Doc Ford’s adds to menu

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is expanding its horizons off the coast of Fort Myers Beach on San Carlos Island. The Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant is stepping up on its menu to add new dishes such as a crispy fried Yucatan chicken sandwich, baked oysters, a blackened shrimp wrap, bone-in pork chop and shrimp salad.

At the heart of the expansion is the restaurant’s Yucatan sauce, the zesty star of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille’s signature Yucatan shrimp, which leaps from seafood to chicken in the new year. The Caribbean-meets-Colombia condiment flavors the crispy fried chicken sandwich and Yucatan baked oysters – among the new salads, sandwiches and entrees introduced for 2025.

“We’re excited to introduce these new dishes which are inspired by customer input and comments,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. “Our Yucatan sauce is a fan favorite and pairs so well with many flavor profiles.”

Served on a toasted brioche bun, the Yucatan chicken sandwich is topped with pickles, mild sambal remoulade and the famed sauce. The new baked oyster dish features fresh-shucked oysters marinated in Yucatan sauce and baked with a creamy Manchego cheese topping. The savory made-from-scratch sauce is a mélange of butter, garlic, fresh cilantro, Key lime juice and mild Colombian chilis.

For hearty appetites, Doc Ford’s introduces a grilled bone-in pork chop finished with a caramelized apple demi-glace and accompanied with creamy garlic mashed red potatoes and buttered broccolini. Lighter bites new for 2025 include the shrimp salad and shrimp wrap, the former featuring chopped shrimp tossed with fresh dill, mayo, celery and a touch of Dijon. It’s served on a bed of organic greens with avocado, cucumber, tomatoes and a drizzle of lemon dressing. For the wrap, blackened shrimp is paired with an avocado-tomato salsa, shredded lettuce, red cabbage, crispy chopped bacon, queso fresco and tangy chimichurri aioli served in a toasted flour tortilla.

“Our new menu items are packed with flavor and give our customers even more options,” Harrity said. “Our chefs have been fine-tuning and perfecting these new recipes the past few months.”

The menu additions are available at all Doc Ford’s locations including Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, the St. Petersburg Pier and Jungle Terrace in St. Petersburg.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.