Business Details
30 Years
experience
Authentic Florida Dining & River Adventures
Nav-A-Gator Bar & Grill has been a cornerstone of Southwest Florida's dining and entertainment scene since 1996. Our establishment combines authentic Florida cuisine with a family-friendly atmosphere, offering fresh seafood, gator meat specialties, and handcrafted cocktails. We pride ourselves on delivering a true 'old Florida' experience through live music, river tours, and a pet-friendly environment. Our menu features locally sourced ingredients, including Hearts of Palm harvested from Florida's state tree, and our kitchen team prepares dishes over a traditional chargrill for authentic flavor. The marina at Desoto Marina extends our offerings to boaters and nature enthusiasts, while our gift shop provides unique souvenirs.With over 25 years of operation, we maintain a commitment to quality through consistent sourcing, skilled preparation, and attentive service. Our team, led by Shauna and Capt. Jesse Shows, ensures every guest experiences the warmth and hospitality that have made us a local favorite. We maintain strict food safety standards while preserving the casual, welcoming vibe that defines our brand. From airboat tours to live weekend entertainment, we create memorable experiences that reflect Florida's natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Services
Seafood Restaurant
Live Music Venue
Full Liquor Bar
Marina Services
River Tours
Gift Shop
Kayak Rentals
Airboat Rides
Outdoor Dining
Family Entertainment
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We offer fresh, locally sourced seafood and gator meat prepared over traditional chargrills
- Our family-friendly environment includes pet-friendly outdoor spaces and children's activities
- We provide unique Florida experiences through airboat tours and kayak rentals
- Our live music schedule features local talent Thursday through Sunday
- We maintain a full-service marina with docking, fuel, and bait shop services
What people say
Great burgers
Live music
Family-friendly
Fresh seafood
Pet-friendly
Services
Florida Seafood Restaurant
Our restaurant serves fresh Gulf seafood, including grouper, mahi mahi, and shrimp, prepared using traditional methods. We feature Florida specialties like gator bites and Hearts of Palm salad. Our menu offers multiple preparation styles, from grilled to blackened, with daily specials that highlight local ingredients and seasonal offerings.
Live Music Venue
We host live music performances Thursday through Sunday with both local and regional artists. The outdoor stage accommodates various genres from country to rock, creating a vibrant atmosphere for dining and socializing. Our event calendar features scheduled performances with start times ranging from 1pm to 5pm on weekends.
Full Liquor Bar
Our bar offers specialty cocktails, frozen drinks, and a selection of wines and draft beers. We feature Florida craft brews and signature drinks like the Go Big bucket. The menu includes premium tequilas, rums, and whiskeys with creative mixology options that incorporate local flavors and tropical ingredients.
Marina Services
The marina provides docking, fuel, and bait shop services for boaters and anglers. We offer month-to-month slip rentals and have 4-foot channel depth for safe navigation. Additional amenities include ice sales, takeout food service, and proximity to fishing and eco-tourism opportunities on the Peace River.
River Tours
We offer airboat tours and kayak rentals for exploring the Peace River ecosystem. Airboat rides accommodate up to six passengers and last approximately one hour. Guided kayak tours and equipment rentals allow visitors to experience the river at their own pace, with options for both novice and experienced paddlers.
People
Shauna Shows
Co-Owner
Shauna Shows co-owns Nav-A-Gator Bar & Grill with her husband Capt. Jesse Shows. She oversees daily operations and guest experiences, ensuring the restaurant maintains its authentic Florida atmosphere and high service standards.
Capt. Jesse Shows
Co-Owner
Capt. Jesse Shows co-owns Nav-A-Gator Bar & Grill and leverages his maritime expertise to manage the marina and river tour operations. He ensures all water-based activities meet safety standards while providing authentic Florida adventure experiences.
Questions
What makes Nav-A-Gator unique?
We combine Florida seafood dining with live music, river tours, and marina services in a family-friendly environment along the Peace River.
What are your live music hours?
Live performances typically run Thursday-Sunday from 1pm-5pm, with specific times varying by event and season.
Do you serve breakfast?
We serve lunch and dinner daily starting at 11am, but do not offer breakfast service.
Can I bring my pet?
Yes, our outdoor courtyard area is pet-friendly with water bowls available for dogs.
Are river tours included with dining?
River tours are separate from dining experiences but can be booked through our marina services.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept major credit cards and cash for all restaurant, bar, and marina services.
Reviews (5)
Eric Riggs
Jan 20, 2022
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We heard about the Nav-a-gator years ago thru a song by Jim Morris. While sitting in the house on those bitter cold winter days in Northern Michigan singing, "It's a Nav-a-gator afternoon" we finally made it. Not only did we make it but we moved close by 4 years ago. Rarely miss a weekend taking the boat and the dogs to the Nav-a-gator for great food, awesome entertainment, friendly staff and just a laid back kind of day. You won't be disappointed and may just move close by too!
Roy Jorgensen
Jan 17, 2022
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Got the gator bite wrap. BY FAR the best gator we had. My complaint is they need more gator options. Try a gator philly(unbreaded)? or po boy? It was recommended by snow birds we know. We are from michigan visiting. Wife had coconut shrimp the sauce was ok the shrimp were cooked well. there is only 6. Friend got grilled shrimp got a lot more. busy so it took awhile.
Kevin Mcneill
Jan 02, 2022
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We went to Navigator for an early seafood dinner. It was terrific. Our server, Jordan, did a really nice job with recommendations and attentiveness. We also appreciated the quality of the Gator bites and the black and shrimp skewers. It's really nice in the winter because they have a lot of outdoor seating yet the staff still gives you the same service as if you were seated inside. Also, the day that we went in the kitchen seemed to be really fast as we got our order very quickly. We're definitely going to go back!
E. J.
Dec 30, 2021
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A girlfriend and I are decided to stop by at Nav-A-Gator after a kayaking adventure on the Peace River. It was a the middle of the week at December,the place was jam packed.
Waitress were running around trying to please all the costumers. We only find inside seating,which was ok but definitely took away from the experience.... Food took over 30 minutes to arrive....and it wasn't as good as I remembered. My friend had the a Ruben sandwich. I ordered swamp cabage...Huge disappointment. It was caned palm of heart about 1/2 can,sliced lengthwise,drizzled wit Old Bay(?)
Not too authentic at all
Waitress were running around trying to please all the costumers. We only find inside seating,which was ok but definitely took away from the experience.... Food took over 30 minutes to arrive....and it wasn't as good as I remembered. My friend had the a Ruben sandwich. I ordered swamp cabage...Huge disappointment. It was caned palm of heart about 1/2 can,sliced lengthwise,drizzled wit Old Bay(?)
Not too authentic at all
Cskelnik
Dec 21, 2021
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Exactly what it claims to be - but better! This indoor / outdoor casual eatery on the Peace River is a gem! There are outdoor games and the place is clean. Our waitress, Leni was friendly and timely with good recommendations. I ordered the crab cake basket. These may have been the best crab cakes Ive had in Florida. They were all crab! My husband ordered the redfish rueben and it had a copious amount of fish and was delicious! The onion rings were terrific too!
