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With something always spicy on the jukebox, and a carved wooden Captain and his first mate welcoming you at the door, the Sand Bar, located at 826 East Elkcam Circle, has a great breakfast menu, daily lunch and dinner specials, and an awesome atmosphere loaded with delicious diversity.

After almost 15 years as one of Marco’s most favorite casual eateries, the Sand Bar has perfected the tavern-style setting for fun, food and spirits. Without a doubt, a strong local following favors the flavors produced by the crew down on Elkcam, and with a quality food at reasonable prices, this nautical themed sports bar is well anchored in success.

As Tom Petty welcomed our party with An American Girl, Capri was well cast and right on cue as she seated our group next to the Sand Bar fireplace. Although the fire wasn’t burning, Capri’s welcome was more than warm enough as she took our drink orders and made everyone feel at home

Sometimes, for a weekend breakfast, a Bloody Mary is just the right recipe for a great beginning. At the Sand Bar, the Bloody Marys are served in big icy mugs with a celery-salted rim for only $ 3.50. With a pickle jar and an impressive array of spicy sauces on every table, a tasty eye-opener and appetizer can be carefully customized for every taste.

After we doctored our drinks, and sipped our individual creations of Tabasco tainted bliss, Capri served Coffee and took our orders for breakfast.

The culinary adventuress chose the cream cheese and chive omelet for $ 6. With Capri’s helpful advice, I chose the Philly steak and cheese omelet for $7.95. Our new breakfast cohorts Roger and Lana decided to test Chef Jose Reyes and settled on something a little out of the ordinary. Lana requested the regular vegetarian omelet for $6.95, to be served without any cheese, and Roger ordered the vegetarian omelet with sausage for $7.95.

Roger explained that one of his favorite pizzas is a vegetarian pie with sausage. He then raised an eyebrow and suggested, “Why not try an omelet with the same formula?”

Capri smiled her agreement, and Roger’s creation was on the way. Some restaurant menus declare, “No substitutions,” but Capri was undaunted. “An omelet without cheese, and a vegetarian with sausage. No worries,” she said, “We can do anything here!”

Another one of the niceties about the Sand Bar breakfast is the choice between hash browns and home fries. Chef Jose’s hash browns are the shredded potatoes that we all know and love and are absolutely perfectly prepared and served crispy and golden brown. The Sand Bar home fries are chopped potatoes and are tossed and sautéed with peppers and onions. Both potato sides are delicious and flavorful. Thanks Chef Jose for offering the choice. Most breakfast eateries only have home fries or hash browns but certainly not both.

Vicki Lynn described her unique cream cheese and chive omelet as “creamy and delicious,” with the soft cheese not overly melted and the chives blending nicely with the flavor of the eggs.

My Philly steak and cheese was a true tribute to the famous Philadelphia sandwich, and offered a new, hearty, and tasty alternative to the traditional omelet.

Lana was impressed with her vegetarian odyssey. Normally cheese is a mainstay in omelet making, but Chef Jose produced a light and savory egg crepe containing a masterful blend of tomatoes, mushrooms, onions and green peppers.

Roger was also impressed as his version of the veggie omelet was just as he ordered. This specialty breakfast was an egg-excursion with sautéed vegetables but beneath the pan-seared and golden exterior was a generous helping of scrumptious sausage.

The Sand Bar is open seven days from 7 until 10:40 a.m. for weekday breakfast; 7 until 11 a.m., Saturday mornings, and 7 a.m. until noon for Sunday breakfast. The Sand Bar landline is (239) 642-3625, and a daily happy hour begins at 3 and lasts until 6 p.m. Lunch and dinner specials are available daily, and with items such as King Crab Legs for $22.95, and homemade New England clam chowder for $3.50, regulars and newcomers alike will find a warm welcome, a special atmosphere decorated with a montage of sports, and a local tavern feel with a Southwest Florida nautical flair.

It is especially noteworthy to mention that Capri is the perfect server. She not only has a great and sincere smile, but she offers a real example of what good hospitality should actually be. Her actions tableside were engaging and inquisitive, her humor refreshing, and her service impeccable. Capri is an American girl that is a real treasure at the Sand Bar.

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Tom Williams is a sailboat charter captain working at the Marriott for more than 27 years. Williams lives on Marco Island and is available at capttom@marcoislandtoday.com.