan. The rest of the menu reflects that feeling. Appetizers include oysters, coconut shrimp and conch fritters. The Seafood Tower is loaded, and it is impressive. Get one for the table and enjoy Maine lobster, stone crab claws, oysters, mussels, shrimp and tuna tartare.

Seafood may take center stage, but you’ll also find burgers, T-bone steaks, marinated chicken and a large selection of salads. Be sure to save room for a zesty slice of Key Lime Pie or spiced rum Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

The bar is large and the cocktail menu festive. The tropics are covered with daiquiris, piña coladas, margaritas and more. It feels like you’re on vacation when you’re here.

Bimini Basin is a popular body of water for boaters, so the eponymous restaurant has 24 dedicated boat slips to accommodate all kinds of vessels, from the smallest to largest.

Bimini Basin is a beautiful space with outstanding food. It makes for an ideal place to unwind and catch a brilliant Southwest Florida sunset.

Congrats to the Phelan Family on two more outstanding additions to the local dining scene. Spring is the perfect time to visit one of these new Southwest Florida restaurants for lunch, dinner, happy hour or any occasion.

Caiman Cantina is located at 10395 Tamiami Trail North in Naples. The restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with indoor and outdoor seating. Happy Hour is from 2 to 5 p.m. daily. Catering is also available. To learn more, call 239-788-0222 or visit caimancantina.com.

Bimini Basin Seafood & Cocktails is located at Bimini Square, 458 Tudor Drive in Cape Coral. The restaurant will be open soon. Happy Hour is from 2 to 5 p.m. daily. Indoor and outdoor seating are available. For more information, call 239-347-7033 or visit biminibasinrestaurant.com.