The Mucky Duck

Welcome to Captiva Island. Various evenings during our stay on the southernmost tip of Sanibel Island, we'd pile in the mini van and head due north about 30 minutes to the northernmost tip of Captiva Island.......to eat, drink and take in a sunset. These festivities went down at The Mucky Duck.Prime real estate sits this neighborhood establishment directly on the beach, complete with an outdoor seating area, live music and of course, a bar. Serving beer and wine only, they invented their own non-traditional Margarita ($5.50) made with agave white wine.
They certainly lack the punch of tequila, the wine provides a sweeter less harsh alternative.
But we loved them, especially for the mere $5.50 price tag!
The sunsets vary drastically from one night to the next. We were lucky our first one was so spectacular. This lead to photos shoots galore.I mean, how can you not?!Absolutely breathtaking. The other nights sunset proved less intense due to cloudy skies. Actually, there wasn't much of a sunset at all compared to what we got before! I appreciated the beauty of the sky and clouds all the same. Maybe the sun light wasn't as intense but certainly the clouds were breathtaking in their own right.
I mean really, does this look like the face of someone who is disappointed to you?After the first nights sunset we headed inside for dinner.
Adam and I ordered the Duck-a-Dillas ($7.50) Shredded duck breast with black beans, veggies and cheese fried in a warm tortilla served with homemade salsa. After all, we're at a place with duck in the title! The appetizer plate only came with three quesadillas which were a little on the small side. I easily could have polished off two more! The tortillas themselves were nicely fried and crispy with tasty duck meat smothered in melted cheese.
For dinner we ordered the Seafood Platter ($25.50). Bar-b-que shrimp with bacon, peel 'n eat shrimp, crab cake, breaded scallops, and our chef's choice of the evenings fresh fish with our cream dill sauce.
The plate is piled high with food, but looks can be deceiving. The peel 'n eat shrimp wasn't all that impressive, which unfortunately is what there was most of on the plate. The bacon wrapped barbecue shrimp was good, but there was not enough of it! Ditto on the breaded scallops. I'd prefer an equal balance of peel-n-eat shrimp, to bar-barbecue shrimp to scallops to make this a standout entree. The french fries and greens were tasty, so they definitely boasted the overall satisfaction with the dish. Also - I got basically the same amount of food for $17 at The Island Cow, which made me wonder, am I paying for location?! (Do I even need to ask?)

I look back on my time spent at The Mucky Duck fondly, despite not being overly excited about my entree of choice. Nothing beats a laid back beach vibe in a fun friendly atmosphere. You better believe I'd return in a heartbeat.