Details Announced, Manager Hired for New Fort Myers Beach Dining Spot

A large center bar, daily music and a fresh seafood-forward menu are among the plans for the new Bonita Fish Com­pany on Fort Myers Beach, announced HM Restaurant Group, which pur­chased the iconic Bonita Bill’s Water­front Restaurant & Bar in January. The restaurant group also owns and operates Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Company.

Opening this fall, Bonita Fish Com­pany will feature coastal-inspired cuisine focusing on fresh seafood, a large center bar, daily live entertainment and pic­turesque views of Matanzas Pass. The new restaurant will offer 300 indoor and outdoor seats and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The coastal-inspired menu will complement the neighboring Dixie Fish Company by offering fresh local seafood, creative dishes and drinks.

The restaurant will also feature Bay­side at Bonita Fish Company, a private indoor-outdoor event venue on Fort My­ers Beach. The name is inspired by the property’s scenic waterfront setting along Matanzas Pass overlooking the bustling harbor and the 30-slip marina planned for the restaurant. Currently available for reservations, Bayside at Bonita Fish Company provides plated dinners for 70 guests and up to 150 people for standing receptions.

Bayside at Bonita Fish Company will offer coastal-inspired fare from Bonita Fish Company, the restaurant group’s newest establishment, also opening this fall.

Customers can enjoy entertainment seven days a week, a scenic waterfront setting and the relocation of the main bar to the center of the dining room. Bonita Fish Company’s ambience will be enhanced with a dedicated waterfront event space offering both indoor and outdoor seating.

Originally built in 1926 as Bonita Fish House, the nearly century-old res­taurant has a storied past as a gathering place for the Fort Myers Beach com­munity. Its name and history echo the neighboring Dixie Fish Company, an original fish house built in 1937 as a seafood market. Bonita Fish Company is located at 702 Fishermans Wharf on Fort Myers Beach.

Work is also underway on an inde­pendently operated floating dock marina, expected to open in 2026. The marina will have 30 slips and will cater to boat-in customers, provide long-term rentals and accommodate boats up to 90 feet with shore power and water.

To prepare for the restaurant’s open­ing later this year, HM Restaurant Group has promoted Krystian Martinez to general manager of Bonita Fish Com­pany. Martinez is an eight-year employee of the restaurant group; he began his managerial career with Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Fort Myers Beach, transferred to Di­xie Fish Company in 2020 most recently worked at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel Island.

With deep roots in Southwest Flori­da, HM Restaurant Group is dedicated to connecting people with great food, exceptional hospitality and legendary guest experiences. To learn more, visit HMRestaurantGroup.com.