Deans South of the Border Punta Gorda Still Cooking up Great Food

When we were first moving to Punta Gorda years ago, on visits to watch the construction of our first house here, I would wander around town to familiarize myself with my new terrain.   Note that I fear not treading in places that look “kinda" seedy provided  others approve as evidenced by the number of cars in the parking lot.   Which is what drew me to the original Deans South of the Board then located just east of where the Wyvern Hotel is now.   

It was around lunch and I was famished and there were pickup trucks, SUVs and cars everywhere around the restaurant in addition to the parking lot, which was full. This was place I thought --- a local joint with great food. 

Fairly dumpy inside, dark, but clean with tables scattered about, mostly occupied with workmen on their lunch break, the old Deans had promise and delivered.  That day I ordered fajitas, which turned out to be a huge portion of scrumptious fajitas for less than 10 bucks.  And before my fajitas arrived, an enormous bowl of crispy, hot chips accompanied by spicy, chunky salsa was placed on my table at no charge.   Awesome! 

The new Deans now in back of the Wyvern Hotel right alongside US41 is in a sleek, much more attractive building, reconstructed from Dean’s old bakery place after Hurricane Charley.  Painted a modern terracotta with an outdoor terrace sporting a  full bar and outdoor fireplace,  Deans has gone more upscale.  The old joint is gone for good.  So are the free chips.  

The food is still Deans though including the fajitas.  With a mostly Tex-Mex menu, Deans offers everything from tacos to chimichangas, but also serves up great burgers, grilled fish and chicken sandwiches and more (full menu).   A great place for lunch or dinner, try Deans  if you’re in the mood for Mexican or casual sandwich fare.   

And If you are just looking for a place to hear some music on the weekends, drink a margarita or a corona, and nibble on nachos, Dean’s outdoor terrace should be in the running.  And hey, I just noticed, it's Cinco de Mayo--off to Deans.

Address: 130 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda.
Phone: (941)575-6100
Type of Restaurant: TEX-MEX
Rating: ♦♦♦